Category: Trials & Perseverance

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)

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’)

“… They will not sweep over you.” (Isaiah 43:2)

~ rhiannon ~ Leave a comment


Flood and storms can pound and shake me,
who can hold my head above?
Faithful Brother won’t forsake me,
demonstrated covenant love
bearing for me crucifixion,
Friend preserves in dire affliction.

And when crossing death’s dark river,
He’ll be always by my side;
glancing at Him, strong Life-Giver,
heart uplifted, joy supplied:
songs reminding of the haven
glorious waiting home in heaven.

based slightly on a Welsh hymn, but other influences probably

A Song of Love

~ rhiannon ~ Leave a comment

Arise, uplift my song to God
from whom I have my being,
from whom I draw the stream of life
– my heart from darkness freeing.

Cast off those thoughts that seek to fell
and pull into depression –
helped by that power by which Christ rose
– God’s power of resurrection.

He covenanted to preserve:
to others Christ displaying
through all his nurturing me in love,
by which I’m blessed, obeying.

By grace, I’ll persevere through health
and sickness, honour, scorning.
Although the world and flesh will pull,
he prompts with help and warning.

This was inspired by, and partly based on an old Welsh hymn I read

Tune: 87 87 iambic eg Dominc Regit ‘une of ‘The King of love my Shepherd is’
or Constance 87 87 87 87 iambic tune of ‘I’ve found a Friend, O such a Friend’’

The Book to love not hate

~ rhiannon ~ Leave a comment

They loved, lived by the Bible, so
their life was on the line –
they trusted in the Bible, so
they knew they would be fine.

Why is the Bible hated so,
that Book of hope and love?
– which offers all a life unmarred
by sickness or the grave.

God made all good, mankind has messed
perfect creation spoiled.
Jesus came once to call, he’ll come
soon, changing what’s defiled.

Tune: CM eg ‘Amazing Grace’

Troubles Rock

~ rhiannon ~ Leave a comment

When your life is shaken,
feeling bruised and broken,
never lost, forsaken,
though your life is shaken.

From despair you’re lifted
though by Satan sifted,
faith, by God is gifted:
from despair you’re lifted.

Jesus says he’s praying
when he sees you straying,
tempted, disobeying,
Jesus still is praying.

Let him succour, leading
in his shelter feeding,
as he’s interceding,
let him succour, leading.

Tune: 66 66 trochaic eg Ravenshaw (tune of ‘Lord, Thy word abideth’)

Hope in a hopeless world

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To God, Source of hope, gladly singing
– he promises, capably bringing
real hope for the hopeless, releasing
from fear – peace through all, never ceasing.

Believing his word of salvation
from sickness and sin’s condemnation,
believing that Jesus procured thus
by death this solution assured us.

We’ve joy from this hope that’s abounding,
though Satan sows doubts, but the grounding
of hope is secure in our Saviour,
his Spirit walks with us for ever.

Still troubled by illness and sinning –
we know that their end you are bringing,
enjoying your grace, contemplating,
bright future we’re patiently waiting.

Press On!

~ rhiannon ~ Leave a comment

(I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Philippians 3:12) NIV

No lingering look at failures past,
no longing glance at follies cast
away, nor on successes dwell,
press on to know your Saviour well.

Don’t falter, give up, when you fail
– your cry for mercy will prevail,
reach out, hold tight he’ll help you rise,
press on as Jesus grace supplies.

Press on when service seems so dull,
watch out – the world and flesh may pull,
so read his Word, press on, well fed
towards the goal of heaven ahead.

Look back in thankfulness at all
he did for you, his sufferings full
to pardon gain, he soon will come,
so persevere, preserved: press on!

New Life Fruit

~ rhiannonshymns ~ Leave a comment

This life to which you have been born,
bursts forth from deep within
with fruit that nourish and adorn –
fruit only God can bring.

When life loads on and weighs you down,
you find yourself inclined
to crumble, or lose heart, and groan –
by grace gird up your mind –

not weary in the things you should
be doing – he’s defined
what’s truly properly right and good,
unselfish, thoughtful, kind.

His Spirit gives us power to go,
press onward in his strength,
his comfort and his joy we’ll know,
and harvest see at length.

‘The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control … Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up’ Galatians 5:22,23 and 6:9

Tune: CM eg ‘Amazing Grace’ or DCM eg tune of ‘It came upon a midnight clear’  or ‘There is a green hill far away’

Protected Perseverance

~ rhiannonshymns ~ Leave a comment
Protected Perseverance
(1 Peter 1:18-250
In persecution, problems,
the answer is the same –s
remember his great gospel –
the Christ to whom you came.
His purchase, precious payment,
his blood – the price he paid:
God’s plan fulfilled, your sins all
upon the Lamb were laid.
In him brought to the Father,
believing what you heard,
obeyed his call, you love him –
Christ, purifying Word.
Preserved by faithful promise,
eternal life received,
remembering Christ, be strengthened,
as when you first believed.

(1 Peter 1:18-25)

In persecution, problems,
the answer is the same –
remember his great gospel –
the Christ to whom you came.

His purchase, precious payment,
his blood – the price he paid:
God’s plan fulfilled, your sins all
upon the Lamb were laid.

In him brought to the Father,
believing what you heard,
obeyed his call, you love him –
Christ, purifying Word.

Preserved by faithful promise,
eternal life received,
remembering Christ, be strengthened,
as when you first believed.

Tune: 76 76 eg St Alphege tune of ‘In full and glad surrender’