Month: August 2013

Joy to the world

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Joy to the world where kindness, love
so often faithless prove.
Our world is lonely, sad, in pain:
but bringing comfort, help he came
rich grace and life to give,
the barrier-debt forgive,
– the Father sent his Son to save.

Joy to the world, the angels sang, –
salvation’s glorious plan!
A baby born, a human child,
the Son of God, man undefiled,
for us our death to die,
our ransom full supply:
to him we can be reconciled!

Joy to the world! Will you who hear
bow down, to him draw near?
in holy fear, and true regret
for follies, greed, and love’s neglect?
His welcoming arms are kind,
rejection, none will find,
who come with all their heart and mind!
Tune: 86 88 66 8 Antioch by George F Handel (tune of ‘Joy to the World’ by I Watts) 196 Grace

(The the Isaac Watts hymn is CM with a 4 line verse, but the 3rd line is slurred to music which fits lines 3 and 4 above happily; also that hymn’s last line is repeated twice, + part of the line – and the music has here been used for the extra two lines.)

Worry

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(Luke 12:15,22,23)
That wretched thing called worry
goes round and round and round
inside my head, – I’m sorry
mankind no cure has found;
but Someone very special
can show its source, and say,
‘Don’t worry, pardoned sinner,
trust me in all today.’

He’s powerful and he’s gracious;
I’m often in a mess.
He cares, – his sheep are precious,
despite their foolishness.
Though our mistakes cause fretting,
he’ll still command, and say,
‘Don’t worry, pardoned sinner,
trust me in all today.’

Who can control tomorrow?
Old Worry wants to rule –
myself relieve my sorrow –
an independent fool!
King Jesus reigns and loves me,
I’m glad to hear him say,
‘Don’t worry, pardoned sinner,
trust me in all today.’

For life is more than eating,
and things we now possess.
I need, far more than clothing,
real peace and righteousness.
My treasure is in heaven,
with Jesus, – hear him say,
‘Don’t worry, pardoned sinner,
trust me in all today.’

Children’s evening song

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Upstairs I wander, sleepily wonder,
“What will tomorrow bring?”
I turn off the light, to rest for the night,
and think of my heavenly King.

“Keep me, protect me, never reject me,
Forgive all my foolish sins,
I trust in the Saviour, improve my behaviour,
my heart of your glory sings.”

“When it is morning, while I am yawning,
stretching, or getting dressed,
please help me remember, my King to consider,
and pray to be richly blessed.”
Tune: Y Darlun by Davey Davies

Dark Days

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(Jeremiah 29 and Joseph)
However long you have to wait,
be patient for God’s time;
however much they hurt or hate,
your kindness, faith should shine.

So be a blessing where you are,
through all the troubled days,
and trust in him who’s strong, and plans
your good, and give him praise.

However much it seems to cheer,
don’t fall for comfort fake;
however strange things may appear,
God’s love makes no mistake.

So be a blessing where you are,
through all the troubled days,
and trust in him who’s strong, and plans
your good, and give him praise.

The Journey

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Journeying onwards with vision of glory,
steadily forward through thickets and thorns,
clasping the hand that can handle my worry,
– Christ is supporting, of dangers he warns.
Journey on earth while enjoying its beauty,
journey on earth while enduring its pain,
journey of struggles, and failings in duty,
strengthened, uplifted again and again.

Journeying onwards to life of perfection,
where there will be no more ugly decay,
illness, or evil, or dissatisfaction:
Jesus my Guardian, my Guide, and the Way.

Journeying daily, God’s Spirit indwelling,
blessing, preserving, and teaching his Word;
fellowship constant – a foretaste, foretelling
end of the journey, the presence of God.
Tune: 11 10 11 10 D eg El Noi de la Mare (16th C Catalan carol arr R B Campen)
or Faithfulness by W Runyan, tune of ‘Great is thy faithfulness’

Backsliding

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1 Corinthians 9:24,27; 10:12
It’s easy to backslide bit by bit from righteousness,
from total love, obedience, submission, faithfulness;
to think oneself much better than sinners all around,
but be sliding from that grace that would abound.

Yes, backsliding is so easy, –
press on, or you will fall;
but it’s far more hard to jog on
through troubles great and small;
but make progress, grow in knowledge,
the Spirit’s graces all; –
for backsliding is not difficult at all.

