Verse, Metre and Rhyme for Your Quiet Time

Copyright © 2014 by Jim Strickland.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Scripture taken from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV® Text Edition: 2011. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.

Scripture taken from GOD’S WORD®, © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations. Used by permission of Baker Publishing Group

Scripture taken from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.

Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

Scripture taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL READER’S VERSION®.Copyright © 1996, 1998 Biblica. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of Biblica.

Scripture taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, TODAY’S NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION ® TNIV ® Copyright © 2001, 2005 by Biblica www.biblica.com. All rights reserved worldwide.

KING JAMES VERSION, KJV, is a public domain.

Rev. date: 07/17/2014

Xlibris LLC

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Contents

Foreword

Introduction

Acknowledgements

1 January: The Lord Of Life

2 January: Resurrection Life

3 January: Sight For The Blind

4 January: Death Is Conquered

5 January: Lies And Lying

6 January: Friends Are Few

7 January: God Never Forgets!

8 January: Set Free By Grace

9 January: Priorities

10 January: A Holy Temple

11 January: What The Lord Has Done

12 January: Job’s Trial

13 January: Don’t Go To Bed Angry

14 January: Jesus’ Suffering

15 January: According To Your Faith

16 January: Peter Testifies

17 January: It’s Happening—He’s Coming

18 January: A Prophet Comes To Town

19 January: Deception

20 January: Real Love

21 January : The Seven Sins Of Proverbs 6

22 January: Today’s Scriptures In Verse

23 January: The Cross Of Christ

24 January: Jacob And Jesus Reflect

25 January: Fathers And Fatherhood

26 January: Transformed To Be Like Him

27 January: Choose Life

28 January: Discipline—A Peaceful Harvest

29 January: Praise Him

30 January: He Keeps His Promises

31 January: Sin Against God

1 February: God’s Righteous Standards

2 February: The Servant Priest

3 February: Light And Darkness

4 February: Judging Others

5 February: Judgment Day

6 February: The Morning Star

7 February: Compassion

8 February: A View Of Heaven

9 February: Saul’s Fall

10 February: Ask The Holy Spirit

11 February

What Life Is About

12 February: Seeing God’s Glory!

13 February: The Meaning Of Life

14 February: The Water Supporter

15 February: No Contest

16 February: The Death Of Death

17 February: Children Of God

18 February: Liberty In Jesus

19 February: The Jubilee

20 February: The Quail’s Tale

21 February: Build

22 February: Sound Sleep

23 February: Knowledge Of The Holy

24 February: Calvary For You And Me.

25 February: Looking For God

26 February: In Covenant

27 February: Adultery!—(John 8 Vs. 1 To 11)

28 February: Blinded By Love

29 February: Today’s The Day

1 March: A Dying Shame

2 March: The Sabbath Rest

3 March: Following Jesus

4 March: Strange Fire!

5 March: Fight The Good Fight

6 March: Freedom Or Slavery

7 March: The Provision Decision

8 March: God Is Able

9 March: The Sounds Of The Redeemed

10 March: The Greatest Love

11 March: Me And You Too?

12 March: The Scientific Test

13 March: Believing Is Seeing

14 March: Knowing Jesus

15 March: The Lord Of The Sabbath

16 March: Can We Agree?

17 March: The Gathering Storm

18 March: Mr And Mrs

19 March: Utterly Dependable

20 March: My Favoured Sons And Daughters

21 March: His Faithful Love Endures Forever

22 March: Take The Day

23 March: Emmaus Revelation

24 March: Daniel And God’s Kingdom

25 March: Deep Water And Other Scriptures

26 March: The Kingdom Economy

27 March: Faithfulness

28 March: O God Whom I Praise

29 March: Status Quo

30 March: His Father’s Son

31 March: Right Is Light

1 April: Psalm 112 And 128

2 April: What Will He Find?

3 April: The Only Way

4 April: Jimmets—Prayer And Priest

5 April: The Lord And The Round-About

6 April: Your Open Invitation

7 April: Be A Little Patient!

8 April: Seeing Clearly

9 April: The Holy Name-Tag

10 April: Keep My Commands

11 April: Utterly Reliable

12 April: Through All Eternity

13 April: Light And Night

14 April: Good And Clean And Pure

15 April: Can You?

16 April: I Will Be With You

17 April: Come Away With Me

18 April: En Route To The Celestial City

19 April: Passion For Jesus

20 April: The Training Of Saul Of Tarsus

21 April: Enoch Walked With God

22 April: The Only Way Out

23 April: How Are Your Sheep?

24 April: Our Living Hope

25 April: One Tiny Glimpse

26 April: The Two Become One

27 April: Listen O Royal Daughter

28 April: The Lord Cares For Me?

29 April: The Christian’s Hope

30 April: Be Angry And Do Not Sin

1 May: The New Jerusalem

2 May: Keep Yourselves From Idols

3 May: Walking Not Talking

4 May: Glory To God!

5 May: Wilderness Wanderings

6 May: Raised From The Dead

7 May: Immorality?

8 May: The Lord’s Good Plan

9 May: Paradox

10 May: Absolutely Pointless?

11 May: Forever Love

12 May: The Incredible Christ

13 May: Strength Out Of Weakness!

14 May: The Blood Of Jesus

15 May: Jesus—For Certain

16 May: A Conversation With The Lord

17 May: The Man Who Is God

