THE LORD CARES FOR ME?

The Lord is my Shepherd

Time with Jesus - Sunday, 28 April 2013

Hi all,

The book of Psalms has inspired men and women down through the ages. Not all of them were written by David. In my early days as a Christian, many of us thought that way. But a casual reading of the 150 Psalms in the Psalter quickly soon corrects this.

Personally, if there was any book in the Bible that I would love to be a contributor, it’s the book of Psalms. I know that the cannon of Scripture closed some 1600 years ago so it could never happen. Knowing this doesn’t prevent any of us from having “impossible dreams”. Certainly it is true for me. It can never happen. But that doesn’t prevent “wishing” that it was possible.

As insect is to Elephant

There are 150 Psalms in the Psalter. Authorship of these Psalms is attributed to many different men and groups of men; from people like Moses all the way through to King Hezekiah and the Sons of Korah. David wrote a great many of them. In fact reading “his Psalms” reveals his character. He was a “man’s man”. At the same time we see many of the human characteristics we find in so many of us. The same man who wrote, “The Lord is my Shepherd” also wrote “break his teeth Lord”. In his stress, he wrote the heart-breaking Psalm 51.

Rescue the Perishing

In today’s meditation I’ve compiled several thoughts taken from a number of Psalms. It’s the sort of composition I rather enjoy putting together. The great hymn writer of the 18^th century, Charles Wesley, wrote something like 6000 hymns. Only a handful of his verses are in the Methodist Hymnbook. These are among the most powerful and inspirational hymns that remain popular to this day. One of my favourites for the past ±53 years is, And can it be that I should gain / An interest in the Saviour’s blood? / Died He for me, who caused His pain? / For me, who Him to death pursued? / Amazing love! How can it be, / That Thou, my God shouldst die for me?

He Heals me when I'm sick

This wonderful old hymn continues to inspire men and women some 250 years after it was first composed. Charles Wesley would never have believed that this hymn would still be celebrated by Christians all over the world. If you go through the entire hymn you will find much of Wesley’s doctrine.

On the Cross He was Wounded for me

In a way, if it was possible to put together another book of Psalms composed by Christians, it’s more than likely that this particular hymn would be in there somewhere. If something – anything - I’ve written could somehow squeeze into that Psalter it would “blow me away”!

Shalom,

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Sunday, 28 April 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	THE LORD CARES FOR ME?
This morning I thought it would be a good idea to look briefly at psalms and psalmists. I’ve often wondered what went through their minds when they were written. Some of the answers are obvious. They reflect the character and mood of the person at the time of composition. They do with me too. The heading of the poem, expresses my thinking at the time when reflecting on the content of Psalms 8, 23, 27 and 139. You might like to look at these Psalms and check out my thinking? I’m always amazed that God is even remotely interested in me and what I do. How can the One who spoke the entire creation into existence, even care I exist? The gap between us is astronomical. Being a former employee of a massive corporation, I was little more than a number on their list. As long as I did what was required, my salary would be paid into the bank. But when I raised any enquiries, the first thing they asked for was my employee number. It was the same for everyone. Yes, I had a name. Yes, my boss knew me by name. But somewhere going up the chain of command, I would be completely unknown. I’m not complaining. It’s a fact! I came to God with this thinking. He is “Boss of Bosses”. He would be very busy and have no time for me. Perhaps He would refer me to a clerk in one of the lower angelic divisions. That was my expectation. It was wrong, but it was entrenched into my thinking. The possibility that He would have time for me didn’t feature! How do we cleanse our minds of such thoughts? We get our answer from Paul in his letter to the Romans: 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will. Rom 12:2 TNIV We need to be aware that there are some things God will do and some things He has commanded us to do. Never pray and ask God to do for you that which He has already commanded. For example only He can save you. So you must ask for this. Other things you can do. If you are thirsty, you have to drink. He will not drink for you. Pray for water to drink. But when it’s available, you must drink it. The same is true of renewing your mind. He will not do it for you. Praying and asking Him to do this won’t work. He will help you understand. But what you decide to put into your mind is up to you. What He says is already in His Word. It’s up to you to read and believe it’s true. When this is established, ensure your thinking corresponds with His. This is not optional. You must renew your mind. Darwin’s theory is my example. I thought it was true. I had to change my thinking. First I had to establish the truth regarding evolution. He helped me with this. After that it was up to me! We are all in the same boat. Ask Him to establish truth. Then do what His Word says. Jim & Phyllida Strickland			14 But I will hope continually and will praise you yet more and more. Psalms 71:14 ESV 12 I don't mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. Philippians 3:12 NLT 1 So let us stop going over the basic teachings about Christ again and again. Let us go on instead and become mature in our understanding. Surely we don't need to start again with the fundamental importance of repenting from evil deeds and placing our faith in God. Hebrews 6:1 NLT 18 The way of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, which shines ever brighter until the full light of day. 19 But the way of the wicked is like total darkness. They have no idea what they are stumbling over. Proverbs 4:18-19 NLT 1 I love the LORD, because he heard my voice. He heard my cry for his favour. 2 Because he paid attention to me, I will call out to him as long as I live. Psalms 116:1-2 NIrV By David when he pretended to be insane in the presence of Abimelech; Abimelech threw him out, so David left.1 I will thank the LORD at all times. My mouth will always praise him. Psalms 34:1 GW For the director of music. A psalm of David. A song. 1 God, we look forward to praising you in Zion. We’ll keep our promises! Psalms 65:1 NIrV 8 Each of the four living creatures had six wings. Each creature was covered all over with eyes, even under the wings. Day and night, they never stop saying, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God who rules over all. He was, and he is, and he will come." Revelation 4:8 NIrV 23 "He who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving honour Me; And to him who orders his way aright I shall show the salvation of God." Psalms 50:23 NASB 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 ESV 4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Philippians 4:4 ESV	THIS POEM IS A COMPILATION OF SEVERAL THOUGHTS FROM PSALM 8, 23, 27 & 139. You’ve let me call You Father, though I’m so very small. As insect is to elephant, I’m hardly here at all! A pinprick in the ocean; a grain upon the shore. A tiny piece of nothingness. I’m surely not much more. And yet You say You love me! You listen to my praise! You love it when I worship You and follow in Your ways. You treat me like a shepherd who dotes upon his sheep. You’re with me when I am awake & when I’m fast asleep! And even when You formed me within my mother’s womb, Your presence was around me, within that darkened gloom. There’s no way to escape You. No matter where I go, Your hand is there to lead me. My every thought, You know! For You are my salvation; a refuge sure and strong. No foe can overpower me while I to You belong. Yes, even when in battle, besieged and sore attacked, You were the One who rescued me; & I have nothing lacked. You hear me when I call to You. You heal me when I’m ill. You give me health and sustenance and pay my every bill. Even though my closest friends may come to cast me down, You shield me & protect me and turn to smiles, my frown. You know my every facet; You know that I am frail; You know that everything I do will only make me fail. You know all my anxieties; You know that I am weak; You know that I am fearful; at times too scared to speak. You know all my ambitions. You know how hard I’ve tried. You know my disappointments and seen me as I’ve cried. You’ve watched me roar with laughter & seen my emptiness. And yet in spite of all of this, Your gentle, sweet caress Has settled on my spirit, as soft as eiderdown. And You have said You love me; that I’ll wear Your crown. Jim Strickland – Written 2012

