Wandering Sheep

 

“All we like sheep have gone astray; 

we have turned every one to his own way; 

and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.”

Isaiah 53:5

 WANDERING SHEEP

Here and there and over yonder 

Little lambs just love to wander!

Sheep always will by nature stray 

Quickly into danger's way;

Foolish ignorance they show, 

As to destruction onward go;

Far from safety, far from home,

 Unafraid they freely roam.

Wilful, wayward, wandering sheep, 

Who can this flock in safety keep?

Like them we too a Shepherd need, 

To watch and keep, to guide and feed.

To bear weak lambs on His strong arm, 

To keep the sheep from every harm.

Christ Jesus is that Shepherd dear,

 Whose voice His own sheep gladly hear.

They will not with a stranger go,

 But flee from those they do not know.

Christ for His sheep a ransom gave,

 That they no more need fear the grave.

He died that they might ever live, 

And to Him praise and honour give,

 How blessed within this flock to be,

 Safe from danger, truly free!

S Hirst

"I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, 

and am known of mine"

John 10:11-18

PSALM 23 

Nore.. The picture of the sheep walking along a path all on its own was taken

one sunny day at Seven Sisters Country Park East Sussex

At once the photographer thought of Isaiah 53:5!

The Daisy and the Sunflower

The Daisy and the Sunflower

Cried the daisy to the sunflower

“I would really like to know

Why daisies are so very small,

But sunflowers grow and grow!

So very stately, straight and tall,

They see over the garden wall,

While we poor daisies have to face

life down here in a lowly place!

If only I could grow up high

Towards the lovely sunlit sky,

Then passers by would look at ME,

How really splendid that would be!”

The sunflower bent it's golden head

And to the mournful daisy said

“How truly sad your time is spent

Filled with distress and discontent!

God created sunflowers that is true,

But remember He made daisies too!

Daisies brighten day by day

The grass where little children play.

Daisies cannot fail to please,

Providing nectar for the bees.

If every flower grew very tall

That just would not be good at all!”

Each child of God must blossom too

In the appointed appointed place,

And we can bloom right where we are

By His amazing grace.

Plants of wondrous beauty flower,

Where no human eye can see,

But it pleases Him that they

Should in such places be.

No matter where we’re planted

Let's bloom for Him and say

“Dear Lord make me a blessing

Just where I am today!”

S Hirst

God Reigns

“Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.”

Revelation 19.6

God Reigns

God reigns, sweet words, a pillow for the Christian’s weary head:

Through this uncertain changing world, he shall be safely led.

God reigns, the raging waves must all His mighty voice obey.

The troubled nations never cease to be beneath His sway.

God reigns, He sets up whom He will upon the throne.

He watches o’er His Church His eye is always on His own.

God reigns, a sparrow falls, but the Creator knows.

A Christian suffers, but the Lord brings good from all his woes.

God reigns, events on earth but further His eternal plans,

Though hard times come, we’re safe within His loving hands.

Our Heavenly Father reigns, O blessed thought, that He

Binds up the broken hearted, sets the prisoners free.

Our Dearest Saviour reigns, and soon one day we’ll be

Beyond earth's trials and troubles, lost in praise eternally.

So let us now take courage, knowing truly all is well,

And to many others the glad Gospel tidings tell.

“Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible,

the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen”

1 Timothy 1:17

True reedom!

 

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me;

 because the Lord has anointed me to preach good

 tidings to the meek; he hath sent me to bind up 

the broken hearted, to proclaim

liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison

to them that are bound”

Isaiah 61:1

TRUE FREEDOM

"I once lay bound with shackles

A prisoner lost in sin,

But Jesus came, He

Set me free and took me in.

Replaced my filthy garments

With a robe of spotless white.

O how I dearly love Him,

and I'm precious in His sight.

My sins are all forgiven

 I truly love His praise to sing.

Jesus dear Lord and Master

 I’ll forever worship Him "

“If the Son therefore shall make you free,

ye shall be free indeed”

John 8:36

Prayer

"Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication 

with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, 

shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus"

Philippians 4:6-7

PRAYER

Our gracious God hears every prayer that we pray,

Though uttered when weary and faint on life’s way.

The cry of the heart which no words can express

But our Father well knows when we are in distress.

From the day’s dawning until shadows fall,

Our prayers and our praises the Lord hears them all.

