The Beatitudes

Matthew 5:3-12
Who are blessed? Who will enter heaven?
and know God’s mercy, and be called his sons?
Who will have reward in heaven, blessed ones?
Who are really, truly happy, always blest?

Poor in spirit, humbly pray,
– begging mercy every day;
patiently your hardships bear,
and when you can be pleased to share;
count your best deeds only rags,
take Christ’s righteousness to wear,
– so be blest, and enter soon eternal rest.

Godly sorrow for your sin,
– life of faith must thus begin,
and continue in the Light,
repentant, contrite in God’s sight,
boasting only in God’s Son,
– great provision for our plight; –
so you’ll feel and know true joy and comfort real.

Meek and gentle, self-controlled,
– recompensed a hundredfold;
slow to anger, slow to speak;
forgiving, never vengeance seek;
cooling tempers with wise word,
strength is needed to be meek,
you’ll have more than passing wealth, eternal store.

Hunger, thirst for righteousness;
– pray and labour, God will bless.
Merciful and pure in heart,
and undefiled in every part;
cleansed by God through faith in Christ;
when you see a quarrel start,
making peace if possible, all strife to cease.

Persecuted for Christ’s sake,
and accused with charges fake;
so received the prophets true,
and Christ was treated that way too;
if because you own his name,
men insult, it’s nothing new:
Christ has shown how joy and blessing’s really known.

These are blessed, these will enter heaven,
and know God’s mercy, and be called his sons,
these will have reward in heaven, blessed ones,
these are really, truly happy, always blest.

Tune: ‘We’ll understand it better by and by’ Y Praise 103

True to the Lord

Acts 11:23
True to the Lord – to Jesus Christ, your Saviour,
True to the Lord – to Jesus Christ, your Lord,
True to the Lord – lean on his gracious favour,
according to his Word.

True to the Lord, with firm and fixed intention.
True to the Lord, – so purpose in your heart.
True to the Lord – who else can give salvation?
– eternal life impart?

True to the Lord, for strength to face temptation,
True to the Lord – abide in Christ, the Vine,
True to the Lord, with full determination,
– all needed grace is mine!

True to the Lord, and search the scriptures daily,
True to the Lord – learn of him from his Word,
True to the Lord – believe, obey more fully,
– a servant of the Lord!

True to the Lord – so let his Spirit fill you,
True to the Lord – and speak of Christ to all.
True to the Lord – see others long for God too,
and for his mercy call!

I can … through him

Philippians 4:13
Through Jesus Christ I can
get strength for doing good; –
since life anew began
I can do what I should.
Resources free:
Why do I fail?
His power you’ll see
help one so frail.

When circumstances rise
that I don’t want to be,
I first must recognise
the conflict that I see;
to God return,
the clash admit,
pray help to learn
his will, submit.

And if you cannot cope
with pressures on your way,
don’t grumble, shout, or mope,
draw near to God, and pray.
Christ’s Spirit lives
with power within:
at sin he grieves, –
keep peace with him.

Tune: 6666 88 eg Millenium

Riches . . . in Christ Jesus

(Ephesians 1:18-20; Mk14:3-11)
Glorious Redeemer, victorious Sustainer,
raising, receiving poor sinners forlorn:
guilty and hopeless, and wretchedly helpless,
– in Christ adopted, to honour reborn.

Great is our status and life in the Saviour,
great is his power for us who believe:
holiness, beauty, delighting in duty,
– servants of God his assignments receive.

Eager to help where such needs are around us –
greater by far is the darkness of mind,
– trying to teach them, attempting to reach them,
praying that God will awaken the blind.

Loving my Lord, overwhelmed I embrace him,
gladly my costliest treasure I pour,
joy inexpressible, nothing impossible:
multitudes saved; – hear his words and adore.
Tune: 11 10 11 10 Epiphany Hymn by Joseph F Thrupp