Last Saturday evening I took my last dose of the drug which has made prayer and writing impossible for me. The effects had become intolerable. Today I heard the faint return of God’s voice, so I wanted to share it with you straight away, my friends.
With love from Ruth xxx.
Don’t stress, don’t strain –
Just love the Lord.
Say yes to pain –
And no to sin.
In life, in death,
With every breath,
Whatever comes,
We share with Him.
No one can live forever; all will die. No one can escape the power of the grave (Psalm 89:48; NLT).
Lord, we fade and suffer pain,
For all must die to rise again.
Yet, may we trust your love and grace,
For all will die in your embrace.
We’ll be changed when life is through,
For all must die to live with you.
So, may we gladly leave this place,
For after death all see your face.
Now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face (1 Corinthians 13:12; NRSV).
Reference
We will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed. For this corruptible body must be clothed with incorruptibility, and this mortal body must be clothed with immortality (1 Corinthians 15:51-3; CSB).
I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life. And I assure you that the time is coming, indeed it’s here now, when the dead will hear my voice – the voice of the Son of God. And those who listen will live (John 5:24-5; NLT).
One day
I will hear your voice,
And feel my spirit rise.
One day
I will take your hand,
And look into your eyes.
One day
You will smile at me,
And banish all my fears.
One day
You will make me well,
And wipe away my tears.
One day
We will kiss, and laugh,
And dance, Lord, in your light.
One day
We will merge,
For I am precious in your sight.
Yes, 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).
You are precious in my sight and honored, and I love you (Isaiah 43:4; CSB).
References
My beloved is mine and I am his (Song of Songs 2:16; NIV).
There will be no night there – no need for lamps or sun – for the Lord God will shine on them. And they will reign forever and ever (Revelation 22:5; NLT).
Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life” (John 8:12; NLT).
Reading: John 1:1-5.
Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life (John 6:68; NIV).
Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them (John 4:23; NIV).
Lord,
I have no home
But you;
No congregation
Kind and true;
No parents,
And no resting-place;
No refuge here
Except your grace.
Lord,
I have no goal
But you;
No hope that drugs
Can make me new;
No fellows,
Nowhere to belong;
I am so weak
But you are strong.
Lord,
I have no way
But you;
My Shepherd, friend,
And teacher, too;
My source, my birth,
My soul, my breath:
You are my God
In life and death.
“My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed (John 20:28; NLT).
The dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it (Ecclesiastes 12:7; NIV).
References
Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us (Colossians 3:11; NLT).
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).
He himself gives life and breath to everything (Acts 17:25; NLT).
Look now; I myself am he! There is no other god but me! I am the one who kills and gives life; I am the one who wounds and heals; no one can be rescued from my powerful hand! (Deuteronomy 32:39; NLT).
We are all fragile, fallible, and mortal. Today, in prayer, I saw clearly that the purpose of life is to face its inevitable challenges, sorrows, and sufferings, learning to accept and endure them as patiently as we can, while still loving and serving Jesus in others. This was Christ’s mission, and it is ours as well, for Jesus is resurrected in us all.
Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23; NLT).
Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us (Colossians 3:11; NLT).
Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me (Matthew 25:40; NIV).
So here is today’s prayer:
I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb (Jeremiah 1:5; NLT).
You make us,
You see us,
And hear us.
You know us,
You guide us,
And help us.
You feed us,
You love us,
And hold us.
You wound us,
You teach us,
And heal us.
Look now; I myself am he! There is no other god but me! I am the one who kills and gives life; I am the one who wounds and heals; no one can be rescued from my powerful hand! (Deuteronomy 32:39; NLT).
References
I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world (John 16:33; NLT).
Though the Lord give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your Teacher will not hide himself any more, but your eyes shall see your Teacher (Isaiah 30:20; RSV).
May the Lord lead your hearts into a full understanding and expression of the love of God and the patient endurance that comes from Christ (2 Thessalonians 3:5; NLT).
Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised (Hebrews 10:36; NLT).
Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin? (Romans 2:4; NLT).