From morning till evening, then all through the night

God listens and answers, He sends what is right.

To know this is a blessing, comfort so sweet,

For there’s nothing that we cannot bring to His feet.

Cast there our burdens, leave there our all our care,

Offering praise and thanksgiving with our heartfelt prayer.

"Guide our hearts and our lips Dear Lord we pray,

That we may ask of may be pleasing to Thee day by day.

We truly rejoice, knowing Thy will is best,

In Thy wisdom please answer our every request"

 

Life's Journey

                   

“We spend our years as a tale that is told”

Psalm 90:9

“The Lord shall guide thee continually”

Isaiah 58:11

Life’s Journey

As the years pass and days come and go

I long ever more like my Saviour to grow.

May I run with patience my earthly race

Depending entirely on His love and grace.

In the world there is ever more fear and distress,

May I be steadfast, trust His faithfulness.

God speaks to His children,”Do not be afraid,

I am Thy keeper, I will give thee aid.

As I think of time past, now left far behind

So many memories come to my mind:

Challenging times for want, illness and fear,

But the Lord upheld me, and dried every tear.

Supplied my great need, gave strength and grace,

Thus was I able the future to face.

Moment by moment, hour by hour coming through

Rejoicing to prove His blessed promises true.

This looking back I can truthfully say

My life has been blessed in every way.

The trials and troubles have done me no harm,

Though they caused so much stress and alarm.

They were ordained with wise purpose in mind

All came from my Father’s dear hand, truly kind

God carefully trains every child on life’s way

Preparing each one for Heaven one day!

S Hirst

“Thou shalt guide me with Thy council

and afterward receive me to glory”

Psalm 73:24

New Year Thoughts and Prayers

A New Year 

A New Year once again we face,
Resting in God’s love and grace,
He will guide each day, and bless
In this world's weary wilderness.
His Holy Word our constant light,
Upon the pathway shining bright.
Giving comfort, joy and peace,
Provision that will never cease
Until our pilgrim journey o'er,
We arrive on Heaven's shore

“Dear Lord we pray, each day we live,
May we to Thee true glory give;
All praise is due to Thee alone.
Almighty King upon the throne
Of boundless universal sway,
Thyself the Truth, the Life the Way.
Meeting all our deepest need,
Dearest, truest Friend indeed.
O Lord we love Thee and adore
Safe in Thy care for evermore”

S.Hirst

“The eternal God is thy refuge,

 and underneath are the everlasting arms"

Deuteronomy 33:27

 Trusting God for a peaceful New Year

We may enter this Year by grace free from fear,

Knowing our Heavenly Father will give

Grace sufficient each day, as we travel life’s way,

Whatever the trials may be;

Upheld through each testing, on God's promise resting,

Sweet peace fills our hearts as we sing,

Giving thanks for the love which brought Christ from above,

To suffer on Calvary’s tree;

“Dear Lord we adore Thy blessed name evermore,

May our lives bring true glory to Thee”

S Hirst

"My grace is sufficient for thee"

2 Corinthians 12:9

 “...his compassions fail not.

They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

The Lord is my portion saith my soul;

Therefore will I hope in Him.

Lamentations 5:23-24

The Way Ahead

The New Year approaches, what lies in store,

A Road that has never been travelled before.

“What do the days ahead hold Lord for me?

I know not, but trust every moment to Thee.

Thy grace sufficient in times that are gone

My heart doth encourage as I journey on.

Many the dangers and trials now past,

Such heavy burdens on Thee have been cast

Mercies abundant each morning doth hold,

Numberless blessings and goodness untold.

Secure I may follow the way yet unknown,

Rejoicing in that I do not walk alone.

Close by Thee like Enoch, this I proceed,

Blessed Lord Jesus, Thou art all I need.

I would witness to others as I onward go,

That they may also my dear Saviour know”

S Hirst

“ Enoch walked with God”

 Genesis 5:25

New Year Blessings

Praise God for another year safely gone by,

Crowned with great mercy and help from on high.

Blood Bought forgiveness, wonderful grace,

In Christ, precious Saviour, a safe hiding place.

Strong “Rock of Ages” stedfast and true,

For His people each day, providing anew;

Encouragement, shelter, the guidance they need,

Sustenance true, on His own Word they feed.

Has He failed? NEVER!

The strength of our hearts and our portion FOR EVER!

S Hirst.

“God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.”

Psalm 73:26