Mary Were You Troubled

  

Mary were you troubled when your Son climbed up a mountain

And spent the night alone and icy cold

Did you ever call to Him “Take another cloak, that’s thin!”

Did He listen like He did when He wasn’t old?

Did He say “Now, Mother dear, I am on Father’s business here

And I need to talk to Him about my life

I tell Him every little thing and the love I’m offering

While He shows me how to handle hate or strife”

Did you relax when once again the winter’s cold had passed?

And the nights up in the mountains weren’t so harsh

Yet I imagine that you still might fix a little meal ‘to go’

As He scrambled through a stony field or marsh.

So as Your precious Son took off to follow all His Father’s plans

You would sit quietly in deep worship and in prayer

Pondering on the words of God and your Son’s first stumbling words

To Calvary where you watched Him die right there.

As Mothers all, right up till now, what myriad tears we shed

As we protect and love and grieve for all our own

Yet one day they’ll rise in glory from a grave they did not dread

As their Saviour holds out His arms to those He’s known.

W.B. June 2013.

Teach Me Your Truth

  

Teach me Your Truth oh Spirit of Truth

And let me learn from You

My cloudy future hides reproof

If I see my life through You

Old age no barrier to Your plans

One day is all You need

Obedience takes error from my hands

Will I then gather speed?

Teach me to be quiet under stress

To rest in peace on You

To see the sun both rise and set

And know I am blessed by You

Teach me to praise and pray for all

Be sensitive to their need

To spread the love You feel for all

Tell them a Saviour hears

Help me forget myself this day

To lock my eyes on You

To praise You As You plan my way

As I am led by You.

You wrap me in Your kindly love

Harsh judgements cannot pierce

And I still have some work to do

Old age cannot defeat.

W.B.  June 2013.

How Many Times?

  

How many times I cry to You, and say, “Please help me, Lord"

I take Your time on little things that You can ill afford

When disasters of more urgent kind befall this broken world

And I, as selfish as I am, bewail a mislaid word

Or phone, or struggle on  with some heavy, tiresome task

For now my strength is almost gone; it is too much to ask.

So I’ll ask Your peace to live with this, my slowness, loss of strength

My love for You is still intact and I’ll be with You at length

Now when I call I try to see the features of Your face

Yet it is enough that I should know Your mercy and Your Grace

While I still ask to dream of You and be close to You in sleep

 Your Spirit’s deep within my heart and I know He’s mine to keep.

W.B June 2013.

One Day

 Will You come back today, Lord?

I want to be ready for You

Will this be the very last day, Lord

That I could be loyal and true?

I want to look into Your eyes Lord

I love when they sparkle with smiles

I would be both humble and obedient

Always walking that second mile.

I long to see others with Your eyes

To grieve with the lonely and lost

To grasp the hands stretched out in sorrow

To hold someone breathing their last.

To point out the cross and my Saviour

Tell others You died for them, too

Holding hope out to the hopeless

And the future that You can renew.

For one day may be too late to know You Lord

The gates to Your heaven may be closed

You’ll appear in the sky with Your angels

To call up the ones that you know.

Is your name written down in His book, friend?

Does He know you and call you by name?

He first called your name from the cross on the hill

Then whispered again from his grave.

Yet Christ rose again in great triumph

Satan defeated again

But that old loser though on his way down

Would take you to Hell with him then.

So break free and run to your Saviour

Take His offer of salvation now

The pathway to Heaven is lined with His saints

Hear them cheer when your hand’s on the plough.

W.B  June 2013.

It's Just Not Enough.

  

It’s just not enough to give to You

This old broken heart

It’s just not enough to say to You

“Oh Lord, I’ll do my part’.

It’s just not enough to sorrow

For all my sinful ways

It had to be Your very life

That You so freely gave.

And so You bought me dearest Lord

And You brought me, Lord of mine

Back from Hells’ hungry open mouth

Saying ‘you are Mine’

You did what You’d always planned to do

My soul knows that full well

So here I am part of Your great plan

And You’ve closed the gate to Hell.

