Tuesday 31 December 2013

THE BELOVED

I am redeemed
In the Beloved;
The Father has been declared
By the Beloved;
I am to hear
The Beloved;
I am taken into favour
In the Beloved.

Monday 30 December 2013

NO ONE ELSE

No one else has set me free;
No one else secured my heart;
No one else draws me apart:
No one else has died for me.

Some may give a high degree,
Some provide profound advice,
Some give presents of great price:
No one else has died for me.

No one else will hear my plea;
No one else can meet my need;
No one else will balm or feed:
No one else has died for me.

Sunday 29 December 2013

LOVE

The greatness of God’s love
Is that of an ocean
Not a river - grace is
A river sourced in His love.

Friday 27 December 2013

PARABLE

My pain is great, my wounds are sore,
My life bleeds to its end.”
I’ve come to care for you, to pour
Oil on your wounds, my friend.”

I faint, I feel my spirit pine:
My soul is reft by strife.”
My friend, I’ve come to pour you wine
To stimulate your life.”

I have no shelter, can’t begin
The journey to my home.”
I’ll bring you safely to the inn -
There is no need to roam.”

I lie within a world of harm
And cannot be released.”
My friend, I’ll bear you on my arm
To set you on my beast.”

My money and my goods are lost;
I cannot pay a fee.”
Do not despair, my friend - the cost
Has all been borne by me.”

Out of this inn what shall I do?
When I am gone - what then?”
The innkeeper will care for you
Until I come again.”

My Friend - how I shall miss your face!
Why must you go away?”
I’m going to prepare the place
Where, with me, you shall stay.”

Thursday 26 December 2013

THE MAN

The Man who opened the ears
Of the man who could not hear
Was history’s greatest Listener.

The man who anointed the blind man
And brought light into his life
Was the greatest Seer among men.

And of the Man who raised
Dead from the dead it was written
“In Him was life”.

Tuesday 24 December 2013

CHRISTIAN PRIVILEGES

Chosen in Christ before the world began,
Redeemed through the munificence of grace,
Associated with the heavenly Man.

Given the Earnest of a settled place,
Clothed in the worth of One raised from the dead,
Enregistered in an undying race,

United by the Spirit to the Head,
Forming a part of the illustrious bride,
In this dry wilderness refreshed and fed,

Rejoicing in the food which will abide,
Waiting to share Christ’s glory by His side.

Monday 23 December 2013

SWEETNESS

Among computers or washing,
Pens, basins, or branches
There is a Man who will
Bring sweetness.

Among catheters and scalpels,
Even graves and coffins
There is a Man who will
Bring sweetness.

Among saints and angels,
And the splendours of heaven
There is a Man who will
Bring sweetness.

Sunday 22 December 2013

PATIENCE


Because I lock
The door He has to knock;
He has to wait
Because I bar the gate;
Because I wall
Him out He has to call.

Although I mock,
In patience, He will knock;
And He will wait
If my reply is late;
His love will call
When my response is small.

Lord, I unlock
My heart, break down the wall,
Unhinge my gate;
Thou shalt no longer wait
Or knock, or call:
Lord, lead me to Thy flock.

Saturday 21 December 2013

ABILITY

The Man who loves me
Is the Man with the greatest
Love ability.

Friday 20 December 2013

LIGHT

If life around seems grim
With all-embracing dark;
If Christians’ light grows dim
And gutters to a spark
Lift up your eyes and see afar
The shining of the Morning Star.

And mid His faithful saints
The love of Christ gives light
Excluding Satan’s feints
To lead them into night;
Within the heart of every one
Shines gloriously the risen Sun.

His sweetness does not cloy
But makes our spirits full;
He makes our souls enjoy
The principle of rule;
His warmth surrounds with its embrace
Suffusing all our hearts with grace.

And His assembly shines
With God’s own glory’s rays:
The Spirit’s wise designs
Will soon appear in day
But in the night she rules for Him
Whose light towards her is never dim.

Where Light which has no taints
Has once, in beauty, been
Now all Christ’s chosen saints
Are lights in a dark scene:
While patiently His people wait
With variant lights they scintillate.

