Category: joy

Transformation (with thanks to A.K.)

Ruth Kirk


“Only God can turn the dark night into glorious heavenly light”
(Alan Kearns).

Lord,

1. Turn our anguish
Into peace;
Our darkness
Into dazzling light.

2. Turn our sorrow
Into joy;
Our blindness
Into perfect sight.

3. Turn our judgements
Into love;
Our sickness
Into welcome rest,

4. And turn our dying
Into life eternal,
When we’ve faced
Each test.


References

1. Lord, see my anguish! My heart is broken and my soul despairs (Lamentations 1:20; NLT).

The Lord turns my darkness into light (2 Samuel 22:29; NIV).

2. Oh, give me back my joy again; you have broken me – now let me rejoice (Psalm 51:8; NLT).

The Lord gives sight to the blind (Psalm 146:8; NIV).

3. Do not judge others, and you will not be judged (Luke 6:37; NLT).

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

The Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, has said: “You will be delivered by returning and resting; your strength will lie in quiet confidence” (Isaiah 30:15; CSB).

4. Our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies (1 Corinthians 15:53; NLT).

Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying” (John 11:25; NLT).

The Lord your God is testing you to find out whether you love him with all your heart and with all your soul (Deuteronomy 13:3; NIV).

Sacred source

Ruth Kirk

1. Lord, you are my sacred source,
My Maker, and my God.
You give me life, and breath, and food;
A mind, a heart, a voice.

2. You give me faith; a conscience, Lord;
Remorse, forgiveness, hope.
You give me independence, and invention,
Insight, choice.

3. You give me trials and sorrows, Lord;
You give me joy and peace.
You give me worship, prayer, and praise;
Delight, and comfort, too.

4. You give me help; salvation, Lord,
And your unfailing love.
Then you embrace my soul in death,
For I am one with you.

References

1. Everything we have has come from you (1 Chronicles 29:14; NLT).

He himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else (Acts 17:25; NIV).

2. It is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God (Ephesians 2:8; NIV).

I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full (John 10:10; NLT).

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

God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3; NLT).

4. He helps me (Psalm 28:7; NLT).

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

This little cross (for M.)

Ruth Kirk

Image: Ruth Kirk

🧡

1. This little cross
Is soaked in prayer.
I wear it day
And night.

2. Washed with tears,
And kissed with love:
In darkness,
It brings light.

3. Held fast in joy,
In fear, and pain;
With me
In all I say, and do.

4. Just as this cross
Is dear to me,
I, Lord, am dear
To you.

🧡

References

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

Then he said to the crowd, “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).

2. She knelt behind him at his feet, weeping. Her tears fell on his feet, and she wiped them off with her hair. Then she kept kissing his feet (Luke 7:38; NLT).

The Lord, my God, lights up my darkness (Psalm 18:28; NLT).

3. Hold fast him (Deuteronomy 11:22; NIV).

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

4. The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God (1 Corinthians 1:18; NLT).

“Don’t be afraid,” he said, “for you are very precious to God” (Daniel 10:19; NLT).

My prayers

Ruth Kirk

Image: waldryano, Pixabay

❤️

Lord,

1. May my prayers
Be natural –
Childlike, simple,
Sweet.

2. May my prayers
Be genuine –
Honest, prompt,
Complete.

3. May my prayers
Be uncontrived –
Trustful, loving,
Pure.

4. May my prayers
Be uncompelled –
Joyful, short,
Mature.

5. May my prayers
Be from the heart –
Spontaneous,
And true.

6. May my prayers
Be constant, Lord –
Then I’ll be one
With you.

❤️

Image: Pexels, Pixabay

References

1. Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 18:3; NIV).

They will be called ‘children of the living God’ (Hosea 1:10; NIV).

2. You desire honesty from the womb (Psalm 51:6; NLT).

We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5; NIV).

Pray about everything (Philippians 4:6; NLT).

3. Trust in God, and trust also in me (John 14;1; NLT).

I have done no wrong, and my prayer is pure (Job 16:17; NLT).

4. Always rejoice (1 Thessalonians 5:16; NIV).

When you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words (Matthew 6:7; NIV).

Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything (James 1:4; NIV).

5. Pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge (Psalm 62:8; NLT).

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

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

Suffused with prayer

Ruth Kirk

Image: Ruth Kirk

💛

1. Suffused with prayer,
My little cross –
I hold it tight
In joy, and loss.

2. Lord, may I
Be just the same –
Safe in your hands,
Breathing your name.

3. No matter what you send,
I’ll praise
And thank you, Father,
All my days.

4. So, I worship,
And adore –
One with you,
For evermore.

💛

References

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

Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me, cannot be my disciple (Luke 14:27; RSV).

Love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him (Deuteronomy 30:20; NIV).

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

Should we accept only good things from the hand of God, and never anything bad? (Job 2:10; NLT).

2. I am in your hands – do with me as you think best (Jeremiah 26:14; NLT).

You are my Father (Psalm 89:26; NLT).

Because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father” Galatians 4:6; NLT).

3. The Lord gave me what I had, and the Lord has taken it away. Praise the name of the Lord! (Job 1:21; NLT).

With every bone in my body I will praise him (Psalm 35:10; NLT).

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

4. Worship and serve him with your whole heart and a willing mind (1 Chronicles 28:9; NLT).

We adore you as the one who is over all things (1 Chronicles 29:11; NLT).

