Grace Notes

AUTO PSALM

2012-02-14T21:57:00.002Z

Once I was a gas-guzzler, belching fumes:

Grace has converted me to solar power.

I wandered through side-roads and cul-de-sacs:

Now grace gives satellite navigation.

My windscreen was translucent and shattered:

Grace replaced it, and broadened my vision.

My brakes could not restrain my headlong course:

Discs, pads, and fluid – grace replaced them all.

For my overheating engines and gears

Grace has abundance of coolant.

COMPUTER PSALM

2012-02-13T21:46:00.000Z

I had crashed like all normal computers

But the mercy of God rebooted me.

Though my programmes were incompatible

He has linked me in grace to a mainframe.

Grace gave me a new hard-drive and software –

All I wait for is an upgraded screen.

Seeing my limited applications

It gave me richer functionality.

Where I had been merely a stand-alone

Grace connected me to a world wide web.

ACROSTIC PSALM

2012-02-12T22:29:00.002Z

1.Abundant mercy has answered my need;
Abundant grace has given me a home.
2.Blessing was in God’s heart for wilful me;
Blessing is in my heart, put there by God.
3.Come to the earth the Saviour showed mercy,
Mercy is free since He went into death.
4.Death was the dominant power against me;
Love has acted to break that dominion.
5.Every day pressure surround man’s pathway;
Saints are succoured by great loving-kindness.
6.Faith gives us access into God’s favour;
Love gives us favour in the Beloved.
7.Grace has given me a place in glory –
Glory will accrue to the God of grace.
8.Heaven is my home through the Lord’s goodness –
How can I count His manifold blessings?
9.I was going astray like a lost sheep:
His goodness has led me to repentance.
10.Just as I am He poured mercy on me;
Just as He is He brought me into grace.
11.Kindness of God wished to make me at home
As David wished to bless Mephibosheth.
12.Love never fails, love is patient and kind;
And Jesus Christ never fails to show love.
13.Many waters cannot quench love, Christ proved;
The love which triumphed is now free to bless.
14.No one can challenge God’s rights in mercy
Nor cavil at the actions of His grace.
15.Outstretched arms are towards us in blessing;
Underneath us are everlasting arms.
16.Perilous seas cannot overwhelm me
Since I am buoyed by god’s loving-kindness.
17.Quietness pervades the people of God
Who rest in the Lord’s goodness and favour.
18.Redeemed by the precious blood of Jesus
We glory in the grace that redeemed us.
19.Sustained daily by His loving-kindness
We wait for redemption of the body.
20.Travellers on crooked paths find straight roads
As accompanies and protects them.
21.Unworthy of life since we were sinners
We have received mercy through Jesus Christ.
22.Victory appertains to Him alone
But grace allows us to share it with Him.
23.Worthiness belongs to Jesus alone
But love allows us to share it with Him.
24.Xenophobic Jews and Greeks are made one
For love at the cross smashed the middle wall.
25.Youths and maidens faint and the old languish
But God in His kindness revives us all.
26.Zealously sing praise to God and the Lord
By whom we have blessing, favour and love.

PSALM

2012-02-11T22:10:00.002Z

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 deviation.
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!

ABRAHAM

2012-02-10T21:13:00.003Z

What did it mean to him
When Abraham clave the wood
Of the burnt-offering?

What did it mean to him
When Abraham laid the wood
On his son Isaac?

What did it mean to him
When Abraham built the altar
And piled the wood?

What did it mean to him
When Abraham bound Isaac
And laid him on the wood?

"POEMS ABOUT GOD"

2012-02-09T22:06:00.002Z

I picked up a book of
“Poems about God”: there was
Some sense and wonder but
It did not give a pure note
Because it missed
The Man who best knows love.

YEA, HE LOVETH THE PEOPLES

2012-02-08T21:03:00.000Z

(Deut 33 v 3)

All his saints are in thy hand...
Coming through the wilderness,
Coming to the promised land:
How He loves to care and bless -
Yea, he loveth the peoples!

...And they sit down at thy feet...
Knowing thus the better part,
Since Thy teachings are so sweet
That they satisfy their heart:
Yea, he loveth the peoples!

...Each receiveth of thy words...
To supply their spirit’s needs
Naturally as the birds
Feed upon the ripened seeds:
Yea, he loveth the peoples!

LOVE'S DESIGNS

2012-02-07T21:46:00.002Z

As beneficiaries of grace
Enrolled in the illustrious ranks
Of those who come before Thy face,
Our Father, we give thanks.

Initiates of love's designs,
Acted upon in love's great ways,
Robed and secured in love divine,
Father, we give Thee praise.

As welcomed to Thy residence
And liberated to explore
The splendours of its ambience,
Our Father, we adore.

THE SON OF GOD

2012-02-06T21:35:00.001Z

When I was bound by darkness
Beneath a load of sin
With judgement as my prospect
And fearfulness within
Who shone upon my darkness?
Who worked to set me free?
The Son of God who loved me
And gave Himself for me.

I'm longing for the moment
When all the ransomed crowds,
Arising into glory,
Will meet Him in the clouds;
How wonderful the moment
When blissfully I see
The Son of God who loved me
And gave Himself for me.

He is the Lord of glory
And is the Prince of peace,
Creator and Redeemer,
Whose wonders will not cease:
Wonder of grace and mercy
That such a One should be
The Son of God who loved me
And gave Himself for me.

O Father, make me like Him,
The Man of thy delight!
O Holy Spirit guide me
Where he will be my Light!
Help me, my Lord and master
To be conformed to Thee
The Son of God who loved me
And gave Himself for me!

5 February 2012.

BOW THE KNEE

2012-02-05T22:37:00.002Z

One who always has existed
And will always be
Took His lowly place in manhood:
Bow the knee!

Seeing Christ who suffered for us
That we might be free
To enjoy God’s love and favour
Bow the knee!

As you read the Holy Scriptures
And rejoice to see
Christ as Helper of the needy,
Bow the knee!

Knowing Jesus, caring for us,
Raised us up that we
Might have part in praise and worship,
Bow the knee!

MAN

2012-02-04T12:47:00.002Z

The face now shining
Is that of the Man
Whose face was smitten and marred.

He laid His right hand
Upon me - the Man
Whose hands were pierced.

The feet that will have
His enemies as footstool, once
Were nailed to the cross.

03/02/12

CROSS

2012-02-03T21:34:00.002Z

God did not let them
Cast Jesus down; but let them
Lift Him up to die.

02/02/12

SPEAKS

2012-02-02T22:15:00.000Z

He speaks in a way
Informed by the character
Of heaven itself.