Thursday 19 December 2013

JACOB

More than a mother's love,
A divine secret,
Moved Rebecca to discern
Jacob was loveable.

"What was torn I have not
Brought to thee", Jacob attested,
The words of a man
Who did justly.

Renamed, after his wrestling,
And his maiming
He, Israel, could walk as one
Of God's nobility.

To approach God's house
- "Put away the strange gods ...
And cleanse yourselves" -
Demanded purity.

After the byways, 
Skewed routes, now
Leaning on his staff,
A true worshipper.

Edinburgh & Anand 11-12/13
Testing the history of Jacob by Phil 4: 8.

Wednesday 18 December 2013

STANDING

The Son of God, who did God’s will,
The Son of Man, who came to die,
The Son of David, Christ, stood still
In answer to a beggar’s cry.

The Man who is the Lord of all,
Who soon will reign in equity,
Stood prisoner in the judgment hall
Of one steeped in iniquity.

He stood as the Victorious One
Within the circle of His own
Bringing His peace since all was done
By which the Father might be known.

Soon He will come to claim His right
And stand upon the sea and land;
All shall be set for His delight
And all shall prosper in His hand.

Tuesday 17 December 2013

LUKE 15

What the shepherd looked for
Was one who would recognise
His voice, one who would follow
His feet, one to enjoy
His pastures, one who was suitable
To be brought to the house.

What the woman sought
Was one who would shimmer to
Her lamp, one who would show
The Master’s face, one to enhance
Value within the house.

And what the father looked out for
Was one who could wear
The best robe with dignity, act
According to the gold ring, dance
Like a son in the sandals. One
With whom, in his house, he could share.

Thursday 28 November 2013

SAYINGS

He shall be great” the angel said
Before His birth and drawing near;
Now risen, Victor from the dead,
He shall be great.

Behold the Man” the Roman said -
Greatest since all this world began,
Proclaimed though His disciples fled -
Behold the Man!

The Lord is near” the apostle said,
Encouraging through toil and fear;
They relish, who hold fast the Head,
The Lord is near.

Lord Jesus, come” the bride says now
Engaged in His encomium;
His saints cry, as their spirits bow
Lord Jesus, come”.


It's time for a break - off to India for a couple of weeks!

Wednesday 27 November 2013

Tuesday 26 November 2013

STANDING

The One who is the Lord of all
Stood still to heed a beggar’s call.

He stood because of men’s deceit
Before a Roman judgment seat.

But how His peace and love were known
As Jesus stood amidst His own!

They found His care had gone before
When He was standing on the shore.

His witness Stephen saw Him stand
As Son of Man at God’s right hand.

Sheaves now, as product of His grief,
Bow down to His one standing sheaf.

Claiming His rights He soon will stand
Upon the sea and on the land.

But now He loves to see His bride
Standing in splendour at His side.

Monday 25 November 2013

CLOTHING

The first clothes maker,
God, acted - and faith can see
Someone must suffer.

Sunday 24 November 2013

CLOTHING

To be before the face of God
Without the taint of sin
We must be clothed in Christ Himself -
Clothed in the coats of skin.

We cannot come with righteousness
Of which our nature brags
We must be clothed in Christ Himself
And not our filthy rags.

When God desires to celebrate
His dear Son’s wedding feast
We must be clothed in Christ Himself
From greatest unto least.

To be within the Father’s house
Where He may gladly rest
We must be clothed in Christ Himself -
Clothed in the Father’s best.

Saturday 23 November 2013

DAYS

This is One to Whom personally
Servitude to time could not apply -
One who inhabits eternity. Yet
His love constrained Him to this thirlage.

He took part in our habitat
Days. He slept in them, woke in them,
In them moved, ate, carpentered.
Daily He absorbed the Father’s voicing.

One day the word directed Him towards
Jordan; one day to the wilderness.
Each of the days of the Son of Man
Was distinguished, although He is the Same.

