Category: grow

Born again

Ruth Kirk

1. When you send us into exile
We are born of human flesh –
Our chance to seek your only Son,
Who shares all our distress.

2. When we give our lives to him, Lord,
We are born on earth anew,
But this time of your Spirit,
Who helps us to grow like you.

3. When we take our final breath
We are reborn in heaven above,
To rest with you forever,
Reunited, Lord, in love.

 

References

1. I sent them away to exile and brought them home again (Ezekiel 39:28; NLT).
Keep on seeking, and you will find (Matthew 7:7; NLT).
In all their suffering he also suffered (Isaiah 63:9; NLT).

2. 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).
Unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God (John 3:3; NLT).
You can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit (John 3:8; NLT).
Put on your new nature, created to be like God – truly righteous and holy (Ephesians 4:24; NLT).

3. The dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it (Ecclesiastes 12:7; NIV).
Return, O my soul, to your rest (Psalm 116:7; ESV).
You have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end. Your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of God (1 Peter 1:23; NLT).

Heaven on earth

Ruth Kirk

1. Son of God,
You give me love,
So I dwell in heaven above;
And, as I mature and grow,
I will live in heaven, below.

2. Son of Man,
You calm my fear,
So I rest in heaven, here;
And, as I become like you,
I will live in heaven, too.

3. Lamb of God,
You fill my mind,
I will not leave heaven behind,
For, as I perceive your worth,
I will live in heaven, on earth.

References

1. I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have the power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ (Ephesians 3:17-19; NIV).

Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught and you will overflow with thankfulness (Colossians 2:7; NLT).

2. He [Jesus] rebuked the wind, and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. Then he asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?” (Mark 4:39-40; NLT).

We will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ (Ephesians 4:15; NLT).

3. Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered (Revelation 5:12; NLT).

Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven (Philippians 1:27; NLT).

Letting go

Ruth Kirk

When you were young, you were able to do as you liked;
you dressed yourself and went wherever you wanted to go.
But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands,
and others will dress you and take you where you don’t want to go.
(John 21:18; NLT).

1. Lord, as I get older,
I find I must let go
Of all I take for granted,
But, instead, you make me grow.

2. I’ve had to let my looks go,
My vanity and pride;
My status and my ego,
But, instead, you are my guide.

3. I’ve had to let my strength go,
My energy and health;
My work and independence,
But, instead, you give me help.

4. I’ve had to let my past go,
My childhood, my abuse;
My bitterness and hatred,
But, instead, you teach me truth.

5. And I will have to give up more:
My body, life, and breath;
But I will gladly let them go,
To merge with you, in death.

References

1. Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong (Ephesians 3:17; NLT).

We will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ (Ephesians 4:15; NLT

2. He is our God forever and ever, and he will guide us until we die (Psalm 48:14; NLT).

3. My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth (Psalm 121:2; NLT).

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

Teach me your ways, O Lord, that I may live according to your truth (Psalm 86:11; NLT).

5. Then Jesus shouted, “Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!” And with those words he breathed his last (Luke 23:46; NLT).

The Lord gave me what I had, and the Lord has taken it away. Praise the name of the Lord (Job 1:21; NLT).

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

Teach me

Ruth Kirk

1. Teach me, Lord,
What you want me to learn,
And show me
All that you want me to see.

2. Tell me, Lord,
What you want me to give,
And help me
To have life abundantly.

3. Teach me, Lord,
What you want me to know,
And show me
All that you want me to do.

4. Tell me, Lord,
What you want me to say,
And help me
To grow more and more like you.

References

1. Teach me your ways, O Lord (Psalm 86:11; NLT).

2. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly (John 10:10; NRSV).

3. Show me the right path, O Lord (Psalm 25:4; NLT).

4. We will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ (Ephesians 4:15; NLT).

You never tire

Ruth Kirk

The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary (Isaiah 40:28; NIV).

1. You never tire of hearing: Lord, I love you!
You never tire of listening to my cares.
You never tire of stirring me to learn, Lord;
You never tire of answering my prayers.

2. You never tire of hearing: I rejoice, Lord!
You never tire of welcoming my praise.
You never tire of spurring me to grow, Lord;
You never tire of shepherding my ways.

3. You never tire of hearing: Father, help me!
You never tire of comforting my tears.
You never tire of sharing all my sorrows;
You never tire of lightening my fears.

4. You never tire of hearing: Lord, I’m sorry!
You never tire of helping me forgive.
You never tire of pardoning my sins, Lord;
You never tire of wanting me to live.

5. You never tire of hearing: Thank you, Father!
You never tire of giving me your Son.
You never tire of pouring out your Spirit;
You never tire of me – for we are one.

 

References

1. He hears us (1 John 5:15; NLT).
I love you, Lord; you are my strength (Psalm 18:1; NLT).

2. I rejoice in the Lord (Psalm 104:34; NLT).
The Lord is my shepherd […] He guides me along right paths (Psalm 23:1,3; NLT).

3. He helps me (Psalm 28:7; NLT).
In all their suffering he also suffered, and he personally rescued them (Isaiah 63:9; NLT).

4. I am deeply sorry for what I have done (Psalm 38:18; NLT).
My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life (John 10:10; NLT).

5. We thank you, O God (Psalm 75:1; 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 16:21; NLT).

Heaven on earth

Ruth Kirk

1. Son of God, to seek and find,
We must all leave heaven behind;
Yet, dear Lord, to follow you,
We must trust in heaven, too.

2. Son of Man, to change and grow,
We must dwell in heaven below;
Yet, dear Lord, to care and bond,
We must draw on heaven beyond.

3. Holy One, to feel you near,
We must be in heaven here;
Yet, dear Lord, to practice love,
We must learn from heaven above.

4. Lamb of God, to share your bread,
We must long for heaven ahead;
Yet, dear Lord, to grasp your worth,
We must live in heaven on earth.

References

1. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me (Jeremiah 29:13; NLT).
Follow me and be my disciple (Matthew 9:9; NLT).

2. We will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ (Ephesians 4:15; NLT).
Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me (Matthew 25:40; NIV).

3. The Lord is near (Philippians 4:5; NIV).
Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them (Romans 12.9; NLT).

4. Jesus took some bread and blessed it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take this and eat it, for this is my body” (Matthew 26:26; NLT).
Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered (Revelation 5:12; NLT).