Category: hope

You are the potter

Ruth Kirk

We are the clay, and you are the potter.
We all are formed by your hand
(Isaiah 64:8; NLT). 

You are the potter,
I, the clay.
You are my life, my truth,
My way;

My flesh, my mind,
My heart, my soul:
You are the One
Who makes me whole.

You are my breath,
My hope, my end:
My Shepherd King;
My steadfast Friend.

You are my crook,
My staff, my rod;
My light, my fire,
My peace: my God.

Yet we are one,
Our love, complete:
I lay my spirit
At your feet.

❤️

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

My hands are soiled

Ruth Kirk

From within, out of a person’s heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. All these vile things come from within; they are what defile you
(Mark 7:20-23; NLT).

My hands are soiled.
My tongue has lied.
My feet have followed
Foolish ways.

My heart is cold;
My judgments, harsh.
My thoughts betray you
All my days.

My faith is weak.
My hope has gone.
My love for you, and all,
Falls short.

Lord, rescue me!
Forgive my sins,
And lead me on
The way you taught. 

Follow the way of love
(1 Corinthians 14:1; NIV).

These are not our mountains (with thanks to A.K.)

Ruth Kirk

The heavens are yours, and the earth is yours;
everything in the world is yours – you created it all
(Psalm 89:11; NLT). 

These are not our mountains, Lord,
But yours.
Creatures, plants, land, sea:
You make them all.

Every speck of dust,
At your command;
Sun, moon, stars:
From genesis to fall.

Food, and drink, and life
Come from your hand.
Faith, hope, love and peace:
Supplied by you.

Help us, Lord, to seek you,
And to find.
Then we will see, hear, taste:
And know it’s true.

Taste and see that the Lord is good.
(Psalm 34:8; NLT).

Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty. Everything in the heavens and on earth is yours, O Lord, and this is your kingdom. We adore you as the one who is over all things
(1 Chronicles 29:11; NLT).

__________________________

Looking back

Ruth Kirk

The years of pain.
The empty street.
The fruitless wait;
The mid-day heat.

The dying hope;
The voices, near.
The noisy crowd;
The Teacher, here.

His look of love;
His outstretched hand.
His healing touch;
He helps me stand.

I straighten up,
And take a pace;
The people cheer
While we embrace.

A miracle!
He’s set me free!
I thank him,
And he blesses me.

I bow down low.
The crowd moves on.
I raise my eyes,
But he is gone.

The voices fade
Along the way.
I see it all –
Like yesterday.

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

Hope

Ruth Kirk


Give all your worries and cares to God,
for he cares about you
(1 Peter 5:7; NLT).

Lord,
Whatever life may bring,
I want share it all with you,

For, whatever hardships come,
You will always help me through.

Lord,
Whatever I must face,
You will strengthen me to cope,

So, in sickness and distress,
Your constant presence gives me hope.

Let all that I am wait quietly before God,
for my hope is in him
(Psalm 62:5; NLT).

Old and weary

Ruth Kirk

Now that I am old and grey,
do not abandon me, O God
(Psalm 71:18; NLT). 

Father,
I am old and weary,
Sick and fragile,
Weak, in pain.

Give me, Lord,
The hope I long for;
Grant me, Lord,
Your strength again.

Father,
I am sad and lonely,
Selfish,
Sinful to the core.

Send me, Lord,
The faith I search for;
Show me, Lord,
Your love once more.

Show me your unfailing love
(Psalm 17:7; NLT).

There is one God

Ruth Kirk

There is but one God, the Father
(1 Corinthians 8:6; NIV).

There is one God,
Beyond all time and space,
Who, by his Word,
Created all there is:

Stars, sun, and earth,
Plants, creatures, humankind.
They change; they age;
He sweeps them all away.

There is one Lord,
His Scion, Jesus Christ,
Sent forth by God
To save us from our sins;

Who lived and died for all,
Then rose again,
To guide us in his footsteps
Every day.

 There is one Spirit,
Flowing out from God,
Whose love rekindles minds and hearts
Grown cold;

Who gives us strength, new hope,
And helps us pray;
Then carries back to God
Each humble soul.

References

There is but one Lord, Jesus Christ
(1 Corinthians 8:6; NIV).

There is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father, who is over all and in all and living through all
(Ephesians 4:4-6; NLT).

The Lord is One
(Deuteronomy 6:4; BSB).

Underneath our troubles

Ruth Kirk

Underneath you are his eternal arms
(Deuteronomy 33:27; NET).

1. Underneath our troubles,
When we must face the test
Of worry, fear, or loneliness:
Lord, may we find your rest.

2. Underneath our sorrows,
When we live with the pain
Of anguish, loss, or suffering:
May we find hope again.

3. Underneath our questions,
When we go far astray
Through error, sin, or unbelief:
Lord, may we find your way.

4. Underneath our burdens,
When we approach each chore
With heavy heart, or weariness:
May we find peace, once more.

Keep on seeking and you will find
(Matthew 7:7; NLT).

References

1. My life is full of troubles (Psalm 88:3; NLT).

The Lord tests the heart (Proverbs 17:3; NLT).

I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28; NLT).

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

You care about the anguish of my soul (Psalm 31:7; NLT).

I will put my hope in God (Psalm 42:5; NLT).

3. They finally discovered him in the Temple, sitting among the religious leaders, listening to them and asking questions (Luke 2:46; NLT).

I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief! (Mark 9:24; NLT).

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

4. Come to me all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28; NLT).

The peace I give is a gift the world cannot give (John 14:27; NIV).

Sacred source

Ruth Kirk

1. Lord, you are my sacred source,
My Maker, and my God.
You give me life, and breath, and food;
A mind, a heart, a voice.

2. You give me faith; a conscience, Lord;
Remorse, forgiveness, hope.
You give me independence, and invention,
Insight, choice.

3. You give me trials and sorrows, Lord;
You give me joy and peace.
You give me worship, prayer, and praise;
Delight, and comfort, too.

4. You give me help; salvation, Lord,
And your unfailing love.
Then you embrace my soul in death,
For I am one with you.

References

1. Everything we have has come from you (1 Chronicles 29:14; NLT).

He himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else (Acts 17:25; NIV).

2. It is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God (Ephesians 2:8; NIV).

I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full (John 10:10; NLT).

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

God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3; NLT).

4. He helps me (Psalm 28:7; NLT).

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