YOU’LL NEVER BE ALONE

When I was in deep trouble with no one at my side; No person could assist me. So to the Lord I cried. I wasn’t sure if He would help; I’d only read His Word. I hoped that He would answer, provided that He heard! It only was a question, of how long it would take. But if it wasn’t quickly, I’d tremble and would shake. That’s when I started thinking, I’d cried too quietly. How could He give an answer, if He had not heard me? That’s when the thought occurred to me that I would have to shout Until I came to I realise, I needn’t be in doubt. The Lord is omnipresent, with hearing un-impaired. There really was no reason for me to feel so scared. He may delay His answer, until His chosen time. I only needed patience; I needn’t fret or pine. And then I heard Him whisper, “You’ll never be alone. I’m always right beside you. You are not on your own. Things may seem slow in coming, but as you trust in Me, I’ll change the situation and you will be set free. You’ll never be an orphan. You’ll know I’m always there; Not by some spooky feeling, but seeing that I care. I rescue those who love Me. I take them by the hand. I change their situation to something I have planned.” I knew that it was Jesus. I felt myself grow calm. No matter what might happen, no one could cause me harm. The world might suffer earthquakes; The mountains may fall down; He is my strength and refuge, in every part of town. He’s promised to preserve me; the wicked He’ll destroy; Resist their bad intentions and foil their every ploy. He fulfils the desires, of those who fear His Name. No matter what may happen, He’s constantly the same. So I will wait in silence. Salvation will appear! While I have His assurance, there’s nothing I need fear. Long life is what He’s promised, to those who trust in Him. Their strength will not diminish; their eyes will not grow dim. And so my hope is centred on Jesus Christ the Lord. If I will always trust Him, great will be my reward. So this is my confession. He is my God and King. And from this strong position, my praise to Him I bring. Jim Strickland – written Tuesday, 11 October 2011

TAKE US HOME

We’re in a sort of spaceship within eternity. We speak of Anno Domini and many years BC. But where was the beginning and where will it all end? The answer is infinity which causes minds to bend. We know God is eternal; that He has always been. The end is the beginning for Him Who is unseen. But we are all a prisoner in something we call time; This was itself created by Him Who is Divine. If you can understand this you’re cleverer than me. It doesn’t make a scrap of sense. It’s still a mystery! We all have a beginning. It’s called our day of birth; And we can only talk about what happens on this Earth. But Jesus has no limits for He created all. He made it for His pleasure. All things both great and small. And then He came to live with us and function as a man. We still can’t get to grips with the Father’s master plan. The gap between Creator and created is immense. So why He came to do it, makes very little sense. For God is “self sufficient” He hasn’t any needs. Our presence doesn’t change Him. It just impacts our deeds. He didn’t have to bother. He knew what we would do. In spite of all this knowledge, He made both me and you. He cannot be in error; that would be a mistake.      And that will never happen. There’s far too much at stake.

Exactly why He made us, we can’t identify. If I had got His knowledge, I wouldn’t even try. So long before He started and created you and me. He had to know the details of all future “history”. It hadn’t even happened; but somewhere in His mind, He knew that our conclusion in detail was outlined. And so the crucifixion was part of His great plan. There was no other way for Him to reconcile with man! So He has made us children of one great family. Thus Jesus is my Brother. It makes no sense to me. But then I didn’t do it! He worked the whole thing out So I stand in amazement and struggle with my doubt. He made us for His pleasure and wants to always be. At home with his creation; with folk like you and me. Jim Strickland – written Monday, 10 October 2011

A WARNING

The world is on a journey as fast as it can go. And when they think of Jesus, they think He’s rather slow. They far prefer to worship the god of breakneck speed; They don’t have time to have a break, their inner man to feed. At least they are consistent, convinced that they are right. And so they will not listen to God and see their plight. I think the word is stubborn. The Jews would not obey, The messages God sent them. “Perhaps some other day”, Would seem to be more accurate. They thought they should return, To slavery in Egypt. But soon they were to learn, That God does not give options. He tells us what to do. And if we’re disobedient, his Judgement will come true. They thought they had a “talisman”. The temple in their town, Just had to be inviolable. No man could throw it down. They thought that if they had it, the Lord would surely keep, Invaders far away from them, so they went back to sleep. And so the time rolled by them. The temple was secure. And if the enemy attacked, they would be saved for sure! And then one day it happened. The temple was erased. Their “lucky charm” had been destroyed and all of them were dazed. The people were all led away with no one left behind. Except the few who hid themselves and so were hard to find. They’d learned a dreadful lesson. God’s judgement was so sure. The only way for blessings was if they all were pure. The Lord is very patient. He gave them ample time, To do what He had told them. They didn’t care a dime! So off they went to Babylon; they were no longer free, To do the things they wanted. Their former godless spree, Was rudely interrupted; and all the people wept, Thinking of the covenant that very few had kept. The moral of this story is what we see today. If we are  insubordinate and simply disobey, The Lord will surely judge us, no matter what we think. He’ll take away our “temple props” and all of us will sink. Because He has no favourites. He treats us all the same. For that’s one of the reasons why the Messiah came. We think that we are special and we are free to sin; And that’s the basic reason for the problems we are in. The Lord’s been very patient. The warning signs went out, When Christians lost their reverence and then began to flout, The laws that He had given and said they don’t apply; And judgement is upon us and shortly we will die. He’s said the show is over. His wrath is on the boil. His judgement is approaching. The only way to foil, What’s tearing down upon us, like a supersonic plane, Is genuine repentance in Jesus’ Holy Name. Jim Strickland – written Sunday, 09 October 2011

