Month: August 2019

A speck of dust

Ruth Kirk

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

1. A tiny speck of dust, I’m part of you, Lord;
Beyond all time and space, a part of you;

2. For you create all things, and dwell within them,
Forever making all there is anew.

3. So I am one with you, and you with me, Lord;
One with all people, one with the skies above;

4. Forever, Lord, rejoicing with creation –
One with your cosmos; one, Lord, in your love.

References

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

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

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

Look, I am making everything new (Revelation 21:5; NLT).

3. 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).

You are all one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:28; NLT).

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge (Psalm 19:1-2; NIV).

4. Rejoice forever in my creation! (Isaiah 65:18; NLT).

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

Waves

Ruth Kirk

1. Waves of darkness
And of of light,

2. Waves of tenderness
And might;

3. Waves of rapture
And of fear,

4. Waves of love:
The Lord is here.

References

1. Clouds and thick darkness surround him (Psalm 97:2; NIV).
God is light (1 John 1:5; NLT).

2. The Lord is full of tenderness (James 5:11; NLT).
He is mighty in both power and understanding (Job 36:5; NLT).

3. In his shadow have I rapture (Song of Songs 2:3; DBY).
The Lord is a friend to those who fear him (Psalm 25:14; NLT).

4. God is love (1 John 4:16; NLT).
Surely the Lord is in this place, and I wasn’t even aware of it! (Genesis 28:16; NLT).

*I’ve just published a slide-show of the retreat I got back from today. Here is the short link, if you would like to view it https://wp.me/P45bCr-4Dn XXXXXXX

It makes no difference

Ruth Kirk

Lord,

1. It makes no difference
Whether I know this person or not:
You made them and you love them,
So I welcome them.

2. It makes no difference
Whether I agree with this person or not:
You made them and you love them,
So I listen to them.

3. It makes no difference
Whether I like this person or not:
You made them and you love them,
So I help them.

4. It makes no difference
Whether I fear this person or not:
You made them and you love them,
So I pray for them.

References

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

He gives breath to everyone, life to everyone who walks the earth (Isaiah 42:5; NLT).

He loves his people (Deuteronomy 33:3; NLT).

2. Love your neighbour as yourself (Mark 12:31; NLT).

3. You, too, must show love to foreigners (Deuteronomy 10:19; NLT).

4. Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you (Matthew 5:44; NIV).

Angel of the hour

Ruth Kirk

Angels came and took care of Jesus (Matthew 4:11; NLT).

1. Angel of the hour, I thank you
For the smile you offer me,
Prompting me to recognise
That God is here in all I see.

2. Angel of the day, I thank you
For your greeting in the street,
Causing me to recollect
That God is here in all I meet.

3. Angel of the month, I thank you
For your guidance when I stray,
Urging me to trust that God
Is with me on this narrow way.

4. Angel of the year, I thank you,
For you save me when I fall,
And you rescue me from danger:
God is in you most of all.

5. Angels, I am truly thankful –
You are sent by God’s own hand,
Helping me through this long exile,
Till I reach his Promised Land.

References

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

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

3. He guides me along right paths (Psalm 23:3; NLT).

4. He rescues me (Psalm 35:9; NLT).

5. He sends his angels like the winds, his servants like flames of fire (Hebrews 1:7; NLT).

He will order his angels to protect you wherever you go (Psalm 91:11-12; NLT).

He chose the Promised Land as our inheritance (Psalm 47:4; NLT).

Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realising it! (Hebrews 13:2; NLT).

We share your beating heart

Ruth Kirk

1. We share your beating heart, Lord God,
Although we may forget;

2. We share, with you, Christ’s mind,
Although we may not grasp this yet.

3. We share his mother’s flesh and blood;
Yet still we may not see:

4. We share your Spirit’s life and breath,
For all are one with Thee.

References

1. There is one Lord […] who is over all and in all and living through all (Ephesians 4:5-6; NLT).

Beware that in your plenty you do not forget the Lord your God (Deuteronomy 8:11; NLT).

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

3. Here is your mother (John 19:27; NLT).

I heard what he said, but I did not understand what he meant (Daniel 12:8; NLT).

