Month: June 2019

Heaven on earth

Ruth Kirk

1. Son of God, to seek and find,
We must all leave heaven behind;
Yet, dear Lord, to follow you,
We must trust in heaven, too.

2. Son of Man, to change and grow,
We must dwell in heaven below;
Yet, dear Lord, to care and bond,
We must draw on heaven beyond.

3. Holy One, to feel you near,
We must be in heaven here;
Yet, dear Lord, to practice love,
We must learn from heaven above.

4. Lamb of God, to share your bread,
We must long for heaven ahead;
Yet, dear Lord, to grasp your worth,
We must live in heaven on earth.

References

1. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me (Jeremiah 29:13; NLT).
Follow me and be my disciple (Matthew 9:9; NLT).

2. We will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ (Ephesians 4:15; NLT).
Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me (Matthew 25:40; NIV).

3. The Lord is near (Philippians 4:5; NIV).
Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them (Romans 12.9; NLT).

4. Jesus took some bread and blessed it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take this and eat it, for this is my body” (Matthew 26:26; NLT).
Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered (Revelation 5:12; NLT).

Sorrow ends

Ruth Kirk

He will wipe every tear from their eyes,
And there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain.
All these things are gone forever
(Revelation 21:4; NLT).

1. Father God,
Forget our sins –
Sorrow ends
When love begins.

2. Help us to forgive
Each foe –
Hatred ends
When love can flow.

3. Wipe away
Our grief and fear –
Heartbreak ends
When love draws near.

4. Heal our sickness,
Mend our lives –
Sadness ends
When love arrives.

5. Purge the craving
Of our wills –
Anguish ends
When love rebuilds.

6. End our wars
And make us sane –
Evil ends
When you, Lord, reign.

References

1. I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins (Jeremiah 31:34; NLT).

2. Love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you (Luke 6:28; NLT).

3. God will wipe away every tear from their eyes (Revelation 7:17; NIV).

4. He […] heals all my diseases (Psalm 103:3; NLT).

5. The world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions (1 John 2:16; NLT).

6.Nation will no longer fight against nation, nor train for war anymore (Isaiah 2:4; NLT).

Exile

Ruth Kirk

I sent them away to exile and brought them home again
(Ezekiel 39:28; NLT).

1. Father, we are part of you,
Till, one by one, you give us birth,
Then we must leave your glory
To be exiled on this earth.

2. Here, you give us much to learn –
Faith, forgiveness, kindness, peace –
By following your only Son,
And praying without cease.

3. When it’s time, you bring us home,
There’s nothing left for us to do
Except to be re-born in love,
And reunite with you.

References

1. I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb (Jeremiah 1:5; NLT).
He chose to give birth to us (James 1:18; NLT).
I will be a sanctuary to you during your time in exile (Ezekiel 11:16; NLT).

2. Put on your new nature, created to be like God (Ephesians 4:24; NLT).
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).
Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me” (Mark 1:17; NLT).
Pray continually (1 Thessalonians 5:17; NIV).

3. You do not know the day or hour of my return (Matthew 25:13; NLT).
The dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it (Ecclesiastes 12:7; NIV).

Together

Ruth Kirk

I love you,
And you love me,
Together, Lord,
We’re strong and free.

You in me,
And I in you,
Together, Lord,
In all we do.

One with you,
And you with me,
Together, Lord,
Eternally.

One in love,
And joy, and pain,
Together, Lord,
We will remain.

References

I love you, Lord (Psalm 18:1; NLT).

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

All who live in love live in God, and God lives in them (1 John 4:16; NLT).

The Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you (Deuteronomy 31:6; NIV).

In all their suffering he also suffered (Isaiah 63:9; NLT).

Nothing can ever separate us from God’s love (Romans 8:38; NLT).

God who sees me

Ruth Kirk

1. God who sees me,
You are light;
Guiding always,
Day and night.

2. God who knows me,
You are truth;
Teaching, Lord,
Without reproof.

3. God who keeps me,
You are fire;
Saving souls
Your one desire.

4. God who hears me,
You are peace;
Comforting, Lord,
Without cease.

5. God who made me,
You are love;
Pouring down
From heaven above.

 

References

1. You are the God who sees me (Genesis 16:13; NLT).
God is light (1 John 1:5; NLT).
He guides me along right paths (Psalm 23:3; NLT).

2. God knows people’s hearts (Acts 15:8; NLT).
The Spirit is truth (1 John 5:6; NKJV).
He is very patient with those on whom his anger falls (Romans 9:22; NLT).

3. He keeps me safe (Psalm 55:18; NLT).
The Lord your God is a consuming fire (Deuteronomy 4:24; NIV).
He will save the souls of the needy (Psalm 72:13; NLT).