01/02/11

EXPRESSION

2012-01-30T21:02:00.001Z

Since every moral attribute of God
And all God’s nature’s depths had been expressed
Upon this earth as Jesus humbly trod
In service, and the truth had been confessed,
The expression reached its solemn culmination
Upon the cross, through which we have been blessed,
And all that Christ expressed finds culmination,
And has repose, in Christ in exaltation.

THRONE

2012-01-29T22:30:00.000Z

The Lord God will give Him the throne
Of David His father;
To reign in the midst of His own,
The saints He shall gather.

The earth shall acknowledge His right
And all things will flourish;
His sway will be grace, to give light,
To comfort and nourish.

The hills will be covered with corn
And no perturbation
Will menace His close, reborn
And Spirit-filled nation.

SEEING A MAN

2012-01-28T17:04:00.001Z

Seeing a Man
Who harboured in His heart
The detail of God’s will,
And forged out thus to do it,
God is satisfied
In Jesus.

Seeing a Man,
Light to a heart’s dark,
Food to a famished heart,
Joy to its grimness
I am satisfied
In Jesus.

Seeing a man
Acquired at the cost of His blood,
Clad in His excellence,
Blessed and re-forged by His Spirit
Jesus is satisfied
In me.

SWEETNESS

2012-01-27T20:55:00.002Z

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.

LOVE

2012-01-25T21:42:00.002Z

The love of God sought
Persons for it to love, and
Made them loveable.

THE MAN

2012-01-24T21:07:00.002Z

I love the Man who died for me
Not only for that death
But for a love of such degree,
Which gives me life and breath.

GOSPEL

2012-01-23T20:44:00.000Z

This is God’s beloved Son,
Hear Him;
God gave judgment to this One,
Fear Him;
Knowing all that He has done
And the triumph He has won
Sinner, seeking mercy, run
Near Him!

Be a sinner saved by grace
Through Him;
In your life give Him the space
Due Him;
He is ready for your case -
Mustered to a heavenly race:
There upon the highest place
View Him!

WELCOME

2012-01-22T21:03:00.001Z

"It is wonderful
That when we get to heaven
We shall be welcomed."

picked our from Ministry of F E Raven, vol 12 p 441.

RISEN

2012-01-21T22:40:00.001Z

I can’t believe it,
Said the soldier.
All this cash for not telling the truth
When the truth is
I was too scared to know what was happening!

I quite believe it,
Said the priest.
Quash it, lie, bribe
Anything so long as
We don’t have that Man to reign over us!

He is not here,
Said the young man in white.
Behold the place
Where they had put Him.

Do we believe it?
Asked the women.
And what is there for us to believe?
We are seized by fear and questions.

I believe,
Said the beloved disciple.
For the tomb was orderly,
All distinctiveness, as
He would have left it.

He is risen,
Said Mary.
I have seen Him:
He spoke of His Father
As our Father, of His God
As our God.

Now I believe,
Said the doubter Thomas.
Not merely as a believer.
He has made me a worshipper -
My Lord and My God!

HOUSE

2012-01-20T22:17:00.000Z

In the Father's house
All is normal, and nothing
Is ordinary.

LOVE

2012-01-19T22:27:00.002Z

A Saviour’s love has reached for me
When I was swamped by sin;
He plucked me from the sweeping sea
And made me warm within.

A Shepherd’s love has shouldered me,
Guided when ways were rough,
Herded me on the mountain’s lee
And over-filled my trough.

A Father’s love has brought me up
And given me its best,
Through Christ I live, on Him I sup
And in Him I am blest.

The Spirit’s love works in my heart
That God’s love may be spread.
By Him Christ chooses to impart
His impetus as Head.

NAME

2012-01-18T21:29:00.002Z

No other name has the prestige,
And nonecould ever have the lustre,
Of His who is myLord and Liege.

Above men’spettiness and bluster
More than a snow-capped mountain peak:
Theseare some plaudits it can muster -

Splendid,all-conquering, unique,
Tender, attractive and sublime.
It isbeyond what men can seek,

It cannot fadewith death and time
But billows forward like a banner.
It tellsof God’s great paradigm

Of what willlast in grace and manner
Before the Father for His pleasure.
Andas the Father is the planner

In realms thatare beyond man’s measure
He is the One who has secured
Hisown as God’s eternal treasure;

And it is He whohas endured
The cross with all its pain and shame,
And He bywhom we are allured:

Jesus! there isno nobler Name!
Jesus! will have unending fame!

WEALTH

2012-01-17T21:55:00.002Z

WhenI was as impoverished as a beggar in a ditch

TheSon of God came up to me, raised me, and made me rich;

Hegave me treasures far surpassing all that I had lost

Andtold me in His grace that He Himself had borne the cost.

WhenI came to the Father, impecunious and distressed,

Hewelcomed me, He kissed me and He clothed me in the best;

Hetook away the filthy rags worn from the distant land

Andgave me sandals for my feet, His ring to deck my hand.

TheHoly Spirit has the wealth of heaven in His care

Availablefor all the saints who own Christ Lord to share;

Hedecorates and dignifies the features of the bride,

Thenhelps her grace the place that she will have at Jesus’ side.

Nowunto God who made us rich, whose giving is immense,

Thererises our responsive praise, our nard and frankincense;

ToHim who is the source of all we gladly bow the knee

Andwillingly acknowledge “of Thine own we give to Thee”.

THE MIGHTY GOD

2012-01-16T22:11:00.002Z

In light unclouded dwells the mighty God,
His glory all creation doth proclaim;
A Spirit - love and light, the Holy One -
Who is, who was, who it to come, the Same!

The only glorious, the eternal God,
Who ever lived before beginnings were!
All heaven's constellations pale before
The glory of the One who set them there!

The Triune God, almighty, yet unseen;
The ever holy, holy, holy One
Whose word existence to creation gave,
When dwelling in eternity alone!

What joy it is to contemplate Thyself
In Christ revealed, the everlasting God!
To learn Thy wisdom, search Thy matchless grace;
To worship Thee, as saints redeemed by blood!

To see Thy glory in the face of Christ,
And without let enjoy - in heav'n above,
In realms of cloudless light and joy and peace -
Thine own unending, changeless, perfect love!

Another great E.H. Chater hymn. You can find more at:

http://goodteaching.org/hymn/index.php

UNFATHOMABLE LOVE

2012-01-15T22:36:00.003Z

O Lord, the knowledge of Thy love

Doth bow our hearts to Thee above;

Before Thy face we prostrate fall,

Whose wondrous glory shines for all.

