Category: share

What matters

Ruth Kirk

Christ is all that matters (Colossians 3:11; NLT). 

1. Only one thing matters:
To sit at Jesus’ feet,
And listen to his teaching,
For all his words are sweet.

2. Only one thing matters:
To practise what he taught,
By loving all our fellows
In word, and deed, and thought.

3. Only one thing matters:
To grow much more like Christ,
Until we live as one with him,
And share his sacrifice.

If we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering
(Romans 8:17; NLT).

References 

1. There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her (Luke 10:38-42; NLT). 

Wisdom is sweet to your soul (Proverbs 24:15; NLT).

2. I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return (Philippians 1:10; NLT).

If you continue to follow my teaching, you are really my disciples (John 8:31; NET). 

The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love (Galatians 5:6; NIV).

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

Do everything with love (1 Corinthians 16:14; NLT).

We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5; NIV).

3. 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). 

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).

Whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit (1 Corinthians 6:17; NIV).

Sharing

Ruth Kirk

If we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.
(Romans 8:17; NLT).

1. Take up your cross without complaint.
Shoulder it with perfect love.
Bear it well, and serve, like Christ –
Then you will share his sacrifice.

2. Take up your cross; submit to God.
Shoulder it with constant prayer.
Bear it well, and do not sin –
Then you will share one mind with him.

3. Take up your cross, for God is near.
Shoulder it with thanks and joy.
Bear it well till life must cease –
Then you will share his perfect peace.

4. Take up your cross, as Jesus did.
Shoulder it with hope and praise.
Bear it well: it sets you free –
Then you will share his victory. 

Those who are victorious will sit with me on my throne.
(Revelation 3:21; NLT).

References 

1. If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me (Matthew 16:24; NLT).

The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45; NLT).

Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies (2 Corinthians 4:10; NLT). 

Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me (Matthew 10:38; NIV). 

2. Submit to God and be at peace with him (Job 22:21; NIV). 

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

We have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16; NLT).

3. He is not far from any one of us (Acts 17:27; NIV).

Always be joyful … Be thankful in all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:16,18; NLT).

I am leaving you with a gift – peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid (John 14:27; NLT).

4. As we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too (2 Corinthians 1:5; RSV). 

Rejoice in so far as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed (1 Peter 4:13; RSV). 

Overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us (Romans 8:37; NLT).

 

Pray constantly

Ruth Kirk

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

Lord,
May I pray constantly,
Sharing all I feel with you,
Holding nothing back at all,
Remembering you’ve felt the same.

Lord,
May I pray constantly,
Sharing all I say with you,
Trusting you to give me every word
I need, to spread your name.

Lord,
May I pray constantly,
Sharing all I think with you,
Taking captive every thought,
And knowing you’ve been tempted, too.

Lord,
May I pray constantly,
Sharing every deed with you,
Growing more like you, God’s Son,
And serving you in all I do.

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

 

Close your eyes

Ruth Kirk

The Lord is full of tenderness and mercy (James 5:11; NLT). 

1. Close your eyes to seek Christ’s face:
Full of mercy, light and grace.

2. Lift your gaze to catch his smile:
He won’t censure or revile.

3. Look at him, and watch his love
Pouring down from heaven above.

4. Talk with Christ; ask him to heal:
He will know just how you feel.

5. Your faith, your doubts, your hopes, your fears,
Your suffering throughout the years –

6. He sees, and knows, and shares them all:
Each loss, each pain, each grief, each fall.

7. He sees, and knows, and shares each one:
Our Lord, who died for us – God’s Son.

8. At last, receive his healing touch:
Rejoice! He loves you very much.

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

References

1. I will see you face to face (Psalm 17:15; NLT). 

2. The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will he harbour his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities (Psalm 103:8-10; NIV).

3. No power in the sky above or in the earth below – indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:39; NLT).

4. I love the Lord because he hears my voice (Psalm 116:1; NLT).

5. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all the same testings we do (Hebrews 4:15; NLT).  

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

7. In all their suffering he also suffered (Isaiah 63:9; NLT). 

God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were sinners (Romans 5:8; NLT).

