October 2019 – ♥️ Take heart!

Speak the truth in love

31.10.201904.01.2026Ruth Kirk

What joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of guilt, whose lives are lived in complete honesty! (Psalm 32:2; NLT).

Let all you say
Be honest:
Just, Yes, please –
Or else, No, thank you.

Let all you say
Be humble:
Just: I’m sorry –
I was wrong.

Let all you say
Be gentle:
Just: Don’t worry –
I forgive you.

Let all you say
Be Christ-like:
Speak the truth, in love –
Lifelong.

You desire honesty from the womb (Psalm 51:6; NLT).

References

Just say a simple yes or no (James 5:12; NLT).

Always be humble and gentle (Ephesians 4:2; NLT).

Keep a humble attitude (1 Peter 3:8; NLT).

If you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift (Matthew 5:23-4; NIV).

When you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins (Mark 11:25; NIV).

Then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?” “No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven!” (Matthew 18:21-2; NLT).

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

Let your prayers be honest

30.10.201930.10.2019Ruth Kirk

1. Let your prayers be honest,
Tell God what you need.

2. Let them all be simple,
Follow Jesus’ lead.

3. Let them be spontaneous,
Share each sin and fear.

4. Let them be unceasing,
For God will always hear.

References

1. You desire honesty from the womb (Psalm 51:6; NLT).

Tell God what you need (Philippians 4:6; NLT).

2. When you pray, don’t babble on as people of other religions do (Matthew 6:7; NLT).

Pray like this: Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today the food we need, and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one (Matthew 6:9-13; NLT).

3. Pour out your heart to him (Psalm 62:8; NLT).

Pray about everything (Philippians 4:6; NLT).

4. Never stop praying (1 Thessalonians 5:17; NLT).

Pray constantly (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18; NIV).

The Lord hears my voice (Psalm 55:17; NLT).

Pilgrimage (#2 of 2 linked prayers)

29.10.2019Ruth Kirk

Blessed are those whose strength is in you,
whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.
(Psalm 84:5; NIV).

1. May I live, Lord,
In your strength,
Throughout my pilgrimage
On earth.

2. May I wander
In your mind,
Discovering
Your Son’s great worth.

3. May I search, Lord,
In your heart,
Until I find
Your Spirit’s grace.

4. May I shelter
In your soul,
So I can gaze
On your dear face.

References

1. The Lord is my strength (Exodus 15:2; NLT).

2. This is my dearly loved Son. Listen to him (Mark 9:7; NLT).

3. Keep on seeking, and you will find (Matthew 7:7; NLT).

4. Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty (Psalm 91:1; NLT).

I gaze on you in the sanctuary to see your strength and your glory (Psalm 63:2; CSB).

I will see you face to face and be satisfied (Psalm 17:15; NLT).

Exile (#1 of 2 linked prayers)

28.10.201929.10.2019Ruth Kirk

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

Lord,

1. May my strength
Be one with yours
Each day,
And when my breath has ceased.

2. May my mind
Be one with yours
In life,
And when I am released.

3. May my heart
Be one with yours
On earth,
And far beyond this test.

4. May my soul
Be one with yours
In exile,
And eternal rest.

References

1. The Lord is my strength (Exodus 15:2; 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 […] I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one (John 17:21-2; NLT).

2. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released (Luke 4:18; NLT).

3. You examine us every morning and test us every moment (Job 7:18; NLT).

4. Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty (Psalm 91:1; NLT).

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

Without hope

27.10.2019Ruth Kirk

May you have the power to understand,
as all God’s people should,
how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.
(Ephesians 3:18; NLT).

1. Father God,
You love us all:
Those who seek,
And those who don’t.

2. Father God,
You love us all:
Those who serve,
And those who won’t.

3. Father God,
You love us all:
Those who trust,
And those who doubt.

4. Father God,
You love us all:
Those with hope,
And those without.

References

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

Keep on seeking, and you will find (Matthew 7:7; NLT).

2. The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made (Psalm 145:9; NIV).

You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him (Luke 4:8; NLT).

