Wait, Go, Tell!

~ rhiannon ~ Leave a comment

What a task for group so weak:
God will send them out to speak.
Hostile world has not yet heard
news they may feel is absurd.
What a message they must tell
news that all things can be well
All repentant can receive
grace Christ died and rose to give.

Jesus said they must not go
’til his Spirit come – they’ll know
his infilling; – ’til that day
weak disciples wait and pray.
As a rushing wind he came,
like anointing tongues of flame.
Babel brought such separations,
Word of Christ unites the nations.

So we see the change He made,
boldly they his will obeyed
see them needy people reach,
of his resurrection teach.
By the Spirit, hearts that heard
Christians telling out God’s Word
came to life now, sin abhorred,
contrite, pardoned by the Lord.

New believers met for they
hungry to learn of God’s Way,
caring, mutual love display,
and together praise and pray.
What a message they must tell
news that all things can be well
All repentant can receive
grace Christ died and rose to give.

Acts chapters one and two in the Bible

Tune: 77 77 77 77 eg Humility by John Goss (tune fo ‘See amid the winter’s snow’)

Where there is love and trust

~ rhiannon ~ Leave a comment

On Psalm 133
Unity and love – what blessing:
precious, fragrant, spreading far,
pure joy, and those possessing
through all hardships gladness share.
Like anointing oil from heaven
love is by the Spirit given.

Heading on towards our homeland,
Christ has set us on the Way,
made us new and looking forward
– care, help others every day.
Like anointing oil from heaven
love is by the Spirit given.

Tune: 87 87 77 or 87 87 47

Are You Like Your Father?

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Am I like my father?
did he help or fail?
was he wise or foolish,
strong or weak and frail?

Lazy, or hard-working,
firm, but gentle too,
honest or deceitful,
struggling, but true.

Did he know a Father
who would always care?
Did he lead me to Him,
so His name I’d bear?

As I’ve been adopted
to God’s family,
more like this good Father
I now want to be!

Tune: 65 65 65 65 eg Quietude by H Green, tune of ‘Speak, Lord, in the stillness’

Mystery and Certainty

~ rhiannon ~ Leave a comment

Unanswered (?) prayers

The Lord almighty wants our prayers –
part of his mighty way:
submissive to his will but still
we must see needs and pray.

Concerned and caring, noticing,
faithfully ask and plead
with faith in his great love and power,
– how good to intercede!

But will we always see him work?
– the ‘when’ and ‘how’ and ‘where’?
for of the full extent of all
he does we’re not aware.

So ‘Why’ an answer’s slow to see
we may not know, must trust
that he is working, bids us pray,
and all he does is just.

CM

Once we were not, now we are …

~ rhiannon ~ Leave a comment

Belonging to God – can it be?
His people redeemed – even me?
His ‘temple’ to show forth his praise
and teach what we’ve learnt of His ways.

Adopted, created to be
part of his close family
with fellowship, love with all those
receiving the grace He bestows.

His ‘field’ and His ‘vine’ to grow fruit,
in Him is our life-drawing root,
for rescued from darkness and night
brought into His wonderful light.

Before we were strangers unknown
unpardoned, we were not His own.
But now we’ve received mercy, grace,
been drawn to His precious embrace.
cf 1 Peter 2:9, 10

What goes in will emerge

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For out of the heart flowing into the mouth
come words that are healing, or spiteful, untruth,
and actions and will prompted kindly to live
concerned more for what can be done well and give
than new acquisitions to grasp and to get,
enjoy helpful duties, not glad to forget.
For heart guides the mouth, and the thoughts and the will –
important to censor what enters to fill

Through Eye-gate and Ear-gate my heart will be fed
some things stir up envy, make discontent spread
When God’s Holy Spirit comes there to indwell
true love, kindness, faithfulness he can instil
and teach, help us handle the way that we look
and what our ears put into memory’s book,
controlling our anger, vexation and pride,
encourage the better emotions inside.

Tune: 11 11 11 11

Revive your church to tell the world

~ rhiannon ~ Leave a comment

cf Psalm 67

God be merciful and bless us,
shine upon us – warmth and light:
wake us, guide us, sanctify thus
so those now in truth’s dark night
might soon know of your salvation,
all your way of mercy, grace
and then sing in jubilation,
praise arise in every place!

You are great and very holy,
daily we need mercy’s gift,
and a thirst to love you fully,
as you pardon, spirits lift;
for your presence is our greatest
blessing though you give so much –
hearts kept steady through each latest
trouble, know your strengthening touch.

When God known throughout the nations,
what Christ purchased once for all,
many finding that salvation,
as they also to him call.
May we never be forgetful,
of our debt to Jesus, Lord,
Only thus can we be useful
spreading glory to our God.
on Psalm 67

Tune: 87 87 87 87

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)

His work in the heart

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Ephesians 4;17-24 and Colossians 1:27
Hardened hearts won’t learn God’s wisdom:
Light and Life of God far from them,
futile life of sensuality
vain indulgence in impurity.

When Christ Jesus I am knowing,
in his truth I will be growing
old corrupt self I must put off,
spurn deceit, like snakes their skin slough.

Putting on my new created
self with longings captivated –
change of attitudes delighting,
God’s own righteousness desiring.

Christ within me, now I’m living
truly, guidance, strength he’s giving:
I was limp like empty glove
till he entered with his love.

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’)