Category: Oneness

God, our Father and our Mother

Ruth Kirk

As is the case in so many Christian churches, the congregation I belong to uses wholly masculine language for God, and I find this hard to bear. It’s such a huge loss to exclude half of God’s Being so completely, although I understand why people do this. After all, even Jesus constantly referred to God as his Father, and never as his Mother.

However, I was comforted a few days ago by realising how natural it must have seemed for Jesus to call God his Father, given that his Mother was alive and often with him. Christ saw and knew his earthly Mother in person, whilst he believed in and prayed to his Heavenly Father in faith. Whilst he was on earth, this separation of roles must have made complete and logical sense to him.

This insight comforted me – but when I feel strong enough, I still plan to talk with the clergy at my church about the wholly masculine language for God used in all our services!

References

God is our Mother

The Almighty …will bless you with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lies beneath, blessings of the breasts and of the womb (Genesis 49:25; NKJV).

From the beginning till now the entire creation, as we know, has been groaning in one great act of giving birth; and not only creation, but all of us who possess the first-fruits of the Spirit, we too groan inwardly as we wait for our bodies to be set free (Romans 8:22-3; NLT).

Who kept the sea inside its boundaries as it burst from the womb, and as I clothed it with clouds and wrapped it in thick darkness? (Job 38:8-9; NLT).

Before the mountains were born, before you gave birth to the earth and the world, from beginning to end, you are God (Psalm 90:2; NLT).

Will I, who causes others to give birth, not also give birth myself, says the Lord? Will I, who bestows generation upon others, be barren myself, says the Lord your God? (Isaiah 66:9; CPDV).

For a long time I have kept silent, I have been quiet and held myself back. But now, like a woman in childbirth, I cry out, I gasp and pant (Isaiah 42:14; NIV).

As a mother consoles a child, so I will console you (Isaiah 66:13; NET).

God is our Father

Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy (Matthew 6:9; NLT).

If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you (Matthew 6:14; NLT).

Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing (Luke 23:34; NLT).

Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands (Luke 23:46; NLT).

God is neither male nor female, but encompasses and far exceeds all human understanding of gender

God is not human (Numbers 23:19; NIV).

God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them (Genesis 1:27; NLT).

There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:28; NIV).

God is Spirit (John 4:24; NLT).

Jesus

Ruth Kirk

This little prayer came to me a day or two ago, so I want to share it here. I dedicate it especially to those of us (like me), who readily see and love Christ in others, but never think of Him also living in, and loving, themselves:

Creator God, please help us to see Jesus in ourselves as well as in others, and to love Him in ourselves, as well as in others. We ask this through His dear name. Amen.

References

There is …one God and Father, who is over all and in all and living through all (Ephesians 4:5-6; NLT).

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

Don’t you realise that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you? (1 Corinthians 3:16; NLT).

Sharing with Christ

Ruth Kirk

Last Saturday evening I took my last dose of the drug which has made prayer and writing impossible for me. The effects had become intolerable. Today I heard the faint return of God’s voice, so I wanted to share it with you straight away, my friends.
With love from Ruth xxx.

Don’t stress, don’t strain –
Just love the Lord.

Say yes to pain –
And no to sin.

In life, in death,
With every breath,

Whatever comes,
We share with Him.

Update

Ruth Kirk

Hello at all readers. Thank you for still visiting here, despite my long absence. I last posted here on the 22nd of May, the day I started taking an additional antidepressant and anxiolytic to help me cope with my persistent, severe dread.

This problem dates back to my earliest childhood. I understand it well, and have worked for years to gain insight into it. I have had massive amounts of therapy of every possible kind that might help, including, most recently, clinical hypnotherapy. However, nothing has ever enabled me to overcome my emotions, or to live with them more comfortably.

When I realised I could go on no longer, I accepted the additional drug my doctor prescribed. For the first few weeks this drug was quite helpful. However, as soon as I started taking it, I lost all ability to pray, to hear God’s voice, and to write.

