Oh Israel

Oh Israel, God’s chosen one,
The promised birthplace of His Son!
You did not recognise Him come–
Your house was left to you undone!

The One who walked on Galilee,
Who stopped the wind and stilled the sea
Is He who sets the captives free–
Oh, if only Israel would see!

He healed your sick and raised your dead,
Gave sight to blind, the hungry fed–
You chose a robber in His stead,
While on the cross the Christ hangs dead!

By His death was death’s defeat,
Who crushed the serpent ‘neath His feet–
His resurrection proof complete–
Justice and mercy in Jesus meet.

Oh Israel, His chosen land,
He looks on you with outstretched hands–
Seek Him that you would understand
Your part in His eternal plan.

Oh Israel, in heart I cry
That God might open up your eye
To see that Christ whose coming’s nigh
Is The Lord Himself–God Most High!

His Deep Work

Proud man is in bondage
To wisdom most useless–
God’s ways are hidden from natural men;
Adrift without knowledge
Our compass is clueless–
On oceans divine we can’t comprehend.

The cross is God’s wisdom
Which men esteem lowly–
Christ is God’s answer–His prudence and pow’r,
The door to His Kingdom,
The way to be holy–
Through faith in Jesus, His wisdom is ours.

His Word will transform us,
Beyond our proud notions,
In spirit to see where once we were blind;
God’s Spirit conforms us
As truth He apportions,
Cleansing our thinking, renewing our mind.

By His Spirit He plies
His deep work to my soul–
Omniscient God, Who sees all within;
For in Christ, God supplies
All we need to be whole–
May Christ be in us and we be in Him!

FIRE-STORM

Look at these
Charcoal trees–
Dark sentinels of gloom–
On ashen land,
Ghoulish stand–
Landscape of the moon!!

Burnt out cars,
Melted tar,
Grassland scorched and waste–
Farm stock dead,
Wildlife fled–
A stark forsaken place.

Oh the cost!!
Loved ones lost–
Grief so overpowering;
Words can’t say,
Thoughts convey
A loss so all-devouring.

Lord, I pray
This dread day
Turns hearts to seek Your face,
Men might find
Through sad times
Your precious saving grace.

Perfect View

Seen from deep in the valley
The mountains hug the sky,
Their soft tips gently stroking
The white clouds floating by;
The sound of the trickling stream
Meandering along
Makes music for the wild birds,
A backing for their song.

The valley from the distance
Seen from the mountain peak,
Sublime in silent splendour,
Looks like a world asleep;
The stream is a silver line
Etched in the far-off vale—
Motionless in solitude—
A slight and obscure trail.

The valley hasn’t altered,
The mountains stay the same;
My point of observation’s
The only thing that’s changed.
Sometimes from one’s perspective,
A thing that seems quite true
Looks different to a person
With another point of view.

For years my view was moulded
By friendly worldly lures,
Lost in a vale of darkness,
My vision all obscured;
Christ altered my perception,
My mind and heart renewed;
Life seen from Heaven’s standpoint—
A perfect point of view.

Water Of Life

The water of life
Is a cleansing flood,
A pure stream that flows
From the throne of God—
Reservoir of love
Through our Lord’s shed blood,
Fountain-head of hope
For a parching world.

The water of life
Quenches deepest thirst;
There, the seeking soul
Is forever blessed,
Never more to parch
In a land near cursed—
From a new wellspring
Life-filled waters burst.

Morning Glory

I lie awake this morning,
The Word of God flows through my head—
Holy truth is mind transforming—
This Manna is my daily bread.

As His Holy Spirit teaches
And my desires and thoughts He moulds,
His clear cleansing water reaches
To every crevice of my soul.

In the stillness as I ponder
The wondrous riches of His grace—
In transports of silent wonder
The veil is lifted from my face.

Oh what joy to catch some gleanings
From the treasures of His Word—
The light of truth freely streaming
From the presence of The Lord.

Then I drift back into slumber,
My glad heart resting and content—
Oh the majesty and wonder
Of morning glories Heaven-sent!

Master Plan

You must understand
There’s a master plan
Hid in the Christmas story;
When the time had come
God would send His Son—
In flesh came the King of Glory!

Do you recognize
The little Child?—
David’s promised great descendant—
Swaddling clothes
His royal robes,
Humble shepherds His attendants.

Do you see fulfilled
The Father’s will?—
The Promised of the ages—
By virgin birth
He came to earth,
Foretold in Scripture’s pages.

Not by accident
But by God’s intent
Came Messiah, God’s Anointed—
God’s master plan
For redeeming man—
For salvation He’s appointed.

Know the earthly life
Of Lord Jesus Christ
Extends far beyond the stable—
To atone for sin
Defies sinful men—
Christ, the sinless Man is able.

May God open eyes
So men realize
He’s the Messiah of The Lord—
May true Light from Him
Touch the hearts of men—
He’s the fulfillment of God’s Word!

LITTLE FLOCK

A little flock besieged by foes,
Hemmed in by dangers all around,
But all His sheep the Shepherd knows;
By Him each precious one was found.

We’re drawn from folds both far and near,
But each one’s heard the Master’s voice;
The “FOLLOW ME” was loud and clear
To all who are the called of Christ.

No one will ever lose their place;
The Father keeps them by His pow’r;
All those who know His saving grace
He carries through life’s darkest hour.

“Lift up your eyes and see on high,
Beyond the present circumstance;
Behold the King whose coming’s nigh:
He holds the future in His hands.

Oh little flock, don’t be dismayed,
And don’t lose sight of your reward;
On Jesus let your hopes be stayed—
Your King and everlasting Lord.”

Broken Cisterns

What value, cisterns filled with holes
In a dry and barren land?
What hope exists for poor lost souls
Who have put their trust in man?
God supplies abundant life—
Living waters flowing forth
From the fountain, Who is Christ—
In a barren world—OUR HOPE.

Gone Fishing

How high’s your view of Jesus Christ?
What do you think of Him?
Do you believe His sacrifice
Won pardon for your sin?
Or do you stand with scoffers proud
Who mock His precious name?
Do you support the sceptic crowd?
“There is no God” they claim.
Or maybe you are one of those
Who simply doesn’t care?
The windows of your mind are closed—
“Gone Fishing”—-unaware.
I urge you Man!! While you have life,
Consider what I say!!
Inquire concerning Jesus Christ:
Don’t wait!! Begin today!!