Unlimited Resources

We went to town last week to do some bits and bobs.
Nothing in particular, although there was one job.
When we had a grandson we saved up our loose cash
And once in a while when there’s enough, to the bank we would dash.
We did the same this Saturday, and as we stood in line
A thought dropped into my head, that there would come a time
When Zach would be quite old enough to know he had a sum
That bit by bit had mounted up and then the time would come
When with his bank book in his hand he could draw some out
He didn’t have to worry, he didn’t have to doubt.

While too young to understand, or even be aware
Resources are building up from those who love and care.
It didn’t depend on what he did, the kind of boy he was
The money was simply there, I have to say, because
His Gran and Granddad love him just the way he is,
He didn’t have to earn it; the fact is it was his.
To do with as he wanted, to spend it in his own way
We wouldn’t dictate just where it went, we wouldn’t have a say.
So we’ll go on saving, until the time is right
And when we hand it over we’ll share in his delight.

This got me kind of thinking how just like life is this?
A truth that stares us in the face, and yet can so easily miss.
That in our name a bank account is there in time of need,
To draw upon, to benefit, if the truth of God we heed.
He says to me in weakness, His strength will make me strong.
When I mess up, do stupid things, do something that is wrong,
For me there is forgiveness, a massive stash of grace,
But I must go and draw it out, if the future I will face.
The Father put a huge sum of credit in sending us His Son
It seems so sad to waste it, with all that He has done.


When next you go into a bank to draw some money out
Remember all that Fathers done, you never need to doubt.
If in any way you lack, in spirit or in soul
It need not forever stay that way; He wants to make you whole.
You may not realise in Him how rich you really are.
It’s something that’s not measured by size of house or car.
It’s also not dependant on how much is in the bank
As a son or daughter of the King it is how high you rank.
If Father owns the cattle upon a thousand hills
Then all is at His disposal, and can give it as He wills.
So never think you’re wanting, or a need that goes unmet
As heirs to the King of all, we never should forget.

Leave All Your Belongings Behind

I was sitting alone on the aeroplane
When the air steward began to speak.
I’d heard it before, about overhead lockers,
And the life jacket under the seat.
How to put it on and do up the straps.
Inflate it when outside the craft.
The whistle to blow, the light that would come on.
The doors that were fore and aft.

But then she said something that made me sit up,
It struck me as though the first time -
These words had been spoken, yet I am sure
I had oft heard this single line.
She spoke of us leaving the aircraft in haste
And she no doubt meant to be kind
But the words that she spoke were simply this...
“Leave all your belongings behind”.

“Leave all your belongings behind”, she said
For me that meant nothing at all.
I had no luggage with me you see.
Yet for others it would be a hard call.
There were some with computers, and briefcases full –
Of things so hard to replace.
Others with weeks of clothing onboard
To lose them would be a disgrace.

“Leave all your belongings behind”
Is something we may never have done.
Yet a lot of our lives are spent, you’ll agree,
Just thinking of number one.
Accumulating things that hold value for us,
Fulfilling a want or desire.
We have often mentioned what we would grab
If our house should ever catch fire.

Because just as the air steward put it,
“Leave all your belongings behind”.
That’s how it will be at life’s ending,
You may think it a little unkind.
Yet the Bible so clearly puts it,
“Lay not up your treasures on earth”.
For when we face our Maker
None of this has any worth

But lay up treasure in Heaven
Where no rust can corrupt, or thief steal
Don’t hanker for things that have little value,
Spend time on things that are real.

We can get so hooked on the here and now,
Then give no heed to the there and then.
Yet there’s coming a day for everyone here
A time that is nearer than when –
We first got up this morning
Much nearer than we like to admit,
When we have to face the Saviour
And explain what we did with our bit.

Let us hold on to the world much lighter,
Its attractions lay to one side.
We need to live closer to Jesus.
In Him we need to abide.
“Leave all your belongings behind” is the call.
It will happen to us, ready or not.
Let’s strive for the crown that awaits us,
And not dwell on the things that just rot.

The Two Hardest Words

There are words in our language that are hard to pronounce
There are some which are harder to spell
And some so familiar they roll off the tongue
Words that we know so well

We have words that describe the way that we feel
To explain just the person we are.
Phrases sum up our opinion of folk,
That express to them that we care.

Descriptions are used to tell of a scene
That we visited when abroad.
We excitedly tell of a bargain we had
Buying something we could afford

Then we give reasons of why we did this,
Or our actions, caused us to do that.
It might be a jumper we liked the look of,
Or for a wedding we purchased a hat.

Can we remember a day go by
When never a word that we spoke?
Silence for us is unnatural and strange,
For we're generally socially folk.

Yet sometimes we hear of people we know
Who have fallen out with each other.
It's sometimes between brothers and sisters -
Or worse, between father and mother.

