Month: February 2020

We are your body

Ruth Kirk
Image: Jesus.Christ.org, Yandex

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

1. We are your body;
We are your bones;
We are your flesh
And your blood.

2. We are your temple;
We are your home;
We are your priests
And your love.

3. You are our Shepherd;
You are our Guide;
You are our staff
And our rod.

4. You are our Saviour;
You are our Friend;
You are our Lord
And our God.

References

1. You are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it (1 Corinthians 12:27; NIV).

2. You are the temple of the living God (2 Corinthians 6:16; NLT).

Jesus replied, “All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them” (John 14:23; NLT).

You are the living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What’s more, you are his holy priests (1 Peter 2:5; NLT).

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

3. I am the good shepherd (John 10:14; NLT).

He will guide us until we die (Psalm 48:14; NLT).

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

4. He has made all of this plain to us by the appearing of Christ Jesus, our Saviour (2 Timothy 1:10; NLT).

You are my friends (John 15:15; NLT).

“My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed (John 20:28; NLT).

Though I can’t see your face

Ruth Kirk
Image: Holger Schué, Pixabay

1. Though I can’t see your face, Lord God,
May I still glimpse your shadow?

2. Though I can’t glimpse your shadow, Lord,
May I still hear your voice?

3. Though I can’t hear your voice, Lord God,
May I still catch your whisper?

4. Though I can’t catch your whisper, Lord,
You still remain my choice.

References

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

He has hidden me in the shadow of his hand (Isaiah 49:2; NLT).

2. He let you hear his voice from heaven so he could instruct you (Deuteronomy 4:36; NLT).

3. After the fire there was the sound of gentle whisper (1 Kings 19:12; NLT).

4. You can make this choice by loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and committing yourself firmly to him. This is the key to your life (Deuteronomy 30:20; NLT).

In your image

Ruth Kirk
Image: Free-Photos, Pixabay

Father,

1. When you form us
In your image,
You make us
Out of your unfailing love:

2. Our bodies, from the clay
Of this, your planet;
Our souls, your breath of life
From heaven above.

3. Then, Lord, you dwell within us
All our lifetime,
One with us
No matter what we do,

4. For we are part
Of your immense creation:
One with all there is,
Including you.

5. And even after death, Lord,
We continue:
Our bones returning
To your sacred dust,

6. Whilst every mind, and heart,
And soul, and spirit
Goes back to your vast peace,
In perfect trust.

7. And even when
This ancient, spinning planet
Reaches its
Inevitable end,

8. Each atom
Will remain in you forever:
So none of us can truly
Be condemned.

Image: Pexels, Pixabay

References

1. God created human beings in his own image (Genesis 1:27; NLT).

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

2. We are the clay, and you are the potter. We are all formed by your hand (Isaiah 64:8; 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; WEB).

3. You are the temple of the living God (2 Corinthians 6:16; NLT).

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

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

I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one (John 17:22; NLT).

5,6. The dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it (Ecclesiastes 12:7; NIV).

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

7. The end of the world is coming soon (1 Peter 4:7; NLT).

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

God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him (John 3:17; NIV).

There is no path

Ruth Kirk
Image: rock-cafe.info, Yandex

1. There is no path
I want to take
But yours, O Son of Man.

2. There is no truth
I want to grasp
But yours, most Holy Lamb.

3. There are no words
I want to say
But yours, O Jesse’s Rod.

4. There are no deeds
I want to do
But yours, dear Son of God.

5. There is no life
I want to lead
But yours, O Constant Guide.

6. There is no death
I want to share
But yours, Christ Crucified.

Reference

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth and the life” (John 14:6; NLT).

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 (Philippians 3:10; NLT).

Bread alone

Ruth Kirk
Image: Heiko Dörr

Love the Lord your God, walk in all his ways, obey his commands,
hold firmly to him, and serve him with all your heart and soul
(Joshua 22:5; NLT).

1. We cannot live by bread alone,
Despite what many think,
But only by the sacred word
Of God.

2. We cannot pray to him
Unless we try to speak the truth,
For he wants us to take the path
Christ trod.

3. We cannot follow his dear Son
Through willpower alone,
For we can only serve him
Out of love.

4. We cannot take a single thing
When we must leave this life,
But trust, alone,
His body and his blood.

References

1. People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4; NLT).

2. Lord, you are searching for honesty (Jeremiah 5:3; NLT).

3. I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead I do what I hate (Romans 7:15; NLT).

4. We brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it (1 Timothy 6:7; NLT).

Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them (John 6:56; NIV).

Everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life (John 6:40; NIV).

