share – A spiritual diary

4.12.23: Worry

December 3, 2023December 4, 2023Ruth Kirk

Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you (1 Peter 5:7; NLT).

Whenever you worry,
Just worry with God;
Whenever you weep,
Weep with Him.

Whenever you panic,
Just panic with God;
Share all that you face,
Even sin.

Whenever you stumble,
You stumble with God,
So turn to Him quickly,
Reach out –

For the Father is waiting;
He suffers with you;
Trust His love; take his hand:
Never doubt.

Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” (Matthew 14:29-31; NIV).

27.11.23: I breathe you in

November 26, 2023Ruth Kirk

The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
(Job 33:4; NLT).

I breathe you in,
And breathe you out,
Without a word,
Or thought, or doubt.

You breathe within:
I share your breath
Unceasingly,
Until my death.

Lord, we are one:
You live in me,
And I in you,
Eternally.

Both life and death
Are your domain:
With silent love,
I praise your name.

On earth, below,
In bliss, above,
Through silence, Lord,
We share our love.

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

21.11.23: You know me

November 21, 2023Ruth Kirk

I confess my sins; I am deeply sorry for what I have done.
(Psalm 38:18; NLT).

When I say, each day, “I’m sorry”,
You don’t want my lame excuses,
My defences serve no purpose:
Lord, you know exactly what I’ve done.

When I ask for your forgiveness,
You don’t like my sly evasions,
You don’t need my mitigations:
Lord, you know exactly what I’ve said.

When I beg for absolution,
You refuse my explanations,
My denials make no difference:
Lord, you know exactly what I’ve thought.

Yet, when I must stand before you,
You will not reject me, for you sent
And shared my trials and sorrows,
So your Spirit, deep within me,
Pleads on my behalf for mercy:
Lord, you are my Maker, and my Soul.

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).

References

You know everything I do (Psalm 139:3; NLT).

You know what I am going to say even before I say it, LORD (Psalm 139:4; NLT).

Before a word is on my tongue you, LORD, know it completely (Psalm 139:4; NIV).

You perceive my thoughts (Psalm 139:2; NIV).

LORD, you know my heart (Jeremiah 12:3; NLT).

O LORD, you have examined my heart and know everything about me (Psalm 139:1; NLT).

The words you speak come from the heart – that’s what defiles you. For from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, all sexual immorality, theft, lying, and slander. These are what defile you (Matthew 15:18-20; NLT).

The LORD will not reject his people; he will never forsake his inheritance (Psalm 94:14; NIV).

I create the light and make the darkness. I send good times and bad times. I, the LORD, am the one who does these things (Isaiah 45:7; NLT).

I will rejoice and be glad in your faithful love because you have seen my affliction. You know the troubles of my soul (Psalm 31:7; CSB).

Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows (Isaiah 53:4; NKJV).

In all their suffering he also suffered, and he personally rescued them. In his love and mercy he redeemed them. He lifted them up and carried them through all the years (Isaiah 63:9; NLT).

What is the hope of the sinner when he is cut off, when God takes back his soul? (Job 27:8; BBE).

You are the temple of the living God (2 Corinthians 6:16; NKJV).

The Spirit [comes to us and] helps us in our weakness. We do not know what prayer to offer or how to offer it as we should, but the Spirit Himself [knows our need and at the right time] intercedes on our behalf with sighs and groanings too deep for words. And He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because the Spirit intercedes [before God] on behalf of God’s people in accordance with God’s will (Romans 8:26-7; AMP).

Yahweh is mercy and tenderness (Psalm 111:4; NJB).

God will get back my soul (Psalm 49:15; BBE).

God will redeem me from the realm of the dead; he will surely take me to himself (Psalm 49:15; NIV).

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

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

8.11.23: You make us

November 8, 2023Ruth Kirk

You created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb (Psalm 139:13; NIV).

You make us, Lord,
Watch over us,
And teach us.

You cherish us,
Forgive,
And make us whole.

You live in us,
You share our pain,
And help us.

You walk with us
In death,
And save each soul.

Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me (Psalm 23:4; KJV).

He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety (Psalm 18:2; NLT).

19.10.23: Wait for God (for J.)

October 19, 2023October 19, 2023Ruth Kirk

I wait for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning (Psalm 130:6; NIV).

