TEN REASONS TO BELIEVE IN THE CHRISTIAN FAITH

Because the Shepherd

Knowing the depths of my need

Gave Himself for me;

Because the Shepherd

In His goodness carried me

On His own shoulders;

Because the Spirit

Has shone around my darkness

The light of God's Word;

Because the Spirit

Has swept the house carefully

Until He found me.

Because the Father

Ran to give me a welcome,

Embraced, and kissed me.

Because I am clothed

In the Best Robe that God has,

The worth of Christ.

Because I've been given

The token of divine love

A ring on my hand.

Because I now wear

The dignity that God gives,

Sandals on my feet.

Because I can share

The feast on the fatted calf:

God's thoughts of His Son.

Because God in grace

Desires to give me a place

In the Father's house.

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”.

GRASS

Looking towards the Eildon Hills

Far on the hillsides,

Or near in the park, grass is

A consolation.

FALDONSIDE LOCH, SCOTTISH BORDERS

The lowering sun bright,

The breeze keen, happily, we

Sauntered by the loch.

UGLY

Babirusa, boar,

Warthog - The Lord made all things

Darksome and ugly!

BLESSINGS

More and more and more - 
Counting my blessings they are
More than I can count!

SWEETNESS

Sweet is the blessing,

Sweeter the love that blessed, but

Sweetest the Blesser.

16/07/05

More and more and more - 
Counting my blessings they are
More than I can count!



This finishes the series of blessings from my 50th to my 51st birthday.

15/07/05

Lastly mention Chris

Because she encouraged me

To count my blessings.

My sister, who suggested counting my blessing while I still could!  That takes me to 365 blessings.

14/07/05

God took advantage
Of Christ's rejection to write
His fresh covenant.

13/07/05

Men forecast weather -

We trust in One who foresees

The weather of souls.

12/07/05

Have I remarked on

Osmosis, with its gentle

Ferrying of life?

11/07/05

Mercy gave me free

Recovery, grace let me

Drive a Mercedes.

A small celebration of a car breakdown on holiday in Wales!

10/07/05

"Lo, I am with you",

He says, while He longs that

We should be with Him.

09/07/05

The Lord is full of

Tender compassions caring,

Pruning, or feeding.

08/07/05

As core of his life

The Christian has what always

Is reliable.

07/07/05

Let God be thanked for

The courageous people who

Run towards the danger.

This was the day of the London bombing.

06/07/05

Faith apprehends a

Cosmological constant

Science does not know.

05/07/05

From the earth's surface

We give our thanks for workers

Hewing beneath it.

04/07/05

For a while soft sun

Lightens the weeping willow

In Rashwood garden.

Rashwood was the home where my sister-in-law Liz spent her last months.  Here she is with Rose.