Thursday 31 March 2011

Wednesday 30 March 2011

02/04/05


Babirusa, boar,
Warthog - The Lord made all things
Darksome and ugly!

Tuesday 29 March 2011

Monday 28 March 2011

Sunday 27 March 2011

FIRSTBORN


When Jesus entered His own universe
Nature acknowledged Him.  His birth-star came;
The silenced winds and waves were not perverse,
Heeding the Firstborn of creation’s claim.

But men refused Him.  They would give no room
To Jesus.  In their hatred He was led
To judgement and to death.  But though His tomb
Was sealed He rose as Firstborn from the dead.

Seeing His purposes let praise be sung
To God who from eternity designed
That Christ should be the Firstborn One among
The many brethren suited to His mind.       

Saturday 26 March 2011

30/03/05


"The revelation
Of the love of God came out
In the death of Christ.”


Friday 25 March 2011

Thursday 24 March 2011

28/03/05


For found property
We thank the Lord for H.M.
Constabulary.



We recovered some lost clothes that day!

Wednesday 23 March 2011

TREES

Amid the wilderness
And my own fruitlessness
I find in Christ the apple tree
Whose fruit refreshes me.

The Christian finds it fine
To gaze upon the Vine;
He see is perfectly grow up
To give wine for God's cup.

Not only that, but God
Brought life to Aaron's rod:
The almond buds, bears blooms, then fruit
From this resurgent Shoot.

The Tree of Life will bear
Fresh fruit for men to share:
Its monthly produce will suffice
To flavour paradise!

Tuesday 22 March 2011

PSALM

What wonders were seen in the pristine church
Formed by the Spirit to be for Christ's glory!
What power in the word of the apostle
To turn to the Lord many in Israel!
What power in his word to heal the lame man;
And power in his word to unmask deception!
Shown the assembly's heavenly ambience
He blasted the passage through which Paul ventured.
How glorious the light that the Spirit gave
To magnify Christ, to Paul the apostle!
How full the truth that the heavenly Man
Disclosed to Paul, that the church is His body.
In the light of this what praise ascended
And what testimony came through Paul's writings.
The saints of Ephesus specially displayed
The love and life that took pulse from Christ's headship.
And throughout the vicissitudes of time
The Head has His body; the body its Head.
But whenever man is responsible
He has failed in his responsibility.
Let us give thanks for the heavenly Head
And for what is held by the Holy Spirit!
May we have help in our generation
To respond in practice to the Head's guidance.
But soon the saints departed from the way
Of constantly drawing from the Head's wisdom
Despite the power of the Holy Spirit
Since that was wise in divine operations:
Only thus could there be overcomers
Fit for the gift that heaven longs to bestow,
Faithfully adhering to their Lord's will
In the midst of the indifferent churches.
But what a turning away from the truth
Plunging men to the depths of superstition,
Binding their souls by human fantasies,
Blinding their hearts by depriving them of faith!
But in all this the Lord knew those who were His
And rejoiced in the light that shone in the dark.
Through the clogged valleys where little fruit grew
God drove like a ploughshare His servant Luther;
Rich was the yield from that overturning,
Justification by faith being the crop.
And once that was vigorously growing
Images and superstitions went tumbling
While men, assured of divine righteousness
Grew to show the righteousnesses of the saints,
The Holy Spirit thus securing praise
And witness, even to the blood of the martyrs.
Yet throughout this growth there was this weakness:
The trend to lean on the trellis of the state,
And any leaning on man's woodenness
Will splinter the hand like Egypt's broken reed.
But the grace of God continued to give
A gospel message to those who would attend.
How could there be revival to God's thoughts
And something on earth that was for His pleasure?
The public status might not be revived
But the body's vitality might flourish.
All depended on a separate path
Walked in subjection to the heavenly Head.
Rejoice therefore that persons have been found
Subject, and departing from iniquity
- Specially as seen in the public body -
Gathered together to remember the Lord.
But as I consider this blessedness
I remember my own need for commitment:
This blessedness is not some abstraction
But depends on persons with real devotion.
Holy Spirit, help me to be faithful
In my part in the lasting testimony!
Lord Jesus, keep me under Thy guidance
Until I am taken to be with Thyself!
Father of compassion give me the grace
To walk the narrow path until the Lord comes!

