Category: Peace

Finding love

Ruth Kirk

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

I find my love in God,
And find my truth there, too.

I find my peace in God,
Whose Spirit makes me new.

I find my fire in God,
However cold the night.

I find my strength in God,
And Jesus is my light.

The Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength (Isaiah 26:4; KJV).

The Lord will be your permanent source of light (Isaiah 60:19; NET).

I am the light of the world (John 8:12; NLT). 

References

God is love (1 John 4:8; NLT).

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

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

I am the LORD, who heals you (Exodus 15:26; NIV).

The Lord your God is a consuming fire (Deuteronomy 4:24; NIV).

He made darkness his covering (Psalm 18:11; NIV).

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

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

You, Lord, are my lamp; the Lord turns my darkness into light (2 Samuel 22:29; NLT).

 

Love and wisdom

Ruth Kirk

Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ (Ephesians 5:2; NLT).

Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding (Proverbs 4:7; NIV).

Love and wisdom
Are not rationed:
We can grow them
Everywhere!

All it takes
Is peace and justice;
All we need
Is humble prayer.

With our smiles, our words,
Our service,
We can nurture
Every soul,

Spreading Yahweh’s
Love and wisdom,
Till all people
Are made whole!

He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away (Revelation 21:4; NIV).

References

Anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love (1 John 4:8; NLT).

He loves us with unfailing love; the LORD’s faithfulness endures forever (Psalm 117:2; NLT).

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

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 and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect (Matthew 5:44-8; NIV).

When they came to the place that is called called The Skull, there they crucified him… And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:33-4; ESV).

Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me (Matthew 25:40; NLT).

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).

 

Peace and justice

Ruth Kirk

Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you (2 Corinthians 13:11; NLT).

Peace and justice
Are not rationed:
We can grow them
Anywhere!

All it takes
Is love and wisdom!
All it takes
Is being fair!

So, let’s always
Welcome strangers,
Offer help,
And show our care.

Peace and justice
Are not rationed:
So, let’s spread them
Everywhere!

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

Love good, and establish justice (Amos 5:15; ESV).

References

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).

Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn others, or it will all come back against you. Forgive others, and you will be forgiven. Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full – pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back (Luke 6:37-8; NLT).

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).

Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you (Luke 6:30-31; 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).

 

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).

 

We can’t make peace without listening!

Ruth Kirk

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

Fools think their own way is right, but the wise listen to others (Proverbs 12:15; NLT).

We can’t make peace
Without listening.

We can’t make peace
Without truth.

We can’t make peace
Without justice.

We can’t make peace
Without love.

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

To you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you (Luke 6:27; NLT).

References

The way of peace they do not know; there is no justice in their paths. They have turned them into crooked roads; no one who walks along them will know peace (Isaiah 59:8; NIV).

Love truth and peace (Zechariah 8:19; NIV).

Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love (1 John 4:8; NIV).

This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy. Listen to him (Matthew 17:5; NLT).

The harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace (James 3:18; RSV).

You must return to your God; maintain love and justice, and wait for your God always (Hosea 12:6; NIV).

Be at peace with each other (Mark 9:50; NIV).

 

We cannot have your light…

Ruth Kirk

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). 

We cannot have your light
Without your fire.

We cannot have your fire
Without your truth.

We cannot have your truth
Without your peace.

We cannot have your peace
Without your love.

Anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love (1 John 4:8; NLT). 

References

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

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

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

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

 

Peace and Love

Ruth Kirk

YHWH, our God, powers other than you have ruled over us, but we praise only your Name (Isaiah 26:13; TIB).

My Peace, my Love:
I worship you.

My Light, my Fire:
I praise you, too.

My Strength, my Saviour,
Every day:

You are my Life, my Truth,
My Way.

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

References

YHWH, you are my God – I exalt you! I praise your Name! (Isaiah 25:1; TIB).

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

God is love (1 John 4:8; NLT).

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

The Lord your God is a raging fire (Deuteronomy 4:24; GW).

The Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength (Isaiah 26:4; KJV)

I will rejoice in YHWH. I will exult in God my Savior (Habakkuk 3:18; TIB).

 

Life is sweet

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).

There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends (John 15:13; NLT). 

Life is sweet,
But you are sweeter.

Truth is deep,
But you are deeper.

Peace is great,
But you are greater.

You are Love –
Our God, and Maker.

God made human beings (Genesis 9:6; NLT).

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

References

Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, 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 and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it” (Mark 8:34-5; NLT).

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

I am the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6; NLT).

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

Unfailing love, O LORD, is yours (Psalm 62:12; NLT).

He loves us with unfailing love; the LORD’s faithfulness endures forever (Psalm 117:2; NLT).

Love is as strong as death (Song of Songs 8:6; NLT).

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).

Three things will last forever – faith, hope, and love – and the greatest of these is love (1 Corinthians 13:12; NLT).

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever! (1 Corinthians 13:4-8; NLT).

 

God

Ruth Kirk

You are my Father, my God, and the Rock of my salvation (Psalm 89:26; NLT).

God, my Father,
Mother, too;
God, my Shepherd:
Tender, true;

God, my Saviour,
Refuge, peace;
Sister, Brother,
Great High Priest;

God my Maker,
Helper, Friend;
Mover, Shaker
To the end –

Though I’m only
Made of dust,
You’re my God,
In whom I trust.

I trust in you, my God! (Psalm 25:2; NLT).