PRAYER AND VIGILANCE

Time with Jesus - Monday, 16 July 2012

Hi all,

By way of a change, a couple of “Jimmets” today. They are written on prayer, vigilance, supplication and the Bible. The Jimmets focus on Phil 4:6-7 and Neh. 4:9. I particularly enjoyed writing the introduction.

Blessings

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Monday, 16 July 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	PRAYER AND VIGILANCE
When all else fails, read the instructions. These words were drummed into me when I was an apprentice in England in the 1960’s. It was excellent advice. The trouble is I seldom learned the lesson in advance. Like most of us I tried to “tinker” with things before I read the manual. You know what I mean. “No dumb book will stop me getting this thing working”. After many disasters, you’d think I’d learn. But I didn’t. It could have been very expensive. Fortunately, for me, the biggest loss was loss of face. Some years later, I came across a young man who loved tinkering with radios and a variety of electronic “knick-knacks”.  You’d think he would learn a lesson. In this case, just the opposite was true. He’d take something to pieces. Then he’d put just about everything back leaving several bits and pieces still on the table next to the thing. Curiously, you’d think the thing wouldn’t work. Much to my chagrin, it seemed to work better than it had before. Here was a young man who seemed to have no need for manuals. However, I am reliably informed that when his son was born, he looked all over to find the working instructions! I can’t really blame him. Most new parents, new fathers in particular, seem to be completely void of any real knowledge about babies. Thank God for mothers! Talking about working instructions, we Christians have a book which tells us all we need to and do while living on this earth. It’s called the Bible. Each and every year, the sales of copies of the Bible are greater by far than the sale of any other book published. In view of this, you would think Christians would be experts in the art of living a Biblical lifestyle. Sadly, although the Bible is purchased in great numbers, people seldom read it. We have been taught that the word “Bible” comes from the Greek word “Biblos”. I used to think that too. Then I found that actually the word is an acrostic. Using each letter of the word Bible, it means; Basic; Instructions; Before; Leaving; Earth. Presumably that’s why people don’t read it. Books of basic instructions are ignored in favour of self-experimentation; “suck it and see” “let me have a go” and “Who needs instructions anyway; This is what my granny did!” I thought the same way myself. I tinkered around with life and tried to take things to pieces. Then, when finished, like my young friend, I found there were bits left over. I’d like to say that life worked better without them. It didn’t. It was a disaster and I did a spot of reaping what I’d sown. Now, I find it far better to check things out in my Bible. After that, vigilance and prayer combine nicely. I highly recommend it to you. Bible; Vigilance and Prayer; a recipe for guaranteed success Jim & Phyllida Strickland			9 And we prayed to our God and set a guard as a protection against them day and night. Nehemiah 4:9 ESV 41 Stay alert; be in prayer so you don't wander into temptation without even knowing you're in danger. There is a part of you that is eager, ready for anything in God. But there's another part that's as lazy as an old dog sleeping by the fire." Matthew 26:41 MSG 2 Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart. Colossians 4:2 NLT 7 Turn all your anxiety over to God because he cares for you. 8 Keep your mind clear, and be alert. Your opponent the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion as he looks for someone to devour. 9 Be firm in the faith and resist him, knowing that other believers throughout the world are going through the same kind of suffering. 1 Peter 5:7-9 GW 46 "Why are you so polite with me, always saying 'Yes, sir,' and 'That's right, sir,' but never doing a thing I tell you? Luke 6:46 MSG 22 Don't just listen to the word. You fool yourselves if you do that. You must do what it says. James 1:22 NIrV 15 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Why are you crying out to Me? Tell the people to get moving! Exodus 14:15 NLT 6 Don't worry about anything. Instead, tell God about everything. Ask and pray. Give thanks to him. 7 Then God's peace will watch over your hearts and your minds because you belong to Christ Jesus. God's peace can never be completely understood. Philippians 4:6-7 NIrV	Prayer and Vigilance – Neh. 4:9   We thought the enemy was all around,   And didn’t really know what we should do.   Then upon reflection we all found,   If we prayed and trusted, Lord, in You, It would be the way to keep ahead!   Prayer and vigilance to spot our foes.   For we knew for sure that You had said, “Keep on praying and stay on your toes. If you do, you’ll keep the foe at bay,   Nothing that the enemy may try, Can come and defeat you any day;   Neither will they know the reason why! It will be your secret of success.   Prayer and vigilance and nothing less!” -oOo-  Jim Strickland Written 16 July 2012 Be careful for nothing – Phil 4:6-7 Christians need never, ever fear That the enemy will win the day.   Not if you will let the Saviour near,   And you do the things that He will say. Prayer and supplication will succeed,   If it issues from a thankful heart.   Ask the Lord to give you what you need.   Surely that’s the proper place to start! Make all your requests to the Most High.   Come to Him in true humility.   Lift your hands to Him and to Him cry, “You alone are my necessity!”   Then His peace will fill your heart and mind,   In a way that mortal man can’t find. -oOo- Jim Strickland Written 16 July 2012