Monday 21 March 2011

WE CANNOT CALCULATE

We cannot calculate how vast the space
Between a sinner and God's holiness;
But, brought to God through His desire to bless,
We cannot calculate the depth of grace!

Sunday 20 March 2011

I HAVE ...

I have a Saviour who was crucified
To bear my sins, and answer all my needs;
I have a Great High priest who intercedes
Before God's face, where He is glorified.
I have a Father who is gratified
To listen as my Intercessor pleads;
I have a Father, and His Son now leads
Sons before Him, and He is satisfied.
I have the Spirit and He sheds abroad
The love of God to satisfy my heart;
I have the power to take my heavenly part
Through Him, the Spirit of the living God.
I have the present knowledge of God's love
I have a home in realms that are above.

Saturday 19 March 2011

OBEDIENCE

Where human sinfulness displayed
Unprincipled expedience
God's heart rejoiced as Christ portrayed
The glory of obedience.

His moral excellences shone
In freshly-shining beauties
As He, to do God's will, took on
A bondman's form - and duties.

Eternally His saints shall know
His graces in perfection;
Eternally the Son will show
The radiance of subjection.

Friday 18 March 2011

Thursday 17 March 2011

26/03/05


I can't say much of
Heaven - but there's a Man there
And I'm linked with Him.

Wednesday 16 March 2011

25/03/05


Christ, the true David,
Has killed the giant, and brought
The ark to Zion.

Tuesday 15 March 2011

Monday 14 March 2011

23/03/05


What grace the Lord has
To take a place where He could
Condescend to need.

Sunday 13 March 2011

Saturday 12 March 2011

JESUS

The joyful shepherds
Evangelised what they had seen -
The Babe in the manger.

Magi, when they saw
The little Child with His mother,
Offered homage and treasure.

 Rich, little - and ridiculous -
Zaccheus in the sycamore, ardent
To see Jesus.

"Thou hast ... seen him", Jesus said
To the man whose life
Was darkness without Him.

His martyr Stephen saw
- In the face of man's evil -
"The glory of God, and Jesus ..."

Rejoice and do home
That faith envisages "we see Jesus ...
Crowned with glory and honour".

Living in this hope, cleanse yourself -
"For we shall see him
As he is".

Friday 11 March 2011

COMPANIONS

Before He bore their sins with all that cost
The Master found companions adhered
To Him, and walked with Him, and persevered.
Death intervened, but soon the risen Christ
Hastened to their companionable tryst:
A thought so full of grace could not be lost.

Thursday 10 March 2011

OF GOOD REPORT...

"Of good report",  "of virtue" and "of praise":
Shepherds and angels  proclaimed the holy Babe;
Evangelists  were fervent to dilate
The good report  of God come down in grace;
While now the Spirit  rejoices to acclaim
Jesus the Lord  in His exalted place.
Come to the world  which His own hand had made
His virtue flowed  even to where men lay
Weaker than weakness  huddled within the grave.
Now virtue flows  from Christ in majesty
Causing enlightened souls  to celebrate
The Man by whom  all men  shall be amazed.

Wednesday 9 March 2011

AMIABLE

"Think on these things" ‑ how amiable He was!
Seeing His grace  how many souls were drawn:
Peter could say  for Christ he had left all,
While Matthew hastened  when answering His call;
The woman slighted  the Pharisees' discord
That she might be  near her beloved Lord;
And the brave women  with the disciple John
Knowing His loveliness  stood by the cross.
How amiable He is ‑  the theme of song
Of myriads of souls  whom He has bought;
But, more than this,  eternity shall vaunt
How amiable  Christ Jesus is to God.