W.B June 2013.

Have I Told You?

  

Have I told You today that I love You?

Did I whisper that You have my heart?

Did I thank You that You never leave me?

That I’m grateful that we’ll never part?

Lord I’m grateful that You are my haven

And You are my anchor and rest

I feel Your warmth when You hold me

When I lay my head down on Your breast.

I used to be anxious and fretful

For my faith was not always this strong

But You held on to me every moment

Now every moment to You I belong.

Wyn Barratt  June 2013

The Morning Sky.

I love to watch the morning sky when dawn turns into day

And know that You will have Your eye on things that come my way

The pinks and gold I can behold and feel Your presence near

You offer me a brand new page with a love that is so dear.

Your Spirit paints the sky for us to cheer us on our way

You know the joys and sorrows that can make or break the day

So this day that You have made for me I give right back to You

And I will do my very best to bring some joy to You.

Wyn Barratt June 2013.

God's Waiting Room.

I’ve heard about God’s waiting room

For older Christian souls

But there’s another waiting room

That I have known of old.

That’s when we wait upon God’s will

Though we cannot see Him work.

But in His hall of eternal peace

We know He will not shirk

His plans to answer every prayer

To set our spirits free

To lift us up on wings of hope

In His love for you and me.

So I’m content in this, His waiting room

While He works out His plans

He said He’ll never leave me

So I’ll be putty in His hands.

As I rest my head upon His knee

I dreams of days to come

When I have learned discipleship

And my learning days are done.

Wyn Barratt June 2013.

The Birds Can't Wait.

The birds can’t wait for dawn to rise

To start their praise to You

And I awake with glad surprise

And wonder what we’ll do.

For each new day though trials may come

I know You’ll be close by

The plans You’ve made to bless my life

Will never go awry.

My paths may wind around a cliff

Or follow mountains high

But Your lamp will shine and light my way

While You watch me with Your eye.

So Lord anoint me with Your peace

And keep my heart at rest

For You are my Beloved Chief

And what You do is best.

Wyn Barratt June 2013.

Do We have No King?

Do we have no king but Caesar?

Have we denied our Lord?

Where now is our allegiance?

Are we standing with the Lord?

What sacrifice He made for us

What pain in His tortured death

Is that not enough to gain our love?

Will He not win our last breath?

What purpose has our life if we

Don’t live it all for Him

What future do we seek once we

Are washed from all our sin?

A life that’s lived for God alone

A solid worshipping stance

Not up and down as emotions roll

First an upward then backward glance.

Oh Lord, I need Your power right now

To keep my worship pure

Unsullied by a Godless pout

If I think my pleas ignored.

Wyn Barratt  May 2013.

It Has To Be You

  

It has to be You, Lord, it has to be You

Who shows me the way and tells me what to do

I muddle and flounder; I puzzle and test

All of the waters, choosing what I think best.

I want You to lead me to point out the way

So there will be no doubt You are leading today

You are my Master, my Saviour, my Friend

I’m no good without You, my life may as well end.

Dear Lord please get hold of me in a grip that could hurt

For I’m tired of slipping right down in the dirt

You know how I need You, how I’d love to belong

To Your group of friends who are trustworthy and strong.

But as yet I don’t feel You have all of my brain

As Your Word keeps correcting me again and again

So Lord don’t give up on me and I will hold on

Until You can come for me or this world is gone.

Wyn Barratt May 2013

Lord, Are You There?

I am marred by the incurable

My decisions named ‘deplorable’

And everything I touch turns into sand

The storms of life have weakened me

All hope has now seeped out of me

I want to get away from this ‘holy’ band.

My memories no longer sweet

They mock me as I wake or weep

I cannot move, oh Lord, please take my hand

The wisdom that I know I need

Eludes me though I pray and plead

My future cannot be in this hard land.

Is there a place that I may hide

Until You take me as Your bride

Where I can write of love to You alone?

