INSURANCE

Living in this century, we find it rather hard.

To know about the idols in yesterday’s backyard. We’ve heard a lot of stories of Moloch and the like. But these seem unimportant, because they do not strike At the very centre, of where we are today. They happened in our history long ago and far away. The Lord spoke through the prophets and made it very clear, That all forms of idolatry must never come in near. They’re an abomination to the Holy God they knew, And if this ever happened, they knew just what to do. Tear down all the idols and destroy the pagan priests. Nothing was acceptable until this worship ceased! God may as well have spoken to the stars, the sun or moon. The people wouldn’t listen and very, very soon They would all be punished, and taken far away, Banished to a country where they would have to stay. The threat was disregarded. They didn’t think that He Would ever take such action, against Jacob’s progeny. They thought it couldn’t happen He wouldn’t turn away, And let His temple crumble and fall into decay. And now our generation is faced with much the same. By worshiping the “idols” we’ve erected through their fame. There’s rugby and there’s cricket, and their passion for football. Most don’t care a fig about God’s great and Holy call. Instead of serving Jesus; there’s film stars and there’s sex There’s cheating and corruption; what will they dream up next? The Christian church is laden with the vice-like grip of sin. Refusing to take note of all the trouble they are in. It can not last much longer. The Lord will intervene. The wicked folk identified, as those who are unclean They think they are protected by the little card they signed; It said they’d chosen Jesus but the terms were ill-defined. Repentance wasn’t mentioned and Christ was not made Lord. The outcome is a people ill-mannered, rude and bored. I’m sure you will agree with me, we’re talking about “flakes”; Or more appropriately, be classified as “rakes”! Everywhere we look, the tale is very much the same; And living as a Christian? Don’t bother it’s too tame! The Lord will soon bring judgement through great calamities. There is no other way to bring His people to their knees. So earthquakes and tsunamis and pestilence like AIDS Are sweeping through the nations in overwhelming waves. They’re almost universal; we see them every day, They call them “Acts of God” so the insurance doesn’t pay! And when you think about it, these words they use are right! “Father God Protect us, from this grim and deadly plight!” Jim Strickland – written Tuesday, 27 September 2011

REPENTANCE, RIGHTEOUSNESS AND MERCY

REPENTANCE IS NOT OPTIONAL We know that God is absolutely just. He doesn’t ever vary day by day. His judgement of a sinner is a must; For Him to be consistent all the way. We know that He is perfect when He acts. Not a detail has been overlooked. He’s aware of each and every fact. In other words, a sinner’s goose is cooked. But merciful is what He wants to be. A sinner’s death is not what He desires. He prefers to set a sinner free; Rather than consign him to Hell’s fires. But He will not ever give consent; To set us free unless we will repent. Jim Strickland – 26th September 2011

---oOo-- RIGHTEOUSNESS AND MERCY KISS Righteousness and mercy! Can they mix? Is it possible for them to kiss? Unless they can, we are all in a fix. And righteousness is something will miss. But righteousness is what we all desire. Without it we’re excluded from the Lord. It’s the goal to which we all aspire. But something people never can afford. It seems frustration is what we will know. Until the Lord of Heaven makes a way; Until His healing balm begins to flow, And He makes it available each day. He’s already brought this thing about. They’ve met and kissed, Let’s give a “Glory” shout! Jim Strickland – 26th September 2011 ---oOo--

ENDURE TO THE END

There’s just one way to do things; we must complete the course.    The prize is when you get there; you cannot take by force. You may find it is difficult; there is no easy way. It’s when the job’s completed that we receive our pay. You cannot claim it earlier; Don’t think that at the start, That it is your entitlement; You have to play your part. We’d like it to be easier. We’d like to have it now. But you will have to put away and kill that “holy cow”. It’s what you have to work at, just as the Lord decreed. To ditch this opportunity will make you lost indeed. The gift of your salvation was given you by grace. But if you don’t continue, you’ll surely lose your place. It isn’t a works program; but know this thing for sure; The prize the Lord’s provided is yours if you endure. We like to think it’s easy. If you decide today, The Father will receive you, regardless, come what may. But that is a delusion. The “faith” that wins the crown Is given to the faithful. Backsliders are let down. The Lord above still loves them; He wants them all to stay. But there is a condition. Keep on the narrow way. He has no double standards. He loves us all the same; He’s said He will save anyone who calls on Jesus Name