It’s easy to give something to God, but not give all;
and partly own him Master, but never truly call
for mercy and forgiveness; be stubborn, and so slide,
choosing lust, self-satisfaction, greed and pride.

And pleasures, cares, possessions, like weeds can stifle faith;
if the heart is not committed, and things of self and earth
have more of one’s affection than God and those in need,
then one’s sliding from the heavenly way indeed!
Tune: Irregular  ‘Crowning Day’ by J McGranahan

Assurance

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Do God’s children always feel a
deep assurance, joy and peace?
Do their fears, and darkness, doubting
disappear, – for ever cease?
Life anew, regeneration,
brings assurance to the soul,
though the turmoil can obscure the
peace and joy from mind’s recall.

Many days I thus delight in
when my soul rests as a child
on its gracious, loving Father,
sensing that he’s reconciled.
Days of trial, days of trouble,
days of trying dullness come, –
when I have to persevere, and
think of all that Christ has done.

Wait upon the Lord almighty
when you feel no peace or calm;
– his the grace that’s made me want sal-
-vation from all sin and harm.
Wait upon the Lord almighty;
look to him and daily drink –
no-one else can quench your thirst, and
lift you as you start to sink.

Praise and pray and serve him, trust him, –
more important than ‘felt’ peace. –
When obedient, God brings comfort,
to my darkness brings relief.
I’m imperfect, yet there are those
signs of life from God, new ways.
When I’m puzzled I must lean on
Jesus, through confusing days.

Ways of God are wise and gracious,
as he sanctifies Christ’s Bride;
heavenly Father knows that sometimes
our desires must be denied.
– ‘Do not give me all things easy,
lest I turn away to pride;
neither take all blessings from me,
keep me trusting at your side.’ (Proverbs 30:8,9)


Depression

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Lamentations 3:19–26
If I feel depressed and lonely,
guilty, friendless, cross, cast-down,
turn my thoughts to all God’s goodness,
and the kindnesses I’ve known.
Why should bitterness engulf me?
Why should only good befall
one so sinful and so foolish? –
Let God teach my wayward soul.

If I cannot face my failings,
without feeling great despair,
and expect complete perfection
while this mortal life I bear; –
I must think upon the gospel, –
open offer, grace made known,
wait for his complete salvation,
fix my hope in Christ alone.

When in physical affliction,
or I’m hurt by what men say,
angry thoughts must not consume me,
nor from Jesus turn away;
and I too have sinned against him,
hurting others by my ways,
– so return, O LORD, restore me,
help me serve you all my days.
(Tune: 87 87D)

Christian Ministry

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(on Colossians 1:23 – 2:1)
Long-term commitment Christ will sustain,
service prolonged costs effort and pain.
Fellowship’s strength in all that you do,
strive with his energy working in you.

Labour of love, his servants upheld:
now by their joy, compassion, compelled:
preaching his truth, the darkness dispelled,
foolish philosophies toppled and felled.

Serving his church, so each one matures,
serving the truth, not human ideas,
all he has spoken, not one addition,
all he has taught, without one subtraction.

Teaching, persuading, scripture explain,
warn and rebuke of dangerous sin,
errors expose that injure and kill:
taught by his Word, his work you’ll fulfil.

Tune: ‘Blessed Assurance’ by P P Knapp

Encourage each other

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Romans 12:10; Philippians 2:3,4; Hebrews 10:23–25
Let us consider, and to this give thought:
all Christians need our interest and support,
and we, ourselves, need help, refreshment brought
from brothers in the LORD.

Cheer them up, lift them up, love them, let it show;
cheer them up, lift them up, tell them, let them know
you need their love and contribution, so
spur one another on.

Easy to criticize, and dampen zeal,
coldly discourage others; when you feel
thanks, praise, declare it, never joy conceal
from brothers in the LORD.

Scolding debilitates, be quick to cheer,
pointing to mercy, grace that’s always near,
Christ will provide, and we need never fear,
but serve and please the LORD.

So we’ll be strengthened to endure and fight,
joyful in telling of the truth and Light,
encouraged in his Word and Spirit’s might,
by brothers in the LORD.
Tune: O What a Saviour (Irregular) by James McGranahan (482 CH)