The judgments that are hurled at me

From those who say they care for me

Just drive me out to find another home.

Is there a land where no one knows

That I am shy, withdrawn, morose

Where I might find a non judgmental friend?

Where can I watch the restless sea

That fills a yearning need in me

Lord, are You there? Please hold me at the end.

Wyn Barratt  May 2013.

Seventy Times Seven

Seventy times seven those words came through today

Seventy times seven my sins are washed away

Seventy times seven my Lord has lifted me

And a million times a million He has shown His love for me.

As I lift up a tear stained face confessing that I’ve failed

To honour You in all my ways and see the hands I’ve nailed

I feel You touch my head with love as You’ve forgiven me

And the sunlight glistens on the page that You renewed for me.

A second chance, yes, many more than that I have received

A true confession and remorse I’ve laid down at Your feet

You lifted me as all my heart just melted with your love

And here I find a fresh new day in the light shed from above.

Wyn Barratt  May 2013

I'm So Glad I Asked

 I’m so glad I asked You to undertake

You know I get muddled and the mistakes that I make

I just want Your perfect will for my life

Or I get into trouble, yes, trouble and strife.

I opened my heart so You know my desires

But they’re not set in stone and the enemy conspires

I’ll leave it to You, Lord, to lead me aright

I can only be happy if You’re King of my life.

So I set down before You the steps that I took

My intention was just to sit beside a clear brook

To daydream and write of the Saviour I love

To share with some others about our home above.

But the things that I touched have just crumbled away

My dreams are all shattered and hope’s died with the day

So now I surrender and ask You dear Lord

Please take my hand; guide me; I need You on board.

Not as a sailor or even first mate

I need You as Captain for You are first rate

I told You my dreams but my life story’s Yours

You’ll write the ending if I follow Your course.

Wyn Barratt  May 2013.

Faith

Faith is a quiet room to hide
Within its strong, firm walls
A place where nought else comes inside
And God fills all our thoughts.

Please Help Me.

Please help me Lord in all I do

To keep my eyes fixed on You

To keep Eternity in mind

Remaining gentle, humble, kind.

Perfection’s still eluding me

But You are perfect, and it’s You I see

I know I’ve grumbled when I’ve seen

You work through others but not through me.

When I withhold from Your dear heart

Some little thing or tiny part

That’s not surrendered, kept as mine

That is the start of my decline.

So help me Lord, each day, each hour

To surrender to You and claim Your power

For I am not a helpless child

But a follower of Jesus, the meek and mild.

You are the light that shows the way

But mine the power to disobey

This power I surrender, may it never return

Until my life’s ended Lord, let my heart burn

With love and with passion to do all Your will

Take me and keep this restless heart still

I have nought to be proud of and nor can I stand

Without You are close Lord, and have hold of my hand.

Wyn Barratt  May 2013.

A Hundred Thousand

I’ve a hundred thousand reasons Lord to love You

For a hundred thousand sins You’ve washed away

And a hundred thousand times that You have lifted me

When I fell as I tried to run away.

A hundred thousand times You’ve said You love me

And a million times You’ve proved that this is true

So what else can I say except  ‘I love You’

And it’s time I proved that this is true too.

Wyn Barratt.  May 2013.

Keep My Vision Clear.

Dear Father, keep my vision clear

Let my will never interfere

With anything that You would do

Or any sight I think is You

Pointing the way that I should go.

Please give me clearly ‘Yes’ or ‘No’.

My wits are dull my thoughts confused

Don’t let the enemy take and use

The things that only You have given

The gifts that point my way to Heaven

I am Your child and would remain

Placid, obedient, not giving pain.

A gentle servant, full of love

For those You groom for life above

With peaceful, non-judgmental care

For those in pain and lying there.

This poem, you see, still has no end

Like my future Lord, on You depends.

No more I see, but only You

You alone show me what to do

So here I am; my pen; my day

Is Yours in secret or in open way

My future known to only You

My past beneath the Blood, that’s true

What I’m to be is almost passed

But I am Yours; that’s what will last.

