Hold on tight to God’s Word
Hold on tight to His Word
When you feel that your soul is ailing
When you’re down and your strength is failing –
Hold on tight to His Word.

In His strength you can be strong
When your own strength is gone
When it feels your whole world ‘s crashing
Fire and brimstone, lightning flashing
Hold on tight to His Word

CHORUS
At the end of your rope when there seems no hope,
He will help you on and keep you strong
You know that you’re going where He’s gone before
And after all this, yes,you know that there’s more

Klou styf vas aan Sy Woord
Hou styf vas aan Sy Woord
As die storms rondom jou woed
As die dinge lyk nie so goed
Nie, klou styf vas aan Sy Woord

REPEAT CHORUS:

Guard your faith in His Word
Guard your faith in His Word
When you see the mountains tumble
When you see this whole earth crumble
Hold on tight to His Word

Hold on tight to His Word

[23 January 2012]

 If you are unfamiliar with the original song, you can click the link below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TLmpL2AzLs

Matthew 24:35

Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.”

To read the verse in its context, click:

http://niv.scripturetext.com/matthew/24.htm

See also:

http://niv.scripturetext.com/mark/13.htm

http://niv.scripturetext.com/luke/21.htm

[Many people tend to skim over Jesus' prophecies concerning Jerusalem. Because of my background in Classics, I find them interesting -- and frightening.

The prophecies surrounding the temple were fulfilled as a result of the Jewish rebellion which broke out against Rome in AD66. This and the preceding period were characterised by “bloody sectarian strife between Sadducces and Pharisees … Jews and Greeks were fierce enemies. ..the Christian population … was anathema to the Jews.” (E.T. Salmon: A History of the Roman World 30BC to 138AD Methuen 1968 pp 194 -197). The dissention was so bad that, even while the Romans were beieging Jerusalem, the Jews were killing each other.

The Romanised Jew Josephus (who had been a Jewish leader in this war) paints a terrible picture of conditions during the Roman siege (Josephus: The Jewish War Penguin classics chapter 19). Eventually the Temple and most of the city were either burnt to the ground or demolished. The Romans sacrificed where the Temple had stood and it became a place of worship to Jupiter and the Emperor. Josephus puts Jewish casualties at over one million (his numbers are prone to exaggeration, but this was during the time of a major feast). Survivors faced slavery or mass execution later. For them it was the end of the age.

In AD 130 the city was still in ruins and no Jew was allowed to enter the area. (Salmon, op.cit. P307)

This was certainly a time to “hold on tight to the Word.”]

It was a plan I had
For the man I had
Birthed at the dawn of time:
Redeem life on earth
With a second birth
By the Spirit of God-in-Man
It was a mission to save
For eternal life
Before they’re snatched away.

And I would pay the price to reconcile
Oh, walk earth and shed My blood.
New life will return through this one sacrifice.
The prophecies will be fulfilled,
Free gift of the Servant King

Don’t fly too far
Your soul’s a sparrow in My hand
Don’t fly too far
Without My help you know
That you cannot stand
And you don’t know what you might
Yet bring upon yourself,
Sparrow in My hand

The I in sin
That is born within
Takes life to a barren land
“Oh I want”
Putting man in the role of God
Autonomy is a fantasy
It’s born of a wilful mind

Don’t fly too far
Your soul’s a sparrow in My hand
Don’t fly too far
Without My help you know
That you cannot stand
And you don’t know what you might
Yet bring upon yourself,
Sparrow in My hand

[On the morning of 24 Dec 2011 I sat in the garden watching the birds. One of these birds is tiny, perhaps only 50mm long; it flits from one branch to another, and then flies back to its original branch. While I was watching it, it flew to my knee , and I clearly felt the breath of its wings, and then it flew back to its original branch. Then it flew away. This seemed to reinforce the image in the poem.
The song China in your hand (URL, in case you are not familiar with the song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtT3naOuG1A ) refers to the story of Dr Frankenstein’s creation of a humanoid monster assembled from human bits and pieces. Frankenstein is repelled by his creation. There are too many contrasts and parallels with the Creation as told in Genesis to mention them here. However the Bible tells us that God saw that His creation was good. (For the NIV Genesis text click this link: http://niv.scripturetext.com/genesis/1.htm )]

