HOW ARE YOUR SHEEP?

Time with Jesus - Monday, 23 April 2012

Hi all,

Have a great day!

Blessings

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Time with Jesus – Monday, 23 April 2012
INTRODUCTION		DAILY LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES					HOW ARE YOUR SHEEP?
Isaiah warned us that we are like a flock of sheep who have wandered off and are lost. I first read this with mixed feelings. To liken us to sheep is hardly complimentary. To me, a lion or a bear seems much more appropriate. In the world of flying things I felt we would be best described as an eagle. But after reflecting on this for a while, the truth dawned on me. We really are like a flock of sheep. We are oblivious of any danger and with a willingness to wander and get lost! Isaiah was “right on”. Later, when I found that David shared Isaiah’s opinion, it was confirmed. The clincher was Jesus. “My sheep hear My voice” He stated. I really couldn’t quibble any longer.  “Baaah” was my response. Looking back over my own life, the truth of the statement becomes abundantly clear. Christians, in general and me in particular, consistently pursue our own agenda and tell others, “The Lord said!” The fact that He has had to rescue me from blind alleys and deliberate disobedience, more often than I care to admit, is a fact of life. I suppose my “sheep-life” embarrasses me. Today, I’m rather glad the Lord called us sheep. People talk of a “dumb ox” or a “stupid sheep”. He knows all about my life and my willingness to do my own thing. In a glorious way, it seems He expects it. I don’t like speaking about the Lord’s expectations. To me when you are omniscient, as He is, He knows what we are going to do. It’s not a matter of expectations. If I know for an absolute fact that something is going to happen on Saturday, it’s not an expectation. It’s foreknowledge. What is particularly beautiful to me is that I am His sheep and He is my Shepherd. Phyllida and I are constantly doing our very best to hear His voice. With both of us listening to hear His voice, today we “miss it” less than we used to do. It’s comforting to know that His sheep hear His voice. It’s even more comforting, that His little lambs are still learning to hear His voice. Indeed, they plod along after the rest of the flock, learning to attune their ears to the voice of the Shepherd. One of the wonderful things about being a sheep is that it’s the sheep that produce the sheep! The shepherd is not responsible for reproduction within His flock. That’s the sheep’s responsibility. It’s your job and mine to bring new sheep into the flock. Sure, He will help. But the responsibility is yours and mine. The other thing that thrills me about being a sheep is that I can trust my Shepherd. He will never leave me nor desert me! Jim and Phyllida Strickland		6 We're all like sheep who've wandered off and gotten lost. We've all done our own thing, gone our own way. And GOD has piled all our sins, everything we've done wrong, on him, on him. Isaiah 53:6 MSG					Of all the animals to choose, the sheep is not the best. The Lord says we are like them. A curse, or are we blessed? It hard to understand it. Sheep are not very clever. Do they think of the future? The answer’s surely “never”. They seldom think of anything. They wander where they choose. And when the predator appears, they just ignore the news. They keep on nibbling the grass. It seems they do not care, That something is pursuing them. They’re surely not aware, Of the impending danger. They simply chew and chew. Even if a lion, or bear comes into view, It doesn’t