18 May: Look To Him And Be Free

19 May: It Is Written!

20 May: The Jewels Of Speech

21 May: A Morning Meditation

22 May: Don’t Forget The Paraclete

23 May: He Sees And Knows

24 May: Restored By The Lord

25 May: Jesus Revealed

26 May: Jesus, The Creator

27 May: Anxiety And Fear

28 May: Forever Near

29 May: The Pity-Party

30 May: Answered Prayer

31 May: Abiding In Jesus

1 June: Immanuel

2 June: What’s Your Inheritance?

3 June: The Name Game

4 June: The Robe Of Righteousness

5 June: Creation

6 June: In Spite Of Tears

7 June: Perfect Love Casts Out Fear

8 June: Listen And Then Do

9 June: He Died To Set Us Free

10 June: God’s Holy People?

11 June: The New Creation

12 June: Trees That Please?

13 June: Son Of God And Son Of Man

14 June: Mary And Martha

15 June: Ask The Father In My Name

16 June: Finishing The Race

17 June: In Praise Of God

18 June: Increasing Faith

19 June: Keep On, Keeping On.

20 June: Psalm 91

21 June: No Connection With Sin

22 June: True Love

23 June: Ruth’s Rest

24 June: Come And See

25 June: The Resurrection

26 June: Blood, Sweat And Tears

27 June: A Fresh Look At God’s Law

28 June: Peer Pressure

29 June: Dealing With Sin

30 June: Christian Prayer

1 July: Our Ebenezer

2 July: Heaven’s Junk Mail

3 July: 1 Corinthians 13

4 July: The Christian Life

5 July: Genuine Or Not?

6 July: Love One Another

7 July: Someone To Die For?

8 July: Jimmets—Repetition—Looking Ahead

9 July: No Secrets

10 July: Do More Than Is Expected

11 July: To Live With You Forever

12 July: Stand Up Strong And Tall

13 July: To Be Like Him

14 July: He’s Coming Back

15 July: Criticism

16 July: Jimmets—Prayer & Vigilance

17 July: Asking For A Miracle

18 July: Forgive! & Psalm 112

19 July: It’s Your Decision

20 July: Joyful In God

21 July: Complete Access

22 July: Jimmets—God’s Abiding Love

23 July: Prayer Life

24 July: Moving Mountains

25 July: Psalm 16 And Choices

26 July: The Call To Holiness

27 July: Equipped For Battle

28 July: Prayer Problems?

29 July: Jimmets—Prayer And Weapons

30 July: Nicodemus’ Soliloquy

31 July: Mathematics?

1 August: Love Discipline!

2 August: Batter Spatter

3 August: Eli, Hophni And Phineas

4 August: The Christian Walk

5 August: Martyrdom!

6 August: David’s Prayer

7 August: Jesus Christ The King!

8 August: Whosoever Will May Come

9 August: A Walk Through History

10 August: Jimmets—Safety And Compare

11 August: Light Be!

12 August: Death Sentence

13 August: Behaviour

14 August: Jimmets—Covenant And Gift

15 August: Hosea’s Test

16 August: Into Existence

17 August: The Conversion Diversion

18 August: Boast In The Lord

19 August: Jimmets—3: Tell & Heart & Faith

20 August: Dare To Discipline

21 August: A Word For A Modern Day Gideon

22 August: Jimmets—Solomon, Jesus & Equality

23 August: Master

24 August: An Upside Down World

25 August: When To Praise The Lord

26 August: Christ—The Winner!

27 August: Going Home?

28 August: Tale Of Two Trees

29 August: A Picture Of God!

30 August: What Manna Of Man?

31 August: My Father’s Business

1 September: The Old Cross Or The New

2 September: Forever Blessed!

3 September: Reverse The Curse

4 September: The Lord’s Discipline

5 September: Come!

6 September: Edom’s End

7 September: God’s Plan For You

8 September: Parable Of The Dog

9 September: Victory In Jesus!

10 September: The Great Exchange

11 September: Working Or Shirking?

12 September: Jimmets—Ps. 118:7 & 1 Cor. 10:13

13 September: The Salt Of The Earth

14 September: Faith For Fellowship

15 September: Future Perfect

16 September: Not Playing Games!

17 September: Taste And See

18 September: En Hakkore—The Caller’s Spring

19 September: I Lift My Eyes

20 September: The Charis

21 September: The Witness Of The Spirit

22 September: Your Heart’s Delight

23 September: Our Heritage

24 September: He Is God’s Son

25 September: Judgment

26 September: The Final Meeting

27 September: Hath God Said?

28 September: The Wonders Of His Handiwork

29 September: Like Father Like Son

30 September: Moses’ Prayer In The Tent Of Meeting

1 October: Jimmets: Speak Truth—Reflect His Glory

2 October: Boast Only In The Lord

3 October: Gifts And Fruit

4 October: Grace Gifts

5 October: The Just Will Live By Faith

6 October: Independence

7 October: Building A House

8 October: Be A Witness

9 October: Being Purified

10 October: Our Father

11 October: Hallowed Be Thy Name

12 October: The Kingdom Of God

13 October: Thy Will Be Done

14 October: Our Daily Bread

15 October: Forgive Us Our Sins

16 October: Don’t Let Us Yield To Temptation

17 October: The Kingdom, The Power And The Glory

18 October: Amen And Amen

19 October: When The Trumpet Sounds

20 October: The Temple’s Site

21 October: Unprofitable Servant

22 October: On Track

23 October: A Vision For Ministry

24 October: Jimmets—Thirst & Cracked Cisterns

25 October: The Long Line Of Sin

26 October: Trappings

27 October: Our Be-Attitude

28 October: The Fight

29 October: Waterloo And Ziklag

30 October: Little Foxes

31 October: Jimmets—Veracity & Creativity

1 November: The Spirit In Action

2 November: Psalm 45

3 November: The Prince Of Peace

4 November: Jimmets—Man’s Peace—My Peace

5 November: Methuselah

6 November: Walking In The Spirit

7 November: The Jesus Way

8 November: God Will Never Fail

