Month: November 2021

Consequences

Ruth Kirk

You did not reflect on your actions or think about their consequences.
(Isaiah 47:7; NLT). 

There will be wave on wave
Of plague,
Until we’ve realised
Everything it has to teach
About our own shortsightedness,
Our foolishness,
Our selfishness
And greed.

There will be wave on wave
Of plague,
Until we’ve suffered
Everything it has to show
About our basic unity,
Our kinship,
Our fragility
And need.

There will be wave on wave
Of plague,
Until we’ve tackled
Everything it has to say
About our deep unwillingness
To lend, give, share,
Co-operate,
And care.

🖤

Right now you have plenty and can help those who are in need.
Later, they will have plenty and can share with you when you need it.
In this way, things will be equal.
(2 Corinthians 8:14; NLT).

 

Like God, like me

Ruth Kirk

Christ is the visible image of the invisible God.
(Colossians 1:15; NLT).

He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have.
(Romans 8:3; NLT).

Like God, like me,
But free from sin,

Living, loving,
Deep within,

Jesus Christ,
My Shepherd King:

You make my soul
Rejoice and sing!

🧡

My lips shall shout for joy!
My soul, which you have redeemed, sings praises to you!
(Psalm 71:23; HNV).

 

Through darkness

Ruth Kirk

He lit up the way before me
and I walked safely through the darkness.
(Job 29:3; NLT). 

Jesus,
Help us when we falter:
May we share your steadfast faith.
Lead us when we walk through darkness:
Show us, Lord, your narrow way.

Jesus,
Help us when we stumble:
May we share your constant hope.
Guide us when we live through darkness:
Teach us, Lord, your truth today.

Jesus,
Help us when we suffer:
May we share your changeless love.
Hold us when we pass through darkness:
Give us, Lord, new life, we pray.

🖤

Yea, 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).

Love each other deeply with all your heart. For you have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end. Your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of God.
(1 Peter 1:22-3; NLT).

 

 

Life is short

Ruth Kirk

How frail is humanity! How short is life, how full of trouble!
(Job 14:1; NLT).

No one can live forever; all will die.
(Psalm 89:48; NLT).

Life is short;
From birth, I face its end.
Life is hard,
But I am in your hand.
Life is a test,
Yet you, Lord, care from on high:
Sharing my sorrows;
Hearing every sigh.

Life is short,
And death is drawing near.
Life is hard,
But I am safe, with you.
Life is a test,
Yet you, Lord, come from above:
Sharing my anguish;
Pouring out your love.

Life is short;
My days are numbered here.
Life is hard,
But I need have no fear.
Life is a test,
Yet you, Lord, suffer within:
Sharing my pain, my failure,
And my sin.

Life is short;
My time on earth is brief.
Life is hard,
But I belong to you.
Life is a test,
Yet you, Lord, dwell in my soul:
Sharing my life and death,
To make me whole.

🖤

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).

 

In your hands

Ruth Kirk

I trust in you, Lord; I say, “You are my God.”
My times are in your hands.
(Psalm 31:14-15; NIV).

Lord,

1. Before you form us all,
Our souls are in your hands,

2. And as you give us birth, Lord,
You keep us in your hands.

3. While we live in exile,
You bear us in your hands,

4. And, when we are dying,
You hold us in your hands.

5. Then, beyond our death, Lord,
We never leave your hands,

6. So, no matter what we face,
We’re always in your hands.

♥️

Whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.
(Romans 14:8; NIV).

 

References 

1. I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb (Jeremiah 1:5; NLT).

2. The life of every living creature and the spirit in every human body are in his hands (Job 12:10; GWT). 

3. In all their affliction He was afflicted, and the Angel of His Presence saved them; in His love and in His pity He redeemed them; and He bore them and carried them (Isaiah 63:9; NKJV). 

My future is in your hands (Psalm 31:15; NLT). 

4. Yea, 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). 

Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands (Luke 23:46; NLT). 

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

6. I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow – not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below – indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:38-9; NLT).

 

 

Praying for others

Ruth Kirk

Never stop praying, especially for others (Ephesians 6:18; CEV). 

Every day, when I post my blog, I pray for those who will read it, for those who will only glance at it, for those who won’t be exposed to any prayers, and for those who don’t believe in God. This can sometimes feel like a heavy task, because of my ongoing illness and fatigue, so I’m wondering if any readers might like to share it. 

