IN PRAISE OF GOD

Time with Jesus - Sunday, 17 June 2012

Hi all,

Today’s Scriptures are all about praise. So what I’ve done is reach back into history and select a couple of poems that express praise for God. The first is a “Jimmet” (Jim style sonnet) the second is a very simple praise poem. Written in the late 1980’s they express praise for God in an uncomplicated way.

Blessings

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Sunday, 17 June 2012			Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give
©	These devotionals are the intellectual property of Jim Strickland and copyright protected. You are welcome to copy and distribute them to anyone provided it is for non-commercial Christian purposes					©
	INTRODUCTION		DAILY LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES	IN PRAISE OF GOD
Felines are our favourite pets. The Tabby Point Siamese is our preferred variety but that does not exclude that other much loved breed, the “Pavement Special”. Cats have not always been my favourite pet, Originally, I preferred dogs. Then as I started to explore Scripture, I found that the Jewish people spoke of the Gentiles as dogs. As a “Gentile Christian” this did nothing for my self-esteem. Perhaps an early version of the “pity-party? Phyllida has been a “cat person” for more years than we care to admit. Needless to say this strongly motivated my shift from canines to felines. Another influencing factor was my finding a cat in the Bible. I was fairly young at the time and I came across what I thought must have been a magnificent cat. It was an astonishing discovery. It’s in the Anglican Prayer book. Called the Magnificat! I concluded then it was a combination of “magnificent” and “cat”. Ah! The bliss of youthful ignorance. Subsequently I’ve learned that these were the words spoken by Mary when she visited Elizabeth her cousin. The dialogue between them is one of the most beautiful words ever expressed in Scripture. Mary’s words to Elizabeth in Luke 1:46-55 are known as the Magnificat. I’m no language specialist but am told that Mary’s words in the KJV are “46 And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord.” Luke 1:46 KJV Elizabeth’s words to Mary, “42 And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb”. Luke 1:42 KJV These words are now a part of Roman Catholic tradition known as the “Hail Mary”. It may have a fancy name in Roman Catholic circles. If so, I don’t know what it is. We are told that praise is the highest form of worship. I hesitate to say that this is true of spontaneous praise and not ritualistic praise. This may be a little unfair. Many sincere Episcopalian churches exclude any form of free worship; the members only sing hymns and choruses. For them, this is their highest form of worship. For free church members, spontaneous praise is encouraged. Phyllida and I prefer spontaneous Pentecostal Praise and Worship. We realise that “singing in tongues” is not accepted in some quarters. So if this offends you, please accept my apologies. For us, the limitations of language, restricts spontaneity. So we love singing in the Spirit. Somehow in a way we don’t understand, the Holy Spirit enables us to break free of language limitations and express our praise for Him in ways we will never really comprehend. There is a line in the Hymn, “Love Divine” which describes what I mean beautifully. “Lost in wonder, love and praise.” To do this, we find it takes place when singing in an unknown tongue. Jim & Phyllida Strickland			10 Everything that you have made will give thanks to you, O LORD, and your faithful ones will praise you. Psalm 145:10 GW Of David. 1 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! 2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits. Psalm 103:1-2 ESV Of David, when he changed his behaviour before Abimelech, so that he drove him out, and he went away. 1 I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. Psalm 34:1 ESV 2 I'll bless you every day, and keep it up from now to eternity. Psalm 145:2 MSG 3 Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. 4 I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. 5 I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you. Psalm 63:3-5 TNIV 46 And Mary said: "My soul glorifies the Lord 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour, 48 for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, 49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me - holy is his name. Luke 1:46-49 TNIV 11 "You are worthy, our Lord and God! You are worthy to receive glory and honour and power. You are worthy because you created all things. They were created and they exist. That is the way you planned it." Revelation 4:11 NIrV	IN PRAISE OF GOD'S GREATNESS Praise You Lord of earth and sea and sky, For honour, might and power all apply Unto the wondrous maker of the Earth; The architect of the whole universe! Blessed be my gracious Lord and King; The God Whose Name eclipses everything; Who holds all of creation in His hand And framed the worlds by His Divine command. The God above all Gods; The Holy One; Too glorious for man to look upon; Just to catch a glimpse of Him brings death Because His radiant glory steals our breath. The God above; The owner of my soul, I praise His Name, His virtues I extol. Jim Strickland – Written 1988 IN PRAISE OF GOD Thank You for creation Lord; Thank You for Your Living Word; Thank You for the Bread of Life; Thank You for my darling wife. Lord, I bless and praise Your name For, constantly You are the same; The God of all eternity; The One who caused all things to be! The King; The Lord; El Shaddei; The One who never tells a lie; The Sinless One without a spot; The only One who changes not! Lord, I worship You today; Lift my voice to You and say, “Blessed be my God and King." “You are The Lord of everything!" Jim Strickland Written 1988

