Attempting to summarise scripture teaching in brief verse
His words are all faithful and true,
his works are all kind through and through,
he’s righteous and sovereign in all,
and near to whoever will call,
to those who will truly cry out,
sincere in their whisper or shout:
he saves and preserves for he’ll hear
those who love him with reverent fear.
To please him their hearts now aspire
and he will fulfil their desire.
Supporter of those who are stressed
and raising those slipping, oppressed.
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
“There are no absolutes”
– some say:
“just choose whatever suits
– today.
Be happy in your chosen way
and live life as invented play.”
It doesn’t alter truth
– a jot.
For whether you like it so
– or not
distorting truth may just prompt sneers
but facts are lost to vain ideas.
You may choose what you like
to trust.
But check what Jesus said
– don’t just
assume that you can well afford
to leave his words unread, ignored.
There is a God, he does
exist –
sent messages to us
whose gist
is grace and love, he sees our mess
shows how we can escape distress.
Tune: LM
King Jesus holds out hope
that’s guaranteed by God:
when sliding on a slippery slope,
listen to loving Word.
Know help each day to cope,
cherish sure goal ahead,
King Jesus brings us certain hope
– the Saviour is not dead!
Lowly his birth, so he
could meet all, teach, and then
our perfect Substitute would be
to wash us clean again.
God over all came here
unfailing hope to give
through everything he’s always near –
with him we’ll ever live!
[Tune: SM]
Remembering conflicts past and bitter
remembering those who died so better
life ahead for others’ future,
saved from harsh malicious capture.
Remembering present vile invasions,
cruel, lawless occupations –
pray for those denied their heating,
pray for those with meagre eating.
Pray for soldiers now defending
where war and hatred seem unending;
pray for conscripts forced to fight
though they know their war’s not right.
Pray for armies badly led,
ill-equipped, to slaughter fed.
Pray for those who seem to love
hurting people who are brave.
Pray for end of tyranny
that both countries may be free.
May we value food and peace,
and our selfish grumbles cease.
Time to sow, and time to reap
– promised; but there’s need, we weep –
war prevents and malice spoils
interrupting harvest toils
and distribution, sharing round
abundant harvest from the ground.
And in your lives, what seeds d’you sow?
What fruit encourage there to grow?
God’s Word is shed abroad to hear
and if it enters in your ear
will nurture fruit for heavenly kingdom,
but some speak blight, good fruit to ruin.
cf the parable of the sower Matthew 13:1-23
‘Put Micaiah in the prison.’
(For his warning Ahab spurned.)
‘Give him only bread and water,
until safely I’ve returned.’
‘I will go disguised to battle,
then the other king they’ll shoot
(royally robed) – the enemy realised
he was not King Ahab, but
someone drew his bow at random,
Ahab’s schemed disguise no use
pierced between the armour pieces:
he’d been warned his life he’d lose.
Hopefully Micaiah was not
left in prison! God controls
even random acts, so heed the
words of love of Him who knows.
cf 2 Chronicles chapter 18::5-34
A scoundrel lacking principles
delights to dig out vice
exposing, pushing into view,
turn minds to what’s not nice.
Unhealthy fascination with
such evil and then glad
to see destructive influence
of details sad and bad.
He is a verbal arsonist,
it’s difficult to quench,
extinguish scarring fires – don’t play
keep right away from stench!
Proverbs 16:27 An ungodly man digs up evil,
and it is on his lips like a burning fire.
In place of armies’ warring slaughter,
each should choose one man to fight,
theirs was nine feet tall, in armour
– who could ever match his might?
Then young David came – much slighter
but convinced his God could aid.
Goliath scorned this little fighter –
who slung a stone – Goliath died.
As a shepherd, God had helped him
when a bear attacked the sheep,
knew his God whom they were mocking
would His promises still keep.
————————————————————
Baal’s false prophets got no answer
even though they screamed and danced,
but despite the pools of water,
Elijah’s God sent fire when asked.
1 Samuel 17 & 1 Kings 18
Tune: can be sung to 87 87 trochaic
When Christ was taken from the cross
his body was not dumped or lost,
nor in communal graveyard tossed,
among the many there amassed.
As prophesied, a rich man’s tomb
was where his body, dead, was borne,
but on the third day’s early morn
the stone-door from its seals was torn.
An angel came (the soldiers quake
they see him roll it, feel earth shake):
an open grave to show Christ gone.
death could not hold the mighty Son.
Tune: LM
rhiannonshymns.co.uk 
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