A Family Under God
Let husbands love their wives with a sacrificial love;
let husbands love their wives as they love themselves.
Let wives respect their husbands as heads just as the Lord is head above;
let your scripture be the source for guidance into which the family delves.
Let children be obedient and honor their parents;
let them be raised in the Lord’s discipline and instruction.
Let Your word and Your teachings be parents’ primary arguments
to guide them to a life free from the evil one’s seduction.
Let family members bear with each other and forgive
just as the Lord has forgiven us.
Let their worship for You outlive
any personal distrusts.
Let families live only in accordance to Your will,
so that love and blessings from their hearts overfill.
Appreciation
Let us give thanks to the Lord with all of our hearts
and proclaim all of His wonderful deeds.
We owe all we have to Him who gives all one needs;
We know that once You have one’s soul, from You it never departs.
He is our rock and our salvation,
so let us always keep him near.
His presence means we need not fear
the curse of eternal damnation.
He grants us our strength and makes us strong,
and to His people He gives peace.
We give thanks to the God from whom all things flow.
He has passed over the sins we have committed, indeed every wrong.
Through him we receive a release
and await the new lives he will, eventually, bestow.
An End to Suffering
We pray for Your day to come fast,
for that day, You will wipe the tears from our eyes,
and death will no longer last.
Mourning, crying, and pain will cease on the day You arise.
Even if we suffer for a time,
we rejoice despite the pain
because the age to come will be sublime.
Therefore our endurance is not in vain.
From the character endurance breeds comes hope,
and hope does not put us to shame.
Even if we feel we can’t cope,
we will put our trust in Your holy name
We await Your return eagerly,
for on that day, from suffering we will be free.
Faithful
Oh gracious God, You keep Your ears open for our supplications.
Your love is steadfast with those who love You and keep Your commandments.
You are faithful and provide ways to escape our temptations.
You provide for us and heal us from our ailments.
When we seek You with all our hearts, we find you.
When we come and pray to You, You hear.
Let us hold fast to our hope, for when You make a promise, You always come through.
We exalt You, Lord, for to us You are dear.
In times of temptation, we take heart in Your son.
Even if some are unfaithful, your faithfulness remains.
Even when we suffer, we trust in your will, which will always be done.
We were trapped in sin, and You have broken our chains.
Thank you for being merciful and true
and we give thanks for all the glorious things you do.
Trust in Your Wisdom
Your Wisdom is pure;
Your judgements are unsearchable.
Though we may doubt, you are always sure.
The depths of your knowledge are unmeasurable.
Fear of You is the beginning of knowledge;
to shun evil is understanding.
In times of sadness, let us pledge
to offer You praise that is abounding.
Should we encounter disappointment,
let us see it as an opportunity
to glorify your sovereign judgement
and conduct ourselves with dignity.
Any one can praise You in times of gladness,
but blessed are those who praise You even in times of sadness.
Doers
We know it isn’t enough to know.
Our fathers and ceremonies are not what count.
With all we do, we are held to account,
and we will reap what we sow.
You, Lord, measure our heart,
so the rule of law is not where our salvation lies.
Any person who relies on himself dies,
but those who put their faith in Christ are held apart.
Those who do the law are justified;
righteousness doesn’t come from listening.
Even those who haven’t heard it can be a law to themselves if they do what is required.
Those who know the law but break it show themselves falsified.
The disobedient will find the obedient condemning.
For those who receive grace through faith are the ones who are desired.
Call Me
Here I sit in my iniquity;
call me please, so with You I may sit.
To claim not to need You is fatuity.
I am a sinner, so to You I submit.
I am sick;
You are the only physician who can heal me.
Rebuild me, Lord, brick by brick,
and leave my transgressions in the debris.
I listen for Your call,
for I can not escape my sin.
Let me hear You before I fall,
for there is nothing good in my skin.
The table of tax collectors and sinners is where I should be,
so please sit with us and share the truth that sets us free.
s
M.L.S. Weech 