Category: The need of salvation

Rejecting — what?

~ rhiannon ~ Leave a comment

from Psalm 36
Deceive themselves with flattery
do not detect their sins
devising schemings murky, sly
rejecting good, wise things.

And why? because they have no thought
of God who is and knows,
no fear of penalty if caught,
respect that wisdom owes.

And yet, your love O LORD is great,
complete your faithfulness,
your justice deep we contemplate,
eternal righteousness.

And you give shelter and preserve
give life, a feast, and light
though none of us could this deserve
we drink from your delight.

Continue then this love to those
who know you, with true heart,
protected from the proud who chose
from your grace to depart.

Getting the treasure

~ rhiannon ~ Leave a comment

Parable about God’s kingdom:
like a treasure in a field;
someone learns where it is hidden,
where it’s buried well-concealed.

So he goes to sell his assets –
everything he owns must go
so that he the field can purchase
for the hoard that lies below.

If we realise what amazing
benefits there are with God,
nothing else is worth pursuing –
we must find that precious hoard.

Make our peace and ask his pardon,
nothing value more than him,
all subservient to the kingdom:
blessed in service of the King.

For the treasure none can gather
or appreciate its store,
but the ones who know the Father,
in his kingdom evermore.

Tune: 87 87 eg ‘All for Jesus’ by John Stainer

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.” Matthew 13:44

The Champion against the thief

~ rhiannon ~ Leave a comment


The Son of Man defeats Satan

Robbing of purpose
robbing of joy,
the thief who deceives us
desires to destroy,
damaging, causing
sadness and grief
all is confusing
– who’ll bring relief?

Needing a Champion
to conquer the foe,
and re-provision
mercy to know
This Man could win us
happiness, peace
new sense of purpose
freedom, release.

Satan was conquered
now held under rein
still he can tempt us
from good and from gain.
Knows what his end is,
that Jesus has power
and we know our Friend is
our strength every hour.

Tune: 54 54 54 54 eg ‘Thine own way’ by George Stebbins (tune of ‘Have Thine own way, Lord’

Sure hope of a world free from …

~ rhiannon ~ Leave a comment

Our world has beauty,
but viruses ravage;
much love and kindness,
but sins hurt and damage.
Our world is sustained,
provisioned, protected,
its Maker is caring,
though scorned and rejected.

He’s wise to warn us,
instructing our ignorance;
he tells of judgement,
but also deliverance,
revealing mercy,
love, pardon – abundance:
his rule acknowledge,
with truthful repentance.

A new beginning
with viruses, hatred
removed – we’re longing
that such be created.
But could we go there
without contributing
ill tempers fouling
that new place polluting?

King Jesus came here
as baby – he only
could live life perfect
– unique in all history,
so he would suffer
as substitute for us,
and we could be cleansed for
that place with no virus.

Something better …

~ rhiannon ~ Leave a comment

Blighted partying and violence,
frustration breeding selfishness,
think anarchy brings happiness,
but joy flows out of godliness.

Satan blinds, brings misery,
Satan lies, brings poverty,
you don’t believe you were created
for the joy in him located.

Created in God’s image, so
we can find kindly things to do,
selflessness is satisfying
and God’s friendship stimulating.

Turn repentantly to him,
pardoned, life renewed begin,
anger quenched and glad to bring
help to others suffering.

Perfect, Broken, New Perfect

~ rhiannon ~ Leave a comment

The Bible begins with a perfect earth,
created in beauty with skill –
no illness, no strife and no famine, death,
with nothing to mar that good life until …

The end of the Bible reveals again
a perfect new heavens, new earth
when Jesus returns to judge everyone:
the pardoned gain life, not a living death.

We’re living between, with troubles to bear
because the Creator was spurned.
He’s calling to all to repent, come to share
in the future that Jesus has earned.

Tune: 10 8 10 10

Messages

~ rhiannon ~ Leave a comment

Promised long ago in Eden,
One to quash the devil’s scheme,
One to save the sons of Adam
– from rebellion to redeem.

Promised then to Israel’s nation,
to await, prepare in faith,
telling out to other peoples
– ‘Saviour comes for all the earth’.

Prophets warned them when they wandered
from their God’s good, holy ways
– always some were faithful, constant
waiting for redemption’s days.

In the East some expectation
of a coming King – some gaze,
noticing the special star that
over Israel shone, ablaze.

Tune: 87 87 trochaic

We need a new earth

~ rhiannon ~ Leave a comment

There’s wars and violence, malice, lies,
and international tensions rise,
misused resources (blame those guys?)
but no-one’s faultless, fully wise.

However much our world puts right
pollution, wars, can’t clear all blight –
the earth is aging, cannot last,
and all our days are flying fast.

God came as Jesus to our earth:
no doubt about it, or his worth.
He said he’d come to free from hate,
fit for a new earth – trust and wait!

Tune: LM eg Niagara one of the tunes for ‘The Lord is King! lift up your voice’’

Giving is so much nicer than stealing!

~ rhiannon ~ Leave a comment

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

Receive Jesus

~ rhiannon ~ Leave a comment

A merry-go-round of monotony,
a chorus of cackling cacophony
– soul’s bellies a-rumbling,
and hungering, grumbling
– life colourless: strife, gloom and acrimony.

The gift that arrived that first Christmas
with promises that it could give us
what really can satisfy
– see God above ratify
– imperishable gift that’s so precious.

Amusements can give us a “sugar-rush”
– our souls need whole food that will nourish us.
We need to receive Him,
completely imbibing
His Word to escape this world’s death-curse.