GOD IS ABLE

Time with Jesus - Thursday, 28 March 2013

Hi all,

Our Swimming Pool - Mainly for Grand childrem

God is able to do anything and everything. There are one or two absurd things that He cannot do, but the reason why He can’t, is because they are absurd. He can’t make a square circle. Yes, if the circle is infinitely small, it could be a square. But that’s not within the meaning of what we are looking for. He also cannot fry ice. If He did, the ice would melt.

Big cat - Little cat

We say that God cannot lie and God cannot break covenant. The reason is because of limits He has imposed on Himself. As far as He is concerned, this “inability” is “cast in concrete”. It will never happen because of who He is. But if we think for a moment, we will realise that if there was anything He couldn’t do, He would not be God. No doubt He could create a dimension in which ice could be fried or circles would be square. But not in the time/space continuum He created for us and in which we live. Today we meditate on some of the many things we know He can do.

Shalom,

Jim & Phyllida Strickland 

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Thursday, 28 March 2013			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	God is Able
“The only certainty in life is death and taxes”. The origin of this statement is uncertain. One of the most popular originators is Benjamin Franklin. The author is irrelevant. Taxes may come and go. But death is a certainty for all of us until Jesus returns. Death for nearly everyone is an inevitable certainty which we prefer to put so far behind us on the back burner, it catches us by surprise. It shouldn’t, but it does. How many of us would enjoy an evening seated together discussing death in general and our own, in particular? The opposite of dying is the resurrection. Never dying is so remote, we only know two men who, reportedly, didn’t die: Enoch & Elijah. This means that the resurrection from the dead, should be at the top of our favourite topics. Sadly, it’s not even discussed. But in the early church, it was the hottest topic known. Men and women flocked into God’s Kingdom because they had heard that Jesus gives everlasting life. It’s still true. But it doesn’t even raise a yawn today! It’s one of those “things” in Christianity which is difficult to prove. “Show me the evidence”, we hear on every side. But we do have the evidence; irrefutable evidence, witnessed by so many people. The event is not even thought of as untrue. I’m referring to the death and resurrection of Lazarus. We know Lazarus was dead for four days. He was seen after his resurrection. So much so, the Jewish elders wanted to kill him again. 9 When all the people heard of Jesus' arrival, they flocked to see Him and also to see Lazarus, the man Jesus had raised from the dead. 10 Then the leading priests decided to kill Lazarus, too, John 12:9-10 NLT No matter how anti-Christian someone might be, here is irrefutable evidence that Lazarus had died and Jesus had resurrected him. No person in his or her right mind, can imagine how the elders would want to kill someone, who was already dead! Of course people could say that it’s a fable. Why would that be? If I wrote a story today, saying that Fred Bloggs had died and had been resurrected, they’d say I was mad. But the truth of the resurrection, was so powerful, it turned the then known world on its head, in a matter of a couple of hundred years. I’m told that there is more evidence of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, than there is evidence that Julius Caesar invaded the UK. The invasion of UK by Julius Caesar makes no demands on you or me personally. So What? The fact is, people don’t want to believe in the resurrection of Jesus. It disturbs their preferred theology. It makes demands on them they are not willing to acknowledge. It’s been like that since the days of the early church. So what else is new? Jim & Phyllida Strickland			12 That is why I am suffering here in prison. But I am not ashamed of it, for I know the One in whom I trust, and I am sure that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until the day of His return. 2 Tim 1:12 NLT 20 Now all glory to God, who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Eph. 3:20 NLT 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. 2 Cor. 9:8 ESV 18 He himself suffered when he was tempted. Now he is able to help others who are being tempted. Heb. 2:18 NIrV 25 Therefore He is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through Him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf. Heb. 7:25 NLT 24 Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, Jude 1:24 ESV 12 That is why I am suffering here in prison. But I am not ashamed of it, for I know the One in whom I trust, and I am sure that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until the day of His return. 2 Tim 1:12 NLT 20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ; 21 who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself. Philip 3:20-21 NASB 28 When he entered the house, the blind men came to him, and Jesus said to them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" They said to him, "Yes, Lord." 29 Then he touched their eyes, saying, "According to your faith be it done to you." Mat 9:28-29 ESV	What are the things God is able to do? Able to speak and to make it come true. Able to love through the fullness of time. Able to deal with the wickedest crime! Able to fashion whatever He thinks. Able to live with no water to drink. Able to send us to Heaven or Hell. Able to break any potion or spell. Able to live where His people cannot Able to visit the sun when it’s hot. Able to save and He’s able to guard. Able to do what’s impossibly hard. Able to do things miraculously. Able to go where nobody can see. Able to love and is able to free. Able to know what is lacking in me. Able to strengthen and tell us “Be brave”! Able His people to perfectly save. Able to separate people from sin. Able to triumph and always to win. Able to cause all His grace to abound. Able to find that which cannot be found. Able to save those who are longing to live Able to listen and then to forgive. Able to help when we’re tempted by sin. Able to conquer and always to win. Able to save us from stumbling round Able to hear in the absence of sound. Able to know what tomorrow will bring. Able to hide His folk under His wing. Able to laugh and is able to cry Able to see to it, we’ll never die. Able to heal someone who was born blind. Able to bless and to always be kind. Able to raise people up from the dead. Able to give us the heavenly bread. Able to come here and be crucified. Able to live when we know that He died. Jim Strickland Written 28th March 2012 Phyllida in Israel

