Category: hope

Contemplation

Ruth Kirk

I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love
(Romans 8:38; NLT).

1. To contemplation, Lord,
I bring my body –
My weakness, tiredness,
Restlessness and pain.

2. To contemplation, Lord,
I bring my thinking –
My hidden judgements,
Envy and disdain.

3. To contemplation, Lord,
I bring my feelings –
My sorrow, longing,
Anger, guilt, and fear.

4. To contemplation, Lord,
I bring my spirit –
My faith, and hope, and love,
For you are here.

References

1. The flesh is weak (Mark 14:38; NIV).

2. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away (Psalm 139:2; NLT).

3. The Lord looks at the heart (1 Samuel 16:7; NIV).

4. Three things will last forever – faith, hope, and love – and the greatest of these is love (1 Corinthians 13:13; NLT).

God is with us (Matthew 1:23; NLT).

Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me (Psalm 23:4; KJV).

Faith, hope and love

Ruth Kirk

Everything we have comes from you,
and we give you only what you first gave us.
(1 Chronicles 29:14; NLT).

Lord,

1. Thank you for your gift of faith,
Poured out on us each day.

2. Thank you for your gift of hope,
Which helps us as we pray.

3. Thank you for your gift of love,
Which blesses all we do.

4. Thank you for your gift of life:
We give it back to you.

References

1. There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all (1 Corinthians 12:4; NLT).

2. Put your hope in God (Psalm 42:5; NIV).

3. The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love (Galatians 5:22; NLT).

4. He gives breath to everyone, life to everyone who walks the earth (Isaiah 42:5; NLT).

Thank you for your fire

Ruth Kirk

1. Thank you for your fire, Lord,
In my life;
My fears and failures;
All I have attained.

2. Thank you for your truth, Lord,
In my mind;
My pain and loss;
The wisdom I have gained.

3. Thank you for your peace, Lord,
In my heart;
My faith and hope;
The trust I place in you.

4. Thank you for your love, Lord,
In my soul;
My help in all I think,
And say, and do.

References

1. God is a consuming fire (Deuteronomy 4:24; NIV).

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

3. The Lord is peace (Judges 6:24; NLT).

4. God is love (1 John 4:16; NLT).

When clouds conceal the sun

Ruth Kirk

I will never leave you, nor forsake you (Hebrews 13:5; NKJV).

1. When clouds conceal the sun, Lord,
It still shines.

2. When worry veils our hopes,
You are still near.

3. When sickness dims our faith,
You are still close.

4. When grief enshrouds our love,
You are still here.

References

2. The Lord is near (Philippians 4:5; NIV).

3. The Lord is close to all who call on him (Psalm 145:18; NLT).

4. God is with us (Matthew 1:23; NLT).

Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect me and comfort me (Psalm 23:4; NLT).

Help us sinners

Ruth Kirk

We know what sinners we are.
(Isaiah 59:1; NLT).

1. Father,
Help us sinners
To trust in you today,
So none of us will grieve:
My hope is gone!

2. Mary,
Help us sinners
To turn to God and pray,
So none of us will sigh:
I am alone!

3. Jesus,
Help us sinners
To find your narrow way,
So none of us will weep:
There is no gate!

4. Spirit,
Help us sinners
Each time we start to stray,
So none of us will cry:
I am too late!

References

1. We have become old, dry bones – all hope is gone (Ezekiel 7:11; NLT).

2. I am alone and in deep distress (Psalm 25:16; NLT).

3. The gateway to life is very narrow and the road difficult, and only a few ever find it (Matthew 7:13-14; NLT).

4. When the master of the house has locked the door, it will be too late (Luke 13:25; NLT).

Prayer

Ruth Kirk

1. I praise you, Lord,
And plead with you;
Worship you,
And wait for you.

2. I serve you, Lord,
And search for you;
Honour you,
And hope in you.

3. I trust you, Lord,
And thirst for you;
Cherish you,
And cry to you.

4. I love you, Lord,
And long for you;
Rejoice in you,
And run to you.

References

1. I praise you, O Lord (Psalm 119:12; NLT).
I plead for the Lord’s mercy (Psalm 142:1; NLT).
I worship the Lord (Jonah 1:9; NLT).
I wait for you (Psalm 59:9; NLT).

2. I serve you (Psalm 86:2; NLT).
I search for you (Isaiah 26:9; NLT).
I honour my Father (John 8:49; NLT).
I put my hope in you (Psalm 25:5; NLT).

3. I trust in you, my God (Psalm 25:2; NLT).
I thirst for God (Psalm 42:2; NLT).
We adore you (1 Chronicles 29:11; NLT).
I cry to you (Psalm 61:2; NLT).

4. I love you, Lord (Psalm 18:1; NLT).
I long for you, O God (Psalm 42:1; NLT).
I rejoice in the Lord (Psalm 104:34; NLT).
I run to you (Psalm 143:9; NLT).

The breath of life

Ruth Kirk

1. Lord,
You are the Breath of Life:
Our flesh, our bones, our blood;
Our strength, our mind, our heartbeat,
Our spirit, and our love.

2. Lord,
You are the Bread of Life:
Our water, and our wine;
Our land, our flocks, our shelter,
Our harvest, and our vine.

3. Lord,
You are the Light of Life:
Our lantern, staff, and rod;
Our way, our guide, our Shepherd,
Our Saviour, and our God.

4. Lord,
You are the Book of Life:
Our crucible, our soul;
Our faith, our hope, our passion,
Our dawning, and our goal.

References

1. He breathed the breath of life into the man’s nostrils, and the man became a living person (Genesis 2:7; NLT).

2. I am the bread of life (John 6:48; NLT).

3. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life
(John 8:12; NIV).

4. I will never erase their names from the Book of Life (Revelation 3:5; NLT).