So Father keep my vision clear

Let my will never interfere.

Wyn Barratt  May 2013.

What Can I Write.?

  

What can I write when sorrows hand lies heavy on my brow?

What can I write when all around are crying ‘Now, now, now’?

Where is the peace for which I long with all the clamour gone

Where are those soft green pastures that You said You will lead me on?

Have my prayers been heard? But nothing’s changed; things daily getting worse.

In health’s decline, old age’s range, too much for this old horse

The days I sought, kin round my knee, just never came to pass

I can’t even read a story for my voice can only rasp.

I expected a gracious genteel old age; a picturesque decline

Instead I’m fighting like a cat to save this life of mine

I’ll go here; No, there; try this or that; the ocean too far away

No paddling in the gentle waves. I can’t afford to stay.

This is a rich man’s paradise but it’s a poor man’s hell

No cake is passed round on my plate; do I want bread as well?

And yet I tell you all I want is to be in my Father’s will

So would you pray it will be so for I need your friendship still?

Wyn Barratt May 2013.

He Will Remember You.

  

Our God Who calls the stars by name

He will remember you

He knows your every stress and strain

And He will see you through

Don’t think your present trials

Are too much for you to bear

For He is right beside you

And He will lead with care.

All prayers fly up to God on high

Though you only whisper HELP!

He knows before you call on Him

You are not left on the shelf

He weeps with you He smiles with you

His joy is to surprise

So launch yourself into His arms

And feel your spirit rise.

Wyn Barratt May 2013.

Lord, Lead me Gently.

Lord, lead me gently through the time that remains

I am no leader, let me follow again

Strength now is fading, the future is dim

Let my epitaph say, ‘I followed Him’.

Lord, lead me gently I’m not groomed for a fight

Prayer is my strength and I’m not led by my sight

Gnarled hands are groping looking for doors

Opened by You Lord, the One I adore.

Lord, take me gently there’ll be no regrets

Things I can’t do now, put aside with the rest

Just let my love remain stronger through time

Touching my loved ones for they still are mine.

May they remember though perfect I’m not

That I truly loved them though it may be all that they got

My deepest longing so important to me

Is that we’ll meet in Paradise and I can still see.

Wyn Barratt May 2013.

As Long As You're There Lord

  

As long as You’re there, Lord, as long as You’re there

My heart is resting, yet any challenge I’d dare

I’d leap a wall as high as the sky

Or plunge the depths when I know You are nigh.

As long as You’re there Lord ,that’s where I will be

I’d follow You across the wildest sea

I’d walk those waves if You hold my hand

Just point the way, Lord, I’m at Your command.

You took the burden I laid at Your feet

You gave Your life there on Calvary’s tree

You chose me Lord, when I stood condemned

You are my Saviour, my Lord, and my friend.

As long as I’m here, Lord, my love is all Yours

I’ll go where You lead if You open the doors

The whys and the wherefores of life may be strange

But with You as my Leader I can ride any range.

Wyn Barratt April 2013.

Are You Sleepless?

Are you sleepless, are you weary

Worn with days of constant care

God is watching, He is near you;

Close your eyes and feel Him there.

There is never just a moment

That He’d ever glance away

You’re His child, oh how He loves You!

His for ever and a day.

He will watch you when you’re sleeping,

When the tears run down your face

When your lonely vigil keeping

He is with you in that place.

So take  heart dearly beloved

Life will not always be so

He prepares a greener valley

And through that you both will go.

Wyn Barratt. April 2013.

Holding You, Holding ME

 

When can I hold You and look in Your eyes?

When You are holding me.

I look around in joyful surprise

At the wonderful things I can see.

Your world astounds me as Your love surrounds me

How can I be depressed?

Grace is the ocean that sets life in motion

When in Your love I am dressed.

A hope and a future, Your promise is true

You cannot tell a lie

Whatever the Word says on that we can stand

Then with God we can see eye to eye.

