Category: Christian living

Beware! Wolves!

~ rhiannon ~ Leave a comment

They mock the grace of God
– confusion. baseless lies –
ignore the answers good,
articulate and wise.
And if with words we can’t contend,
our lives can yet the truth defend.

Our lives will truth display,
His grace and love and might
fed in his Word each day
we grow, reflect His light:
built up in Him, none can deny
His work in us is real, no lie.

So by the Spirit pray
to see where error lies.
Keep in His love, obey,
awaiting the surprise
when Jesus Christ returns one day
to take you home with Him to stay.

Can be sung to ‘Adoration’ by William Havergal, tune of ‘Join all the glorious names’ 666688

Contend earnestly for the faith … mockers in the last time … build yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit … Jude 3,18, 20

What goes in will emerge

~ rhiannon ~ Leave a comment

For out of the heart flowing into the mouth
come words that are healing, or spiteful, untruth,
and actions and will prompted kindly to live
concerned more for what can be done well and give
than new acquisitions to grasp and to get,
enjoy helpful duties, not glad to forget.
For heart guides the mouth, and the thoughts and the will –
important to censor what enters to fill

Through Eye-gate and Ear-gate my heart will be fed
some things stir up envy, make discontent spread
When God’s Holy Spirit comes there to indwell
true love, kindness, faithfulness he can instil
and teach, help us handle the way that we look
and what our ears put into memory’s book,
controlling our anger, vexation and pride,
encourage the better emotions inside.

Tune: 11 11 11 11

Freed from prison

~ rhiannon ~ Leave a comment

King Herod killed James, and had Peter arrested.
The Christians still prayed to their God whom they trusted.
By sixteen men guarded and chained – but he slept,
‘Get up’, said the angel: Peter thought that he dreamt.

He rose and obeyed him and off the chains fell,
the gateway then opened by God’s mighty will.
He hurried to where they were meeting in prayer.
He knocked, Rhoda came but then ran back to share.

They couldn’t believe her that it could be he.
James now was in heaven but Peter was free
to preach out the news of salvation and peace,
and Satan’s frustrated at Peter’s release.
cf Acts 12:
Tune: 11 11 11 11 or Houghton (10 10 11 110)

His work in the heart

~ rhiannon ~ Leave a comment

Ephesians 4;17-24 and Colossians 1:27
Hardened hearts won’t learn God’s wisdom:
Light and Life of God far from them,
futile life of sensuality
vain indulgence in impurity.

When Christ Jesus I am knowing,
in his truth I will be growing
old corrupt self I must put off,
spurn deceit, like snakes their skin slough.

Putting on my new created
self with longings captivated –
change of attitudes delighting,
God’s own righteousness desiring.

Christ within me, now I’m living
truly, guidance, strength he’s giving:
I was limp like empty glove
till he entered with his love.

What dangers in the valley?

~ rhiannon ~ Leave a comment

A sheep on a hill on his own,
far away sees the mountains of home.
He’d like to arrive there for sure,
but the valley between is obscure.

It’s filled with a cloud, so unknown
the dangers he’ll meet going down.
The fog thins – he sees that he’ll pass
much danger, but green fields of grass.

I see heaven’s glory ahead,
but going there I will be led –
my Shepherd protects and will teach,
enabled, his glory I’ll reach.

Tune: 88 88 (anapeastic?) eg Celeste (tune of ‘How good is the God we adore’)

Grief and Comfort

~ rhiannon ~ Leave a comment

Death, bereavement, loss and sadness
emptiness and change and chill;
though if the memories of who’s departed stir up thanks
the mourning isn’t gloom, and can encourage still
to hope and effort, vision , work,
and grief is lightened by the pearls of gladness
and we are more committed duties not to shirk.

And if the hope of life eternal
is shared by one who’s gone before
and those who mourn the passing,
their joy combines with all the sense of loss,
for frailty, sickness, weakness here
are now transformed into the life that has no tears
and will continue for eternal years …

Guaranteed Hope

~ rhiannon ~ Leave a comment

King Jesus holds out hope
that’s guaranteed by God:
when sliding on a slippery slope,
listen to loving Word.

Know help each day to cope,
cherish sure goal ahead,
King Jesus brings us certain hope
– the Saviour is not dead!

Lowly his birth, so he
could meet all, teach, and then
our perfect Substitute would be
to wash us clean again.

God over all came here
unfailing hope to give
through everything he’s always near –
with him we’ll ever live!
[Tune: SM]

Learning of Christ

~ rhiannon ~ Leave a comment

Through ages men devised,
a spectrum of belief –
their fears sought something that supplied
a possible relief.

Preoccupied, and rare
to show compassion, love,
for others’ needs to care
and help, assistance give.

But when of Christ they hear,
and see compassion real,
so many vile things disappear
as like concern they feel.

Wives soon their husbands find
to drunkenness less prone,
fathers responsible and kind
support, their work well done.

And women gain respect,
not treated as mere slaves,
so more fulfilled, and can expect
the honest work they crave.
Tune: LM

Faith, Hope, Love … and the greatest of these is love

~ rhiannon ~ Leave a comment

Faith – believing all God says
is so good, for all his ways
benefit as they are wise;
full salvation he supplies.

Hope secure thus for the way
that encourages each day,
but the most important thing
is the love he came to bring.

For the people he has made
perfect love he has displayed,
and when they his grace receive,
love into their hearts he’ll weave.

And they must and want to strive –
be more like him as they live:
faith’s reality will show
as forbearance, kindness grow.

Tune: 77 77

Do we spread love?

~ rhiannon ~ Leave a comment

Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all sins. Proverbs 10:12

A world of love – for such we long:
but what to do when done a wrong?
With anger will we spread about,
and for full compensation shout?

We may need justice to be done –
fraud, lies or robbery make known,
but still true love can smother sin,
and peace and restoration bring.

Then harmony from quenching strife,
(contagious hate engulfing life);
to live in love can be hard work,
but with God’s help we such won’t shirk.

Tune: LM