Category: loss

Nothing is wasted

Ruth Kirk
Photo: MichaelGaida

Jesus said to his disciples,
“Gather up the broken pieces that are left over,
so that nothing is wasted”
(John 6:12; NET).

1. Nothing, Lord, is wasted
In your kingdom –
All things work together
For our gain.

2. May we accept what comes,
Both good and bad, Lord,
With thanks for every pleasure,
Loss, and pain.

3. Help us to learn
From all our trials and sorrows,
Rejoicing in your wisdom
And your name,

4. Then, even that which breaks us
Won’t be wasted,
For we will comfort those
Who share the same.

References

1. The Kingdom of God is already among you (Luke 17:21; NLT).

We know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God (Romans 8:28; NLT).

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

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

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

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

4. I am like a broken vessel (Psalm 31:12; NKJV).

He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others (2 Corinthians 1:4; NLT).

Thank you for your fire

Ruth Kirk

1. Thank you for your fire, Lord,
In my life;
My fears and failures;
All I have attained.

2. Thank you for your truth, Lord,
In my mind;
My pain and loss;
The wisdom I have gained.

3. Thank you for your peace, Lord,
In my heart;
My faith and hope;
The trust I place in you.

4. Thank you for your love, Lord,
In my soul;
My help in all I think,
And say, and do.

References

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

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

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

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

We praise your name

Ruth Kirk

1. Father,
May we praise your name –
To love you
Is our highest aim.

2. Jesus,
May we bear our cross –
Ready to accept
Each loss.

3. Spirit,
May we welcome you –
By serving God
In all we do.

4. Mary,
May we know your Son –
Of woman born,
God’s Holy One.

References

1. The Mighty One has done great things for me – holy is his name (Luke 1:49; NIV).

Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind (Luke 10:27; NLT).

2. 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).

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

3. You will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38; NLT).

You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him (Luke 4:8; NLT).

4. When the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law (Galatians 4:4; NLT).

The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God (Luke 1:35; NLT).

Life

Ruth Kirk

1. Life means enjoying
Good things –

2. Perhaps even taking them
For granted,

3. Then having to let go
Of what we did not want to lose.

4. It means struggling
To accept our losses,

5. And slowly learning
To be contented with our lot.

References

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

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).

5. Be content with what you have (Hebrews 13:5; NET).

In the heat of the day

Ruth Kirk

1. In the heat of the day,
You draw near to say:
Come to me, children,
And rest.

2. In the long afternoon,
You murmur: Quite soon,
My people, you’ll finish
This test.

3. In the cool of the eve,
You whisper: Believe
In me always, and trust
In my Son.

4. In the depths of the night,
You sing with delight:
Your souls, and my Spirit,
Are one.

5. In the freshness of dawn,
You cheer the forlorn:
I’m with you in gain
And in loss.

6. And, as we face each task,
You love, Lord, to ask
Of us: Followers, take up
Your cross.

References

1. Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest
(Matthew 11:28; NIV).

2. How frail is humanity! How short is life, how full of trouble! (Job 14:1; NLT).

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

4. The Spirit of God […] lives in you (Romans 8:11; NLT).
The person who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with him (1 Corinthians 6:17; NLT).

He […] will rejoice over you with singing (Zephaniah 3:17; NIV).

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

6. 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).

You have blessed my life

Ruth Kirk

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

1. Father,
You have blessed my life
With hardship and abuse;
You’ve given me so much to learn:
Lord, thank you for each truth.

2. Father,
You have blessed my life
With suffering and pain;
You’ve given me so much to learn:
Lord, thank you for each gain.

3. Father,
You have blessed my life
With sorrow, grief and loss;
You’ve given me so much to learn:
Lord, thank you for each cross.

4. Father,
You have blessed my life
With guilt, regret, and shame;
You’ve given me so much to learn:
I praise your glorious name.

References

1. God has seen your abuse (Genesis 31:42; NLT).

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

Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you (Psalm 25:5; NLT).

2. You have allowed me to suffer much hardship, but you will restore me to life again and life me up from the depths of the earth (Psalm 71:20; NLT).

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

4. I know my transgressions and my sin is always before me (Psalm 51:3; NIV).

O our God, we thank you and praise your glorious name! (1 Chronicles 29:13; NLT).

When we leave your side

Ruth Kirk

1. Father, when we leave your side
And come to live on earth,
We enter time, and space, and mass,
Through pain and blood, in birth.

2. Here, we must face change and growth
Through suffering and loss;
Here, we strive to follow Christ,
By taking up our cross.

3. Here, we long to find again
The bliss we knew above;
Here, we struggle to forgive,
And slowly learn to love.

4. Help us, Lord, in our short lives,
To serve in all we do;
For then, in death, eternally,
Our souls will rest in you.

References

1. Mortals, born of woman, are of few days and full of trouble (Job 14:1; NIV).

2. 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).

3. I long for you, O God (Psalm 42:1; NLT).

4. My soul rests in God alone (Psalm 62:1; HNV).