Trials and troubles are the rocks we can climb

For a better view now of You

Stumbles and tumbles open up wounds

For a look at what’s inside us too.

So change me, rearrange me until I can see

That my ‘old man’ is buried and gone

Keep my heart soft and tender until my life’s ended

And we’re holding each other as one.

Wyn Barratt April 2013.

There's A New Day Dawning.

There’s a new day dawning when I hope I won’t be here

I’ll be standing at the pearly gates with a smile and not a tear

I’ll look down through a cloudy sky at those I left behind

But you know that I am happy and I know that you won’t mind.

I will still be praying for all my friends down there

And the Father may be saying, ‘They know that you still care’.

So if one day you notice that I am not around

You’ll remember I’m not lying in a hole down in the ground.

I may not leave the Saviour’s side for many many days

But then Saint Paul you just can’t hide. I’ll find you in that maze

I want to ask what you thought, and look into your head

And when I have the answers I’ll find someone else instead.

I don’t know who may be next that I will want to meet

Like Abraham or Moses who accepted no defeat

King David’s Psalms are dear to me and so he will be too

All this will keep me occupied while I have to wait for you.

Wyn Barratt April 2013.

Part Of Me.

 

Part of me wants to walk through the desert

Part of me wants to be at the sea

All of me wants to be in the stillness

And all of me be close to Thee.

Hiding, abiding are all that I’m heeding

But should I be placed in a crowd

How would I deal with the noise and the bustle?

Could I even whisper aloud?

Would You then wrap me up in Your Spirit

Help me be quiet and calm?

Safe in Your love and my right to be in it

Do You shield my spirit from harm?

My arms are held out as I feel Your assurance

Is there someone else I can hold too?

Whisper the names of those needing Your Spirit

May I help them climb up into You?

Lord, I want to walk through the desert

Yet I long to stay near the sea

Part of me wants to breathe in the stillness

But sharing the love You pour into me.

Wyn Barratt  March 2013.

I Love The Ocean

O how I love the ocean; fearsome yet gentle too

One day I’ll rest upon it and be carried home to You

Its constancy of surging is my best lullaby

However hard the day may be, the night flows gently by.

It reminds me of Your Spirit You said is always near

To comfort, check, and carry, and wipe away our tears

For all Your life was driven by passion for our God

And you are still beside us, steadying the steps we’ve trod.

A whisper from Your Spirit that comes with every wave

Says ‘Hear Me for I love you; it’s you I came to save’.

The ocean is my healing as it sets my thoughts on You

At night Your love revealing, Your voice still coming through.

 Wyn Barratt March 2013

Put Your Hands On Me.

 

Put Your hands on my weaknesses

Help me to be strong

I’m following Your footsteps Lord

That’s just where I belong

I was twisting and turning

Facing the wrong way

When a light came from heaven

That showed me the way.

Then You looked into my heart Lord

And what did You see?

You saw pain and darkness

As deep as the sea

You knew that my yearning

Would never be filled

Without You came inside of me

And Oh Lord was I thrilled!

You put Your hands on my weaknesses

As I climbed up a wall

I intended to leap it

But feared I might fall

You remembered my darkness

And my need to be filled

You held me up inside Your arms

And Oh, Lord, I was filled!

Would someone put this to music please?

Wyn Barratt

March 2013.

When We Fail

When we fail You, Lord, do we feel that You failed us

By allowing us to sin and fall from Grace?

Does our freedom of choice make us hear the wrong voice

And attraction turns our gaze from Your face?

We may look at Adam and Eve; wonder why they were deceived

Yet that weakness shows its strength many times

Are we no wiser now since our hand’s been on the plough

As we struggle with life’s reasons and rhymes.

Well the answer of course is that in God we have recourse

He will forgive if we truly repent

Our free will is God’s gift to give us an aim and not just drift

He gave us a future and with hope it should be spent.

Wynb. March 2013

Hold My Heart.

Lord I am so glad that I have You

Without You beside me what would I do?

