Jesus – Seeking God's face together

Perspective

July 21, 2019Ruth Kirk

1. To say: Lord God, you love me,
And: Father, I love you,
Shows only my perspective,
So it’s time for a review.

2. Instead: We love each other,
And: Father, we are one –
These words show we’re united
Through the life of your dear Son.

3. To say: Lord God, you love me,
And: Jesus, I love you,
Shows only my perspective,
So I need a wider view.

4. Instead: We love each other,
And: Jesus, we are one –
These words show we’re united
By the death of your dear Son.

5. To say: Lord God, you love me,
And: Spirit, I love you,
Shows only my perspective,
So I need a fuller view.

6. Instead: We love each other,
And: Spirit, we are one –
These words show we’re united
In the heart of your dear Son.

References

1. He loves us with unfailing love (Psalm 117:2; NLT).
I love you, Lord (Psalm 18:1; NLT).

2. Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me” (John 14:6; NLT).

4. All glory to him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by shedding his blood for us (Revelation 1:5; NLT).

6. I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one – as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. […] I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one (John 17:21-2; NLT).

You’re my Maker

July 11, 2019Ruth Kirk

1. Father,
You’re my Maker,
My Lord, my fire, my light;
I worship you with all my strength,
And glory in your might.

2. Mary,
You’re my Mother,
My peace in heaven above;
I honour you with all my mind,
And revel in your love.

3. Jesus,
You’re my Saviour,
My life, my truth, my way;
I sing your praise with all my heart,
And thank you every day.

4. Spirit,
You’re my Teacher,
My Comforter and Friend;
I welcome you with all my soul,
And trust you to the end.

References

1. He made us, and we are his (Psalm 100:3; NLT).

2. Here is your Mother (John 9:27; NLT).

3. The Father sent his Son to be the Saviour of the world (1 John 4:14; NLT).

4. When the Father sends the Advocate as my representative – that is, the Holy Spirit – he will teach you everything (John 14:26; NLT).

Grace

July 3, 2019Ruth Kirk

1. Thank you, Lord, for all you make,
Father, Spirit, Son;
And giving us each breath we take,
Almighty Three-In-One.

2. Thank you, Lord, for all our bread,
Father, Spirit, Son;
And teaching us what Jesus said,
Immortal Three-In-One.

3.Thank you, Lord, for all your care,
Father, Spirit, Son;
And helping us when we despair,
Eternal Three-In-One.

4.Thank you, Lord, for all your love,
Father, Spirit, Son;
And yielding up your precious blood,
To make all people One.

References

1. He himself gives life and breath to everything (Acts 17:25; NLT).

2. People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4; NLT).

3. 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).

4. You are all one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:28; NLT).

Like you

June 25, 2019Ruth Kirk

Jesus,
You’re our perfect Brother –
Everything you say is true.
Help us learn to speak the truth
In love, so we grow more like you.

Mary,
You’re our perfect Mother –
Faith in God guides all you do.
Help us learn to trust the Father,
So we may rejoice, like you.

Spirit,
You’re our perfect Sister –
Comforter and Teacher, too.
Help us learn to keep on praying,
So we live as one with you.

Lord,
You are our perfect Father –
Good or bad, you bring us through.
Help us learn to keep on loving,
Then we will be more like you.

References

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

Mary responded, “Oh how my soul praises the Lord. How my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour!” (Luke 1:46-7; NLT).

We don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words (Romans 8:26; NLT).

You are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect (Matthew 5:48; NLT).

When we’re engulfed by fear

June 20, 2019Ruth Kirk

Lord,
When we’re engulfed by fear,
Remind us you are always near.

Lord,
When we are put to shame,
Remind us of your holy Name.

Lord,
When we are full of care,
Remind us of the thorns you wear.

Lord,
When we are hurt and bruised,
Remind us how you were abused.

Lord,
When we are racked with pain,
Remind us all how you were slain.

Lord,
When we think life’s unfair,
Remind us of the wounds you bear.

Lord,
When death is close at hand,
Remind us of God’s angel band.

Lord,
We share one flesh and blood:
Remind us of our Father’s love.

References

Being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground (Luke 22:44; NIV).

Herod and his soldiers began mocking and ridiculing Jesus (Luke 23:11; NLT).

The soldiers wove a crown of thorns and put it on his head (John 19:2; NLT).

They spat on him and took the staff and struck him repeatedly on the head (Matthew 27:30; NET).

Then the soldiers nailed him to the cross (Mark 15:24; NLT).

Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side (John 20:27; NLT).

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? (Mark 15:34; NLT).

When we bless the cup at the Lord’s Table, aren’t we sharing in the blood of Christ? And when we break the bread, aren’t we sharing in the body of Christ? And though we are many, we all eat from one loaf of bread, showing that we are one body (1 Corinthians 10:16-17; NLT).

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).

Always

June 15, 2019Ruth Kirk

Always new-born in the stable;
Always safe on Mary’s knee;
Always playing and rejoicing,
Always, Lord, alive and free.

Always, Christ-child, in the temple,
Talking there with everyone;
Always rising from the river:
This is my beloved Son.

Always shining and transfigured;
Always changing those you meet;
Always saving and forgiving,
Ready to wash others’ feet.

Always calling: Come and follow;
Always teaching: Take your cross;
Always healing and restoring,
Helping those distressed by loss.

Always sharing our temptations;
Always here to calm each storm;
Always angry, always weeping,
Always breaking every norm.

Always pleading in the garden;
Always suffering, in pain;
Always dying, always rising,
Always coming, Lord, to reign.

Always living in our hearts, Lord;
Always pouring out your love;
Always caring, giving, serving —
Lord, you are our flesh and blood.

References

She gave birth to her first-born son and wrapped him in swaddling-cloths, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn (Luke 2:6-7; RSV).

They found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions (Luke 2:46; ESV).

There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light (Matthew 17:2; NIV).

Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me” (Mark 1:17; NLT).

Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil (Luke 4:1-2; NIV).

If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine (Matthew 26:39; NLT).

Christ lives within you (Romans 8:10; NLT).

This is my body given for you (Luke 22:19; NIV).

This is my blood (Matthew 27:28; NIV).

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