Category: care

In his hands

Ruth Kirk

All his holy ones are in his hands
(Deuteronomy 33:3; NLT).

God holds us in his loving hands,
No matter how far we stray.
Whatever he sends, he cares for us,
Guiding us through each day.

God holds us in his gentle hands,
No matter how far we roam.
Whatever he sends, he carries us,
Bringing us safely home.

God holds us in his mighty hands,
No matter how great our fear.
Whatever he sends, he comforts us,
For, even in death, he’s near.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me
(Psalm 23:4; KJV).

Every breath (for David)

Ruth Kirk

Whoever lives in love lives in God,
and God in them (1 John 4:16; NIV).

May every breath I take
Be shared with you,
And every thought I have
Become a prayer.

May every word I speak
Be filled with love,
And every task I face
Be done with care.

Then I will dwell, Lord, always
In your hand.
No matter what I face,
You’ll help me through:

Lord,
May I rest forever
In your peace,
And dwell in perfect unity
With you.

You also are complete
through your union with Christ
(Colossians 2:10; NLT).

Unite with Christ (for A.K.)

Ruth Kirk

Image: truthseeker08, Pixabay

🤎

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).

1. Unite with Christ,
The Lord of lords,
And with all those
Who offer prayer.

2. Unite with Christ,
The Son of Man,
And with all those
Who love, and care.

3. Unite with Christ,
The King of kings,
And with all those
In want, and fear.

4. Unite with Christ,
The Son of God,
And with all those
Who suffer here.

May the Lord make your love for one another
and for all people grow and overflow
(1 Thessalonians 3:12; NLT).

🤎

References

1. They all met together and were constantly united in prayer (Acts 1:14; NLT).

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

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

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

I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one – as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me (John 17:21-3; NLT).

I love you, Lord

Ruth Kirk

Image: Jeff Jacobs, Pixabay

💙

Love the Lord your God with all your heart,
all your soul, all your strength,
and all your mind (Luke 10:27; NLT).

1. I love you, Lord,
With all my mind,
Delighting
In 
your tender care.

2. I love you, Lord,
With all my heart,
Exalting,
For 
I am your heir.

3. I love you, Lord,
With all my soul,
Rejoicing,
For you hear each plea.

4. I love you, Lord,
With all my strength,
For you, alone,
Have set me free.

💙

References

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

2. Since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory (Romans 8:17; NLT).

3. I love the Lord, because he hears my voice and my pleas (Psalm 116:1; NASB20).

4. If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed (John 8:36; NIV).

God is good

Ruth Kirk

Image: giografiche, Pixabay

💙

Only God is truly good (Luke 18:19; NLT).

1. God is good —
There’s nothing more to say.
He longs for us,
And wants to help each day.

2. God is great —
There’s nothing else to add.
He cares for us,
When we are sick, or sad.

3. God is perfect —
Who will dare deny?
He watches us
And understands each sigh.

4. God is faithful —
None can disagree.
He loves us all, and waits
For you and me.

💙

References

1. The Lord is good (Psalm 34:8; NLT).

God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble (Psalm 46:1; NLT).

I hold you by your right hand – I, the Lord your God. And I say to you, “Don’t be afraid. I am here to help you” (Isaiah 41:13; NLT).

2. God is great (Psalm 70:4; NLT).

Though the Lord is great, he cares for the humble (Psalm 138:6; NLT).

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

3. Your Father in heaven is perfect (Matthew 5:48; NLT).

He watches everyone closely, examining every person on earth (Psalm 11:4; NLT).

This High Priests of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings as we do (Hebrews 4:15; NLT).

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

He loves us with unfailing love (Psalm 117:2; NLT).

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

Change

Ruth Kirk

Image: Vaishakh Pillai, Unsplash

✙

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. Lord,
You know how worn I am:
Give me your mind,
So I can pray.

2. Lord,
You know how blind I am:
Give me your eyes,
To see the way.

3. Lord,
You know how weak I am:
Give me your strength,
So I may care.

4. Lord,
You know how cold I am:
Give me your heart,
To love, and share.

5. Lord,
You know how spent I am:
Give me your soul,
So I can feel.

6. Lord,
You know how sick I am:
Give me your hands,
So I may heal.

✙

References

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

We have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16; NLT).

2. When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven (John 17:1; RSV).

3. He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless (Isaiah 40:29; NLT).

Those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles (Isaiah 40:31; NLT).

