Author: rhiannon

Prayer on the long run

~ rhiannon ~ Leave a comment

Life may be long – long-distance run;
prolonged may be the path begun.
We can grow slack, and unaware
of sloth in vital private prayer.

With thoughtfulness about kind deeds
when faced with many varied needs –
yet taking all to God to ask
he guide, give wisdom for each task.

We see the cares and troubles, sins
that life to neighbours daily brings,
and we ourselves experience such
so pray with empathetic touch.

Time with our Father as we pour
petitions, worshipping with awe,
and thrill to know participation
with him in building heavenly kingdom.

Tune: LM

Know God is …

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Abundant his goodness,
abounding his love,
unsearchable greatness
all glorious, above
all we can imagine,
he’s faithful, steadfast,
kind, good things providing,
and mercy when asked.

Forever and ever
each day we should praise –
so mighty, we never
could know all his ways.
His deeds we should ponder,
and tell out to all,
with joy sing in wonder
his mercies recall!

‘I will … extol your name for ever and ever …his greatness no-one can fathom … the glorious splendour of your majesty … the power of your awesome works … The LORD is gracious and compassionate … good to all… (Psalm 145:1-13)

Tune: 64 64 64 64 but can be ung to 54 54 54 54 eg ‘Thine own way’ by George Stebbins
or ‘Hanover’ (tune of ‘O Worship the King’) by William Croft or ‘Houghton’ by Henry Gauntlett 10 10 11 11

Never Enough?

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Am I envious of those who seem to have more
(don’t know what ways they maybe using it for
the helping of others more needy than me,
nor what their troubles and worries may be).
Contentment is precious, at peace, with ‘enough’
and spares us from bitter and festering fuss
of greed for a feast and the latest tech stuff!

(cf; ‘Give me this day my daily bread …’)

The Kingdom of heaven

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The King had come, His Kingdom was at hand.
The access-sacrifice was planned.
*So Satan tried to scupper, spoil, seduce –
See Jesus satan’s craft refuse.
Glory to God – His Word, the Kingdom’s Guide,
and trust Him, in His will abide.

Befriend, and bow the knee, accept His rule:
Awake, no longer play the fool!
It is good news, indeed it’s glorious –
He came to purchase life for us,
and in His service there is freedom true,
fulfilling work for me and you.

Learn of Him, He is gentle, kind and strong.
He knows our weariness, we long
to be more like Him – we’ll be hated too
as He was – He will see us through,
and what we gain is of infinite worth
– don’t choose instead vain gifts of earth.
Tune: 10 8 10 8 10 8
(*see Matthew 4:1-11)

Grace with power to save

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Persecutor Saul of Tarsus
living by God’s laws, but ‘blind’,
with contempt for claims of Jesus,
so His followers went to find
in Damascus, to imprison –
on the way he saw a vision.

Risen Jesus called him, asking
why was he harassing Him.
Soon from scripture Saul is proving
Jesus is Messiah, King.
Grace of God in mercy, kindness
now has saved him from his blindness.

Once John Newton was rebellious
to the teaching of the faith.
Drunkard, worked on slaveships, callous,
in a dreadful storm faced death.
‘I once was lost, but now am found’* –
his life amazingly turned round..

Grace of God had brought conversion:
caring pastor, happy home,
working for the abolition
of the slave-trade, and his song
(one of many), sung, adored
his salvation to record.

Tune: Can be sung to 87 87 77 eg tune of ‘Once in Royal David’s City’

  • One of his compositions, ‘Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me

Christ’s glory on the mount, and afterwards

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They saw his glory – brilliant bright,
and soon all will behold the sight.
Before that time, the sun must hide
while Jesus suffered, bled and died.
Glimpse of his glory, glory great:
Him we can trust, his coming wait.

Upon the mount the Father’s word
acknowledging his Son was heard.
But while Christ on the cross bore sin,
no voice honoured the dying King.
Glimpse of his glory, glory great:
Him we can trust, his coming wait.

His body broken: not ‘til risen
would understanding come, and wisdom –
beginning of awareness, awe
of what his suffering had been for.
Glimpse of his glory, glory great:
Him we can trust, his coming wait.

The three then told of what they’d seen
upon the mount, but now their theme:
the amazing glory of the Lamb
fulfilling thus redemptive plan.
Glimpse of his glory, glory great:
Him we can trust, his coming wait.

Tune: LM+ eg Solid Rock (tune of ‘On Christ, the solid rock I stand’

Matthew 17:1-13

Trusts based on quicksand

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Ideas and religions flourish,
materialism sways and soothes,
humanism evolutionary,
asserts that no-one, nothing rules.
Like Goliath each defies
truth of God, but based on lies

Truth can answer all their falsehoods,
like a sword can penetrate
find the chink, the flaw, the error.
But many will not contemplate
that their chosen comfort, sect
has foundation incorrect.

And the crucial point is history:
Source of all came here below
demonstrated His divinity
told the truth so we many know
guidance, wisdom, and God’s love.
have a home beyond the grave.

Tune: 87 87 77 eg Gounod tune of ‘Let us love and sing and wonder’

The wonder and responsibility of speech

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All idols are silent
– God speaks
in words that are clear:
He seeks
to teach and inform
– eye and ear
created to read and to hear.

We’re made so we language
can use
to help, not malign,
or confuse;
communicate, listen
and share
and tell of our God’s loving care.

Through various languages
we
receive revelation
to see
the ‘Why’ of the universe,
and
can chat so our friends understand!

Tune: 88 88 anapaestic eg Celeste, tune of ‘How good is the God we adore’

When bad news is good news

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Yes, bad news can be good news
if it wakes us up to see
what’s wrong, and that we’re needing
to listen carefully.

Like if we have a warning
of danger imminent –
a coming great tsunami
that we cannot prevent.

We’d gladly go to shelter,
not carry on with play:
the bad news makes us heed and,
escape-route rules obey.

So, Jesus firstly taught us
the bad news of our sin
against the righteous Lord who
judgement must one day bring.

But He had come to earn, win
a pardon for us, peace,
to pay the price, be punished
to purchase our release.

So that is why its called now
the ‘gospel’ – God’s ‘good news’.
The Saviour suffered agonies –
gift purchased don’t refuse.

But some ignore this good news
because they don’t accept just neglect
the bad news, see no danger,
salvation free reject.

Can be sung ro Tune: 76 76 76 76 + eg Wir Pflügen by J Schultz, tune of ‘We plough the fields and scatter’
 if the first verse repeated at tne end, and the chorus: below used

Bad news shows our need so
the good news don’t neglect,
embrace good news, oh don’t refuse –
salvation don’t reject

The first day of the week

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This the day Him to remember:
rising from the grave to live.
This the day for all to praise Him
to the Saviour worship give.
Heavenly day, holy day,
I will sing this holy day.

Day to strengthen pilgrims’ progress
on their journey heaven-bound.
Day whose hours are full of blessing
if His fellowship we’ve found.
Heavenly day, holy day.
holy way to heavenly day!

Day that lasts on into glory
after earthly days are done.
Day to sing th’unending anthem
that we’ll sing when we have come
there with Him, free from sin:
today and always this I sing!

based on (much a free translation of)‘Hwn yw’r dydd’ by Watkin Hezekiah Williams (Watcyn Wyn) 1844-1905)