3. He cares about you (1 Peter 5:7; NLT).

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

4. The Lord loves you (Deuteronomy 7:8; NLT).

I will put my hope in God! Psalm 42:5; NLT).

I am sick with despair (Psalm 35:12; NLT).

My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? (Psalm 22:1; NLT).

Seek God’s help

26.10.2019Ruth Kirk

1. Try to think each thought
With love –
Seek God’s help
Through Jesus’ name.

2. Try to say each word
With love –
Ask him for
The Spirit’s flame.

3. Try to do each deed
With love –
Beg his help:
Christ will suffice.

4. Try to live your life
In love –
You’ll dwell with him
In paradise.

References

1. We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5; NIV).

The Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name (John 15:16; NLT).

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

How much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him (Luke 11:13; NLT).

What looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:3-4; NLT).

3. Do everything with love (1 Corinthians 16:14; NLT).

Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you (Psalm:5; NLT).

Whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus (Colossians 3:17; NLT).

4. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them (1 John 4:16; NIV).

Today you will be with me in paradise (Luke 23:43; NLT).

It doesn’t matter

25.10.2019Ruth Kirk

When you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them,
so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.
(Mark 11:25; NIV).

1. It doesn’t matter
If they don’t say thank you,
Or if, Lord,
People don’t reciprocate.

2. It doesn’t matter
If they don’t say sorry,
Or if they speak to me
With scorn and hate.

3. It doesn’t matter
If they break my heart, Lord,
Or if they make me suffer
Without end.

4. It doesn’t matter, Lord,
If they betray me –
I’ll still forgive them all,
And call them friend.

References

1. One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him – and he was a Samaritan. Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine?” (Luke 17:15-17; NIV).

2. We are mocked by our neighbours, an object of scorn and derision to those around us (Psalm 79:4; NLT).

3. Days of suffering torment me (Job 30:27; NLT),

4. Jesus was deeply troubled, and he exclaimed, “I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me!” (John 13:21; NLT).

Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing (Luke 23:34; NLT).

The traitor, Judas, had given them a prearranged signal: “You will know which one to arrest when I greet him with a kiss.” So Judas came straight to Jesus. “Greetings, Rabbi!” he exclaimed and gave him the kiss. Jesus said, “My friend, go ahead and do what you have come for.” Then the others grabbed Jesus and arrested him (Matthew 26:48-50; NLT).

Healing

24.10.201925.10.2019Ruth Kirk

He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases.
He redeems me from death and crowns me with love
and tender mercies (Psalm 103:2-4; NLT).

1. Thank you, Father,
For your love:
The wounds you wash,
The way you care.

2. Thank you, Father,
For your peace:
The minds you mend,
The joy you share.

3. Thank you, Father,
For your truth:
The hearts you heal,
The Son you gave.

4. Thank you, Father,
For your fire:
The bonds you break,
The souls you save.

References

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

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

Wash me clean from my guilt (Psalm 51:2; NLT).

He […] binds up their wounds (Psalm 147:3; NIV).

He cares about you (1 Peter 5:7; NLT).

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

When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind (Mark 5:15; NIV).

God [is] the source of all my joy (Psalm 43:4; NLT).

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

He heals the brokenhearted (Psalm 147:3; NIV).

God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16; NLT).

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

I will break the yoke off their necks, and will tear off their bonds (Jeremiah 30:8; NIV).

Lord, you are the God who saves me (Psalm 88:1; NIV).

Love

23.10.2019Ruth Kirk

Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ
(Ephesians 5:2; NLT).

1. Think everything
With love.

2. Say everything
With love.

3. Do everything
With love.

4. Meet everyone
With love.

5. Greet everyone
With love.

6. Treat everyone
With love.

References

1. We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5; NIV).

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind (Romans 12:2; NIV).

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

3. Whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus (Colossians 3:17; NLT).

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

5. Greet all the brothers and sisters with Christian love (1 Thessalonians 5:26; NLT).

6. Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing so some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it (Hebrews 13:2; NIV).

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

Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them (Romans 12:9; NLT).