A CONVERSATION WITH THE LORD

Time with Jesus - Sunday, 15 July 2012

Hi all,

Today’s Scriptures are mainly about hearing the voice of God. Our meditation looks at this and an example is included in the “poetry” section. It was written in 1986, so is not exactly “hot off the press”. But it does show what I mean by hearing His voice.

Blessings

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Sunday, 15 July 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	A CONVERSATION WITH THE LORD
“Did you hear what I said?” I suppose most of us have heard this from our parents at one time or another. “Don’t you understand English?” was another comment, particularly from my father. “Do you think I’m talking to myself?” Strangely enough, this is what my Mother said to me on many occasions. Talking about this with friends, I quickly learned that this was normal behaviour by parents to their children. Furthermore, I used the same expressions with my own children as they were growing up. As a grandfather it is not surprising to hear my children using the same words or their modern equivalent to their children. On reflection it seems we all have a tendency to be selective listeners. As children, when things are to our advantage we listen and react immediately. If Mom or Dad said something like, “anyone for ‘seconds’”, it was understood immediately. There was no problem with statements like, “Its pocket money time” or, “Who wants to go to the bioscope tonight”? Then there was no problem with my understanding. To be honest I suspect that if my parents had said the same words in Mandarin, Inuit or Hindi, they would have been instantly understood.. But if the words, “It’s your turn to wash the supper dishes tonight” were spoken, my hearing problem was as acute as it was instantaneous. Children have an almost supernatural ability to understand what is being said. But, only “favourably inclined” words are registered. It seems that God has much the same problem with His children. We seem to have this extraordinary ability to receive blessings gracefully and instantaneously. But when it comes to a rebuke for something we have done wrong, we immediately blame the devil. Some years ago there was a comedian who said, “the devil made me do it” every time he did something questionable! Shortly after committing my life to Jesus Christ, my selective hearing of His voice began to manifest in ways not thought possible earlier. I learned early on in my Christian walk that prayer was meant to be a dialog with God and not my monolog to the Almighty and He probably didn’t listen anyway. This view was exacerbated by the fact that I didn’t really expect Him to answer me. It was a number of years before it dawned on me that If I asked the Lord a question, He would answer me. Incidentally, there is a huge difference between questioning God and asking God questions. To question God implies that you are challenging Him. We stumble into this very often. We say something like, “Why are there so many sick people in hospital? If I was God, I would walk into the hospitals and heal everybody.” The implication is that you can do a better job running the universe than He does. Never do that. It’s challenging God and could lead you into a lot of trouble. But you can and may ask Him questions and it’s likely that He will answer. Today’s poem was written in that style in 1986. There is one difference here. Not only have I recorded my prayer to Him, I’ve written down what I believe His answer was. Was I on the right track? Well, my questions didn’t challenge God. They were merely statements of how I was and what was bothering me. The “answer” is what I believed God was saying to me at that time. I have found this method very fruitful. Have a look at the poem and see what you think. Jim & Phyllida Strickland			3 Job said, 'The ear tests the words it hears just as the mouth distinguishes between foods.' Job 34:3 NLT 1 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit. Put the spirits to the test to see if they belong to God. Many false prophets have gone out into the world. 