I’d turn this way and that way, what should I do on any day?

Without You beside me what’d I do?

Lord I am so glad you watch my mouth

It’s always been my weakness when I spout

My tongue is so unruly not guarded by yours truly

Without You guard my tongue what’d I do?

Lord I am so glad You hold my heart

It’s so full of love for what You are

When I’m Holy Spirit guided it’s because You are beside me

Without You hold my heart what would I do?

Wyn Barratt March 2013.

Light My Fire.

I am calling for the elderly to chew the fat with me

How different do you feel today to when you were thirty three?

In years gone by with heavy logs I built retaining walls

Concrete steps were not too hard and I never had a fall.

My legs were strong they didn’t shake or wobble on a step

And the flowers that I planted were photographed in health

But now I‘m touching 85 (well in some months I’ll be)

And the very thought of labouring can bring me to my knees.

Now I have told a little lie because my knees won’t bend

For as soon as they have reached the floor pain sends me round the bend.

Now I have to tell you, dear old friends that I’ve just had a big surprise

For yesterday I built an edge with every brick that caught my eyes.

They came from corners of my yard, that were holding up this and that

But now they’re much more useful as an edging that can catch

The water flowing from next door and drains under the fence

Then once it runs right down the yard, it flows back under her fence! 

So I’m surprised I had the strength with my old creaking back

To give my neighbour ‘what for’ and send their wastage back

It seems to me it does depend on if my feelings are strong

And then my ire will light a fire and my muscles can’t go wrong.

Wyn Barratt  Feb 2012.

Return Of The Traveller.

I don’t know where I want to be right now, Lord,

In Your arms or at Your throne

I only know that when I came back home Lord

This house felt strange and not like home.

I flew across the sea to see New Zealand

And was amazed by all its beauty, wild and free

It felt like home, that I belonged there, yet every vista

Was something not familiar to me.

Back at my house with heavy bags and heavy heart too

I opened up the door to silent damp

Where was my heart; my joy; my dearly familiar?

This clammy space, sterile and silent had broken rank.

It lost its spirit in my absence; no voice or music

To keep up the appearance of a home

It was not needed, used, remembered; and now was heart sick

And from me no joy or love for this, my home.

So now to work, and You are with me, I’ll take stock Lord

That bolt that’s hanging off the gate is first

Then the pools of mud and water from that rain storm

Ground waterlogged, it clearly has no thirst

The hinges on the back door need some help now

They’ve lost their grip on a door they’re meant to hold

Dog droppings on the lawn; do they think it’s theirs now?

Come the morning they’ll regret they’ve been so bold.

Wyn Barratt Feb 2013.

Paint My Words Out.

Lord, paint my words out of existence

For things I have said I’d withdraw

Please take up a brush for I’m now in a fuss

Paint Your blood over what I said before.

Words were said when I was so angry

They were said when my feelings were hurt

I was looking at life from my point of view

And now they seem cruel and curt.

I wish I could just click ‘delete’ now

And what I have said disappears

But they’ve already crept into somebody’s heart

And their pain and mine’s growing here.

So Lord paint my words out of existence

While I ask their forgiveness right here

Wash them out with Your blood dear Lord Jesus

I hope my friend knows I’m sincere.

Wyn Barratt Feb 2013

MISSING- Believed Hungry.

If you see a boy in a red top wandering through the town

Send him home. Please send him home

He may be sitting on the kerbside or walking up and down

Send him home. Please send him home.

We had a silly argument and he grabbed his phone and left

Yes he left home. He has left home

He took no food or cash in hand no bag was packed; he left

And I’m bereft. Yes I’m bereft.

If you see him say I’m sorry and I’ve put his dinner out

Then send him home. Please send him home.

His little dog is pining and he has a hot dry snout

Make him come home. He must come home.

So you can see that this is serious he has never left before

Make him come home. He must come home.

And I am standing in the hallway behind an open door.

Oh please would you take pity and send him home.

Wyn Barratt Jan 2013.

