Category: Joy

The Fruit of the Spirit

Ruth Kirk

The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-3; NLT).

Let’s grow
In the fruit of the Spirit:
In kindness, in patience, and love.

Let’s grow
In the fruit of God’s Spirit:
In self-control, gentleness, joy.

Let’s grow
In the fruit of Christ’s Spirit:
In faithfulness, goodness, and peace.

Let’s grow
In the Fruit of the Sprit:
The fruit of our oneness with God.

God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them (1 John 4:16; NLT).

References

I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will bear much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing John 15:5; NLT),

When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father (John 15:8; NLT).

Life is hard

Ruth Kirk

Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world (John 16:33; NLT).

How hard life is, my God,
How hard –
With so much sorrow
On the way;
With so much anguish,
Loss and pain –
Until we see your face
Again.

From birth to death
We’re exiled here –
To follow Christ,
And grow in love;
To ask for, and receive,
Your grace –
Until we know
Your warm embrace.

How rich you are
In joy and peace –
So kind and patient,
Strong and wise.
We need your Son
And Spirit, too –
Until we’re one,
At last, with you.

How short life is, my God,
How short –
So we have put
Our trust in you.
We’ll share the bliss
You have in store –
When we unite with you
Once more.

There is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day – and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing (2 Timothy 4:8; NIV).

No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no human mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him (1 Corinthians 2:9; NLT). 

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

Wake with Christ’s Spirit

Ruth Kirk

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

It is good to proclaim your unfailing love in the morning (Psalm 92:2; NLT).

It is good to wake up
With Christ’s Spirit,

To thank him,
To listen, and pray;

Then rise with his Spirit,
Rejoicing,

And walk in his presence
Each day.

Happy are those who hear the joyful call to worship, for they will walk in the light of your presence, LORD (Psalm 89:15; NLT).

I walk in the LORD’s presence as I live here on earth! (Psalm 116:9; NLT).

References

I am with you always (Matthew 28:20; NLT).

The Spirit of Jesus Christ helps me (Philippians 1:19; NLT).

Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan River (Luke 4:1; NLT).

The Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom (2 Corinthians 3:17; NLT).

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you on Christ Jesus. Do not quench the Spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:16-19; NIV).

 

My pilgrimage

Ruth Kirk

Blessed are those whose strength is in you, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage (Psalm 84:5; NIV).

My time here is a pilgrimage
From birth, through life, to death,
And you’re in charge at every stage,
Until my final breath.

With dread and agoraphobia
I’ve struggled through the years,
With anguish and anxiety,
Depression, sickness, tears.

I didn’t ask to be alive;
I didn’t want to live;
But, doggedly, I’ve tried to change,
To grow, to love, to give.

And you’ve been with me step by step
Along my troubled way:
Please help me still to cling to you,
Rejoice, give thanks, and pray.

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus (1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18; NIV).

References

The gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult (Matthew 7:14; NLT).

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 and comfort me (Psalm 23:4; NLT).

Obey his commands, listen to his voice, and cling to him (Deuteronomy 13:4; NLT).

I cling to you; your strong right hand holds me securely (Psalm 63:8; NLT).

 

In love

Ruth Kirk

Today’s blog comes to you from my new room, in my new home, in my new country, for the very first time. God has been very kind to my husband and I. After many extremely stressful months, we are now starting a completely new phase of our lives. He is 81, and I am 73. Thanks be to God!

I love you, Lord (Psalm 18:1; NLT).

Jesus,
I’m in love with you –
Head over heels, Lord,
Through and through,
Drunk on your Spirit,
Wild and free –
And you, Lord,
Are in love with me!

He loves us with unfailing love (Psalm 117:2; NLT).

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

 

Seek Christ

Ruth Kirk

I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you (Luke 11:9; NLT).

Seek Christ; meet Christ;
Follow him.

Learn his teaching;
Do not sin.

Praise and thank him
Every day.

Love him; serve him;
Always pray.

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

References

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).

Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires (Romans 6:12; NLT).

In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry (Ephesians 4:26; NIV).

Encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else. Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil. May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 5:14-23; NIV).

 

A prayer for peace and justice

Ruth Kirk

Pray for peace (Psalm 122:6; NLT).

Seek justice (Isaiah 1:17; NLT).

Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it (Psalm 34:14; NIV).

We pray for peace and justice here:
In your dear name,
Amen.

For joy to grow, instead of fear:
In your dear name,
Amen.

For love to reign, instead of hate:
In your dear name,
Amen.

Before we leave it far too late:
In your dear name,
Amen.

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

But if you turn away and refuse to listen, you will be devoured by the sword of your enemies. I, the LORD, have spoken! (Isaiah 1:20; NLT).

References

The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine… For you will break the yoke of their slavery and lift the heavy burden from their shoulders. You will break the oppressor’s rod…

The boots of the warrior and the uniforms bloodstained by war will all be burned. They will be fuel for the fire.

For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity. The passionate commitment of the LORD of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen! (Isaiah 9:2, 4-7; NLT).

 

Sweeter than honey

Ruth Kirk

How sweet your words taste to me; they are sweeter than honey (Psalm 119:103; NLT).

Your love is sweeter than wine (Song of Songs 1:2; NLT).

Sweeter than honey;
Sweeter than wine –

Christ, my Belovéd:
Forever, you’re mine.

My lifeblood rejoices;
My spirit adores –

Jesus, my Saviour:
Forever, I’m yours.

I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine (Song of Songs 6:3; NIV).

References

My heart rejoices in the LORD! (1 Samuel 2:1; NLT).

Yours, O LORD, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty. Everything in the heavens and on earth is yours, O LORD, and this is your kingdom. We adore you as the one who is over all things (1 Chronicles 29:11; NLT).

Our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ (Philippians 3:20; NIV).

 

Finding hope

Ruth Kirk

We look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed (Titus 2:13; NLT).

I find my hope in Christ,
And find my joy there, too.

I find my peace in Christ,
Who heals, and makes me new.

I find my light in Christ,
However dark the night.

I find my strength in Christ,
For Jesus is my life.

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6; NLT).

When Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory (Colossians 3:4; NLT).

References

For me, to live is Christ [He is my source of joy, my reason to live] (Philippians 1:21; AMP).

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you (John 14:27; NIV).

I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life (John 8:12; NLT).

He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus (1 Corinthians 1:30; RSV).

I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength to do his work (1 Timothy 1:12; NLT).