‘he shakes his fist at God …*’

~ rhiannon ~ Leave a comment

See Lord how they sneer with scoffing,
think they are so wise and tough
think they have no need of You, Lord,.
think You don’t care what they do:
what a clamour!
what an uproar!
Ignorant and foolish words!

But You still work out salvation;
how long will You wait – arise!
and defend Your reputation –
don’t hold back, rebuke their lies.
Violence lurking,
evil working:
save Your people from their claws.

*Job 15:25
also: “But you, O God, are my king from of old; you bring salvation upon the earth. …Remember how the enemy has mocked you, O Lord, how foolish people have reviled your name.… Rise up, O God, and defend youor cause;; remember how fools mock you all day long.” Psalm 74:12,18,22

Tune: 87 87 47 eg Bryn Calvaria by William Owen, tune of ‘Come, ye sinners, poor and needy’s

Wonderful King

~ rhiannon ~ Leave a comment

God pre-eminent we worship,
wholly wise and full of grace.
He alone can be the Saviour,
only He can keep us safe:
make us holy,
bring to glory
with such joy before His face.

To Him be all praise and glory,
majesty, dominion, power.
He will keep me through the trials:
Helper in temptation’s hour.
Wonderful King
Do you know Him?;
He’s my Rock and shielding Tower.

Now and always and for ever,
praise to Him the Source of all.
He is truly God almighty,,
in true awe and reverence fall.
Always sovereign,
evermore reign –
for His grace and mercy call.

Tune: 87 87 47 eg Bryn Calvaria by William Owen, tune of ‘Come, ye sinners, poor and needy’s
Jude 24,25 “To Him who is able to keep you … To God our Saviour who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen”

Probability, possibility, evidence

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‘Probably there is no God,’ some say.
‘Live as you like today.
Enjoy your life’ – but do you?
Do troubles haunt, pursue you?

‘– but possibly there is a God?’ you say.
What evidence is there each way?
What beauty fills your eyes:
to say it’s not designed, is lies.

‘Why does He not remove all ill
if He exists, lives still?’
Are we ready for such full
removal – from our lives as well?

‘Why does He not reveal Himself?’ some say.
Have you not read of Jesus’ display
of wisdom, power and gentleness?
if read with care, it must impress.

And have you talked with those who say
they’re helped by Him, supported every day,
their heart He’s softened, now they see
how good his truth, and mercy free?

No ghost – living Saviour!

~ rhiannon ~ Leave a comment

He was no ghost – he ate the fish,
but now could pass closed door.
Why do so many this dismiss,
clear evidence ignore?

And yet seem willing to believe
in tales of things bizarre,
that have no benefit to give,
and very dubious are.

The evidence that Christ arose
is clear – with joy believe,
for he is living now and shows
the debt is paid – receive!

The worst Friday, but the best

~ rhiannon ~ Leave a comment

Many expected revolution
– the rule of the Romans thrown,
but Jesus was bringing salvation,
their religious hypocrisy shown.

And so they demand crucifixion
– but thus was our Substitute killed
– God’s plan had not failed in confusion
– Christ laid down his life as God willed.

We never could come to God’s holiness
unless we are washed clean from sni;
our punishment earned He there bore for us
– through suffering, our Life He would win.

Five days before he was crucified

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The King, a kind and gentle King,
rides in upon an ass
– a borrowed ass – he nothing owned:
The prophecy had come to pass.

Though usually he walked, not now,
and hear the crowd acclaim him,
acknowledging his goodness, praise
– he who soon would be reigning.

But foolish leaders closed their eyes
to that which showed that he
was true Messiah sent from heaven,
wise, kind, Saviour to be.

And so they wanted to be rid
of him, for their hypocrisy,
and pride, was shown exposed by his
true goodness, quiet authority.

Tune: basically CM, with some hanging syllables

The Giver of Life

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Christ Jesus said, Seek out,
pursue food that sustains
which does not spoil, endures:
so heed his wondrous claims:
  ‘I am the bread of life’, he said,
  for I give life to souls now dead –
  eternal life, your souls refreshed and fed.

The barren heart revived
for by the Spirit drenched:
fruit grows, life’s Source made known,
soul’s hunger, thirst is quenched.
  ‘I am the bread of life’, he said,
  for I give life to souls now dead –
  eternal life, your souls refreshed and fed.

(see John 6:35 etc)

Tune: 6666 8810 eg ‘Gospel grace’ by J McGranahan

Amazing Grace!

~ rhiannon ~ Leave a comment

Grace, powerful, undeserved:
the favour, gifts of God –
though all we do he has observed,
our every word has heard,
he’s made a way of grace
and now he can embrace
repentant ones who truly come
asking he will atone
their sins by Christ’s spilt blood,
receiving grace from God:
listen! to all he says, believe
and life and grace receive.

Then may grace always lead us,
adoption undeserved –
by grace his teaching feed us,
be powerfully preserved.
He is the Gardener
who makes us holier,
he prunes away those things
those foolish harmful sins
by which we’ve been deceived,
his holy love have grieved:
listen! to all he says, believe
and life and grace receive.

Jesus said “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5

Tune: SMx3

Fit to meet the King

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No other way to God
if Jesus is refused;
God has provided him as such,
and so if he’s abused,
there is no other way
that we can be made fit
to come to One so holy, pure
dressed in a clean outfit.

To meet a king you should
be tidy, clean, polite:
to meet the universe’s King
your life must be made right.
But that means all your past
that’s wrong must be wiped clean,
and gain new attitude of heart
where selfishness has been.

But only God, as Christ
could die to clear our guilt,
and give us life that loves his ways –
all through his own blood spilt.
No other route to God –
kind Jesus is the Way!
so turn to him for cleansing, life
repent and humbly pray.
Tune: DSM eg Diademata tune of ‘Crown him with many crowns’ by G Elvey

Why not instantaeous creation?

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So why did God take six days to create
the universe, its flowers and planets great?
Why not produce all instantaneously?
I think he wanted us his plan to see
– his thought, great wisdom and delight, the pleasure
he took in forming beauty, precious treasure.

It gave a pattern for our work, our week,
a seven-day plan so good, with needed break
to rest and praise, refreshing crown of time,
meet with our caring Father, Lord divine.
But now for long there have been those who said
‘There is no God – it made itself instead!’

‘What seems impossible may have occurred
if length of time is vast’ – but it’s absurd
to think that tiny changes brought by chance
could ever viability enhance –
those fossils were by sudden burial formed,
life’s chemistry’s designed by One now scorned.

Tune: 10 10 10 10 10 10 eg Finlandia by Sibelius