Some words were spoken that cut to the quick,
That once uttered could not be retrieved.
A rift was created, an unbridgable gap
At least that's the lie they believed.

Years go by not a word was spoken
The distance between them grows
In fact it is possible so long has time past
If you ask, nobody knows -

The reason behind the silence
Why one does not speak to the other
The matter could so easily be solved
But nobody seems to bother.

As I said at the start we have different words
Some seem so hard to tell
But it isn't always the length of the words
Or the fact that we cannot spell.

There comes a time when we refuse to admit
That we are in the wrong
We only need to speak two words
Yet it seems to take so long.

You see, those two little words are the hardest two words
And by some are never spoken
And because these two words are the hardest two words
Many relationships remain broken.

What are those two words? the hardest two words?
Do we really need to worry?
Well yes, we do, for those two little words
Are just simply "I'm sorry".

Just who would be in Jesus’ church?

A question slipped into my mind,
They often do these days,
Of all the people in our church
Who walk in different ways,
We’ve young and old, thin, fat and tall,
They vary quite a bit,
But generally are all the same,
No matter where they sit,

Respectable and dignified,
Middle class, well spoken too,
We all have cars, and lovely homes,
And rather well to do.
Life for most is comfortable,
With food and drink a-plenty,
We never know of what it’s like
To sleep outside, cold – empty!

We don’t look out of prison
With windows barred and bleak,
Where liberty is taken from us
With a visit once a week.
No urge to steal for drugs or drink
To get us through the day,
No selling of our bodies
Not with strangers do we lay.

So I got to think
if Jesus had a church
Who would He have in it
Which people would He search?
Because as I look at Scripture,
And see the folk He found,
They were not the sort of people
We would like around.

Isolated lepers,
With sores that smelt and wept,
Tax fiddlers, enemy soldiers,
Were the company He kept,
Rough and rugged fishermen,
Women of the night,
These were the sort of people,
We see His heart delight.

So when I ask the question
Who would be in Jesus’ church?
The answer that returns to me
Makes my own heart lurch.
For it would not necessarily be
The people here today,
But the ones the world has
Turned its back on,
Are the ones who stay away.

The reason that they stay away,
Is often plain to see,
They simply don’t feel good enough,
To mix with the likes of me.
There’s a feeling of unworthiness
That can keep them from this place,
Their shame and degradation,
Isolation and disgrace.

Yet Jesus always had the time,
In fact He sought them out,
Never did He turn away
Never did He doubt
That in the schemes of glory
There would be a place
For the dirty, down and out,
He made for them a space.

So as we go to church each week,
And fill the same old seat,
If we see a stranger,
Let’s stand and go to greet
Those people Jesus sends us,
Let’s make them feel at home,
It was always His intention
This should be their home.

I said " I don't do Babies....but"!

When the news broke that a baby was due
So many were filled with such glee
They said "Oh how wonderful, super, what joy,
How excited and thrilled you must be.
I shrugged my shoulders and cracked a weak smile,
Endeavoured to share their delight,
But deep down inside I felt nothing stir,
Though I strived with all my might.

I've never gone "Coo - oh don't you look sweet"
When looking at proud mothers' tots
All I could think of was the smell of sour milk
Dirty nappies when the kids got the trots!
You might have guessed by what I've just said,
I don't do babies, they're just not my scene.
They sleep so much, need a regular feed
And other than that just scream.

So the news of a grandchild although good in itself,
didn't exactly make my day,
Thrilled for our daughter, and son in law too,
But hoped it wouldn't get in the way -
of days on Fermain and birdwatching trips,
Of doing the things that I do,
I don't do babies you see; they're not much fun
I much prefer when they are two.


Then you can chat and chase them about
Play hide and seek in the park.
Make sand Castles, mud pies, catch tadpoles and fish,
Tell scary stories when it gets dark.
But a baby -what can you do with them - not very much,
They just lie there, they're no pleasure at all,
you've got such a long wait for them to grow up,
And it's months before they can crawl.


Oh no, I don't do babies, not one little bit,
At least that's what I used to say
But all of that changed when Zach turned up,
It happened all in one day!
I still don't do "Coo and go "goo,goo,wow,
Doesn't your baby look sweet.
But I tell you what, when it comes to our Zach,
Each moment with him is a treat.

He's transformed my life; he is so much fun,
There is lots and lots we can do.
There's bath time, there's feeding, playing on the floor
And walks with the buggy too.
He giggles and laughs, makes faces and noise,
Each one a delight to behold,
I live for each moment I spend with him,
The joy he gives can't be told.

I'm thrilled and proud to be standing here
Sharing this service with you.
We entrust him to Jesus, to grow into a man,
Who follows the path that is true.
I know as I stand here, there is a risk
You look upon me as a nut
For all I have said, and it is quite true,
I said "I don't do Babies.....but.