8. I am the Lord, who heals you (Exodus 15:27; NIV).

 

 

Sharing

Ruth Kirk

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).

🖤

Through good and bad, Lord,
May we share your love,
So you are seen in us.

In darkness, Lord,
May we reflect your light.

Through pain and grief, Lord,
May we share your peace,
So you are seen in us.

In facing death,
May we reflect your life.

🖤

Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies (2 Corinthians 4:10; NLT).

All of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord (2 Corinthians 3:18; NLT).

 

Share every thought

Ruth Kirk

We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
(2 Corinthians 10:5; NIV).

May I share every thought with you,
Until we’re of one mind,

For then my speech will be like yours, Lord:
Humble, honest, kind;

And I’ll grow more like you each day
Until, at last, we’re one –

Then it will be no longer I who lives,
But you, God’s Son.

🖤

It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.
(Galatians 2:20; NLT).

 

Choices

Ruth Kirk

Let me show you a way of life that is best of all.
(1 Corinthians 12:31; NLT). 

Lord,

1. Did you choose the finest cross?
The brightest nails?
The quickest death?
Did you select the gentlest way
To take your final breath?

2. No,  you endured the roughest cross,
The coarsest nails,
The foulest death:
For us, you faced the darkest way
To take your final breath.

3. May I take up my cross, like you,
Accept the nails,
Embrace my death,
And gladly share your way of love
Until my final breath.

I will praise my God to my last breath.
(Psalm 104:33; NLT).

References 

1. Then the soldiers nailed him to the cross (Mark 15:24; NLT).

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? (Mark 15:34; NLT).

Then Jesus shouted, “Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!” And with those words he breathed his last (Luke 23:46; NLT). 

2. As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside privately and told them what was going to happen to him. “Listen,” he said, “we’re going up to Jerusalem, where the Son of Man will be betrayed to the leading priests and the teachers of religious law. They will sentence him to die. Then they will hand him over to the Romans to be mocked, flogged with a whip, and crucified” (Matthew 20:17-19; NLT). 

3. If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me (Matthew 16:24; NLT).

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). 

Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children, and walk in the way of love (Ephesians 5:2; NIV).

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

We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us (1 John 3:16; NLT).

 

 

The Father shares our tears

Ruth Kirk

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

Praise be to the Lord, to God our Saviour, who daily bears our burdens.
(Psalm 68:19; NIV). 

Beyond our death, all grief will end;
Till then, the Father shares our tears.

After death, all dread will cease;
Till then, he helps us face our fears.

Beyond our death, all pain will end;
Till then, the Saviour shares our cross.

After death, all cares will cease;
Till then, he helps us bear each loss.

Beyond our death, all hate will end;
Till then, the Spirit is our guide.

After death, all hurt will cease;
Till then, he’s always at our side.

Beyond our death, all wrong will end;
Till then, the Lord forgives our sin.

After death, all shame will cease;
Till then, we put our trust in him.

🖤

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). 

 

Spirit (#3 of 3)

Ruth Kirk

He called you to share in his Kingdom and glory.
(1 Thessalonians 2:12; NLT). 

Spirit, my Advocate,
Though I’m unkind,
I’m longing to serve:
Lord, may I share your mind?

Spirit, my Comforter,
Help me to start
By loving my foes:
Lord, may I share your heart?

Spirit, my Helper,
I yearn to console
The sick and sad:
Lord, may I share your soul?

Spirit, my Counsellor,
You are immense,
And I am so small:
Lord, may I share your strength?

🖤

I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources
he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit.
(Ephesians 3:16; NLT). 

Jesus (#2 of 3)

Ruth Kirk


Have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.
(Philippians 2:5; NIV).

Jesus, my Shepherd,
I want to be kind,
Helping others, like you:
Lord, please give me your mind.

Jesus, my Saviour,
I’m trying to start,
Yet again, to love all:
Lord, please give me your heart.

Jesus, my Teacher,
I long to be whole,
Serving others, like you:
Lord, please give me your soul.

Jesus, my Master,
Your might is immense,
And I am so small:
Lord, please give me your strength.

🖤

Give your strength to your servant.
(Psalm 86:16; NLT).