Matt 10:29
Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father.
For the full NIV text click: http://niv.scripturetext.com/matthew/10.htm

John 15:4-5
Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.
I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
For the full NIV text click: http://niv.scripturetext.com/john/15.htm

John 3:1-8
Jesus answered, “I tell you the solemn truth, unless a person is born of water and spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
For the full NIV text click: http://niv.scripturetext.com/john/3.htm

John 10:10
 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come so that they may have life, and may have it abundantly.
For the full NIV text click: http://niv.scripturetext.com/john/10.htm

Philippians 2:6-8
[Jesus Christ] though he existed in the form of God did not regard equality with God as something to be grasped, but emptied himself by taking on the form of a slave, by looking like other men, and by sharing in human nature. He humbled himself, by becoming obedient to the point of death – even death on a cross!
For the full NIV text click: http://niv.scripturetext.com/philippians/2.htm

Isaiah 53: 3–
He was despised and rejected by people, one who experienced pain and was acquainted with illness; people hid their faces from him; he was despised, and we considered him insignificant. …He was wounded because of our rebellious deeds, crushed because of our sins; he endured punishment that made us well; because of his wounds we have been healed. All of us had wandered off like sheep; each of us had strayed off on his own path. …He was led away after an unjust trial but who even cared? Indeed, he was cut off from the land of the living; because of the rebellion of his own people he was wounded. They intended to bury him with criminals, but he ended up in a rich man’s tomb, because he had committed no violent deeds, nor had he spoken deceitfully. …. My servant will acquit many,  for he carried their sins.
For the full NIV text click: http://niv.scripturetext.com/isaiah/53.htm

Let me lie back
With my head on your chest
In you let me find
My peace and my rest

Let me sit on your knee
With your arm ’round my shoulder;
Keep me ever near, even
As I grow older

Let me hold your hand
When I stumble, when I fall;
Keep me humble,
Be my all in all.

Let’s skip this life’s vain tangle:
There must be something more.
I was feeling so frustrated
And my heart crushed on the floor;
This life was hitting harder;
No ceiling for the pain;
Seemed like nothing left to live for
And nothing I could gain

And so it was this failure
That brought freedom to this slave
As I fed upon his good news
Turned to the one who came to save

He said this is the season,
And the truth was plain to see:
That I’d wandered on my vain course
Too blind inside to see
But his love was still pursuing
Its touch I needed most;
And at last my eyes were open
While before they’d been tight closed

And so it was this failure
That brought freedom to this slave
As I fed upon his good news
Turned to the one who came to save

And so it was this failure
Brought freedom to this slave
As I fed upon his good news
Turned to the one who came to save

(Rom 12:2 [NET])

Do not be conformed to this present world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may test and approve what is the will of God – what is good and well-pleasing and perfect.
http://bible.cc/romans/12-2.htm

 (2Cor 4:4 [NET])
³ But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing, ⁴ among whom the god of this age has blinded the minds of those who do not believe so they would not see the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God.

http://bible.cc/2_corinthians/4-4.htm

Thank you for your grace

That endless grace, that selfless grace you gave me

I’m thinking your the grace

I don’t regret a single day’s believing

I’m blessed with light

I’m blessed with light that shines from you, believing

You’re never gone

You’re with me every single day, believing

Grace I’ll remember all my life

Grace, how you taught me hold on tight

I owe my life

And now I know you’ll never ever leave me

Yes, it’s all right

Now I’m not frightened of this world, believing

I have today hope for tomorrow

The night is dark

You’re my light along the way

Thank you for your grace

That endless grace, that selfless grace you gave me

I’m thinking of your grace

I don’t regret a single day’s believing

Grace I’ll depend on all my life

Grace, how you brought me into your light

You gave me life

And now I know you’ll never ever leave me

Yes, it’s all right

Now I’m not frightened of this world, believing

Grace …

I thank you for your grace

That endless grace, that selfless grace you gave me

I’m living by your grace

I don’t regret a single day’s believing

I’m blessed with life

I’m blessed with life that comes from you, believing

You’re never gone

You’re with me every single day, believing

Grace ..

You’ll remember me at the Judgment Day
Upon Your Throne of mercy;
You’ll blot out my sin, so I’ll enter in
And I’ll walk on streets of gold

Many times I sin; many times I fail
And fall short of Your glory;
But You lift me up and You make me stand
So I’ll walk on streets of gold.