9 November: The Old And New Covenant

10 November: God Knows Best

11 November: True Riches

12 November: Resurrection Of The Woman’s Son

13 November: In Jesus’ Name

14 November: Questions And Answers

15 November: God’s Masterpiece

16 November: Passport To Paradise

17 November: Sowing And Reaping

18 November: God With Us

19 November: The Glory Of The Temple

20 November: Covenant

21 November: Jimmets—The Void & Jesus’ Prayer

22 November: Jimericks—Discipline

23 November: Circumstances

24 November: What Doest Thou Here?

25 November: It’s Not Fair!

26 November: Ahitophel—Betrayer

27 November: Temptation

28 November: Supercharged

29 November: You Believe!

30 November: For The Joy

1 December: Heaven

2 December: The Sacrifice

3 December: Cleanliness And Godliness

4 December: Job’s Trial

5 December: Gentle Giant

6 December: The Highway Of Holiness

7 December: Correction

8 December: Sweet Dreams

9 December: Endless Commitment

10 December: Wait On The Lord

11 December: Jimericks From Scripture

12 December: Jimmets: Pressing On—Never Quit

13 December: It’s Up To You

14 December: On Eagle’s Wings

15 December: The Builder

16 December: Invest This For Me While I Am Gone

17 December: Hobson’s Choice

18 December: Truth Or Facts

19 December: Sheep

20 December: Touch Not God’s Anointed

21 December: Tests And Trials

22 December: The Return

23 December: Eternal Life In Jesus

24 December: David, Saul And Achish

25 December: The Birth Of Jesus

26 December: Ten Out Of Ten

27 December: He Is Our Peace

28 December: Life Comes Through Death

29 December: God Is Faithful

30 December: Deceived

31 December: Good Morning Lord & On Our Anniversary

Index

Foreword

The book which you hold in your hands, VERSE, METRE AND RHYME FOR YOUR QUIET TIME, is a legacy of the ministry of Jim Strickland, revealing both fun and practical theology. Sound, uncompromising doctrine is mixed with faith for daily living in these expressive poems which capture the essence of quotes from the greatest book ever written. You will be inspired by the truthful nature of the verse Jim has written and will undoubtedly be led to a higher realm than the ordinary, through these arrows delivered straight to your heart.

I was privileged to receive these poems in a daily email after Jim had read the Word, prayed and heard from God in the early morning. To say that they both challenged and inspired me would be an understatement. Nothing can displace the reading of the Word from one’s daily devotion with the Lord, but to hear the word expressed in rhyme and metre from another source, a man totally devoted to the Lord, helps one to gain another perspective of what God is saying for this time and season.

The poems themselves speak volumes about the consistency of the spiritual life of the writer, and always attract the reader to One Who is more loving than any lover, is greater than the great, and Whose authority carries more weight than any mortal leader. That God could have gifted one man with the skill of poetry is reason for great praise, but for him to have compiled each poetic gem into such a grand compendium is a miracle of God’s grace.

Keith D Strugnell

Executive Director, Go-Tell Communications.

Regional Director, CBN Africa

Introduction

This anthology has been 32 years in the making and 12 months in production.

In 1981, apart from other events, I began to write poetry regularly. This was brought about as a result of a divorce and a desire to serve Jesus Christ in a more personal way. Since then, composing Christian poetry has been my passion.

In the early stages I was prolific. Every opportunity was taken to compose. I thought that my verses would be in demand. They were. However, it was very difficult to find a market for Christian verse. In those days I was informed by several publishers that there was virtually no market for this.

Thus, in 1985 I printed a small anthology called The Word for Every Occasion. It was well received by those looking for Christian poetry. But the publisher’s comments were true. What I had written was not popular. This caused me to lose some of my early enthusiasm. But I continued to write in a small way; mainly for friends, for their special occasions.

I retired early from Eskom. My wife and I decided to throw ourselves into Christian service. Fortunately, my modest pension made us self-sufficient such that it wasn’t necessary for us to seek alternative employment. It wasn’t easy, but we managed. Once more I could focus on poetry. Sadly, the market had not changed.

For the next 20 years my wife and I moved in and around South Africa, assisting in various churches. We seldom asked for any financial reward. This enabled us to be free from denominational or other pressures.

In 2011, we retired from the church in which we were serving and changed our focus. It was then we made a decision that I would compile an anthology of daily devotional poetry. This has kept me fairly busy since then.

EXPLANATION OF CONTENT

Every page of this anthology is of my own, most of which was written during 2012/13. In most cases the poems were written in response to the particular Scripture which provided the inspiration. One or two of them were written in previous years and have been included because they best fitted the Scripture chosen for the day.

