A sleepless night

Ruth 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

Ruth 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

Ruth 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

Ruth 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

Ruth 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).

Reciprocity

Ruth Kirk

Everything comes from him; everything happens through him; everything ends up in him (Romans 11:36; TM).

Prayer is what we say to God –
And what God says to us.

Faith is what we seek from God –
And what God seeks from us.

Pain is what we share with God –
And what God shares with us.

Thirst is how we long for God –
And how God longs for us.

Love is how we live in God –
And how God lives in us.

Life is what God gives to us –
And what God takes from us.

The LORD gives both death and life (1 Samuel 2:8; NLT).

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

Meeting

Ruth Kirk

LORD, my heart is not proud; my eyes are not haughty. I don’t concern myself with matters too great or too awesome for me to grasp. Instead, I have calmed and quieted myself, like a weaned child who no longer cries for its mother’s milk. Yes, like a weaned child is my soul within me (Psalm 131:1-2; NLT).

I don’t need to move,
Or think,
Or speak.

I don’t need to wait,
Or pray,
Or seek.

I don’t need to hope,
Or sigh,
Or search.

I don’t need to weep,
Or grieve,
Or thirst –

Because you are here!
We meet,
And kiss.

I rest in your love,
Your peace,
Your bliss.

My Lord and my God!
My task
Is done –

You’re here, in my heart,
And we
Are one.

So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him (Luke 15:20; NLT).

Everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him (Philippians 3:8-9; NLT).

References

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

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

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

May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God (Ephesians 3:19; NLT).

Suddenly, their eyes were opened, and they recognized him (Luke 24:31; NLT).

Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light” (Matthew 11:28-30; NLT).

Inner light

Ruth Kirk

This blog describes what I experienced in prayer yesterday morning.

His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as light (Matthew 17:2; NLT).

You flood me
With your inner light,

And warm me
With your blissful sun.

You overwhelm me
With your love –

Our spirits join:
And we are one. 

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

References

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

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

Easter Monday 2026

Ruth Kirk

In prayer on Easter Day, I suddenly saw that since Christ’s death on the cross he is resurrected in our bodies, minds, hearts and souls. All we need to do is to recognise  him.

Suddenly, their eyes were opened, and they recognized him (Luke 24:31; NLT; my emphasis).

My goal is to know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings (Philippians 3:10; CSB).

Your resurrection, Lord,
Is in each soul –
You are the God who died
To make us whole.

Living within our hearts and minds
You weep –
Sharing our sorrows
When the way is steep.

Here, in our flesh and blood
You make us One –
One with each other,
And with you, God’s Son.

You are the King of kings
Whose love is sweet –
You are the One
Who makes our lives complete.

May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God (Ephesians 3:19; NLT).

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

References

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

Jesus told them, “You will indeed drink from my bitter cup and be baptized with my baptism of suffering” (Mark 10:39; 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).

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).

Don’t you know that your bodies are a part of Christ’s body? (1 Corinthians 6:15; CSB).

We have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16; 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).

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

Easter Sunday 2026

Ruth Kirk

♥️ Happy Easter to everyone who visits here. Thank you so much for all your support, likes, feed back and encouraging comments. I deeply appreciate them.
With love from Ruth xxx

Jesus cried out with a loud voice, and breathed His last. Then the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. So when the centurion, who stood opposite Him, saw that He cried out like this and breathed His last, he said, “Truly this Man was the Son of God!” (Mark 15:37-9; NKJV).

There is no veil!
I’m at your side –
My arms are strong;
My heart is wide.

There is no door!
I’m here with you –
And every word I speak
Is true.

There is no gate!
I am your soul –
The breath of God
Which makes you whole.

There is no cross!
I live in you –
Through all you think, feel, say,
And do.

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).

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

References

Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing (John 15:5; NLT).

I have revealed you to them, and I will continue to do so. Then your love for me will be in them, and I will be in them (John 17:26; NLT).

The LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul (Genesis 2:7; KJV).

Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? (1 Corinthians 6:19; NLT).