No glory

Ruth Kirk


1. We have no glory
Of our own:
Our only glory
Is the light of Christ.

2. We have no merit
Of our own:
Our only merit
Is his sacrifice.

3. We have no treasure
Of our own:
Our only treasure
Is his way of love.

4. We have no virtue
Of our own:
Our only virtue
Is his flesh and blood.

References

1. God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 4:6; NLT).

2. When you obey me you should say, ‘We are unworthy servants who have simply done our duty’ (Luke 17:10; NLT).

3. True godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it (1 Timothy 6:6-7; NLT).

4. God have mercy on me, a sinner (Luke 18:13; NIV).

Habit

Ruth Kirk
Image: falco, Pixabay

The Lord – who is the Spirit – makes us more and more like him
as we are changed into his glorious image
(2 Corinthians 3:18; NLT).

1. Let prayer become my habit, Lord,
Communing with you day and night,
For then I’ll grow more like your Son,
Who came to earth to make us one.

2. Let thanks become my habit, Lord,
Expressed in every circumstance,
For then I’ll grow more like your Christ,
Who came to be our sacrifice.

3. Let joy become my habit, Lord,
Ceaseless, heartfelt, unconfined,
For then I’ll grow more like your King,
Who came to make our spirits sing.

4. Let love become my habit, Lord,
Deep, reflexive, faithful, true,
For then I’ll grow more like your Lamb,
Who cares for all since time began.

References

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

I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one (John 17:22; NLT).

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

2. Give thanks in all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18; NIV).

God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin (Romans 3:25; NLT).

3. Rejoice always (1 Thessalonians 5:16; NIV).

I will praise you among the Gentiles; I will sing praises to your name (Romans 15:9; NLT).

4. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love (1 John 4:8; NIV).

John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29; NLT).

Christ cares for the church (Ephesians 5:29; NLT).

We proclaim to you the one who existed from the beginning, whom we have heard and seen (1 John 1:1; NLT).

Good and bad

Ruth Kirk

1. Thank you, Lord,
For good and bad,
For all I’ve learned,
And all I’ve lost.

2. Thank you, Lord,
For all you give,
For all you take,
And life’s great cost.

3. Thank you, Lord,
For all your love,
For your forgiveness,
And your Son.

4. Thank you, Lord,
For sending us
Your Spirit, who
Makes us all one.

References

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

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

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

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

Search me, Lord

Ruth Kirk
Image: Susanne Jutzeler, Pixabay

Search me, O God, and know my heart (Psalm 139:23; NLT).

1. Search me, Lord,
Then live within,
And help me fight
Each urge to sin.

2. Search my mind,
I beg you; stay
To help me keep
Mean thoughts at bay.

3. Search my heart,
Remain; invest
In me, and help me
Face each test.

4. Search my soul,
Make it your home,
Then, Lord, I’ll be
Your flesh and bone.

References

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

Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak (Mark 14:38; NLT).

2. I, the Lord, search the heart and examine the mind (Jeremiah 17:10; NIV).

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

3. The Lord tests the heart (Proverbs 17:3; NLT).

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

4. The word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart (Hebrews 4:12; NIV).

Jesus replied, “All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them” (John 14:23; NLT).

All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it (1 Corinthians 12:27; NLT).

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

Every time I stray

Ruth Kirk
Image: Pexels, Pixabay

The gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult
(Matthew 7:14; NLT).

1. Father,
Every time I stray
Beyond your narrow, testing path,
Please guide me to your sacred way,
And save me from your righteous wrath.

2. Father,
Every time I roam
Away from your parched, desert trail,
Please seek me out, and bring me home,
Forgiving me each time I fail.

3. Father,
Every time I fall
From your steep, lonely, mountain track,
Please rescue me; Lord, hear my call,
And carry my weak spirit back.

4. Father,
Every time I drift
Far from my faith along the road,
Please stay with me, recall your gift
Of Christ, and help me bear my load.

5. Father,
Every time I lose
All sense of you within my soul,
Please whisper gently; don’t accuse:
Be patient, Lord, and make me whole.

References

1. Small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life (Matthew 7:13-14; NIV).

The Lord your God is testing you to see if you truly love him with all your heart and soul (Deuteronomy 13:3; NLT).

2. It was I who rescued you from Egypt and led you through the desert for forty years (Amos 2:10; NLT).

I will search for my lost ones who strayed away, and I will bring them safely home again (Ezekiel 34:16; NLT).

3. The paths they take will become slippery. They will be chased through the dark, and there they will fall (Jeremiah 23:12; NLT).

If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others in the wilderness and go to search for the one that is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he will joyfully carry it home on his shoulders (Luke 15:4-5; NLT).

4. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way (Isaiah 53:6; 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).

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

He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that made us whole, and with his stripes we are healed (Isaiah 53:5; RSV).