Category: life

The breath of life

Ruth Kirk

1. Lord,
You are the Breath of Life:
Our flesh, our bones, our blood;
Our strength, our mind, our heartbeat,
Our spirit, and our love.

2. Lord,
You are the Bread of Life:
Our water, and our wine;
Our land, our flocks, our shelter,
Our harvest, and our vine.

3. Lord,
You are the Light of Life:
Our lantern, staff, and rod;
Our way, our guide, our Shepherd,
Our Saviour, and our God.

4. Lord,
You are the Book of Life:
Our crucible, our soul;
Our faith, our hope, our passion,
Our dawning, and our goal.

References

1. He breathed the breath of life into the man’s nostrils, and the man became a living person (Genesis 2:7; NLT).

2. I am the bread of life (John 6:48; NLT).

3. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life
(John 8:12; NIV).

4. I will never erase their names from the Book of Life (Revelation 3:5; NLT).

Perspective

Ruth 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).

Letting go

Ruth Kirk

When you were young, you were able to do as you liked;
you dressed yourself and went wherever you wanted to go.
But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands,
and others will dress you and take you where you don’t want to go.
(John 21:18; NLT).

1. Lord, as I get older,
I find I must let go
Of all I take for granted,
But, instead, you make me grow.

2. I’ve had to let my looks go,
My vanity and pride;
My status and my ego,
But, instead, you are my guide.

3. I’ve had to let my strength go,
My energy and health;
My work and independence,
But, instead, you give me help.

4. I’ve had to let my past go,
My childhood, my abuse;
My bitterness and hatred,
But, instead, you teach me truth.

5. And I will have to give up more:
My body, life, and breath;
But I will gladly let them go,
To merge with you, in death.

References

1. Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong (Ephesians 3:17; NLT).

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

2. He is our God forever and ever, and he will guide us until we die (Psalm 48:14; NLT).

3. My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth (Psalm 121:2; NLT).

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

Teach me your ways, O Lord, that I may live according to your truth (Psalm 86:11; NLT).

5. Then Jesus shouted, “Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!” And with those words he breathed his last (Luke 23:46; NLT).

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

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

One in Christ

Ruth Kirk

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

1. You love me, and I love you,
So, Lord, we are always one.
I love you, and you love me,
I, God’s child, and you, his Son.

2. You love me, and I love you,
Brother, sister – God’s great plan.
I love you, and you love me,
One in Him since time began.

3. You love me, and I love you,
One in life, and one in death.
I love you, and you love me,
One, Lord, in our final breath.

4. You love me, and I love you,
One, Lord, on that further shore.
I love you, and you love me,
One in God, for evermore.

References

1. To all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God (John 1:12; NLT).

2. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God (John 1:1; NIV).
I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb (Jeremiah 1:5; NLT).

3. In all their suffering he also suffered (Isaiah 63:9; NLT).
Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me (Psalm 23:4; KJV).

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

You’re my Maker

Ruth 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).

Teach me

Ruth Kirk

1. Teach me, Lord,
What you want me to learn,
And show me
All that you want me to see.

2. Tell me, Lord,
What you want me to give,
And help me
To have life abundantly.

3. Teach me, Lord,
What you want me to know,
And show me
All that you want me to do.

4. Tell me, Lord,
What you want me to say,
And help me
To grow more and more like you.

References

1. Teach me your ways, O Lord (Psalm 86:11; NLT).

2. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly (John 10:10; NRSV).

3. Show me the right path, O Lord (Psalm 25:4; NLT).

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

The mystery of God

Ruth Kirk

There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father,
who is over all and in all and living through all.
(Ephesians 4:6; NLT).

1. One strength, one heart,
One soul, one mind;
One Father, who makes
Humankind.

2. One way, one truth,
One life for all;
One Son, who saves us
When we fall.

3. One peace, one faith,
One hope, one love;
One Spirit, sent
From heaven above.

4. One Lord, one God,
One Trinity;
One flesh, one blood,
One mystery.

References

1. You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind (Luke 10:27; NLT).
He himself gives life and breath to everything (Acts 17:25; NLT).

2. Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth and the life” (John 14:6; NLT).
Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners (1 Timothy 1:15; NLT).

3. Three things will last forever – faith, hope, and love (1 Corinthians 13:13; NLT).
I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised (Luke 24:49; NLT).

4. There is only one God (Romans 3:30; NLT).
Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you cannot have eternal life within you (John 6:53; NLT).
The wisdom we speak of is the mystery of God (1 Corinthians 2:7; NLT).