Month: May 2024

When our time here ends

Ruth Kirk

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

Father,

When our time here ends,
Let our spirits come to you.

Greet us all like little children;
Put your arms around us, too.

Lay your hands on us in blessing.
Lord, forgive our sins, and heal

All our losses and diseases,
All the shock of death’s ordeal.

Then, redeem our souls forever –
Crown us with eternal life.

Wash away our pain and anguish,
Far from earth, in paradise.

Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43; NLT).

References

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).

So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him (Luke 15:20; NLT).

He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies (Psalm 103:3-4; NLT).

Those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint (Isaiah 40:31; NLT).

A reading from Mark 10:13-16; CSB.

People were bringing little children to him in order that he might touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the little children come to me. Don’t stop them, because the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” After taking them in his arms, he laid his hands on them and blessed them.

 

Heaven on earth

Ruth Kirk

He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies (Psalm 103:3-4; NLT). 

In heaven, you forgive us, Lord.
In heaven, Lord, you heal.
In heaven, you redeem us
After life and death’s ordeal.
Then, resurrected, loved, and crowned,
We’re one with you, in joy profound.

In life, you can forgive us, too.
In life, you heal, console.
In life, you can redeem us,
And your hands can make us whole.
Then, born again, we grasp your worth:
We’re one with you, in heaven on earth.

There is only one thing worth being concerned about (Luke 10:42: NLT). 

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).

References

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

The Kingdom of God is already among you Luke 17:21; NLT). 

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

He bruises, but He binds up; He wounds, but His hands make whole (Job 5:18; NKJV).

As a mother consoles a child, so I will console you (Isaiah 66:13; NET).

Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God” (John 3:3; NLT).

He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5; NIV). 

In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us (Colossians 3:11; NLT).

 

Be holy

Ruth Kirk

Be holy in all you do, since it is the Holy One who has called you, and scripture says: Be holy, for I am holy (1 Peter 1:15-16; JB). 

May I be holy, Lord,
In all I do;
In all I think and say
Each day, like you.

In every kind of suffering
And pain,
May I be holy, always,
And remain

Your faithful servant,
And your willing slave:
Patient, thankful, joyful, kind,
And brave.

Then, despite each sacrifice
And loss,
I will be holy, still,
And bear my cross.

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).

References

God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time (Hebrews 10:10; NLT).

Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me (Matthew 25:40; NIV).

Whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else (Mark 10:44; NLT).

The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-3; NLT).

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).

 

My body

Ruth Kirk

He became anguished and distressed (Matthew 26; 37; NLT). 

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). 

My body is a burden;
My mind, a source of pain.

My heart is full of anguish, Lord –
I know you felt the same.

Acceptance is my watchword;
Embracing loss, my goal.

Lord Jesus Christ, please strengthen me,
And heal my fragile soul.

Rejoicing is my target,
And constant prayer, my plan.

May I give thanks for all you send,
And do the best I can.

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). 

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15; NIV).

References 

Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go (John 21:18; NIV). 

Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the LORD! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! (Habakkuk 3:17-18; NLT).

God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them (Romans 8:28; NLT).

 

Every bit

Ruth Kirk

I belong to you (Psalm 119:94; NET).

Every bit of me,
Both good and bad,
Belongs to you.

Yahweh, make me more like Christ,
In all I think, and say,
And do –

For he is my example, Lord,
My life, my truth,
My only way.

May I serve him here,
In all whose path I cross
Today.

It doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us (Colossians 3:11; NLT).

References

You and I both belong to God. I, too, was formed from clay (Job 33:6; NLT).

I am his (Song of Songs 2:16; NIV).

The Lord – who is the Spirit – makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image (2 Corinthians 3:18; NLT).

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).

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).

The King will reply, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:40; NIV).

In suffering

Ruth Kirk

Even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45; NLT). 

In every kind of suffering
May we identify with Christ,
Who dedicated all his days
To service and self-sacrifice.

In physical and mental anguish,
Trials and sorrows, all God sends,
Let’s offer up our pain and grief
For others’ sins. Let’s make amends

On their behalf, ask God to heal
All their afflictions, and restore
Their souls to faith, hope, love and joy –
Through Christ our Lord, for evermore.

I am glad when I suffer for you in my body, for I am participating in the sufferings of Christ that continue for his body, the church (Colossians 1:24; NLT).

 

Reach out

Ruth Kirk

The LORD must wait for you to come to him so he can show you his love and compassion (Isaiah 30:18; NLT).

Reach out to God,
For the Father is waiting –
Longing for you
To come to him.

Reach out to God,
For the Father is waiting –
Whether your life is good,
Or grim.

Reach out to God,
For the Father is waiting –
Though you are sinful, sick,
Or blind.

Reach out to God,
For the Father is waiting –
Search for him daily:
You will find.

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

References

O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water (Psalm 63:1; NLT).

From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. ‘For in him we live and move and have our being’ (Acts 17:26-8; NLT).

Every life

Ruth Kirk

In humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus (Philippians 2:3-5; NIV).

May every life
Be like the life
Of Christ:

With joys, temptations,
Faith,
Self-sacrifice;

Trials and sorrows,
Troubles,
And distress;

Torment and anguish
Offered up for others, pain –
And death.

He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross (Philippians 2:8; NKJV).

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). 

We can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world (1 John 4:17; NLT).

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me (Galatians 2:20; NKJV).

Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth” (Luke 10:21; NIV).

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).

Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there (Matthew 4:1; NLT).

We do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are – yet he did not sin (Hebrews 4:15; NIV)

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

They went to the olive grove called Gethsemane, and Jesus said, “Sit here while I go and pray.” He took Peter, James, and John with him, and he became deeply troubled and distressed. He told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death” (Mark 14:32-4; NLT).

The LORD will reward him with honor and power for sacrificing his life. Others thought he was a sinner, but he suffered for our sins and asked God to forgive us (Isaiah 53:12; CEV).

God’s Spirit

Ruth Kirk

The Spirit [comes to us and] helps us in our weakness. We do not know what prayer to offer or how to offer it as we should, but the Spirit Himself [knows our need and at the right time] intercedes on our behalf with sighs and groanings too deep for words. And He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because the Spirit intercedes [before God] on behalf of God’s people in accordance with God’s will (Romans 8:26-7; AMP). 

God’s Spirit prays on our behalf:
Bringing us joy, and peace,
And inspiration.

God’s Holy Spirit speaks to us:
Talking of patience, kindness,
And salvation.

God’s Spirit teaches us to grow
In loving care for all,
Renouncing sin.

God’s Holy Spirit strengthens us,
So we can trust in Christ,
And rise, like him.

God will raise us from the dead by his power, just as he raised our Lord from the dead (1 Corinthians 6:14; NLT).

References

The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22; NLT).

The LORD is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him (Exodus 15:2; NIV).

The Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor – Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will help you remember everything that I have told you (John 14:26; AMP).

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

Those who wait for the LORD’s help find renewed strength; they rise up as if they had eagles’ wings, they run without growing weary, they walk without getting tired (Isaiah 40:31; NET).

We are one

Ruth Kirk

The LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul (Genesis 2:7; KJV).

My body isn’t mine at all:
It’s yours.

My heart belongs to you:
God’s only Son.

My soul is shared with you:
My spirit soars.

Our minds are joined forever:
We are one.

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

References

I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine (Song of Songs 2:16; NIV). 

God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16; NLT).

We have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:13; NLT). 

Those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint (Isaiah 40:31; NLT).

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus (Philippians 2:5; NKJV).

We have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:126; NLT).