Unselfish Love

~ rhiannonshymns ~ Leave a comment

Precious love,  a treasure rare,
true concern by those who care,
thoughtful, willing, generous, wise;
powered by grace that God supplies.

In a world so full of greed,
love gives time to others’ need,
cheers and sweetens, easing stress,
stirs up thanks and happiness.

Love brought Christ to earth to save,
toiled in suffering service, gave
all for us, and by his death,
loving hearts have come to birth.

When the way of life is rough,
days are weary, times are tough,
love unsparing we should show,
love reliable must flow.

First, and foremost, every day,
in your home this love display,
living as his Word directs,
loving as our Lord expects.
Tune: 77 77 77 77 eg Maidstone 537 Grace

the unmerciful servant . . .

~ rhiannonshymns ~ Leave a comment

Matthew 18:21-35
Massively in debt: we’ve squandered
so much, and abused
grace, and negligently wandered,
– gifts and skills misused.

We can’t pay what’s owing, fully,
but by faith we know
debt is cancelled, – all our folly,
everything we owe.

And we need to be forgiving,
bitterness must cease;
those who harbour grudges, brooding,
cannot find God’s peace.

Shepherds … (3 John & Ezekiel 34)

~ rhiannonshymns ~ Leave a comment

Are you concerned for what the flock is needing?
seeking the strays, and searching for the lost,
strengthening the weak and sick, the hungry feeding:
genuine care that doesn’t count the cost.

Looking, not only to your own position;
thinking, not merely how to gain applause;
pride can be subtle, – time will test profession
of true desire to serve the Shepherd’s cause.

Dangers surround, with pressures on the gifted:
love of pre-eminence, or fake lowliness,
from God alone dependence partly shifted,
to leaning on position and success.

Diotrephes: malicious, not concerned for
truth of God’s Word, and love, and faithfulness.
Gaius, Demetrius: souls that prospered, burned for
God’s honour and his people’s happiness.
Tune: 11 10 11 10 eg ‘O perfect love’ by Joseph Barnby

Praying for the saints

~ rhiannonshymns ~ Leave a comment

Colossians 1: 9-11
O Lord my God, keep firm your hold
on all your children, young and old,
and lead them on their pilgrim way,
and help them trust, your words obey.

And make them rich in every gift
that you can give, – see Satan sift
your loved ones, – give them strength to fight
and help them live and walk in light.

Make me like salt and shining light,
make me more pleasing in your sight;
please give me wisdom, help me care
for others and their burdens share.
(partly based on Welsh hymn)

Tune: LM

Comforted and comforting

~ rhiannonshymns ~ Leave a comment

Humdrum days can hum with praise,
lonely time becomes sublime
when, by God’s salvation blest,
Jesus comes to be my Guest.

Come to me, my honoured Lord,
Come my Saviour, keep your Word.
Come to strengthen in the Way,
be my Comforter today.

Body frail, but Christ won’t fail,
may I cheer those who come near,
praying for the needs around,
for the grace in Jesus found.
Tune: 77 77+ Christ receiveth by James McGranahan
377 Grace

Love for God

~ rhiannonshymns ~ Leave a comment

For you know I love you, Saviour,
know I love you, mighty Lord;
love you more than any other
thing I ever have adored:
this bears witness,
this bears witness
to your work upon my soul.

From where came these new desires?
What gives life to heart and mind?
Things I once despised, I long for, –
and delighted when I find.
Jesus, Jesus,
Jesus, Jesus,
this is all what you have done.

Glory is the goal I aim for,
holy heaven, happy home;
mighty Holy Spirit made me
child of God, and bids me come;
and I want to,
and I want to
serve and worship God above.

This song is a loose translation of a Welsh hymn,
“’Rwy’n dy garu, Ti a’i gwyddost” by William Williams, Pantycelyn

Glad to go to church

~ rhiannonshymns ~ Leave a comment

cf. Psalm 122
Tired of godlessness and spite,
longing for the place of light,
fellowship, and words of God:
foretaste of the home ahead.

Place of strength and unity,
place of peace and purity,
place of love, forgiveness, grace:
shadow of that heavenly place.

For its safety pray, its peace
(all divisiveness to cease);
worship and prosperity,
comfort and security.

Do I love Christ?

~ rhiannonshymns ~ Leave a comment

John 21:15-25
Do you love me?
Lord, you know:
and you probe my heart right through:
seeing, not just mind’s assent,
feelings warm, and thoughts well-meant,
but a love obedient, longing
more like yours to labour, growing;
wholly bowing to my Master,
knowing there is no-one greater,
giving you the glory, honour.

“Follow me! prepared to suffer,
Feed my sheep with care, be tender.”

“I am sending you.”

~ rhiannonshymns ~ Leave a comment

John 20:19-23
The Father sent his Son to save, –
he died and rose up from the grave;
and his disciples he then sent
his pardoning message to present.

And with his Spirit they should go
so many more of grace would know:
then some the purchased gift would choose,
forgiveness others would refuse.

Mary Magdalene

~ rhiannonshymns ~ Leave a comment

John 20:1-18
She wept ’til the dawning
of joy in the morning.
The corpse had gone missing,
and while she was guessing,
and all seemed confusing,
her Saviour was standing,
and gently commanding.

Momentous occasion, –
a real resurrection,
the pivot of history,
and everything’s changed.