Category: Jesus

I want to hug you

Ruth Kirk

If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.
(Jeremiah 29:13; NLT).

1. I want to hug you, Father,
But I can’t;
Yet when I hug a friend, Lord,
I hug you.

2. I yearn to kiss you, Mary,
But I can’t;
Yet when I kiss my neighbour,
I kiss you.

3. I long to hold you, Jesus,
But I can’t;
Yet when I hold a stranger,
I hold you.

4. I seek you, Threefold God,
With all my heart;
And when I love my foe, Lord,
I find you.

🖤

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

 

References 

1. No one has greater love than this: to lay down his life for his friends (John 15:13; CSB).

2. Love your neighbour as yourself (Mark 12:31; NLT).

3. Love the stranger (Deuteronomy 10:19; NKJV

4. You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water (Psalm 63:1; NIV).

Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you (Luke 6:27-8; NIV).

 

May we all repent

Ruth Kirk

Each of you must repent and turn to God, and be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38; NLT).

Father,
May we all repent,
And turn to you, our Lord;
Then be baptised
In Jesus’ name,
As he forgives our sin.

Father,
May we all receive
Your gift: the Holy Ghost;
Take up our cross,
And follow Christ,
And try to grow like him.

Father,
May we all give up
Our hateful, selfish ways;
Put others first,
Accept your will,
And serve you all our days.

🖤

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).

My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done (Matthew 26:42; NIV).

Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all (Mark 9:35; NIV).

Every breath

Ruth Kirk


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).

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

Let every breath
Become a prayer:
Feelings, thoughts, words, deeds –
The same.

Let every sigh
Become a prayer,
As we hold fast
To Jesus’ name.

Let every stress
Become a prayer:
Pain, sickness, sorrow,
Sins and fears.

Let every test
Become a prayer –
Because our Father
Always hears.

🖤

The angel also said, “You are now pregnant and will give birth to a son.
You are to name him Ishmael (which means ‘God hears’),
for the Lord has heard your cry of distress.”
(Genesis 16:11; NLT).

We are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for (1 John 5:14; NLT).

Don’t let prayer become a burden

Ruth Kirk


Jesus said, “Come to me all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”
(Matthew 11:28-30; NLT).

Don’t let prayer become a burden;
Don’t let prayer become a chore:
Listen to the Spirit’s prompting –
Silence is your inner core.

Take it slowly. Take it gently.
Keep it honest; not too long:
One with God in deep communion –
Though you’re weak, your prayers are strong.

Revel in your intercessions;
Pray for those who cross your path,
Begging God to bless and heal them –
Don’t let this become a “task”.

For yourself, ask God to help you
Face, and bear, his perfect will
With humble thanks, and great rejoicing –
Knowing that he loves you, still.

Pray that many unbelievers
Meet Christ Jesus, hear his call,
Repent, and turn to him each day –
Believing that God loves us all.

🖤

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).

Your Little Way*

Ruth Kirk

Give thanks in all circumstances;
for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
(1 Thessalonians 5:18; RSV).

1. Thank you, Lord,
For this new day.
Please guide me
On your Little Way,

2. So I will feel, think,
Say, and do
Everything with love,
For you. 

3. No matter what
You give or take,
May I accept it
For your sake,

4. Then I will feel, think,
Say, and do
Everything with love,
Like you.

🖤

The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.
(Galatians 5:6; NIV).

We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters.
(1 John 3:16; NLT).

References

1. The gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life (Matthew 7:14; NASB).

Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children, and walk in the way of love (Ephesians 5:2; NIV).

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

Don’t copy the behaviour and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think (Romans 12:2; NLT). 

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

Do everything with love (1 Corinthians 16:14; NLT).

3. Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will leave this life. The Lord gives and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord (Job 1:21; CSB). 

My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done (Matthew 26:42; NIV).

4. As we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world (1 John 4:17; NLT).

*As taught by Sainte Thérèse de Lisieux.

I follow you

Ruth Kirk

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).

I follow you
As best I can: Jesus Christ,
My Shepherd King.

I praise your name,
And worship you: Jesus Christ,
To whom I cling.

I trust in you,
And want to serve: Jesus Christ,
Though I’m so small.

I offer you my love,
My life: Jesus Christ,
My All in All.

🖤

Christ is all, and is in all (Colossians 3:11; NIV).

 

Beginning

Ruth Kirk

In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
(Genesis 1:1; KJV).

1. Father: the beginning;
Heaven and earth
Created out of love. 

2. Holy Ghost: descending
Over sunless waters,
Like a dove.

3. Jesus Christ: forgiving;
Light in darkness
Ceaselessly outpoured.

4. Here I am: returning
To paradise, with you,
My living Lord.

🖤

Pray continually.
(1 Thessalonians 5:16; NIV).

 

References

1. In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth (Genesis 1:1; KJV). 

2. As Jesus came up out of the water, he saw the heavens splitting apart and the Holy Spirit descending on him like a dove (Mark 1:10; NLT).

The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters (Genesis 1:2; KJV).

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

The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it (John 1:4-5; NLT). 

4. Then the Lord called Samuel, and he answered, “Here I am” (1 Samuel 3:4; CSB). 

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

Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43; NIV).

The Lord lives! (2 Samuel 22:47; NLT).

 

 

Joined

Ruth Kirk

When I wake up, you are still with me (Psalm 139:18; NLT).

Don’t you know that your bodies are a part of Christ’s body?
(1 Corinthians 6:15; CSB).

Wake with Jesus, joined in love;
Talk with Jesus, joined in prayer.
Go with Jesus, joined in hope;
Serve with Jesus, joined in care.

Laugh with Jesus, joined in cheer;
Weep with Jesus, joined in grief.
Eat with Jesus, joined in thanks;
Rest with Jesus, joined in peace.

Learn with Jesus, joined in truth;
Kneel with Jesus, joined in praise.
Live with Jesus, joined in faith –
One with Jesus, all your days.

🖤

The person who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with him.
(1 Corinthians 6:17; NLT).

 

When you come

Ruth Kirk

Your own ears will hear him.
(Isaiah 30:21; NLT).

Jesus,
May I sense your presence
When you come to set me free.

Jesus,
May I hear your voice,
Responding when you speak to me.

Jesus,
May I know your touch,
And revel in your warm embrace.

Jesus,
May I recognise you,
When, at last, I see your face.

🖤

Suddenly, their eyes were opened, and they recognised him.
(Luke 24:31; NLT).

 

More like you

Ruth Kirk

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). 

Christ Jesus,
Make me more like you
In thought, and word, and deed;
A little more like you each day,
By helping those in need.

Lord Jesus,
Make me more like you
In patience, joy, and peace;
A little more like you each day,
Forgiving without cease.

Christ Jesus,
Make me more like you
In kindness, truth, and prayer;
A little more like you each day,
Ready to give, and share.

Lord Jesus,
Make me more like you
In mind, and heart, and soul;
A little more like you each day,
Until, at last, I’m whole.

✝️

We will be like him (1 John 3:2; NLT). 

His hands make whole (Job 5:18; NKJV).