♥️ Take heart!

Seek and find

18.04.2026Ruth Kirk

Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life” (John 8:12; NLT).

Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you (Matthew 7:7; NLT).

Seek light
In the heart of the gospel;
Find hope
In the heart of God’s Word.

Seek faith
In the heart of the gospel;
Find peace
In the heart of the Lord.

Seek joy
In the heart of the gospel;
Find strength
In the heart of God’s Son.

Seek life
In the heart of the gospel;
Find truth there –
In Christ we are one.

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).

I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one (John 17:22; NLT).

References

In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it (John 1:1-5; NLT).

We proclaim to you the one who existed from the beginning, whom we have heard and seen. We saw him with our own eyes and touched him with our own hands. He is the Word of life (1 John 1:1; NLT).

I have put my hope in your word (Psalm 119:74; NLT).

The LORD is peace (Judges 6:24; NLT).

God’s word lives in your hearts (1 John 2:14; NLT).

No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is himself God, is near to the Father’s heart. He has revealed God to us (John 1:18; NLT).

This one who is life itself was revealed to us, and we have seen him. And now we testify and proclaim to you that he is the one who is eternal life. He was with the Father, and then he was revealed to us (1 John 1:2; NLT).

Shared healing

17.04.2026Ruth Kirk

Today in prayer, I saw clearly that we need to work with Jesus in order to bring about the healing of our wounded inner child.

One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so he could touch and bless them. But the disciples scolded the parents for bothering him. When Jesus saw what was happening, he was angry with his disciples. He said to them, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children …

Son of Man,
We share one mind:
Let’s listen to my inner child
Together.

Lamb of God,
We share one heart:
Let’s lift and hold my inner child
Together.

Shepherd King,
We share one soul:
Let’s bless and heal my inner child
Together.

Lord, my God,
We share this life:
Let’s teach and love my inner child
Together.

… I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.” Then he took the children in his arms and placed his hands on their heads and blessed them (Mark 10:13-16; NLT).

References

I am the good shepherd (John 10:11; NLT).

He will feed his flock like a shepherd. He will carry the lambs in his arms, holding them close to his heart. He will gently lead the mother sheep with their young (Isaiah 40:11; NLT).

Reading: Psalm 23.

Christ is within!

16.04.2026Ruth Kirk

Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us (Colossians 3:11; NLT).

Christ is within!
Our teacher, our kin;
Our shepherd and guide.

The Saviour who died
Is living within:
Our brother, our twin!

Our gospel, our light,
Our pearl beyond price
Is Jesus, within.

Our Spirit, our King,
Our staff and our rod –
Our Lord and our God!

“My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed (John 20:28; NLT).

References

The Lord himself will give you the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us’). (Isaiah 7:14; NLT).

Be sure of this: I am with you always (Matthew 28:20; NLT).

Reading: Psalm 23.

Peace and healing

15.04.2026Ruth Kirk

Following yesterday’s blog, here is a simple but heartfelt prayer:

I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them (1 Timothy 2:1; NLT).

I will heal my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace and security (Jeremiah 33:6; NIV).

I pray for peace
In every mind,
In every heart,
And every soul.

O Son of Man,
O Shepherd King,
O Lamb of God:
Please make us whole.

His hands make whole (Job 5:18; NKJV).

References

Turn from evil and do good, seek peace and pursue it (Psalm 34:14; NIV).

Even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many (Matthew 20:28; NLT).

I am the Good Shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep (John 10:11; NLT).

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29; NLT).

Pray for one another, that you may be healed (James 5:16; NKJV).

A sleepless night

14.04.2026Ruth Kirk

Introduction
Well, my friends, I am sure I am not alone in having had a very disturbed night after seeing that shockingly blasphemous image of Trump apparently carrying out a ‘divine’ healing. I could not get it out of my mind.

Truth
For me, the conflict between this image and the truth could hardly be greater. Think about the discrimination, deprivation, injury, death and destruction he is causing. Everything he does brings further suffering for the poor, the dispossessed and the disadvantaged. This is the very opposite of Christ’s selfless humility, love, service, inclusiveness and healing. There is simply no resemblance whatsoever between Donald Trump and Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

Prayer
In the face of all this my mind and heart feel frozen, and I’m finding it impossible to pray. I have to face and express the truth. How can we be allowing Trump to exercise such vast power over our lives, our environment, and our world? Yet many people seem to be in thrall to his bullying, foolishness, lies, selfishness and violence – even those who call themselves Christians.