1 John 4:1 NIrV 24 Don't be nit-pickers; use your head--and heart!--to discern what is right, to test what is authentically right. John 7:24 MSG 15 You are reasonable people. Decide for yourselves if what I am saying is true. 1 Corinthians 10:15 NLT 16 Let Christ's word live in you like a rich treasure. Teach and correct each other wisely. Sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing with thanks in your hearts to God. Colossians 3:16 NIrV 29 Let the person who has ears listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. Revelation 2:29 GW 15 Spiritual people evaluate everything but are subject to no one's evaluation. 1 Corinthians 2:15 GW 24 "Consider carefully what you hear," he continued. "With the measure you use, it will be measured to you--and even more. Mark 4:24 TNIV 2 "I see what you've done, your hard, hard work, your refusal to quit. I know you can't stomach evil; that you weed out apostolic pretenders. Revelation 2:2 MSG 21 Test everything. Hold on to the good. 1 Thessalonians 5:21 NIV 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice." John 10:3-5 TNIV	My Prayer:- Father God, please listen as I come to You and pray. Lord, I long to really mean each syllable I say. Grant me understanding, to follow after You, And always be obedient, Your sovereign will to do. Father it's appalling ........ my insincerity: In truth, I long to do the things which You require of me, But laziness and slackness and other forms of ease, Seem to overwhelm me and keep me from my knees. Father, I implore You. Hear my contrite prayer. Please Lord, come and guide me. Direct me anywhere, That You, Lord, in Your wisdom, desire me to go. But Lord, my supplication, is more of You to know. Jesus, be my Master. I long to crown You King; To worship and adore You and all my praises bring. I long to serve and bless You with all my earthly frame; To bow down low before You and magnify Your name. Jesus, You are precious; more valuable than gold; More beautiful than diamonds; Your worth cannot be told. For, if the entire universe were placed upon a scale, The value of what You are worth would make it all look pale. The Lord's reply:- "My son, don't be ambitious and chase after those things, That, only by My Spirit, a real achievement brings. No! Just relax and concentrate on doing what I say; Settle down to listening and wanting to obey. My child, please always realise that those things which I plan, Can only be accomplished by a simple, honest man. So, if it's complicated and bound up very tight, It's probable I haven’t been your partner in the fight! Often I would intervene and tell My people, 'Pause'. Don't gallop into battle, unless it's for My cause; Don't be so determined, that what you think is true; That everything that I have said, does not apply to you! It's only the dogmatic that can never ever change; Who stand like a fanatic and other men estrange, From wanting to be truthful and following My way, Living out a Christian life on each and every day. So exercise intelligence in all the things you do; By using as your standard, The Word I've given You. It's very, very simple no adult nor a child, Ever need to 'miss it' and by Satan, be beguiled. So, never act in ignorance and never act in haste, Or all the consequences by you must then be faced. Concentrate on listening and with My Spirit, flow, And you will never 'miss' My way, no matter where You go." Jim Strickland Written - 1986

