Month: February 2024

Saying, “Yes”

Ruth Kirk

Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me! For my soul trusts in You; and in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge, until these calamities have passed by (Psalm 57:1; NKJV).

I ask you, Lord my God,
To bless
The souls who trust you,
And say, “Yes”

To all you send,
Both good and bad:
May full acceptance
Make us glad.

For all you give to us,
And take,
We offer thanks
For Jesus’ sake,

Ready to make
Each sacrifice
With joy, becoming
One with Christ.

So, Lord,
In all you send today,
May we rejoice, give thanks,
And pray.

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).

References 

Since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering (Romans 8:17; NLT).  

I create the light and make the darkness. I send good times and bad times. I, the LORD, am the one who does these things (Isaiah 45:7; NLT). 

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

Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will leave this life. The LORD gives, and the LORD takes away. Blessed be the name of the LORD (Job 1:21; CSB).

Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him (Philippians 3:8-9; NLT).

 

My Lord, my God

Ruth Kirk

I put my hope in you, LORD; you will answer me, my Lord, my God (Psalm 38:15; CSB). 

When I say: “My Lord, my God”,
This means:
The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

I say these words with all who love
The Lord our God,
And with the heavenly host.

I say them with all living things,
With all creation, height, depth, time
And space:

My Lord, my God, I praise your Name:
One Love, one Light, one Truth,
One boundless grace.

The grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people (Titus 2:11; NLT).

References 

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace (Luke 2:13-14; KJV). 

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

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

Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12; NLT).

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

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all (2 Corinthians 13:14; NLT).

 

Waves of darkness

Ruth Kirk

I will bless the LORD who guides me; even at night my heart instructs me (Psalm 16:7; NLT).

Waves of darkness
And of light
Guide us deeper
Into love.

Waves of tenderness
And joy
Draw us closer:
God is good.

Waves of mercy
And of strength:
These, in silent prayer,
Increase.

Waves of unity
And bliss:
Always here –
The Lord is peace.

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

References

Moses approached the thick darkness where God was (Exodus 20:21; NIV).

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

God is love (1 John 4:8; NLT).

Yahweh is mercy and tenderness (Psalm 111:4; NJB).

How kind the LORD is! How good he is! So merciful, this God of ours! (Psalm 116:5; NLT).

The Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength (Isaiah 26:4; KJV).

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

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

Thou makest me to know the path of life; in Thy presence is fulness of joy, in Thy right hand bliss for evermore (Psalm 16:11; JPS Tanakh 1917).

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

I meet you

Ruth Kirk

Then the Lord said to Moses… “I will meet with you in the Tabernacle” (Exodus 30:34,36; NLT). 

We are the temple of the living God; as God said; I will live in them, and walk about among them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people (2 Corinthians 6:16; GNT). 

I meet you
In my mind, Lord God,
Through prayer;

And greet you
In my heart,
For you are there;

Embrace you
In my soul,
Where we are one –

Then, Yahweh God,
My spoken prayers
Are done.

Be silent before the LORD, all humanity, for he is springing into action from his holy dwelling (Zechariah 2:13; NLT).

References 

We know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them (1 John 4:16; NIV). 

The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was sleeping in the Tabernacle near the Ark of God (1 Samuel 3:3; NLT).

When you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him (Matthew 6:7-8; NIV).

 

Life

Ruth Kirk

Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world (John 16:33; NLT).

Life brings us
Face to face
With all our fears;

With pain and anguish,
Sickness, grief,
And tears.

One by one
We tackle them
With you –

Please help us, Lord,
And strengthen us
Anew.

He renews my strength (Psalm 23:3; NLT).

References 

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

The LORD is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving (Psalm 28:7; NLT).

Without you

Ruth Kirk

You lived in this world without God and without hope (Ephesians 2:12; NLT). 

Jesus,

How could I live without you?
How would I ever cope
With not seeing your face,
Or hearing your voice?
How could I live without hope?