Tuesday 8 March 2011

PURE

"Think on these things" ‑   who was as pure as He?
He was not only, amid defilement, clean
But His approach  made all defilement flee.
The spotless Lamb  His cleanness made Him meet
To undertake  unutterable grief
Being made sin  ensuring our release
And giving God  fresh reason to be pleased.
Now God delights  in songs of His redeemed,
Themselves now washed, who in Him are relieved;
They love to follow  wherever He may lead
Out of this earth  into His own demesne,
Pure grace above,  pure mercy underneath.

Monday 7 March 2011

JUST

"Think on these things" ‑  I think of Christ, the Just,
Who for the unjust  has undergone the curse
Amid the weight  of man's opprobrium,
Securing thus  His just imperium.
Christ faced a ruler  whose actions were corrupt
And like a lamb,  in His defence, was dumb.
He will return  to where His peace was spurned
And by His power  all evil will be curbed.
His will be justice  which no one will rebut
And no appeal  nor pleading will disturb
Since under impetus  of perfect love
He will decern  as the conclusive Judge.

Sunday 6 March 2011

NOBLE

"Think on these things" ‑  I think of Christ as noble:
Illustrious,  in feeling and emotion
Within a world  whose tenor was provoking;
Always refined,  in action, thought and motive
Within a scene  whose ambience was coarseness;
Within a scene  whose atmosphere was boreal
His graciousness  and tender warmth were copious.
Where human noise  was dissonantly vocal
The Master's voice  was dignified and cogent.
God found His life  was a delightful odour
While now within a place  that is harmonious
His stateliness  conduces to devotion.

Saturday 5 March 2011

TRUE

Think on these things" ‑  I think of Christ as True
In every sense  in which the word is used;
The Lord was faithful  however men traduced
His righteous Name, constant though He was bruised;
No unconformity  can be adduced
From Bethany  to the discordant troops;
The hand that struck the chord  found all in tune:
In every word  He manifested good
And every act  was in itself a proof
Of Who was there   from manger until tomb:
As He now is  the majesty accrues
That Jesus Christ  is, in Himself, the Truth.








Going back to "Touching the King" for a few days, God willing.

Friday 4 March 2011

THE FATHER’S ACTIONS

I came to Jesus as the Father drew me,
Although I did not know it at the time;
While before time He purposed to pursue me
With blessings both eternal and sublime;
If Jacob clothed his son in splendid vesture
The Father chose to clothe me in His best;
In each of these I see a Father’s gesture
Towards one He wishes to enjoy His rest.
I am among the sons He loves to gather
In line with the good pleasure of His will,
Who all rejoice in crying “Abba, Father”
In loving tones which time will never still.
We know the Father’s love is marvellous
As witnessed in all He has done for us.

Thursday 3 March 2011

RICHARD

    This small pleasure waits
Mid great ones - Richard in his
    Body of glory.






Richard is a friend and brother with Down's Syndrome: which didn't prevent hymn giving out an extremely apt hymn last Lord's day.

Wednesday 2 March 2011

BIRTHDAY VERSES

               (for Julian)

Extol the Name of Christ the Lord
    In whom true life begins
The One who bore God’s judgement-stroke
    And took away our sins.

Explain what he has done for you
    To those who do not know
That they may find His blessings, too,
    And with you learn and grow.

Exploit the blessing He provides
    And seek to understand;
And as His Spirit helps and leads
    Enjoy His heavenly land.

Exhibit features of His grace
    Wherever you may go
Till features of your heavenly place
    Shine while you are below.

Exhort His people to delight
    In what the Father gives
As one who walks in paths of light
    Who comforts and forgives.

Exalt the Lamb and sing His praise,
    Rejoice in Him each day;
Pay heed to Him in all your ways,
    Wait for Him, watch, and pray.

Tuesday 1 March 2011

21/03/05


Is that snow falling?
A drift of three flakes flutters
From the cherry tree.