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’

Walking with the Lord

~ rhiannon ~ Leave a comment

So much to distract and dilute
our walk with the Lord every day.
Remember, give thought to your root –
our love flows from His – His display
of constant unmerited love
can teach us to value and care
for others, approachable, give
yourself, and your own troubles share.

And pray for each other as Paul
prayed for those who had come to true faith,
and boldly with reverence call
to the Father who’s given us life:
for riches of daily support
and spiritual strengthening pray
to help all the saints he has bought
show Jesus, the Saviour each day.

Unsearchable love we now know
in part. Meditate on it, grow
more like Him, and so like-love show:
The love you receive will outflow.
More able than we can imagine
to help by His wonderful power:
be praise to our Saviour in heaven
and also on earth ever more!

cf Paul’s letter to the Ephesians 3: 14-21 and to the Philippians 1:27-2:16
Tune: 88 88 88 88 anapaestic (with initial unstressed syllable per line!) eg Covenant Blessing by T Chapman, tune of ‘A debtor to mercy alone’)

Jonah needed hard providences!

~ rhiannon ~ Leave a comment

God didn’t leave Jonah in folly:
his fleeing and folly were stopped
by the storm and the waves, then God kindly
provided a fish and it gulped,
and swallowed, enclosing the prophet,
saved to stop and consider his ways:
near death in the sea brought him profit
– when released from the fish, he obeys.

The Ninevites repented and turned,
when warned that their violence and sin
would soon bring destruction they’d earned,
hoped God would relent and not bring
that judgment, and such proved the case
but Jonah was angry and selfish
not wanting that they receive grace:
forgot what he’d learnt in the fish.

He watched, still expecting their end
and God gave a plant to give shade,
but later a worm, and hot wind
– these people by God too were made
and Jonah should gladly show pity
not just that his shelter be spared,
but for this repentant vast city
who’d heeded the message they’d heard.

Sceptical

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Sceptical and cynical,
and all good claims you doubt.
(like scams that say you’ve won great prize
but need your bank codes to advise!)
– your own ideas confidently shout.
Religious rules you shun, but see
such rules could never save —
Christ came to die for you and me
and truly offers love.

With care examine cautiously,
don’t be afraid to question, doubt
your own ideas, flaws to see,
for best if you found out
before too long if meaning’s missed –
don’t want to tread a foolish way
for years and then regret the day
you didn’t stop and understand
the offered gift, life-giving lift.

Give thanks always!

~ rhiannon ~ Leave a comment

Thankfulness for what He’s done:
Jesus our salvation won,
now His Spirit draws our hearts
to the grace that He imparts:
out of blindness, darkness, death
to His light in glorious birth.

Nothing else to add to that –
all by Him procured, and what
some may foolishly suggest
as an “extra” do resist.
As we now have this new life,
flee from all that brings him grief.

Growing thus in godliness
life is full of thankfulness.
Daily praying, knowing love
grace and mercy far above
what we ever could deserve –
daily gifts help as we serve

Tune: 77 77 77 eg Dix by Conrad Kocher, tune of ‘As with gladness men of old’

Prayer on the long run

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Life may be long – long-distance run;
prolonged may be the path begun.
We can grow slack, and unaware
of sloth in vital private prayer.

With thoughtfulness about kind deeds
when faced with many varied needs –
yet taking all to God to ask
he guide, give wisdom for each task.

We see the cares and troubles, sins
that life to neighbours daily brings,
and we ourselves experience such
so pray with empathetic touch.

Time with our Father as we pour
petitions, worshipping with awe,
and thrill to know participation
with him in building heavenly kingdom.

Tune: LM

Know God is …

~ rhiannon ~ Leave a comment

Abundant his goodness,
abounding his love,
unsearchable greatness
all glorious, above
all we can imagine,
he’s faithful, steadfast,
kind, good things providing,
and mercy when asked.

Forever and ever
each day we should praise –
so mighty, we never
could know all his ways.
His deeds we should ponder,
and tell out to all,
with joy sing in wonder
his mercies recall!

‘I will … extol your name for ever and ever …his greatness no-one can fathom … the glorious splendour of your majesty … the power of your awesome works … The LORD is gracious and compassionate … good to all… (Psalm 145:1-13)

Tune: 64 64 64 64 but can be ung to 54 54 54 54 eg ‘Thine own way’ by George Stebbins
or ‘Hanover’ (tune of ‘O Worship the King’) by William Croft or ‘Houghton’ by Henry Gauntlett 10 10 11 11

Never Enough?

~ rhiannon ~ Leave a comment

Am I envious of those who seem to have more
(don’t know what ways they maybe using it for
the helping of others more needy than me,
nor what their troubles and worries may be).
Contentment is precious, at peace, with ‘enough’
and spares us from bitter and festering fuss
of greed for a feast and the latest tech stuff!

(cf; ‘Give me this day my daily bread …’)

The Kingdom of heaven

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The King had come, His Kingdom was at hand.
The access-sacrifice was planned.
*So Satan tried to scupper, spoil, seduce –
See Jesus satan’s craft refuse.
Glory to God – His Word, the Kingdom’s Guide,
and trust Him, in His will abide.

Befriend, and bow the knee, accept His rule:
Awake, no longer play the fool!
It is good news, indeed it’s glorious –
He came to purchase life for us,
and in His service there is freedom true,
fulfilling work for me and you.

Learn of Him, He is gentle, kind and strong.
He knows our weariness, we long
to be more like Him – we’ll be hated too
as He was – He will see us through,
and what we gain is of infinite worth
– don’t choose instead vain gifts of earth.
Tune: 10 8 10 8 10 8
(*see Matthew 4:1-11)

Grace with power to save

~ rhiannon ~ Leave a comment

Persecutor Saul of Tarsus
living by God’s laws, but ‘blind’,
with contempt for claims of Jesus,
so His followers went to find
in Damascus, to imprison –
on the way he saw a vision.

Risen Jesus called him, asking
why was he harassing Him.
Soon from scripture Saul is proving
Jesus is Messiah, King.
Grace of God in mercy, kindness
now has saved him from his blindness.

Once John Newton was rebellious
to the teaching of the faith.
Drunkard, worked on slaveships, callous,
in a dreadful storm faced death.
‘I once was lost, but now am found’* –
his life amazingly turned round..

Grace of God had brought conversion:
caring pastor, happy home,
working for the abolition
of the slave-trade, and his song
(one of many), sung, adored
his salvation to record.

Tune: Can be sung to 87 87 77 eg tune of ‘Once in Royal David’s City’

  • One of his compositions, ‘Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me