Month: April 2020

Our nourishment

Ruth Kirk

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

1. Lord,
You are our guiding star,
Our shepherd’s staff,
Our way.

2. Lord,
You are our nourishment,
Our bread, our truth
Each day.

3. Lord,
You are our sacrifice,
Our great High Priest,
Our life.

4. Lord,
You are our Mighty God,
Our Saviour,
And our light.

References

1. The star they had seen in the east guided them to Bethlehem (Matthew 2:9; NLT).

Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me (Psalm 23:4; KJV).

2. Cry out for this nourishment (1 Peter 2:2; NLT).

I am the living bread (John 6:51; NLT).

3. He offered himself as the sacrifice for the people’s sins (Hebrews 7:27; NLT).

We have a Great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God (Hebrews 4:14; NLT).

4. He will be called […] Mighty God (Isaiah 9:6; NIV).

The Father sent his Son to be the Saviour of the world (1 John 4:14; NLT).

I am the light of the world (John 8:12; NIV).

The way

Ruth Kirk

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

1. Lord Jesus,
May I hear your voice
Throughout my exile here.
Please guide me on the way of faith,
So I may feel you near.

2. Lord Jesus,
May I talk with you
Each day, in quiet prayer.
Please guide me on the way of peace,
Then I will know your care.

3. Lord Jesus,
May I see your face
In everyone I meet.
Please guide me on the way of love,
Though I am base and weak.

4. Lord Jesus,
May I follow you
Along the path you trod.
Please guide me on the way of truth
That leads me back to God.

References

1. Your own ears will hear him. Right behind you, a voice will say, “This is the way you should go” (Isaiah 30:21; NLT).

This way of faith is very different from the way of law (Galatians 3:12; NLT).

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

The Lord is near to all who call on him (Psalm 145:18; NIV).

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

The Dayspring from on high has visited us […] to guide our feet into the way of peace (Luke 1:78-9; NKJV).

Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you (1 Peter 5:7; NLT).

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

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

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

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

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

4. Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me (Luke 9:23; NIV).

I have chosen the way of truth (Psalm 119:30; NKJV).

The dust will return to the earth, and the spirit will return to God who gave it (Ecclesiastes 12:7; NLT).

Every tree

Ruth Kirk

Yesterday, I saw this little apple tree flowering at the edge of a stony beach,
where it seemed to blaze with the presence and love of God.

1. Every tree is blazing
With the presence
Of our God.

2. Every bud is bursting
With his beauty
And his peace.

3. Every wave is breaking
With his splendour
And his might.

4. Every star is burning
With his truth, and love,
And light.

References

1. Though the bush was engulfed in flames, it didn’t burn up (Exodus 3:2; NLT).

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

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

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

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

3. The Lord will display his glory, the splendour of our God (Isaiah 35:2; NLT).

By his power the sea grew calm (Job 26:12; NLT).

4. God shines in glorious radiance (Psalm 50:2; NLT).

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

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

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


Living in the presence of God

Ruth Kirk

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

God’s presence
Jesus was so accustomed to living in the full awareness of God’s presence that when he lost this awareness on the cross, he felt utterly alone for the first time in his life.

Whether we know it or not, we too are always in God’s presence. There is nowhere else to be, because God lives over, in, and through all things, including ourselves. However, we are always free to choose whether we want to recognise and relate to him, or not.

Remembering God
If we want to be conscious of living in God’s presence, we need to develop the habit of remembering him, communicating with him, and remaining in him, rather than forgetting him for long stretches of time.

This can be done in the following ways:

1. By recognising his presence in everyone, without exception.

2. By acknowledging him in all that exists, including everything we see, hear, touch, taste, and smell.

3. By being aware of his presence within us.

4. By being honest with him about everything we feel, think, say, and do.

5. By listening for, and responding to, his still, small voice.

6. By remaining mindful of his presence whilst we are busy.

7. By spending time with him in silent communion.

Self-awareness
Being able to practice all these things depends on developing our self-awareness. This is because without self-awareness we can, for example, eat without tasting, pass people in the street without noticing them, disregard the beauty of the world, neglect the suffering of others, or ignore the quiet voice of our conscience. We cannot grow closer to God by living like this.

