Category: serve

22.9.23: Love God

Ruth Kirk
dodo71: Pixabay.

When I woke up yesterday morning I was warm and comfortable. It was easy to pray without words, expecting nothing. Then, to my surprise, these verses began to arrive.

Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.
Mark 12:30; CSB.

1. To love God
Is to seek him;
To seek him
Is to find;
To find him
Is to worship,
To serve,
And to be kind.

2. To love God
Is to hear him;
To hear him
Is to give;
To give
Is to love everyone,
To grow like Christ,
And live.

I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
John 10:10; NIV.

References 

Verse 1

Love the LORD your God, walk in all his ways, obey his commands, hold firmly to him, and serve him with all your heart and all your soul (Deuteronomy 10:12; NLT).

The LORD will stay with you as long as you stay with him! Whenever you seek him, you will find him (2 Chronicles 15:2; NLT).

Serve only the LORD your God and fear him alone. Obey his commands, listen to his voice, and cling to him (Deuteronomy 13:4; NLT).

Verse 2

Your own ears will hear him. Right behind you a voice will say, “This is the way you should go,” whether to the right or to the left (Isaiah 30:21; NLT).

Freely you have received; freely give (Matthew 10:8; NIV).

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

The Lord – who is the Spirit – makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image (2 Corinthians 3:18; NLT).

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

This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ (Ephesians 4:13; NLT).

Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live! You can make this choice by loving the LORD your God, obeying him, and committing yourself firmly to him. This is the key to your life (Deuteronomy 30:19-20; NLT, my emphasis). 

15.9.23: Song of praise

Ruth Kirk
congerdesign: Pixabay.

Yesterday I woke early, and the moment I began to pray this song of praise arrived. Its first words and its shape were instantly clear in my mind. Despite this, writing is gradually getting harder and more tiring as my energy and mental capacity reduce. I don’t know how much longer I will be able to do it for, but will continue as long as I can, until God stops giving me prayers to write.

I love you, LORD; you are my strength (Psalm 18:1; NLT). 

I love you, Lord,
And bless your name,
Confide in you,
Confess my shame,
Receive forgiveness,
Sing your praise,
And gladly worship
All my days.

I love you, Lord,
And trust your Son.
I follow him,
For we are one.
I’ll bear my cross
Through good and ill,
Rejoice, and pray
And thank you, still.

I love you, Lord,
Your Spirit, too.
She lives in me,
And I in you.
So, may we plead
With one accord
For those who suffer,
Blessed Lord.

I love you,
Holy Trinity:
The Mighty God
Who sets me free.
Day after day
I hear your call
And try to serve you, Lord,
In all.

Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me (Matthew 25:40; NIV). 

13.9.23: God’s presence

Ruth Kirk
jhiredman: Pixabay.

The godly will live in your presence (Psalm 140:13; NLT). 

Live in the Father’s presence,
Choosing his holy way;
Worship in life’s harsh deserts:
Give thanks, rejoice, and pray.

Walk in the Saviour’s presence,
Serving like Him, each day;
Worship in life’s vast wastelands:
Give thanks, rejoice, and pray.

Rest in the Spirit’s presence,
Clinging, so you don’t stray;
Worship on life’s cold mountains:
Give thanks, rejoice, and pray.

Trust in the Threefold Presence:
Comfort will fall, like dew;
Worship in death’s dark valley:
God will rejoice in you.    

The LORD your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs (Zechariah 3:17; NLT).

Readings

Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert. The burning sand will become a pool, the thirsty ground bubbling springs. In the haunts where jackals once lay, grass and reeds and papyrus will grow. And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness (Isaiah 35:6-8; NIV).

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).

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me (Psalm 23:4; KJV). 

8.9.23: Follow and worship

Ruth Kirk
Hans: Pixabay

My husband is suffering from a virus, and I now have it as well. Yet still God gives, and still I write, though very slowly.

N.B: I posted today’s prayer at midnight, last night, with the first seven verses. However, this morning, when I was praying without words, I suddenly received the final couplet, which makes it complete. So that email followers don’t miss this, I’m reposting the final version again, for their sake.

A highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness; it will be for those who walk on that Way (Isaiah 35:8; NIV). 

Follow Christ on the way of love:
Worship Him who reigns above.

Learn from Christ on the way of faith:
Worship Him and seek His face.

Talk with Christ on the way of prayer:
Worship Him, our thoroughfare.

Serve with Christ on the way of light:
Worship Him both day and night.

Weep with Christ on the way of pain:
Worship Him whose loss was gain.

Walk with Christ on the way of death:
Worship Him; one final breath

Then rest with Christ when life is past,
And worship Him with joy, at last.

Lord, though I’m on the way of dust,
I’ll worship you with steadfast trust.

You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you (Isaiah 26:3; NIV).

References 

The LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul (Genesis 2:7; KJV). 

You were made from dust, and to dust you will return (Genesis 3:19; NLT). 

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

Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me.  There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. And you know the way to where I am going.” “No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me” (John 14:1; NLT).

Those who follow godly paths will rest in peace when they die (Isaiah 57:2; NLT).

4.9.23: Stay close

Ruth Kirk
geralt: Pixabay.

I’m feeling physically and mentally very worn after my hospital trip, but am resting patiently in the hope that this will improve, God willing. To my great surprise, a prayer still came to me yesterday morning, though putting it into words proved really difficult.

My soul clings to You; Your right hand upholds me (Psalm 63:8; BSB). 

Lord, stay close to me today,
And keep me close to you.
May everything I do be kind
And all my words be true. 