One way to do this would be to develop the habit of praying briefly for others just before, or after, reading each new blog.

Here is a short, lighthearted poem that could be used:

Praying for others 

Bless all those who read this prayer,
And all those, Lord, who don’t.

Bless those who will pray today,
And all those, Lord, who won’t.

Bless those who can grasp your love,
And all those, Lord, who can’t.

Bless those who are seeking you,
And all those, Lord, who aren’t.

Alternatively, some readers might prefer to use their own words:

  • Pray for those who visit this website. Ask God to bless them, and to enable them to find something here that helps them.
  • Pray for those who glance at the day’s prayer, but dismiss it immediately.
  • Pray for those who never pray, and for all who don’t believe in God. Ask him to bring back those who have strayed, and to draw many new believers to himself each day.

Whatever the approach, I would deeply appreciate any prayers said for those who visit this website, and for the countless millions who don’t.

 

 

This fragile place

Ruth Kirk

Ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature (Romans 1:20; NLT). 

Lord,
You made this fragile place,
So those who search for you each day
Can always find you,
Always praise,
For they will see
Your face.

Lord,
You gave your only Son,
So those who put their trust in him
Will never perish,
Never die,
But dwell with you,
As one.

Lord,
You send your Spirit, too,
So those who take him to their heart,
Although they suffer,
Though they sin,
Will live in love,
With you.

💙

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

 

Leaving no footprints

Ruth Kirk

You walked through the sea; you passed through the surging waters,
but left no footprints (Psalm 77:19; NET). 

1. Father,
May I walk these sands,
Leaving no footprints –
Only faith.

2. Jesus
May I pass this way,
Leaving no footprints –
Only peace.

3. Spirit,
May I wander here,
Leaving no footprints –
Only prayer.

4. Saviour,
May I rise with you,
Leaving no footprints –
Only love.

♥️

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

 

References

1. It is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast (Ephesians 2:8-9; NIV). 

2. How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!” (Isaiah 52:7; NIV).

I am leaving you with a gift – peace of mind and heart (John 14:27; NIV).

3. The Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words (Romans 8:26; RSV).

4. All glory to him who alone is God, our Saviour through Jesus Christ our Lord. All glory, majesty, power, and authority are his before all time, and in the present, and beyond all time! Amen (Jude 1:25; NLT).

My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour (Luke 1:46-7; NIV). 

My beloved calls to me, “Arise, my darling. Come away with me, my beautiful one” (Song of Songs 2:10; BSB).  

Those who trust in the Lord for help will find their strength renewed. They will rise on wings like eagles; they will run and not get weary; they will walk and not grow weak (Isaiah 40:31; GNT). 

We …will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:17; NLT).

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

 

 

I’m nothing

Ruth Kirk

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

He cares for those who trust in him.
(Nahum 1:7; NIV).

1. I’m nothing,
Yet I know you care,
Because, Lord God,
You help me.

2. I’m nothing,
Yet I know you care,
Because, Lord,
You inspire me.

3. I’m nothing,
Yet I know you care,
Because, Lord God,
You heal me.

4. I’m nothing,
Yet I know you care,
Because, Lord,
You forgive me.

🖤

What are mere mortals that you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them? Yet you made them only a little lower than God and crowned them with glory and honour (Psalm 8:4-5; NLT).

 

References 

1. He helps me (Psalm 28:7; NLT).

2. There are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of working, but it is the same God who inspires them all in every one (1 Corinthians 12:4-6; RSV).

3-4. He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases (Psalm 103:3; NLT).

 

 

Born again (#2 of 2)

Ruth Kirk

Unless you are born again,
you cannot see the Kingdom of God.
(John 3:3; NLT).

Not for deeds that we had done, but by his steadfast love alone, he saved us through a second birth, renewed us by the Spirit’s work,
and poured him out upon us, too.
(Titus 3:5-6; ISV).

Father,
Being born again
Means starting life afresh,
No longer thinking we’re alone,
But trusting, Lord, in you.

Jesus,
Being born again
Means starting life once more,
No longer lost in self alone,
But serving, Lord, like you.

Spirit,
Being born again
Means starting life anew,
No longer facing death alone,
But walking, Lord, with you.

💚

Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God – truly righteous and holy.
(Ephesians 4:21-4; NLT).

Yea, 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).