Furthermore, without self-awareness, we cannot identify our emotions and thoughts in order to share them honestly with God. This means we cannot immediately ask for his forgiveness and help whenever we need them.

Conclusion
Learning to live in constant awareness of God’s presence is an ongoing process, but no matter how forgetful we are, we can always ask him to help us start afresh each day. In this way, with mindful practice, we will gradually become more like Jesus, whose short life was spent in full awareness of his Father’s presence, no matter what was happening around him, until those final, despairing moments before his death.

References

God’s presence
You are in me, Father, and I am in you (John 17:21; NLT).
Jesus was filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit (Luke 10:21; NLT).
My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? (Psalm 22:1; NLT).
The Lord must wait for you to come to him so he can show you his love and compassion (Isaiah 30:18; NLT).

Remembering God
Remember the Lord your God (Deuteronomy 8:18; NLT).
Remain in me, and I will remain in you (John 15:4; NLT).
1,2,3. There is […] one God and Father, who is over all and in all and living through all (Ephesians 4:5-6; NLT).
4. You desire honesty from the womb (Psalm 51:6; NLT).
Pour out your heart to him (Psalm 62:8; NLT).
5. Obey his commands, listen to his voice (Deuteronomy 13:4; NLT).
6. Pray constantly (1 Thessalonians 5:17; NIV).
7. Be still and know that I am God (Psalm 46:10; NIV).
Be silent before the Sovereign Lord (Zephaniah 1:7; NIV).

Self-awareness
The hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, so that I should heal them (Matthew 13:15; NKJV).
Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts (Hebrews 4:7; NIV).

Conclusion
He helps me (Psalm 28:7; NLT).
When I wake up, you are still with me! (Psalm 139:18; NLT)
We all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image (2 Colossians 3:18; NIV).

Thank you, Lord

Ruth Kirk


1. Thank you, Lord, for your creation
Of the heavens and the earth.

2. Thank you for your incarnation,
For your advent, and your birth.

3. Thank you, Lord, for your atonement,
Purchased with your final breath.

4. Thank you for your resurrection,
So we, too, can rise from death.

5. Thank you, Lord, for your ascension;
Your salvation makes us whole.

6. Thank you for your Holy Spirit,
Sent to fill each heart and soul.

7. Thank you, Lord, for your communion
With us every night and day.

8. Thank you for your constant presence,
As we walk your narrow way.

References

1. In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1; NLT).

2. The Word became human and made his home among us (John 1:14; NLT).

3. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood (Romans 3:25; NIV).

4. Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25; NLT).

5. The same one who descended is the one who ascended higher than all the heavens, so that he might fill the entire universe with himself (Ephesians 4:10; NLT).

6. The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you (Romans 8:11; NLT).

7. Be sure of this: I am with you always (Matthew 28:20; NLT).

8. Christ lives within you (Romans 8:10; NLT).

The Way of Love

Ruth Kirk

Lord,

1. Thank you for your Way of Love,
And for the gift
Of your dear Son.

2. Thank you for your Way of Truth,
And all the victories
He won.

3. Thank you for your Way of Peace,
The humble path
His parents knew.

4. Thank you for your Way of Faith,
Which always leads us
Back to you.

5. Thank you for your Way of Fire,
Made visible
In tongues of flame.

6. Thank you for your Way of Life –
May we, like Jesus,
Praise your name.

References

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

2. I have chosen the way of truth (Psalm 119:30; NKJV).

No one could answer him. And after that, no one dared to ask him any more questions (Matthew 22:46; NLT).

3. The Dayspring from on high has visited us […] to guide our feet into the way of peace (Luke 1:78-9; NKJV).

He has regarded the lowly state of his maidservant (Luke 1:48; NKJV).

4. This way of faith is very different from the way of law (Galatians 3:12; NLT).

“My wayward children,” says the Lord, “come back to me, and I will heal your wayward hearts” (Jeremiah 3:22; NLT).

5. The pillar of fire showed them the way through the night (Nehemiah 9:19; NLT).

Then, 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).

6. You have shown me the way of life, and you will fill me with the joy of your presence (Acts 2:28; NLT).

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name (Matthew 6:9; NIV).

Unhurried and unworried

Ruth Kirk

To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life –
this is indeed a gift from God
(Ecclesiastes 5:19; NLT).