Please stay close to me today,
And keep me by your side.
May all my thoughts be free from sin
Like yours, my Way and Guide. 

Lord, stay close to me today,
And keep me always near.
May I rejoice, give thanks, and pray
In sorrow, pain and fear. 

Please stay close to me today,
And keep me in your hands.
May I obey, as you did, Lord,
And serve as God commands.

Serve only the LORD your God and fear him alone. Obey his commands, listen to his voice, and cling to him (Deuteronomy 13:4; NLT).

4.8.23: Love

Ruth Kirk
Larisa-K: Pixabay.

This prayer came to me a while ago, but it was only whilst laying awake with a migraine a few days ago that I was finally able to set it out in a way that felt right. Even then, there were still a few tiny changes that needed to be made today, just a seconds before posting!

I love you, Lord.
(Psalm 18:1; NLT).

I dare to love you, Lord, my God;
I dare to love your Son;
I dare to love your Spirit:
For you live in me, as one.

I know you love me, Father,
For you sent your only Son
To fill me with your Spirit:
So that we can live as one.

I want to live within you,
And to follow your dear Son,
Relying on your Spirit, Lord:
And loving you, as one.

To love means living to the full
By serving like your Son,
And praying in your Spirit, Lord:
For then we will be one.

Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion.
(Ephesians 6:18; NLT). 

We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them.
(1 John 4:16; NLT).

29.7.23: I love you

Ruth Kirk
Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane, by Robert Walter Weir: metmuseum.org.

This prayer overtook me yesterday whilst I was praying very sleepily, straight after waking up. It virtually wrote itself, which was an amazing experience.

Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.
(Luke 22:42; NLT).

Father,

I love you –
May your will be done.

Then, may I accept it
Like your Son.

Thank you for all you send,
Both “good” and “bad”.

In sickness, grief and pain
May I be glad,

And keep on serving.
Lord, may I grow like Christ,

Making my life
A willing sacrifice –

For this is my heart’s desire;
My only plea.

Father, I love you –
Thank you for loving me.

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

27.7.23: Help me

Ruth Kirk
Gadini: Pixabay.

We know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them (1 John 4:16; NIV).

Lord,
Please help me, every day,
In all I feel, think, do and say,
To live in love, rejoice, and pray
For others.

Lord,
Please help me, through the years,
To walk with you, and face my fears,
Accepting sickness, loss and tears
With courage.

Lord,
Please help me: hear my plea
To live in you, and you in me,
Then all my sinfulness will flee
Your presence.

Lord,
Please help me: give me grace
To serve you till I’ve run my race,
Then I will see you face to face
Forever.

Now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face (1 Corinthians 13:12; NRSV).

21.7.23: Your willing slave

Ruth Kirk
RobertCheaib: Pixabay.

This prayer began to come to me while I was weeping just after Mass last Wednesday. I haven’t been able to go to church for a very long time, but I now have a powered wheelchair, so can start to go again, when I’m well enough. Being there was an overwhelming experience, hence my tears. Astonishingly, it took about 24 hours for this prayer to arrive fully.

I love you, LORD (Psalm 18:1; NLT). 

I love you more and more, my God, 
But serve you less and less,
And yet, I know you understand
My weakness and distress:

For I am still your willing slave,
Despite my sin and shame –
Lord, as you take my liberty,
I bless your Holy Name.

I serve you less and less, my God,
But love you more and more,
And, though you take my health away,
You make my spirit soar:

For I am still your willing slave,
Trying to do my best –
Lord, as you take my life away,
Help me to face each test.

The LORD is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving (Psalm 28:7; NLT). 

19.7.23. I love you

Ruth Kirk
A photo of my most precious icon.

Yesterday morning this prayer came to me whilst I was worshipping very sleepily. I didn’t want to break off, but I had to start writing it down in the end. It proved very difficult to express. I’m really sorry that my words are so inadequate and pedestrian, and wish I could do better.

I love you, Lord (Psalm 18:1; NLT). 

1. “I love you” –
This is my spirit’s song;
May I repeat it
All day long,
And serve you well,
And do no wrong:
My Teacher.

2. “I love you” –
Lord, though my heart may break,
I’ll say these words
When I awake,
And lift up others
For your sake:
My Saviour.

3. “I love you” –
This is my only prayer,
For you are with me
Everywhere;
One Lord, one God,
Without compare:
My Jesus.

“My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed.
(John 20:28; NLT). 

Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
(Philippians 2:9-11; NLT).

References 

Verse 1:
🔻 You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am (John 13:13; NLT).
🔻 Pray continually (1 Thessalonians 5:16; NIV).
🔻 Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me (Matthew 25:40; NIV).

Verse 2:
🔻 Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the LORD! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! (Habakkuk 3:17-18; NLT).
🔻 When I wake up, you are still with me (Psalm 139:18; NLT).
🔻 I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them (1 Timothy 2:1; NLT).
🔻 May God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior give you grace and peace (Titus 1:4; NLT).

Verse 3:
🔻 I am with you always, even to the end of the age (Matthew 28:20; NLT).
🔻 Nothing can ever separate us from God’s love (Romans 8:38; NLT).
🔻 For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. 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 4:4-6; NLT).
🔻 This faith was given to you because of the justice and fairness of Jesus Christ, our God and Savior (2 Peter 1:1; NLT).
🔻 The Father and I are one (John 10:30; NLT).
🔻 This is all made possible because of the grace of our God and Lord, Jesus Christ (2 Thessalonians 1:12; NLT).
🔻 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being (Hebrews 1:3; NIV).