4. The Lord hears my voice (Psalm 55:17; NLT).
The Lord is peace (Judges 6:24; NLT).
He comforts us in all our troubles (2 Corinthians 1:4; NLT).

5. He made us, and we are his (Psalm 100:3; NLT).
God is love (1 John 4:16; NLT).
Each day the Lord pours out his unfailing love upon me (Psalm 42:8; NLT).

Like you

Ruth Kirk

Jesus,
You’re our perfect Brother –
Everything you say is true.
Help us learn to speak the truth
In love, so we grow more like you.

Mary,
You’re our perfect Mother –
Faith in God guides all you do.
Help us learn to trust the Father,
So we may rejoice, like you.

Spirit,
You’re our perfect Sister –
Comforter and Teacher, too.
Help us learn to keep on praying,
So we live as one with you.

Lord,
You are our perfect Father –
Good or bad, you bring us through.
Help us learn to keep on loving,
Then we will be more like you.

References

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

Mary responded, “Oh how my soul praises the Lord. How my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour!” (Luke 1:46-7; NLT).

We don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words (Romans 8:26; NLT).

You are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect (Matthew 5:48; NLT).

Just the same

Ruth Kirk

To say: I love you, Lord, my God,
Is just the same as saying: You love me.
To say: You love me, Lord, my God,
Is just the same as saying: I love you.

To say: I live in you, Lord God,
Is just the same as: Lord, you live in me.
To say: You live in me, Lord God,
Is just the same as: Lord, I live in you.

To say: I’m one with you, Lord God,
Is just the same as: Lord, you’re one with me.
To say: You’re one with me, Lord God,
Is just same as: Lord, I’m one with you.

And so we live in love, Lord God,
For you are Love, just like your only Son.
Together, Lord, you pour out love
Within us, where your Spirit makes us One.

References

I love you, Lord (Psalm 18:1; NLT).

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

God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them (1 John 4:16; NLT).

In Christ lives all the fulness of God in a human body (Colossians 2:9; NLT).

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 (John 17:21; NLT).

Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart’ (John 7:38; NLT).

Whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit (1 Corinthians 6:17; NIV).

When I’m terrified

Ruth Kirk

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances;
for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus
(1 Thessalonians 5:16-18; NIV).

Father,
When I’m terrified
You carry me all day;
Even when I’m hurt, or trapped,
Your Spirit helps me pray.

Father,
When my world’s upturned
You are my conscious choice;
Even when the future’s bleak,
My soul will still rejoice.

Father,
When disaster strikes
You bring good from all things;
So I will offer thanks to you,
Whatever my life brings.

References

The Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words (Romans 8:26; NLT).

Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil: for thou art with me (Psalm 23:4; KJV).

We know that all things work together for good for those who love God (Romans 8:28; NRSV).

Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you (Deuteronomy 31:8; NLT).

I love you

Ruth Kirk

Hello, everyone. I’ve just discovered that yesterday’s post again only reached those who follow me by email. I don’t know why this happened, but will try to guard against it in future. Meanwhile, I’m re-posting that day’s prayer, so no one will miss out. I’m really sorry this happened.

How powerful you are, Lord God,
I love you.
My rock and refuge every day,
I love you.

May I walk in your narrow way,
I love you,
And always praise your name, and pray,
I love you.

How wonderful you are, Lord God,
I love you.
My teacher and my steadfast guide,
I love you.

May I give up all hate and pride,
I love you,
And always journey at your side,
I love you.

How glorious you are, Lord God,
I love you.
My advocate and comfort still,
I love you.

May I thank you for good and ill,
I love you,
And always try to do your will,
I love you.

References

God is all-powerful (Job 36:22; NLT).

He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me (Psalm 62:7; NLT).

The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is a wonderful teacher (Isaiah 28:29; NLT).

How glorious is our God! (Deuteronomy 32:3; NLT).

I will send you the Advocate [or Comforter] – the Spirit of truth (John 15:26; NLT).

Should we accept only good from the hand of God, and never anything bad? (Job 2:10; NLT).

I want your will to be done, not mine (Matthew 26:39; NLT).

Without you

Ruth Kirk

Father,
Without you I’m nothing –
You alone give life and breath.

Jesus,
Without you I’m nothing –
You alone have conquered death.

Mary,
Without you I’m nothing –
You alone have made me whole.

Spirit,
Without you I’m nothing –
You alone live in my soul.

References

I am nothing but dust and ashes (Genesis 18:27; NIV).

He [God] himself gives life and breath to everything (Acts 17:25; NLT).

He [Christ] broke the power of death and illuminated the way to life (2 Timothy 1:10; NLT).

He [Jesus] said to this disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from then on this disciple took her into his home (John 19:27; NLT).

The Spirit of God lives in you (1 Corinthians 3:16; NLT).