4. I will give you a new heart…

5. …and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh (Ezekiel 36:26; NIV).

I have spent my strength for nothing and to no purpose. Yet I leave it all in the Lord’s hand (Isaiah 49:4; NLT).

6. Heal the sick, and tell them, “The Kingdom of God is near you now” (Luke 10:9; NLT).

You give us a lifetime

Ruth Kirk

Image: Dreampic123, Pixabay

💚

I will be your God throughout your lifetime
(Isaiah 46:4; NLT).

1. You give us a lifetime
To practice your presence;
A lifetime to ask
Your forgiveness, Lord, too.

2. You give us a lifetime
To care about others;
A lifetime to grow,
And become more like you.

3. You give us a lifetime
To bear our cross gladly;
A lifetime to follow
Your steep, narrow way.

4. You give us a lifetime
To thank you for all, Lord;
A lifetime to love you,
Cling tight, hope, and pray.

References

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

Perhaps even yet they will turn from their evil ways and ask the Lord’s forgiveness before it is too late (Jeremiah 36:7; NLT).

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

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

3. 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).

The gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult (Matthew 7:14; NLT).

4. Give thanks in all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:18; NIV).

You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind (Luke 10:27; NLT).

You must fear the Lord your God and worship him and cling to him (Deuteronomy 10:20; NLT).

Blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence (Jeremiah 17:7; NLT).

Pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17; NKJV).

Made of dread

Ruth Kirk

Image: Leigh Heasley, Pixabay

🖤

I’m just a worm, less than human
(Psalm 22:6; CEB).

1. I’m made of dread,
Instead of dust,

2. And cling to you in doubt,
Not trust.

3. I plead through pain,
Instead of prayer,

4. And serve you out of pride,
Not care.

5. I offer sin,
Instead of good,

6. And wait for you with fear,
Not love.

7. I seek the dark,
Instead of light –

8. Lord, may I walk by faith,
Not sight.

🖤

We walk by faith, not by sight
(2 Corinthians 5:7; NIV).

Growth (dedicated to A.K.)

Ruth Kirk

Image: truthseeker08, Pixabay

❤️

Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?
(Job 2:10; NIV).

1. Lord,
May I accept my lot,
For you, alone, send joy, and pain.
Then I will grow, in exile here,
Until we meet in heaven, again.

2. Lord,
May I accept my lot,
For you, alone, bring good from ill.
Then I will grow through suffering,
And never fail to love you, still.

3. Lord,
May I accept my lot,
For you, alone, send hurt, and loss.
Then I will grow in care for all,
And comfort those who bear their cross.

4. Lord,
May I accept my lot,
For you, alone, send every test.
Then I will grow in humble faith,
And gain, at last, eternal rest.

💙

References

1. Enjoy prosperity while you can, but when hard times strike, realise that both come from God (Ecclesiastes 7:14; NLT).

2. We know that 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).

When your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow (James 1:3; NLT).

3. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised (Job 1:21; NIV).

He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us (2 Corinthians 1:4, NLT).

4. The Lord your God is testing you to find out whether you love him with all your heart and with all your soul (Deuteronomy 13:3; NIV).

Then we will be with the Lord forever (1 Thessalonians 4:17; NLT). 

May I walk

Ruth Kirk

Image: Sergei Tokmakov, Pixabay

🤎

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

Father,

1. May I walk with care,
For all the earth is sacred.

2. May I walk with tears of joy,
For I am heaven-bound.

3. May I walk with deep respect,
For you, Lord, live in all you make.

4. May I walk with humble love,
For I’m on holy ground.

Image: Jasmin Sessler, Pixabay

References

1. 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).

The whole earth is filled with his glory! (Isaiah 6:3; NLT).

2. Tears of joy will stream down their faces, and I will lead them home with great care (Jeremiah 31:9; NLT).

The dust will return to the earth, and the spirit will return to God who gave it (Ecclesiastes 12:7; NLT).

3. I am the Lord, who made all things (Isaiah 44:24; NLT).

God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good (Genesis 1:31; NLT).

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

4. Walk humbly with your God (Micah 6:8; NLT).

Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children, and walk in the way of love (Ephesians 5:2; NIV).

“Do not come any closer,” the Lord warned. “Take off your sandals, for you are standing on holy ground” (Exodus 3:5; NLT).