May 2021 – ♥️ Take heart!

Far beyond

31.05.202101.06.2021Ruth Kirk

All glory, majesty, power, and authority
are his before all time, and in the present,
and beyond all time
(Jude 1:25; NLT).

Far beyond all time
And space
Is God,
Who makes the human race.

Deep within all pain
And loss
Is God,
Who suffers on the cross.

Here, amidst all love
And hate
Is God,
Who saves the desolate.

High above us:
Spirit, Son,
The Lord: our Father,
Who is One.

The Lord is One
(Deuteronomy 6:4; BSB).

If you cease to speak (#2 of 2 linked prayers)

30.05.2021Ruth Kirk

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

Lord,

If you cease to speak
In prayer,
May I have faith
That you still care.

If you cease to speak
In pain,
May I accept
All you ordain.

If you cease to speak
In grief,
May I cling tight
To your belief;

And, if you cease to speak
In death,
May I hold fast
Till my last breath.

Into your hands
I commit my spirit
(Psalm 31:5; NIV).

You speak silently (#1 of 2 linked prayers)

29.05.2021Ruth Kirk

God speaks again and again,
 though people do not recognise it
 (Job 33:14; NLT).

Lord,

You speak silently
In prayer:
May I treat
Your words with care.

You speak silently
In pain:
May I bear
What you ordain.

You speak silently
In grief:
May I cling
To your belief.

You speak silently
To bless:
May I hear your voice
In death.

They will hear my voice
 (John 10:16; NKJV).

Dwelling in darkness

28.05.202129.05.2021Ruth Kirk

Clouds and thick darkness surround him
(Psalm 97:2; NIV).

Dwelling in darkness,
Concealed from our sight,
Yet shining forever:
Our God, who is light.

Vast, unapproachable,
Our heart’s desire,
Yet blazing within us:
Our God, who is fire.

Knowing our secrets,
Beyond human proof,
Yet speaking so clearly:
Our God, who is truth.

Mighty, alert,
Seeing all without cease,
Yet curbing his anger:
Our God, who is peace.

Yielding his Spirit,
His body and blood,
Yet reigning with mercy:
Our God, who is love.

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

Your ways

27.05.202127.05.2021Ruth Kirk

Show me your ways, Lord
(Psalm 25:4; NIV).

Of all your servants,
I’m the least,
Yet show me, Lord,
Your way of peace,

Where I’ll go slowly,
Say, and do
Everything with love,
For you.

As I face
Each weary test,
Please show me, Lord,
Your way of rest,

Where I’ll go slowly,
Praise, and pray
With you beside me,
Come what may.

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

Every breath (for David)

26.05.202127.05.2021Ruth Kirk

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

May every breath I take
Be shared with you,
And every thought I have
Become a prayer.

May every word I speak
Be filled with love,
And every task I face
Be done with care.

Then I will dwell, Lord, always
In your hand.
No matter what I face,
You’ll help me through:

Lord,
May I rest forever
In your peace,
And dwell in perfect unity
With you.

You also are complete
through your union with Christ
(Colossians 2:10; NLT).

The centre

25.05.202126.05.2021Ruth Kirk

Christ is all that matters…

You are the centre of my world,
Son of the living God.

You are the centre of my day:
My love, my strength, my peace.

You are the centre of my faith:
My light, my truth, my call.

You are the centre of my life:
My heart, my soul, my all.

…and he lives in all of us
(Colossians 3:11; NLT).

Lost in stillness (#2 of 2 linked poems)

24.05.202124.05.2021Ruth Kirk

Be still and know that I am God.
(Psalm 46:10; NIV)

  Lost in stillness;
Lost in prayer.
Lost in silence,
Joy, and light.

Lost in beauty;
Lost in love.
Lost in darkness:
Lost in God.

One in stillness;
One in prayer.
One in silence,
Joy, and light.

One in beauty;
One in love.
One in darkness:
One in God.

He has made known to us in all wisdom and insight the mystery of his will, according to his purpose which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
(Ephesians 1:9-10; RSV)

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