Sunday 31 December 2017

BLESSED ARE ALL WHO HAVE THEIR TRUST IN HIM

The cherubim cry, “Glory!” round the throne;
His holiness is told by seraphim;
While blood-bought grace-supported saints all own,
“Blessed are all who have their trust in him”!

When all around the pilgrim’s path seems grim
We look to Jesus on the father’s throne:
“Blessed are all who have their trust in him”
Who once endured the wrath of God alone.

The richness of His mercy being known
“Blessed are all who have their trust in him”
Who serves as priest before the Father’s throne
To succour us although our light seems dim.

“Blessed are all who have their trust in him”
By whom God’s very nature has been shown,
Who fills our cup of blessing to the brim

And who shall reign “a priest upon a throne”.

Thursday 28 December 2017

IN DURANCE VILE

(Psalm 22)
Led to reproach, but assured
Of the Father's love He felt
Man's insolence to God.

If Israel's strong ones adjured
To speak, He showed He was
Son of God and Son of man.

He, whose grace had cured
Every ailment, experienced
Bodily weakness.

If boorish Gentiles ensured
His pain and grief, He bore it
With forgiving grace.

If Satan's craft allured
Such forces against Christ, He suffered
The bruising of his head.

God's Chosen One endured
The trauma of forsaking,
For our sake.

The Lord of life was immured
By God's will in death's cell
Till the Father's glory raised Him.

Sunday 24 December 2017

NABOTH

The world rewarded
Honour with distress;
Heaven recorded
Naboth's faithfulness.

Wednesday 20 December 2017

VARIETY

We give Thee thanks for this variety
And for the sun and for the flowers as well
And see the lovely brook explosively
Bursting and spuming, and the mossy rocks,
So pure and green, the muscly rolling hills
Confettied with the dew of sunny May.
How grand the view!  How fine the gifts we have:
The surging, lashing breakers, shining moons
Resplendent through the nights, the glowing stars
For navigation, and the ships and men
Fighting the scourging waves to which they are
Enslaved, the playing whales, the scattered reefs;
For colours – violets, turquoises, and greys,
Let’s thank our God: for this variety.


One of my schoolboy attempts, I think!

Saturday 16 December 2017

CHRIST

Christ’s attitude is gracious,
His works and words are right;
His loving heart’s capacious.
 
Man’s wisdom is rapacious
And leads men into night:
Christ’s attitude is gracious,
 
His counsel is sagacious
And where it leads in bright:
His loving heart’s capacious.
 
His blood is efficacious
To make the sinner white;
Christ’s attitude is gracious,
 
The world may be vexatious
But Christ will give delight:
His loving heart’s capacious.
 
The Son’s domain is spacious
And saints may dwell in light;
Christ’s attitude is gracious:
His loving heart’s capacious.

Wednesday 13 December 2017

PRAYERS

"Lord, save me";
And if He was to save
His side must be pierced.

"Lord, have mercy on me";
And for the sinner to find mercy
His precious blood must flow.

"Lord, help me";
And for the full cleansing power
There must be blood and water.

25/11/2017
 

Sunday 10 December 2017

THIS MAN

(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".

Sunday 3 December 2017

SOVEREIGN GRACE

The sovereign grace of God is that alone
Which can find, in man's very wickedness,
The modus of accomplishing salvation
Of man, the perpetrator of the evil.