heart – Seeking God's face together

28.3.23: Saying “Yes” to God

March 28, 2023Ruth Kirk

The Annunciation to Mary by Constantijn Daniel van Renesse & Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn, c. 1652, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin.

Yesterday, as soon as I began to pray without words, these verses arrived:

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

May your perfect will
Be done, Lord,
In my flesh, mind,
Heart and soul,

Throughout my life,
With every breath,
Throughout my dying,
And my death

May I say, “Yes”
To all you send –
For then
I will be whole.

He wounds, but His hands make whole (Job 5:18; NKJV).

References

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect (Romans 12:2; NLT).

Mary said, “Yes, I am a servant of the Lord; let this happen to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38; NET).

Then Jesus left them a second time and prayed, “My Father! If this cup cannot be taken away unless I drink it, your will be done” (Matthew 26:42; NLT).

Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word (Luke 2:29; KJV).

Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last (Luke 23:4t; NIV).

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

The Rosary Hospital

I enjoyed making this unusual Fiat rosary yesterday evening. The olive-wood, tear-drop shaped beads are quite small, but because of their shape they are easy and pleasant to hold. Hopefully, it will be completely finished by tomorrow evening.

26.3.23: My mind is still

March 26, 2023Ruth Kirk

https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?search=Heaven+&title=Special:MediaSearch&go=Go&type=image

These verses came to me earlier this week when I was praying without words. I wanted so much to ignore them and keep on drawing nearer to God, but they were so insistent that I had to open my eyes and write down what I was being given:

Today you will be with me in paradise (Luke 23:43; NLT).

Father,
While my mind is still,
Please let me rise
To you, in heaven.

Jesus,
While my eyes are closed,
Please let me see
Your shining face.

Spirit,
While my heart is hushed,
Please let me hear
Your wordless sighing.

Threefold God,
Though I am dust,
Please let me share
Your peace and grace.

May God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior give you grace and peace (Titus 1:4; NLT).

References

His face shone like the sun (Matthew 17:2; NLT).

The Spirit himself intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words (Romans 8:26; RSV).

I have ventured to speak to the Lord, although I am only dust and ashes (Genesis 18:27; NASB20).

O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water (Psalm 63:1; NLT).

And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9; KJV).

The Rosary Hospital

Yesterday I enjoyed improving two of my own rosaries, which have been awaiting my attention for the last few weeks. I feel much happier about them now.

25.3.23: Your will

March 25, 2023Ruth Kirk

https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?search=Jesus+carries+cross&title=Special:MediaSearch&go=Go&type=image

This prayer came to me yesterday, despite how I’m struggling with migraine and dread at present:

May your will be done (Matthew 6:10; NLT).

May your will be done today, Lord,
In my body, heart and mind;
In my spirit, and my life,
Then all my actions will be kind.

May I call upon your name,
For I am yours, and you are mine.
Fill my thoughts, and words, and deeds,
Till I become your living shrine.

May I know your strength and courage;
Take my hand, for I am blind.
May I trust you, Lord, and share
Your cross today, our souls entwined.

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).

References

Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us (Colossians 3:11; NLT).

I will put my Spirit in you and make you eager to obey my laws and teachings (Ezekiel 36:27; CEV).

I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams, and your young men will see visions. In those days I will pour out my Spirit even on servants – men and women alike. And I will cause wonders in the heavens and on the earth – blood and fire and columns of smoke. The sun will become dark, and the moon will turn blood red before that great and terrible day of the LORD arrives. But everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved (Joel 2:28-32; NLT).

Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? (1 Corinthians 6:19; 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).

Trust in God, and trust also in me (John 14:1; NLT).

21.3.23: In silence

March 21, 2023March 22, 2023Ruth Kirk

Jozef Israëls – Mijmering (meditation) of ook Ophelia – DM-975-508 – Dordrechts Museum.jpg

Yesterday morning, as I began to pray without words after saying the Lord’s Prayer, today’s blog arrived. I didn’t try to resist, or make it wait, or push it away, though I wanted so much to continue listening, and go deeper:

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).

In silence, Lord, I listen
To your Spirit’s prayers
Within me.

In stillness, Lord, I sense you
In my body, heart,
And mind.

Though I’m alone,
I share your sighs,
Your wordless intercessions.

In my darkness, Lord,
Please give me sight,
For I am blind.

In my darkness you are all –
I seek you, Lord,
And find.

Seek and you will find (Luke 11:9; NIV).

References

The Spirit [comes to us and] helps us in our weakness. We do not know what prayer to offer or how to offer it as we should, but the Spirit Himself [knows our need and at the right time] intercedes on our behalf with sighs and groanings too deep for words (Romans 8:26; AMP).

Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? (1 Corinthians 6:19; NLT).

Pray in the Holy Spirit (Jude 1:20; RSV).

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

Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy (Isaiah 35:5-6; NIV).