* I know this is a superficial story, M, and  your life is much more complicated, but go home, back to your roots. The first step is always the hardest.

Incomprehensible.

It’s incomprehensible that You should love me, Lord

My claims are indefensible, that I don’t understand Your Word

In total simplicity I confess all my sin

No longer in complicity with satan as I’ve been.

For satan is a liar and the biggest in the world

He is also a denier of the Power Your love unfurled

The Word of God will stand forever and that, friend, is no lie

The Son of God came down from Heaven knowing He would die.

He did it for you and He did it for me;

Just open up His Word and soon you will see

It’s incomprehensible that we should turn Him down

Attitude indefensible if we ignore a victor’s crown.

Wyn Barratt Jan 2013.

RAIN

The rain in the gutters is the music that I love

Its happy throaty gurgle as it pours down from above

It slides down the drains feet first and I can hear the joy

Of the water with the rubbish which it thinks is a fine toy.

I haven’t looked too closely for I don’t like rubbish much

It’s slimy when its wet and I’ve never liked the touch

It’s bad enough when Mother calls and makes me sweep the yard

But it all goes in the garbage before the rain comes down hard.

One day before I get too big I’ll slide into a drain

And follow the water till it comes outside again

I’ll have to keep my eyes shut tight and my mouth as well

I certainly won’t drink it and that’s the truth I tell.

  Wyn Barratt  Jan 2013       

Some Days.

  

Some days I’m in Your workroom and You look around the door

To see if I have finished what we talked about before.

At other times I feel alone and empty of everything

That should be said, or thought, or sung, and some leading to begin.

That’s when I need to be quite still and ponder on Your love

And send up ‘thankyou’s’ from my heart that You can hear above

For I could never ever tell in this my earthly tongue

The gratitude that swells my heart that to You, Lord, I belong.

The days seem long, but life is short, of that I am convinced

And that’s why in my messages You’ll find my words aren’t minced

For none of us can ever know just what tomorrow costs

And Lord, I want to be assured that no one will be lost.

Wyn Barratt. Jan 2013.

Coming Round The Mountain.

‘She’s coming round the mountain’, that‘s what the old song says

But I’m not going round it, for now I’ve learned some sense

That mountain’s made for climbing it will make me fit and strong

And when I‘ve reached the very top I can see where I belong.

I belong to Jesus, He’s led me all the way

Through mountain trails or valleys, I haven’t time to stay

I’m on my way to Heaven I hope you join me there

Even if it’s crowded I’ll be looking for you there.

If I should get to Heaven first you may see me in the sky

For Jesus said that He’ll return in the sweet by and by

He said that we’ll be with Him and I’ll be looking for you still

So keep your eyes upon that prize, your Salvation is God’s will.

Remember those poor Israelites just couldn’t take a trick

They thought the road to Canaan was worse than making bricks

They growled and grumbled at the Lord and poor old Moses too

And round and round that mountain but they didn’t wear out shoes.

You might say that there’s a moral in this little tale I tell

And you should climb up and over and not around as well

But as long as you’re with Jesus it won’t matter where He leads

For He is your Provider for every kind of need.

If you belong to Jesus, He’ll lead you all the way

Through mountain trails or valleys you won’t have time to stay

You’ll be on your way to Heaven and I hope to join you there

Even if it’s crowded please keep looking for me there.

Wyn Barratt  Jan 2013

Guess What?

The New year’s here and once again I’ve had a thought or three

Of resolutions for my life that would make a better ME

I’m full of great ideas and at starting I’m a whizz

But I’m a one day wonder then my resolutions fizz.

Guess what? This year is different. I’ll be starting a new style

I’ll forget that I am me and my resolutions aren’t worthwhile

I’ll remember that God made me and it’s He I want to please

And He’s glad to see me trying and be often on my knees.

So this year I’m a couple, not a loner any more

The Lord and me together every moment; that’s the score

So whatever this year holds for me I know I’m not alone

For God Who made me perfectly will guide the best way Home.