Fullness of God concealed in the flesh of man
You laid aside Your glory
On the cross You died to defeat all sin
So we’d walk on streets of gold

Let Your Spirit move over all our lives
To share the Gospel story
That You’ve freed us all from the grip of sin
So we’ll walk on streets of gold
You’ve never made promises lightly
And there are none that You’ve broken
And I know that your word still stands
We’ll walk on streets of gold.
We’ll walk on streets of gold.

All eternity gathered round Your throne
To praise and give You glory
With the cherubim and the seraphim
While we dance on streets of gold.

Let Your Spirit move over all our lives
To share the Gospel story
That You’ve freed us all from the grip of sin
So we’ll walk on streets of gold
So we’ll walk on streets of gold
So we’ll walk on streets of gold

Rev 21:21: The main street of the city is pure gold, like transparent glass.

http://niv.scripturetext.com/revelation/21.htm

Revelation 7:11ff   http://niv.scripturetext.com/revelation/7.htm

Isaiah 6:2 Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another:
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty;
the whole earth is full of his glory.

http://niv.scripturetext.com/isaiah/6.htm

Colossians 1:5et seq

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.  For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him,and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

http://niv.scripturetext.com/colossians/1.htm 

Romans 3:23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus .

http://niv.scripturetext.com/romans/3.htm

Why should I meet him? I have friends enough:

All poor and rough; trustworthy, nonetheless.

A man needs only two, or three at most,

To whom to bare his soul; a tender wife

To warm his bed and bear and raise his sons;

Some strong, wise workmates, fishermen or such,

But let them be of trusted local stock.

Why should I go and meet this Nazarene?

Why should I meet You? You have scrutinised

Me, scanned our hearts and minds – and yet You love

The quisling Matthew, Simon in his zeal,

- Known Peter’s rashness, John and James’s fire

And Israel’s guile and my sincerity.

You keep the stairs to Heaven where angels climb

And none can hide, not angels nor yet I.

So, Jesus Christ, take Your Nathanael.

Faith Bricher.

To access  John 1:45-51 click the following link:

http://niv.scripturetext.com/john/1.htm 

(Initially I could not quite “get” the last line: the penultimate word is the key.)

NEW FEATURE: If I get it correct! You should be able to click links to the text in the Biblos Online Bible. Online text is available in several languages. Select the required language by clicking on the flag at the top of the page. Select books and chapters by altering the address in the URL address bar. Different English language versions are available.]

He walked this earth of ours
Made the birds
Created flowers
Yet He came down to die
He even knows your name
And your heart will never feel the same
Yes, it was for us he died
Oh, don’t you want to take Him?
You want to make your heart His home?
My Saviour
I’ve got to see You
Come inside, make my heart Your home
Redeemer,
My Redeemer:
A million and one sins forgiven

Never felt this way before
And now I want it more and more
Feel Your love and feel Your fire
Won’t You wash me with Your blood
You overwhelm me like a flood
Come and be my one desire
Oh, I want to take you
Yes, I want to make my heart Your home
My Saviour
I’ve got to see You
Come inside, and make my heart Your home
Redeemer,
O My Redeemer:
A million and one sins forgiven

Oh, yes I want to take you
Yes, I want to make my heart Your home
Redeemer,
My Redeemer:
A million and one sins forgiven

I need Him more than air
Want to take Him everywhere
Yes, just want to sing His praises
Adopted child and heir
I feel His Love and feel His care
Yeah, be with Him when I die
My Saviour
I’ve got to see You
Come inside, and make my heart Your home
Redeemer,
My Redeemer:
A million and one sins forgiven
My Saviour
I’ve got to see You
Come inside, and make my heart Your home

Redeemer,
My Redeemer:
A million and one sins forgiven

Col 1:15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation, ​​​​​​​for all things in heaven and on earth were created by him – all things, whether visible or invisible, whether thrones or dominions, whether principalities or powers – all things were created through him and for him.
http://niv.scripturetext.com/colossians/1.htm

