quietness and gentleness,
a personal, warm smile;
wisdom without brusqueness,
discretion without guile,
firmness without harshness,
meekness without weakness,
unselfishness and kindliness,
perceptive service, righteousness.
Category: Uncategorized
Because of Calvary
The crimson flow,
the life leaked out to death;
in final breath
he gasped his work was now completed,
satanic scheme had been defeated,
salvation pure procured,
secured,
for all who will receive,
believe,
repent:
content –
more white than snow
my guilty stain has be removed,
I know.
“I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! …
Who’d put their hope in a dead man?
in disappointment, fear they ran.
– But now, he lives! they’re full of joy,
they boldly speak, though threatened by
those who their bodies can destroy.
They know like Christ they will arise
– good news they gladly share
(though some will scorn and some despise):
his Resurrection they declare!
His life had always held surprise
of miracles, words kind and wise,
fulfilment of the prophecies –
view God, as Man, from death arise!
And so we know he’d fully paid
the price for pardon that was laid
upon the Son, – he has returned
to show that gift by us unearned
is his to give, – he lives for ever,
his grace and rule no-one can sever!
… And I hold the keys of death and Hades!” (Revelation 1:18)
Advent Step 8) Announcement to the Shepherds
Humble shepherds told the news,
by messenger who awed,
with glory of the Lord
shining all around:
good news of greatest joy
a Saviour born, he’s Lord and Christ,
a baby boy
in manger laid.
Wondrous sound:
Glory to God in the highest,
peace, God’s favour can be found.
Then hurredly they made
their way to Bethlehem:
it was as they had heard
– they spread the word
of what they’d seen and learned,
and praised as they returned.
(Luke 2:8-20)
Advent Step 7) Announcement to Joseph
Joseph puzzled,
message sent in dream,
child so specially conceived
by God’s Spirt is to be
Saviour of his people, he
will save them from their sins,
so Joseph was to name him ‘Jesus’
(which means ‘The Lord God saves’)
and as foretold, he’s ‘God with us’,
Immanuel, God now living human life,
and Joseph was to be his earthly father,
and mother Mary, Joseph’s wife.
(Matthew 1:18-25)
Advent Step 6) Announcement to Mary
‘You will be with child …’ Luke 1:31
Awesome message,
astounding privilege,
miraculous conception,
eternal King of human birth,
Spirit Holy bringing forth;
Mary willing, serving,
humble, no thought she was deserving,
glorified her Saviour,
for all his grace and favour.
Advent Step 5) Prophecy of the coming of John, the Baptist
‘I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me.’ ‘In the desert prepare the way for the LORD.’ Malachi 3:1 and Isaiah 40:3
A promised messenger to speak, prepare
the way before the coming King,
a calling voice, out in the wilderness,
‘Get ready, turn to him,
bear fruit that show repentance,
to welcome his appearance.’
No more ‘junk DNA’
The ‘brain’ of each cell
has DNA-genes,
chemical coding
builds, guides its ‘machines’.
“Ninety-eight percent
useless junk”, they thought,
“– evolution’s left-overs
it’s use is now nought”.
– “Mistakes of mutations”,
they used to say,
“in bringing its benefits,
has made junk DNA.”
*********
But now it’s revealed
it’s all much more complex:
amazed as they’re finding
that nothing seems surplus.
The control is more intricate
of all this ‘machinery’
than Dawkins predicted
from Darwinian theory.
‘We’re at the beginning
of a very long road
of finding the layers
of pathways untold.’
Geneticists say
they now are more humble.
– Upgrading a cell looks
an impossible gamble.
Mutations cause mischief
in genetic activity,
like a bug in my laptop
won’t improve its ability.
There’s plenty of scope
for small variation:
some struggle, some flourish
by natural selection;
but differences large,
of new, useful function,
have come from creation,
not random mutation.
Disastrous Self-Rule
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.
It’s time to pray!
(cf 2 Chronicles 20:12)
No prayer without a sense of need,
a sense of weakness makes us plead,
in bafflement we intercede,
and truly pray.
Do you believe he’ll hear and care?
does he delight to answer prayer?
in every problem, anywhere,
be sure to pray.
And has he power and wisdom, skill
his Shepherd purpose to fulfil?
do we desire he’ll work his will,
and have we prayed?
Be sure to turn each need and fear
to Him, they all to him are dear,
and our appeal he wants to hear,
our child-like prayer.
We do not know what he will do,
in ways unseen by me and you,
so look to him to see things through,
but always pray.
Tune: 888 4 eg In Memoriam (‘By Christ redeemed, in Christ restored … Until he come’)
rhiannonshymns.co.uk 
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