Wyn Barratt 2013.

Clinging

I’m hanging on to You, Lord, hanging on to You

Clinging for my very life, that’s what I seem to do

Knowing I’ve no virtues, but knowing that I’m Yours

Grasping Your encouragement; fed by every clause.

You tell me, “I am with you.” You whisper, “You are mine”.

You say,” I’ll never leave you.” You are with me all the time

Nothing less I claim, Lord, I need all of You

Cast your shadow over me; all Your power endue.

Absolute obedience, surrender day by day

No other way will show my love, You’ll lead me all the way

Anxiety is such a sin, when You, my precious Lord

Are holding me, without, within, and You will close the doors

If step out on another path than You have planned for me

Then, gently You will guide me back to where You’d have me be

And so it is my need and joy to rest within Your heart

For I’m clinging for my very life, my trust a growing art.

Wyn Barratt Dec 2012.

New Year’s Resolution?

 

If the day ever comes when you don’t want to change

And you can’t see the point of your life

It means you have walked far too long down the road

To the city of sorrow and strife.

You cannot remember where you took a wrong turn

You thought you were doing just fine

But one day you looked up and could not see the sky

And you found yourself down in a mine.

Any miner will tell you there are only two things

You can do if you find yourself there

One is keep digging and go down and down

And the other is to get out of there!     

Take a change of direction and reach for the sky

That pit is the entrance to hell

Keep your eyes on the Master, His cross is the sign

That He loves you and wishes you well.

               

Now the New Year is coming and you can decide

That this resolution is yours

You will walk with the Master and keep in His light

Then a hope and a future are yours.

Wyn Barratt Dec 2012

Meet Me

Will You meet me on the mountain my dear Saviour and my God?

I need to be alone again with You

For the hustle and the bustle of my life is out of hand

In the silence and the mist I will see You.

The world is loud and noisy, so many voices to be heard

Each one believing that their way is right

It seems they have Your ear so how do I discern Your will?

And now my once bright day has turned into night.

So Lord meet me on the mountain; let me hide inside the mist

Let Your Peace then silence every single sound

Touch my heart until it opens and then lets inside Your own

Till we are one in thought and purpose, I am Your own.

Wyn Barratt  Dec 2012.

This Is Your Birthday

O Lord of breathless beauty

O Lord of joy divine

Combining love and duty

I yield this soul of mine.

I deserve all Your judgement

You deserve all my love

Yet withholding then my punishment

You came from Heaven above.

We don’t deserve remembrance

Forgiveness we’ve not earned

Yet You, our loving Saviour

Were beaten, tortured, spurned.

You died for the unforgiving

You died for the unaware

And yet with all Your giving

Heaven’s opened, we are welcomed there.

So Lord on this Your birthday

We remember too Your death

And how You offered mercy

On Your last, such laboured breath.

We raise our arms to worship

We lift our hearts in love

We’ll walk the way of Calvary

Till we reach our home above.

Wyn Barratt Dec 2012.

I Think That I Grew Up Today.

 

I think that I grew up today (it wasn’t before time!)

I look into a mirror, surprised at what I find

A pale old lady looked at me her wrinkles on the rise

But her bright blue eyes were sparkling and that was my surprise.

You see that when I looked out from those eyes I knew were mine

 I saw every person looking and yet I felt that I was blind

Like when you’re at the movies and the story is not yours

You cannot touch, just listen, to others lives, not yours.

For years I had been grieving and hiding in the house

My life was over, even. I was quiet as a mouse

But when today I saw ME and I looked quite alive

I knew that I was ready and I could step outside.

So now I know I’m ready, if the world is ready or not

Every day is an adventure, just a little or a lot

I have a Great Companion Who is with me all the way

And every day He will be near for He promised He will stay.

So here’s to new adventures in a bright and hopeful world

Though my days are few or many, my flag will be unfurled

For Jesus Christ has promised that He will give me hope

And with that hope a future so the two of us can cope.

Wyn Barratt Dec 2012.