But this includes repentance. We have to turn from sin. This is the pre-condition if we are going to win. And this must be ongoing; it’s not a once off choice. It calls for our endurance and listening to His voice. It isn’t just a ticket that keeps you safe from Hell; You have to keep on keeping on and loving Him as well. There’s fiery trials in front of you, not just a lazy stroll. You have to keep on going in order to be whole. It’s not a life for sissies; it’s not a feather bed. It’s walking with the Saviour until the day you’re dead. It’s suffering in public where anyone can see. It could include the plundering of all your property. But in the last analysis you’ll know His love is true You’ll realise there’s nothing that man can do to you, Will ever change or alter your faith in God Most High; Because you will walk with Him until the day you die. Jim Strickland – written Sunday, 25 September 2011

LET US DRAW NEAR

There isn’t an alternative; it’s quite enough for me, To serve the Lord Almighty wherever He may be. Perhaps He’s in the Temple? He may be in the field. No matter where the Master is, my will to Him I yield. He always is my refuge; my shelter from the storm. His Holy Presence is enough; I wish it was my norm. O Lord I love Your Temple; it’s where Your glory dwells. Just knowing Lord that You are there, it’s more than tongue can tell! I’d rather spend a day with you than in some other place. A thousand days without You; exceeds what I can face. I’d rather be a doorkeeper; I’d rather be on guard; Than following the other folk right into Satan’s yard. He can give me nothing but misery and pain. But Father, You provide for me more than I can explain. You give great satisfaction to those who draw in near. Your goodness and Your mercy, fill me with Holy fear. O Lord, You are my portion and my inheritance; To stray for just a moment makes very little sense. For if You are not present, what can protect my soul? No other in creation can ever make me whole. Why should I need protection when You are on my side? A thousand men will look at me, then run away and hide. They are intimidated; at times they even flee. It must be Jesu’s presence each one of them can see. O Lord my God why is this? Why is it they react? We’re forced to the conclusion your presence is a fact! And so we realise that when You are on the scene, They know about Your presence and just what that can mean. Perhaps the blood of Jesus is what they comprehend? Perhaps they know instinctively that they cannot defend, Against the One whose power is greater than their own?     But they will have to face You while they are all alone.

O Lord You opened up for us a new and better way. A route we didn’t know about until this very day; And since we are forgiven and can rely on You, We have a holy confidence in everything we do. So we can come in boldly before Your Fathers throne. And know He will receive us as if we are His own. Jim Strickland – written Saturday, 24 September 2011

HOMEWARD BOUND

It happened back in Egypt some thousand years ago. Our people in such slavery, we trust you’ll never know. The task-masters were vicious; our people felt the lash. The pace was unrelenting; they treated us like trash. Each Israelite was helpless; they couldn’t get away. And they’d succumbed to hopelessness as day succeeded day. It seemed we’d been forsaken for some four hundred years. But “God has not abandoned us”, this thought allayed our fears. And then the Lord sent Moses; he came at God’s behest. He led us as a people to a land the Lord had blessed. Then we were disobedient; and we were led away. This time it was to Babylon where we were forced to stay. As Jeremiah prophesied, we knew captivity; And seventy years later is when we were set free. We wondered why it happened. Then God made it so clear, Our people broke the covenant; that’s why He sent us here. He needed to bring discipline into our people’s ways. If we were disobedient, and not done what He says, The outcome would be punishment; and He would carry on, Until the last resistance in all of us had gone. The Lord had not abandoned us. It happened for the best. A mother can’t abandon the baby at her breast! Indeed that was unthinkable; He couldn’t turn away, The family of Abraham; with them He’d always stay. And so the Lord had answered; King Cyrus was in place; - Isaiah 44:28 We’d leave the Babylonians and all of that disgrace; To journey to Jerusalem to build a house of prayer, Where we could pray for Babylon and all that happened there. The Lord had not forgotten us. Our names had been engraved, Upon the palms of both His hands to make sure we were saved. The city of Jerusalem He said He can’t forget,     The picture of it’s shattered walls; before His face was set.

And so we were returning to our homeland once again. Not many would go back with us; a mere handful of men. Now we are on a journey, the temple to rebuild. We hope that when it’s finished, the Lord God will be thrilled. That is our chief intention; our discipline complete. O Lord, please undertake for us; we don’t need a repeat.  Jim Strickland – written Friday, 23 September 2011