Prayer for Christian Friends

 

 A  PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN FRIENDS

"For each dear friend, I'm thankful,
And praise Thee Lord each day
For their support and fellowship
Upon the pilgrim way.

May they know deep assurance
That they are truly Thine;
                             Confidence that naught can shake,                            Nor Satan undermine.

I pray Thee that their knowledge
Of the Scriptures shall increase;
From every doubt and fear
Grant each one complete release.

May their love and patience,
Their hope and joy abound;
For them may every passing year
Be with thy goodness crowned.

In service may they fruitful be
Their faithful witness bless;
Make each one I ask of Thee,
Perfect in holiness.

May they much encouraged be
Though dark indeed our day;
Keep them ever burning bright
As lights to show the way.

If they have friends or family
Causing them concern,
Whose salvation they desire,
And do so deeply yearn.

May they know I pray Thee
The joy of answered prayer;
I bring to Thee this their desire;
Their burdens seek to share.

Some know pain and suffering,
Endure distress and grief;
I beg Thee to uphold each one,
And bring them sweet relief.

May they ever be sustained,
My Lord, Thou knowest how
To deliver those who cry;
Grant them Thy victory now.

Thou wilt not fail them nor forsake,
Work out Thine own good will;
Grant them wisdom from on high;
Each empty vessel fill.

May they upon Thee quietly wait;
Guide daily Lord their feet,
Until life passed and home at last,
We shall in glory meet.

All I request for loved ones dear,
So be it unto me,
May we together fear Thy name,
And true and faithful be.

May we be diligent in prayer,
With each request we raise,
To Thee, our precious Saviour dear,
  A thankful song of praise." 

Shirley Hirst

'And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgement; That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ" Phlippians 1:9-1

Safe on the Rock

 

ON THE ROCK

Imagine a lighthouse as strong as can be

Standing up straight and tall, far out at sea;

Or closer to shore where sharp rocks may lie,

A danger to shipping that's passing nearby

How we may ask do these buildings so grand

The terrible storms of the ocean withstand?

Let's learn from the lighthouse, visit and see

What it's like there in rough weather to be.

Suppose with the keeper we shall a while stay,

Enjoying the view and the calm of the day.

Until as time passes, dark grows the sky,

A storm of great fury must be drawing nigh!

Apprehensively watching each rising wave,

Lashing our stronghold, we don't feel so brave!

No moon can be seen, nor stars twinkling bright,

By thunder clouds hidden, yet still bums the light,

The lamp on the lighthouse, shining to show

Ships in great danger the way they should go.

We look from the window drenched with spray,

Hear the wind howling and wish for the day;

Trembling with fear lest the great building fail,

Claimed by the sea, should the waters prevail.

Where's the light keeper? we now for him look -

In his armchair, relaxing, with tea and a book!

Does not such a tempest prevent his repose?

The old man sits quietly, because he well knows

The foundation will hold, all weathers withstand,

Thus he isn't distressed, wishing he were on land

He calms us by saying "Do not fear the shock

From this wild ocean, we're safe on the rock!

Here have I laboured since I was a lad,

So many storms witnessed and truly I'm glad

That deep in bedrock the foundations are laid,

There's no cause for alarm, do not be afraid!

The building may tremble in storms at their height,

But secure it is able to withstand their might"

As life's storms rage round us, surely we may

Think of the lighthouse, take courage and say,

"Though trials may buffet, give many a knock,

With my soul it is well, I'm on Jesus the Rock!

My foundation grace laid in the 'Rock of all ages'

This truth we find in the Bible's blessed pages.

It comforts the heart and will cause one to shine

Through all of life's 'weather', stormy or fine.

The Church's foundation indeed shall not fail,

The 'gates of hell' cannot against it prevail.

What tempest can from the Lord Jesus sever?

I'm safe on the solid Rock, now and forever."

Dear reader, I ask "Are you one of Christ's flock?

Is He your safe refuge? Are you on the Rock?"

Shirley Hirst

Words that bring blessing!

WORDS TO BRING BLESSING

"A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver”

 Proverbs 25:11

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom"

 Colossians 3:16

A word fitly spoken, is sweet to the ear,

Bringing a message to bless those who hear.

A word of witness sows God's "precious seed",

Kind words are comforting in time of need.

A word of forgiveness uplifts those who fall

Sincere words of thanks are valued by all.

A word of encouragement makes others strong.

 Words of confession right many a wrong.

A word of assurance will overcome fear.

Warm words of welcome greet people dear.

A word of cheer brightens a weary sad heart,

Sound words of wisdom instruction impart.

