Category: grow

Thank you

Ruth Kirk

The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away;
may the name of the Lord be praised
(Job 1:21; NIV).

1. Thank you, Lord,
For everything you give me.

2. May I grow
Through everything you send,

3. Learning from your gifts,
Both “good” and “bad”, Lord,

4. And always grateful,
Till I reach life’s end.

References

1. No one can receive anything unless God gives it from heaven (John 3:27; NLT).

2. When your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow (James 1:3; NLT).

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

4. Let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken (Hebrews 12:29; RSV).

Be thankful in all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:18; NLT).

Enlightenment

Ruth Kirk


The true light that enlightens everyone was coming into the world
(John 1:9; HNV).

1. Each human life brings trials
And suffering.
God gives, and takes away;
He wounds, and heals.

2. He helps us learn
From all we undergo,
Until, at last,
Enlightenment reveals

3. His purpose: change and growth
For every soul;
For as we learn to love,
We are made whole.

References

1. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows (John 16:33; 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).

I am the one who wounds and heals (Deuteronomy 32:39; NLT).

2. We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him (Romans 8:28; NIV).

Let us go on instead and become mature in our understanding (Hebrews 6:1; NLT).

The Lord my God will enlighten my darkness (Psalm 18:28; NKJV).

Teach us to number our days carefully so that we may develop wisdom in our hearts (Psalm 90:12; CSB).

The inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding (Job 32:8; WEB).

3. His purpose was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him (Acts 17:27; NLT).

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

Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them (Romans 12:9; NLT).

I am the Lord who heals you (Exodus 15:26; NLT).

He restores my soul (Psalm 23:3; NKJV).

May I walk with you

Ruth Kirk


1. Father,
May I walk with you,
And talk with you
Today.

2. Mary,
May I pray with you,
And stay with you
Today.

3. Jesus,
May I go with you,
And grow with you
Today.

4. Spirit,
May I blaze with you,
And praise with you
Today.

References

1. The Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God (Micah 6:8; NLT).

God talks with man (Deuteronomy 5:24; DBY).

2. They all met together and were constantly united in prayer, along with Mary the mother of Jesus (Acts 1:14; NLT).

3. Then [Jesus] said to the crowd, “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).

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

4. What looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:3-4; NLT).

We […] who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:3; NKJV).

Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth” (Luke 10:21; NIV).

Service

Ruth Kirk

1. Help me to serve you,
Lord, my God,
In every way I can,
However small;

2. And may I grow
More like you, Lord –
The Saviour of the world,
Who loves us all.

References

1. Love the Lord your God, walk in all his ways, obey his commands, hold firmly to him, and serve him with all your heart and all your soul (Joshua 22:5; NLT).

Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all” (Mark 9:35; NIV).

2. 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).

The Father sent his Son to be the Saviour of the world (1 John 4:14; NLT).

He loves with unfailing love (Psalm 117:2; NLT).

Dead leaves

Ruth Kirk
Image: Ruth Kirk

Lord,

1. Sheltered by last year’s dead leaves,
Can I spring up anew?

2. Shielded by last year’s sparse crop,
Can I bear fruit, like you?

3. Nourished by last year’s parched growth,
Can I accept your will?

4. Strengthened by last year’s dry stems,
Can I, Lord, serve you, still?

References

1. Some [seed] fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root (Matthew 13:5-6; NIV).

2. It has been planted, but will it thrive? Will it not wither completely when the east wind strikes it? (Ezekiel 17:10; NIV).

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-3; NRSV).

3. He nourished them with honey from the rock and olive oil from the stony ground (Deuteronomy 32:13; NLT).

May your will be done on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10; NLT).

4. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised (Job 1:21; NIV).

Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only (Luke 4:8; NIV).

Change

Ruth Kirk
Photo: Ben_Kerckx

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 3:9; NLT).

1. May we give up our will for yours,
Dear Father;

2. May we change, growing much more like
Your Son;

3. May we be filled
With your most Holy Spirit –

4. Then we will live in you,
Becoming one.

References

1. I want your will to be done, not mine (Luke 22:42; NLT).

2. Change your hearts before the Lord (Jeremiah 4:4; 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).

3. You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you (Acts 1:8; NLT).

4. All who live in love live in God, and God lives in them (1 John 4:16; NLT).

I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one (John 17:22; NLT).

Closer

Ruth Kirk


1. Help me lean towards you, Lord,
Closer to your thoughts,
So I may glimpse the wisdom
Of your mind.

2. Help me grow towards you, Lord,
Closer to your heart,
So I may share your love
For humankind.

3. Help me move towards you, Lord,
Closer to your soul,
So I may leave
My sinful self behind.

4. Help me run towards you, Lord,
So we may reunite,
For you have promised:
Seek, and you will find.

References

1. Come closer and listen to the words of the Lord your God (Joshua 3:9; CSB).

2. God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16; NLT).

3. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you (James 4:8; CSB).

Get rid of your sins, and leave all iniquity behind you (Job 11:14; NLT).

4. Let us run with endurance the race God has set before us (Hebrews 12:1; NLT).

If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. I will be found by you (Jeremiah 29:13-14; NLT).

Seek and you will find (Matthew 7:7; NIV).