True lasting riches

 

TRUE RICHES

Mercy, forgiveness and grace without measure,

Unfailing joy, peace, true lasting treasure,

Laid up in store, wondrous riches untold,

Secure, and with value far greater than gold.

The extent of such blessings who can relate?

No tongue can tell them their worth estimate.

Freely draw from this bounty all that you will,

It cannot grow less, but abides constant still!

Like a spring ever flowing, abundant supply,

Never diminished, which cannot run dry!

God’s people possess this great hidden store,

In Christ their dear Saviour for evermore;

His precious blood purchased it long ago,

That from sin delivered, believers might know

Inheritance blessed, O praise His dear Name,

Calvary caused Him such anguish and shame;

Deepest sorrow and suffering which fill us with awe,

Prompt us to love and praise evermore!

We taste now but little of that which shall be,

But soon from remaining corruption set free

Once we were indeed truly sad, lost and poor,

But now in  Christ Jesus, are rich evermore.

We’ll dwell with the Lamb, endless ages to spend

In fellowship sweet, which never shall end.   

Shirley Hirst

HALLELUJAH!

“where your treasure is, there will your heart be also “

Matthew 6:21

 

"...to obey is better than sacrifice..." 1 Sam 15:22

"If ye love me keep my commandments." John 14:15

OBEDIENCE

"Dear Lord hear my voice as I earnestly pray

I may not dishonour Thy dear Name today,

But walk in Thy footsteps, THY WORD OBEY.

OBEDIENCE calls me to bow at Thy feet,

In humble dependence upon Thee to meet

The demands of the day, self will defeat.

So many around me Thy Word disobey,

How easy it is from Thy precepts to stray,

I'll not walk with them, but THY WORD OBEY.

OBEDIENCE brings me the smile of Thy face;

Like the world once was I, but now by Thy grace

A new heart is given, Thy will to embrace.

I long to be faithful each step of life's way,

May I not run before Thee, neither delay

To do what is right, and THY WORD OBEY.

OBEDIENCE turns me from all that is wrong,

Preserves me from evil, fills my heart with song;

In trial and weakness keeps me calm and strong.

That thine own image my life should display,

So oft' Thou must chasten, but gladly I say

I bless Thee, because I would THY WORD OBEY.

OBEDIENCE, this precious word teaches me

The way of true holiness, pleasing to Thee;

This path let me follow, safe, happy and free."

“…doing the will of God from the heart' Eph. 6:6

Alphabet Bibe Study

                  

"Open Thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law"                                                  Psalm 119:18

                               ALPHABET WORD STUDY

              A for ASSURANCE, unspeakable blessing,

                                by faith in the Saviour true peace posessing.

              B for the BIBLE, God's inspired revelation,

                              speaking with power to each generation.

              C stands for CHRIST, crucified, risen, living, 

                               to sinners repentant eternal life giving

              D is for DOUBT, unbelief brings distress,

                              trust the Lord Jesus, prove His faithfulness

              E stands for ETERNITY, how will it be through 

                             endless ages with you and with me?

              F for FORGIVENESS a word truly dear the

                           sweetest that guilty lost sinners can hear!

              G is for GRACE, which with mercy and peace, 

                           is ours in Christ Jesus, and never shall cease

              H stands for HELL, place of endless distress, 

                           its horror the Scriptures so plainly express.

              I is for INWARD, the heart God doth know,

                            we see but the outward, it's vain empty show!

              J for the JOY of right Christian living, 

                             honouring Christ, and true witness giving

              K is for KINDNESS believers must show to all

                             whom they meet on their journey below.

              L stands for LOVE, God so loved He gave His

                            dear Son, to triumph o'er death and the grave

              M is for MERCY, how blessed, rich and free,

                             Christ has redeemed us, forgiven are we.

              N stands for the NAME far above every other, 

                             Jesus, Christ Jesus, dear Saviour and Brother.

              0 for OBEDIENCE, "Lord, help us each day,

                             to please Thee in all we think, do, and say"

              P is for PATIENCE, we all need to learn to wait

                             for our God, and His will discern

              Q stands for QUIETNESS, rest now and ever 

                             Nothing our souls from the Saviour can sever.

              R is for RIGHTEOUS, from sin declared free,

                            justified, pardoned, how blessed to be!

              S stands for SATAN our soul's deadly foe,

                            heeding his voice brings much grief and woe.

              T For the TRUTH which God's Word doth tell,

                             the hearts of His children love it so well!

              U stands for UNITY, in truth, and love, truly 

                              a blessing which comes from above!

