Category: Share

Emptiness (for R.M.)

Ruth Kirk

This is an extra prayer, given to me earlier this morning for reader R.M.

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

Emptiness,
And loss of prayer:
Rest in silence
Everywhere.
God shares all you think
And feel;
Knows your grief;
Hears each appeal.

So, in darkness,
Dread, and tears,
Whisper your distress
And fears,
Sharing all you feel
With him –
Blindly follow;
Simply cling.

Then, in stillness,
All alone,
Though your heart
Seems turned to stone:
Open up your soul
To God,
Trusting in
His staff and rod.

Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me (Psalm 23:4; NLT).

References

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

He took Peter and Zebedee’s two sons, James and John, and he became anguished and distressed. He told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me” (Matthew 26:37-8; NLT).

He was in such agony of spirit that his sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood (Luke 22:44; NLT).

Jesus left them a second time and prayed, “My Father! If this cup cannot be taken away unless I drink it, your will be done” (Matthew 26:42; NLT).

Though I sit in darkness, the LORD will be my light (Micah 7:8; NLT).

 

Trust in Jesus

Ruth Kirk

Trust in God, and trust also in me (John 14:1; NLT).

Trust in Jesus;
Follow Him.
Live like Christ,
And grow like him.

Walk with Jesus;
Talk with Him.
Share with Christ –
Just pray, and cling.

Love like Jesus;
Serve like Him.
Dwell, like Christ,
Beneath God’s wing.

Work with Jesus;
Rest with Him.
Die with Christ –
Our Shepherd King.

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).

I am the good shepherd (John 10:11; NLT).

He is Lord of lords and King of kings (Revelation 17:14; NKJV).

 

God is good

Ruth Kirk

Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will leave this life. The LORD gives, and the LORD takes away. Blessed be the name of the LORD (Job 1:21; CSB).

I don’t have a right
To pain-free hands,
And I don’t have a right
To health.

I don’t have a right
To all I want,
And I don’t have a right
To wealth.

I don’t have a right
To happiness,
And I don’t have a right
To love –

But I do have a God
Who cares and shares,
For Yahweh, my Maker,
Is good.

God is good (Psalm 73:1; NLT).

References

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

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

 

Sharing

Ruth Kirk

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me” (John 14:6; NLT).

I’m sharing my trip here
With Jesus.
I’m sharing my journey
With him.
I’m sharing my lifetime
With Jesus:
God’s Son, who forgives
All my sin.

I’m sharing the present
With Jesus:
We’re sharing the future
God wills.
I’m sharing forever
With Jesus:
God’s Son, who is healing
My ills.

He continues to forgive all your sins; he continues to heal all your diseases (Psalm 103:2-5; ISV).

References

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).

Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad? (Job 2:10; NLT).

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

In all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28; NIV).

Hiding pain

Ruth Kirk

A man was there who had been sick for thirty-eight years. Jesus saw this man lying down, and he knew that he had been waiting for a long time (John 5:5-6; LB).

So many keep their pain
Behind a mask –
Hid in their eyes, their mind,
Their heart, their soul.

Yet, lest they break,
They strive to face each task –
Bearing their load;
Longing to be made whole.

Look for their pain:
Listen, and learn, and care –
Lay your own mask aside:
Be real, like Christ.

Show them you understand;
Be honest; share;
Reach out; be kind and calm –
This will suffice.

Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? (Philippians 2:1; NLT).

Can’t pray?

Ruth Kirk

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

We praise you with timbrel and dance; we praise you with strings and flute! (Psalm 150:4; TIB).

Pray with music,
And with dance;
Pray with friendship,
And with care;
Pray with laughter,
And with tears;
Pray with stillness –
Christ is there.

Share your silence,
And your grief;
Share your anguish,
And your fear;
Share your wordless
Loss of hope;
Share your darkness –
Christ is here.

I am with you always (Matthew 28:20; NIV).

References 

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

Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me (Psalm 23:4; NLT).

Speaking the truth

Ruth Kirk

You know our secret thoughts (Psalm 44:21; GNT).

You know the hidden recesses of our heart (Psalm 44:21; TIB).

You know all my thoughts and feelings,
All I say, and all I do.
Everything that’s said to me, Redeemer God,
Is shared with you.

All that hurts, and all that harms me,
Yahweh God, you bear it too,
So, at last, within my darkness,
Shepherd, Saviour, I find you.

You’re the words I leave unspoken,
Fearful I will be despised.
You’re the light within my darkness:
Honesty, the pearl to prize.

Yahweh, help me face my fear,
And openly express my truth.
This, alone, will end my dread,
And heal the wounds of my abuse.

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

Love should always make us tell the truth. Then we will grow in every way and be more like Christ (Ephesians 4:15; CEV).

If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back (Matthew 18:15; NLT).

The state of the world

Ruth Kirk

From the depths of despair, O LORD, I call for your help (Psalm 130:1; NLT). 

Lord,

I despair at the state
Of the world:

At our envy, greed,
Hatred, and war.

Please help us to love,
To lend, share and give,

Then we’ll crave, steal and kill, Lord,
No more.

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

Love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! (Matthew 5:44; NLT).

First breath

Ruth Kirk

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).

Our first breath brings us
Life on earth,
Bestowed by God,
Who gives us birth.

God’s Scion breathes
Upon us, too,
And sends his Holy Ghost,
Like dew.

Throughout our lives
This will not cease:
They share each breath,
And offer peace.

Then, aided by
Their staff and rod,
Our last breath takes us
Back to God.

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

References

The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life (Job 33:4; KJV).

Will I, who causes others to give birth, not also give birth myself, says the Lord? Will I, who bestows generation upon others, be barren myself, says the Lord your God? (Isaiah 66:9; CPDV).

He breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit” (John 20:22; NLT).

Your life-giving light will fall like dew (Isaiah 26:19; NLT).

I will be to Israel like a refreshing dew from heaven (Hosea 14:5; NLT).

His heavens shall drop down dew (Deuteronomy 33:28; KJV).

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).