Month: July 2019

Without you

Ruth Kirk

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

1. Without you I  am nothing, Father –
Finite flesh and fragile bone.

2. Without you I am nothing, Mary –
Motherless, and all alone.

3. Without you I am nothing, Jesus –
Sinful, weak, condemned to death.

4. Without you I am nothing, Spirit –
You alone give life and breath.

References

1. You lived in this world without God and without hope (Ephesians 2:12; NLT).

We ourselves are like fragile clay jars (2 Corinthians 4:7; NLT).

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

3. The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23; NLT).

4. The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life (Job 33:4; NLT).

Prayer

Ruth Kirk

1. I praise you, Lord,
And plead with you;
Worship you,
And wait for you.

2. I serve you, Lord,
And search for you;
Honour you,
And hope in you.

3. I trust you, Lord,
And thirst for you;
Cherish you,
And cry to you.

4. I love you, Lord,
And long for you;
Rejoice in you,
And run to you.

References

1. I praise you, O Lord (Psalm 119:12; NLT).
I plead for the Lord’s mercy (Psalm 142:1; NLT).
I worship the Lord (Jonah 1:9; NLT).
I wait for you (Psalm 59:9; NLT).

2. I serve you (Psalm 86:2; NLT).
I search for you (Isaiah 26:9; NLT).
I honour my Father (John 8:49; NLT).
I put my hope in you (Psalm 25:5; NLT).

3. I trust in you, my God (Psalm 25:2; NLT).
I thirst for God (Psalm 42:2; NLT).
We adore you (1 Chronicles 29:11; NLT).
I cry to you (Psalm 61:2; NLT).

4. I love you, Lord (Psalm 18:1; NLT).
I long for you, O God (Psalm 42:1; NLT).
I rejoice in the Lord (Psalm 104:34; NLT).
I run to you (Psalm 143:9; NLT).

Be mine

Ruth Kirk

 

Be mine,
By loving me completely;

Be mine,
By following my Son.

Be mine,
By caring for your neighbour;

Be mine,
By loving everyone.

Be mine,
By seeking me each morning;

Be mine,
By searching for my face.

Be mine,
By growing more like Jesus;

Be mine –
And share the riches of my grace.

References

They shall be mine, says the Lord of Hosts (Malachi 3:17; ESV).

Follow the way of love (1 Corinthians 14:1; NIV).

In him we have redemption through his blood […] according to the riches of his grace which he lavished upon us (Ephesians 1:7-8; RSV).

From earth to infinity

Ruth Kirk

1. From earth, Lord, to infinity
We all return, one day.

2. From suffering to perfect health
Our spirits fly away.

3. From wretchedness to happiness
Our souls, at last, will come

4. From death to immortality,
When our race has been run.

5. Yet all this can be ours in life:
Your kingdom is so near –

6. A prayer, kind word, or action
And your kingdom, Lord, is here.

7. Then we will live in heaven on earth,
Released from fear and sin,

8. United in our love, Lord,
For your kingdom is within!

References

1. Return, O my soul, to your rest (Psalm 116:7: ESV).

2. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain (Revelation 21:4; NLT).

3. Come and share your master’s happiness! (Matthew 25:21; NIV).

4. To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honour and immortality, he will give eternal life (Romans 2:7; NIV).
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful (2 Timothy 4:7; NLT).

5. Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven (Philippians 1:27; NLT).
The Kingdom of God is near (Luke 10:11; NLT).

6. Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them (Romans 12:9; NLT).
The Kingdom of God is already among you (Luke 17:21; NLT).

7. Perfect love casts out fear (1 John 4:18; NKJV).
He gave his life to free us from from every kind of sin (Titus 2:14; NLT).

8. Whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit (1 Corinthians 6:17; NIV).
The kingdom of God is within you (Luke 17:21; NKJV).

You give us bodies

Ruth Kirk

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

1. You give us bodies
Made from dust;
To dust they will return.

2. You lend us minds,
Though they will die,
No matter what we learn.

3. You loan us hearts,
Just for a while,
So we can seek your face;

4. But our souls, Lord,
Are part of you:
Our source, and resting-place.

References

1. You were made from dust, and to dust you will return (Genesis 3:19; NLT).

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

How frail is humanity! How short is life, how full of trouble! (Job 14:1; NLT).

3. I will […] give you a heart of flesh (Ezekiel 36:26; NIV).

Seek his face always (1 Chronicles 16:11; NIV).

4. I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb (Jeremiah 1:5; NLT).

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

His resting place shall be glorious (Isaiah 11:10; NKJV).

In the heat of the day

Ruth Kirk

1. In the heat of the day,
You draw near to say:
Come to me, children,
And rest.

2. In the long afternoon,
You murmur: Quite soon,
My people, you’ll finish
This test.

3. In the cool of the eve,
You whisper: Believe
In me always, and trust
In my Son.

4. In the depths of the night,
You sing with delight:
Your souls, and my Spirit,
Are one.

5. In the freshness of dawn,
You cheer the forlorn:
I’m with you in gain
And in loss.

6. And, as we face each task,
You love, Lord, to ask
Of us: Followers, take up
Your cross.

References

1. Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest
(Matthew 11:28; NIV).

2. How frail is humanity! How short is life, how full of trouble! (Job 14:1; NLT).

3. Trust in God, and trust also in me (John 14;1; NLT).

4. The Spirit of God […] lives in you (Romans 8:11; NLT).
The person who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with him (1 Corinthians 6:17; NLT).

He […] will rejoice over you with singing (Zephaniah 3:17; NIV).

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

6. 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).

My small soul

Ruth Kirk

1. In death, I’ll quit this body,
My mind and heart, Lord, too,
But my small soul will still be strong
For it will merge with you.

2. In death, I’ll quit this body,
With all its scars and pain,
But my small soul will rest in you,
When we unite again.

References

1. March on with courage, my soul! (Judges 5:21; NLT).

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

2. My back is filled with searing pain; there is no health in my body (Psalm 38:7; NLT).

Return, O my soul, to your rest (Psalm 116:7: ESV).

The sacred arts

Ruth Kirk

Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples (Luke 11:1; NLT).

1. Teach us, Lord, to pray like you,
Who walked on Jordan’s banks,
So we can practice constantly
The sacred art of thanks.

2. Guide us all to pray like you,
Who saved all those who strayed,
So we can practice constantly
The sacred art of praise.

3. Show us how to pray like you,
Who raised the lifeless boy,
So we can practice constantly
The sacred art of joy.

4. Help us, Lord, to pray like you,
Who gave your flesh and blood,
So we can practice constantly
The sacred art of love.

References

1. Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks to God, and distributed them to the people
(John 6:11; NLT).

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

2. Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth” (Matthew 11:25; NIV).

O God, we […] constantly praise your name (Psalm 44:8; NLT).

3. Jesus was filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit (Luke 10:21; NLT).

Rejoice always (1 Thessalonians 5:17; NIV).

4. Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself’” (Matthew 22:37-39; NLT).

Pray continually (1 Thessalonians 5:17; NIV). 

When we wake

Ruth Kirk

1. When we wake,
Your light returns.

2. When we hate,
Your fire burns.

3. When we fail,
Your truth is clear.

4. When we fall,
Your peace is near.

5. When we care,
Your love, Lord, shows;

6. And when we pray,
Your Spirit flows.

References

1. God is light (1 John 1:5; NLT).

2. God is a consuming fire (Deuteronomy 4:24; NIV).

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

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

5. God is love (1 John 4:16; NLT).

6. God is Spirit (John 4:24; NLT).

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).