We worship, praise Thee and adore,

Exalt Thy Name for evermore!

Thy church, Thy body and Thy bride,

With Thee, the Christ, identified -

Espoused to Thee, a virgin chaste,

While travelling still this dreary waste -

Finds in Thyself her hope, her all!

She waits to hear her bridegroom call.

He comes! The longed-for, glorious Lord,

Whose Name by all shall be adored!

He comes to take His bride on high,

To share to all eternity

The fruits of God's eternal plan,

Before the age of time began.

The heav'n and earth, the sea and land,

Display the pow'r of God's own hand,

And all His matchless moral ways

Redound for ever to His praise;

But in this glorious mystery

Unfathomable love we see.

I thought I'd share another of E.H. Chater's great hymns today.

MIGHTY NOW TO SAVE

2012-01-14T21:40:00.003Z

Blest Son of God, Thou holy One above,

In whom both love and light with truth combine;

Seated and crowned in yonder world of love,

In Thy blest face we see God's glory shine.

We bless The for the love which brought Thee down

From Godhead glory to the cross of woe!

Thou who on earth as Man didst win renown,

For Thou by death didst Satan's power lay low.

Thy cross, blest Lord! what unsearched depths of love

Are told, when God's sharp judgement-sword awoke!

And, darkness all around, from Him above

On Thee, O Saviour, fell the dreadful stroke!

"'Tis finished!" See the Father glorified,

Whose glory claimed Thee from the gloomy grave!

Exhalted we behold Thee at His side,

The crownèd Victor, mighty now to save.

I enjoyed this hymn by E H Chater (1845-1915) and thought I would share it.

THE ARK AT REST

2012-01-12T22:30:00.002Z

All God's inheritance is richly blest
Since, in the temple Solomon prepared,
The Ark of God is finally at rest.

Round it a system God chose to invest
With glory which will never be impaired
‑All God's inheritance‑ is richly blest.

It led the way in every storm or test
But now, past all the trials which they shared,
The Ark of God is finally at rest.

Since God's great wisdom knew which way was best
And He was there beside them as they fared
All God's inheritance is richly blest.

His people praise the Lord with joy and zest
As, while His lasting triumph is declared,
The Ark of God is finally at rest.

Because God knew the object of their quest
Before they ventured, and in all things cared,
All God's inheritance is richly blest;
The Ark of God is finally at rest.

This is another villanelle.

PHINEHAS

2012-01-11T21:47:00.002Z

To pious minds all seemed to fall apart
But Phinehas remained before the Ark
Though others' lanterns faltered into dark
And coldness crept across the nation's heart.

Dan turned to images of human art;
Benjamin flicked and guttered to a spark;
To pious minds all seemed to fall apart
But Phinehas remained before the Ark.

Their enemies all sought to seize a part
Of Israel, each voracious as a shark;
Would all be lost? Tossed like a feeble barque
Israel seemed ignorant of star or chart ‑
But Phinehas remained before the Ark.

Judges 20: 27-28

WILL YOU?

2012-01-10T22:45:00.001Z

God’s grace is for you to receive;
It’s more than human words can tell -
Will you, in simple faith, believe?

Christ came in mercy to relieve
Your soul of sin and death and hell -
God’s grace is for you to receive!

What triumphs Christ came to achieve,
And all He’s done He has done well -
Will you, in simple faith, believe?

Satan is active to deceive
As he caused Adam to rebel;
God’s grace is for you to receive.

He promises He will not leave
His saints until near Him, they dwell;
Will you, in simple faith, believe?

His grace will bless and will not grieve:
Come, buy of Him and do not sell!
God’s grace is for you to receive;
Will you, in simple faith, believe?

THE GIVING OF THE SON

2012-01-09T21:56:00.003Z

God has met the sin of man
In the giving of the Son.
To fulfil His glorious plan
God has met the sin of man .
Love before the world began
Knew the victory Christ has won;
God has met the sin of man
In the giving of the Son.

This one is a triolet.

BEHOLD THE MAN!

2012-01-08T13:02:00.000Z

“Behold the Man!” poor Pilate cried,
Knowing the Master’s innocence:
And centuries of saints replied:
“Behold the Man!”

Betrayed by Judas, and denied,
Scourges by the Romans – how immense
The sufferings of the Crucified!

Yet much more awful and intense
His sufferings before He died.
Drinking all He can now dispense
Behold the Man!

This one is a roundel.

VOYAGE

2012-01-06T22:17:00.001Z

God is working in the Son
And the Son is His ideal;
Through the One who set the keel
He has made the vessel run.

He through whom the voyage begun
Will unlade the laden creel:
God is working in the Son
And the Son is His ideal.

Soon the journey will be done
And the morning will reveal
Christ’s eternal fresh appeal;
Till that verdant shore is won
God is working in the Son.

Another rondel.

LORD, WE CANNOT GO AWAY

2012-01-05T20:52:00.001Z

Lord, we cannot go away -
Thou hast words of life eternal;
Powers both earthly and infernal
Cannot lure us - we will stay.

In each word that Thou dost say
Love is at the very kernel:
Lord, we cannot go away -
Thou hast words of life eternal;

Love that guards us from dismay;
Love from God which is paternal;
Love of saints which is fraternal;
Love which bears us all the way:
Lord, we cannot go away.

This is a Rondel - how do you like these set forms?

SENSES

2012-01-04T22:13:00.000Z

Blest Spirit, help increase my appetite

For Jesus whom Thou dost present as food;

I long to savour more of this delight

Since I have tasted that the Lord is good.

Thou didst, blest Spirit, open up my ear

To hear the Saviour when I was astray;

Help me to listen and have ears to hear

Thy word to the assemblies day by day.

Though Moses died His eyesight did not dim -

O Spirit of the Lord control my sight

That with my eyes exclusively on Him

My body always may be full of light.

The Lord of life has touched me in my need:

He lifted me and set me up through grace -

Blest Spirit, help me handle well I plead

The substance of this elevated place.

A life entirely for the Father's will

And death entirely to the Father's mind

Rose as a fragrance - may, blest Spirit, still

Such fragrance rise from those Thou hast refined.

PATH

2012-01-03T20:55:00.003Z

Like a luminous ribbon,
Stretching forward,
Yard by yard increasing
In fluorescence
and phosphorescence
The path of the righteous
Advanced toward
Perfect day.

CROSS

2012-01-02T21:03:00.000Z

In the cross, I have
God perfectly revealed - all
That God is brought out.

NEW YEAR

2012-01-01T20:52:00.000Z

A new year has begun
In which to work and play,
To learn and to have fun
Throughout each happy day.