He told them to take nothing for their journey except a walking stick – no food, no traveler’s bag, no money (Mark 6:8; NLT).
May your shadow
Be my guide
And my companion;
Your body
Be my bread, Lord,
And my wine.
May your friendship
Be my well
And my refreshment;
Your teaching
Be my root, Lord,
And my vine.
May your living
Be my light
And my example;
Your dying
Be my way, Lord,
And my end.
May your Maker
Be my truth,
And my fulfilment;
Your Holy Ghost
My peace, Lord,
And my friend.
Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground (Psalm 143:10; NIV).
As he came closer to Jerusalem and saw the city ahead, he began to weep. “How I wish today that you of all people would understand the way to peace. But now it is too late, and peace is hidden from your eyes” (Luke 19:41-2, NLT).
I pray for peace
Throughout the world –
In every heart.
For no more guns,
And no more bombs –
The end of hate.
For no more fear,
And no more grief –
The death of war.
Then all will live
In love and peace –
For evermore.
Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ (Ephesians 5:2, NLT).
If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone (Romans 12:18, NIV).
God sits above the circle of the earth (Isaiah 40:22; NLT).
God above us,
Brooding, wise:
You hear each cry of grief,
Each breath.
God beside us,
Here on earth:
You give all beings
Life and death.
God in every
Heart and soul:
You are our pearl,
Our King of kings.
God amongst us,
We are one:
Please shelter us
Beneath your wings.
Let me live forever in your sanctuary, safe beneath the shelter of your wings (Psalm 61:4; NLT).
Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us (Colossians 3:11; NLT).
Christ is within!
Our teacher, our kin;
Our shepherd and guide.
The Saviour who died
Is living within:
Our brother, our twin!
Our gospel, our light,
Our pearl beyond price
Is Jesus, within.
Our Spirit, our King,
Our staff and our rod –
Our Lord and our God!
“My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed (John 20:28; NLT).
References
The Lord himself will give you the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us’). (Isaiah 7:14; NLT).
Be sure of this: I am with you always (Matthew 28:20; NLT).
Reading: Psalm 23.
Introduction
Well, my friends, I am sure I am not alone in having had a very disturbed night after seeing that shockingly blasphemous image of Trump apparently carrying out a ‘divine’ healing. I could not get it out of my mind.
Truth
For me, the conflict between this image and the truth could hardly be greater. Think about the discrimination, deprivation, injury, death and destruction he is causing. Everything he does brings further suffering for the poor, the dispossessed and the disadvantaged. This is the very opposite of Christ’s selfless humility, love, service, inclusiveness and healing. There is simply no resemblance whatsoever between Donald Trump and Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
Prayer
In the face of all this my mind and heart feel frozen, and I’m finding it impossible to pray. I have to face and express the truth. How can we be allowing Trump to exercise such vast power over our lives, our environment, and our world? Yet many people seem to be in thrall to his bullying, foolishness, lies, selfishness and violence – even those who call themselves Christians.
Christianity
Trump’s way is most definitely not Christ’s way. I simply cannot understand how any Christian can approve of his speech, behaviour and actions in any way at all. Where do they see the Fruit of the Holy Spirit reflected in his life? For the record:
The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-3; NLT).
Conclusion
I am sorry that this blog is so dark, but can only speak the truth as far as I understand it at my current stage of spiritual growth.
So, today, instead of a poem or prayer, I offer you two readings to think about.
1. Psalm 10
The first is Psalm 10. Here is a quotation to give the flavour of it, though I recommend reading the whole Psalm:
Their helpless victims are crushed; they fall beneath the strength of the wicked (Psalm 10:10; NLT).
2. The Magnificat
By way of contrast, my second reading brings Mary’s inspired, visionary, prophetic, indomitable hope and courage to our dire world situation. Again, I recommend reading the whole passage: Luke 1:46-55.
His mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation. He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away (Luke 1:50-53; KJV).
References
Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me (Matthew 25:40; NIV).
Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me (Matthew 25:45; NIV).