Category: care

So dazzling

Ruth Kirk

The Lord your God is the God of gods and Lord of lords
(Deuteronomy 10:17; NLT).

1. Lord,
You’re dazzling,
Wise, and fair.

2. You’re so good
And kind;
You care.

3. Lord,
You’re mighty,
Great, and pure.

4. You’re so close;
Help us
Endure.

5. Lord,
You’re faithful,
Deep, and true.

6. You’re so just
In all
You do.

7. Lord,
You’re holy,
Strong, and vast.

8. You are God:
The first;
The last.

References

1. He is clothed in dazzling splendour (Job 37:22; NLT).

God is so wise (Job 9:4; NLT).

2. Only God is truly good (Mark 10:18; NLT).

He cares for the humble (Psalm 138:6: NLT).

3. God is mighty (Job 36:5; NLT).

God is so great (Job 22:12; NLT).

4. The Lord your God is close to all who call on him (Psalm 145:18; NLT).

God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation (James 1:12; NLT).

5. God is faithful (1 Corinthians 10:13; NLT).

God is true (Romans 3:4; NLT).

6. How just and upright he is! (Deuteronomy 32:4; NLT).

7. The Lord our God is holy! (Psalm 99:9; NLT).

His power is vast (Job 9:4; NIV).

8. Before the mountains were born, before you gave birth to the earth and the world, from beginning to end, you are God (Psalm 90:2; NLT).

I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End (Revelation 22:12; NLT).

Cherish

Ruth Kirk

The Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden
to tend and watch over it
(Genesis 2:15; NLT).

Lord,

1. Help us to cherish
Forest, sea, and spring.

2. Help us to nurture
Every living thing.

3. Help us to care for others,
And the earth.

4. Help us to love your Son,
And grasp his worth.

References

1. In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1; NLT).

2. He himself gives life and breath to everything (Acts 17:25; NLT).

3. Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them (Romans 12:9; NLT).

4. This is my Son, my Chosen One. Listen to him (Luke 9:35; NLT).

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

I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord (Philippians 3:8; NIV).

Covid-19 (#1 of 2 linked poems)

Ruth Kirk

1. This plague won’t end
Until we start to change,
Moving our main concern
From get,
To give.

2. This plague won’t end
Until we start to change,
Shifting our aim
From greed,
To how we live.

3. This plague won’t end
Until we start to change,
Turning our main resolve
From keep,
To share.

4. This plague won’t end
Until we start to change,
Swapping our main intent
From wealth,
To care.

5. This plague won’t end
Until we start to change,
Switching our main desire
From self,
To love.

6. This plague won’t end
Until we’ve understood,
And learned to change
Our way of life –
For good!

Exile

Ruth Kirk
Image: Marko Lovric, Pixabay

The Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you
(Deuteronomy 31:6; NIV).

1. Father,
You’re in exile
With those living far from home,
For Christ, your Son, dwells in us all,
No matter where we roam.

2. Father,
You’re in hospital
With every patient there,
For Christ, your Son, dwells in us all,
To comfort, heal, and care.

3. Father,
You’re in prison
With each lonely detainee,
For Christ, your Son, dwells in us all,
To set our spirits free.

4. Father,
You’re in everyone;
You never cease to give;
For Christ, your Son, dwells in us all,
So we may fully live.

I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there. If I ride on the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me (Psalm 139:7-10; NLT).

References

1. In all their suffering he also suffered (Isaiah 63:9; NLT).

Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us (Colossians 3:11; NLT).

2. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me (Psalm 23:4; NIV).

He cares for you (1 Peter 5:7; NIV).

3. The Lord was with Joseph in the prison and showed him his faithful love (Genesis 39:21; NLT).

He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners (Luke 4:18; NIV).

4. There is one Lord […] who is over all and in all and living through all (Ephesians 4:5-6; NLT).

Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need (Luke 12:31; NLT).

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

Please bless me

Ruth Kirk
Image: silviarita, Pixabay

Those who say they live in God should live their lives
as Jesus did (1 John 2:6; NLT).

1. God of light,
Please bless me,
So I may shine today
On all I greet.

2. God of truth,
Please bless me,
So I may speak your words
To all I meet.

3. God of peace,
Please bless me,
So I may spread your joy,
Just like your Son.

4. God of love,
Please bless me,
So I may show your care
To everyone.

5. God of fire,
Please bless me,
So I may help
To set your world ablaze.

6. God of all,
Please bless me,
So I may trust and serve you
All my days.

References

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

Let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father (Matthew 5:16; NLT).

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

We will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ (Ephesians 4:15; NLT).

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

Jesus was filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit (Luke 10:21; NLT).

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

Be kind to everyone (2 Timothy 2:24; NLT).

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

I came to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already set ablaze! (Luke 12:49; CSB).

6. I am the Lord, the God of all the peoples of the world (Jeremiah 32:27; NLT).

Trust in God (John 14:1; NLT).

Serve the Lord enthusiastically (Romans 12:11; NLT).

Habit

Ruth Kirk
Image: falco, Pixabay

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).

1. Let prayer become my habit, Lord,
Communing with you day and night,
For then I’ll grow more like your Son,
Who came to earth to make us one.

2. Let thanks become my habit, Lord,
Expressed in every circumstance,
For then I’ll grow more like your Christ,
Who came to be our sacrifice.

3. Let joy become my habit, Lord,
Ceaseless, heartfelt, unconfined,
For then I’ll grow more like your King,
Who came to make our spirits sing.

4. Let love become my habit, Lord,
Deep, reflexive, faithful, true,
For then I’ll grow more like your Lamb,
Who cares for all since time began.

References

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

I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one (John 17:22; NLT).

Whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit (1 Corinthians 6:17; NIV).

2. Give thanks in all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18; NIV).

God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin (Romans 3:25; NLT).

3. Rejoice always (1 Thessalonians 5:16; NIV).

I will praise you among the Gentiles; I will sing praises to your name (Romans 15:9; NLT).

4. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love (1 John 4:8; NIV).

John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29; NLT).

Christ cares for the church (Ephesians 5:29; NLT).

We proclaim to you the one who existed from the beginning, whom we have heard and seen (1 John 1:1; NLT).

May I live for you

Ruth Kirk
Image: Demitris Vetsikas, Pixabay

1. Father,
May I live for you,
Glad to make
Each sacrifice.

2. Jesus,
May I live like you,
Ready, Lord,
To pay the price.

3. Spirit,
May I live with you,
Quick to spread
Your loving care.

4. Godhead,
May I live in you,
Day and night, Lord,
Everywhere.

References

1. If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord (Romans 14:8; NIV).

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

2. We live like Jesus here is this world (1 John 4:17; NLT).

We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters (1 John 3:16; NLT).

3. Be filled with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18; NLT).

He has told us about the love for others that the Holy Spirit has given you (Colossians 1:8; NLT).

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

If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave you are there (Psalm 139:8; NLT).