A word of affection our heart's love doth tell,

Quiet words can discord and anger dispel.

A word of rebuke we all sometimes need,

Right words of advice are helpful indeed.

A word of deep sympathy shows that we care,

Deserved words of praise are lovely to share

But how easy it is for words to cause harm,

Instead of bring beauty, joy, peace, and calm!

So let us remember our God ever near,

        All conversation we know He doth he hear.

        For our speech to be worthy, and blessing impart,

His Holy Precepts must govern the heart:

 When His Word in our lives is appointed first place,

           Our talk will be godly, sincere and"with grace"

        Angry, harsh, unloving words bring distress,

          So needed are kind helpful words that will bless.

People we trust to speak that which is right

Are true friends indeed, our souls they delight!

May we too as God's children, from Scripture draw

A fountain of wisdom, a bountiful store;

Strive daily at all times to speak as we ought

To teach and encourage, rebuke or exhort.

"Set a watch o'er our lips Lord, keep them each day,

     By Thy Blessed Holy Spirit direct all we say;

Then our speech pure and upright, surely shall be

Lasting value to others, and glorify Thee."

"Let your speech be always with grace seasoned with salt"

Colosaans 4:6

"Set a watch O lord, before my mouth;

keep the door of my lips Psalm 141:3

Thank God for Christian friends!

 

THANK GOD FOR FRIENDS!

I bless the Lord for loving friends, 

In them His grace I see,

And through their care and kindness 

shines His love for me.

How little I can to them give,

 yet long I to repay,

Something of that debt I owe 

to those along life's way,

Who brighten many weary days,

 cheer me by loving deeds,

They never fail to understand, 

and know if there are needs.

If I can't give, yet I can pray, 

God will reward and bless

Each friend so dear, for all their care,

 and constant kindliness.

As God shall answer this request, may 

dear friends learn anew,

More His great love and grace 

towards them too!

Shirley Hirst

Snowdrops

 

"One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after;

that I may dwell in the house of the LORD

 all the days of my life,

 to behold the beauty of the LORD, 

and to inquire in his temple" 

Psalm 27:4

"Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord”

John 20: 20

SNOWDROPS

Little white snowdrops, pure, fresh and sweet,

Cheering our hearts when their beauty we meet.

Our gracious Creator sends them to bring

A message of hope, the first sign of spring.

When everything seems so dark, cold and dead,

Snowdrops arise from their hard, frosty bed!

Ice, wind and rain, they come shining through,

When all appears lifeless, up springs life anew!

Thus too as we labour beneath life's dark skies

God causes new hope, joy and comfort to rise,

Just when it seems dark days never cease

Our sure consolation in Christ doth increase.

As we catch a new glimpse of His glory and light;

We rejoice in the Saviour, and all is made right.

If snowdrops so pretty can cheer up our hearts,

Much more the Lord Jesus true gladness imparts

Let us eagerly study the Scriptures each day,

Praying as we read them that truly we may

See the King in His beauty, and majesty bright,

Grow ever more like Him, our soul's chief delight!

"But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass 

the glory of the Lord, are

 changed into the same image from glory to glory, 

even as by the Spirit of the Lord

  2 Corinthians 3:8

Trusting

 

"TRUST IN HIM AT ALL TIMES"

Psalm 62:8

Trusting, yes, trusting my Lord all day long,

Trusting, still trusting although I'm not strong,

Trusting the Saviour to whom I belong;

Trusting, I'm trusting in Him.

Trusting yes trusting Him through the dark night,

Trusting still trusting until morning light

Trusting my God, knowing all will be right;

Trusting, I'm trusting in Him.

Trusting, yes trusting, when things go wrong,

Trusting still trusting when life's way seems long.

Trusting, Christ Jesus, my strength and my song;

Trusting, I'm trusting in Him. 

Trusting, yes trusting, my care on Him cast,

Trusting, still trusting, trials soon will be past,

Trusting until I am home at long last –

Dwelling forever with Him.

Shirley Hirst

             "What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee” 

 Psalm 56:3

Happy to meet you!

                            HAPPY TO MEET YOU

          

               How happy I'll be to meet you someday,

In our Heavenly Home, at the end of life's way.

With our loved ones in Christ, to be parted no more,

Together we'll worship on Heaven's bright shore.

What glory will then meet our wondering eyes,

In new heavens and earth, our inheritance lies!

Our dear lovely Saviour shall soon take us there,

Leaving behind this world's sorrows and care.

"Dear blessed Saviour, who can tell of the cost,

paid by Thee to redeem us, vile sinners lost!

What glory forever, Thy praises to sing,

Our heart's Beloved, Redeemer and King!"