seem to bother them; then one gets an alarm! They think if they are scattering, they’ll keep away from harm! The have no self protection. They have no teeth at all. Except a set of grinders, that seems to be too small. They do not have a set of horns, except perhaps the rams. And they don’t have a system of caring for the lambs. They stand in line awaiting the flashing butcher’s knife. They clearly do not understand the threat upon their life. They seem to want to give themselves and offer up their throat. So when it comes to “stupid” they surely get my vote. This isn’t complimentary and Jesus says that we, Are like these foolish creatures. Could it be you or me? Well let’s just think about it; does it describe us well? I think perhaps it really does, as best as I can tell. How often are we listening to hear the Master’s voice? And when it comes to feeding, do we display a choice? We still insist on going where we have always been; And seldom seem to bother if the pasture’s good and clean! And what about the water? What do we think today? Do we resist the Holy Ghost and turn ourselves away, From looking at the Word of God to check out what’s the truth? Are we growing spiritually, or are we still a youth? Are we standing in a line, listening to men, Queuing up for slaughter in some false profit’s den? Do we know our Shepherd and hear the things He says? Or listening to a charlatan and following his ways? What is our condition? Bleeding, ripped and torn? What about the little lambs who’ve only just been born? Are we in a program? Do our leaders care, If we are attending or wandered off elsewhere? Do you have a ministry; is it being used? Are you being helpful or feeling you’re abused? Are you contributing in the place you meet each week? Or just another visitor who’s not allowed to speak? Are you now a shepherd without a flock to lead? Then now’s the time to find them and help each one to feed. Jim Strickland – Written 23rd April 2012
		8 If we claim that we're free of sin, we're only fooling ourselves. A claim like that is errant nonsense. 9 On the other hand, if we admit our sins--make a clean breast of them--he won't let us down; he'll be true to himself. He'll forgive our sins and purge us of all wrongdoing. 1 John 1:8-9 MSG
		10 As the Scriptures say, "No one is righteous--not even one. 11 No one is truly wise; no one is seeking God. 12 All have turned away; all have become useless. No one does good, not a single one." Romans 3:10-12 NLT
		25 You were like lost sheep. Now you have come back to the shepherd and bishop of your lives. 1 Peter 2:25 GW
		176 I have strayed like a lost sheep. Seek your servant, for I have not forgotten your commands. Psalms 119:176 NIV
		3 He renews my soul. He guides me along the paths of righteousness for the sake of his name. Psalms 23:3 GW
		27 "My sheep listen to my voice. I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never die. No one can steal them out of my hand. John 10:27-28 NIrV
		4 He said, "Suppose one of you has 100 sheep and loses one of them. Won't he leave the 99 in the open country? Won't he go and look for the one lost sheep until he finds it? Luke 15:4 NIrV
Compiled – Monday, 23 April 2012	P O Box 1694, Randpark Ridge, 2156, South Africa			Page 1 of 1	14 Conduit Street, Johannesburg North, 2153, South Africa			Printed - Sunday, 22 April 2012
Email - jim.s@telkomsa.net - ejsnpbs@gmail.com Phyllida@telkomsa.net	Mobile +2782 755 8872		Jim & Phyllida Strickland			Home+2711 462 4061; Neotel+2711 234 5670		Fax +2786 531 4962
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TOO BIG A THOUGHT