Is 53:2 …he had no stately form or majesty that might catch our attention, no special appearance that we should want to follow him. ​​​​​​​He was despised and rejected by people, one who experienced pain and was acquainted with illness; people hid their faces from him; he was despised, and we considered him insignificant. ​​​​​​​But he lifted up our illnesses, he carried our pain; even though we thought he was being punished, attacked by God, and afflicted for something he had done. ​​​He as wounded because of our rebellious deeds, crushed because of our sins; he endured punishment that made us well; because of his wounds we have been healed.
http://niv.scripturetext.com/isaiah/53.htm

John 1:12 But to all who have received him – those who believe in his name1 – he has given the right to become God’s children http://niv.scripturetext.com/john/1.htm

Rom 8:15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery leading again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness to our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 And if children, then heirs (namely, heirs of God and also fellow heirs with Christ) – if indeed we suffer with him so we may also be glorified with him.
http://niv.scripturetext.com/romans/8.htm

Matthew 26:28 for this is my blood, the blood of the covenant, that is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
http://niv.scripturetext.com/matthew/26.htm

Rev. 7:14 Then he said to me, “These are the ones who have come out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb! For this reason they are before the throne of God, and they serve him day and night in his temple, and the one seated on the throne will shelter them.
http://bible.cc/revelation/7-14.htm

[20 June 2011]

Coming down, saving the lost,
He left His glory behind Him
Went the distance and He died on the Cross
Son of Man with a mission to save

So many times He’s faced with rejection
He changed His glory for passion:
Don’t lose you grip on the hope for salvation
You must hold on until He arrives

It’s the love of the Saviour, it’s the quest for the lost,
Coming down here to challenge the Accuser
The exchange for our freedom is His death on the Cross
And it comes to us all with the love of the Saviour.

Day to day out on the street
Still I fail and I’m angry
Should take His love to the people I meet
But there’s still room for us in His grace

It’s the love of the Saviour, it’s the quest for the lost,
Coming down here to challenge the Accuser
The exchange for our freedom is His death on the Cross
And it comes to us all with the love of the Saviour.

Risen up, Lamb on the Throne
Has the crown, has the glory
Won the battle, now the victory’s He owns
God of God gladly welcomes us home

It’s the love of the Saviour, it’s the quest for the lost,
Coming down here to challenge the Accuser
The exchange for our freedom is His death on the Cross
And it comes to us all with the love of the Saviour.

The love of the Saviour.

The love of the Saviour.

Luke 19: 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.

 John 3:16 For this is the way God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world should be saved through him.

Philippians 2:6ff [Jesus] though he existed in the form of God did not regard equality with God as something to be grasped, ​​​​​​​but emptied himself by taking on the form of a slave, by looking like other men, and by sharing in human nature. ​​​​​​​He humbled himself, by becoming obedient to the point of death – even death on a cross! ​​​​​​​As a result God exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, ​​​​​​​so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow – in heaven and on earth and under the earth – ​​​​​​​and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.

Isaiah 53:3 ​​​​​​​He was despised and rejected by people, one who experienced pain and was acquainted with illness; people hid their faces from him; he was despised, and we considered him insignificant. ​​​​​​But he lifted up our illnesses, he carried our pain

Rev 5:12 Worthy is the lamb who was killed to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honour and glory and praise.

 Is worship without ministry worth it? While it is our job (and it should be serious fun!) as Christians to praise God in this world and the next (Rev. 4 &5), we are also supposed to be making the world a better place by doing God’s will (Mt. 7:13-29) and ministering to the world.

I am privileged to know people who epitomise this. I would like to pay tribute to them and also to others who do just that. Thank you that the world is better for your being in it. As you pass through the world, you leave behind the unmistakable fragrance of Grace, and you have and do “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Mt. 5:16), which is why I am able to praise God at all.

Shining happy people singing

Dance around Your throne

Praising, praising

Feel Your love abound

Thank You, thank You

Spread Your love around

Blessing, blessing

Take it to the world

So the pain begins to go

In Your power not mine

Loving happy people holding hands

(Loving happy people holding hands)

Singing happy people praising

Everyone around: love them, love them

Take each other’s hands

Take them, love them

Wipe the tears all dry

Guiltless, guiltless

Feel it in your heart

New tomorrow shines

From the Son’s love shines

Loving happy people holding hands

(Loving happy people holding hands)

Shining happy people praising

………………….