The Scriptures come from those contained in Samuel Bagster’s Daily Light. They can be found on www.dailylight.co.uk. Alternatively, type Daily Light into your search engine and you will find a number of versions from various publishers with quotations from various translations.

In this regard I must say that I cheated a little. On my computer I have installed e-Sword. This software is available to anyone and can be obtained from http://www.e-sword.net/support.html. This is made available to the public due to the generosity and courtesy of Rick Meyers. e-Sword contains many Bibles in many languages and various translations in that language. It’s an invaluable resource. It’s one of the most comprehensive Bible Study tools available.

For this anthology I’ve used the following English Translations

I must place on record my appreciation to the compilers of these translations and thank them for allowing me to quote from them.

Be aware that there is no particular reason why I’ve chosen each one. It has been a purely subjective decision based on the one I felt best expressed the Scripture on which I focused.

For clarity and context, I’ve often included extra verses of Scripture not contained in Samuel Bagster’s original. This was a subjective decision based on trying to include context and meaning with the quoted Scripture.

For the record, a Jimmet is a sonnet written following the rhyming style of William Shakespeare. A Jimerick is similar to a limerick, except there is only one first line instead of two.

COMPOSITION:

Each day has been compiled according to the following pattern.

The various translations used are identified under the Scripture heading. Thus Deuteronomy 31:8 NLT is from the New Living Translation.

The Date at the top of each Poem defines the day of the year. The title of the Poem, is the Title I’ve used. Scripture includes the Scripture for the day along with the words in the translation. Poem means the verse and rhyme composed on the date specified. For the record, all the poetry is mine.

I’ve tried to associate the poetry with the content of the Daily Scripture. At times the association is loose. On other occasions it’s strictly in accordance with my own feelings at the time of composition.

The title of each poem was decided after the poem has been compiled.

This anthology is unashamedly Christian. I have written secular poetry, usually for a special occasion. None is included herein.

My wife and I are Christians. We prefer to use the word, Christ-followers because this describes us as we are. My wife has been a Christ-follower since 1952, myself since 1960. We both freely admit that any good you see in either of us, including the poetry herein, has come from the gracious hand of the Lord Jesus Christ.

We believe the Word of God has been divinely inspired, in spite of the comments of many scholars who have different opinions. In this regard we have asked ourselves who is right. Is it the Bible or the Scholar? For us, the answer is easy. The Bible is always right. The Scholar is a non-starter!

Acknowledgements

This anthology could not have been written without the active assistance of my wife, Phyllida and the support of our family.

Thanks to e-Sword for the Bible Study software.

Thanks also to the late Samuel Bagster, for compiling the book of Scripture quotations upon which this anthology is based.

Thanks to Keith D Strugnell for his generous comments about this book in the foreword.

Thanks to Arnoldi Prinsloo for her careful proof reading prior to publication. Her careful attention to detail is greatly appreciated.

Thanks to the publishers of the Book, Daily Light on your Daily Path. This book has helped to guide my wife and me for the past 32 years!

Thanks to Xlibris for their patience while this anthology was being compiled.

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

1 January

THE LORD OF LIFE

8 Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; He will neither fail you nor abandon you." Deut. 31:8 NLT

"Moses said to Joshua, "Take courage and be strong.

For you will lead these people as soon as I am gone.

Go take the land God’s given them, divide and share it out.

The time has come for taking it. That’s far beyond a doubt.

The Lord will go ahead of you and grant you great success.

He won’t fail or abandon you, His purpose is to bless,

The people He has chosen to be His very own.

Just follow Him consistently and do what He has shown."

The words that Moses gave them, all still apply today,

And Jesus says to all of us, here’s what we must obey.

It’s not a time for slacking off; it’s not a time to mope.

It’s not a time for thinking, there is no future hope.

It’s time for looking forward and straining for the prize.

For focusing on what the Lord has placed before our eyes!

It’s time to seek the glory; the type the Father gives.

The sort that is reflected by the way the Master lives!

It’s taking on the suffering, the way that He endured;

That when we trust in Jesus, our victory’s ensured.

It’s having a deep knowledge, of all that He has said.

It’s putting all our trust in Him, to whom we’ll soon be wed.

It’s waiting for the day to come, when He’ll return as judge.

To know this is a certainty from which we cannot budge.

It’s grasping He will do it; that all will be fulfilled.

That nothing can prevent it, for that is what He’s willed.

It’s getting into training, so we can win the crown.

It’s fully recognising we’ll wear His wedding gown.

It’s fully understanding His word will never fail,

In spite of execution, or being thrown in jail.

It’s truthfully discerning the presence of the saints,

Who’ve died and gone before us the way the Bible states.

It’s list’ning to them cheering, as we go running by,

Aware we will be with them the instant that we die.

It’s looking unto Jesus; He is the only way!

Assured that He will take us, to be with Him one day.

And as we move together, into our Promised Land,

Be certain He will be with us, to help us understand,

That when the battle’s over, He’ll give us a reward.

For being His disciple and making Him our Lord.

-oOo-

2 January

RESURRECTION LIFE

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

Each time that you’re praying, do thoughts invade your mind?

Is prayer to you a burden, a deep unwanted bind?

Is contacting the Saviour beyond all you can see?

Then I have got good news for you; for you are just like me.

