FAITH WORKS BY LOVE

Some folk are most unhappy, that a Christian has to work. They think belief is adequate and they can sit and shirk, Away from their combining their faith along with deeds. To think that they can’t laze around, just violates their creeds. They think they are so special. Their Father is the King; And that they have a licence, for doing not a thing. And in their estimation, there’s one four letter word. The word is “work”; and by them, it never should be heard. “God will provide” they tell us. And if we answer “how”? You’d think we’d gone and slaughtered their favourite holy cow! “By faith” is what they comment. They do not understand, That God abhors the sluggard. And they are far too grand, To have to stoop to working. They get it all for free. “The Lord will somehow do it and give it all to me!” That’s not the Christianity that Jesus ever taught. It’s also not the Kingdom, into which they were brought. They haven’t read the Scripture that goes with work and food. Their hunger pangs will fix them and smash their idle mood! The same is true of everything that’s written in God’s word. You have to put your trust in Him and do what you have heard. For if you do not do it, your holiness is shot. And if we are not Holy, Salvation, we have not! Yes! There is a connection, ‘tween work and Holiness. They always go together; like soap and cleanliness! For cleanliness is possible by washing off the grime. And if you do not do it, you’re going to smell, big time! So faith and work are partners and both of them you need. They are the combination that will cause you to succeed. Faith is the foundation, on which our virtue rests. By working to acquire it we’re sure to pass His test. Then carry on to knowledge and then to self control; To steadfastness and godliness, that’s how you are made whole. But this requires effort; and work means just the same. You have to use your energy, to play the loving game. And finally when you are done and look back down the years; And think of all your effort, your eyes will fill with tears. For you will see historically how faith and work succeeds; And thank the Lord for what He did with faith and love and deeds. Jim Strickland – Written – 28th November 2011

THE GLORY OF GRACE

It’s hard to look at anything, that’s right before your nose. The more you keep on looking, the more frustration grows. You think you aught to see it, when it’s right before your eyes. But sometimes, it’s so obvious; you think it’s in disguise. You don’t expect to see it; that’s why it’s hard to spot. It’s not where you expected. It’s little, not a lot! It’s men who have this problem. The ladies often see, The thing which we are looking for, as quick as quick can be. It’s also expectations. We see the things we should. If something is invisible, it isn’t any good. No matter how you look at it, it simply isn’t there. Although we keep on looking, until look becomes a stare. We cannot see God’s glory. And that is just as well. If we approach too close to Him, He’d blast us into hell. It seems that Peter got it right. Please keep away he said. If You come any closer, I’m sure that I’ll be dead. Yet there have been some people who have looked and seen the Lord. Isaiah was just one of them and he was overawed. Of course there have been others, although it’s been quite few, It made a massive impact, on all that they would do. And then our Lord and Master, arrived upon the scene. But no one wondered who He was, or asked where He had been. He’d come here incognito. Our God in a disguise. He did it quite deliberately and it was no surprise, They didn’t recognise Him. How could they anyway? He didn’t tell them who He was; His glory tucked away. Not many folk would see Him and know He was the Lord. It wasn’t what was needed. They’d know as a reward! For faith was still essential to please the Lord Most High. So He could walk upon the earth, be crucified and die, Without the people knowing for certain it was He. They had to put their trust in Him although they couldn’t see, That He was the Messiah. The only way was trust. And this remains the only way, the children of the dust, Can ever really see Him. Faith is the only way, That He will let us come to Him; and it’s still true today. To really see His glory; One glance into His face. Reveals the radiant glory of the One who saves by grace. Jim Strickland – Written 27th November 2011

BEULAH

Is there a comparison between the Lord and me? The Lord God is dimensionless, yet fills infinity. That really is humungous! The Cosmos is in Him. And we are like a grain of sand when all the lights go dim! To say that man is nothing, suggests we have some worth. But we’re less than an insect, when it has given birth. So here then is the paradox. He is the Lord Most High And we amount to nothing. Too small to catch His eye. So when He says He “sees” us. His “vision” is acute,

To see us in infinity! But we cannot refute, The fact that He created us. He made us out of dust. It’s smaller than a grain of sand; and so my mind goes “bust”. He sees us and He loves us. He says we’re His delight. He says He’s going to marry us. Our troth to Him we’ll plight! The whole thing seems incongruous. A tadpole and a whale! How ever can the marriage work? It seems destined to fail. But Jesus has no limits. With us He can relate. So can we say our marriage is merely tempting fate? Perhaps He has a microscope about as big as He. How else could Jesus ever spot the likes of you and me? But Jesus can do anything. He tells us not to fear. He says He’s called us all by name and is forever near. He tells us we’ve been ransomed. We’re His and His alone. There’s no way to forget us. He has already shown, That if a nursing mother, with her baby at her breast, Forgets about her baby. That is the acid test. She never will forget her babe. That’s how much Jesus cares, For each and every Christian. That’s how His love compares, For each one of His children. The nail-prints in His hands, Are like some great engraving that we all understand. He tells us that our houses are constantly in sight. The walls that they are made of are always His delight. We are His “Pocket money”. Although He owns it all; We are the “special treasure” with whom He has a ball! He says He has compassion like a father for a son. Each one of us is “special”. No matter what we’ve done, He longs to share each one of us. To take us to His Dad. And live with Him forever. For dust, that’s not too bad! Jim Strickland – Written 26th November 2011

THE BOND SLAVE

From one slave to another; who do you serve today? It’s either sin and Satan, or Jesus you obey. The two are incompatible. You cannot serve them both. You cannot have two masters. For if you try, your loath, To tell the other party, that you’re not on his side. You’re either Satan’s follower, or part of Jesus’ bride. Jesus came to break the power that Satan held through sin      He utterly defeated him, so that you too can win,

