When irritations, groans arise,
you hear your heart complain –
rebuff its voice with thinking wise
to trust and hope again.
Remind your soul of all you have
received from God through life.
Remember all the help he gave
in struggles and in grief.
So, give yourself a ‘talking-to’!
Above all else, delight
in all that Jesus came to do
to save you from sin’s plight.
cf Psalm 42:5
Tune: CM eg Brother James’ Air (one of the tunes of’The Lord’s my Shepherd’) or Amazing Grace etc
No human wisdom is enough
to help us when the way is tough.
The best of human leaders fail,
but One has power that can avail,
and has resources limitless:
approach him, pray in your distress.
Our leaders and we each one need
to persevere and intercede
and ask God’s mercy, intervention
in many a desperate situation,
and ask He guide how we proceed
and strengthen for the tasks, we plead.
Tune: 88 88 88
Fear of illness, fear of death,
fear of dying’s laboured breath,
fear of no-one near to share,
fear of need, and lack of care,
fear of lawlessness and crime –
anarchy – a fearful time,
breakdown of communal structure,
order’s safety-net in rupture.
God is there whatever comes,
shelter in the wildest storms.
Though he lets foundations shake,
evil purposes to break,
holds, protects us to fulfil
for our good, his perfect will,
one day, he’ll all troubles halt,
good and perfect world create.
Tune: 77 77 D
‘God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way, and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.’ Psalm 46:1-3
So vast the chasm, huge the rift
between pure goodness, love, and they
who on his earth carelessly drift
and no respect or rental pay.
He gave them much, and often spared
though few gave thought to make request;
their folly grieved him, for he cared
and knew their loss, they lacked the best.
What could he do? the rift was great.
Could they be healed and reconciled,
brought into such a holy state
that each could be his friend, his child?
He spoke, he came, he took their place
to pay the price for all their sin;
his Spirit moved their hearts in grace
to humbly turn, return to him.
And those who did, shunned squabbling
and malice, selfishness and greed,
all hatred, and proud babbling:
to foster peace they’d now been freed!
Tune: LM
May I while given these new days
more fully follow Jesus,
more faithfully reflect his ways,
his grace and love that frees us.
I do desire above all to
each day more fully know him,
and be transformed in all I do,
more like him daily growing.
Tune: 87 87 iambic eg Dominus Regit Me by J Dykes (tune of ‘The King of love my Shepherd is’)
They know their Master’s voice
– that voice has safely led
each one aware he knows their name,
and by him they are fed,
They follow at his call,
and heed his every word,
they know he knows the way ahead,
and all their prayers are heard.
He glances round the stars,
far mightier is he,
and yet he cares for foolish sheep
and comforts lovingly.
Tune: SM
“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me.”
John 10:14
When your life is shaken,
feeling bruised and broken,
never lost, forsaken,
though your life is shaken.
From despair you’re lifted
though by Satan sifted,
faith, by God is gifted:
from despair you’re lifted.
Jesus says he’s praying
when he sees you straying,
tempted, disobeying,
Jesus still is praying.
Let him succour, leading
in his shelter feeding,
as he’s interceding,
let him succour, leading.
Tune: 66 66 trochaic eg Ravenshaw (tune of ‘Lord, Thy word abideth’)
Seek peace with all, but not with sin
or evil conversation;
respect and friendship try to win,
but don’t condone corruption.
Seek holiness in all your life
or God you will be grieving:
avoid censoriousness and strife –
be courteous, none deceiving.
Be resolute for right, but meek –
without his aid you’ll fail him,
but with his help, though frail and weak,
good will succeed, prevailing.
Christ died upon the cross to pay
our debts for all our failures,
now our delight is in his Way,
he mends our flawed behaviours.
“Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no-one will see the Lord”. Hebrews 12:14
Tune: 87 87 iambic eg Dominuw Regit me (tune of ‘The King of love my Shepherd is’)
There’s nothing on earth as important
as closely to walk with your God.
For so many things can distract us,
forgetting the words he has said.
Take heart, take heed!
when feeble and fearful, be strong –
our Saviour is Sovereign,
with joy we’ll be home before long!
Each word he has said is important
– the way of his kindness and grace,
but also his warning of judgement
if scorning a pardoning embrace.
So when you’re discouraged, remember
his promises, fixing your eyes
upon him the God who is Saviour,
and walk in the way that is wise.
Then clearing your life of the litter
of sin, choosing holiness pure,
and aiming towards the bright future
of joy in his promises sure.
Tune: 98 98+ eg ‘Redeemed ‘by William J Kirkpatrick (tune of ‘Redeemed how I love to proclaim it’)
Galatians 3:13-1
Free to follow rule of love
– we’ve received love far above
all that we dared think to pray
– now he helps us love his way.
We’ve been freed to break from sin,
so our service can begin.
As the Father loves the Son,
selfish malice we now shun.
Even though the way be hard,
loved by God we sin discard,
try to love those who annoy,
helped by grace, supplied with joy.
Tune: 77 77 eg Monkland, tune of ‘Let us with a gladsome mind’
