Month: August 2013

Harvest

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God in heaven, his earth sustaining,
seed-time, harvest, still controlling,
in his kindness, food providing,
though we are so undeserving.

To him giving thanks abundant,
daily asking bread, – dependent;
if we suffer his chastisement,
do we pray, for sin repentant?

When crops fail, – disastrous flooding,
drought, or pests, – keep faithful, praying.
When we’ve plenty, are we lusting,
wanting more, and money wasting?

‘Thank you for the crops that yielded
so much fruit, now safely gathered.
Help me share what you’ve provided,
live as in your Word directed.’

Providence of God displaying
who to pray to, humbly trusting.
These are days for gospel preaching:
time for turning, judgement waiting.

Greatest blessing – Christ returning,
this creation then all burning,
all who’ve trusted him receiving
perfect life, eternal blessing.

Appropriate Worship

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(Psalm 131)
Ascending to worship the LORD high and pure,
my heart must be lowly, God will not endure
the proud and the haughty; but he will receive
the humble, the rev’rent, who truly believe.

God’s wisdom is vast and his words I will trust,
and when I am puzzled, remember I’m dust,
created to know God and live to his praise,
to pray, but not bitterly question his ways.

Ascending to worship, my soul I have stilled,
I make no demands, but I trust, – God has willed
great good, and my hope I have set on his grace,
in peace now I enter the holiest place.

And so I will worship and make my request,
and plead for his glory, and ask to be blessed.
I’ll praise him in wonder, and tremble with shame,
– for only the contrite his mercy can claim.
Tune: 11 11 11 11

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(2 Corinthians 13:14)
The grace of Christ means we can come, –
approach God in his Son:
he shows us him we cannot see,
and brings his grace so full and free;
sufficient, saving grace,
cascading, sovereign grace!

The Love of God, eternal, sure, –
a love all-wise and pure;
the Father’s love knows what is best,
and tenderly through every test
and trial, holds his child;
the Father loves his child!

The Spirit’s fellowship for all
who on the Father call –
enabling us Christ’s grace to know,
enjoy the Father’s love, and so
have fellowship with him,
and with his saints, in him!

The doctrine of the Father, Son,
and Spirit – Three but One –
draws out our worship, gives delight:
we cannot understand  his might,
but love to learn and praise,
tell of his gracious ways!

[Tune: 86 88 66 eg Newcastle by Henry Morley (Tune of ‘Eternal Light! Eternal Light’)
or Repton  by H Parry (tune of ‘Dear Lord and Father of mankind'(last line of tune repeated in either)]

Who knows … ?

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The meaning of life –
before any strife
was ever on record,
ill-word ever heard:
life’s Origin, Source
knew its purpose, of course,
for he had created, concocted
for perfect contentment,
fulfilment,
satisfying work,
no drudgery to shirk;
was grieved when bad choosing
meant misery, losing
that sense and that sight
of meaning and purpose, sad plight –
but then gave directions
a fix-it book, and help-line
– no queueing, ‘put-on-hold’ time –
but warned of ‘solutions’
that mangle,
‘cowboy’ repairers who wrangle –
whose bungles he’ll sort out, untangle.
The Designer’s Instruction Manual
can save from the scrap-heap,
give new-life whose vigour he’ll keep
(expectation, direction anew,
though problems persist,
while temptations exist),
identify spam,
guide out of a jam,
direct to smooth running,
and strength for the shunning
of grit that will hamper
or act as a damper,
can scan, oil and test,
supplying the zest –
for after all,
He knows best.