1. Throughout the silent watches
Of the night,
Just wait for God alone,
For He is near.

2. No need to say a word –
He knows them all.
Just wait with God alone,
For He is here.

3. Our Father lives in you,
And you, in Him,
So wait in God alone,
Just wait, and share

4. The darkness, dryness, silence –
All is well:
Together, you are one,
And this is prayer.

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

References

Verse 1:

I lie awake thinking of you, meditating on you through the night. Because you are my helper, I sing for joy in the shadow of your wings (Psalm 63:6-7; CSB).

Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD (Psalm 27:14; NIV).

The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart (Psalm 34:18; NKJV).

Verse 2:

Before a word is on my tongue you, LORD, know it completely (Psalm 139:4; NIV).

The LORD is in this place, and I wasn’t even aware of it! (Genesis 28:16; NLT).

I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! (Psalm 139:7; NLT).

Verse 3:

God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them (1 John 4:16; NIV).

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done (Philippians 4:6; NLT).

Verse 4:

If you are walking in darkness, without a ray of light, trust in the LORD and rely on your God (Isaiah 50:10; NLT).

Moses approached the thick darkness where God was (Exodus 20:21; NIV).

You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water (Psalm 63:1; NIV).

The LORD is in his holy Temple. Let all the earth be silent before him (Habakkuk 2:20; NLT).

Be silent before the LORD, all humanity (Zechariah 2:13; NLT).

We are the temple of the living God. As God said: “I will live in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people” (2 Corinthians 6:16; NLT).

All is well (1 Kings 5:4; NLT).

13.10.23: When you send a prayer

October 13, 2023Ruth Kirk

I want your will to be done, not mine (Luke 22:42; NLT).

Father,

When you send a prayer
I make a willing sacrifice:
I listen, thank you, write, and share
Each insight, for the sake of Christ.

When you give a revelation,
I will leave my contemplation,
Giving up your consolation:
Every prayer, a consummation.

So, this is my promise, Lord:
I’ll gladly give up anything
You ask. May every word outpoured
Be nurtured well, and then take wing.

When you give a revelation,
I will leave my contemplation,
Giving up your consolation:
Every prayer, a consummation.

And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word (Luke 1:38; KJV).

References

The LORD gives, and the LORD takes away. Blessed be the name of the LORD (Job 1:21; CSB).

“Give whatever he takes, with a big smile” (Saint Mother Theresa).

12.10.23: Consolation (for L.S.)

October 12, 2023Ruth Kirk

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).

Father,
My Creator, and my King:
You are God,
Who makes my spirit sing.

Jesus Christ,
My origin, and aim:
You are God,
Who shares my joy and pain.

Holy Ghost,
My Helper, deep within:
You are God,
Who rescues me from sin.

Lord,
My consolation, and my goal:
You are God,
Who longs to make me whole.

They will come weeping, but I will bring them back with consolation. I will lead them to wadis filled with water, by a smooth way where they will not stumble (Jeremiah 31:9; CSB).

The LORD longs to be gracious to you (Isaiah 30:18; NIV).

He wounds, but His hands make whole (Job 5:18; NKJV).

10.10.23: Sharing (for B.B.)

October 10, 2023Ruth Kirk

Yesterday I woke at 3am, began to pray, and was immediately flooded with the joy of God’s presence. As today’s verses began to flow, I marvelled at all the different experiences God wants to share with us during prayer.

Although I received the first few lines in words, and could see the shape and rhythm of the whole poem, it proved astonishingly difficult to put into words. The first rough draft was completed just after 8am, but the whole piece wasn’t finished until 11.30 last night!

In your presence is fullness of joy. In your right hand there are pleasures for evermore (Psalm 16:11; WEB).

Prayer is such a pleasure, Lord,
So, may I rest in you alone,
Sharing the joy and peace you bring:
Father, you want my soul to sing.

Prayer is such a banquet, Lord,
So, may I feast with you each day,
Sharing your pain and ecstasy:
Father, you set my poor soul free.

Prayer is such a wellspring, Lord,
So, may I intercede for all,
Sharing the love that you outpour:
Father, you help my soul to soar.

Prayer is such a comfort, Lord,
So, may I lodge here through life’s storms,
Sharing your perfect truth and light:
Father, you make our souls unite.

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

References

Pray continually (1 Thessalonians 5:17; NIV).

Listen to my prayer and my plea, O LORD my God. Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is making to you today (1 Kings 8:28; NLT).

Since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering (Romans 8:17; NLT).

Those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles (Isaiah 40:31l NLT).

May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light (Colossians 1:12; NLT).