Category: Share

What others want

Ruth Kirk

“There is no effectual teacher but God. We can receive no more than he is pleased to communicate” (John Newton, “Out of the depths”). 

I can’t be what others want, Lord,
Nor behave as others do,
Can’t believe what others think:
I can only learn from you.

I can’t share how others feel, Lord,
Nor repeat the prayers they know,
Can’t join with their hymns of praise:
That would only be a show.

I can’t serve as others do, Lord,
Nor attempt to start anew,
Can’t perceive your perfect light:
I can only cling to you.

I can’t live like other people,
Nor enjoy their sturdy health,
Can’t be like them, Lord, at all:
I can only be myself. 

We need to discover who we actually are, rather than trying to be as we wish we could be, as we think we should be, or, worst of all, as others expect us to be (Author unknown).

Sharing the truth

Ruth Kirk

We will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church (Ephesians 4:15; NLT).

God doesn’t want to hear us say
Just what we think we ought, in prayer:
God only wants us to express
The bitter truths we never share.

God doesn’t want us to recite
Long eulogies, or high-flown pleas:
God only wants us to express
The angry truth, which heals, and frees.

God doesn’t want us to repeat
What others write; to hide, or feign:
God only wants us to express
The brutal truth about our pain.

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).

I belong to you

Ruth Kirk

I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine (Song of Songs 2:16; NIV).

I belong to you, Lord God,
And you, my Lord, belong to me.

Everything I feel, you share,
Whilst I love you in all I see.

You witness all I think, say, do.
I hear your silent voice, so dear –

For though I’m far away from you,
Lord God, you’re always very near.

What great nation has a god as near to them as the LORD our God is near to us whenever we call on him? (Deuteronomy 4:7; NLT).

Acceptance

Ruth Kirk

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

Lord,
I’ve lived with dread for weeks:
Impossible to pray.
Once it starts, it never stops:
My darkness, night and day.

Lord,
I must accept this dread:
Please hear me, and return.
What lessons does it have for me?
Reveal them: I will learn.

Lord,
I share my dread with you,
At last, my prayers are real.
Like you, before your cruel death,
I’m facing how I feel.

Then Jesus went with them to the olive grove called Gethsemane, and he said, “Sit here while I go over there to pray.” He took Peter and Zebedee’s two sons, James and John, and he became anguished and distressed (Matthew 26:36-7; NLT).

Then 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).

Let us pray

Ruth Kirk

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

Let us pray,
Both night and day,
To walk in the light of God.

Let us ask,
Throughout each task,
To rest in the peace of God.

Let us thirst
To put Him first,
And dwell in the Word of God.

Let us care,
Give, lend, and share:
Show others the love of God.

Forget not to show love unto strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares (Hebrews 13:2; ASV). 

May the Lord lead your hearts into a full understanding and expression of the love of God (2 Thessalonians 3:5; NLT).

Don’t worry

Ruth Kirk

Don’t worry about anything (Philippians 4:6; NLT).

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: …a time to be silent and a time to speak (Ecclesiastes 3:1,7; NIV).

Don’t worry about special times
For silence –
We can’t encourage God to speak:
He only speaks when he desires,
So, listen, always, for his voice
Within you.

Don’t worry about special times
For prayer –
God knows what’s in our hearts and minds,
So, simply share it all with him,
In constant, honest, and sincere
Communion.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen (2 Corinthians 13:14; NKJV). 

References

After the fire came a still, small voice (1 Kings 19:12; MSB).

God speaks again and again, though people do not recognize it (Job 33:14; NLT).

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

The LORD sees every heart and knows every plan and thought (1 Chronicles 28:9; NLT).

Pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done (Philippians 4:6; NLT).

Pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them (1 Timothy 2:1; NLT).

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

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

Speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15; NLT).

Such as I am (for H)

Ruth Kirk

I am yours (Psalm 119:94; CSB).

Such as I am, Lord, I’m yours,
In body, in heart, and in mind.
My spirit and soul, Lord, are yours,
In longing, in love, and in prayer.

Such as I am, Lord, I’m yours:
We’re facing the years hand in hand.
My sickness and pain, Lord, are yours:
In darkness and anguish, we share.

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). 

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

References

I am nothing but dust and ashes (Genesis 18:27; NIV).

My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart (Psalm 73:26; NLT).

I was so foolish and ignorant – I must have seemed like a senseless animal to you. Yet I still belong to you; you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny (Psalm 73:22-24; 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).

Being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground (Luke 22:44; NIV).

The truth in prayer (for M)

Ruth Kirk

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). 

Let’s tell the truth in prayer,
If nowhere else:
Be absolutely honest
And sincere –

Not only with the Lord,
But with yourself:
Be brave, direct, spontaneous,
And clear.

So, listen hard, with him,
To all you share,
Not just repeating pleasantries –
Be real.

Don’t block a single word
You’d rather hide,
For Christ will not condemn you –
He will heal.

God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him (John 3:17; NLT). 

“Neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared (John 8:11; NIV).

 

Nothing to hide

Ruth Kirk

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything (Philippians 4:6; NLT).

I’ve got nothing to keep from you;
Nothing to hide:

You know all my weaknesses,
Yet you don’t chide.

I tell you my failings –
It’s easy to share,

For I trust in your mercy, forgiveness,
And care.

I am the one who answers your prayers and cares for you (Hosea 14:8; NLT).

References 

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

He knows the secrets of every heart (Psalm 44:21; NLT). 

I trust in the mercy of God forever and ever (Psalm 52:8; NLT).

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

 

Good news

Ruth Kirk

How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the messenger who brings good news, the good news of peace and salvation, the news that the God of Israel reigns! (Isaiah 52:7; NLT). 

Lord,
May our footsteps bring good news;
Our lives, encourage all to choose
Your way, so they will be infused
With faith.

Lord,
May our lips be filled with praise;
Our passion for your kingdom blaze
With light, so we can guide your strays
To hope.

Lord,
May our minds be steeped in prayer;
Our hearts be always swift to share;
Our souls delight to offer care
And love.

Lord,
May our days be filled with grace
So we behold your shining face
In everyone, then we’ll make haste
To serve.

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