Awake My Soul To Praise

Awake my soul, a new day dawns,

The breeze is singing in the trees,

The stars have ceased their nightly song

And sunrise calls the tune.

Come, join with nature in her praise,

As raindrops tinkle merrily

Upon the swiftly racing stream,

Awake my soul, come live the dream,

Imbue with joy these blessed days.

The blackbird's song, the skylark's call,

The nightingale gives hearty voice,

The gentle breeze, the sunlight's gleam,

Harmonize in silent song.

The mountains shout their jubilation,

Enthused with constant expectation,

The galaxies hum a distant chord,

And planets silently applaud,

Come, join this joyful throng.

Why stay silent, God is here,

Emmanuel is in our midst,

Bringing love and joy and peace,

Know the wonders He can bring.

Awake my soul, and celebrate

The beauty of salvation,

Join with all of God's creation,

Nature's rampant exaltation,

Come, lift your voice and sing.

Bill Thomas

June 2013

You Are There

You are there

I know you are

In the quietness

Stillness

Silence

You are with me

Forever present

In my heart

Spirit

Soul

You are everything

Now to me

In my life

Wealth

Health

You are in me

Filling me

One with me

United

Entwined

By Alan Stevens

In Your Hand

Such sweet security,

Blessings beyond number,

Promise of Eternity,

Promoting peaceful slumber;

Worries far removed,

Troubles put in place,

Trusting in the Father

To help complete the race.

Securing your protection,

Resting in your peace,

No fear of rejection,

Knowing faith’s release,

In the palm of your hand

I stand.

By Bill Thomas

Crucified with Christ

I’ve been crucified with Christ, so it’s no longer I who live,

For on the cross with Christ I died, when He His life did give.

Christ and I have been made one, for I’m hidden deep in Him,

He has fulfilled the law for me, so now I’m freed from sin.

Both sin and death have lost their power, I’m now at peace with God,

And I’m walking on a pathway, that Jesus Christ has trod.

For I’m a new creation, made in the image of Gods Son,

And on the holy highway, I will my journey run.

No sin is counted to my charge, no evil me befall,

For I am clothed with Jesus Christ, and He’s my all in all.

The gospel is good news for me, for it tells me who I am,

That all my dreadful failures, have been dealt with by the Sacrificial Lamb.

So sin is not an issue, and death has lost its power,

So Christ and I do walk as one, each day and every hour.

For I’m hidden in His holiness, and I’m covered by His love,

And in this awesome truth I’m sealed, until I reach my home above.

By Dave Thorpe 

Eternal Bliss

How can I think of the world to come

When I know so little of this?

What have I achieved, what have I done

To deserve eternal bliss?

Why should I gain from another man’s pain?

Why should my sin be placed upon Him?

I’ve been set free, but how can it be

When I know I deserve much less.

Why does His mercy outweigh my guilt?

I doubt if I’ll ever know.

Why did the scales in my favour tilt?

Why do His clemencies flow?

Why does His grace afford me a place

In the realm of His Son, after all that I’ve done;

His blessings are for me, why does He adore me,

And where did my transgressions go?

What can I do, but give Him all praise

For the things He has done for me?

How will I spend the rest of my days?

What will my future be?

If I can just serve Him, though I don’t deserve Him,

And give Him the glory, and tell out His story,

For I certainly know when I finally go,

His face I will surely see.

By Bill Thomas

River

River

Cascading down

Immersed in the torrent

Overwhelmed

Sinking slowly into Christ's love

Reaching out to be touched.

Flooded

Completely baptized

Engulfed in the deluge

Satisfied

Drowning in all Christ has done

Gripped in the grasp of the son.

Rooted

Receiving life

Grafted in the father

Purified

Devoting to Christ’s perfect care

unmerited grace freely shared.

Awaken

Spirit alive

Streaming with the divine

Sanctified

Infused with heavens odor

Soaked into the spirits power.

Overflowing

Encasing me

The essence of life

Restoring me

Emanating from deep inside

Empowered to fullness of life.

By Alan Stevens

Clothed with Jesus

Clothed with Jesus, to be like Him,

Having been forgiven all our darkest sin.

Now a child of God most High,

To us no blessing He’ll deny.

Wrapped in a cloak of holiness,

As His heirs, for Him to bless.

Touched by His grace and love,

Clothed with the Christ of God above.

No weapon formed against us will succeed.

From powers of darkness we are freed.

Hidden in Christ’s holiness, we rest,

With kind affection we are truly blessed.

We do not walk the worldly way,

But follow in His footsteps day by day.

Baptised into His holiness divine,

His radiant glory through us to shine.

This not by human merit, but by grace,

And by His love and mercy, we will see His face,

From before all ages, He did call our name,

Forgiving all our failings, taking all our shame.

Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord above,

By His grace and mercy, we are covered with His love.

By Dave Thorpe