I’ve never found it easy; in truth it’s very hard.

I feel I’d like to go and play in someone else’s yard.

So we rely on systems to keep our spirits quiet.

When what we’re really needing is a spiritual riot.

Something we can cling to, to help us get it right,

And really serve the Master without some inner fight.

Is this a bad confession? Should I hide this away?

But all that I can murmur is, Lord teach me to pray.

I know I’m not alone in this. I know my friends complain,

That they would like to pray to You in ways that don’t seem vain.

The problem is our senses. We think that we should feel,

A sort of dynamism, which makes the Saviour real!

We should be filled with power to set the world alight.

Instead there’s empty nothingness for we can’t get it right.

O Lord, I hate this struggle. It seems I cannot win.

And since these words are faithless, I know that they are sin.

But Lord I’m tired of trying; I cannot bear the mask

That covers my hypocrisy, when prayer is just a task.

So Lord as we go into the year which lies ahead,

Father, work a miracle and raise me from the dead.

Help me know your presence in spite of how I feel.

Teach me that sensations, are not what make things real.

I know that You can do it. Please let my prayers ascend,

Like fragrant clouds of incense, of which there is no end.

You’ve said that we can do it. To pray and never cease.

Perhaps all I am needing, is some form of release.

The freedom to engage with You in ways I’ve never known.

The way the Bible indicates is what You’ll surely own.

An inner transformation that causes us to be,

The essence of what we should know in Christianity.

Not some mumbo jumbo of raising up a storm.

But where a right relationship is constantly the norm.

For working the miraculous for You is just routine,

And raising sinners from the dead is where You’re always seen.

We desire to know You as we have never done;

In fellowship with Father, the Spirit and Your Son.

-oOo-

3 January

SIGHT FOR THE BLIND

41 What do you want me to do for you? Jesus asked. Lord, I want to be able to see, the blind man replied. Luke 18:41 NIrV

What is it you are wanting the Lord to do for you?

The blind man wanted vision, to see the way we do.

It seems he had been blind from birth, so couldn’t comprehend,

The things that he would look at, when his blindness reached its end.

But Jesus had compassion and told him he could see.

His faith had made the difference from the way he used to be.

And when the Saviour left him, he followed on behind,

Praising God for giving sight to someone who was blind.

This story is recorded in the gospel of Saint Luke.

There in chapter eighteen we see it was no fluke.

For Jesus was in business to give the people sight,

When all that they had ever seen was never-ending night!

But Jesus also shed His light on what is in His Word.

And He will end our darkness, by the words that we have heard.

He opens up our minds so that each one of us can see,

The Scriptures that were written for the likes of you and me.

The Lord God has been doing this for some two thousand years.

He’s brought His understanding to mollify our fears.

His Word is never changing, so what He did back then,

Is what He’s made available for ordinary men.

Now Jesus has ascended and sent the Paraclete;

His precious Holy Spirit so Satan can be beat.

He said that He would do it and so, it’s guaranteed

That everything He did back then still could be done indeed.

His brother James has told us, that all gifts from above,

Come down to us from heaven, from the God of light and love.

His gifts are not deceitful when they’re cascading down.

They’re not two-faced or fickle; they are the best in town.

So if we ask the Father for wisdom and insight,

He will not disappoint us and we’ll receive His light!

We’ll grow in Godly knowledge. He’ll flood our hearts with hope,

To better understand all things and show us how to cope.

We’ll be His Holy People and know His mighty power.

Our glorious inheritance, gets bigger every hour.

Then, as we honour Jesus, His Spirit will ensure,

That while our every motive is good and clean and pure,

Our eyes indeed He’ll open. That’s when we all will see,

Far better than that blind man He healed in Galilee.

-oOo-

4 January

DEATH IS CONQUERED

55 Death, where is your victory? Death, where is your sting?" 56 Sin gives death its sting, and God’s standards give sin its power.

1 Cor. 15:55-56 GW

What is it folk are frightened of? For most of them, it’s death.

They don’t know what will happen when they’ve breathed their final breath.

It’s surely understandable, for all of us must die;

No matter how we put it off, it comes for you and I.

It happened to the Master, when He was on the cross.

He took in death and swallowed it. Now He’s become death’s boss.

As Christians, we should know it; but most of us still fear,

The prospect of what happens, when we get out of here!

We know the way it happened. Adam disobeyed.

So Satan was his master and death came in and stayed.

The devil thought he’d triumphed. This world became his own.

He thought that he could never lose his well-established throne.

He knew that the sin nature would always be passed down.

It would need a perfect man to take away his crown.

He knew that if a perfect man would ever pass away,

God would raise him up again. Death can never stay

On someone who was perfect. Before the corpse could rot,

God would raise Him back to life. Corruption just could not

Hold him in its icy grip. Perfection couldn’t stay

Forever in an earthly grave. There wasn’t any way,

That Satan’s hosts could keep him. His wages were not death.

In fact the very life of God would dwell in every breath.

And that is just what happened. He had the victory.

Because He lived a perfect life; there was no way that He,

Could stay within death’s bondage. He died and so His soul,

Could never be held captive; and death was swallowed whole!

So why are people frightened of all that death can bring?

The truth is that in Jesus Christ, death has lost its sting.

We may have the experience of what it is to die.

But Jesus Christ will raise us up to heights above the sky!

It has no power over us that He does not permit.