A year in which to live,
Enjoy life to the full,
Receive and love and give -
And even go to school!

A year in which to go
To Jesus as your Friend
As glad of One you know
On whom you can depend.

A year in which to rest
Within the Shepherd's care,
To learn that He knows best
And guards you everywhere.

Written for Marianne, when she was 4.

GIVER

2011-12-30T22:23:00.000Z

He gave Himself to ransom me,
He gave His life that I might live,
He gave in grace that I might see,
He is a Man who loves to give.

He gave me life, He gave me light,
He gave me righteousness and peace;
He gave me grace and power and sight:
He gives me joys that will not cease.

He gave His Spirit from above,
He gave adornment to His bride:
He gave me love - He gives her love
And gives a place at His own side.

He loves to give, He loves to bless:
His grace flows towards me like a river;
My heart goes out in thankfulness
That through His gifts I learn the Giver.

I don't need to put a name in, do I?

MARY

2011-12-29T20:43:00.000Z

Why wife to a carpenter? Although
The royal blood pulsed, the rights
Of monarchy existed, you husband
Crafted in wood; each day's labour
Used energy, skill and mind. Nothing
Derived from you or him imbued
That Child of whom you were mother.
But it pleased God in His ways to choose
The ambience you both provided; righteousness
Of your unwilling‑to‑expose husband,
Subjection of your spirit, soul and body.
You observed perfection in childhood,
Pondered signs and growth, retained
Thoughts, memories and affection till
You could act as repository to His church.

THE SUPPER

2011-12-28T21:41:00.000Z

We gather, Lord, to call to mind
Thyself and all Thy worthiness;
Thou hast secured all God designed
For those whom He desired to bless;
Our souls and spirits lifted up
We break the bread, we drink the cup.

We gather, Lord, till Thou shalt come
As testimony in the scene
When, mid this world's opprobrium
Thy death and sufferings have been;
Our souls and spirits lifted up
We break the bread, we drink the cup.

We gather, Lord, unto Thy Name
In fellowship that will not cease
United in the single aim
Of righteousness, faith, love and peace
Our souls and spirits lifted up
We break the bread, we drink the cup.

We gather, Lord, to furnish Thee
With opportunity to show
Thyself and all Thy love whilst we
Remain in pilgrimage below:
Our souls and spirits lifted up
We break the bread, we drink the cup.

LIGHT

2011-12-27T22:14:00.000Z

There had been lamps
In the gloom; but John
Came as a burning and shining light.

Then came the dayspring. Christ
Visited, shedding light to His people
Cowering in death's shadow.
Most closed their eyes.

Light cannot be contained:
Wide-eyed Gentiles
- Centurions, needy women -
Came to the light.

Sunset fell, and what glory
Streaked the sky, despite
That sundown!

The world, sunk in the darkness
That it prefers, has not seen
That full light again.

His own have His secret,
The Morning Star,
In their hearts.

They await
The Sun of righteousness,
The cloudless day,
The healing rays.

Meanwhile He leaves us
As lights in the world.

Meanwhile His church,
In her serene progress,
His heavenly body, reflects
Him.

GLEANINGS

2011-12-26T23:35:00.002Z

Among God’s ancient chosen race
Who always tended to rebel
One came to show the heart of God,
Whose title is Emmanuel.

“God with us”, to express God’s love,
To show His constant will to bless,
To bring a humbled nation back
And to fulfil all righteousness.

The poor in spirit were His care,
Hungerers, those who mourned, the meek,
And all whom human pride despised;
Such were the ones He came to seek.

He listened to His Father’s voice
Each morning from the time He woke,
And His disciples came to know
The Father of whose grace He spoke.

The children God had given Him,
Under His word and touch, began
To grow in grace and thus display
The features of the heavenly Man.

He praised His Father that though He
Was One the nation might despise
The Father had revealed to babes
What had been hidden from the wise.

If Israel despised His rights
And thus blasphemed the Father too
The Gentiles were embraced to share
In concepts which were wholly new.

For He was minded to secure,
To His great cost, the entity,
Unnamed as yet to men, which would
Delight Him to eternity.

But Who was this who in His grace
Among the needy humbly trod?
The Father sovereignly revealed
It was the Christ, the Son of God.

Into a world of sins and ills
One who was God in Person came,
And His assembly can be built
On the confession of His Name.

Yet if that joy for Christ and God
Will merge as a celestial whole,
It meant His suffering and death,
It meant the anguish of His soul.

Those who are faithful to His Name
Through this can be victorious
As conscious of the present love
Of Him who came as “God with us”.

THE LOVE OF JESUS

2011-12-25T22:04:00.002Z

O Lord, Thy love’s unbounded,

So sweet, so full, so free;

My spirit does Thee homage

Since love has reached to me.

I see in all Thy pathway

As here to heal and bless,

In glorious demonstration

Thy love for righteousness.

And heaven was delighted

As God the Father saw

One who, in spirit, uttered

“Oh, how I love Thy law!”

I see in every footstep,

As moving to fulfil

All that must be accomplished,

Love for Thy Father’s will.

How Thou didst love His purpose -

Willingly Thou didst go

Till all thing should be finished

Through toil and pain and woe.

For Thou didst love Thy Father

And daily didst rejoice

As wakening each morning

To hear the Father’s voice.

And Thou didst love the brethren

Thy Father gave to Thee -

We hear Thee pray concerning

“Those Thou hast given Me...”

Thy love for Thine assembly,

Thy helpmate and Thy wife,

Led Thee to give up all things,

Even Thy precious life.

For where was love more vivid

Than on Golgotha’s tree?

Love that was undiminished,

Love that has made me free.

Love that will last for ever,

Love that surrounds me now,

Love of a Man in glory,

Love that has made me bow.

THE SAVIOUR

2011-12-24T15:47:00.000Z

Oh praise the Saviour for His love

Which made Him take on blood and flesh,

As come from realms which are above,

To bring men back to God afresh.

Love brought Him to a world of sin

Which held men in captivity;

He worked in grace to bring men in

To righteousness and liberty.

Love led the Saviour to the tree

To bear sin’s judgement and atone

That sinners might be just and free,

Secured by Christ to be His own.

Victorious through all He endured

He sits upon the throne above:

We sing, as those He has secured,

“Oh praise the Saviour for His love!”

RIGHTEOUSNESS

2011-12-23T19:48:00.000Z

The sun darkened:
There, at Golgotha,
Righteousness was accomplished.

The sun risen:
In the garden, testimony
To accomplished righteousness.

The sun in its firmament:
Accomplished righteousness
Celebrated in ascension.