18.3.23: You know everything

March 18, 2023March 18, 2023Ruth Kirk

Whilst I was slowly waking up yesterday, this prayer came straight to me. I wanted to enjoy being warm and sleepy for a while, but the words were very insistent. It begins and ends with direct quotations from Psalm 139, which I have incorporated into the wording. The full references are below, as always.

Lord, you know everything about me: everything I experience, feel, think, say and do.

You observe all that happens in my body, mind, heart and soul, including everything of which I’m not conscious.

You perceive what I reveal to others, and what I conceal.

You discern all this whether I’m awake, asleep, or dreaming.

Sick or well, you are closer than my heartbeat and my breath.

You hold my life in your hands, loving me, and helping me through all I must face.

Lord, point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.

References

O LORD, you have examined my heart and know everything about me (Psalm 139:1; NLT).

The life of every living thing is in his hand, and the breath of every human being (Job 12:10; NLT).

The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life (Job 33:4; NLT).

Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life (Psalm 139:24; NLT).

11.3.23: Your hand

March 11, 2023Ruth Kirk

God’s hand was on the people of Israel (2 Chronicles 30:12; NLT).

Father,
Lay your loving hand
On every mind today.
Please call us to repent
And turn to you.

Jesus,
Lay your loving hand
On every heart today.
Please touch us, heal us all,
And make us new.

Spirit,
Lay your loving hand
On every soul today.
Please fill us with your breath,
And cleanse us, too.

Yahweh,
Lay your loving hand
On every life today,
Then we will serve with love,
In all we do.

Do everything with love (1 Corinthians 16:4; NLT).

The Rosary Hospital

Yesterday I made a first communion rosary, using the restored centrepiece I mentioned a day or two ago. It’s not quite finished, but here it is so far:

9.3.23: The tomb

March 9, 2023Ruth Kirk

Yesterday, in a vivid split second, I saw my heart as the tomb where Jesus was laid after his crucifixion. Out of this came today’s rather mysterious, ambiguous dialogue. The vision was completely silent, so it was exceptionally difficult to put into words. The last two lines are spoken by Christ.

Following Jewish burial custom, they wrapped Jesus’ body with the spices in long sheets of linen cloth. The place of crucifixion was near a garden, where there was a new tomb, never used before. And so, because it was the day of preparation for the Jewish Passover and since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there (John 19:40-2; NLT).

I saw that my mind is the tomb
Where Our Lord was conveyed.

Will you rise from the dead there,
To pray for the people I meet?

I saw that my heart is the tomb
Where our Saviour was laid.

Will you rise from the dead there,
To love every person I greet?

I saw that my soul is the tomb
Where our Master was sealed.

Will you rise from the dead there,
To shepherd my steps on your way?

I saw that my flesh is the tomb
Where Christ Jesus was healed.

Will you rise from the dead there,
To serve me in others today?

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

References

Awake, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will give you light (the Ephesians 5:14; NLT).

They sealed the tomb and posted guards to protect it (Matthew 27:66; NLT).

He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them (2 Corinthians 5:15; NLT).

Whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus (Colossians 3:17; NLT).

Those who die in the LORD will live; their bodies will rise again! (Isaiah 26:19; NLT).

The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many (Matthew 20:28; NLT).

8.3.23: Pray within us

March 8, 2023Ruth Kirk

Yesterday should have been a busy day, but I woke up with the worst migraine I’ve had for a very long time. Both my appointments had to be cancelled, and I stayed in bed all day. I was still given something new to write, but was only able to note it down, ready to be worked on when I’m feeling rather better. Fortunately, I already had today’s prayer ready to share with you today:

The Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words …

Holy Spirit,
Pray within us:
Plead on our behalf
For others.

Holy Spirit,
Pray within us:
Ask for peace
In every soul.

Holy Spirit,
Pray within us:
Beg that all
Will grow like Jesus.

Holy Spirit,
Pray within us:
Weep till every heart
Is whole.

… And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God (Romans 8:26-7; NRSV).

The Rosary Hospital

To my delight, yesterday I received a parcel posted by a kind friend last January. I had long given up all hope of its arrival, and suspect that she had, too. It contained pieces of broken rosaries for me to recycle. As I handled them I could sense how well-used they had been, as if they were saturated with prayer. Hopefully, I will soon be able to start incorporating their components into new rosaries. Meanwhile, here is a photo of a simple prayer circlet I made for someone the day before:

5.3.23: Rejoicing

March 5, 2023Ruth Kirk

This is the last of several prayers I received in rapid succession last Wednesday morning:

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).

Rejoicing comes
Through saying Yes,
No matter what God sends,

And thanking him
With all your heart,
Until this journey ends.

So don’t resist
The Father’s will,
But make it your delight:

Find joy in your vocation,
For you’re precious
In his sight.

You are precious to me. You are honored, and I love you (Isaiah 43:4; NLT).

References

Walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called (Ephesians 4:1; KJV).

Precious is their blood in his sight (Psalm 72:14; NIV).

Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his faithful servants (Psalm 116:15; NIV).