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

Live in eternity

Ruth Kirk

Image: eberhard grossgasteiger, Pexels

✝️

1. Live in eternity;
Dwell in God’s hands.

2. Rest in his presence;
Obey his commands.

3. Thank him for everything,
Joyful, and sad.

4. Never stop praying,
And always be glad.

✝️

References

1. The high and lofty one who lives in eternity, the Holy One, says this: “I live in the high and holy place with those whose spirits are contrite and humble (Isaiah 57:15; NLT).

In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind (Job 12:10; NIV).

2. He will restore us, so that we may live in his presence (Hosea 6:2; NLT).

I have given rest to the weary (Jeremiah 31:25; NLT).

You will be blessed if you obey the commands of the Lord your God (Deuteronomy 11:27; NLT).

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

Should we accept only good things from the hand of God, and never anything bad? (Job
2:10; NLT).

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

Be glad; rejoice forever in my creation! (Isaiah 65:18; NLT).

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

Dedication

Ruth Kirk

Image: Lukáš Jančička, Pixabay

✚

1. I dedicate this day to you,
One moment at a time,
For I am yours in heart and soul,
And you, Lord God, are mine.

2. I dedicate this day to you,
Despite my sins and flaws,
For you are mine in joy and pain,
And I, Lord God, am yours.

3. I dedicate this day to you,
My way, my inner shrine,
For I am yours in life and death,
And you, Lord God, are mine.

4. I dedicate this day to you,
I’ll stand up for your cause,
For you are mine eternally,
And I, Lord God, am yours.

✚

References

1. My beloved is mine and I am his (Song of Songs 2:16; NIV).

2. When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider this: God has made the one as well as the other (Ecclesiastes 7:14; NIV).

The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised (Job 1:21; NIV).

3. I am the way (John 14:6; NLT).

We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner shrine behind the curtain (Hebrews 6:19; RSV).

You are the temple of the living God (2 Corinthians 6:16; NLT).

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

4. You will stand before governors and kings for my sake, to bear testimony before them (Mark 13:9; RSV).

Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows (Isaiah 1:17; NLT).

Thank you

Ruth Kirk

Image: Duncan Sanchez, Unsplash

🤎

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

1. Thank you, Lord,
For all you give
To us, both good
And bad.

2. Thank you, Lord,
For all you send:
The joyful,
And the sad.

3. Thank you, Lord,
For all you grant:
For life, and health,
And loss.

4. Thank you, Lord,
For all you share:
Our fear, our pain,
Our cross.

🤎

References

1. Should we accept only good things from the hand of God, and never anything bad? (Job 2:10; NLT).

2. When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider this: God has made the one as well as the other (Ecclesiastes 7:14; NIV).

3. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised (Job 1:21; NIV).

4. In all their suffering he also suffered (Isaiah 63:9; NLT).

Restore me

Ruth Kirk

Image: Pezibear, Pixabay

🧡

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


1. Lord,
Refill me with your light,
For mine is burning low.
Rekindle me with your bright fire,
For mine has ceased to glow.

2. Lord,
Renew me with your truth,
Which I no longer see.
Refresh me with your perfect peace –
Make haste to comfort me.

3. Lord,
Rebuild me with your hope,
For mine has long run out.
Replenish me with faith and trust,
So I don’t yield to doubt.

4. Lord,
Reform me with your grace,
Or I will cease to live.
Restore me with your constant love –
I’ve nothing left to give.

5. Lord,
Repair me with your strength,
Or I will not survive.
Please give me back your boundless joy,
For then I will revive.

🧡

References

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

The Lord will be your permanent source of light (Isaiah 60:19; NET).

God is a raging fire (Deuteronomy 4:24; GW). 

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

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

God [is] the source of all comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3; NLT).

3. God [is] the source of hope (Romans 15:13; NLT).

Help us, O Lord our God, for we trust in you alone (2 Chronicles 14:11; NLT).

Jesus [is]the source and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2; CSB).

4. He gives us grace (Psalm 84:11; NLT).

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

5. The sovereign Lord is my source of strength (Habakkuk 3:19; NET).

God [is] the source of all my joy (Psalm 43:4; NLT).

Growth (dedicated to A.K.)

Ruth Kirk

Image: truthseeker08, Pixabay

❤️

Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?
(Job 2:10; NIV).

1. Lord,
May I accept my lot,
For you, alone, send joy, and pain.
Then I will grow, in exile here,
Until we meet in heaven, again.

2. Lord,
May I accept my lot,
For you, alone, bring good from ill.
Then I will grow through suffering,
And never fail to love you, still.

3. Lord,
May I accept my lot,
For you, alone, send hurt, and loss.
Then I will grow in care for all,
And comfort those who bear their cross.

4. Lord,
May I accept my lot,
For you, alone, send every test.
Then I will grow in humble faith,
And gain, at last, eternal rest.

💙

References

1. Enjoy prosperity while you can, but when hard times strike, realise that both come from God (Ecclesiastes 7:14; NLT).

2. We know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them (Romans 8:28; NLT).

When your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow (James 1:3; NLT).

3. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised (Job 1:21; NIV).

He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us (2 Corinthians 1:4, NLT).

4. The Lord your God is testing you to find out whether you love him with all your heart and with all your soul (Deuteronomy 13:3; NIV).

Then we will be with the Lord forever (1 Thessalonians 4:17; NLT).