From PROGRESS

2011-12-22T19:46:00.000Z

But where God wished a sanctuary
He quickly found idolatry
As Israel's fervour failed;
Though you may have the greatest light
You need still to maintain its height
For it will be assailed.

The time was long, the bondage sore,
The word occasional before
Recovery came in;
Oh Christian soul, do not relax
For joys will wane and sorrows wax
As you make way for sin.

For when the conquest would restart
God found a man after His heart
Who would do all His will;
As Christ in beauty fills our view
Abundant blessing will ensue
Through what He will fulfil.

David, through all life's storms and calms
Distilled experience into psalms
For God's unending praise;
And Christ now, as He moves and tends
Our souls wakes worship which ascends
In anthems that we raise.

Affection and affliction shared
In the material prepared
For what his son would build;
Love answers love to bring us near
While suffering shapes how we appear
So that God's house is filled.

See the resplendent house unfold,
With all its plenitude of gold,
Which Solomon has made;
See the grand place that Christ has wrought,
Formed by the persons He has brought
And sumptuously arrayed.

The ark that graced the desert sand
And led them in the promised land
Is finally at rest;
Christ is before the Father's face,
Appreciated in His grace,
And in Him we are blest.

Trumpets and singers in accord
Proclaim the glory of the LORD:
The house fills with the cloud;
Now glory fills the courts above
And sons praise with united love,
Reverent, but uncowed.

Let hallelujahs now resound
Unto the LORD for He has crowned
The work He had begun;
Praise Him by whom all was conceived,
And now the matchless deed's achieved,
Determined, dared, and done.

END

The final two lines have been taken from "A Song for David" by Christopher Smart

ASK FOR A SIGN

2011-12-21T21:18:00.000Z

Isaiah 7

"Ask for a sign" the prophet told the king;
"Ask for it in the deep or in the height."
King Ahaz sneered "I will do no such thing".

How great the sign of Jonah to incite
Wonder at God's unfathomable ways,
Bringing one man through darkness into light!

How great the sign of Solomon's great days,
His splendour and the wisdom which God gave
To rule His people and to bring Him praise!

There is a greater sign now in the grave,
Its depths and darkness entered for His own
By Christ that to the utmost He may save.

There is a greater sign now in the throne
Where Jesus sits, acclaimed at God's right hand,
Whence all the power of heaven may be known.

If you touch depths you cannot understand
Remember what your Lord endured for you
That heavenly power might be at your command.

If you reach heights, with Jesus in your view,
And know relationships in which to bask,
Remember all the depths which He went through.

"Ask for a sign" ‑ God longs for you to task
His willingness and nature ‑ knock! seek! ask!

2011-12-20T21:31:00.000Z

In the past
Invading and enduring
The recesses of the deep
He has been shown to be
“More than Jonas”.

In the future
He will be displayed
In power and majesty -
“More than Solomon”.

Now
In His charm and beauty,
His dignity of bearing,
His vitality and graces -
“More than beloved”.

TO BATHSHEBA

2011-12-19T21:48:00.002Z

Your first husband morally greater,
All ways a mighty man, your loss
And your dead child led you to value,
Especially, peace, your son Solomon;
Jealously you protected his interests,
Provoking your enfeebled king to grant
Immediate access to the throne.
Skilfully you chose subtle allies,
Priest, prophet and the commander
Of the king's bodyguard, men
Fitted by a great king's service
To inaugurate the new regime.

THE ARK IN THE TEMPLE

2011-12-18T21:53:00.002Z

All God's inheritance is richly blest
Since, in the temple Solomon prepared,
The Ark of God is finally at rest.

Round it a system God chose to invest
With glory which will never be impaired
‑ All God's inheritance ‑ is richly blest.

It led the way in every storm or test
But now, past all the trials which they shared,
The Ark of God is finally at rest.

Since God's great wisdom knew which way was best
And He was there beside them as they fared
All God's inheritance is richly blest.

His people praise the Lord with joy and zest
As, while His lasting triumph is declared,
The Ark of God is finally at rest.

Because God knew the object of their quest
Before they ventured, and in all things cared,
All God's inheritance is richly blest;
The Ark of God is finally at rest.

SOLOMON

2011-12-17T20:44:00.002Z

Almighty God - give judgments to the King
And He will judge according to Thy will!
He will do justice to those whom sin afflicts:
By righteousness peace will flow from the hills;
He will descend as a delicious smirr
While grace and truth will both be flourishing;
Kings of the earth will render precious gifts
And all mankind will own His rulership.
Each day He shall be blessed: and He shall live
While corn shall pullulate from fertile tilth
Even upon the mountain’s loftiest ridge:
Seeing His glory let all the people sing!

TO SOLOMON

2011-12-16T21:24:00.002Z

You had them all ‑ the ivory throne
With guardian lions; the palace of the house
Of Lebanon; vast revenues of gold;
Widespread domains and exotic embassies;
Each day's thirty oxen, its hundred sheep,
Harts and gazelles; a splendid palanquin
Enhanced by your sixty swordsman escort;
You had them all ‑ but not these only ‑
To probe a matter, the glory of kings,
One sword for wisdom and for justice,
Solutions to enigmas, three thousand proverbs,
With your own ascent to your God's house,
And desire and skill for songs and psalms ‑
All the accoutrements of monarchy.

And of these songs one only was the Song of Songs,
Depiction of love and beauty, the incomparable ode
To rapture of love, loveliness, cruel jealousy ‑
The symbols apt in their sensuousness, apt to love,
Apt in their spirituality ‑ breathed through the love of God.

Not gardens only, nor beds
Of spices, interested you ‑
You knew the value of tillage:
"He who tills will be satisfied
With bread"; "Manual labour
Will increase wealth"; "Truth
And mercy will attend those
Who plough good". These were
Your kind of adage. But,
Did you follow your own advice?

CHRIST AS THE TRUE SOLOMON

2011-12-14T22:01:00.000Z

In the subversion of man,

Satan and death;

In the promotion of another

Manhood, Lord,

We see wisdom.

In the assembly,

An administration of blessing,

Where Thou hast a dwelling

We see

The house that Thou hast built.

The food of Thy table!

What variety we have in Thee:

An oblation, a passover,

Peace-offering,

Fresh ears, baked loaves -

All to our taste.

Persons of another marque

From worldlings, in dignity,

Act as children of wisdom

Portraying

The deportment of Thy servants.

We can appreciate

As the angels can

The all-various wisdom of God

In the order of service of Thy servants

Which the Chief Musician ordered.