To begin with, of course, I did not know that these losses would continue, but that is, in fact, the case. Slowly, I am learning to rely on much-loved prayers I memorised long ago. Now I am trying to build a new life without the easy sense of oneness with God which sustained me for so many years, and without the daily inspiration which generated all the resources on this website.

In the last couple of weeks I have also started to face a new issue. As my body and mind grow accustomed to the new drug, anxiety and depression are creeping back. This means that the dose may soon need to be increased. Tomorrow I am due to report back to my GP, so it will be interesting to see what she advises.

All this leaves the future of Take Heart still unsettled. Last week a longstanding follower very kindly wrote to me. His letter prompted me to post this message here today, and to think more clearly about the future. One possibility is that my blog could resume in a new form, perhaps as an honest spiritual and mental health journal. Meanwhile, I continue to inhabit and explore my new spiritual territory – a life without any of the easy closeness to Christ I used to love so much.

Do let me know if you think this might be helpful to you.
With much love, from Ruth xxx

Theology

Ruth Kirk

Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it (Luke 18:17; CSB). 

I’m not a theologian, God –
I simply know you love me.

I’m not a theologian,
But I know you sent your Son.

I’m not a theologian –
Yet I know that you forgive me.

Theology? It’s not my thing,
For you and I are one.

The person who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with him (1 Corinthians 6:17; NLT).

Jesus!

Ruth Kirk

I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me (John 14:6; NLT).

The way beyond all other ways
Is you, Lord.

The truth beyond all others:
You’re God’s Son.

The life beyond all other lives:
To bear our cross, and follow you.

The joy beyond all others:
We are one!

Everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him (Philippians 3:8-9; NLT).

References

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

God promised this Good News long ago through his prophets in the holy Scriptures. The Good News is about his Son. In his earthly life he was born into King David’s family line, and he was shown to be] the Son of God when he was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit. He is Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 1:2-4; NLT).

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. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed?” (Luke 9:23-6; NLT).

Jesus was filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit, and he said, “O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike. Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way” (Luke 10:21; NLT).

Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again – rejoice! (Philippians 4:4; NLT).

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).

In your hands

Ruth Kirk

The LORD will hold you in his hand (Isaiah 62:3; NLT).

May we live in your hands,
And dwell in your mind;

Keep your commands,
And always be kind.

May we stay in your heart,
And rest in your soul;

Never depart,
And there be made whole.

His hands make whole (Job 5:18; KJV). 

References

I command you this day to love the LORD your God and to keep his commands, decrees and regulations by walking in his ways (Deuteronomy 30:16; NLT).

I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands (Exodus 20:6; NLT).

How kind the LORD is! Psalm 116:5; NLT).

He is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked (Luke 6:35; NLT).

Be kind to everyone (2 Timothy 2:24; NLT).

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

Here, in stillness

Ruth Kirk

Be still in the presence of the LORD (Psalm 37:7; NLT).

Here, in stillness,
Here, in silence,
Here, in darkness –
You are light. 

Here, in splendour,
Here, in rapture,
Here, in oneness –
You are truth.

Here, in trouble,
Here, in failure,
Here, in ruin –
You are peace.

Here, in sorrow,
Here, in longing,
Here, in anguish –
You are love.

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

References

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

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

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

One day…

Ruth Kirk

I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life. And I assure you that the time is coming, indeed it’s here now, when the dead will hear my voice – the voice of the Son of God. And those who listen will live (John 5:24-5; NLT).

One day
I will hear your voice,
And feel my spirit rise.

One day
I will take your hand,
And look into your eyes.

One day
You will smile at me,
And banish all my fears.

One day
You will make me well,
And wipe away my tears.

One day
We will kiss, and laugh,
And dance, Lord, in your light.

One day
We will merge,
For I am precious in your sight.

Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him (Philippians 3:8-9; NLT).

You are precious in my sight and honored, and I love you (Isaiah 43:4; CSB).

References

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

There will be no night there – no need for lamps or sun – for the Lord God will shine on them. And they will reign forever and ever (Revelation 22:5; NLT).

Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “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).

Reading: John 1:1-5.