BC: My life Before I met with Jesus Christ,
Before Conversion to his praise and ways –
ephemeral, elusive happiness,
for emptiness, frustrations filled those days.
And then I heard his words and understood,
I saw his beauty, heard appealing grace.
Amazed, I knew he would accept, forgive
– ran to regenerating warm embrace.
AD: Now After Death of who I was – my old
self died with him, I have a Helper near;
so After this Deliverance I walk
with him. To all, as King he’ll soon appear.
A plastic flower does not yearn
for water and the sun,
and if our spirit knows God’s touch
it’s life has just begun –
a life that yearns to know God more,
a life that yearns for heaven’s shore.
A heart that yearns that others come
experience joy so true,
and loves to share with those who have
enjoyed salvation too,
knows family relationship
with those who taste God’s fellowship.
The thing most wonderful of all
is that God yearns for me
that I drink from what he provides
– my love, he loves to see.
‘Oh, help me not forget and slide
away from you, my wise, good Guide!’
Tune: 86 86 88
Flimsy pleasure – hacking, scamming –
what a waste of mind and skill –
misappropriating talents
given by God to do his will.
Grabbing, greedy, stealing, wasting
other people’s things and time
– til a change to gladly giving
wrought by glorious power divine.
Tune: 87 87 eg Mariners, Traditional Sicilian melody
Do not long to live in plenty,
life of ease, or worldly fame;
pray a happy heart of beauty,
cleansed from selfishness and shame.
Heart that’s filled with love and goodness –
holy heart is wholly His,
such will ever sing with gladness:
foretaste of eternal bliss.
If I wanted wealth that’s passing
soon it flies, or wastes away;
this I ask brings profit lasting –
sweeten, cleanse my heart each day.
Honest heart I cannot purchase –
mighty Saviour can bestow,
and can daily grant forgiveness,
washing, causing love to grow.
This is based on the Welsh words of ‘Calon Lân’ by Mr Daniel James
Tune: 87 87 D eg Calon Lân by John Hughes
This is based on the Welsh hymn often sung at Rugby Internationals.
Do they think of the meaning of the words??
Jesus died upon a cross.
Why? What for? for who? for us
we had nothing to commend,
no desire to be God’s friend;
sinners unendearing, no
power to change, to better do –
but his love, great grace procured
through this death that he endured.
He who sent his Son for this,
cleanses, draws, receive his kiss –
he’s then able to preserve,
hold us when we slip or swerve,
mould, prepare us for his heaven –
grace continues when once given.
Is our love like his for us
– reaching out to others thus?
(Tune: 77 77D)
For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Colossians 1:13,14
Bondage in the darkness, under Satan’s sway,
slavery, dominion; – no desire to pray:
gospel light unseen, and all that’s for our good:
blinded to our blindness: truth misunderstood.
Under Satan’s thumb; ‘at peace’ we thought, deceived.
Satan cannot love; his malice unperceived.
No co-operation with the rescue-bid:
willing to remain, content with all we did.
Brought into the kingdom of the Son he loves;
finding freedom, for new sight, delights he gives.
And this freedom is a willing bondage to
what we now appreciate, and want to do!
Tune: 65 65 D
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
Freedom from dominion,
foolish frustration
of ignorant self-domination —
freed, relieved, the bands, and bonds
cracked, removed, relief, release,
delighful acceptance of Lord and Saviour.
For you know I love you, Saviour,
know I love you, mighty Lord;
love you more than any other
thing I ever have adored:
this bears witness,
this bears witness
to your work upon my soul.
From where came these new desires?
What gives life to heart and mind?
Things I once despised, I long for, –
and delighted when I find.
Jesus, Jesus,
Jesus, Jesus,
this is all what you have done.
Glory is the goal I aim for,
holy heaven, happy home;
mighty Holy Spirit made me
child of God, and bids me come;
and I want to,
and I want to
serve and worship God above.
This song is a loose translation of a Welsh hymn,
“’Rwy’n dy garu, Ti a’i gwyddost” by William Williams, Pantycelyn
Compassion for the aimless sheep:
and prayer flows from compassion,
for God to send us out to reap
by his empowered commission
to rescue from confusion –
God’s Word apply to each condition.