1. I can do a lot
If I’m unhurried.

2. I can walk, Lord,
If I take my time.

3. I can still write prayers –
If I work slowly,

4. Searching out each rhythm,
Word, and rhyme.

5. I can do a lot
If I’m unworried,

6. Accepting how I am, Lord,
All day long;

7. Living in your presence,
And rejoicing –

8. For though I’m weak, and tired,
You are strong.

References

1. I walk slowly all my years (Isaiah 38:15; ESV).

3. Do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes […] Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? (Luke 12:22-26; NIV).

5. The Lord gave me what I had, and the Lord has taken it away. Praise the name of the Lord (Job 1:21; NLT).

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

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

I said to myself, “This is my sickness, and I must endure it” (Jeremiah 10:19; NIV).

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

His name is the Lord – rejoice in his presence! (Psalm 68:4; NLT).

8. He knows how weak we are (Psalm 103:14; NLT).

I am weary and worn out, O God (Proverbs 30:1; NLT).

Recognise that the Lord is glorious and strong (1 Chronicles 16:28; NLT).

How shall I worship you?

Ruth Kirk

Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness
(Psalm 29:2; NLT).

1. Lord,
How shall I worship you?
I’ll dwell upon your name,
Repeating: “My dear Father”,
As you set my heart aflame.

2. How shall I rejoice in you?
My soul will dance and sing,
Repeating: “God, I love you!”
Till I make the heavens ring.

3. Lord,
How shall I praise you?
I’ll see you everywhere,
Repeating: “Dearest Father”,
For you are beyond compare.

4. How shall I give thanks to you?
I’ll live in you each day,
And, serving you in others,
I will never cease to pray.

References

1. Worship the Lord (1 Chronicles 16:29; NLT).

Those who love his name shall dwell in it (Psalm 69:36; NLT).

Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy (Matthew 6:9; RSV).

Didn’t our hearts burn within us as he talked with us? (Luke 24:32; NLT).

2. Rejoice in the Lord (Psalm 32:11; NLT).

Let them praise his name with the dance; let them sing praises to him (Psalm 149:3; NKJV).

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

The heavens proclaim the glory of God (Psalm 19:1; NLT).

3. Praise the Lord! (Psalm 106:1; NLT).

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

To whom will you liken me that we may be compared? (Isaiah 46:5; NIV).

“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine” (Isaiah 55:8; NLT).

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

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

Serve only the Lord your God (Deuteronomy 13:4; NLT).

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

With love

Ruth Kirk

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

1. Face all you feel with love:
Grief, anger, shame, pain, fear.
Share everything with God,
For he is always near.

2. Observe your thoughts with love:
Hate, envy, judgement, pride.
Confess them all to God,
Who will not blame, or chide.

3. Speak every word with love:
Don’t mock, abuse, or lie.
Admit your sins to God,
Who hears our victims cry.

4. Do everything with love:
This principle is clear;
Just ask the Father’s help,
For he is always here.

References

1. You are near (Psalm 75:1; NLT).

2. I confess my sins (Psalm 38:18; NLT).

He will not always chide (Psalm 103:9; RSV).

3. Speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15; NLT).

The Lord hears the cries of the needy (Psalm 69:33; NLT).

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

Love your enemies! (Matthew 5:44; NLT).

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

Help me, Lord (Psalm 30:10; NLT).

I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, that he may be with you forever (John 14:16; NASB).

I grow less and less

Ruth Kirk

1. Lord Jesus,
I grow less and less,
While you grow greater still,
Yet may I share your joy, and your devotion
To God’s will.

2. Lord Jesus,
Make me more like you,
For you became like me,
So you could be God’s great High Priest,
Who sets my spirit free.

References

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

He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less (John 3:28,30; NLT).

Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth” (Luke 10:21; NIV).

If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine (Matthew 26:39; NLT).

2. 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).

Though he was God […] he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being (Philippians 2:6-7; NLT).

It was necessary for him to be made in every respect like us, his brothers and sisters, so that he could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God (Hebrews 2:17; NLT).

The oppressed will be set free (Luke 4:18; NLT).

If the Son sets you free, you are truly free (John 8:36; NLT).