Category: Joy

Love and worship

Ruth Kirk

I love you, YHWH, my strength (Psalm 18:1; TIB).

I worship YHWH, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the land (Jonah 1:9; NLT).

I love you, and worship you,
Trust in, and cling to you,
Praise, and bow down to you:
Yahweh, my God.

I love you, and honour you,
Learn from, and follow you,
Bless, and rejoice in you:
Jesus, my God.

I love you, and cherish you,
Look to, and pray with you,
Thank, and rely on you:
Spirit, my God.

Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19; NLT).

References

It is YHWH, the God Most High, whom you must serve with awe; whom you must cling to and by whom you must swear; who is your praise; who is your God; who has done great things which your eyes have seen with awe (Deuteronomy 10:20-21; TIB).

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).

They worshiped him (Luke 24:52; NLT).

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

The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, 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).

Here, on earth

Ruth Kirk

There is one Savior, one faith, one baptism, one God and Creator of all, who is over all, who works through all and is within all (Ephesians 4:5-6; TIB).

Here, on earth,
In sun and rain;
Here, in beauty,
Joy, and pain;

Here, in life,
In good and bad;
Here, in all
That makes us sad;

Here, in every
Heart and soul,
Is God: the One
Who makes us whole.

He bruises, but He binds up; He wounds, but His hands make whole (Job 5:18; NKJV).

References

Will God really dwell on earth with humans? (2 Chronicles 6:18; NIV).

The Word was made flesh, and lived among us. We saw his glory, such glory as of the one and only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth (John 1:14;  HNV).

 

God’s Kingdom

Ruth Kirk

Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need (Matthew 6:33; NLT).

God’s Kingdom
Is the timeless now
Of joy, and bliss,
And peace.

God’s Kingdom
Is the constant now
Of good.

God’s Kingdom
Is the ceaseless now
Of light, and truth,
And strength.

God’s Kingdom
Is the endless now
Of love.

His Kingdom will never end (Luke 1:33; NLT). 

References

The Kingdom of God is near! (Luke 10:11; NLT).

Anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it (Mark 10:15; NLT).

We must suffer many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God (Acts 14:22; NLT).

Some standing here right now will not die before they see the Kingdom of God (Luke 9:27; NLT).

You won’t be able to say, ‘Here it is!’ or ‘It’s over there!’ For the Kingdom of God is already among you (Luke 17:21; NLT).

The Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17; NLT).

For you, a thousand years are as a passing day, as brief as a few night hours (Psalm 90:4; NLT).

 

Bad news!

Ruth Kirk

This blog has only just come to me, and I knew I had to post it as quickly as possible. I could work on it for hours, trying to improve it, but I need to accept it just as it arrived. I continue to pray for you all. With love from Ruth xxx

Does not the Most High send both calamity and good? (Lamentations 3:38; NLT).

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

Bad news! Calamity! Disaster!
A blow. A shock. A loss.
Grief. Distress. Despair.

Unfair! Unfortunate! Unmanageable!
Distressing. Exhausting. Annoying.
A trial. A challenge. An opportunity.

God will restore my soul!
Faith. Hope. Love.
Rejoicing. Prayer. Thanks.

Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus (1 Thessalonians 5:16-16; NIV).

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

References

As for me, if I am bereaved, I am bereaved (Genesis 43:14; NIV).

Then Jesus left them a second time and prayed, “My Father! If this cup cannot be taken away unless I drink it, your will be done (Matthew 26:42; NLT).

Three things will last forever – faith, hope, and love – and the greatest of these is love (1 Corinthians 13:13; NLT).

He restores my soul (Psalm 23:3; NKJV).

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).

Perfect beauty

Ruth Kirk

From Zion, perfect in beauty, God shines forth (Psalm 50:2; NIV).

Perfect beauty; perfect love:
God is light from heaven above.

Perfect sunshine; perfect rain:
God is here in joy and pain.

Perfect mercy; perfect Son:
God is kind to everyone.

Perfect patience; perfect peace:
God is truth that will not cease.

Perfect healing; perfect care:
God is with us everywhere.

Perfect beauty; perfect love:
God, alone, is truly good.

God is with us (Isaiah 7:14; NLT).

Only God is truly good (Luke 18:19; NLT).

References

You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect (Matthew 5:43-8; NLT).

Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked (Luke 6:35; NLT).

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5; NIV).

Let all that I am praise the LORD; may I never forget the good things he does for me. He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies (Psalm 103:2-4; NLT).

Sharing

Ruth Kirk

In him we live and move and have our being (Acts 17:28, NIV).

Moses went into the darkness where God was (Exodus 20:21; BST).

Share God’s darkness,
Depth, and fire.

Share God’s patience,
Pain, and grief.

Share God’s pity,
Help, and care.

Share God’s mercy,
Love, and peace.