              V For Christ's VICTORY deliverance bringing,

                             0 how we thank Him, His praises singing.

              W stands for WORSHIP, upon bended knee

                            "We love to give thanks dear Lord unto Thee"

              X plus six letters EXAMPLE will give, Christ's our

                             example like Him may we to live

              Y for our YEARNING with Christ to be, 

                             0 to be like Him, His dear face to see!

              Z is for ZION, fair city so bright, no darkness

                             there for the Lamb is the light!

                    

                          These alphabet letters I trust have now brought

                       A word study giving us good food for thought!

                                                             Shirley Hirst

                  "Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word

                 that proceedeth out of the mouth of God"   Matt.4:4

Today is a gift!

 

Today

Today is the day God has given to me
To do what is needful, a witness to be.
Days come and go, swiftly they're passed,
No one can tell if today is their last!

Today represents all the time that is mine,
To work for the Master, for Him to shine.
Needful it is for the future to plan,
But now is the time to do all we can.

Today is God's gift, given wisely to use,
Not for ourselves, but His will to choose.
Time slips away, very soon sets the sun,
Labour neglected may never be done!

Today it's important to fast fix my eye
Upon my dear Lord, as the hours go by.
That resting or working I ever shall be
In fellowship sweet, dear Saviour with thee.

How can I fear with the Lord by my side,
To comfort, encourage, instruct and to guide?
This His sweet promise given to me,
As are thy days, so shall thy strength  be.

Strength indeed needed for every task,
To do all we can, while we can, thus I ask
"Dear Lord, be my helper, may I not delay
To make by Thy grace, full use of today"

Shirley Hirst

Don't be afraid!

 “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God:

I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee

with the right hand of my righteousness” Isaiah 41:10

“Fear not, I’m with you always,

It is I, be not afraid!”

Our dear Shepherd goes before us,

So how can we be dismayed?

Through many trials we travel

Which are truly hard to bear,

Yet this our blessed consolation,

We’re safe within His care.

Working together for our good,

“ALL THINGS” His Word declares,

He knows the smallest detail of

Our everyday affairs.

With us to guide, encourage,

Our weary hearts to cheer;

Who can comfort us like Jesus,

In times of doubts and fear!

“ Thank you dear Blessed Saviour,

For Thy presence day by day,

Bringing us in victory through

Life’s rough and weary way.

Keeping us from falling,

Until one day, by grace,

Thou wilt present us faultless,

With great joy, to see Thy face”

Shirley Hirst

"Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling,

and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,

To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power,

both now and ever"      Jude 24-25

A lifetime!

     

When I was a child I won a prize in a coloring competition, and it was a very useful

fountain pen (we had to do with all those messy ink bottles to refill pens back then!)

On the packaging it came in were the words "BUILT TO LAST A LIFETIME" the

words "a lifetime" made a deep impression on me, and made me think how precious life

is because we only have ONE life. (sadly someone stole the pen when I had taken it to

school but the lesson it taught me was far more valuable than the pen, even though it

did have a gold nib!

 “Now my days are swifter than a post.. they are passed away

the swift ships: as the eagle that hasteth to the pray”  Job 9:26

                                 "So teach us to number our days

                    that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom"     Psalm 99:10

                           

A LIFETIME

When I was just a little girl,

These words meant much to me;

Life is but short the truth they taught,

Soon comes eternity!

"A lifetime", a word with meaning deep,

Upon it, I would ponder,

This simple phrase spans all the days

We here on earth must wander.

A time to be born and a time to die,

As comes one, so the other

Affecting all, both great and small,

Son, daughter, Father, Mother.

"A lifetime" O how precious are

Those hours, days, weeks, and years

        Which all must fill with good or ill,

     love, joy, trials, and tears.

A time to plant and a time to sow

A harvest to reap one day,

Time ticks by, how its moments fly,

Silently slipping away!

"A lifetime", time to seek our God,

Who for lost sinners gave

The Beloved one His only Son

Who triumphed o'er the grave.

The Holy Spirit caused my soul

To Christ the Saviour fly,

Desiring grace to run life's race,

For Him to live and die.

"A lifetime" in His service spent,

No less could one require;

My Lord I'll praise throughout my days

For granting this desire.

Once was I young and now am old,

Life here will soon be ending,

My Lord I’ll see, and with him be

Eternal ages spending.

“A lifetime” almost passed and I

Rejoice in sins forgiven.

I pray that you, dear reader too,

Share this blessed hope of haven.

Shirley Hirst