GRACE - Computer Psalm(!)

I had crashed like all other 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.

Swans and cygnets (last summer)

O GOD OF GRACE by G Gilpin

O God of grace, our Father,

All praise we give to Thee;

'Tis in Thy sovereign favour

All blessedness we see;

There only is the fountain

Whence living waters flow,

Which like a glorious river

Still gladden as they go.

 

As Thine Thou didst foreknow us

From all eternity;

Thy chosen, loved ones, ever

Kept present to Thine eye;

And when was come the moment,

Thou, calling by Thy grace,

Didst gently, firmly draw us

Each from his hiding-place.

 

Thy word, Thyself reflecting,

Doth sanctify by truth,

Still leading on Thy loved ones

With gentle, heav'nly growth.

Thus still the work proceedeth

(The work begun by grace)

In each, made meet, yet training,

To dwell before Thy face.

 

The Great Cumbrae Ferry

 

GRACE by Philip Doddridge

Grace! 'tis a charming sound

Harmonious to my ear;

Heaven with the echo shall resound,

And all the earth shall hear.

 Grace first contrived the way

To save rebellious man;

And all the steps that grace display

Which drew the wondrous plan.

Grace taught my wandering feet

To tread the heavenly road;

And new supplies each hour I meet,

While pressing on to God.

Grace all the works shall crown,

Through everlasting days;

It lays in heaven the topmost stone,

And well deserves the praise.

(Philip Doddridge 1702-1751)

Near Millport on Great Cumbrae

THE GRACE OF OUR LORD

(1 Timothy 1: 14)

He did not wreak upon me His holy judgment

For "the grace of our Lord surpassingly over-abounded";

He looked on me kindly, despite my condition

For "the grace of our Lord surpassingly over-abounded";

"Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners"

For "the grace of our Lord surpassingly over-abounded";

He came to give Himself "a ransom for many"

For "the grace of our Lord surpassingly over-abounded";

He displayed on earth manhood according to God

For "the grace of our Lord surpassingly over-abounded";

And showed God's kindness to those who were poor and sick

For "the grace of our Lord surpassingly over-abounded";

Thus He set His face to go to Jerusalem

For "the grace of our Lord surpassingly over-abounded";

Although He knew He would suffer man's rejection

For "the grace of our Lord surpassingly over-abounded";

And "He bore our sins in His body on the tree"

For "the grace of our Lord surpassingly over-abounded";

Death was upon me, but Christ took that penalty

For "the grace of our Lord surpassingly over-abounded";

He shed His precious blood for remission of sins

For "the grace of our Lord surpassingly over-abounded";

He was buried to remove the offending man

For "the grace of our Lord surpassingly over-abounded";

Then Jesus was raised for our justification

For "the grace of our Lord surpassingly over-abounded";

And took His place above to intercede for us

For "the grace of our Lord surpassingly over-abounded";

The Holy Spirit came to restrain evil

For "the grace of our Lord surpassingly over-abounded";

And to shed abroad in our hearts the love of God

For "the grace of our Lord surpassingly over-abounded";

Soon the Lord is coming to conform us to Himself

For "the grace of our Lord surpassingly over-abounded";

Let the redeemed give glory to the Redeemer

For "the grace of our Lord surpassingly over-abounded";

Let the sanctified exalt the Sanctifier

For "the grace of our Lord surpassingly over-abounded";

Let us rejoice in the God of our salvation

For "the grace of our Lord surpassingly over-abounded"!

January 30, 2011

I've just put a post on my other blog: https://dcbbackground.blogspot.com/

DIVINE GRACE by Stanley Drever

 From the heights of glory the message comes

    Of how God has come near to men

For the worlds were made by the blessed One

    Who came into manhood then.

So in full devotion to God's own will

    Christ His beautiful pathway trod

Till His prayer, so poignant and moving, spoke

    Of His sacrifice to God.

And the One who died on that shameful tree

    At the place known as Calvary

Was the One who fashioned the starry sky - 

    Yet He gave Himself for me!

From the grave triumphant the Saviour came

    And ascended to God's right hand

Where He's given a name above every name - 

    Soon He'll greet His ransomed band!

Oh would you, friend, share in His glory there

    And there lay at His feet your crown?

Just surrender all to the Saviour's thrall - 

    He, for you, in grace, came down.

In His precious blood that was shed for sins

    Put your trust - learn His present love;

And repenting sinners communion keep

    Till we see His face above.

Stanley Drever, also now with Christ, was local in Calgary in Canada.

Still around Great Cumbrae, with the isle of Arran across the water.

"GRACE UPON GRACE" by G Allan Brown

 "Grace upon grace" with constancy unceasing

Those mighty billows ever onward roll;

Their power and might and impulse ne'er decreasing

With joy and calm supreme o'erflood the soul.

"Grace upon grace" whate'er the trials around us,

Though desolate the vale of Baca be,

Fulness divine and endless grace surround us -

Compassed about by love's unmeasured sea.

O Lord, 'tis grace, Thy grace which now preserves us;

Its deep unplumbed our souls shall never know;

Yet this we know, that grace unceasing serves us

And keeps us near to Thee while here below.

We stand upon the fringe of that vast ocean,

'Tis here the breakers seem to stronger beat,

'Tis at the edge we feel the stronger motion,

'Tis here that grace our frailties doth meet.

Ere long we shall with Thee enjoy the fulness

Of that unfathomed tide, in heaven above.

We soon shall bask in wondrous love and nearness

And live eternally, immersed in love!

Around Great Cumbrae

GRACE by George Herbert

My stock lies dead, and no increase
Doth my dull husbandrie improve:
O let thy graces without cease
Drop from above!

If still the sunne should hide his face,
Thy house would but a dungeon prove,
Thy works nights captives: O let grace
Drop from above!

The dew doth ev’ry morning fall;
And shall the dew out-strip thy Dove?
The dew, for which grasse cannot call,
Drop from above.

Death is still working like a mole,
And digs my grave at each remove
Let grace work too, and on my soul
Drop from above.

Sinne is still hammering my heart
Unto a hardnesse, void of love:
Let suppling grace, to crosse his art,
Drop from above.

O come! for thou dost know the way:
Or if to me thou wilt not move,
Remove me, where I need not say,
Drop from above.

Pursuing the theme of grace, here are the thoughts of George Herbert (1593-1633)

A visit to Great Cumbrae, off the Ayrshire coast.

the famous island prayer is said to be:

Lord, we pray for thy blessings upon the island of Great Cumbrae,

And also for its neighbouring islands of Little Cumbrae and Britain.

HIM WHO ACTS IN GRACE

Grace does what it wills 

in line with the nature of 

Him who acts in grace. 

Trace all your blessing 

to the abundant love of 

Him who acts in grace. 

Base your assurance 

on the unchangingness of 

Him who acts in grace. 

Place all your future 

in the unfailing hands of 

Him who acts in grace. 

Face all that befalls 

confident in the care of 

Him who acts in grace.                

The repeated line comes from J N Darby, "An Introduction to the Bible": https://www.stempublishing.com/authors/darby/MISCELLA/34001F.html

Final views in the grounds of Culzean castle