Share God’s kindness,
Joy, and light.

Share God’s way,
And truth, and life.

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

We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them (1 John 4:16; NLT).

 

Coming out as face blind at church

Ruth Kirk

Today I came out as face blind at the church I left several months ago. I stopped going because I couldn’t cope with the anxiety of not being able to recognise other people, or connect their names with their details.

It went wonderfully well! I haven’t even got a migraine yet (four hours later), though that could easily happen a bit later in the day after making such a huge effort. With the Vicar’s advance permission I gave a two-minute talk just before the service started, explaining the problem, and asking people to help me. NB: Asking for help has always been an absolute no-no for me, as I expected to be refused, and to be despised, or hated, for having asked.

Everything changed for me immediately. Even during the service I had a sense of belonging which was entirely new.

After the service, several people approached me, introducing themselves with their names in the kindest and most friendly way possible. I joined in with the coffee, rather than silently sloping off back home to avoid any further risk of social contact. I even had a couple of lovely chats that didn’t depend solely on me getting other people to talk about themselves without me ever having to use their name, or know who they were. NB: This is one of my standard coping techniques in any group. I now realise that it is a combination of pretending, faking and avoidance.

When I was ready to go, I went to stand in front of the altar, then touched it whilst expressing my huge relief, joy and gratitude at having made a fresh start at church.

The moment I laid my hand on the cloth I was flooded, both inside and out, by an incredibly bright light, and was no longer aware of anything around me. It wasn’t frightening – just completely unexpected, amazing, and very beautiful.

I don’t know how long this experience lasted – perhaps about 20 seconds, or a little more. When I lifted my hand off the altar, all my perceptions went back to being normal (for me!) Then I came away from the church with fresh hope, feeling glad to be alive.

With love to you all, and my deepest thanks for all the likes and comments you leave,
From Ruth xxxx

 

Justice and peace

Ruth Kirk

If only you had paid attention to my commandments! Your peace would have been like a river, and your justice would have been like the waves of the sea (Isaiah 48:18; CPDV).

I pray for justice, and for peace,
So all our selfish wars will cease.

I pray for kindness, help and care
In every heart, so all will share.

I pray that we will live as friends,
So all abuse and conflict ends.

I pray for truth and joy to flood
Each soul, so all will live in love.

May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else (1 Thessalonians 3:12; NIV).

No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us (1 John 4:12; NLT).

References

Love your neighbour as yourself (Leviticus 19:18; NLT).

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

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

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

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

Anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love (1 John 4:7; NLT).

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

 

Punishments and rewards?

Ruth Kirk

I create the light and make the darkness. I send good times and bad times. I, the LORD, am the one who does these things (Isaiah 45:7; NLT).

Bad times aren’t a punishment,
And good times aren’t rewards –

All contribute to our growth,
And all are sent by God,

Who causes them to work together
For our highest gain –

So let’s face all our joys and sorrows,
Trusting in God’s holy name.

In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name (Psalm 33:21; NLT).

References

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

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).

Enjoy prosperity while you can, but when hard times strike, realise that both come from God. Remember that nothing is certain in this life (Ecclesiastes 7:14; NLT).

Though the Lord gave you adversity for food and suffering for drink, he will still be with you to teach you (Isaiah 30:20; NLT).

Blessed is the one whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty. For he wounds, but he also binds up; he injures, but his hands also heal (Job: 5:17; NIV).

Those who suffer he delivers in their suffering; he speaks to them in their affliction (Job 36:15; NIV).

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).

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

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).

 

Remember

Ruth Kirk

Remember the LORD your God (Deuteronomy 8:18; NLT).

Rejoice in the LORD your God! (Joel 2:23; NLT).

Remember to rejoice in God,
To trust, and walk beside, our God.

Remember to depend on God,
To serve, and to confide, in God.

Remember to beware of God,
To bow, and be in awe of, God.

Remember to revere our God,
To worship, and adore, our God.

O LORD, you are our God (2 Chronicles 14:11; NLT). 

I will proclaim the name of the LORD; how glorious is our God! (Deuteronomy 32:3; 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).

References

Remember this and keep it firmly in mind: The LORD is God both in heaven and on earth, and there is no other (Deuteronomy 4:39; NLT).

Beware lest thou forget the Lord thy God (Deuteronomy 6:12; BES).

Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again – my Savior and my God! Now I am deeply discouraged, but I will remember you (Psalm 42:5-6; NLT).

Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the LORD! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! The Sovereign LORD is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights (Habakkuk 3:17-19; NLT).

Fear God (1 Peter 2:17, NLT).

As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father? (Hebrews 12:7; NLT).

Remember, we will all stand before the judgment seat of God (Romans 14:10; NLT).

Remember that you must give an account to God for everything you do (Ecclesiastes 11:9; NLT).