FINISHING THE RACE

Time with Jesus - Saturday, 16 June 2012

Hi all,

How do we cope with being a Christian in the 20^th/21^st century? It really depends on your commitment and willingness to carry on. It also depends on what we regard as “success”. I think our ideas and Jesus’ ideas are not the same. How we get on is the subject of today’s meditation

Blessings

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Saturday, 16 June 2012			Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give
©	These devotionals are the intellectual property of Jim Strickland and copyright protected. You are welcome to copy and distribute them to anyone provided it is for non-commercial Christian purposes					©
	INTRODUCTION		DAILY LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES	FINISHING THE RACE
Stick-ability. One of the most difficult things we face as Christians and as people is to keep on keeping on. Many of us are excellent starters. But then it becomes boring and we stop. Perhaps the best example of this is going to the gym. We go and sign up for a fixed period. Usually two or three years. Then we go along for the first time. It’s new and exciting. It’s a bit like the first bloom of love. Wonderful. We’ll do this forever. After a couple of weeks, the gilt starts to wear off the gingerbread and our enthusiasm wanes. After about three months, it gets a bit tedious. All that keeps us going is the fact that we’ve paid up front for two or three years. It cost us a lot of money and we don’t want to lose it. Then we don’t attend as often as we should. Then finally we get to the stage where it’s too much of a schlep. Perhaps we’ve paid lots of money. But the investment is forgotten and we pull out. Of course there are those who carry on to the bitter end. There are also those who have made a commitment and the gym becomes a regular lifestyle. Which type are you? Things are not a lot different in Christianity. Jesus’ parable of the sower puts it in perspective. Today, things are little different. I remember the joy that overflowed in my heart when the Lord found me. Things somehow looked different. They were! But suddenly I found that many of my former habits and beliefs had to be put aside. This was not a problem at first. Then after a few months, friends wanted me to do some of the things I felt were incompatible with being a Christian. It was a struggle to say “No!” Sadly, I lost many of these friends. At the time I thought it was what the Lord wanted me to do. On reflection I think it was more a question putting on a Christian face for Christian people. I’m sorry now that I lost those friends. Within six months I only had Christian friends. It sounds very noble and right. But my former friends were no longer impacted for Jesus. I’d isolated myself from “ungodly influence” and was regarded as a freak. There was a movie on the circuit in those days called “Elmer Gantry”. I have it on DVD. It was the story of an unsavoury “evangelist” who had one purpose in mind. He wanted to corrupt the Salvation Army Lady Officer who was the heroine. How he did this and the way he “duped” people into giving their lives to Jesus, I found very disturbing. It still happens. Some men will do almost anything to corrupt a faithful and devoted young woman who wants nothing more than to serve Jesus. Why I mention this is that one morning I came to work and found that my wooden toolbox had been painted. Someone wrote “Elmer Gantry” in paint on my toolbox. It reflected his opinion of my Christian witness. It is 50 years since that happened. Hopefully I’ve learned one or two things in the interim. Even so, I recognise how unloving and objectionable I was back then. Perhaps the only thing I can comment usefully on from those days of objectionable arrogance, is that many men have made commitments to Jesus since then. Many of them are no longer even pretending to follow Jesus. My problem is I cannot quit. I’ve tried to do it, but the pain of being without Him is worse than the pain of following Him. So now, all these years later for Phyllida and me there is no longer an alternative. He is our reason for living. Even so, Come Lord Jesus! Jim & Phyllida Strickland			11 I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take away your crown. Revelation 3:11 NLT 21 She thought, "If I only touch his clothes, I'll get well." Matthew 9:21 GW 2 Suddenly, a man with leprosy approached Him and knelt before Him. "Lord," the man said, "if You are willing, You can heal me and make me clean." 