Month: September 2023

Those who see

Ruth Kirk

My husband and I are still exhausted because of all that has been happening over the last few days (see yesterday’s blog, https://wp.me/p45bCr-7h4 for details). So for today’s blog I’ve chosen some short verses which came to me last year. They express my daily prayer for everyone who visits this website.

Jesus began to preach, “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near” (Matthew 4:17; NLT). 

May those who see this prayer
Begin to read,

And those who stay to read
Begin to pray.

May those who pray, repent, Lord,
And believe,

Then turn to You,
And follow every day.

Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me” (Mark 8:34; NLT).

In God’s hands (with profound thanks to J.)

Ruth Kirk

It’s been a very difficult couple of days for me and my husband, with thieves determinedly targeting our bank account through a lengthy, elaborate scam. Thankfully, we are being helped by our bank and our wonderful Isle of Man police. Many thanks to you, officers S. and A. You made a huge and decisive difference, and we will never forget you.

Although our account is now completely frozen, we hope to regain access at some point next week with new passwords. Many thanks to C. who is guiding us through this nightmare.

This fraud has caused us a huge amount of stress, lost sleep,  exhaustion and pain (a migraine for me). It’s involved us in three visits to the bank, and three to the police station. I feel very sorry for those who have tricked us without caring about the consequences of their behaviour at all. It must be terrible to be them. So I’m praying that God will call out to them, draw them close, help them to repent, to turn to him, and to begin to follow Jesus. May he bless them with inner spiritual growth, and profoundly changed behaviour.

Yesterday morning, in the midst of all this, I saw in prayer that everything, however bad, happens within God’s hands. This is why, and how, as Saint Paul says, God is able to bring good out of everything:

“We know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God” (Romans 8:28; NLT).

So now I’m looking for the good, and becoming part of it happening. First of all, I’m going to take a copy of this blog to the police station, with a card for the lovely officers who are helping us. I will do the same for the bank. Now I’m wondering what else God will do, or will prompt me to do? That’s an exciting thought.

My warmest thanks to all those who are praying for us, and have offered their help. I particularly want to thank J, whom I have never met in person. She offered me some money to keep us going, and, most valuable of all, shared with me the prayer she repeats constantly in every kind of trouble or distress: “Jesus, I trust in you”.

This little prayer has brought me a remarkable degree of inner calm during our whole ordeal. Astonishingly (and I’ve never done this before), I haven’t even asked her if I can share it with you all, because I’m so confident that she will say yes. This is a major step in trust for me, as I’m never confident about my acceptability to anyone – so I’m just trusting Jesus!

Thank you, J, from the bottom of my heart. I will never forget you, and what you have given to me – your prayer is riches indeed, and the best thing to come out of the fraud. I was already praying for you and your family, but I’ll be praying even more now!

Anyway, given everything that has been happening, today I’ve chosen a prayer from my precious store of saved resources to share with you all. May God bless everyone who reads this: we are all in his hands, whether we know it or not.

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18; NIV).

Lord,

I never have sufficient time
To praise your everlasting love.
Instead, may I rejoice in you
Throughout each day and night.

I never have sufficient time
To plead for others, as I should.
Instead, Lord, may  I pray for them
Throughout each day and night.

I never have sufficient time
To bless you for both bad and good.
Instead, may I give thanks to you
Throughout each day and night, with love.

The LORD gives, and the LORD takes away. Blessed be the name of the LORD (Job 1:21; CSB).

Christ is all

Ruth Kirk

Yesterday I woke early, and eagerly began to pray in silence. However, God had other plans, and within 45 minutes, today’s prayer was complete.

Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all (Colossians 3:11; NIV). 

Christ is all.
Hear his call.
Ask forgiveness.
Turn to him.

Christ is good.
Trust his love.
Care for others.
Give up sin.

Christ is here.
Do not fear.
Serve Him daily.
Bear your cross.

Christ is kind.
Share his mind,
And follow Him
Through gain and loss.

The LORD gives, and the LORD takes away Blessed be the name of the LORD (Job 1:21; CSB).

 

Heaven

Ruth Kirk

This prayer arose spontaneously out of my silence yesterday, resolving my long-standing fear of having to meet my mother again one day, in heaven.

My mother is a part of me,
And I, Lord, am a part of her.
Despite the suffering she caused,
Our primal linkage will endure.

I have forgiven her abuse –
Through prayer, I’ve let it go, at last.
I understand her suffering,
Her rage, her devastating past.

I used to dread that I would have
To meet her when my race is run.
But now I know she cannot hurt me
Any more, for we’ll be one

In you, the God who heals us all.
No harm will come to me, just good,
For when you take me in your arms,
I’ll meet my mother in your love.

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

References

None will harm or destroy another on My entire holy mountain, for the land will be as full of the knowledge of the LORD as the sea is filled with water (Isaiah 11:9; HCSB).

Nothing harmful will take place on the LORD’s holy mountain. Just as water fills the sea, the land will be filled with people who know and honor the LORD (Isaiah 11:9; CEV). 