THE OVER-COMING LIFE

The Scriptures tell us plainly that we must not fear men. But somehow we get scared of them again and then again. It’s not so much a fear of pain as fear of what they think. If we are called religious nuts, it drives us to the brink. We don’t like looking stupid when walking round and round. But it’s the things they say and think that push us underground. Deliberate hostility and dying for The Lord, Is somehow much preferable. For dying by the sword, Is much more like a hero. But words behind the back, Is more intimidating that their direct attack. We know that it is silly, but that is how we’re made. We’d rather die a million deaths than show we are afraid. Their sticks and stones may hurt us but words can harm us more. And being called a crazy man; -- let’s not go through that door. So when we stand before them, who wants to testify? We’d rather all be silent and wish that we could die. Embarrassment is horrible. It makes us look much less, Than what we want them all to think; “Dear Jesus, What a mess!” He speaks of this in Matthew. He warns what will take place. The ones who long for righteousness, this is what they will face. The people will insult them and tell a bunch of lies. They hated Him without a cause; to us this truth applies. They couldn’t stand His righteousness. It cut them to the core. And when we take a stand for Christ, they’ll hate us so much more. But really it’s no problem, provided we stand firm. Get used to names like “Jesus freak” or some related term. Always look to Jesus, our purpose and our goal. Knowing that if we stand firm, His love will make us whole. The devil may go frantic and burn us at the stake; The way they did with Cranmer. But we will not forsake, The One Who makes it worth it. We know they’ll do their worst. But if we stick with Jesus it’s not us who’ll be cursed. We’ll be an over-comer and will not be ashamed. The very opposite is true. By Jesus we’ll be claimed. We’ll live with Him forever. Like Him we may have scars. But that is so much better that Hell’s hot prison bars. And God will then have finished, that which He first began; To turn a sinner to a saint and make a “perfect” man. Jim Strickland – written Saturday, 08 October 2011

THE PRICE OF PRIDE

 I've often wondered why it is that God cannot abide

In any of His children, the smallest bit of pride.

Perhaps His understanding and mine are not the same.

For there are often times in life that other things are tame.

Perhaps my best example comes from several years ago.

My son had been in study for longer than I know.

He needed to be qualified so he could get ahead.

And he was being honoured the way Unisa said.

I sat there in the audience. My heart was filled with pride.

My wife and I were present and both of us just cried.

I think that this is not the pride the Lord considered bad.

It’s probable that in my place, that Jesus would be glad!

It’s rather like the pride between a father and a son.

Seeing him achieve a thing, I never could have done.

And when He saw His Son achieve the goal that He desired,

I’m sure that He was “proud” that Jesus did what was required.

Perhaps pride is destructive when its focus is on me?

That others aren’t important; how hateful that can be.

It contradicts completely what Jesus has achieved.

The Saviour gave His life away so we can be received.

It’s the complete antithesis of thinking, “I am great”.

And this is what the Father says He cannot tolerate.

The Lord has made each one of us, and we are only dust.

So when we feel superior, it fills Him with disgust.

A little speck of nothingness - for that is all we are -

Thinks he is important; some sort of shining star.

And struts round like a peacock with nose up in the air.

Thinking he is better than everybody there.

The problem is for most of us, it looks a lot like me.

And I am not alone in this; the great majority,

Of people who will read this are probably the same,

And need to be released from pride and joining in this game.

So let us start to realise, the world is more than “me”.

And others more important than we can ever be.

The measure of our greatness the Lord alone can tell,

And if we carry on in pride, our destiny is Hell.

I think this has convinced me that when I think I’m top;

The fact must be acknowledged that I am just a flop.

Perhaps we do not like it? perhaps we’d rather strut?

But if we all persist in this, we're some kind of a nut.

And we will have to come before the judge of all the earth,

And find that we have sacrificed our chance of second birth!

Jim Strickland – written Friday, 07 October 2011

GOD ALMIGHTY

We call Him God Almighty; but what is it we mean? We need this understanding to describe Who is unseen. It’s more than the ability to do what He will do. It’s infinite capacity for all that right and true. The Bible tells us “God is Love”. We know this for a fact. But He has other qualities which mean that He will act, Not only out of “mushiness” we think is nice and true. But tempered by those “qualities” defining what He’ll do. We know His love is infinite. His power is the same. His mercy and His justice don’t fit into our frame. He doesn’t have just little bits; He has all endlessly, The attributes which we ascribe to perfect Deity. For God does not have mercy. He’s mercy through and through. We know that He is mercy in all that He will do. All His many qualities reach to eternity. His justice and His mercy meet there at Infinity! Perhaps the way to put it is to say, He is ”I AM”. I’m Love; I’m Joy, I’m everything; the Lion and the Lamb. I do not have these qualities, these qualities are Me. Regardless of your need today, “I’m all you need to see”. We think it is impossible. How can God be so great? But there’s no limitation; no force can make Him wait. His power can cleanse the leper and cause the blind to see. And changing water into wine; He does it instantly. The Everlasting Father; the Mighty Prince of Peace. Our God created everything; He can make all things cease. He has all the authority in heaven, sea or land. There’s no one who can question Him or give Him a command. He’s infinitely capable. No force can tell Him “Nay”! Whatever He decides to do is done without delay. He’s not intimidated by armies which are vast. He only needs to wink an eye and with one mighty blast, Those forces will all disappear. For God all on His own, Is greater than the universe, or everything that’s known. Our horses, they are nothing; Our chariots are vain; No one can overcome Him; no power can ever tame, Our Wonderful Creator, our Saviour, Lord and King. For when it comes right down to it, He can do anything. Jim Strickland – written Thursday, 06 October 2011