Don’t feel at home

~ rhiannon ~ Leave a comment

I do not feel ‘at home’ here
an ‘alien’ now exiled,
for evil things are done here
and everything’s defiled.
There’s double-talk, hypocrisy
there’s greed, pressures, deceit
there’s malice and abundancy
of glamour that will cheat.

Our home is where we’re going
where bad things are no more.
For through His Word we’re knowing
the glory that’s in store
not that we are deserving
of such a place of love
by grace He is reserving
this home beyond the grave.

In turning and receiving
forgiveness through Christ’s blood,
repentant, for sin grieving,
He’s given us love of good.
Our hearts He is preparing
to fit in such a home,
our thoughts and will repairing,
we long for when He’ll come!
Tune: 76 76 76 76 eg Aurelia by S Wesley, tune of ‘The church’s one foundation’

Why Christmas (3)

~ rhiannon ~ Leave a comment

So quietly he came, God of the spheres
born as a babe, true ‘Superman’ to be:
our Champion to take our place appears
God takes on human form for you and me
to take our guilt, our failure, all our sin
so that new life, eternal, can begin.

Our Substitute, our Rescuer, and he
who could explain, teach of his Father, all
that we had need to understand and see
so that we would repent, for mercy call:
Jesus the loving, gracious humble King
was scorned – few found the joy in knowing Him:
now who will seek, and find the joy in Him,
in knowing Jesus, mighty, loving King?!.

Tune:10 10 10 10 10 10 Finlandia (repeat the last two lines of tune in 2nd verse)

Why Christmas? (2)

~ rhiannon ~ Leave a comment

Then violence increased and their Maker few sought
A great flood destroyed all, but Noah had been taught
– he warned, but most laughed. Later Abraham heard
the promise – must teach his descendants God’s Word
and God would bring blessing to all of the nations.
God’s prophets informed, and increased expectations
that one day God’s Saviour would come, loving King
with Light for all people, from sin to redeem.

The people were ready, but some hoped for One
who’d conquer the Romans, the rulers who’d come
with taxes and soldiers; a few were aware
their need was for One who their nature would share
but able to bring them to personal peace
with God, and from guilt and transgressions’ release,
to draw their hearts back and teach justice and love:
some waited this Saviour to come from above.
Tune: 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 Clarendon

Why Christmas (1)

~ rhiannon ~ Leave a comment

Nothing, nothing to be seen.
Only One, true God, who’d been
always, ever and content,
but he chose to make, invent
universe most wonderful,
in it planet earth, soon full,
vegetation carpeting,
man and woman to begin
tending it for him, their King,
but temptation came, and sin.

Happy place then damaged, sad.
They had not obeyed his Word.
Feeling shame and need and lack.
Could they get perfection back?
Told by God they must endure
many troubles, but the cure –
Satan’s downfall – God would bring,
for God’s Son would die for sin.
They must trust he would appear –
wait and teach with godly fear.

Tune: 77 77 77 77 77 Mendelssohn tune of ‘Hark the Herald Angels Sing’

Faith in Who? Why?

~ rhiannon ~ Leave a comment

Faith in a Father
whose Son walked this earth,
and showed us His kindness,
displayed His true worth.

Faith in a Father
with power to create:
promises faithful
fulfilment await.

Faith in a Father –
not nervous, blind leaps,
but trusting the One who
His Word always keeps.

Tune: 5565

Where will it all end?

~ rhiannon ~ Leave a comment

Jesus Christ will come again
– as He went He will return.
All will see Him, own Him King,
Alpha and Omega – Come!
Totally transform the earth:
no more illness, no more death,
all that’s evil, bad remove:
just and holy, God of love.

Jesus Christ, the First and Last
came before to save and call.
Soon, when time of grace is past
He will come again, we all
at His throne will meet the Judge
whose assessments none can fudge:
in His book is listed those
who His gift of pardon chose.

Do not fear earth’s ruination
– war, destruction, detonation
– bombs –, or greed, manipulation,
electronic domination,
poison, climate hot, pollution.
Rather fear just condemnation –
pray His pardon and redemption,
trust Him for your preservation.

Tune: 77 77 77 77 eg ‘Humility’ by John Goss (tune of ‘See amid the winter snow’) last stanza has a syllable hanging at the end of each line to squeeze in!

Don’t Forget!

~ rhiannon ~ Leave a comment

When will we see an end
of bloody battle, war?
Now some must fight, defend
and peace seek to restore.

Give thanks when battles cease,
remember all now scarred,
those who have died for peace
and those whose lives are marred.

Some injured, others find
so much they can’t forget
that festers, haunts their mind
and life seems grey and set.

Christ suffered malice when
nailed, scorned, the earth went dark
three hours. He sees the pain
where evil’s made its mark.

Remember then your debt
to those who bore such pain,
But may we not forget
Christ’s peace of heart to claim.

Tune: 66 66 iambic

While there is time …

~ rhiannon ~ Leave a comment

“My times are in your hands’*
– the One outside of time
who total power commands
and sees the whole time-line.

He stepped into earth’s time
as human come to save
by death, though still divine,
brought life beyond the grave.

Time will no longer bind
one ‘day’ – eternity:
we all will live to find
that awesome certainty.

So now we have this time
to learn the truth of all;
and heaven will soon be mine
if for his grace I call.

*Psalm 31:15 Tune: 66 66 iambic

Harvest completed, thanksgiving

~ rhiannon ~ Leave a comment

So are you thankful? Thankful to whom?
We know the One to whom we can come
offering thanks and worship – the Lord
Giver, Sustainer: provision outpoured.

So much received, how grateful am I?
And am I generous with this supply?
All that I own now really is His –
use it most carefully, and He will bless.

Throughout our world, such riches of food.
How much is wasted, cannot do good:
war, greed, extortion, unwilling to share,
so much destruction of of food everywhere.

Tune: 54 54 54 54 eg ‘Have thine own way’ by George Stebbins

Knocking on your heart

~ rhiannon ~ Leave a comment

Look, who is knocking!
Do you refuse?
Will He be rocking
trendy life-views?
Cautious or frightened,
keep the door shut?
You can’t be enlightened
if He’s kept out!

Cannot experience
joy he can bring,
freedom of conscience,
love that will win,
gaining desires new
unlike before
– none have regrets who
open the door!

Open the door
set in your heart
Christ can restore
joy, life impart
Wonderful guest!
With Him you’ll share
nourishing feast,
transformative care!

Tune: 54 54 54 54 eg ‘Have thine own way’ by George Stebbins
cf Revelation chapter 3:20 “I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him, and dine with him, and he with me’.”
Do you remember Holman Hunt’s painting? (1827–1910??