They will no longer injure or destroy on my entire royal mountain. For there will be universal submission to the LORD’s sovereignty, just as the waters completely cover the sea (Isaiah 11:9; NET). 

The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox (Isaiah 65:25; NIV).

In those days no one will be hurt or destroyed on my holy mountain. I, the LORD, have spoken! (Isaiah 65:25; NLT). 

The LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations (Psalm 100:5; NIV).

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

 

Your way

Ruth Kirk

Teach me your ways, O Lord (Psalm 86:11; NLT).

Jesus,
May your way of life
Show me
God’s eternal light.

Saviour,
May your way of pain
Lead my soul
To Him again.

Shepherd,
May your way of rest
Guide my steps
Through every test.

Then, Lord,
May your way of love
Bring me home
To God above.

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

Stop striving

Ruth Kirk

Yesterday I wasn’t well enough to go to Mass, so I stayed in bed for the morning, as I do most days now. I began to pray, starting with silence, just as Saint Mother Theresa always did. In the silence, I searched for God, striving fruitlessly to find him. Then today’s prayer came to me.

For several minutes I tried hard to push it away, so I could keep on striving to reach God, just as the 14th century author of “The Cloud of Unknowing” describes:

“Struggle to pierce that darkness above you; and beat on that thick cloud of unknowing with a sharp dart of longing love, and do not give up, whatever happens” (The Cloud of Unknowing; Anon). 

However, the words arriving were absolutely insistent, so I began writing them down. I knew I didn’t have enough energy to work on a rhyming scheme, but that turned out not to matter, as my prayer didn’t need one. 

Only when it was finished, very late last night, did I begin to understand what these verses have to teach me. Anyway, after this long introduction, here they are at last:

Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28; NLT). 

It’s time to stop striving:
Just dwell in God’s light,
Which is Jesus.

It’s time to stop striving:
Just wait in God’s peace,
Which is Christ.

It’s time to stop striving:
Just follow God’s way,
Which is Jesus.

It’s time to stop striving:
Just cling to God’s truth,
Which is Christ.

It’s time to stop striving:
Just share in God’s life,
Which is Jesus.

It’s time to stop striving:
Just hope in God’s grace,
Which is Christ.

It’s time to stop striving:
Just dwell in God’s Word,
Which is Jesus.

It’s time to stop striving:
Just live in God’s love,
Which is Christ.

He [God] is the source of your life in Christ Jesus (1 Corinthians 1:30; RSV).

 

Seeking God

Ruth Kirk

Yesterday morning I laid in silence for a long time, seeking God before beginning to pray. Suddenly, I experienced God’s presence, then, instantly, today’s prayer began to arrive. All I had to do was to write it down as it flowed, line by line, without a moment’s hesitation. This was a very rare gift for which I was truly grateful, as I am so weary.

Moses approached the thick darkness where God was Exodus 20:21; NLT.

I seek you in darkness,
In silence,
In stillness;

I seek you in loneliness,
Sorrow,
And fear;

I seek you in nature,
In beauty,
In others;

I seek you in suffering:
Lord,
You are here. 

Jacob woke up and said, “The LORD is here! He is in this place, and I didn’t know it!” (Genesis 28:16; GNT).

Not much left

Ruth Kirk

Today’s prayer came to me yesterday morning. It reflects my thinking and state of mind at the time:

I am yours (Psalm 119:94; NLT).

There isn’t much of “me” left, Lord,
But all I am is yours,
For you are my Creator,
And the One my heart adores.

There isn’t much of “me” left, Lord,
But I’ll serve as best I can,
For you have been my end-point
Since before my life began.

There isn’t much of “me” left, Lord,
But every day I live
I’ll offer thanks for all you send,
And what you take, I’ll give.

Take whatever He gives and give whatever He takes with a big smile (St. Mother Theresa).

 

Love God

Ruth Kirk

When I woke up yesterday morning I was warm and comfortable. It was easy to pray without words, expecting nothing. Then, to my surprise, these verses began to arrive.

Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength (Mark 12:30; CSB).

To love God
Is to seek him;
To seek him
Is to find;
To find him
Is to worship,
To serve,
And to be kind.

To love God
Is to hear him;
To hear him
Is to give;
To give
Is to love everyone,
To grow like Christ,
And live.

I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full (John 10:10; NIV).

 

Into your hands

Ruth Kirk

A few days ago, when I was praying without words, I “saw” these verses. It took only a few minutes to make some notes, but the rest of the day to put them into words.

The Father loves his Son and has put everything into his hands (John 3:35; NLT).

Into your hands
I commend my pleasures,
Ending my time here on earth.

Into your hands
I consign my darkness,
Leaving the land of my birth.

Into your hands
I entrust my anguish,
Setting my life here aside.

Into your hands
I commit my spirit,
Jesus, my Saviour and Guide.

Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last (Luke 23:46; NIV).

The LORD will guide you always (Isaiah 58:11; NIV).

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).