Category: care

Fear God (#1 of 2)

Ruth Kirk

I’ll tell you whom to fear. Fear God, who has the power to kill you and then throw you into hell. Yes, he’s the one to fear (Luke 12:5; NLT). 

Each of you must repent and turn to God, and be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38; NLT).

Fear God’s awesome fire and strength:
Turn away from sin.

Seek God’s gracious heart and mind:
Worship only him.

Choose God’s faithful truth and care:
Give up lies and shame.

Search God’s endless height and depth:
Honour his great name.

Share God’s blissful light and peace:
Make his love your home.

Choose God’s perfect way of life –
Serving him alone.

🖤

Serve him alone (Matthew 4:10; CPDV).

 

Joined

Ruth Kirk

When I wake up, you are still with me (Psalm 139:18; NLT).

Don’t you know that your bodies are a part of Christ’s body?
(1 Corinthians 6:15; CSB).

Wake with Jesus, joined in love;
Talk with Jesus, joined in prayer.
Go with Jesus, joined in hope;
Serve with Jesus, joined in care.

Laugh with Jesus, joined in cheer;
Weep with Jesus, joined in grief.
Eat with Jesus, joined in thanks;
Rest with Jesus, joined in peace.

Learn with Jesus, joined in truth;
Kneel with Jesus, joined in praise.
Live with Jesus, joined in faith –
One with Jesus, all your days.

🖤

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

 

Maker of land

Ruth Kirk

The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden
to work it and take care of it (Genesis 2:15; NIV).

Maker of land, and sea,
And sky:
We have done wrong;
May we lament.

Author of darkness, cloud,
And fire:
Lord, we have sinned;
May we repent.

Sender of drought, disease,
And flood:
Teach us to care,
And change, as well,

For you give us birth, and life
And death:
But we turn your Eden
Into our hell.

✝️

The end of the world is coming soon (1 Peter 4:7; NLT).

 

It’s not lonely

Ruth Kirk

As my life was fading away, I remembered the Lord,
and my prayer came to you, in your holy temple.
(Jonah 2:7; CSB). 

We all fade like a leaf (Isaiah 64:6: ESV).

1. Father,
It’s not lonely as we fade:
Even when no one comes,
You hear our cry.

2. Father,
It’s not lonely as we ebb:
Even if no one cares,
You share each sigh.

3. Father,
It’s not lonely as we yield:
Even though no one helps,
You soothe our fear.

4. Father,
You receive our final breath:
Dancing beside you,
Paradise starts here.

🖤

Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you,
today you will be with me in paradise.”
(Luke 23:43; NIV).

 

References

1. 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).

The Lord hears the cries of the needy (Psalm 69:33; NLT). 

2. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you (1 Peter 5:7; NLT). 

You know what I long for, Lord; you hear my every sigh (Psalm 38:9; NLT). 

3. I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me (Psalm 23:4; KJV). 

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

4. 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).

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).

 

 

Every day

Ruth Kirk

When I wake up, you are still with me.
(Psalm 139:18; NLT).

Evening and morning and at noon I will pray,
and cry aloud, and he shall hear my voice.
(Psalm 55:17; NKJV).

🖤

Every day, as I wake up, Lord,
May I greet you straightaway.

Morning, afternoon and evening,
May I worship you, and pray.

Every night, before I slumber,
May I thank you, and rejoice,

Then, whilst all is dark and quiet,
May I hear your still, small voice.

🖤

Every day, as I awake, Lord,
May I hear you speak once more.

Morning, afternoon and evening,
May I ponder, and explore

All you said. Before I settle
May I thank you for your care,

Then, each night, when all is silent,
May I talk with you, in prayer.

🖤

God talks with man (Deuteronomy 5:24; DBY).

 

I am nothing

Ruth Kirk

I am nothing (Job 40:4; NLT).

1. I am nothing;
You are fire:
Father,
Set my soul ablaze.

2. I am nothing;
You are love:
Jesus,
Fill my heart with praise.

3. I am nothing;
You are peace:
Spirit,
May I speak with care.

4. I am nothing;
You are truth:
Father,
Flood my life with prayer.

5. I am nothing;
You are light:
Jesus,
Let me shine anew.

6. I am nothing;
You are all:
Spirit,
Make me more like you.

🧡

God is Spirit (John 4:24; NLT).

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).

References

1. God is a consuming fire (Deuteronomy 4:24; NIV).

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

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

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

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

6. Christ is all, and is in all (Colossians 3:11; NIV).

When everything is subject to Christ, then the Son himself will also be subject to the one who subjected everything to him, so that God may be all in all (1 Corinthians 15:28; CSB).

 

 

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).

 

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).

 

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).

 

 

A foolish prayer

Ruth Kirk


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

1. Lord,
Please be with those who suffer.

2. Sorry,
That’s a foolish prayer –

3. Because you’re always with us,
Waiting,

4. Wanting us
To know you care.

5. Lord,
How should I pray for others?

6. May their hearts
Return to you –

7. Then they’ll know
Your deep compassion,

8. As you heal,
And make them new.

🖤

He renews my life.
(Psalm 23:3; CSB). 

References

1. I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf (1 Timothy 2:1; NLT). 

2. O God, you know how foolish I am (Psalm 69:5; NLT). 

3. Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me (Psalm 23:4; NLT). 

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

4. The Lord longs to be gracious to you (Isaiah 30:18; NIV).

5. Lord, teach us to pray (Luke 11:1; NLT).

6. I will give them hearts that recognise me as the Lord. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me wholeheartedly (Jeremiah 24:7; NLT).

The spirit returns to God who gave it (Ecclesiastes 12:7; NIV).

7. With deep compassion, I will bring you back (Isaiah 54:7; NIV). 

8. He heals all your diseases (Psalm 103:3; CSB).  

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