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

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

When clouds conceal the sun

Ruth Kirk

I will never leave you, nor forsake you (Hebrews 13:5; NKJV).

1. When clouds conceal the sun, Lord,
It still shines.

2. When worry veils our hopes,
You are still near.

3. When sickness dims our faith,
You are still close.

4. When grief enshrouds our love,
You are still here.

References

2. The Lord is near (Philippians 4:5; NIV).

3. The Lord is close to all who call on him (Psalm 145:18; NLT).

4. God is with us (Matthew 1:23; NLT).

Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect me and comfort me (Psalm 23:4; NLT).

Like you

Ruth Kirk

Lord,

1. Help me not to sin,
But to serve others;

2. Help me not to hate,
But to forgive.

3. Help me not to dominate,
But listen;

4. Help me not to take, Lord,
But to give.

5. Help me not to injure,
But to comfort;

6. Help me not to damage,
But renew.

7. Help me not to fear,
But speak out boldly —

8. For then I will grow more and more
Like you.

References

1. Even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others (Mark 10:45; NLT).

2. When they came to the place called The Skull, they nailed him to the cross [and] Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing” (Luke 23:33-4; NLT).

3. You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry (James 1:19; NLT).

4. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35; NLT).

5. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us (2 Corinthians 1:4, NLT).

6. Let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes (Ephesians 4:23; NLT).

7. God gave us the courage to declare his Good News to you boldly, in spite of great opposition (1 Thessalonians 2:2; NLT).

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

Strength and weakness

Ruth Kirk

When I am weak, then I am strong (2 Corinthians 12:10; NLT).

1. Lord, make me strong,
So I can serve your kingdom,
Although I’m very weak
In earthly terms;

2. For with your help, Lord,
I can meet each trial,
And through your strength alone
Face my concerns.

References

1. Strengthen me according to your word (Psalm 119:28; NKJV).

Have compassion on me, Lord, for I am weak (Psalm 6:2; NLT).

2. With your help I can advance against a troop, with my God I can scale a wall (2 Samuel 22:30; NIV).

Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows (John 16:33; NLT).

The Lord God is my strength (Isaiah 12:2; NLT).

In truth

Ruth Kirk

Your sun will never set; your moon will not go down.
For the Lord will be your everlasting light.
(Isaiah 60:20; NLT).

1. In truth, the sun, Lord, never sets,
The moon, Lord, does not rise –

2. They shine to praise you, even
When they’re hidden from our eyes.

3. In truth, your love, Lord, never ends,
Your care does not begin –

4. You always pour them on us,
Though they’re hidden by our sin.

5. In truth, your peace, Lord, never fails,
Your grace does not fall through –

6. For you, Lord, dwell within us all,
And we, Lord, dwell in you.

References

1. God made two great lights – the larger one to govern the day, and the smaller one to govern the night. He also made the stars. God set these lights in the sky to light the earth (Genesis 1:14-15; NLT).

2. The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge (Psalm 19:1-2; NIV).

3. The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease (Lamentations 3:22; NLT).

4. The Lord gives sight to the blind (Psalm 146:8; NIV).

5. The Lord is peace (Judges 6:24; NLT).
We praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us (Ephesians 1:6; NLT).
God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you” (Hebrews 13:5; NLT).

6. We live in him and he in us (1 John 4:13; NLT).

I cannot understand

Ruth Kirk

You cannot understand the activity of God,
who does all things (Ecclesiastes 11:5 NLT).

1. I know, Lord God,
That you love other people,
But I cannot understand
Why you love me.

2. I recognise, Lord God,
That you forgive them,
But I cannot fathom
Why you pardon me.

3. I grasp, Lord God,
That you cure their diseases,
But I cannot comprehend
Why you heal me.

4. I trust, Lord God,
That you grant them redemption,
But I cannot puzzle out
Why you save me.

References

1. He […] crowns me with love (Psalm 103:4; NLT).

2. He forgives all my sins (Psalm 103:3; NLT).

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

4. He redeems me from death (Psalm 103:4; NLT).