THY WILL BE DONE

Jim & Phyllida Wedding
12/12/1081

Time with Jesus - Saturday, 27 April 2013

Hi all,

Today’s meditation is a bit personal. It’s a poem about Phyllida and me getting married. It’s also a comment on marriage from a historical point of view.

Jim & Phyllida Wedding
12/12/108

Some of the customs concerning the wedding ceremony and which are now symbolic and historic only, are referred to in the meditation. I’ve been in favour of equality between men and women for as long as I can remember. One thing can be said in favour of some of the issues of yesterday’s customs. There was very little by way of contraception back then. Large families were quite normal. Susanna Wesley had 19 children. She herself was one of 25 children. It follows that with such large families; mothers would not have been able to go out to work, even if they wanted to! They were far too busy working at home. 

Wedding Crowd

This is possibly one of the major reasons why the role of men and women, fathers and mothers, in society, became very much stereotyped. Indeed, many of those archaic customs were intended to protect women. There’s not much a woman could do about anything else. Not if she spent so many of her child-bearing years being almost continuously pregnant! God help them.

Phyllida the Bride
12/12/1981

All that has passed; a woman is free to decide, with her husband, the size of their family. Furthermore, with all the laboursaving home appliances, women can do anything they would like to do. This has resulted in a bit of an over swing. Today in a number of cases, the wife has become the bread winner and the husband has become the housewife. Rightly or wrongly, that’s the way things are today.

Rings with Vows Inscribed

As a Christian I welcome these changes. A wife was never intended to be her husband’s servant. Neither is a husband intended to be his wife’s servant. It’s difficult to enjoy married life together as a couple, unless both are free to be themselves. I’m glad we are. Furthermore marriage is intended to be a covenant. The idea is that both of them imitate Jesus and lay down their lives for each other.

