Category: creation

15.10.23: Elohim (for P.Q.)

Ruth Kirk
falco: Pixabay.

Jehovah Elohim formed Man, dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and Man became a living soul.
(Genesis 2:7; DBY). 

1. Elohim,
Our God, our Lord:
Our Maker, stronghold,
Shield, and sword,
We bow before you,
Silent, awed –
Our Father.

2. El Chuwl,
The God who gives us birth:
You nurture us
Each day, on earth;
Our soul, our pearl
Beyond all worth –
Our Mother. 

3. Yahweh Roi,
The Shepherd God:
You comfort us
With staff and rod
Along the way
That Jesus trod –
Our Saviour. 

All glory to him who alone is God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord. All glory, majesty, power, and authority are his before all time, and in the present, and beyond all time! Amen.
(Jude 1:25; NLT).

References 

1. Elohim: The Creator 

Thou art great, Jehovah Elohim; for there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee (2 Samuel 7:22; DBY).

These are the histories of the heavens and the earth, when they were created, in the day that Jehovah Elohim made earth and heavens (Genesis 2:4; DBY).

God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them (Genesis 1:27; NLT).

Jehovah Elohim is a sun and shield (Psalm 84:11; DBY).

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name (Matthew 6:9; RSV). 

You deserted the Rock, who fathered you (Deuteronomy 32:18; NIV).

Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow (James 1:17; NLT). 

2. El Chuwl: The God who gave you birth

You forgot the God who gave you birth (Deuteronomy 32:18; NIV).

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

Who held back the sea behind partitions when it burst forth from my womb? (Job 38:8; TIB).

Will I, who causes others to give birth, not also give birth myself, says the Lord? Will I, who bestows generation upon others, be barren myself, says the Lord your God? (Isaiah 66:9; CPDV).

For a long time I have kept silent, I have been quiet and held myself back. But now, like a woman in childbirth, I cry out, I gasp and pant (Isaiah 42:14; NIV).

“As truly as God is our Father, so truly God is our Mother” (Julian of Norwich).

3. Yahweh Roi: The Lord is my Shepherd

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 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 23:1-4; KJV). 

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep (John 10:11; NLT). 

12.10.23: Consolation (for L.S.)

Ruth Kirk
myersalex216: Pixabay.

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).

Father,
My Creator, and my King:
You are God,
Who makes my spirit sing.

Jesus Christ,
My origin, and aim:
You are God,
Who shares my joy and pain.

Holy Ghost,
My Helper, deep within:
You are God,
Who rescues me from sin.

Lord,
My consolation, and my goal:
You are God,
Who longs to make me whole.

They will come weeping, but I will bring them back with consolation. I will lead them to wadis filled with water, by a smooth way where they will not stumble (Jeremiah 31:9; CSB). 

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

He wounds, but His hands make whole (Job 5:18; NKJV).

23.9.23: Not much left

Ruth Kirk
sabinevanerp: Pixabay.

Today’s prayer came to me yesterday morning. It reflects my thinking and state of mind at the time.

I am yours.
(Psalm 119:94; NLT).

1. There’s not much of “me” left, Lord,
But all I am is yours,
For you are my Creator:
The One my heart adores.

2. There’s not much of “me” left, Lord,
But I’ll serve as best I can,
For you have been my end-point
Since before my life began.

3. There’s not much of “me” left, Lord,
But every day I live
I’ll offer thanks for all you send,
And what you take, I’ll give.

Take whatever He gives and give whatever He takes with a big smile.
(St. Mother Theresa).

References 

Verse 1

We are the earth, and you are our maker; and we are all the work of your hand (Isaiah 64:8; BBE).

Yours, O LORD, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty. Everything in the heavens and on earth is yours, O LORD, and this is your kingdom. We adore you as the one who is over all things (1 Chronicles 29:11; NLT). 

Verse 2

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

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

Verse 3

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus (1 Thessalonians 5:18; NIV). 

I create the light and make the darkness. I send good times and bad times. I, the LORD, am the one who does these things (Isaiah 45:7; NLT).

The LORD gives, and the LORD takes away. Blessed be the name of the LORD (Job 1:20-22; CSB). 

