Category: Jesus

God, our Father and our Mother

Ruth Kirk

As is the case in so many Christian churches, the congregation I belong to uses wholly masculine language for God, and I find this hard to bear. It’s such a huge loss to exclude half of God’s Being so completely, although I understand why people do this. After all, even Jesus constantly referred to God as his Father, and never as his Mother.

However, I was comforted a few days ago by realising how natural it must have seemed for Jesus to call God his Father, given that his Mother was alive and often with him. Christ saw and knew his earthly Mother in person, whilst he believed in and prayed to his Heavenly Father in faith. Whilst he was on earth, this separation of roles must have made complete and logical sense to him.

This insight comforted me – but when I feel strong enough, I still plan to talk with the clergy at my church about the wholly masculine language for God used in all our services!

References

God is our Mother

The Almighty …will bless you with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lies beneath, blessings of the breasts and of the womb (Genesis 49:25; NKJV).

From the beginning till now the entire creation, as we know, has been groaning in one great act of giving birth; and not only creation, but all of us who possess the first-fruits of the Spirit, we too groan inwardly as we wait for our bodies to be set free (Romans 8:22-3; NLT).

Who kept the sea inside its boundaries as it burst from the womb, and as I clothed it with clouds and wrapped it in thick darkness? (Job 38:8-9; NLT).

Before the mountains were born, before you gave birth to the earth and the world, from beginning to end, you are God (Psalm 90:2; NLT).

Will I, who causes others to give birth, not also give birth myself, says the Lord? Will I, who bestows generation upon others, be barren myself, says the Lord your God? (Isaiah 66:9; CPDV).

For a long time I have kept silent, I have been quiet and held myself back. But now, like a woman in childbirth, I cry out, I gasp and pant (Isaiah 42:14; NIV).

As a mother consoles a child, so I will console you (Isaiah 66:13; NET).

God is our Father

Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy (Matthew 6:9; NLT).

If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you (Matthew 6:14; NLT).

Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing (Luke 23:34; NLT).

Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands (Luke 23:46; NLT).

God is neither male nor female, but encompasses and far exceeds all human understanding of gender

God is not human (Numbers 23:19; NIV).

God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them (Genesis 1:27; NLT).

There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:28; NIV).

God is Spirit (John 4:24; NLT).

Jesus

Ruth Kirk

This little prayer came to me a day or two ago, so I want to share it here. I dedicate it especially to those of us (like me), who readily see and love Christ in others, but never think of Him also living in, and loving, themselves:

Creator God, please help us to see Jesus in ourselves as well as in others, and to love Him in ourselves, as well as in others. We ask this through His dear name. Amen.

References

There is …one God and Father, who is over all and in all and living through all (Ephesians 4:5-6; NLT).

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

Don’t you realise that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you? (1 Corinthians 3:16; NLT).

All we need to do

Ruth Kirk

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

Show love to foreigners (Deuteronomy 10:19; NLT).

Love your enemies (Matthew 5:44; NLT).

All we need to do
Is listen.
All we need to do
Is love
God in all who cross our path
Each day –
The LORD,
From heaven above.

All we need to do
Is listen.
All we need to do
Is care.
All we need to do
Is serve Him –
God, our LORD,
Is waiting there.

There is …one God and Father, who is over all and in all and living through all (Ephesians 4:5-6; NLT).

God

Ruth Kirk

The Lord gives and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord (Job 1:21; CSB).

My Father, my Mother,
My Sister, my Brother,
My Shepherd, my Lover –
I praise you.

My Saviour, my Maker,
My only Creator,
My Giver, my Taker –
I trust you.

My Word, and my Temple,
My Guide, and my Counsel,
My God: transcendental –
I love you.

You have allowed me to suffer much hardship, but you will restore me to life again (Psalm 71:20; NLT).

Absence

Ruth Kirk

Every day is full of pain.
Every day I search in vain.
Will I see your face again,
My Saviour?

My poor heart is empty, Lord.
Still and dark, without a word
Of comfort, for no voice is heard,
My Shepherd.