Christianity
Trump’s way is most definitely not Christ’s way. I simply cannot understand how any Christian can approve of his speech, behaviour and actions in any way at all. Where do they see the Fruit of the Holy Spirit reflected in his life? For the record:

The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-3; NLT).

Conclusion
I am sorry that this blog is so dark, but can only speak the truth as far as I understand it at my current stage of spiritual growth.

So, today, instead of a poem or prayer, I offer you two readings to think about.

1. Psalm 10
The first is Psalm 10. Here is a quotation to give the flavour of it, though I recommend reading the whole Psalm:

Their helpless victims are crushed; they fall beneath the strength of the wicked (Psalm 10:10; NLT).

2. The Magnificat
By way of contrast, my second reading brings Mary’s inspired, visionary, prophetic, indomitable hope and courage to our dire world situation. Again, I recommend reading the whole passage: Luke 1:46-55.

His mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation. He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away (Luke 1:50-53; KJV).

References

Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me (Matthew 25:40; NIV).

Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me (Matthew 25:45; NIV).

In just three days

13.04.202613.04.2026Ruth Kirk

Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up (John 2:19; NLT).

In just three days I’ll rise again,
And you will see my joyful face.
You’ll touch my wounds,
And hear my voice again,
And know my grace.

In just three days I will rebuild
My temple in your flesh and blood.
I’ll heal your heart,
And mend your broken spirit
With my love.

In just three days you’ll see again
My way, my truth, my shining light.
Then we’ll be one
For evermore –
And you will share my life.

I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead! (Philippians 3:8-11; NLT).

Rejoice that you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed at the revelation of His glory (1Peter 4:13; CSB).

Reading: John 20:24-9; NLT.

Together

12.04.2026Ruth Kirk

The LORD is in his holy temple. Let all the earth be silent before him (Habakkuk 2:20; NLT).

In silent praise and wordless prayer:
Christ is with us, very near.

In private grief and hidden loss:
He weeps beside us, always here.

In untold stress and unseen pain:
Jesus is our friend and kin.

In secret fear and deepest dread:
He shares it all – our God, within.

“My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed (John 20:28; NLT).

Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us (Colossians 3:11; NLT).

References

The person who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with him (1 Corinthians 6:17; NLT).

My beloved is mine and I am his (Song of Songs 2:16; NIV).

We are the temple of the living God (2 Corinthians 6:16; NLT).

Outward appearance

11.04.2026Ruth Kirk

People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart (1 Samuel 16:7; NLT).

People judge by outward appearance –
But God sees our minds.

People judge by outward appearance –
But God knows our hearts.

People judge by outward appearance –
But God loves our souls.

People judge by outward appearance –
But God shares our lives.

In all their suffering he also suffered, and he personally rescued them. In his love and mercy he redeemed them. He lifted them up and carried them through all the years (Isaiah 63:9; NLT).

References

You have tested my thoughts and examined my heart in the night (Psalm 17:3; NLT).

Whatever is in your heart determines what you say. A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak. The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you (Matthew 12:35-7; NLT).

I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations (Ezekiel 36:26-7; NLT).

He loves us with unfailing love (Psalm 117:2; NLT).

In him we live and move and have our being (Acts 17:28, NIV).

There is …one God and Father, who is over all and in all and living through all (Ephesians 4:5-6; NLT).

Life

10.04.2026Ruth Kirk

Keep watch and pray (Matthew 26:41; NLT).

Wait patiently for the LORD. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the LORD (Psalm 27:14; NLT).

Watching,
Waiting,
Finding,
Caring.

Hearing,
Seeing,
Meeting,
Sharing.

Walking,
Talking,
Lending,
Giving.

Helping,
Serving,
Loving –
Living.

Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me (Matthew 25:40; NIV).

Anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love (1 John 4:8; NLT).

I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full (John 10:10; NIV).

References

The fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] is love [unselfish concern for others], joy, [inner] peace, patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting], kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (Galatians 5:22-3; AMP).

Love your neighbour as yourself (Leviticus 19:18; NLT).

Love the stranger (Deuteronomy 10:19; NKJV).

Show love to foreigners (Deuteronomy 10:19; NLT).

Love your enemies (Matthew 5:44; NLT).