And any instant He decides, He’ll lift us out of it!

So dying is a victory that Jesus turns around.

The grave can’t hold us in its grip. We’re waiting for the sound.

A trumpet blast in heaven will raise us from the grave;

And we will rise to be with Him, no longer Satan’s slave!

And live with Christ forever; death will disappear;

No longer can it terrify, for Jesus Christ is near.

-oOo-

5 January

LIES AND LYING

3 LORD, guard my mouth. Keep watch over the door of my lips.

Ps. 141:3 NIrV

I’ve often wondered how the devil’s forces can be strong.

They’re all a bunch of liars, so they always get things wrong.

The devil is their father. The truth is not in him.

He says that he is flying while he’s going for a swim.

It’s terribly confusing. When he gives a command,

They don’t know if it’s local, or in some foreign land!

He tells them, Go to Cape Town! they go to Timbuktu.

They can’t obey his orders, ’cause they don’t know what to do!

While I was an apprentice, I met someone from his gang.

He said that he was thirty and was injured in a prang.

But everything we said, he told us he had done before.

And from his great achievements we guessed he was much more.

He’d seen so many places and done so many things,

We thought he was a puppet that was hanging by his strings.

If what he said was true, he was the oldest man alive.

We stopped our calculations when we got to ninety five.

The Lord has told us Satan is the Father of all lies.

So everything he does, should never take us by surprise.

Our children are his followers. They have a bent that way.

When they have just been naughty you’ll always hear them say,

"It wasn’t me who did it. I don’t know who it was.

It must be mister nobody! I’m innocent because,

I wasn’t even playing in that portion of the house.

So if you heard a racket, it must have been a mouse!"

We know that they are lying. They just will not own up.

It wasn’t me that did it. My sister broke that cup!

Now this was clearly mentioned by the Master’s brother, James.

He said the tongue was wicked and it poisoned people’s names.

He said no one can tame it and we know that it is true.

And that is why the Spirit gave a special gift to you.

This gift is often criticised, the gift of tongues it’s named;

And every time you use it, the Lord is not defamed.

You don’t know what you’re saying. Your speaking to the Lord;

And everything you say declares the Master is adored.

So if you have a problem and the devil’s drawing near;

You really needn’t worry or start trembling with fear.

Allow God’s special gift to flow from deep within your lungs,

And Satan will freak out ’cause he’s not got this gift of tongues!

So now we have a weapon in our battle for the truth,

From all of Satan’s minions and every lying youth.

Let your spirit speak to them in something that’s unique.

The only way we’re certain that it’s only truth we speak.

-oOo-

6 January

FRIENDS ARE FEW

24 Even a man who has many companions can be destroyed.

But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Pro. 18:24 NIrV

There has to be a reason why we men have so few friends.

I cannot understand it. Perhaps friendships depend,

On those we’re introduced to, most likely by our wives.

But few have long-term friendships that last them all their lives.

I know that in reality, men-friends are very few.

And in my past experience, there’s only one or two.

In fact as I look backwards and down through all my years,

There’s very few whose passing, would cause me to shed tears.

The guys I was at school with, I never will forget;

But since I’ve started working, there’s few men I have met,

Who’s really been a friend to me. A few have been a pal.

But normally I’ve met them as I courted some sweet gal.

Of course I’ve met a lot of men. Acquaintances? OK.

But very few continue and still are friends today.

I wonder if this problem is mine and mine alone?

Perhaps I should be thinking, of the way that I’ve been known?

The men for me are usually like ships that pass at night.

We seldom take the time to pause. We part when it grows light.

Of course I’ve met the people my wife has come to know.

And they have all been marvellous. In fact they’ve helped me grow.

But few of them were friends of mine, except by accident.

And this is surely not the way that being friends was meant.

But there’s Someone Who’s special; a friend for fifty years.

I met Him as a brash young man; a mass of guilt and fears.

I didn’t know what I should do. My life was one big mess.

And someone introduced me to a Person Who would bless.

He’d make my living purposeful. He looked into my face,

And told me what was wrong with me. He said I needed grace.

He said He would be with me and stick closer than a brother

And since I’ve got to know Him, I’ve found there is no other

Man, who wants to know me, as an eternal friend;

He said we’d walk together, ’til time comes to an end.

And since I fell in love with Him, I’m bored with other men.

And we have a relationship that’s far beyond my ken.

Perhaps I am unusual? Perhaps I’ve got things wrong?

But I’ve not met another man who fills my heart with song.

No other human friendship can possibly compare,

With walking with my Saviour and knowing He is there.

Most men are insipid. Sex and booze and sport,

Is not the sort of lifestyle, I ever could support.

And if this makes me different, I think I’d rather be,

A friend of Christ my Saviour, Who has befriended me.

-oOo-

7 January

GOD NEVER FORGETS!

15 Can a woman forget her nursing child? Will she have no compassion on the child from her womb? Although mothers may forget, I will not forget you. 16 I have engraved you on the palms of my hands. Your walls are always in my presence. Is. 49:15-16 GW

O Lord, You are so different in everything You do.

Forever You are faithful, consistent, sure and true.

You don’t forget Your people. They’re never on their own.

It surely is unthinkable to say they are alone.

Man persecutes Your people; he makes a holocaust.

Yet even in their darkest hour; they never were divorced.

You saw the crude brutality; The death camps and the pain.