11.9.23: Mysteries

Ruth Kirk
Engin_Akyurt: Pixabay

This prayer began to form last Friday, when several Bible verses came together in my mind, and I saw a connection between them. The link is that life and death, as well as many other “positive” and “negative” things, are the same to God, and they can be the same to us, as well. Knowing this can make suffering easier to bear.

If we live, it’s to honor the Lord. And if we die, it’s to honor the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord (Romans 14:8; NLT).

1. All through our lives
And when we die,
Lord, we are Yours:
You watch, close by.

2. Darkness and light
Are just the same
To You, our origin
And aim.

3. Father, you call us all
Your kin,
For we are Yours:
You live within.

4. God of the living,
And the dead:
All are alive
To You, our Head.

5. Lord, all these mysteries
Are true:
May we explore each one
With You.

He uncovers mysteries hidden in darkness; he brings light to the deepest gloom (Job 12:22; NLT).

References 

Verse 1:
The LORD himself watches over you! The LORD stands beside you as your protective shade (Psalm 121:5; NLT).

Verse 2:
To you the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are the same to you (Psalm 139:12; NLT).

Verse 3:
We are the temple of the living God (2 Corinthians 6:16; NIV).

Verse 4:
He is the God of the living, not the dead, for they are all alive to him (Luke 20:38; NLT).

Verse 5:
I devoted myself to search for understanding and to explore by wisdom everything being done under heaven (Ecclesiastes 1:13; NLT).

9.9.23: I’m yours

Ruth Kirk
Blumary: Pixabay.

Today’s prayer is simple but heartfelt:

I am yours (Psalm 119:94; NLT). 

He is mine forever (Psalm 73:26; NLT). 

Lord,

I’m yours,
And you are mine –
Beyond creation,
Space and time.

You are mine,
And I am yours –
In life and death,
Our love endures.

Whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord (Romans 14:8; NLT).

16.8.23: Beyond praise

Ruth Kirk
Blumary: Pixabay.

Yesterday I was praying without words in brilliant, white light when this hymn of praise began to arrive. Thinking about it afterwards, the light seemed to be both inside me and all around me. Everything was one, and I was one with everything. I couldn’t see anything but the brightness, which was very beautiful. These verses proved exceptionally difficult to express in words, and I don’t feel I did the whole experience justice at all.

Who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner’s fire (Malachi 3:2; NKJV).

1. You are my Maker,
Earth’s living Creator:
A shining, refining,
Unquenchable blaze.

2. You are my Teacher,
My Prophet and Preacher;
My yearning: returning, Lord,
All of my days.

3. You are my treasure,
My wealth beyond measure;
Compelling, indwelling:
My spirit obeys.

4. You are my story,
My future, my glory;
My crying, my dying, Lord:
Far beyond praise.

The Lord our God is great beyond all gods (2 Chronicles 2:5; BST).

References 

Verse 1
* He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire (Matthew 3:1; NIV).
* The LORD your God is a consuming fire (Deuteronomy 4:24; NIV).

Verse 2
* I long and yearn for the courts of the LORD; my heart and flesh cry out for the living God (Psalm 84:2; CSB).
* Christ died once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him (Hebrews 9:28; NLT).

Verse 3
* The kingdom of heaven is like treasure, buried in a field, that a man found and reburied. Then in his joy he goes and sells everything he has and buys that field (Matthew 13:44; CSB).
* Look, I am coming soon! Blessed are those who obey the words of prophecy written in this book (Revelation 22:7; NLT).

Verse 4
* We believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us (Romans 8:23; NLT).
* The LORD God is our sun and our shield. He gives us grace and glory (Psalm 84:11; NLT).

14.8.23: Wordless prayer

Ruth Kirk
Simon: Pixabay.

These couplets came to me last Saturday, during wordless prayer. Part of me hoped they would fade away, so I wouldn’t have to write them down, but they were much stronger than me, so I quickly gave way.

Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion (Ephesians 6:18; NLT).

God, who knows everything in our hearts, knows perfectly well what the Spirit is saying, because her intercessions for God’s holy people are made according to the mind of God (Romans 8:27; TIB).