And there were nights too - healing
Or praying. Until there came the night
When He was delivered up. And the day
When over His suffering daylight was withheld.

Time knows no day like that day -
Denial at cockcrow, injustice early,
Scourging, nailing, hanging, suffering:
And the secret sorrow the sun did not lighten.

Energy charged the resurrection day -
The Risen One gave to Mary
Revelation, to Simon restoration,
To two wanderers a Shepherd’s care.

From the day when He was received up in glory
We wait in the patience of the Christ until
His vindication: when the world takes moral direction
From that Sun in the day of Jesus Christ.

Friday 22 November 2013

SHEEP

“The firstlings of His flock” -
In choiceness God introduced
In His word, the sheep.

He brings soon to our view
The ram’s vigour,
Entrapping it to His will.

He shows us His yearling
Whose blood is cover
And whose flesh sustains.

And if our weakness
Attains to a sucking lamb only
He accepts it as a whole burnt-offering.

Thursday 21 November 2013

HE LOVED

He loved, though I was sinful;
He loved, when I was lost;
He loved, when I was needy;
He loved, to His great cost;
He loved when left out, knocking,
He loved, when brought within;
He loved me by the wayside,
He loved me at the inn.

He loved me though I wandered;
He loved, as I returned;
He loved, when my love faded;
He loved, when my heart burned;
He loved, despite my weakness;
He loved, despite my will;
He loved, through joy and sorrow;
He loved - He loves me still!

He loves, though we are faithless;
He loves, although we fail;
He loves when times are easy;
He loves, when storms assail;
He loves us in the battle;
He loves us in God’s house;
He loves us as His brethren;
He loves us as His spouse.

Wednesday 20 November 2013

UNTIL HE COMES

Until He comes
Be faithful to His Name;
The Spirit's guiding as your sword,
Do battle for your absent lord
Until He comes.

Until He comes
Announce the Master's death;
In deep affection break the bread
And drink the cup, as He has said
Until He comes.

Until He comes
Pursue the path of faith;
Pursue the way of righteousness
Faith, love, and peace that Christ may bless
Until He comes

Tuesday 19 November 2013

ONE MAN

God’s heart desires that all should know
He is distinguishing one Man,
According to His glorious plan
Which finds an answer here below.

Before Christ’s service here began
The heavens opened up to show
God’s heart desires that all should know
He is distinguishing one Man.

God will have no one other than
His Christ, to whom now praises flow
Because He plumbed the depths of woe:
Delighted with the course Christ ran
He is distinguishing one Man.

Monday 18 November 2013

Sunday 17 November 2013

HOW GREAT

How great is His mercy! - when we were still lawless,
He came to redeem us from hell;
He came as the Lamb who was perfect and flawless -
The Lord has done everything well!

How great is His goodness! - He heals all who need Him
In grace more than humans can tell;
He comes now as manna for all those who heed Him -
The Lord has done everything well!

How great is His beauty - His charms and His graces
Delight all the hearts they impel
To be near Himself to enjoy His embraces -
The Lord has done everything well!

Saturday 16 November 2013

WEAVING

Since He came to relieve bearers,
The bereaved, blind, and dumb,
So that strangers should be retrieved;
Ears He opened - where first Eve
Let temptation enter; fever
He rebuked, and those who believed Him
Followed; and all He would achieve
Rooted from His excellence. God
Saw a heave offering; men
A panacea for their peevishness.
See those who received Him, children
Of God - metal to magnet, cleaving
To Him - grace made them perceive
His worth, leave all for One
Weaving a seamless garment.

Friday 15 November 2013

HOW GRAND THE REVELATION!

The mighty God, who dwelt alone,
Before the world’s foundation,
In perfect light, has been made known -
How grand the revelation!

The Lord of glory took His place
Within His own creation
To demonstrate transcendent grace -
How grand the revelation!

We know the One who took our part
For our emancipation
And to disclose the Father’s heart -
How grand the revelation!

And, brought to know God’s holy Name,
His sons with exultation
Expand their praises and exclaim -
How grand the revelation!