You heard them calling out to You; they thought they cried in vain.

But never for an instant were You not present there.

And even in the gas chambers, they weren’t beyond Your care.

They thought they’d been deserted; that You had let them down;

Their skin was used for lampshades, their bones were even ground;

And auctioned off as fertiliser. All was stripped away;

Their clothing and possessions. The theft was just child’s play.

The shoes of little children were piled up in a heap;

And in those dreadful Nazi camps, all Jewish life was cheap.

Yet all this is familiar to what occurred that day,

When You were taken captive and You were led away.

You didn’t try to fight them. You let them do their worst.

They mocked You; they spat on You; they said that You were cursed.

They beat You like an animal; they crowned Your head with thorns.

They gambled for Your clothing and gazed at You with scorn.

They nailed You to a wooden cross and hung You up to die.

And all Your friends could do for You, was hang their heads

and cry.

I think the Nazi’s lessons, were based upon that day.

The murder of Christ Jesus; There was no better way;

It was the right solution to obliterate the Jews.

The final way to deal with the people whom You choose.

They made them die of hunger of sickness and disease.

The guards had their permission to shoot them as they please.

And though six million perished, they just could not achieve,

Their ultimate solution. But Lord it made You grieve.

O Lord, You won’t forget it. It’s etched into Your hands.

There’ll come a day of judgment in each and every land.

The Love of God will triumph, when justice is applied.

And You will see the perpetrators criminally tried.

Lord, thank You for the statement that You will not forget.

Your memory is perfect and there is still a debt,

To pay for what has happened to Jesus and the Jews.

The day will come when all of them by You will be accused.

And those, whom You find guilty, will all be led away,

For all their atrocities; they’ll find they have to pay.

-oOo-

8 January

SET FREE BY GRACE

6 All those things bring praise to his glorious grace. God freely gave us his grace because of the One he loves. Eph. 1:6 NIrV

The grace that Jesus offers is utterly unique.

It is the very quality that we all need to seek.

It’s not some smug acceptance that we can recognise.

It’s being granted something that is more than a surprise.

It’s having been His enemy and worked to bring Him down;

And finding we’re forgiven and asked to share His crown!

It’s getting just the opposite of all that we deserve;

And taken to His Father’s House where we will have the nerve,

To see Him as our brother. Adopted by His Dad!

Knowing that what we have done, should surely drive Him mad!

We cannot comprehend it. We’ve done our very best,

To bring dishonour to His Name and found that we are blessed.

He didn’t have to do it. He said that it was free.

The cost was quite impossible for anyone like me.

I knew I couldn’t buy it and that I couldn’t steal,

This gift so indescribable; I thought it wasn’t real.

How could the Blessed Saviour, Who shouldn’t ever die,

Do the indescribable, for folk like you and I?

I knew I had insulted Him. I dragged His Name through mud.

In terms of Christianity, I surely was a dud.

Like every other sinner, my heart was frozen cold.

And yet he said He looked at me and said He saw pure gold!

I thought He must be seeing things. How could His words be true?

It must have been somebody else; it wasn’t me on view.

That’s when He said, "My precious child, you don’t appreciate,

The limits of My sovereign grace and mankind’s fallen state.

You’re right. You don’t deserve it. No man could ever earn,

The price I paid to save you. So here’s what you must learn.

No matter what you’ve ever done. No matter where you’ve been.

I knew what you were doing and that you were unclean.

You didn’t want to know Me. You much preferred your sin.

Your mind can never comprehend the mess that you were in.

But all it took to save you was a little tiny drop!

The blood I shed on Calvary. My blood would make you stop,

Your independent action and turn you back to Me.

It was My grace that touched you and set your spirit free.

And in My sight you’re holy because of what was done

By grace, for you on Calvary when you embraced My Son.

-oOo-

9 January

PRIORITIES

4 I’m asking the LORD for only one thing. Here is what I want. I want to live in the house of the LORD all the days of my life. I want to look at the beauty of the LORD. I want to worship him in his temple. Ps. 27:4 NIrV

Priorities! Priorities! We make them every day.

To rush around the kitchen, or what does Jesus say?

We fluster like a housewife, getting everything prepared.

But sitting at the Master’s feet; for that she isn’t spared.

A meal was in the making. She had to make the bread.

But what was more important, was what the Master said!

The Mary/Martha saga we all know very well.

Mary chose to listen. Martha couldn’t tell,

That she was too preoccupied with incidental things.

When she could have been hearing the Lord; The King of Kings.

The problem was her gender and the things which women do.

She couldn’t pause a moment, to hear His words so true.

In fact she was offended, with her sister sitting there.

I think she should be helping. There’s dinner to prepare.

But Jesus answered, "Martha where’s your priority?

The dinner could come later. You could sit here with Me!

Put aside anxiety and madly fussing round.

If you would come and listen, I’m sure you would have found,

Time to do the housework and hear Me teach as well.

Mary did the right thing, as time will surely tell.

This attitude of Martha was certainly not wrong.

The dinner must be perfect and satisfy the throng.

But Martha’s inner spirit would not be satisfied.

No matter how she worked for Him it could have been denied.

We need to pay attention, if we’re to hear Him speak.

We may long for the water, until we’re feeling weak.

We may be parched and thirsty and longing for God’s Word.

But if we are too busy, His voice will not be heard.

