joy – Seeking God's face together

Like God

March 29, 2020Ruth Kirk

Put on your new nature, created to be like God –
truly righteous and holy (Ephesians 4:24; NLT).

1. God wants us all
To be like him,

2. Free from selfishness
And sin;

3. His children,
Full of love and joy

4. Because of Christ,
Who lives within.

References

1. Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us (Genesis 1:26; NLT).

2. Now you are free from your slavery to sin (Romans 6:18; NLT).

3. He calls us his children (1 John 3:1; NLT).

Each morning I will sing with joy about your unfailing love (Psalm 59:16; NLT).

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

Your way of love

March 11, 2020Ruth Kirk

1. Show us, Lord,
Your way of love,
Then we will never leave it.

2. Guide us
On your way of truth,
So others will receive it.

3. Teach us all
Your way of peace,
Then we will help to spread it.

4. Keep us
On your way of faith,
So many more will tread it.

5. Guard us on
Your way of life,
Then we will never lose it.

6. Bless us
On your way of joy,
So we will always choose it.

References

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

2. I have chosen the way of truth (Psalm 119:30; NKJV).

3. The Dayspring from on high has visited us […] to guide our feet into the way of peace (Luke 1:78-9; NKJV).

4. This way of faith is very different from the way of law (Galatians 3:12; NLT).

5. You have shown me the way of life (Acts 2:28; NLT).

6. This is the joy of his way (Job 8:19; NKJV).

Sacrifice

March 9, 2020March 14, 2020Ruth Kirk

My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit (Psalm 51:17; NIV).

1. Lord,
May my prayers,
Though meagre, dry, and bleak,
Rise, like the dust
To which I will return.

2. Lord,
May my thanks,
However poor and weak,
Rise, like the distant stars
Where I will burn.

3. Lord,
May my joy,
So frail, and swiftly crushed,
Rise, like sweet incense
To your paradise.

4. Lord,
May my trials,
Through which I learn to trust,
Rise, like the pleasing smoke
Of sacrifice.

You will be like a pleasing sacrifice to me (Ezekiel 20:41; NLT).

References

1. Pray constantly (1 Thessalonians 5:17; NIV).

You were made from dust and to dust you will return (Genesis 3:19; NLT).

2. Give thanks in all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:18; NIV).

It is the Lord who created the stars (Amos 5:8; NLT).

The sun rises at one end of the heavens and follows its course to the other end. Nothing can hide from its heat (Psalm 19:6; NLT).

3. Rejoice always (1 Thessalonians 5:16; NIV).

All around the world they offer sweet incense […] in honour of my name (Malachi 1:11: NLT).

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

You will offer special gifts as a pleasing aroma to the Lord (Numbers 15:3; NLT).

Please bless me

March 1, 2020Ruth Kirk

Those who say they live in God should live their lives
as Jesus did (1 John 2:6; NLT).

1. God of light,
Please bless me,
So I may shine today
On all I greet.

2. God of truth,
Please bless me,
So I may speak your words
To all I meet.

3. God of peace,
Please bless me,
So I may spread your joy,
Just like your Son.

4. God of love,
Please bless me,
So I may show your care
To everyone.

5. God of fire,
Please bless me,
So I may help
To set your world ablaze.

6. God of all,
Please bless me,
So I may trust and serve you
All my days.

References

1. God is light (1 John 1:5; NLT).

Let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father (Matthew 5:16; NLT).

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

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

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

Jesus was filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit (Luke 10:21; NLT).

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

Be kind to everyone (2 Timothy 2:24; NLT).

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

I came to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already set ablaze! (Luke 12:49; CSB).

6. I am the Lord, the God of all the peoples of the world (Jeremiah 32:27; NLT).

Trust in God (John 14:1; NLT).

Serve the Lord enthusiastically (Romans 12:11; NLT).

Habit

February 23, 2020Ruth 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).

1. Let prayer become my habit, Lord,
Communing with you day and night,
For then I’ll grow more like your Son,
Who came to earth to make us one.

2. Let thanks become my habit, Lord,
Expressed in every circumstance,
For then I’ll grow more like your Christ,
Who came to be our sacrifice.

3. Let joy become my habit, Lord,
Ceaseless, heartfelt, unconfined,
For then I’ll grow more like your King,
Who came to make our spirits sing.

4. Let love become my habit, Lord,
Deep, reflexive, faithful, true,
For then I’ll grow more like your Lamb,
Who cares for all since time began.

References

1. Pray continually (1 Thessalonians 5:17; NIV).

I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one (John 17:22; NLT).

Whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit (1 Corinthians 6:17; NIV).

2. Give thanks in all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18; NIV).

God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin (Romans 3:25; NLT).

3. Rejoice always (1 Thessalonians 5:16; NIV).

I will praise you among the Gentiles; I will sing praises to your name (Romans 15:9; NLT).

4. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love (1 John 4:8; NIV).

John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29; NLT).

Christ cares for the church (Ephesians 5:29; NLT).

We proclaim to you the one who existed from the beginning, whom we have heard and seen (1 John 1:1; NLT).

Help me, Lord

January 19, 2020Ruth Kirk

I look to you for help, O Sovereign Lord
(Psalm 141:8; NLT).

1. Help me, Lord,
To worship you today,
To praise you
As I walk your Narrow Way,

2. To see you, Lord,
In everyone I greet,
And serve you willingly
In all I meet.

3. Help me, Lord,
To pray throughout today,
To follow you
Along your Little Way,

4. To bless you, Lord,
And thank you without cease –
For then I’ll live in love,
And joy, and peace.

References

1. Worship the Lord with gladness (Psalm 100:2; NLT).

Praise the Lord! (Psalm 150:1; NLT).

Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it (Matthew 7:13-14; NIV).

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

Be kind to everyone (2 Timothy 2:24; NLT).

Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them (Romans 12:9; NLT).

Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all” (Mark 9:35; NIV).

3. Pray continually (1 Thessalonians 5:17; NIV).

Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me” (Matthew 16:24; NLT).

4. I will bless the Lord who guides me (Psalm 16:7; NLT).

Give thanks in all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:18; NIV).

Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them (1 John 4:16).

You will live in joy and peace (Isaiah 55:12; NLT).