In their needs - Christ

For coats of skin;

In their testimony - Christ

For armour;

In their privileges - Christ,

The Best Robe:

What apparel for Thy servants!

Men who have had

A vine before them,

Who have admired its growth,

Relished the lush grapes,

Their wine for God,

Are Thy cupbearers.

But what an acme

Of grandeur, a zenith

Of accomplishment, what

An ascent:

Lord, Thou art He who leads

Many sons to glory!

EBED-MELECH

2011-12-13T22:21:00.000Z

I’ll tell you of a happening
When Zedekiah was the king:

God sent His prophet to condemn
The wicked in Jerusalem,

While just outside the city gate
They saw the Babylonians wait.

That army was God’s punishment
For sinners who would not repent

And disobeyed when called upon
To serve the king of Babylon

Which was what Jeremiah taught
When he explained Jehovah’s thought.

The wicked men who hated it
Put Jeremiah in a pit.

The prophet thought; “This place is dire -
I’m sinking down into the mire!”

But while he found his prospects dim
His God was looking after him.

Now Ebed-Melech was the man
Whom God selected for His plan.

He went to see the king and said,
“If he’s left there he’ll soon be dead!”

The king replied, “Without a doubt
You must pull Jeremiah out”.

The Ethiopian found some rope
And soon gave Jeremiah hope.

“Just put some rags beneath each arm
So that the ropes will do no harm.”

Then Ebed-Melech and his friends
All started pulling at the ends.

Soon he was rescued, safe and sound:
He gladly stood on solid ground.

Thus Ebed-Melech pleased the Lord
Who shielded him against the sword.

COMPASSIONS

2011-12-12T22:04:00.000Z

If your way is fresh and bright,
If your way is dank and strange,
If you move from gloom to light
His compassions never change.

Though the way ahead seems dark,
Though the foe seems to prevail,
Or you’re buoyant as a lark
His compassions never fail.

When oppressions press the brain,
When you need a heavenly Friend,
When your heart is full of pain
His compassions never end.

Written during the illness of my sister-in-law Liz: with Christ 12/12/2005 (aged 41)

ALLELUIA

2011-12-11T21:56:00.002Z

Alleluia to the Saviour!

Bless the glorious Name of Jesus;

Come before His throne with gladness,

Do Him homage for His greatness.

Everlasting praise will echo

For the Firstborn of creation,

God's anointed Priest and Prophet,

Heaven's Centre of affection,

Israel's Monarch and Messiah,

Judah's Prince and Sprout of Glory,

King of kings and Prince of princes,

Lord of lords and Head of all things!

Men of every tribe and nation,

Nurtured in that splendid kingdom

Open wide their mouths in anthems

Praising Jesus their Redeemer.

Queenlike His beloved assembly

Raptured by her Bridegroom's beauty

Sits upon His throne beside Him.

Thousands upon thousands bring Him

Universal acclamation;

Victory is accorded to Him,

Worshippers are bowed before Him,

Xenia presented to Him:

Young and old in happy chorus

Zealously sing - Alleluia!

THE LORD IS IN CONTROL

2011-12-10T21:55:00.002Z

Though raging billows roll
And winds are contrary
Fear need not fill us with dismay -
The Lord is in control,

Should iron pierce your soul
Or catch you in its gin
Help is at hand, and Hope within -
The Lord is in control.

Should your boat nudge a shoal
Or shudder in a squall
Trust in the One who made them all -
The Lord is in control.

HAND

2011-12-09T22:11:00.000Z

Lord, keep me underneath Thy hand
Secure from harm;
Without Thee I cannot withstand
Storm or alarm.

Lord, keep me underneath Thy hand
Guided by Thee
Finding as under Thy command
Thy path for me.

Lord, keep me underneath Thy hand
Both warmed and blessed
Where in Thy love I understand
The way that’s best.

JOTHAM'S PARABLE

2011-12-08T20:51:00.000Z

The trees resolved that they should choose

Their own anointed king -

A king they would not dare refuse

To serve in everything.

Asking the olive they began:

“No, I will not forsake

My oil which honours God and man

For my own title’s sake”.

The fig-tree they asked secondly:

“I will not leave fruit

And sweetness for a king’s display

Which will not contribute”.

Thirdly, they spoke unto the vine:

“I have new wine to please

Both God and man, so I decline

To wave above the trees”.

But finally they asked the thorn:

“Have confidence in me;

Rest in my shade. But if you scorn

Fire will devour each tree”.

AT THE INN

2011-12-07T21:44:00.000Z

“When I was blind and poor
And only Christ could cure
He heard my anxious cry
And did not pass me by.”

“Wounded and torn by sin
Both outside and within
Without Him I would die -
He did not pass me by.”

“I climbed within my tree
To hide but still to see:
He saw me hidden high
And did not pass me by.”

“The night almost opaque,
We glimpsed upon the lake
A figure drawing nigh -
He did not pass us by.”

“So if you are in need
Christ listens when you plead;
His mercy will reply:
He will not pass you by.”

PARABLE

2011-12-06T22:24:00.002Z

“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.”

PARABLE

2011-12-05T21:35:00.000Z

The vital water, silting and moistening,

Compounds the good ground.

The fecund seed, broadcast on the earth

Clung in the good ground.

The theivish birds jibbed at the nets

Shielding the good ground.

Roots writhed down, toward the procreant water

Imbuing the good ground.

Toward the sun sprouts pullulate

Out from the good ground.

Master, garner the mellow fruit

From your good ground.

HIM WHO LOVES US

2011-12-04T22:11:00.000Z

O all ye ransomed throng

Life up your joyful song:

Honour and praise belong

To Him who loves us!

He washed our sins away

And saved from Satan’s sway:

Lift a fresh song today

To Him who loves us!

He made us share His feast,

Made each a royal priest:

Let praises be released

To Him who loves us!

Consciously loved by Him

Whose glory will not dim

Let constant praises brim

To Him who loves us!

JEDUTHUN

2011-12-03T22:21:00.002Z

God heard amid His fresh creation

His angels’ shouts of celebration.

He had in His premeditation

A greater cause of celebration.

When Christ brought in illumination

That gave God cause for celebration.

Because of reconciliation

God bids us join His celebration.

Christ in His place of elevation

Is centre of God’s celebration.

Christ’s men by grace and derivation

Will cause eternal celebration.

IDOLS

2011-12-02T21:05:00.000Z

Hast thou heard Him, seen Him, known Him?
Is not thine a captured heart?
Chief among ten thousand own Him;
Joyful choose the better part!

Idols, oft they won thee, charmed thee,
Lovely things of time and sense;
Gilded thus does sin disarm thee
Honeyed lest thou turn thee hence.