Your battle with the darkness. But which one will you choose? To follow Christ or Satan? You’ll either win or lose. While you were in his clutches, Satan owned your soul. He kept you in his kingdom, you couldn’t be made whole. It wasn’t in his interests, to ever set you free. But Jesus Christ defeated him and gave you victory. Now in your new found freedom, you have a choice to make. To always follow Jesus. You even could forsake, The One Who gave you liberty. In Jesus you are free; To be a slave of Satan or stay in liberty. Now Jesus won’t enslave you. There are no chains in love. So if you choose to serve Him and follow God above, You have to do it willingly. It must be by your choice. But you can be His bond slave and listen to His voice. Be a slave of righteousness, don’t long to run away. Know that in His service, with you He’ll always stay. And since you are His bond slave, His wish is your command; And you will do the things He says, for that is what you’ve planned. There is no independence. He owns you heart and soul. You do not want to leave Him. His will is now your goal. Live as though your destiny is in His hands alone. You will be obedient and will not moan and groan. You’ll lay your life aside for Him, because He knows what’s best. There’s no need to experiment, for you to pass the test. You’ll take His yoke upon you and find His burden light. You will not try to go your way; You keep Him in your sight. For you are in His covenant; His love is all supreme. You do not want to leave Him, not even in a dream. For Christ has captivated you. With Him you want to stay. And be His willing bond-slave forever and a day. Jim Strickland – Written 25th November 2011

WHAT MARY SAW

One look into the Bible and what is it we see?

A most extraordinary man, who’s also deity.

A man who walked among us, whom few could understand.

Who always gave the answer, though questions were unplanned.

He was the firstborn offspring in Mary’s family.

Joseph was her husband. What sort of man was he?

There’s not much information. Perhaps an older man,

Who seemed to care for Mary, the way good husbands can.

He wasn’t sure who Jesus was, but knew the Lord had said,

He wanted him to care for her and that they were to wed.

How long they lived together, we really do not know.

But they remained a family, who loved their mother so.

Now Jesus was an “oddball” He didn’t seem to fit.

He always was obedient; He always did submit.

Not like the average person, He seemed to be far more,

Than any other man they’d seen, who came through their front door.

Then Joseph died and Mary was left to soldier on.

She knew her son was different. Then after He had gone,

And started as a rabbi, the tales she heard were strange.

Some said that He was going mad and was a bit deranged.

They said He was beside Himself. His teachings didn’t fit.

Where did He get these strange ideas? They didn’t help a bit!

So she and all her children; went off to bring Him home.

If He’d become a lunatic, they couldn’t let Him roam.

And so they went to fetch Him. They couldn’t stand aside.

They found where He was speaking and then they really tried

To get Him to go with them. She called Him as her son.

But He replied His “family” would see God’s Word was done!

This really was no answer. His words caused great offence.

She saw that He would carry on and then it made good sense.

He had to take His message; His Kingdom was at hand;

This couldn’t be a madman; His vision was too grand.

He had to serve His Father; Not Joseph; He was dead.

He had to serve the Living God, wherever He was led.

He had to take His shining light, so everyone could see,

That God was in their presence and they could all be free.

She knew what soon would happen; She knew that He would die;

She knew this very son of hers was truly God Most High!

And so she watched Him leaving. A vast crowd was in tow.

They said that they would follow Him, no matter where He’d go.

But it was quite impossible; His death, a certainty;

In front of Him there was a cross as sure as sure could be.

And so she watched Him walk away with sadness in her heart.

She knew it was impossible, to not to play His part.

And deep within her spirit she knew this was the best.

No other way was possible, for mankind to be blessed.

Jim Strickland – written 24^th November 2011.

FULLY PROTECTED

When we think of protection, what do we have in mind?

A special type of glasses to stop us going blind?

Perhaps a special hearing aid to keep the volume low?

And then there is God’s armour to keep us on the go.

We know that this will help us. But we are flesh and bone.

A very small car accident could leave us on our own.

Our fear of drunken drivers is very, very real.

They take the lives of many folk inside their cage of steel.

The wars that we have heard about and some of us have seen,

Remind us of our frailty and how exposed we’ve been.

We think it is a lottery. The ones we sat beside,

Have vanished like the morning mist as all of them have died.

We hold on tight to what we have. We say that life is sweet.

But every one of us some day the Lord our God will meet.

We think we are protected from every sort of harm;

Provided we are carrying our favourite lucky charm.

Never go out in the cold without your woollen vest.

When you go to functions make sure you are well dressed.

But this is not protection! It’s leaving things to luck!

That in the face of danger that you know when to duck.

But there is a much better way, a way that’s guaranteed.

A way to get assistance, when in your time of need.

Turn to God Almighty and there beneath His wing,

You’ll find there is an answer to each and everything.

His armour will protect you. His life will be in you.

You’ll find His promise faithful in everything you do.

No enemy will harm you. For if they even try,

They’ll find they are attacking the apple of His eye.

No matter what is happening, if you will just stand firm.

You’ll find that His salvation will last an extra term.

In trouble He’s your refuge; your overwhelming strength.

No matter what’s confronting you, He’ll go to any length

To keep away the arrows which fly at you at night.

The power of His Spirit will put your foes to flight.

So do not be discouraged and do not be dismayed.

There is no need to tremble; no need to be afraid.

For you will find Him with you and granting you His peace.

This is your true protection which nevermore need cease.

Jim Strickland – Written 23^rd November 2011