Category: Father

I want to hug you

Ruth Kirk

If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.
(Jeremiah 29:13; NLT).

1. I want to hug you, Father,
But I can’t;
Yet when I hug a friend, Lord,
I hug you.

2. I yearn to kiss you, Mary,
But I can’t;
Yet when I kiss my neighbour,
I kiss you.

3. I long to hold you, Jesus,
But I can’t;
Yet when I hold a stranger,
I hold you.

4. I seek you, Threefold God,
With all my heart;
And when I love my foe, Lord,
I find you.

🖤

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

 

References 

1. No one has greater love than this: to lay down his life for his friends (John 15:13; CSB).

2. Love your neighbour as yourself (Mark 12:31; NLT).

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

4. You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water (Psalm 63:1; NIV).

Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you (Luke 6:27-8; NIV).

 

May we all repent

Ruth Kirk

Each of you must repent and turn to God, and be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38; NLT).

Father,
May we all repent,
And turn to you, our Lord;
Then be baptised
In Jesus’ name,
As he forgives our sin.

Father,
May we all receive
Your gift: the Holy Ghost;
Take up our cross,
And follow Christ,
And try to grow like him.

Father,
May we all give up
Our hateful, selfish ways;
Put others first,
Accept your will,
And serve you all our days.

🖤

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).

My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done (Matthew 26:42; NIV).

Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all (Mark 9:35; NIV).

Every breath

Ruth Kirk


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).

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

Let every breath
Become a prayer:
Feelings, thoughts, words, deeds –
The same.

Let every sigh
Become a prayer,
As we hold fast
To Jesus’ name.

Let every stress
Become a prayer:
Pain, sickness, sorrow,
Sins and fears.

Let every test
Become a prayer –
Because our Father
Always hears.

🖤

The angel also said, “You are now pregnant and will give birth to a son.
You are to name him Ishmael (which means ‘God hears’),
for the Lord has heard your cry of distress.”
(Genesis 16:11; NLT).

We are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for (1 John 5:14; NLT).

Beginning

Ruth Kirk

In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
(Genesis 1:1; KJV).

1. Father: the beginning;
Heaven and earth
Created out of love. 

2. Holy Ghost: descending
Over sunless waters,
Like a dove.

3. Jesus Christ: forgiving;
Light in darkness
Ceaselessly outpoured.

4. Here I am: returning
To paradise, with you,
My living Lord.

🖤

Pray continually.
(1 Thessalonians 5:16; NIV).

 

References

1. In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth (Genesis 1:1; KJV). 

2. As Jesus came up out of the water, he saw the heavens splitting apart and the Holy Spirit descending on him like a dove (Mark 1:10; NLT).

The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters (Genesis 1:2; KJV).

3. Through this man Jesus there is forgiveness for your sins (Acts 13:38; NLT).  

The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it (John 1:4-5; NLT). 

4. Then the Lord called Samuel, and he answered, “Here I am” (1 Samuel 3:4; CSB). 

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

Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43; NIV).

The Lord lives! (2 Samuel 22:47; NLT).

 

 

We are wretched

Ruth Kirk

You say, “I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.” But you do not realise that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.
(Revelation 3:17; NIV).

Father,
We are wretched:
Sinful, and unkind.

Father,
We are naked:
Mortal, weak, and blind.

Father,
We are pitiful:
Foolish, poor, and small.

Father,
We are nothing,
Yet you are all in all.

🖤

I am nothing (Job 40:4; NLT).

The Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him, so that God may be all in all (1 Corinthians 15:28; NIV).

 

I am nothing

Ruth Kirk

I am nothing (Job 40:4; NLT).

1. I am nothing;
You are fire:
Father,
Set my soul ablaze.

2. I am nothing;
You are love:
Jesus,
Fill my heart with praise.

3. I am nothing;
You are peace:
Spirit,
May I speak with care.

4. I am nothing;
You are truth:
Father,
Flood my life with prayer.

5. I am nothing;
You are light:
Jesus,
Let me shine anew.

6. I am nothing;
You are all:
Spirit,
Make me more like you.

🧡

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

The Lord – who is the Spirit – makes us more and more like him
as we are changed into his glorious image.
(2 Corinthians 3:18; NLT).

References

1. God is a consuming fire (Deuteronomy 4:24; NIV).

2. God is love (1 John 4:8; NLT).

3. The Lord is peace (Judges 6:24; NLT). 

4. The Spirit is truth (1 John 5:6; NKJV).

5. God is light (1 John 1:5; NLT).

6. Christ is all, and is in all (Colossians 3:11; NIV).

When everything is subject to Christ, then the Son himself will also be subject to the one who subjected everything to him, so that God may be all in all (1 Corinthians 15:28; CSB).

 

 

Leaving no footprints

Ruth Kirk

You walked through the sea; you passed through the surging waters,
but left no footprints (Psalm 77:19; NET). 

1. Father,
May I walk these sands,
Leaving no footprints –
Only faith.

2. Jesus
May I pass this way,
Leaving no footprints –
Only peace.

3. Spirit,
May I wander here,
Leaving no footprints –
Only prayer.

4. Saviour,
May I rise with you,
Leaving no footprints –
Only love.

♥️

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

 

References

1. It is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast (Ephesians 2:8-9; NIV). 

2. How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!” (Isaiah 52:7; NIV).

I am leaving you with a gift – peace of mind and heart (John 14:27; NIV).

3. 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).

4. All glory to him who alone is God, our Saviour 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).

My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour (Luke 1:46-7; NIV). 

My beloved calls to me, “Arise, my darling. Come away with me, my beautiful one” (Song of Songs 2:10; BSB).  

Those who trust in the Lord for help will find their strength renewed. They will rise on wings like eagles; they will run and not get weary; they will walk and not grow weak (Isaiah 40:31; GNT). 

We …will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:17; NLT).

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

 

 

Born again (#2 of 2)

Ruth Kirk

Unless you are born again,
you cannot see the Kingdom of God.
(John 3:3; NLT).

Not for deeds that we had done, but by his steadfast love alone, he saved us through a second birth, renewed us by the Spirit’s work,
and poured him out upon us, too.
(Titus 3:5-6; ISV).

Father,
Being born again
Means starting life afresh,
No longer thinking we’re alone,
But trusting, Lord, in you.

Jesus,
Being born again
Means starting life once more,
No longer lost in self alone,
But serving, Lord, like you.

Spirit,
Being born again
Means starting life anew,
No longer facing death alone,
But walking, Lord, with you.

💚

Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God – truly righteous and holy.
(Ephesians 4:21-4; NLT).

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 23:4; KJV).

 

Born again (#1 of 2)

Ruth Kirk

Unless you are born again,
you cannot see the Kingdom of God.
(John 3:3; NLT).

Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God – truly righteous and holy.
(Ephesians 4:21-4; NLT).

Father,
Being born again
Means starting life afresh
With you;

Jesus,
Being born again
Means learning how to love
Like you;

Spirit,
Being born again
Means praying day and night
In you,

Because,
Once we are born again,
We believe and trust
In you.

💙

Not for deeds that we had done, but by his steadfast love alone, he saved us through a second birth, renewed us by the Spirit’s work,
and poured him out upon us, too.
(Titus 3:5-6; ISV).