What has stripped the seeming beauty
From the idols of the earth?
Not a sense of right or duty,
But the sight of peerless worth.

Not the crushing of those idols
With its bitter void and smart,
But the learning of His beauty
The unveiling of His heart

Who extinguishes the taper
Till they hail the rising sun?
Who discards the garb of winter
Till the summer hath begun?

'Tis that look that melted Peter,
‘Tis the face that Stephen saw,
‘Tis the heart that wept with Mary,
Can alone from idols draw;

Draw and win, and fill completely,
Till the cup o'erflow the brim,
What have we to do with idols
Who have companied with Him?

Ora Rowan 1834-1879

LOVE

2011-12-01T22:54:00.001Z

A Saviour’s love has taken up my case
That one who had been captive should be free;
A Bridegroom’s love has claimed and cherished me,
And held me in the warmth of His embrace.
A Father’s love has lavished on me grace,
Riches and blessing, and has given me
The status of a son that I might be
For His eternal praise before His face.
The Spirit’s love has acted in my soul
And shed abroad God’s love within my heart;
Thus in the church He touches every part
And in uniting love makes all one whole.
The love of God has been so full shown
That now the God of love Himself is known.

COMPLETE

2011-11-30T21:22:00.000Z

The work of Christ is so complete
God sets Him forth, a mercy-seat,
Where God, in grace, and man can meet.

HEAVEN

2011-11-29T22:29:00.002Z

Heaven - yes, that is
Where my Saviour lives.

No, not that only
It’s my Father’s home.

Actually, my name
Is registered there.

That is where I have
My inheritance.

Amazing? How amazing!
Love is at home there.

My life? It is hid
With the Christ, in God.

You, also? You can
Share all these blessings.

HOME

2011-11-28T20:48:00.000Z

OH! bright and blessed scenes,
Where sin shall never come;
Whose sight my longing spirit weans
From earth, where yet I roam.

And can I call my home
My Father's house on high?
The rest of God, my rest to come,
My place of liberty?

Yes! In that light unstained
My stainless soul shall live;
My heart's deep longings more than gained,
When God His rest shall give.

His presence there, my soul
Its rest, its joy untold,
Shall find, when endless ages roll
And time shall ne'er grow old.

My God the centre is;
His presence fills that land;
And countless myriads, own'd as His,
Round Him adoring stand.

My God whom I have known,
Well known in Jesus' love,
Rests in the blessing of His own
Before Himself above.

Glory supreme is there,
Glory that shines through all;
More precious still that love to share
As those that love did call.

Like Jesus in that place
Of light and love supreme;
Once Man of sorrows, full of grace;
Heaven's blest and endless theme.

Like Him! O grace supreme!
Like Him before Thy face!
Like Him - to know that glory beam
Unhindered, face to face!

O love, supreme and bright,
Good to the feeblest heart,
That gives me now, as heavenly light,
What soon shall be my part!

Be not to me, my God,
As one that turned aside
To tarry for a night, and trod
His onward path. Abide

With me as light divine,
That brings into my breast
Those gladdening scenes e'en now as mine,
Soon my eternal rest.

[1867]

John Nelson Darby 1800 - 1882

WEALTH

2011-11-27T21:34:00.000Z

When I was as impoverished as a beggar in a ditch

The Son of God came up to me, raised me, and made me rich;

He gave me treasures far surpassing all that I had lost

And told me in His grace that He Himself had borne the cost.

When I came to the Father, impecunious and distressed,

He welcomed me, He kissed me and He clothed me in the best;

He took away the filthy rags worn from the distant land

And gave me sandals for my feet, His ring to deck my hand.

The Holy Spirit has the wealth of heaven in His care

Available for all the saints who own Christ Lord to share;

He decorates and dignifies the features of the bride,

Then helps her grace the place that she will have at Jesus’ side.

Now unto God who made us rich, whose giving is immense,

There rises our responsive praise, our nard and frankincense;

To Him who is the source of all we gladly bow the knee

And willingly acknowledge “of Thine own we give to Thee”.

THE WAY

2011-11-26T19:28:00.000Z

He came from the heart of God
And perfectly here He trod,
With God as His sole resource,
A sinless and blameless course
Which honoured the Father’s name -
Yet led to the cross of shame.

And newly there runs since then
A way from that cross for men,
Blood-sprinkled and purified,
Who live since their Saviour died;
A way that is clear and broad
That leads to the heart of God.

AVAILABLE

2011-11-24T21:18:00.002Z

The breast of Jesus
And His bosom…available
For you and for me.

HOW MUCH I'M LOVED

2011-11-23T20:36:00.000Z

On me, God’s grace has beamed;
By blood, I am redeemed;
To me His kindnesses have streamed:
How much I’m loved!

For me, the Saviour died;
For me, was crucified;
And now, for me He’s glorified:
How much I’m loved!

He suffered to atone,
But now, upon the throne,
He cares for me, with all His own
How much I’m loved!

He has prepared the place
Before the Father’s face
Which we will share, through boundless grace:
How much I’m loved!

Though here the world outside
Should raise an evil tide
With me, He says, He will abide:
How much I’m loved!

And as His word may be
Abiding now in me
Increasingly He’ll make me see
How much I’m loved!

Mybe I'll sing this to you one day! Safely home now.

HE LOVED

2011-11-16T06:00:00.000Z

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.

GReetings from Mumbai!

NOW HE LIVETH

2011-11-13T14:34:00.000Z

Once the Saviour suffered for us,
Scorned, rejected and denied;
For our peace and our redemption
Then upon the cross He died;
Now He liveth
Raised, ascended, glorified.

With His work for God accomplished
Christ is on the Father's throne
Who was once in grace and mercy
Here upon the earth unknown
Now He liveth
Giving impulse to His own.

When upon the earth He succoured
Men, the poorest and the least,
All the power of heaven's glory
Could not fully be released;
Now He liveth
Bearing us as heavenly Priest.

Once the Holy Spirit hovered
Sensitive to earth's constraints
But because Christ's cross and glory
Overwhelmed all sin's restraints
Now He liveth
In true companies of saints.

From the glory Christ delighted
To deliver to His own
An occasion of remembrance
Centred in Himself alone:
Now He liveth
Making His affections known.

Greetings from Coimbatoire!

THE HOUSE OF GOD

2011-11-09T16:10:00.000Z

For the support of such a grand creation

As God's own house only one Rock is sure

To uphold all God's structure and endure

Attacks and storms ‑ and Christ is that foundation.