Wordless prayer: my great adventure –
Going where the Spirit leads,

Seeing what she wants to show me,
Far beyond all human creeds.

So I listen in the darkness,
As she sighs and intercedes,

Speaks within me, though I’m silent,
Watching, as the Spirit pleads

For all: entreating, grieving, weeping,
Sweating, while creation bleeds.

He prayed more fervently, and he was in such agony of spirit that his sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood (Luke 22:44; NLT).

All creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time (Romans 8:22; NLT).

Further references 

The Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words (Romans 8:26; RSV). 

Will I, who causes others to give birth, not also give birth myself, says the Lord? Will I, who bestows generation upon others, be barren myself, says the Lord your God? (Isaiah 66:9; CPDV).

For a long time I have kept silent, I have been quiet and held myself back. But now, like a woman in childbirth, I cry out, I gasp and pant (Isaiah 42:14; NIV).

30.7.23: We are your children

Ruth Kirk
Sanshiro: Pixabay.

Yesterday, when I was praying even more sleepily than usual, this prayer hit me between the eyes. Instantly, I was wide awake. There was no going back to my deliciously drowsy state, so I began to write. Within less than an hour it was finished, including a few essential references.

NB: This prayer relates back to “My Alpha, my Omega”, which can be found here: https://wp.me/p45bCr-eL2.

You guided my conception and formed me in the womb.
(Job 10:10; NLT).

1. Dawn of Conception:
We are your children.

2. Source of All Souls:
You give birth, life and breath.

3. God of Creation:
We are your people –

4. You are our First,
And our Last, beyond death.

I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. (Revelation 22:13; NLT).

References 

Verse 1:
🔻 You guided my conception and formed me in the womb. You clothed me with skin and flesh, and you knit my bones and sinews together. You gave me life and showed me your unfailing love (Job 10:10-12; NLT).
🔻 We are his children (Galatians 4:6; NLT).

Verse 2:
🔻 The LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul (Genesis 2:7; KJV).
🔻 The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life (Job 33:4; NLT).
🔻 God, the LORD, created the heavens and stretched them out. He created the earth and everything in it. He gives breath to everyone, life to everyone who walks the earth (Isaiah 42:5; NLT).

Verse 3:
🔻 You created all things (Revelation 4:11; NLT).
🔻 I will give them hearts that recognize me as the LORD. They will be my people, and I will be their God (Jeremiah 24:7; NLT).

Verse 4:
🔻 The LORD gives both death and life (I Samuel 2:6; NLT).
🔻 The dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it (Ecclesiastes 12:7; NIV).

26.7.23: My Alpha, my Omega

Ruth Kirk
Didgeman: Pixabay.

This prayer quickly overtook me when I began to pray yesterday morning. I didn’t even realise what was happening: the first two lines arrived together, then the whole piece slowly took shape, little by little.

The LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul (Genesis 2:7; KJV). 

The ground of my being
And source of my soul,
My Alpha, my Omega:
You are my goal.

The dawn of conception,
Of birth, and of breath,
My Alpha, my Omega:
You conquer death.

My reason for living,
My meaning, my cause,
My Alpha, my Omega:
Lord, I am yours.

The God of creation
Beyond space and time,
My Alpha, my Omega:
Lord, you are mine.

My Maker, my essence,
My spirit, my song,
My Alpha, my Omega:
Lord, we are one.

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

21.6.23: Inward eyes

Ruth Kirk
kirahoffman, Pixabay.

Today’s prayer came to me during silent contemplation. It arrived very simply and easily, to my great gratitude and delight. The contrast with writing yesterday’s blog couldn’t be greater. Here is a link, in case you would like to check it out: An invitation: https://wp.me/p45bCr-epN.

People will look to their Creator and turn their eyes to the Holy One of Israel.
(Isaiah 17:7; NLT). 

I turn my inward eyes to you,
Creator of the human race;
In stillness, and in silence, Lord,
I gaze upon your face.

I join my mind, and heart, and soul
With yours, as I absorb your grace;
With childlike faith, and hope, and love,
I rest in your embrace.

The eternal God is your refuge, and his everlasting arms are under you. (Deuteronomy 33:27; NLT).