Category: Coronavirus

Like ants

Ruth Kirk

My grace is all you need.
My power works best in weakness
(2 Corinthians 12:9; NLT).

1. We are like ants,
Or blades of grass,
We mortals, who will
Swiftly pass.

2. Yet God loves us
With all his heart,
And longs for us
To play our part.

3. He is so great,
And we so small,
And yet he lives
Within us all;

4. And though we fail
Each day, and sin,
He’s one with us,
And we with him.

References

1. God sits above the circle of the earth. The people below seem like grasshoppers to him! (Isaiah 40:22; NLT).

Our days on earth are like grass; like wildflowers, we bloom and die. The wind blows, and we are gone – as though we had never been here (Psalm 103:15-16; NLT).

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

The Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God (Micah 6:8; NLT).

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

He knows how weak we are; he remembers we are only dust (Psalm 103:14; NLT).

The kingdom of God is within you (Luke 17:21; KJV).

4. I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway (Romans 7:19; 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 (John 17:21; NLT).

I am in them and you are in me ((John 17:23; NLT).

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

Perfection

Ruth Kirk

You are to be perfect,
even as your Father in heaven is perfect
(Matthew 5:48; NLT).

Father,

1. I am far
From your perfection,
With little time still left
To grow like you.

2. Please look on me
With mercy and compassion.
Forgive my sins,
And heal my body, too.

3. Mend my wayward heart,
And mind, and spirit;
Give me time to learn
From your dear Son.

4. Then help me, Lord, to serve
Your sacred kingdom,
For though I’m late, Lord God,
I have begun.

References

1. You are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect (Matthew 5:48; NLT).

Remember how short my life is (Psalm 89:47; NLT).

2. You, O Lord, are a God of compassion and mercy (Psalm 86:15; NLT).

He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases (Psalm 103:3; NLT).

3. I will heal your wayward hearts (Jeremiah 3:22; NLT).

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me (Matthew 11:29; NIV).

4. You must worship the Lord your God and serve him only (Luke 4:8; NLT).

When those hired at five o’clock were paid, each received a full day’s wage (Matthew 20:10; NLT).

Those who are last now will be the first then (Matthew 20:16; NLT).

This plague

Ruth Kirk

The Lord looks down from heaven on all mankind to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. All have turned away, all have become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one. (Psalm 14:2-3; NIV).

1. This plague is not a punishment
For every selfish deed;

2. Instead, it is the consequence
Of all our careless greed.

3. This plague is not a penalty
For every foolish choice;

4. Instead, it is our reckoning,
For we’ve ignored God’s voice.

References

1. Why do you continue to invite punishment? Isaiah 1:5; NLT).

From the least to the greatest, their lives are ruled by greed (Jeremiah 6:13; NLT).

2. You did not reflect on your actions or think about their consequences (Isaiah 47:7; NLT).

You careless ones will will suddenly begin to care (Isaiah 32:10; NLT).

3. I will heap on their heads the full penalty for all their sins (Ezekiel 22:31; NLT).

They have chosen crooked paths and have forgotten the Lord their God (Jeremiah 3:21; NLT)

4. How strong and courageous will you be in my day of reckoning? (Ezekiel 22:14; NLT).

If only you would listen to his voice today! (Psalm 95:7; NLT).

Courage

Ruth Kirk


Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said.
“Take courage. I am here!” (Matthew 14:27; NLT).

1. Lord,
Please give us courage,
To face all life may bring:
Heartbreak, sickness, hunger,
For you are still our King.

2. Lord,
Please give us courage
To bear all that may come:
Loneliness and worry,
Until this plague is done.

3. Lord,
Please give us courage
To turn to you, and pray,
Trusting in your mercy,
And serving you each day.

4. Lord,
Please give us courage
And hope, for you are great;
Forgive us all our sins,
And help us hold fast to our faith.

References

1. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows (John 16:33; NLT).

2. This is my intense suffering, but I must bear it (Jeremiah 10:19; CSB).

3. I plead for the Lord’s mercy (Psalm 142:1; NLT).

4. Put your hope in God (Psalm 42:5; NIV).

Having hope will give you courage (Job 11:18; NLT)

I restore the crushed spirit of the humble and revive the courage of those with repentant hearts (Isaiah 57:15; NLT).

Hold fast and repent (Revelation 3:3; NKJV).

Covid-19 (#2 of 2 linked poems)

Ruth Kirk

1. This plague won’t end
Until we turn to God,
Wanting to change our goal
From looks, to love.

2. This plague won’t end
Until we turn to God,
Willing to shift our hopes
From wealth, to love.

3. This plague won’t end
Until we turn to God,
Ready to move our hearts
From hate, to love.

4. This plague won’t end
Until we turn to God,
Learning to switch
From selfishness, to love.

5. This plague won’t end
Until we’ve understood,
And changed our way of life on earth –
For good!

References

1. Repent of your sins and turn to God (Matthew 3:2; NLT).

People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart (1 Samuel 16:7; NLT).

2. God said to him, “You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?” (Luke 12:20; NLT).

3. You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbour’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! (Matthew 5:44; NLT).

Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you (Luke 6:27; NLT).

4. Then he [Jesus] 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).

5. Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance (1 Corinthians 13:4-7; NLT)

You have shown me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever (Psalm 16:11; NLT).

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!

Trust

Ruth Kirk

Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows
(John 16:33; NLT).

1. Father,
May I trust in you,
No matter how I feel.

2. Father,
May I cling to you,
When life is an ordeal.

3. Father,
May I walk with you,
And share your warm embrace.

4. Father,
May I rest in you,
Until I see your face.

References

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

2. Serve only the Lord your God and fear him alone. Obey his commands, listen to his voice, and cling to him (Deuteronomy 13:4; NLT).

Do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed (1 Peter 4:12-13; NIV).

3. O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God (Micah 6:8; NLT).

So he returned 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).

4. My soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him (Psalm 62:5; NIV).

Now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face (1 Corinthians 13:12; NRSV).