Send your light, I humbly pray.
Guide me to your narrow way,
And show me, Jesus, what to say
To others.

Sharing with Christ

Ruth Kirk

Last Saturday evening I took my last dose of the drug which has made prayer and writing impossible for me. The effects had become intolerable. Today I heard the faint return of God’s voice, so I wanted to share it with you straight away, my friends.
With love from Ruth xxx.

Don’t stress, don’t strain –
Just love the Lord.

Say yes to pain –
And no to sin.

In life, in death,
With every breath,

Whatever comes,
We share with Him.

Update

Ruth Kirk

Hello at all readers. Thank you for still visiting here, despite my long absence. I last posted here on the 22nd of May, the day I started taking an additional antidepressant and anxiolytic to help me cope with my persistent, severe dread.

This problem dates back to my earliest childhood. I understand it well, and have worked for years to gain insight into it. I have had massive amounts of therapy of every possible kind that might help, including, most recently, clinical hypnotherapy. However, nothing has ever enabled me to overcome my emotions, or to live with them more comfortably.

When I realised I could go on no longer, I accepted the additional drug my doctor prescribed. For the first few weeks this drug was quite helpful. However, as soon as I started taking it, I lost all ability to pray, to hear God’s voice, and to write.

To begin with, of course, I did not know that these losses would continue, but that is, in fact, the case. Slowly, I am learning to rely on much-loved prayers I memorised long ago. Now I am trying to build a new life without the easy sense of oneness with God which sustained me for so many years, and without the daily inspiration which generated all the resources on this website.

In the last couple of weeks I have also started to face a new issue. As my body and mind grow accustomed to the new drug, anxiety and depression are creeping back. This means that the dose may soon need to be increased. Tomorrow I am due to report back to my GP, so it will be interesting to see what she advises.

All this leaves the future of Take Heart still unsettled. Last week a longstanding follower very kindly wrote to me. His letter prompted me to post this message here today, and to think more clearly about the future. One possibility is that my blog could resume in a new form, perhaps as an honest spiritual and mental health journal. Meanwhile, I continue to inhabit and explore my new spiritual territory – a life without any of the easy closeness to Christ I used to love so much.

Do let me know if you think this might be helpful to you.
With much love, from Ruth xxx

A message to all my readers

Ruth Kirk

Hello to everyone who visits this page. Some of you will know that I have been struggling with severe anxiety, dread, and depression over recent months. This has been going on ever since my childhood dread was re-triggered by something which happened on Facebook.

Today I finally saw my doctor, who is starting me on a new, extra medication. She has also referred me for consultant-level help. She and I will speak again in two weeks, unless I need urgent help before that. The new medication will take at least 4-6 weeks to start having an effect, so it’s essential that I also start learning to be gentler and kinder to myself.

Accordingly, I’m pressing “pause” on my regular writing and daily posting here, so I can focus on my own recovery by giving my body, mind, heart, and soul the rest I desperately need.

Meanwhile, all the existing posts will stay right here, in case anything in the archives is helpful to others while I’m quiet for a while.

✝️ With much love, and many blessings to you all,
From Ruth xxx

Theology

Ruth Kirk

Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it (Luke 18:17; CSB). 

I’m not a theologian, God –
I simply know you love me.

I’m not a theologian,
But I know you sent your Son.

I’m not a theologian –
Yet I know that you forgive me.

Theology? It’s not my thing,
For you and I are one.

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

All must die

Ruth Kirk

No one can live forever; all will die. No one can escape the power of the grave (Psalm 89:48; NLT).

Lord, we fade and suffer pain,
For all must die to rise again.
Yet, may we trust your love and grace,
For all will die in your embrace.

We’ll be changed when life is through,
For all must die to live with you.
So, may we gladly leave this place,
For after death all see your face.

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

Reference

We will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed. For this corruptible body must be clothed with incorruptibility, and this mortal body must be clothed with immortality (1 Corinthians 15:51-3; CSB).