3 Jesus reached out and touched him. "I am willing," He said. "Be healed!" And instantly the leprosy disappeared. Matthew 8:2-3 NLT 20 He said to them, "Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you." Matthew 17:20 ESV 35 So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! Hebrews 10:35 NLT 12 My dear friends, you have always obeyed God. You obeyed while I was with you. And you have obeyed even more while I am not with you. So continue to work out your own salvation. Do it with fear and trembling. 13 God is working in you. He wants your plans and your acts to be in keeping with his good purpose. Philippians 2:12-13 NIrV 28 The earth does it all without his help: first a green stem of grass, then a bud, then the ripened grain. Mark 4:28 MSG 3 Let us know; let us press on to know the LORD; his going out is sure as the dawn; he will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth." Hosea 6:3 ESV 12 From the time of John the Baptizer until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful people have been seizing it. Matthew 11:12 GW 24 Don't you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! 1 Corinthians 9:24 NLT 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. 8 And now the prize awaits me--the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of His return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to His appearing. 2 Timothy 4:7-8 NLT	We talk of Christian giants and of faithful men of old. I’m sure they won’t agree with you; such comments leave them cold. We speak of William Wigglesworth and all that he achieved: But if he heard us speak like that, I’m sure he would feel grieved. We think he was “successful”; that he was greatly blessed. But if we go and ask him, I’m sure he’d have confessed; He only did his duty as His Master’s “worthless slave” “Well done My faithful servant!” is all he’d really craved. I think that D L Moody and Spurgeon would agree, That when their race was over, “The master came for me! It was no great achievement” is what they both would say. “The only thing I ever did was Jesus all the way!” We see the self-same attitude to Timothy from Paul. Some would say, “successful” But he’d say, “Not at all!” “Perhaps my best achievement was finishing the race. In spite of all the problems I was required to face! Just one thing kept me going; to run to win the prize. And see the loving-kindness expressed in Jesus eyes! I am no Christian giant. I don’t deserve a thing. I laboured for my Master. To Him, my praise I bring.” I’m sure no matter who you ask they’ll answer just the same. That everything they ever did was done in Jesus name. The woman got her healing through the tassels on His shawl. Then Jesus told her firmly, her faith had done it all. She knew that He could do it and she stretched forth her hand. Her bleeding stopped and she was healed by His inward command. He cleansed the man with leprosy; He raised men from the dead. He was the one who did it, just as His Father said. So let us all be honest. It isn’t me or you. It’s all the work the Father said that Jesus was to do. There are no Christian giants. There’s only you and me To do what He has told us, and be what we should be. We’re called to serve His purpose; to listen to His voice And do what He’s commanded, like it’s our only choice. We’re called to go the distance. To finish with a flair. To know, whatever happens, Christ Jesus will be there. To face up to our challenges and never ever quit. For those who do not finish, are certainly unfit, To go into His Kingdom. The Righteous crown we’ll wear, Only at the finish line. We’ve got to “hang in there”. So do not slip or stumble and put the race aside For if you do, you’ll surely find, you’ve been disqualified. Jim Strickland  Written 16th June 2012