HE’S COMING BACK

Time with Jesus - Saturday, 14 July 2012

Hi all,
Have you ever thought how fortunate we are not to be able to see the Spiritual dimension? I’m referring to the dimension in which God dwells. The greatest blessing is because God wants us to walk by faith and not by sight! How could we do that if we could see Him. It’s much better the way it is.

Blessings

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Saturday, 14 July 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	HE’S COMING BACK
Nearly all of us have heard stories about children and their fathers. One of my favourites is about a little girl and her dress. She had been shopping with her mother and saw the prettiest dress. She called her mother to show her the dress. “Mommy, please buy me that dress” she asked with all the breathless enthusiasm that’s unique to children, Mommy also liked and said. “Ask your father and see what he says”. That evening the little girl was sitting looking out of the window waiting for her dad. When she saw him, she rushed outside and jumped up into his arms, “Daddy, Daddy, please will you buy me the dress I saw while out shopping with Mommy. “Honey”, he said, “let me first talk it over with Mommy”. Later, as they were having their evening meal, Daddy said to Mommy, “What’s this about a new dress for our daughter? They all chatted about it. Then he said to his daughter, I’ll take you shopping on Saturday and buy that dress. The little girl yelled with delight. “Daddy’s going to buy me that beautiful dress on Saturday” For the rest of the week, she told everyone “Daddy’s going to buy me a new dress on Saturday”. On Saturday morning, he did! There are more parallels to the Christian life in this story than we could shake a stick at. Perhaps the best is the fact that the little girl believed her father. “Saturday’s coming” she told everyone. She had confidence in her father that he wouldn’t let her down. Her faith and hope were “mixed” together and it happened. She couldn’t see the dress but she knew it was hers. We need to be like that little girl in our trust of our Heavenly Father. Jesus has said He will return again for His people. Let’s not get into a theological debate about the second coming of Jesus. Pre-trib, Mid-trib or Post-trib. Is not the issue. Let’s not ‘con-trib’ to the ‘other-tribs’! All we need is to know is that He is coming and He wants us to be expectant. He also wants us to know that because we cannot see Him, He is more real than Table Mountain! Our confidence must be in Him and His promises, in spite of Him being invisible. He is bringing us our reward for being faithful and obedient. How do we know? Because He has told us. Like the little girl, our “Saturday’s coming”! It will come whether we believe it or not! So let’s rejoice that the One we serve is the invisible God, not one we have cobbled together. Such “gods” are as much use as an udder on a bull! Hand-made gods will crumble and fall. But our God; the invisible God, won’t change one “iota”. We don’t have to understand it scientifically. All we must do is believe. “Saturday’s coming!” Jim and Phyllida Strickland			14 For I hope to see you soon, and then we will talk face to face. 3 John 14 NLT 1 I wish you would open up your heavens and come down to us! I wish the mountains would tremble when you show your power! Isaiah 64:1 NIrV For the choir director: A psalm of the descendants of Korah. 1 As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for You, O God. 2 I thirst for God, the living God. When can I go and stand before Him? Psalms 42:1-2 NLT 14 Make haste, my beloved, and be like a gazelle or a young stag on the mountains of spices. Song of Solomon 8:14 ESV 20 But we are citizens of heaven. And we can hardly wait for a Saviour from there. He is the Lord Jesus Christ. Philippians 3:20 NIrV 13 That's how we should live as we wait for the blessed hope God has given us. We are waiting for Jesus Christ to appear in all his glory. He is our great God & Saviour. Titus 2:13 NIrV 1 This letter is from Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus, appointed by the command of God our Saviour and Christ Jesus, who gives us hope. 1 Timothy 1:1 NLT 8 You never saw him, yet you love him. You still don't see him, yet you trust him--with laughter and singing. 1 Peter 1:8 MSG 20 He who is the faithful witness to all these things says, "Yes, I am coming soon!" Amen! Come, Lord Jesus! Revelation 22:20 NLT 9 In that day people will proclaim, "This is our God! We trusted in Him, and He saved us! This is the LORD, in whom we trusted. Let us rejoice in the salvation He brings!" Isaiah 25:9 NLT	I wonder what He looks like, our Great and Triune God. He’s sure to be unusual, but that does not mean odd. I know the Lord told Philip, He looks just like His Dad. But Lord that can’t be features; for you with flesh were clad. And yet we know You came here in the body of a man. You worked a special miracle, the way no other can! So you were fully human for everyone to see. Yet you were also God the Son, both simultaneously! I do not understand it. Thank God, there is no need. The mystery of Godhood, The Trinity indeed, Is so way out beyond me, I must format my mind! Because to everything You are, I’m absolutely blind. But somehow that’s exciting. Because the things I see, You’ve told us in the Scripture, are not reality. The things which we can see today will crumble and will fall. The size is not important; it may be large or small. But none if it is permanent. It’s sure to pass away. But that which is invisible, is always here to stay! And since we cannot see You, we know that You are real. If we could really see, or smell, or taste, or hear, or feel, It would be a delusion and not reality. And so my God I thank You that You we cannot see. And yet we long for contact with You in ways we know. Hence, our human nature, desires that You show Your people what You’re really like. It’s hard to truly love, A God Who is concealed from us and dwells on High above! This must have been the reason, why You Lord, said that day. You have seen Me, Philip, My Father looks this way! He didn’t mean a photograph. He meant what Philip saw, Was God disguised in overalls. His Father was much more, Like Jesus in His character. In fact they both were One. And they will still remain the same when sight of Him has gone. But one day He’ll come back again. Be patient and please wait. Every day that passes brings us closer to that date. So live in expectation and live your life this way. Live as though you’re certain that tomorrow is the day. Put your “house” in order and live in constant hope. Trust His Holy Spirit and you will more than cope. Celebrate His goodness; shout praises to the King! “We trusted Him, He saved us!” is what we all will sing!   Jim Strickland Written 14th July 2012