Category: Christ

With love

Ruth Kirk

Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ
(Ephesians 5:2; NLT).

1. See everything with love,
And hear everything with love.

2. Touch everything with love,
And use everything with love.

3. Think everything with love,
And feel everything with love.

4. Say everything with love,
And do everything with love.

5. Greet everyone with love,
And treat everyone with love.

References

1. Act with love (Hosea 12:6; NLT).

3. We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5; NIV).

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

Do everything with love (1 Corinthians 16:14; NLT).

5. Love your neighbour as yourself (Luke 10:27; NLT).

Love the stranger (Deuteronomy 10:19; NKJV).

Show love to foreigners (Deuteronomy 10:19; NLT).

Love your enemies! (Matthew 5:44; NLT).

Whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus (Colossians 3:17; NLT).

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

Where is the path?

Ruth Kirk

Keep on seeking, and you will find (Matthew 7:7; NLT).

1. Where is the path
That I should take?

2. Where is the narrow gate
I need?

3. Where is the door
On which to knock?

4. Where is the Christ,
Whom I must heed?

5. Where is the life
For which I long?

6. Where is the Kingdom
I must seek?

7. Where is the God
To whom I plead?

8. Help me, O Lord,
For I am weak.

References

1. Jesus told him, “I am the way” (John 14:6; NLT).

2. You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate (Matthew 7:13; NLT).

3. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you (Matthew 7:7; NLT).

4. This is my dearly loved Son. Listen to him (Mark 9:7; NLT).

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

6. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else (Luke 12:31; NIV).

7. O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you (Psalm 63:1; NLT).

8. Come quickly, Lord, and help me (Psalm 40:13; NLT).

Have compassion on me, Lord, for I am weak (Psalm 6:2; NLT).

Our soul

Ruth Kirk

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

Lord, our soul is you within us all (1).

You make us, breathe your soul into us, and give us life (2).

You dwell in us, and we in you, though we may never recognise your presence (3).

When we die, our soul returns to you, though in truth it has never been separated from you, for you are indivisible. The whole of you dwells in every one of us, and never leaves us (4).

No matter what we might prefer to think, we are always united with one another and with you, through Christ, your Son (5).

We do not each have a separate soul, unique to ourselves. There is only one soul, which is your Holy Spirit, shared forever by us all: those not yet born, those who are alive, and those who have died (6).

In the light of our neglected, yet primordial, oneness, and given the extremely serious state of international relations, climate change, and our widespread religious, political and personal inhumanity towards one another, here is today’s prayer:

Help us to grasp our oneness, Lord,
With you,

By loving you
In all creation:

Creatures,
People,

Earth, sky,
And ourselves.

We ask this through
Your dear Son’s name.

Amen (7).

References

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

2. There is a spirit within people, the breath of the Almighty within them (Job 32:8; NLT).

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

In him we live and move and have our being (Acts 17:28, NIV).

The fool says in his heart, “There is no God” (Psalm 14:1; NIV).

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

God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5; NIV).

The Lord is one (Mark 12:29; NIV).

5. 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 (John 17:21; NLT).

You are all one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:28; NLT).

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

You have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you (1 John 2:27; NLT).

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

Those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed […] into immortal bodies (1 Corinthians 15:52-3; NLT).

7. You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength [and] Love your neighbour as yourself. No other commandment is greater than these (Mark 12:30-31; NLT).

You are our soul

Ruth Kirk


The Spirit of God lives in you (1 Corinthians 3:16; NLT).

1. You are our soul,
So we are one
With all the world,
And heaven above.

2. You are our soul,
So we are one
With all your people,
Through Christ’s love.

3. You are our soul,
So we are one
With you, Lord,
In your Spirit’s grace.

4. You are our soul,
So we are one:
Please help us all
To seek your face.

References

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

There is a spirit within people, the breath of the Almighty within them (Job 32:8; NLT).

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

2. Christ lives within you (Romans 8:10; NLT).

We are one body (1 Corinthians 10:17; NLT).

You are all one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:28; NLT).

3. You have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you (1 John 2:27; NLT).

I will pour on the House of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace (Zechariah 12:10; NKJV).

4. Seek his face always (1 Chronicles 16:11; NIV).

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

Speak the truth in love

Ruth Kirk

What joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of guilt,
whose lives are lived in complete honesty!
(Psalm 32:2; NLT).

1. Let all you say
Be honest:
“Yes, please,”
Or else, “No, thank you.”

2. Let all you say
Be humble:
“I’m sorry,
I was wrong.”

3. Let all you say
Be gentle:
“Don’t worry,
I forgive you.”

4. Let all you say
Be Christ-like:
Speak truth, in love,
Lifelong.

References

1. You desire honesty from the womb (Psalm 51:6; NLT).

Just say a simple yes or no (James 5:12; NLT).

2. Always be humble and gentle (Ephesians 4:2; NLT).

Keep a humble attitude (1 Peter 3:8; NLT).

If you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift (Matthew 5:23-4; NIV).

3. When you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins (Mark 11:25; NIV).

Then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?” “No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven!” (Matthew 18:21-2; NLT).

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

Seek God’s help

Ruth Kirk

1. Try to think each thought
With love –
Seek God’s help
Through Jesus’ name.

2. Try to say each word
With love –
Ask him for
The Spirit’s flame.

3. Try to do each deed
With love –
Beg his help:
Christ will suffice.

4. Try to live your life
In love –
You’ll dwell with him
In paradise.


References

1. We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5; NIV).

The Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name (John 15:16; NLT).

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

How much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him (Luke 11:13; NLT).

What looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:3-4; NLT).

3. Do everything with love (1 Corinthians 16:14; NLT).

Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you (Psalm:5; NLT).

Whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus (Colossians 3:17; NLT).

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

Today you will be with me in paradise (Luke 23:43; NLT).

Morning prayer

Ruth Kirk


1. Thank you, Father, for my night,
For all my dreams,
And this new day.

2. Help me to pick up my cross,
And follow Christ,
And always pray,

3. Rejoicing in your Spirit, Lord,
Who loves me,
Though I’m fully known,

4. While waiting patiently in exile,
Till you come
To take me home.

References

1. Thank him for all he has done (Philippians 4:6; NLT).

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

2. 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).

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

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

The believers were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit (Acts 13:52; NLT).

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

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

He knows the secrets of every heart (Psalm 44:21; NLT).

4. Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him (Psalm 37:7).

I sent them away to exile and brought them home again (Ezekiel 39:28; NLT).