The place where we are living could be dry as dry can be.

But Jesus has a sustenance that very few can see.

He gives us living water; He gives life’s daily bread.

He gives us all that’s needed, to do what He has said!

So when we’re feeling hungry and longing for a meal.

The Lord will fill our belly, with bread that is more real,

Than anything the baker could lay upon your plate.

And Jesus’ living-water will more than satiate.

So let us set our focus, on the sustenance we need.

Alter our priorities and ask the Lord to feed,

Us with His living water; and bread from up above.

And we will be abounding in all the Master’s love.

It’s all in our priorities and that which we decide.

A life of mad activity, or sitting by His side?

-oOo-

10 January

A HOLY TEMPLE

19 Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God?

You do not belong to yourself 1 Cor. 6:19 NLT

There’s no God in the universe Who’s anything like You. 2 Chron. 6:14-18

No Deity imagined who can do the things You do!

You don’t have a beginning. You do not have an end.

The years or days or seconds. On them You don’t depend.

The reason is quite simple. Lord, You created time.

There was no past or future. In fact You are the prime,

Reason for existence. The ever present now,

Defines Your habitation and even time must bow.

You have no need for buildings. A tent cannot contain,

The Lord God, the Almighty, from which You’ll always reign.

This planet is Your footstool. The stars that shine by night,

Are only the reflections of Your incandescent light.

They’re holes within the blanket which covers outer space.

Or we would be demolished by the brightness of Your face.

You do not dwell with people. This place we have designed.

We know it is inadequate. So Lord, please do not mind,

If what we have erected looks laughable and poor.

Nothing we can ever build can ever show for sure,

The Glory and the Majesty of Him Who Reigns on High.

But, because we love You Lord, we thought that we should try.

So we have made a sanctuary, the way that You have shown.

Following the pattern, which came from You alone.

Meet here with Your people. O Lord please let them see,

A little of the glory and true authority,

Within this tabernacle where You have said You’ll meet Ex 25:8-9

Those committed to You, from Your Holy Mercy Seat.

Dwell amongst Your people, that they may see and know,

That You are always with them, no matter where they go!

You led them out of Egypt. You took them by the hand, Ex 29:43-46

And promised You would take them to their home in Canaan Land.

Separate our rebels and treat them as You should.

As for those who love You. To them Lord please be good! Psalm 68:18

Keep them free from idols. There must not be a place,

Where by their behaviour, they’ll fall away from grace. 2 Cor. 6:16

Let them realise, O lord, that there will come a day,

When everyone will worship in a very different way.

You will dwell within them. Their God You’ll surely be.

They will be Your people for all eternity.

You will walk among them and they will trust in You.

Collectively, Your temple, in everything they do.

Empowered by Your Spirit for all the world to see, 1 Cor. 6:19

That those who truly follow You, forevermore will be,

Set apart as holy. And all will know for sure,

They are Your disciples and You have made them pure. Ezek. 37:28

-oOo-

11 January

WHAT THE LORD HAS DONE

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, 3 who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, 4 who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, 5 who satisfies you with good so your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. Ps. 103:1-5 ESV

Let’s reflect a little on what the Lord has done.

Go into our memory to where we’d first begun.

It gets a little scratchy. Perhaps it is unclear?

Ask the Lord to show us what happened yesteryear.

I haven’t any memories before the age of five.

Except brief mental images that somehow do not jive.

A funny looking building where once a church had been.

Thick and heavy curtains which were not very clean.

A very special tearoom with chairs like Micky Mouse.

A great big heap of rubble where once had stood a house.

A journey on a mail boat, with just a glimpse or two,

Of stairs and great big dormitories and the unending view,

Of miles and miles of ocean, which never seemed to end.

And of two loving parents on whom I could depend.

I think that they were memories, but there are very few.

Enough for me to thank the Lord, for all that He did do.

Enough for me to praise Him and bless His Holy name, Psalm 103:1-5

For bringing us to Africa. Life wouldn’t be the same,

As it had been in England. It looked like fairy land.

With pretty lights and beaches, with miles of golden sand!

The memories get clearer in nineteen forty nine.

We’d settled down in Durban and I was doing fine.

The goodness of the Master was spotted all around.

This land is so amazing, is truly what we found.

We’d been released from bondage; the rule of God was near. Jer. 50:33-34

And we were very grateful; He’d brought us over here.

The country we had left behind was in a dreadful state.

The cost of reconstruction was like a ten ton weight.

That great big conflagration, meant death was like the plague. Hos. 13:14

God had brought the victory; we couldn’t just renege!

Christ Himself had taken part; the Axis power destroyed. Heb. 2:14-15

The Nazi’s looked invincible, but they were null and void.

We had trusted Jesus! He had not let us down. John 3:36

The praying women of the land, deserved the victor’s crown!

Thank God all that is over. A brand new life is ours.

And where the rubble once had been, is just a sea of flowers.

The old life was behind us. A new life stood before. Col 3:3-4

Here at the foot of Africa. Lord, banish every war!

-oOo-

12 January

Job’s Trial

3 I, too, have been assigned months of futility, long and weary nights of misery. 4 Lying in bed, I think, ‘When will it be morning?’ But the night drags on, and I toss till dawn. Job 7:3-4 NLT

Perhaps it was depression? I cannot say for sure.

We think Job needed comforting. He couldn’t find a cure,

For what he