Thursday 14 November 2013

MERCY

Mercy endured for me
When I was lost;
Mercy secured for me
Peace - at great cost;
Mercy has reached for me,
Mercy has preached for me,
Mercy beseeched for me
When I was lost.

Mercy has cared for me,
One who is found;
Mercy prepared for me
Heavenly ground;
Mercy has sought for me,
Mercy has wrought for me,
Mercy has fought for me -
One who is found.

Wednesday 13 November 2013

DAVID

A man went to the valley of trees
Lordly face like a sword-edge.
Goliath might scorn, Goliath might spurn
Loud as wolves his howls of disdain.
Ardent man, sapient man, distinctive man
David had pierced bear and lion.
Harsh in the skull he would drive his stone,
Accurate, brash weapon on brow.
At his feet the shield-lord bowed humbly,
Fleet Philistines, hero-wrenched, fled.

Tuesday 12 November 2013

REJOICE IN THE LORD

Rejoice in the Lord who has brought us salvation:
He came from the glory to challenge our foes;
He came in His grace to have no reputation,
To serve as a bondman, to bear all our woes.

Rejoice in the Lord who was here for the Father
To show what God’s ideal in manhood would be,
To work out God’s purpose, to heal men, to gather,
To bring sons to glory, to set our souls free.

Rejoice in the Lord who is raised and ascended
And seated in glory at God’s own right hand:
He waits till God’s work in His people is ended
And all shine in glory as God’s heart has planned.

Rejoice in the Lord who has touched our affection,
Our Shepherd, our Master, our Shield and Reward;
The Man who has won us through charm and perfection:
O saints He has purchased - Rejoice in the Lord!

Monday 11 November 2013

JOAN WASTE

“Is it all right”, I asked her,
“For me to lead my sister
Towards the fire?”

“Our father is dead”, she said.
“So who else would I want
To give me away?”

“I could help you escape”, I claimed.
But she replied, “No. See these ropes -
I myself made them

It was gracious of my Lord
To make my poor handiwork
The bands of a Man”.

Truly, day by day, strand by strand,
Her dexterity and patience had made
The finest ropes in Derby.

“The fire is ravenous”. But she responded,
“We must all burn, by fevers or rheumatics:
As well swift as slow.”

And when I longed that God would send
Elizabeth she said she waited for
One Monarch only.

She rejoiced that she would not see
A sin-marred world - “but I will see it
When Christ is king".

And “What is light? Is it to the body
What faith is to my soul -
The expansion of perception?

You will have to let go my hand soon
But remember that a stronger hand
Holds me still.”

I led her to the stake. She did not cry
Among the faggots, but spoke tenderly,
And her last word was “Jesus”.

Sunday 10 November 2013

JESUS’ BLOOD

 
Jesus' blood gives God a basis
That He may for forgive;
That the persons who offended
Now may live.

Jesus’ blood shed at Golgotha
Where He was reviled,
Has effect that all things may be
Reconciled.

Jesus’ blood can cleanse the sinner,
Purging every sin,
That a life in joy and blessing
May begin.

Jesus’ blood was shed for sinners
That eternally
Those who trust may know God’s favour
Righteously.

Jesus’ blood sufficed to purchase
All who are redeemed:
God reveals how much its virtue
Is esteemed.

Jesus’ blood upon the leper,
Cleansed in power and grace,
Claims each one on whom the Spirit
Takes His place.

Saturday 9 November 2013

GLORIOUS

In no circumstance
Was Christ so glorious to God
As when He suffered.

Friday 8 November 2013

REDEMPTION

Redemption subsists in the worth of the Person
Who holds the first place in the Father’s affection,
The Son of His love, who is given the kingdom
For which we are fit through His worth and perfection.

Redemption is known through the blood of the Saviour
Through which, by God’s grace, we are brought into favour;
Christ satisfied God in the work of atonement
While God’s heart rejoiced in His charm and His savour.

We wait for adoption, the body’s redemption,
And with us is waiting the whole of creation
Till Christ is acclaimed on the throne of his kingdom
And all is transformed at that great liberation.