Shalom,

Jim & Phyllida Strickland 

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Saturday, 27 April 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	THY WILL BE DONE
Weddings and wedding ceremonies are ubiquitous. No matter the country or custom, men and women marry. It has always been this way. Marriage is God’s idea. Marriage is under attack at the moment. Many young people are living together without being married. My wife and I do not approve. But our approval is irrelevant. People will do what they wish, without our sanction. What they will say to God about this, is something they must worry about. All we can do is share His message. Many of our Anglo Saxon and American marriage customs have fascinating origins. For example, brides almost always have someone who “gives them away”. It’s a beautiful part of any wedding and the privilege of “giving away” the bride is generally carried out by her father. In the event that her father is unavailable, one of her sons is asked to do so. If the bride is young and no longer has a father and no children, she usually selects a man who has a special significance in her life. What modern women seem to have forgotten is the origin of this custom. In bygone days a woman had no rights of her own. She belonged to her father. She could only do what he said. In history, fathers sometimes sold their daughters as slaves. A good cure for disobedience? When it came to marriage, she was given to the husband he had chosen. Since she was her father’s “property” her opinion was irrelevant. She had no choice. Fortunately, most parents loved their daughters and referred the matter to her. As a further difficulty, a woman was completely under the authority of her husband. It wasn’t optional. If she didn’t obey, there could painful repercussions. A cane less that 50mm diameter could be used to beat his wife. Ownership or authority over the woman passed from the father to the husband at the marriage ceremony. Her father gave her hand in marriage to her husband. From then on, her husband was her authority. In the Bible, the King would offer to give his daughter to the man who did something he required. For instance, Saul promised his eldest daughter Merab, to the man who defeated Goliath.. It is a long story in 1 Samuel 17: 25 The men of Israel said, "Did you see that man coming from the Philistine lines? He keeps coming to challenge Israel. The king will make the man who kills this Philistine very rich. He will give his daughter to that man to marry and elevate the social status of his family."1 Samuel 17:25 GW. In spite of this history, a lady still wants someone to “give her away”. I could continue writing about other customs and traditions associated with the wedding ceremony. Taking each other by the right hand; the wedding ring; white wedding dresses; taking her husband’s name etc. For us, the highpoint in our lives was when Phyllida became Mrs Strickland on 12th Dec. 1981. Phyllida took my name and became Mrs. Ernest James Strickland, by which she is known today. I’m unashamedly proud to call her my wife. Apart from the Lord Jesus Christ, we mean everything to each other. If we could remain this way for eternity, it would not be long enough. We also know that unless the Lord returns, death will end our marriage. Either way, His will remains the desire of our heart. Jim & Phyllida Strickland			17 "Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what He is saying to the churches. To everyone who is victorious I will give some of the manna that has been hidden away in heaven. And I will give to each one a white stone, and on the stone will be engraved a new name that no one understands except the one who receives it. Revelation 2:17 NLT 25 Then Barnabas went on to Tarsus to look for Saul. 26 When he found him, he brought him back to Antioch. Both of them stayed there with the church for a full year, teaching large crowds of people. (It was at Antioch that the believers were first called Christians.) Acts 11:25-26 NLT 19 But God's solid foundation stands firm. Here is the message written on it. "The Lord knows who his own people are." (Numbers 16:5) Also, "All who say they believe in the Lord must turn away from evil." 2 Timothy 2:19 NIrV 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified their corrupt nature along with its passions and desires. Galatians 5:24 GW 19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit in you, whom you have of God? And you are not your own, 20 for you are bought with a price. Therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 MKJV 14 But it's unthinkable that I could ever brag about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. By his cross my relationship to the world and its relationship to me have been crucified. 15 Certainly, it doesn't matter whether a person is circumcised or not. Rather, what matters is being a new creation. Galatians 6:14-15 GW 1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. 3 But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Ephesians 5:1-3 ESV 8 At one time you were in the dark. But now you are in the light because of what the Lord has done. Live like children of the light. Ephesians 5:8 NIrV	She walked into the gathering of family and friends. They’d come to see her married the way the Lord intends. She knew that it would happen, because some time before, The Lord said that a husband, He’d placed within her store. She hadn’t ever met him; but knew he was defined; And pictured in Psalm forty five. She knew he was designed, To love her and to cherish her and all along the way, To be her special soul mate. And from that very day, Would be her life’s companion and always do her good, The way a faithful husband throughout their lifetime should. They had both been excited as day succeeded day. His Spirit had confirmed it, whenever they did pray. And as they stood together, she now would change her name. From this moment onward things could never be the same. The former life of struggle and bad experience, Was gone. New life before them made such a lot of sense. She was born Miss Brownlee and later she had wed, A man who had misused her; but that was done and dead. Today she was quite willing, to wear Jim’s wedding band. From now on she’d be a spoken of as Phyllida Strickland. She’d follow the tradition established years ago. She would take her husband’s name; and willingly do so! Name change is significant. The Lord had shown the way. Abram changed to Abraham right from that very day. Jacob became Israel; a Prince of God was he. No longer a deceiver; a man of destiny. That day in nineteen eighty-one was special for them both. There before the witnesses, their everlasting troth, They plighted to each other. God joined the two as one, And in the strength of Jesus Christ they both would carry on. They have a happy marriage. But that is not their boast The cross of Jesus Christ the Lord is what excites them most. Both have known the trauma of a marriage that went wrong. Now they live for Jesus. They know it won’t be long. Before they go to be with Him. This way it has to be! And they have asked Him please Lord, don’t take us separately. We’ve been so long together and life has been such fun; You have been the centre, of all that we have done, In ways that only You can tell; we’re walking in Your light. You mean everything to us. We know You’ll do what’s right! Yet Lord above our preference, Your will we will embrace. We know it may be difficult for one of us to face, A life without each other. But this one thing is true. The will of Jesus Christ our Lord is what we’ll gladly do. Jim Strickland Written 27th April 2012.