But even when I can’t see you, Lord,
And when I don’t hear your voice –
Your way, your truth
And your life are clear:
Lord, I have made my choice.

Yes, even when I can’t see your face,
And when I don’t hear your voice –
My faith, my hope
And my love are strong:
You are my only choice.  

Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life (John 6:68; NLT).

References 

Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me” (John 20:29; NLT). 

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me” (John 14:6; NLT).

Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong. And do everything with love (1 Corinthians 16:13-14; NLT). 

Three things will last forever – faith, hope, and love – and the greatest of these is love (1 Corinthians 13:13; NLT).

Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are (1 Peter 5:9; NLT). 

If you are walking in darkness, without a ray of light, trust in the LORD and rely on your God (Isaiah 50:10; NLT).

 

Within your heart

Ruth Kirk

We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them (1 John 4:16; NLT).

Father,
Let me live
Within your heart,
So I may dwell
In unity
With Thee.

Then,
Neither life nor death, Lord,
Can us part:
For I’ll remain
In you,
And you in me.

Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me (John 15:4; NLT). 

References 

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

He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive (Luke 20:38; NIV).

We are the temple of the living God (2 Corinthians 6:16; NLT).

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 (Romans 8:38; NLT).

God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away (Revelation 21:4; KJV).

 

How do you cope?

Ruth Kirk

He dreamed that there was a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven; and behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it (Genesis 28:11-13; RSV). 

How do you handle
The constant creation
Of spirits, descending
For birth?

How do you cope
With the endless procession
Of souls, Lord,
Ascending from earth?

How do you manage
The comfort and healing
Of all those
Arriving above?

How do you deal with
The shock and distress
Of so many?
Lord God, you are love.

We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them (1 John 4:16; NLT).

References 

The LORD gives both death and life (1 Samuel 2:6; NLT). 

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

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

Will I, who causes others to give birth, not also give birth myself, says the Lord? Will I, who bestows generation upon others, be barren myself, says the Lord your God? (Isaiah 66:9; CPDV).

I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” (Revelation 21:3-5; NLT).

 

We look to you

Ruth Kirk

Since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you (John 13:14-15; NLT). 

Help us, Lord,
To look to you
As our ideal
In all we do:

To follow you,
And bear our cross;
Encourage others,
Face each loss;

Accept our sorrows,
Love you still,
And always choose
Our Father’s will.

Then Jesus left them a second time and prayed, “My Father! If this cup cannot be taken away unless I drink it, your will be done” (Matthew 26:42; NLT).

Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised (Hebrews 10:36; NLT).

References 

God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps (1 Peter 2:21; NLT).

Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God (Ephesians 5:2; NLT).

Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23; NLT).

If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine (Matthew 10:38; NLT).

 

My example

Ruth Kirk

Today I had my most-feared medical procedure, about which I was very anxious. However, the specialist was so understanding, kind, slow and gentle that I got through it without shouting, screaming, panicking, or running away.

The prayer below was given to me when I woke this morning at around 6am. It helped me a lot, so I would like to share it with you all.

With love from Ruth xxxxx

Then Jesus left them a second time and prayed, “My Father! If this cup cannot be taken away unless I drink it, your will be done” (Matthew 26:42; NLT). 

Lord,
You’re my example
As I face
My deepest fear.

You are very close
Beside me:
Thank you, Lord,
For being here.

May your rod and staff
Protect me:
Lord, I put my trust
In you.

Jesus,
As I face this test:
Renew my strength,
And guide me through.

He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name. Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me (Psalm 23:3-4; NLT).

References

I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world (John 16:33; NLT). 

He took Peter and Zebedee’s two sons, James and John, and he became anguished and distressed. He told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death” (Matthew 26:37-8; NLT).

Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me (John 14:1; NLT).

The LORD your God is testing you to see if you truly love him with all your heart and soul (Deuteronomy 13:3; NLT). 

When I am afraid, I put my trust in you (Psalm 56:3; NIV).