FAITHFULNESS

Time with Jesus - Wednesday, 27 March 2013

Hi all, 

Jim & Phyllida in Israel

Today’s meditation is on “faithfulness”. Obviously, being faithful is being full of faith! It’s a bit obvious! The real question is what this “thing” is called “faith” we are supposed to be full of? The answer is not obvious. This is because the word “faith” is a noun. The Biblical description is in Hebrews. ¹ Faith is being sure of what we hope for. It is being certain of what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1 NIrV

In this Scripture we see “faith” as a noun. Rather like a rock, or a brick, or an aeroplane. You can see it, hold it and even travel in it. This being the case, how do we quantify it? You can’t go to Pick n Pay and buy a “bag” or a “bunch” of faith for R10. So “faith” is abstract. Moreover, we can’t tell with our human senses whether we have “lots” of it or only a “little”.

Sadly, what we seem to be able to do is comment on the “faith” of other people. “Where’s your faith?” is the statement we make about others. More often than not, the question is asked based on the opinion of the questioner. So if I don’t agree with you, I can comfort myself by saying under my breath, “Where’s his/her faith?”

One day we will realise that the measure of faith each of us has received from the Lord, is tailor made for the recipient. Mine may be greater or smaller than yours. That quantity is between the Lord and me!

Shalom,

Jim & Phyllida Strickland 

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Wednesday, 27 March 2013			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	Faithfulness
What exactly is faithfulness? We all have different ideas about this topic. As a youngster for me it was indicated in a “cowboy song” sung by Elvis Pressley. I’ve found a copy of the lyrics on the net this morning. It was called “Old Shep” It was a sentimental tear jerker. But that’s me anyway. In those days we had a dog called “Blackie”. A black Labrador combined with Heinz 57 varieties; Blackie was a faithful old dog. I’ll never forget him. He was a genuine canine comedian. In a strange canine sort of way, he is unforgettable. But what exactly is faithfulness? A story I heard many years ago illustrates it beautifully. It’s about a man and his dog. They were inseparable. Suddenly he died. The dog didn’t understand. How could he? But he managed to follow his late master to the corner of the cemetery. He lay there at the foot of the grave. For the rest of his life that dog came to the grave everyday regardless of the weather. He lay down at the foot of the grave looking toward the headstone. Somehow that dog knew where his master was. It ended when the old dog passed away. Now that was faithfulness personified. Or should that be per-dogified? Am I faithful to My Lord to the same extent as that dog? I’m sorry to admit that I’m not. There have been times when I’ve gone “off the rails”. For me, as with most men, it was associated with a lady. Not in a bad way. She was being trained at the teacher’s training college in Sheffield. We had been fairly serious in our relationship together. She was a Methodist Local Preacher. The whole thing ended between us and, typical of men in their early 20’s, when we separated, I was angry and “blamed God”. Back then, I was young and ignorant. Another precious memory is of a time spent in Worcester. We came across Vineyard music and loved it. It was the day when the “Toronto Blessing” was spreading round the world. We loved the music. One of the songs on the CD was called “Faithful One”. We still do! FAITHFUL ONE - BRIAN DOERKSEN Faithful one, so unchanging.  / Ageless one, you’re my rock of peace Lord of all I depend on You. - I call out to you, again and again. I call out to you, again and again,. - You are my rock in times of trouble You lift me up when I fall down. - All through the storm - Your love is the anchor.  - My hope is in You alone. Time tends to reduce memories and change how we see things. Even the memory of past pain dulls with age. Thank you Lord. If it didn’t, life would become unbearable. The faithfulness test today is from conversion to the grave. Are we faithful to the very end?  I hope so! Jim & Phyllida Strickland			13 The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, He will show you a way out so that you can endure. 1 Cor. 10:13 NLT 19 God is not like people. He tells no lies. He is not like humans. He doesn't change his mind. When he says something, he does it. When he makes a promise, he keeps it. Numbers 23:19 GW 21 Jesus became a priest when God took an oath. God said about him, "The Lord has taken an oath and will not change his mind. You are a priest forever." Heb. 7:21 GW 17 God also bound Himself with an oath, so that those who received the promise could be perfectly sure that He would never change His mind. 18 So God has given both His promise and His oath. These two things are unchangeable because it’s impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to Him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. Heb. 6:17-18 NLT 19 So then, those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good. 1 Pet 4:19 TNIV 12 That's why I'm suffering the way I am. But I'm not ashamed. I know the One I have believed in. I am sure he is able to take care of what I have given him. I can trust him with it until the day he r. - turns as judge. 2 Tim 1:12 NIrV 24 The One who has chosen you is faithful. He will do all these things. 1 Thessalonians 5:24 NIrV 20 God has made a great many promises. They are all "Yes" because of what Christ has done. So through Christ we say "Amen." We want God to receive glory. 2 Cor. 1:20 NIrV	Faithfulness is difficult, because we are so weak. Things go wrong so easily. We have a faithless streak. We know what we’re supposed to do, but do not get it done. The problem is, we’ve actively gone out to have some fun. We know it was a promise. It’s inconvenient. I’ll leave it for the moment and later I’ll repent! But who is it we’re cheating? We dare not truly say. Because we think it’s better, to carry on this way. And so we justify it and ask who really cares? The answer is undoubtedly, the one Who answers prayers. He has a special instrument to note our current score. If we are unfaithful, it tots up a little more. The total is quite frightening and herewith is the rub. It makes us all a member of the devil’s evil club. It doesn’t cost us anything; the membership is free. But trying to get out is an impossibility. He wants to keep us with him and in his “faithful” way. He doesn’t want defectors on each or any day. Thank God he has forgotten that Jesus is in charge. And He has the authority to set us all at large. Provided we are faithful and Jesus is our King, He’ll faithfully preserve us in the shadow of His wing. So we have got two choices. To follow Him or No. To promise we will stick with Him, wherever He may go. To faithfully obey Him, regardless of the cost. Then we have His assurance we never will be lost. When things are inconvenient in any sort of way, We promise to be faithful on each and every day. To always do our utmost, to put the flesh aside. To let Him be a husband and we will be His bride. To worship Him forever, no matter how we feel; And show Him that our love for Him is absolutely real. So if we’re feeling faithless, it means we’re being weak. And we are exercising a somewhat stubborn streak. In which case it is time for us, to take ourself in hand. Make a firm decision, that we are going to stand; And faithfully obey Him, regardless what may come. There is no other way for us to be the Master’s chum! Jim Strickland Written 27th March 2012