Author: rhiannonshymns

Herod and John the Baptist

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Mark 6:17-28
Herod, full of greed, immoral,
selfish, careless of his need,
no concern for things immortal,
gave to laws divine no heed;
but when John came, speaking boldly, –
words to warn, convict, obey, –
though he realised John was holy,
he did not repent and pray.

But the woman was embittered,
didn’t want to change her life,
or from sin to be unfettered, –
strong the influence of a wife!
Herod knew that John was righteous,
though he had him put in jail; –
kept from killing John by conscience, –
sin remained: resolve would fail.

Feasting, crowds can dull the conscience,
and provoke impulsive vows;
lustful passions smother prudence,
pride hates loss of face, allows
unjust deed of execution; –
evil friends unhelpful prove. –
Flee perverting conversation; –
find salvation, grace and love.

Tune: 87 87 D

John 2:11, 20:31

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The water was changed into wine, –
a quiet, miraculous sign,
and those who were following saw, believed
the glory of Jesus revealed.
Miraculous signs that were clear
for all to observe and admire,
but yet only those
who loved him chose
to trust him with godly fear.

The 5000 men were all fed,
but Christ could give more than that bread. –
How few people followed, his words believed,
and Life in the Saviour received.

Miraculous signs were made known,
that we might believe in the Son,
and know who he is, and have Life in him,
eternally saved from our sin.

“What is man that you are mindful of him?”

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Hebrews 2:9 and Psalm 8
Stars of the universe
remind us that the Lord
is powerful, wise, and should by all
be worshipped and adored.
LORD, what is man to you –
why have you for us cared?
though for a while we’ve been brought low,
salvation you prepared.

Created capable
of feats, with dignity;
now all man does gets marred by sin,
greed and stupidity.
Jesus took low estate
to suffer in our place;
he’s crowned with glory, those in him
are lifted up by grace.

The angels always praise,
they serve, – but not as heirs.
In Christ we’re raised again as sons:
God’s image he restores.
Jesus we see now crowned;
and taste his victory:
beloved, and valuable, soon
we’ll please him perfectly.
Tune: SMD eg Leominster by George W Martin arr Arthur S Sullivan

God’s Wisdom

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(Romans 11:33–36)
Oh, the riches of God’s wisdom,
– deep and infinitely wise;
perfect knowledge, rich and splendid:
who can fully realise
how profound, complete his judgements,
how unsearchable, how wise? –
ways that we can never fathom:
God of glorious surprise!

Who has known his mind, or counselled
mighty Lord, omniscient King?
Who provided for Jehovah?
He supplies the gifts we bring.
Sovereign God is no man’s debtor –
Source, Sustainer of the skies;
giving breath, and life, and mercy:
glory be to God so wise!

Praise for the plan of salvation

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Ephesians1:3–14
What a wonderful plan of God for me
to be chosen for his praise, –
to be holy, blameless, his love proclaim,
child of God through endless days.
Praise his glory,
praise his glorious grace,
praise his great and glorious grace.
For it cost him, cost him,
cost so much to him,
to redeem and purchase me.

What a wonderful grace of Christ to say
he would come and shed his blood.
And he brought me in from the power of sin,
gave me insight to his Word.

And how wonderful that he seals his own –
his deposit, guarantee, –
Spirit lives within, keeps us for our King,
for that blessed eternity.
Tune: 10 7 10 7 + eg Grace Divine by William H Doane (607 Grace Hymns)

The Fear of God

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Have I the fear of God,
that humble, rev’rent awe
for One with grace and rod
who judges by his law –?
That One who reigns in majesty,
and who created you and me
to love and serve him constantly.

To worship do I come
with thoughts on things of earth?
Or with regard for One
whose will alone has worth?
That One…

And is my chief desire
to serve him as I ought?
with love and zeal like fire
and by his scripture taught?
That One…

I dare not come to pray
without my sins forgiven,
but Christ has made the way
of access to his heaven.
The LORD detests unrighteousness,
but he supplies a glorious dress,
and by the blood of Christ can bless.

That justifying grace
irrev’rence cannot find;
with God there is no place
for proud and worldly mind.
That One…
Tune: 6666 888 Rhosymedre

God’s Saving Love

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Amazing, awesome, wonderful
is God’s unspotted love.
Its span we cannot fathom,
its greatness far above
mere human understanding –
a love that’s not concealed,
for he has demonstrated
his love intense, revealed.

Amazing, awesome, wonderful –
the love that God has shown.
He showed his love by sending
his one and only Son;
and to our world he sent him, –
a world at enmity,
so hostile to its Maker,
and love and purity.

And we should love each other,
and show our love, reveal
in word and deed unselfish,
the love the ransomed feel.
Love brethren, – saints imperfect, –
though in this hostile world,
upon those who are loving,
scorn, insults may be hurled.

True love can reach an enemy,
can touch a heart like stone,
can melt its opposition,
for few such love have known.
A rebel’s heart may soften
to listen to God’s Word
when shown concern and kindness
by him from whom its heard.

Amazing, awesome, wonderful –
the love that we should show
if God lives in us, loving,
and Jesus Christ we know,
reborn and recreated to
righteousness and love,
by loving people showing
we love our God above.


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)]