ASK THE FATHER IN MY NAME

Time with Jesus - Friday, 15 June 2012

Hi all,

Today we take a look at meanings. What did Jesus mean when He said, ²³ At that time you won't need to ask Me for anything. I tell you the truth, you will ask the Father directly, and He will grant your request because you use My name. John 16:23 NLT This is today’s meditation.

Blessings

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Friday, 15 June 2012			Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give
©	These devotionals are the intellectual property of Jim Strickland and copyright protected. You are welcome to copy and distribute them to anyone provided it is for non-commercial Christian purposes					©
	INTRODUCTION		DAILY LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES	ASK THE FATHER IN MY NAME
I’m sure I’ve mentioned before that Jesus found me in 1960. I didn’t find Him. I was the one who was lost. He knew exactly where I was and He found me. What it does mean, is that I’ve been in and around Christianity for just about 52 years. That does not necessarily mean that I’ve got 52 years of experience. There is a subtle difference between repetition and experience. For example, a teacher may have taught grade 4 for forty years. She may have 40 years teaching experience. It is also possible that she has one year’s experience repeated forty times. The same is true in Christianity. Many have not progressed any further than Grade one. They may have gone round and round in circles like the Israelites in the wilderness and learned virtually nothing. Of course our lecture and pew system does almost nothing to get men and women busy serving the Lord. How can they? It’s easier to be entertained than active. One thing I have observed over the past 50 years is that generally speaking, prayer seldom seems to assist. This is not intended as a criticism. It appears to be one of the facts of Christianity. Statistically only 3% of prayers for healing are answered. Incidentally, I’m not excluding my own prayers in this. Why is this? I don’t have a complete answer. But it seems that many Christians approach God rather like a slot machine. You know what I mean. We pray to the Father in Jesus Name. Then nothing happens. This is incongruent with Jesus’ words in John 16. Now we all know that God is timeless. What Jesus said to the 11 disciples back there at the gates of the temple, is as applicable now as it was when Jesus spoke them. So, what’s the problem? Why doesn’t it work out like that? I can’t accept that the problem lies with God. It lies with us. Thirty years ago I was taught that the difficulty was lack of faith on our behalf. We needed to develop our “faith” muscle rather like a body-builder develops his muscles. At first I accepted that. But on reflection it would mean that healing depends on you and me rather than on the grace of God. I’m not denying the need for us to have faith in God. But to say that it depends on our attaining the right amount to trigger the grace of God! That’s nonsense. I’d like to suggest that in Christianity over the past 30 years, the emphasis has moved away from God to an emphasis on you and me. Praying to the Father in Jesus’ Name has become a religious “mantra” Something to “tack on” at the end of our prayer in an effort to get the Lord to give us what we have asked for. This attitude will have as much effect on the Lord as the Tibetan prayer wheels which get blown round in the wind. The “results” over the past few years confirms this. Occasionally the “slot machine” spits out a bonanza. God help us get back to genuine Christianity; putting Jesus and not ourselves, first in everything. Jim & Phyllida Strickland			27 And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God's own will. Romans 8:27 NLT 23 At that time you won't need to ask Me for anything. I tell you the truth, you will ask the Father directly, and He will grant your request because you use My name. 24 You haven't done this before. Ask, using My name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy. John 16:23-24 NLT 18 Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, Ephesians 6:18 ESV 14 There is one thing we can be sure of when we come to God in prayer. If we ask anything in keeping with what he wants, he hears us. 15 If we know that God hears what we ask for, we know that we have it. 1 John 5:14-15 NIrV 3 God's will is for you to be holy, so stay away from all sexual sin. 1 Thessalonians 4:3 NLT 7 For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. 8 Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you. 1 Thessalonians 4:7-8 ESV 16 Always be joyful. 17 Never stop praying. 18 Give thanks no matter what happens. God wants you to thank him because you believe in Christ Jesus. 19 Don't put out the Holy Spirit's fire. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-19 NIrV	There’s something that is missing when we ask in Jesus Name. The Trinity is constant, eternally the same. So praying to the Father and asking Him for “things”, Doesn’t mean a motor car, nor yet a pair of wings. We know that prayer is needed; along with faith I’m told. And that we should be confident, or even very bold. So why is it the answer, is very seldom seen? There must be something missing; or what did Jesus mean? The passage speaks of questions. They didn’t understand, That He would soon be absent. The Leader of their band, Was going to the Father, for just a little while. Then He would come back to them and bring them back their smile. So they were asking questions and saying “Please explain” What’s this about Your going, then coming back again? He said they would be mourning and the world be full of glee. The world would think it’s finished and they’d seen the last of Me. But for the Lord’s disciples, that grief would turn around. They would be rejoicing at precisely what they found. They could ask the Father and go to Him direct. If they asked in Jesus name, they’d not be incorrect He also indicated, that the Spirit from on High, He’d send as His “replacement”. And that they could rely, On what the Spirit stated; the truth is what He’d bring. And this describes the context of “Ask for anything!” The problem with our thinking in two thousand and twelve, Is that we think it’s anything to squander on ourselves. I can’t see a connection with a mansion by the sea, And what the Lord was meaning going to Gethsemane. We think that it is baubles and a pocket full of gold. Of aeroplanes and bank account and dreams of wealth untold. That wasn’t Jesus’ thinking as they reached the temple gates, And helps our understanding of what the Bible states. The Spirit will not help us, to satisfy our lusts. Nor will He comply with, the list of all our “musts”. To use the Name of Jesus as an “Open sesame”, Is bordering on witchcraft, not Christianity. So let us ask for wisdom; the Father will comply. And then the things we ask for, won’t be a stream run dry. Jim Strickland  Written 15th June 2012