save – Seeking God's face together

Jesus

August 1, 2022August 1, 2022Ruth Kirk

Context: As soon as I woke up in my own familiar bedroom yesterday morning, I received today’s prayer with an indescribable sense of peace, gratitude and joy:

I am with you at all times, even to the end of the world.
(Matthew 28:20; HNT).

Jesus Christ is here today,
Tomorrow and for evermore,

Bringing liberty for captives,
Giving good news to the poor;

Forgiving sins and healing blindness,
Setting free the long-oppressed,

Crowning us with love and mercy,
Saving all from sin and death.

Thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death
through our Lord Jesus Christ.
(1 Corinthians 15:57; NLT).

References

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8; NLT).

The Spirit of the LORD is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the LORD’s favor has come (Luke 4:18-19; NLT).

He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies. He fills my life with good things (Psalm 103:3-5; NLT).

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

Thine, the kingdom

July 24, 2022July 24, 2022Ruth Kirk

Context: I woke at 6am, began to pray, and immediately had to catch hold of today’s prayer. To my delight, it flowed easily, and wasn’t too exhausting to write. After that I slept and woke, slept and woke, until 10am.

My first morning in Ely meant buying some food at the outdoor market. Life here in the Fens is very different from my quiet days on the island. There were hundreds of people crowding around the stalls, talking, laughing, eating and shopping, ready to help strangers and to chat. One lovely man even told me his life-story.

By the time I got back to my flat for lunch and a rest, I was quite shaky, completely overwhelmed by all the sounds, sights, smells and colours of creation so lavishly displayed in this busy, lively town. This fitted with a theme seems to be emerging from my trip: “I will make all my goodness pass before you” (Exodus 33:19; NLT), as illustrated by today’s blog:

Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever.
(Matthew 6:13; KJV).

God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God,
and God in them (1 John 4:16; TIV).

Thine, the kingdom,
Thine, the power,
Thine, the glory,
Thine, the love,

Thine, the mercy,
Thine, the giving,
Thine, the saving:
God above.

Mine, the weakness,
Mine, the failure;
Mine, the darkness,
Mine, the sin,

Mine, the longing,
Mine, the searching,
Mine, the finding:
God within.

You will seek me and find me,
when you search for me with all your heart.
(Jeremiah 29:13; NKJV).

You are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people.”
(2 Corinthians 6:16; NKJV).

Save us!

March 23, 2022April 8, 2022Ruth Kirk

Lord, save us! (Matthew 8:25; NLT).

Save us, Lord! We live in thrall
To evil: please forgive us all.

Change each foolish human mind:
Lend us patience; make us kind.

Melt our hearts, Lord God, above:
Give us grace, so we may love.

Heal each fragile, human soul
And grant us wisdom: make us whole.

Give me wisdom (2 Chronicles 1:10; NIV).

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

Save us!

March 17, 2022April 8, 2022Ruth Kirk

Lord, save us! (Matthew 8:25; NLT).

1. Jesus,
Save us from ourselves,
For we are ignorant and weak.
The last thing we remember, Lord, is:
Blessed are the meek.

2. Jesus,
Save us from ourselves,
For we are always wanting more.
The last thing we consider, Lord, is:
Blessed are the poor.

3. Jesus,
Save us from ourselves,
For we pursue what makes us glad.
The last thing we acknowledge, Lord, is:
Blessed are the sad.

4. Jesus,
Save us from ourselves,
For we are blind, and immature.
The last thing we reflect on, Lord, is:
Blessed are the pure.

🖤

You say, “I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.”
But you do not realise that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.
(Revelation 3:17; NIV).

I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven.
(Matthew 18:3; NLT).

References

1. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth (Matthew 5:5; NKJV).

2. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:3; NKJV).

3. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted (Matthew 5:4; NKJV).

4. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God (Matthew 5:8; NKJV).

The song of the dead

March 8, 2022April 8, 2022Ruth Kirk

No longer will you need the sun to shine by day,
nor the moon to give its light by night,
for the Lord your God will be your everlasting light.
(Isaiah 60:19; NLT).

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

Father, brighter than the sun;
Jesus, every battle won;
Spirit, all your work is done:
We love you.

Lord, we walked the path you trod;
You, our guide, with staff and rod,
Leading us straight back to God:
We love you.

Every enemy outrun;
Here, no hatred, fear, or gun;
All will live in union:
We love you.

Father, we have run our race;
Jesus, we can see your face;
Spirit, overwhelming grace:
We love you.

Lord, in paradise, at last,
Every pain and grief is past;
You have saved us, held us fast:
We love you.

Now, our joy, Lord, has begun;
Now, we hear you say: Well done!
Now, we know you, Three-In-One:
And love you.

🖤

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).

He will wipe away every tear from their eyes,
and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain.
(Revelation 21:4; NLT).

For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
(1 Corinthians 13:12; NIV).

Born again

February 24, 2022February 24, 2022Ruth Kirk

Unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.
(John 3:3; NLT).

Lord,
You know how weak we are,
And all the wrong we do,
But, if we turn to you for pardon,
We’ll be born anew.

Lord,
You know how weak we are,
How frail, our fragile flesh,
But, if we turn to you for healing,
We’ll be born afresh.

Lord,
You know how weak we are,
How anxious, sad, and worn,
But, if we turn to you for rescue,
We will be reborn.

Lord,
We turn to you: forgive us;
Heal our grief and pain.
Save our souls, and give us hope –
Then we’ll be born again.

🖤

References

Repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away (Acts 3:19; NLT).

He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases (Psalm 103:3; NLT).

O Lord, if you heal me, I will be truly healed; if you save me, I will be truly saved (Jeremiah 17:14; NLT).

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead (1 Peter 1:3; NIV).

To all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn – not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God (John 1:12-13; NLT).

My Father and my Mother (#2 of 2)

October 16, 2021Ruth Kirk

He claims me as his own.
(Song of Songs 7:10, NLT).

Lord,
My Father, and my Mother,
Always whispering each day:
“I claim you.”

Lord,
My Sister, and my Brother,
Always telling me the way:
“I save you.”

Lord,
My Shepherd, and my Lover,
Always calling when I stray:
“I seek you.”

Lord, my God,
There is no other,
Always sighing while I pray:
“I love you.”

❤️

The Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words.
(Romans 8:26; RSV).

He loves us with unfailing love.
(Psalm 117:2; NLT).