The Battle

~ rhiannon ~ Leave a comment

The One and only God, so holy,
Creator of the universe;
but evil spirits stir up hatred
and foster strife, make quarrels worse.

They trouble beings God created
to be his friends, take care of earth,
and keep them running from his friendship,
as independent slaves of death.

But then their biggest plan was thwarted
– they’d schemed – God’s Son was crucified,
but when he rose to life they realised
that this had pardon now supplied.

So now those rebels could be welcomed,
and see God’s love and mercy sweet,
return to fellowship so lovely,
despite the evil ones’ deceit.

Those spirits know their days are numbered
for soon the Son will come again,
He’ll send them packing to their prison,
no longer will they trouble men.

Tune: 98 98 eg tunes of ‘O Breath of life, come sweeping through us’ or ‘The day thou gavest, Lord, is ended’

God’s Gracious Call

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‘Come, let us reason together!’
– See, he is willing to talk.
Will you be reasonable, wanting
constantly with him to walk?

‘Come, let us reason,
reason together’, says God,
– sins that are horribly scarlet
can be as white as the snow.

Has your behaviour been pleasing?
Is your religion a sham,
hiding your sin, and pretending,
lying to God and to man?

Sins unconfessed tend to fester,
hindering fellowship sweet,
but when admitted, forgiven,
Jesus brings joy as you meet.

Sin stains like splashes of crimson,
cleansed out as white as the snow.
All now desiring his pardon,
mercy and comfort will know.

(Isaiah 1:18)

Tune: 87 87+ ‘Showers of Blessing’ by J McGranahan

His face shone, transfigured … Why?

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His face shone like the sun,
his clothes as white as light –
his deity and glory shown:
an awesome, dazzling sight.

Elijah had appeared,
and also Moses too –
they spoke with Jesus of his death,
all that he soon would do.

As Peter, James and John
observed, a cloud came down,
enveloped them – they heard a voice.
– ‘He’s my beloved Son’.

‘With him I am well pleased.
Mankind should listen well.’
So, do we listen to those things
that Jesus came to tell?

And are we awed and thrilled
at such a glimpse of power
that will one day put right all wrongs –
a glorious judgement hour?

Tune: SM

Palm Sunday (3)

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The Ruler entered
humble on a donkey
– an untrained donkey
that he could calm.
The crowd praised now
but soon abused, rejected
this mighty, righteous,
soon shown to be victorious
Ruler of the universe,
remover of earth’s curse,
before whom all will
bend the knee –
so bow, adore
before
he comes again.

‘Good’ Friday?

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Ugly, unjust
excruciating execution
– ‘Good’ Friday?
Bad Friday?
Sad Friday?
Day of gloom?

Confused and sad
disciples fled
forgetting he had said
these things must happen
– he had allowed them to occur!

Thus was the ransom paid!
and so, it is Good Friday
for it begat the Resurrection Sunday!

Alive Now!

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Jesus died upon a cross
so he could be friends with us,
and forgive our naughtiness,
help us live like him of course.

Babe in a manger
Teacher and Healer
died as a Saviour
but Jesus lives
right now.

Jesus came alive again,
talked and walked, ate food, and then
went to heaven but hears us pray,
said he’ll come again one day.

Tune: Jesus Loves Me! (77 77+)

Do what you like?

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Land trespassers are given fines,
but also might get harmed or hurt
– for dangers lurk beyond the signs
– pollution, pits, fierce creatures, dirt.

Encouraged morally to roam,
experimentally tasting all
like Eve – forbidden pleasures known,
soon poisoning like bitter gall.

If boundaries are scorned, transgressed
such trespassing will sadness bring;
new life delights in (and is blessed)
in keeping from the fields of sin.

Tune: LM

The sailors in Jonah’s boat

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(Jonah chapter 1)

The sailors, frightened in the storm,
found idol-gods dead, deaf to cries.
The real, true God they had not known,
and guilty Jonah sleeping lies.
What God d’you worship? – Jonah speak!
– his God, he told them was not weak.

His God, he said, had made the sea,
the land, the sky, and taught his Word,
but disobedient Jonah, he
his God’s chastisement had incurred.
They from the storm would be set free
by throwing Jonah in the sea.

A God who speaks? A powerful God?
who teaches, judges, rules the waves?
Must they throw Jonah overboard?
– surprising will of One who saves.
They had to trust he would not blame,
and great their reverence for his name.

Their boat to land they’d tried to bring,
but could not, for the storm increased.
So now they called, and sought this King
to be from any guilt released.
At once the raging sea was calm,
and God saved Jonah too from harm.

Tune: 88 88 88 eg Melita by J B Dykes (tune of ‘Eternal Father, strong to save’)
or Sagina by Thomas Campbell (tune of ‘And can it be that I should gain’)

Refugees

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Placed in a manger
come to be Saviour.
soon in great danger:
Herod would kill.
God sent a warning
– take them to Egypt,
don’t wait ’til morning,
stay there until …

of Herod’s death told,
‘you can return now’,
(frankincense, myrrh, gold
journeys sustain).
Watched Jesus growing
safe now in Nazareth,
Mary was knowing
one day he’d reign.

Tune: 554D eg Bunessan (Gaeilic melody) tune of ‘Child in the Manger’

A Fountain in the Desert

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“Come , all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; you who have no money, come buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labour on what does not satisfy?”

Pleasures and philosophies,
cannot last or deeply please.
Life is dark, a desert drought
– Christ brings hope – the light shines out.

Come for water, come for life,
easing conscience, help in strife,
adequate for all your need,
for God’s friendship cleansed and freed.

Come, your poverty admit,
don’t pretend that you are fit
to receive this grace immense,
all his free beneficence.

Come– available milk, wine
– full abundance can be mine –
children coming to his throne,
every day his grace is known.

If you’re thirsty, come and drink
from the Source no longer shrink.
Come and ask and trust his Word
– offer free of Christ, the Lord.

Tune: 77 77