Category: Christian living

Personal, Church, and Society

~ rhiannon ~ Leave a comment

‘We long for you and loving grace,
each morning need your strength to face
the day that lies ahead whatever
may come our way, we would endeavour
to walk with you our Help and Guide
indwelling, and there at our side,
and when encountering distress
please save us in our helplessness.

‘Oh, fill your church with righteousness,
repentance for its waywardness,
give wisdom, valuing your Word
to bow in awe before you, Lord.
What treasure ours when you we own,
but in our times so few have known
this sure foundation that they need’ –
available, his presence heed.

Tune DLM

“Oh, LORD, be gracious to us; we long for you. Be our strength every morning, our salvation in time of distress. … he will fill Zion with justice and righteousness. He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the LORD is the key to this treasure.” Isaiah 33:2, 5b, 6

Out of the overflow of the heart …

~ rhiannon ~ Leave a comment

Whatsoever things are lovely,
whatsoever things are true,
pure and just and admirable –
fill your mind to say and do
what you know would please your Saviour
– mind will influence behaviour.

Core and cause of sin and failure
is the private life of thought.
Discipline – desire direction,
not in tasteless musings caught.
Need the Holy Spirit dwelling
in us, purity instilling.

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praise worthy – think about such things.” Philippians 4:8

Tune 87 87 88 (can be sung to some 87 87 77 eg Irby (tune of ‘Once in Royal David’s City’)

Benefitting from being thankful

~ rhiannon ~ Leave a comment

Thanksgiving crowds out selfish pride,
and quietens your fears,
and quickly it will override
anger, and selfish tears.

Thanksgiving turns your thoughts again
from grievances and grief
to look to others’ needs and pain
and seeking their relief.

The world suggests to empty all
your worries from your mind.
We pass them up – on God we call –
his guarding peace we find.

Tune: CM

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hears and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6

When I am afraid …

~ rhiannon ~ Leave a comment

Sometimes you see I am afraid
because of things in stories said,
remembering silly things I’ve read:
And then Mum says, ‘Well, have you prayed?’

Sometimes I’m stupidly afraid,
but even then I’m glad I prayed.

Sometimes I know my frights aren’t real,
but still I panic, fear feel,
aware that troubles truly come,
real perils lurk for everyone.

The only answer I can see
is if I fear what cannot be,
and if I fear some dangers real –
to Jesus I must make appeal:

He can protect from everything,
He can protect in everything,
He’ll cheer me up and safely take
me through all dangers real or fake.

He understands my frightened mind,
and I will always feel and find
he’s at my side and in my heart
protecting – peace he can impart.

Tune: 88 88 88 eg ‘Sussex Carol’ (tune of ‘On Christmas night all Christians Sing’

Answering your heart!

~ rhiannon ~ Leave a comment

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

Persevere and Pray

~ rhiannon ~ Leave a comment

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

An ever-present help

~ rhiannon ~ Leave a comment

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

Reconciled, then fostering peace

~ rhiannon ~ Leave a comment

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

Growing

~ rhiannon ~ Leave a comment

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’)

Cared For

~ rhiannon ~ Leave a comment

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