The breath of life

Ruth Kirk

1. Lord,
You are the Breath of Life:
Our flesh, our bones, our blood;
Our strength, our mind, our heartbeat,
Our spirit, and our love.

2. Lord,
You are the Bread of Life:
Our water, and our wine;
Our land, our flocks, our shelter,
Our harvest, and our vine.

3. Lord,
You are the Light of Life:
Our lantern, staff, and rod;
Our way, our guide, our Shepherd,
Our Saviour, and our God.

4. Lord,
You are the Book of Life:
Our crucible, our soul;
Our faith, our hope, our passion,
Our dawning, and our goal.

References

1. He breathed the breath of life into the man’s nostrils, and the man became a living person (Genesis 2:7; NLT).

2. I am the bread of life (John 6:48; NLT).

3. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life
(John 8:12; NIV).

4. I will never erase their names from the Book of Life (Revelation 3:5; NLT).

Perspective

Ruth Kirk

1. To say: Lord God, you love me,
And: Father, I love you,
Shows only my perspective,
So it’s time for a review.

2. Instead: We love each other,
And: Father, we are one –
These words show we’re united
Through the life of your dear Son.

3. To say: Lord God, you love me,
And: Jesus, I love you,
Shows only my perspective,
So I need a wider view.

4. Instead: We love each other,
And: Jesus, we are one –
These words show we’re united
By the death of your dear Son.

5. To say: Lord God, you love me,
And: Spirit, I love you,
Shows only my perspective,
So I need a fuller view.

6. Instead: We love each other,
And: Spirit, we are one –
These words show we’re united
In the heart of your dear Son.

References

1. He loves us with unfailing love (Psalm 117:2; NLT).
I love you, Lord (Psalm 18:1; NLT).

2. Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me” (John 14:6; NLT).

4. All glory to him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by shedding his blood for us (Revelation 1:5; NLT).

6. I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one – as you are in me, Father, and I am in you.  […] I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one (John 17:21-2; NLT).

Fire

Ruth Kirk

1. I love you, Father –
You’re the fire
That burns within my breast.

2. I love you, Father –
You’re the peace
That sets my mind at rest.

3. I love you, Father –
You’re the light
That shows my heart the way.

4. I love you, Father –
You’re the truth
That helps my soul to pray.

References

1. God is a consuming fire (Deuteronomy 4:24; NIV).
Didn’t our hearts burn within us as he talked with us? (Luke 24:32; NLT).

2. The Lord is peace (Judges 6:24; NLT).
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28; NIV).

3. God is light (1 John 1:5; NLT).
Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path (Psalm 119:105; NLT).

4. The Spirit is truth (1 John 5:6; NKJV).
The Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words (Romans 8:26; NLT).

You have blessed my life

Ruth Kirk

Give thanks in all circumstances
(1 Thessalonians 5:18; NIV).

1. Father,
You have blessed my life
With hardship and abuse;
You’ve given me so much to learn:
Lord, thank you for each truth.

2. Father,
You have blessed my life
With suffering and pain;
You’ve given me so much to learn:
Lord, thank you for each gain.

3. Father,
You have blessed my life
With sorrow, grief and loss;
You’ve given me so much to learn:
Lord, thank you for each cross.

4. Father,
You have blessed my life
With guilt, regret, and shame;
You’ve given me so much to learn:
I praise your glorious name.

References

1. God has seen your abuse (Genesis 31:42; NLT).

Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world (John 16:33; NLT).

Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you (Psalm 25:5; NLT).

2. You have allowed me to suffer much hardship, but you will restore me to life again and life me up from the depths of the earth (Psalm 71:20; NLT).

3. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised (Job 1:21; NIV).

4. I know my transgressions and my sin is always before me (Psalm 51:3; NIV).

O our God, we thank you and praise your glorious name! (1 Chronicles 29:13; NLT).

Born again

Ruth Kirk

1. When you send us into exile
We are born of human flesh –
Our chance to seek your only Son,
Who shares all our distress.

2. When we give our lives to him, Lord,
We are born on earth anew,
But this time of your Spirit,
Who helps us to grow like you.

3. When we take our final breath
We are reborn in heaven above,
To rest with you forever,
Reunited, Lord, in love.

 

References

1. I sent them away to exile and brought them home again (Ezekiel 39:28; NLT).
Keep on seeking, and you will find (Matthew 7:7; NLT).
In all their suffering he also suffered (Isaiah 63:9; NLT).

2. If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me (Luke 9:23; NLT).
Unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God (John 3:3; NLT).
You can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit (John 3:8; NLT).
Put on your new nature, created to be like God – truly righteous and holy (Ephesians 4:24; NLT).

3. The dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it (Ecclesiastes 12:7; NIV).
Return, O my soul, to your rest (Psalm 116:7; ESV).
You have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end. Your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of God (1 Peter 1:23; NLT).

Heaven on earth

Ruth Kirk

1. Son of God,
You give me love,
So I dwell in heaven above;
And, as I mature and grow,
I will live in heaven, below.

2. Son of Man,
You calm my fear,
So I rest in heaven, here;
And, as I become like you,
I will live in heaven, too.

3. Lamb of God,
You fill my mind,
I will not leave heaven behind,
For, as I perceive your worth,
I will live in heaven, on earth.

References

1. I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have the power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ (Ephesians 3:17-19; NIV).

Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught and you will overflow with thankfulness (Colossians 2:7; NLT).

2. He [Jesus] rebuked the wind, and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. Then he asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?” (Mark 4:39-40; NLT).

We will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ (Ephesians 4:15; NLT).

3. Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered (Revelation 5:12; NLT).

Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven (Philippians 1:27; NLT).

Letting go

Ruth Kirk

When you were young, you were able to do as you liked;
you dressed yourself and went wherever you wanted to go.
But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands,
and others will dress you and take you where you don’t want to go.
(John 21:18; NLT).

1. Lord, as I get older,
I find I must let go
Of all I take for granted,
But, instead, you make me grow.

2. I’ve had to let my looks go,
My vanity and pride;
My status and my ego,
But, instead, you are my guide.

3. I’ve had to let my strength go,
My energy and health;
My work and independence,
But, instead, you give me help.

4. I’ve had to let my past go,
My childhood, my abuse;
My bitterness and hatred,
But, instead, you teach me truth.

5. And I will have to give up more:
My body, life, and breath;
But I will gladly let them go,
To merge with you, in death.

References

1. Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong (Ephesians 3:17; NLT).

We will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ (Ephesians 4:15; NLT

2. He is our God forever and ever, and he will guide us until we die (Psalm 48:14; NLT).

3. My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth (Psalm 121:2; NLT).

4. The Spirit is truth (1 John 5:6; NKJV).

Teach me your ways, O Lord, that I may live according to your truth (Psalm 86:11; NLT).

5. Then Jesus shouted, “Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!” And with those words he breathed his last (Luke 23:46; NLT).

The Lord gave me what I had, and the Lord has taken it away. Praise the name of the Lord (Job 1:21; NLT).

The dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it (Ecclesiastes 12:7; NIV).