Time with Jesus - Sunday, 22 April 2012

Hi all,

Swaziland is great. I’ve spent the past few hours watching the trees grow. Not very stimulating or exciting; but very relaxing. Perfect for pensioners on holiday!

I’m still experimenting with an easier way to “blog” my poetry

Blessings

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Time with Jesus – Sunday, 22 April 2012
INTRODUCTION		DAILY LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES					TOO BIG A THOUGHT
My father was sent to South Africa by his company in 1947. We arrived in Cape Town in the middle of January. I have only dim, indistinct memories of the sea voyage from Southampton to Cape Town on the Carnarvon Castle. At that time the ship was still built as a troop ship so the women and children were on one side and the men on the other. After the austerity of WW2 in UK, Mom told me years later that she thought she was seeing “fairyland” All the lights were on and rationing was a thing of the past. My fifth birthday took place two months later. I’ve got a couple of faint memories of war-time UK. So faint that I’m not sure if they were genuine or my imagination. There was one incident from those days which I’ll never forget. Somehow or other I managed to lock myself in a cupboard in my grand-parents’ house. The incident is unclear. The feeling of utter terror still lives in my memory. Sure, I was rescued “double quick” but that terror invaded my psyche and at times comes back. It’s probably demonic. But that doesn’t help a four year old child. A little later, in Durban in Glenwood, I was lying on my back on the hotel lawn and looking up at the sky. Suddenly the enormity of it “hit me” and that feeling of terror returned. It was a panic attack. After a while I calmed down but had these two memories that influenced me for more years than I prefer to remember. Satan was behind it and for many years I struggled with them. It took 48 years for me understand it. Why? Hadn’t Jesus delivered me from panic attacks when I was 18 and committed my life to Him? Yes and No! The sad thing is that it took 30 years before I could “walk in my healing”. Why? I don’t know. One thing I did establish was that it was part of a fear of death. Some folk would say Christian maturity; or immaturity, if you prefer. There is much truth in this. I suspect it sprang out of a feeling of being out of control. A four year old has no control over a cupboard door. A child has no control over the size of the universe! One truth is that the younger we are, the more we look forward and enjoy the prospect of life! We don’t want to die. The younger we are, the more we seek to prolong life. Now, at the other end of life, it’s good to know that although I share the same fear of death as the average Christian, it is no longer an issue. I’m not asking to die, but have realised that it’s inevitable. Moreover, as more and more bits of me cease to function with the precision they had 30 years ago, the more I’m looking forward to a resurrection body. I suppose I could say that the fear of death is slowly diminishing. Some day in the future when everything has shut down, I’ll go and be with Jesus. That’s exciting. Indeed, Paul commented that he was .looking forward to going home and his resurrection body 54 When this body that decays is changed into a body that cannot decay, and this mortal body is changed into a body that will live forever, then the teaching of Scripture will come true: "Death is turned into victory! 55 Death, where is your victory? Death, where is your sting?"1 Corinthians 15:54-55 GW. Sounds great to me! Jim and Phyllida Strickland		13 Great is your love for me. You have kept me from going down into the grave. Psalm 86:13 NIrV					We know it is inevitable, everyone must die. And yet although we know it, the thoughts just pass us by. We know it’s not attractive to think about our death. We think somehow we’ll miss it and fight for every breath. But it is an illusion. We’ll all be dead some day. Unless our Lord and Master “raptures” us away. For Jesus Christ can do it. He’s God and has the power, To stop us going to the grave on any day or hour. He’s done it for two others. He’s risen from the grave. He is in fact the only One Who has the power to save. Some other men have claimed this. But it is only lies. Which we will see the instant our mortal body dies. In any case, they’re people. The same as me and you. And saving anybody is something we can’t do. But Jesus Christ can do it. He is the One to fear. Yes! He has the ability to draw salvation near. He says He has redeemed us and called us all by name. No other man was good enough to take away sin’s shame. A man can’t save another. The cost is far too high. To think that I am good enough! “That’s pie up in the sky!” So I have been disqualified. I cannot do for me, What Jesus came and did for us upon Mount Calvary. A human life Is special; the cost is very steep. But Jesus died for all of us. That can’t be seen as cheap. The life of God is worth much more than all whom He has made. So if He died for all of us, the price is fully paid. So Jesus paid our ransom. He paid it with His blood. For all the sinful people He’d fashioned out of mud. He did it in His mercy; He did it by His grace. He did it so that wicked men could look Him in the face. It was His sense of justice He had to satisfy; And every sin demanded that someone had to die. All of us are sinners. It’s death we all must reap. A coffin is our future home where we will be “asleep” Then at the time decided He’ll call us from the grave. We’ll rise when He commands it and enter His enclave. We’ll be with Him in glory and death will then be dead. A thought that is a bit too big to squeeze into my head! Jim Strickland – Written 22nd April 2012.
		28 "Don't be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Matthew 10:28 NLT
		1 But now thus says the LORD, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. Isaiah 43:1 ESV
		11 I, yes I, am the LORD, and there is no other Saviour. Isaiah 43:11 NLT
		25 "I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins. Isaiah 43:25 ESV
		6 They trust in their wealth. They brag about how rich they are. 7 No man can pay for the life of anyone else. No one can give God what that would cost. 8 The price for a life is very high. No payment is ever enough. Psalms 49:6-8 NIrV
		24 He is merciful to him, and says, 'Deliver him from going down into the pit; I have found a ransom; Job 33:24 ESV
		4 But God is so rich in mercy, and He loved us so much, 5 that even though we were dead because of our sins, He gave us life when He raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God's grace that you have been saved!) Ephesians 2:4-5 NLT
		12 No one else can save us. Indeed, we can be saved only by the power of the one named Jesus and not by any other person." Acts 4:12 GW
Compiled – Sunday, 22 April 2012	P O Box 1694, Randpark Ridge, 2156, South Africa			Page 1 of 1	14 Conduit Street, Johannesburg North, 2153, South Africa			Printed - Sunday, 22 April 2012
Email - jim.s@telkomsa.net - ejsnpbs@gmail.com Phyllida@telkomsa.net	Mobile +2782 755 8872		Jim & Phyllida Strickland			Home+2711 462 4061; Neotel+2711 234 5670		Fax +2786 531 4962
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