Month: December 2023

Pray for peace

Ruth Kirk

Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
(Matthew 5:9; DRB).

I pray for peace
And justice, Lord,

Throughout this world,
In every mind;

In every body,
Heart, and soul –

For then, at last,
All will be whole.

If only you had paid attention to my commands, your peace would have been like a river, your well-being like the waves of the sea.
(Isaiah 48:18; NIV).

References

Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it.
(Psalm 34:14; NLT).

The way of peace they do not know; there is no justice in their paths. They have turned them into crooked roads; no one who walks along them will know peace. So justice is far from us, and righteousness does not reach us. We look for light, but all is darkness; for brightness, but we walk in deep shadows (Isaiah 59:8-9; NIV).

They will beat their swords into plows and their spears into pruning knives. Nation will not take up the sword against nation, and they will never again train for war (Isaiah 2:4; CSB).

 

To love you

Ruth Kirk

As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God (Psalm 42:1; NLT). 

To love you
Is to long for you;
To thirst, and pray,
And weep.

To love you
Is to seek you
In the darkness
Of the deep.

To love you
Is to yearn for you;
To grieve, and plead,
And sigh.

To love you
Is to meet you
In your glory, Lord,
On high.

Mightier than the thunders of many waters, mightier than the waves of the sea, the LORD on high is mighty! (Psalm 93:4; RSV).

References 

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

All night long I search for you; in the morning I earnestly seek for God (Isaiah 26:9; NLT). 

The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters (Genesis 1:2; KJV). 

Keep on seeking, and you will find (Luke 11:9; NLT). 

Now seek the LORD your God with all your heart and soul (1 Chronicles 22:19; NLT). 

The LORD is high above the nations; his glory is higher than the heavens. Who can be compared with the LORD our God, who is enthroned on high? He stoops to look down on heaven and on earth (Psalm 113:4-6; NLT).

If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there (Psalm 139:8; NIV).

We who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:17; NLT).

Waking in darkness

Ruth Kirk

The LORD is my light (Psalm 27:1; NLT). 

Waking in darkness, Lord,
You are my light.

Moving, in stillness, Lord God,
You are near.

Meeting, in silence,
We listen, and talk.

Joining, in solitude, Lord,
You are here.

The person who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with him (1 Corinthians 6:17; NLT).

References 

The Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters (Genesis 1:2; KJV). 

Be still in the presence of the LORD (Psalm 37:7; NLT). 

He is not far from each one of us (Acts 17:27; CSB). 

Moses led them out from the camp to meet with God (Exodus 19:17; NLT). 

Be silent before the LORD, all humanity (Zechariah 2:13; NLT).

God can speak to us humans, and yet we live! (Deuteronomy 5:24; NLT). 

Tell God what you need (Philippians 4:6; NLT). 

After the fire came a still, small voice (1 Kings 19:12; MSB). 

Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I wasn’t even aware of it!” (Genesis 28:16; NLT).

 

Blood

Ruth Kirk

And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son (Luke 2:6-7; KJV).

Then Jesus shouted, “Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!” And with those words he breathed his last (Luke 23:46; NLT).

The blood of birth;
The blood of death:
Both spilled on earth –
We fight for breath.

The pain of birth;
The pain of death:
A final push;
A final breath.

All birth, and life,
And death are one
For us, and even you –
God’s Son.

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. Then he could offer a sacrifice that would take away the sins of the people (Hebrews 2:17; NLT).

References

This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins (Matthew 26:28; KJV).

Do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day (2 Peter 3:8; NIV).

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

He was shown to be the Son of God when he was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit. He is Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 1:4; NLT).

 

Life is short

Ruth Kirk

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

Life is short:
Christ’s birth and death
Are one.

Christ is coming –
Christ is here,
Yet gone

In every moment:
Joy and grief.
God’s Son

Returns,
His Spirit
Brooding still:

Waiting
To help us all
Embrace God’s will.

My Father! If this cup cannot be taken away unless I drink it, your will be done (Matthew 26:42; NLT).

References

Do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day (2 Peter 3:8; NIV).

Darkness was on the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was brooding upon the surface of the waters (Genesis 1:2; RV). 

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

 

Jesus’ birth

Ruth Kirk

And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son (Luke 2:6-7; KJV).

Jesus’ birth
And death
Are one.

Each day
He rises
Like the sun.

Each day
He dies,
And darkness falls.

Each night
His mother weeps,
And calls.

A sword will pierce your very soul (Luke 2:35; NLT).

References

Do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day (2 Peter 3:8; NIV).

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

 

Pray for peace

Ruth Kirk

Pray for peace (Psalm 122:6; NLT). 

Lord,
I pray for peace
Throughout the world –
With water, food, homes, land
And care for all.

Lord,
I beg for justice
Here, on earth –
May everyone with power
Hear your call.

Lord,
I seek equality
For all –
May humankind be free
To learn and grow.

Lord,
I plead for love
In every heart –
For neighbour, stranger, foreigner
And foe.

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

Reference

I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity (1 Timothy 2:1-2; NLT).

 

Christmas Day

Ruth Kirk

She brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn (Luke 2:7; KJV). 

Sacred darkness;
Holy light;
Patient waiting
In God’s sight.

Hallowed labour;
Painful birth;
God’s own Christ-child
Here, on earth. 

Blissful stillness;
Watchful love;
Sacred, human
Motherhood.

Deepest silence;
Wordless praise;
Perfect peace
As Mary prays.

Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart (Luke 2:19; NIV).

One God (for L.)

Ruth Kirk

I will be your God throughout your lifetime – until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you (Isaiah 46:4; NLT). 

Lord God,
You are our Maker;
Your only Son, our Saviour;
Your Spirit, our Protector:
Lord,
You are One –
May we draw near to you,
And you to us.

Lord God,
You are our Refuge;
Your only Son, our Shepherd;
Your Spirit, our Defender:
Lord,
You are One –
May we abide in you,
And you in us. 

Lord God,
You are our Helper;
Your only Son, our Teacher;
Your Spirit, our Advisor:
Lord,
You are One –
May we be joined to you,
And You to us. 

The person who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with him (1 Corinthians 6:17; NLT).

References 

The Lord our God, the Lord is one (Mark 12:29; CSB).

Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you (James 4:8; ESV).

God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them (1 John 4:16; NRSV).