There is one glorious pattern which alone

Can gratify God's heart ‑ not a mere plan

From which to measure, but the glorious Man

Who pleased God well: Christ is that Corner Stone.

As patterned on that Man we can be built

As living stones each into his own place,

According to the riches of God's grace,

Freed from the stain and penalty of guilt.

The work continues. Soon God will present

His masterpiece ‑ yet we already know

Enjoyment of it ‑ and that work will show

The Headstone, Christ, its finest ornament!

I've been reminded of this by interest in building meeting rooms in Andhra Pradesh. Greetings from Chennai now.

GLORY

2011-11-07T06:37:00.000Z

Lord, Thou wast there before the worlds began
In realms of love beyond the mind of man;
The glory that subsisted before time,
Ineffable, eternal and sublime
Belongs to Thee.

Lord, Thou wast here, descended to fulfil,
In grace and patience, all the Father's will:
The glory of a well-beloved Son
By whom the Father's will was fully done
Belongs to Thee.

Lord, Thou didst die, the spotless Lamb of God,
An Offering whose savour spreads abroad:
The glory of a perfect Sacrifice
Whose precious blood God's heart will always prize
Belongs to Thee.

Lord, Thou art crowned upon the Father's throne
Imparting power and wisdom to Thine own:
The glory of the Firstborn from the dead
Who is the body's, the assembly's Head
Belongs to Thee.

Lord, Thou wilt come to reign upon the earth
Dispelling tumult, conflict, plague and dearth:
The glory of the Ruler of all things
Who is the Lord of Lords and King of Kings
Belongs to Thee.

Greetings from Secunderabad!

THIS MAN

2011-11-01T21:26:00.000Z

(Micah 5: 5)

If you are thirled to sin
And longing for release
Open your heart to let Christ in,
"And this man shall be Peace".

Temptations may assail,
Or doubts within increase:
Trust in the One who will not fail:
"And this man shall be Peace".

Soon He shall have His Bride
Without one taint or crease,
To reign in glory by His side
"And this man shall be Peace".

Written 09/02/2007 - in Indian airspace! - This time tomorrow I'll be in Indian airspace again!

GRACE

2011-10-31T21:34:00.002Z

From eternity
God’s mind was that His grace should
Be operative.

THE KINDNESS OF GOD

2011-10-30T22:39:00.000Z

(Mephibosheth)

Marred; weak; afar; with the opprobrium
Of the rejected race... to catalogue
My blemishes would take too long; in sum
Encompass all in three words - “a dead dog”.
Mercy has reached me; grace has brought me near;
Kindness has given me a prince’s seat
And riches; perfect love has cast out fear:
The King Himself has made my bliss complete.
So if He is rejected in this world,
And the rebellious challenge has been hurled:
“We will not have this Man to reign”, should I
Follow that trend? Surely I must deny
Myself, and, till my Sovereign comes again,
Live in the consciousness that “He must reign”.

HISTORY

2011-10-29T20:23:00.000+01:00

As I thought of man I felt the fact
Piercing my veneer of quiet and tact
To the softness under my carapace
That I would do any horrendous act
But for my time and by God's grace.

Murderously I would have crept
"To extirpate the thievish sept"
Within Glencoe the gloomiest place
Without a murmur as they slept
But for my time and by God's grace.

My red star bright I would have thrilled
To see my enemies the Polish spilled,
In Katyn Forest's hidden space,
Into the sodden trench and cruelly killed
But for my time and by God's grace.

Straggles of Jews would have known my hate
As I thrust them through the oven's gate
Cursed for their feebleness and their strange race
Facing my cruelty in wild spate
But for my time and by God's grace.

I would have been a modern weaver
Of patterns of death no old believer
In savage myths would dare to face
Killer of innocents tugging my lever
But for my time and by God's grace.

I would have called "Crucify
The Man is worthy that He should die!"
I would have struck blows on His face
And sealed His rising by the lie
But for my time and by God's grace.

ACROSTIC PSALM

2011-10-28T22:11:00.002+01:00

GRACE

2011-10-27T22:27:00.000+01:00

On you, through grace, good seed was cast -
So hold it fast!

Grace covered all your sinful past -
So hold it fast!

Nail grace as standard to your mast
And hold it fast!

God's grace will lead you home at last -
So hold it fast!

GRACE

2011-10-26T20:53:00.002+01:00

If Grace rowed to me
in my struck brig
I found that Grace
had watched for me before.

If Grace had set the light
to my distant ship
Grace set the fire
for my rescued self.

When I turned my back
on the sun
Next morning there it was
blazing in my face.

Before Grace nursed me
to good health
It was Grace whose scalpel
had wounded me.

When grace upon grace
pulsed through my arteries
It was Grace which held
the syringe.
If Grace fed me richly
in the Father’s house
Grace in the far country
had brought my famine.
Though Grace gave me rags
in the far country
Come into the Father’s house
it clothed me richly.
While Grace made me know sonship
in the Father’s house
Grace had seen, in the far country,
me as a son.
After Grace comforted me
when I was sad
Grace preserved me
when I was happy.
If Grace provided a repast,
free of labour,
Grace taught me how to hunt,
to flay and to cook.
Since Grace guided me
in sowing
Grace helped me
in harvesting.
How right that when Grace
paid dearly for my ransom
Grace should acquire me
as its bondman.
As it was Grace that filled me
with the new wine
It was Grace that created
my new skin.

GRACE

2011-10-24T21:07:00.000+01:00

Grace sometimes was the sunshine

Embracing with warmth.

Grace sometimes was the rainfall

Driving me homeward.

Grace sometimes was the rainbow

Spectral with promise.

Sometimes grace as a shepherd

Led me to green pastures.

But grace sometimes was a judge

Admonishing me.

And often grace was a nurse

With pills or pillows.

Grace always was a witness

To the heart of God.

SHEPHERD

2011-10-22T23:17:00.002+01:00

Being no hireling He did not run away
And by His love, because He kept the faith
The mauling wolf was finally outfaced;
What was the cost? The Shepherd has been slain:
The sword of God against Him was awake.
Risen He works, showing the young His care,
Healing the sick, pursuing those who stray,
Leading the healthy where they may safely graze.
Lord, help me, as Thy sheep, discriminate
Thy Shepherd voice from voices that are strange;
Guide my thrawn feet far from iniquity
Into the flock of those enjoying grace.

"Thrawn; twisted: wry: cross-grained, perverse" according to the dictionary. Sometimes I need a Scots word to express myself properly.

SHEPHERDESS

2011-10-21T23:21:00.002+01:00

(for Rosemary)

Around us are our tender flock

Within this howling wilderness;

Under the shadow of the Rock