Category: ecstasy

10.10.23: Sharing (for B.B.)

Ruth Kirk
Greyerbaby: Pixabay.

Yesterday I woke at 3am, began to pray, and was immediately flooded with the joy of God’s presence. As today’s verses began to flow, I marvelled at all the different experiences God wants to share with us during prayer.

Although I received the first few lines in words, and could see the shape and rhythm of the whole poem, it proved astonishingly difficult to put into words. The first rough draft was completed just after 8am, but the whole piece wasn’t finished until 11.30 last night!

In your presence is fullness of joy. In your right hand there are pleasures for evermore (Psalm 16:11; WEB). 

Prayer is such a pleasure, Lord,
So, may I rest in you alone,
Sharing the joy and peace you bring:
Father, you want my soul to sing.

Prayer is such a banquet, Lord,
So, may I feast with you each day,
Sharing your pain and ecstasy:
Father, you set my poor soul free.

Prayer is such a wellspring, Lord,
So, may I intercede for all,
Sharing the love that you outpour:
Father, you help my soul to soar.

Prayer is such a comfort, Lord,
So, may I lodge here through life’s storms,
Sharing your perfect truth and light:
Father, you make our souls unite.

The person who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with him (1 Corinthians 6:17; NLT).

References

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

Listen to my prayer and my plea, O LORD my God. Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is making to you today (1 Kings 8:28; NLT).

Since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering (Romans 8:17; NLT).

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

May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light (Colossians 1:12; NLT).

3.10.23: In your hands

Ruth Kirk
Pexels: Pixabay.

I woke at 4am yesterday, and the moment I began to pray, these verses began to flow with very little input from me at all:

Our lives are in his hands (Psalm 66:9; NLT). 

In your hands, dear Lord,
I’ll rest,
Throughout each danger,
Loss and test,
However scared,
However stressed:
My Father.

In your hands, dear Lord,
I’ll stay,
Despite my troubles,
Every day,
However weary,
I will pray:
My Jesus.

In your hands, dear Lord,
I’ll die,
Then straight to you
My soul will fly,
For you are God,
Who shares each sigh:
My Spirit.

In your hands,
Dear Trinity,
I’ll live, forever
Joyful, free
To worship you
In ecstasy:
My Saviour.

God poured out the Holy Spirit abundantly on us through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that by his grace we might be put right with God and come into possession of the eternal life we hope for (Titus 3:6-7; GNT).

7.9.23: Golden darkness

Ruth Kirk
ivoxis: Pixabay.

Yesterday morning, as I greeted my icons one by one, the first words of this prayer came directly into my mind. These verses attempt to describe experiencing the presence of Christ during wordless prayer: in life, whilst dying, and in paradise. We can dip in and out of this experience until we die, but after death it will be all we know, and all we want to know.

Be silent before the LORD, all humanity.
(Zechariah 2:13; NLT). 

Moses approached the thick darkness where God was.
(Exodus 20:21; NLT).

1. Golden darkness deep within,
Far from stress, and shame and sin:
Lost in worship, bliss and peace
We rest, in life, with Christ, our Priest.

2. Golden splendour all about,
Letting go of dread and doubt:
Lost in rapture, joy and love
We walk, with Christ, to heaven above.

3. Golden glory all around,
Free from pain, with mercy crowned:
Lost in ecstasy, we soar
To join with Christ, for evermore.

Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever (1 Thessalonians 4:17; NLT).

References

1: Life

I will give you the treasures of darkness and riches from secret places so that you may know that I am the Lord (Isaiah 45:3; CSB).

We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves (2 Corinthians 4:7; NLT). 

Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls (Matthew 11:28-9; NLT).

We have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God (Hebrews 4:14; NLT). 

2: Dying

Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them (Luke 2:9; NLT). 

Worship the LORD in all his holy splendor (1 Chronicles 16:29; NLT). 

Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings (Hebrews 10:22; NIV). 

Jesus’ appearance was transformed, and his clothes became dazzling white, far whiter than any earthly bleach could ever make them (Mark 9:2-3; NLT).

Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God still, and trust in me. There are many rooms in my Father’s house; if there were not, I should have told you. I am going now to prepare a place for you, and after I have gone and prepared you a place, I shall return to take you with me; so that where I am you may be too” (John 14:1-3; JB).

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).

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

3: Beyond death

The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God (Hebrews 1:3; NLT). 

He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies (Psalm 103:4; NLT).

Those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint (Isaiah 40:31; NLT).

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). 

17.2.23: Ecstasy

Ruth Kirk

Almost every day, I dance, and it’s always good. But today when I danced before the Lord, I experienced the most wonderful ecstasy. This has happened to me before in various circumstances, and always takes me by surprise.

No matter what God gives or takes, I am completely safe in his hands, one with him forever. I have nothing to fear, so my heart just can’t help overflowing with joy and delight.

As soon as I finished dancing, I sat on the floor to write today’s blog:

David danced before the LORD with all his might (2 Samuel 6:14; NLT). 

Dancing here before you, Lord:
I’m overwhelmed by ecstasy.

Living, dying, in your hands:
I overflow with ecstasy.

One with you, my Lord, my God:
Our love explodes in ecstasy,

Sharing everything you send:
At one with you, through ecstasy.

I became in ecstasy (Acts 22:17; DBY).

References 

Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?  (Job 2:10; NLT).

The LORD gives, and the LORD takes away. Blessed be the name of the LORD (Job 1:21; CSB). 

I will go to the altar of God, to the God who gives me ecstatic joy, so that I express my thanks to you, O God, my God (Psalm 34:4; NET).

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18; NIV).

The Rosary Hospital 

My new cutting tool is terrifyingly sharp, but it worked beautifully. So yesterday’s rosary is now finished, packed up and ready to post as soon as I can get to a Post Office.