Category: healing

Shelter

Ruth Kirk

1. You’re shelter for the homeless, Lord,
And freedom for the jailed;
A banquet for the hungry,
And redemption for the failed.

2. You’re clothing for the naked, Lord,
And vision for the blind;
A welcome for the stranger,
And a friend for the maligned.

3. You’re rescue for the victim, Lord,
And power for the weak;
Fresh courage for the fearful,
And a refuge for the meek.

4. You’re water for the thirsty, Lord,
And ransom for the slave;
God’s healing for the stricken,
And the first-fruits of the grave.

5. We’re servants of your kingdom, Lord,
Our task: to grow like you,
By treating everyone with love
In all we say and do.

References

1-4. This is the kind of fasting I want: Free those who are wrongly imprisoned; lighten the burden of those who work for you. Let the oppressed go free, and remove the chains that bind people. Share your food with the hungry, and give shelter to the homeless. Give clothes to those who need them, and do not hide from relatives who need your help (Isaiah 58:6-7; NLT).

5. [Grow] in every way more and more like Christ (Ephesians 4:15; NLT).

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

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

“Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?”  He will reply, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me” (Matthew 25:44-45; NIV).

Dialogue

Ruth Kirk
Image: Momentmal, Pixabay

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).

1. Please teach me, Lord, what you require,
So I may do as you desire.

2. “Love me, your neighbours, strangers, foes,
And pray for all, till healing flows.

3. Make no show of faith, or prayer,
But serve me gladly, everywhere.

4. Keep your temper, staying calm;
Forgive all those who hurt and harm.

5. Say, ‘Sorry,’ when you grieve someone,
And make peace, always, if you can.

6. Be honest, kind, and quick to care;
Keen to lend, and give, and share.

7. Above all else, these words are key:
Take up your cross, and follow me!”

8. Thank you, dear Lord; I hear your call;
You are my way, my truth, my all.

References

1. What does the Lord your God require of you? He requires only that you fear the Lord your God, and live in a way that pleases him, and love him and serve him with all your heart and soul (Deuteronomy 10:12; NLT).

I desire mercy, not sacrifice (Hosea 6:6; NIV).

2. You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength [and] love your neighbour as yourself (Mark 12:30-31; NLT).

You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbour’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! (Matthew 5:43-4; NLT).

3. When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others (Matthew 6:6; NIV).

Serve the Lord with gladness (Psalm 100:2; NKJV).

4. In your anger do not sin (Ephesians 4:26; NIV).

Don’t sin by letting anger control you. Think about it overnight and remain silent (Psalm 4:4; NLT).

Forgive those who sin against you (Matthew 6:14; NLT).

5. If you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift (Matthew 5:23-4; NIV).

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God (Matthew 5:9; NIV).

If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone (Romans 12:18; NIV).

6. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid (Luke 6:35; NLT).

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

7. Then he 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).

8. Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6; NLT).

Christ is all that matters (Colossians 3:11; NLT).

My foundation

Ruth Kirk
Image: Free Creative Stuff, Pixabay

1. My foundation, Lord, is shaky,
But you are my solid rock.

2. My foundation, Lord, is fragile,
But you help me face each shock.

3. My foundation, Lord, is damaged,
But you help me to rebuild.

4. My foundation, Lord, is weak,
But we are one, so I am healed.

References

1. Who is God except the Lord? Who but our God is a solid rock? (Psalm 18:31; NLT).

2. We ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure (2 Corinthians 4:7; NLT).

He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy (Psalm 28:7; NLT).

3. O storm-battered city, troubled and desolate! I will rebuild you with precious jewels and make your foundations from lapis lazuli (Isaiah 54:11; NLT).

Let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes (Ephesians 4:23; NLT).

Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint (Isaiah 40:31; NIV).

4. Have compassion on me, Lord, for I am weak (Psalm 6:2; NLT).

Whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit (1 Corinthians 6:17; NIV).

He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds (Psalm 147:3; NLT).

Perfect love

Ruth Kirk
Photo: 4301771

1. Father,
Drive out all our fears,
Draw every heart to you,
And fill us with your perfect love
So we will be made new.

2. Father,
Heal our faithlessness,
Forgiving every sin,
And clothe us all in perfect love
For you, our heavenly King.

3. Father,
Bind our souls together
Till we live as one,
Then we will dwell in perfect love,
Becoming like your Son.

References

1. Perfect love drives out fear (1 John 4:18; NIV).

We know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love (Romans 5:5; NLT).

Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him (Colossians 3:10; NLT).

2. The Lord says, “Then I will heal you of your faithlessness; my love will know no bounds (Hosea 14:4; NLT).

He forgives all my sins (Psalm 103:3; NLT).

Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony (Colossians 3:14; NLT).

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength (Mark 12:29; NLT).

3. I want them to be encouraged and knit together by strong ties of love (Colossians 2:2; NLT).

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

Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them (1 John 4:16).

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).

Jealous God

Ruth Kirk
Photo: koshikibu

I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God
who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods
(Exodus 20:5; NLT).

1. Jealous God,
You love us,
And you’re waiting to receive
Us all, when we turn back to you –

Please help us to believe.

2. Gracious God,
You love us,
And you’re ready to forgive
Us all, when we are sorry –
Help us change the way we live.

3. Holy God,
You love us,
And you’re willing to restore
Us all to health, when we have faith –
Please free us from your law.

4. Mighty God,
You love us,
And you’re eager to redeem
Us all, when we amend our lives –
Your power is supreme.

5. Father God,
You love us,
And you’re longing to embrace
Us all, when we return to you –
Then we will see your face.

References

1. You must worship no other gods, for the Lord, whose very name is Jealous, is a God who is jealous about his relationship with you your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods (Exodus 34:14; NLT).

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

The Lord must wait for you to come to him (Isaiah 30:18; NLT).

Let us test and examine our ways. Let us turn back to the Lord (Lamentations (3:40; NLT).

2. You are a God of forgiveness, gracious and merciful (Nehemiah 9:17; NLT).

He forgives all my sins (Psalm 103:3; NLT).

Surrender your pride and power. Change your hearts before the Lord (Jeremiah 4:4; NLT).

3. He is a holy God (Joshua 24:19; NIV).

If you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean (Matthew 8:2; NLT).

[He] heals all my diseases (Psalm 103:3; NLT).

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

Sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power (1 Corinthians 15:56; NLT).

Now we have been released from the law, for we died to it and are no longer captive to its power. Now we can serve God, not in the old way of obeying the letter of the law, but in the new way of living in the Spirit (Romans 7:6; NLT).

4. He will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6; NIV).

He is eager to relent and not punish (Joel 2:13; NLT).

He redeems me from death (Psalm 103:4; NLT).

You, O Lord, are supreme over all the earth (Psalm 79:9; NLT).

5. You are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect (Matthew 5:48; NLT).

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

While he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him (Luke 15:20; NIV).

Now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face (1 Corinthians 13:12; NRSV).

Thank you

Ruth Kirk

Thank him for all he has done (Philippians 4:6; NLT).

1. Thank you, Lord,
For your example,
Patience, goodness,
Care.

2. Thank you, Lord,
For your forgiveness,
Kindness, healing,
Prayer.

3. Thank you, Lord,
For your atonement,
Courage, body,
Blood.

4. Thank you, Lord,
For your salvation,
Guidance, comfort,
Love.

References

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

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

3. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood (Romans 3:25; NIV).

4. He [Jesus] became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey him (Hebrews 5:9; NLT). 

You poured your teaching out

Ruth Kirk

My life is poured out like water
(Psalm 22:14; NLT).

1. Lord,
You poured your teaching out:
Stories,
Guidance,
Prayer.

2. Lord,
You poured your blessings out:
Friendship,
Patience,
Care.

3. Lord,
You poured your mercy out:
Pardon,
Healing,
Love.

4. Lord,
You poured your Spirit out:
Anguish,
Pleading,
Blood.

References

1. He taught them by telling many stories in the form of parables (Mark 4:2; NLT).

2. Lord you poured out blessings on your land (Psalm 85:1; NLT).

3. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace that he richly poured out on us (Ephesians 1:7-8; CSB).

4. My spirit is poured out in agony (Lamentations 2:11; NLT).

He was in such agony of spirit that his sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood (Luke 22:44; NLT).

While Jesus was here on earth, he offered prayers and pleadings, with a loud cry and tears, to the one who could rescue him from death (Hebrews 5:7; NLT).

This is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice for many (Mark 14:24; NLT).