sin – Seeking God's face together

Fragile bones

June 12, 2019Ruth Kirk

Lord,
We’re nothing –
Fragile bones,
Into which you breathe
Your life.

Lord,
We’re nothing –
Foolish minds,
Into which you speak
Your truth.

Lord,
We’re nothing –
Selfish hearts,
Into which you spill
Your blood.

Lord,
We’re nothing –
Empty souls,
Into which you pour
Your love.

References

We ourselves are like fragile clay jars (2 Corinthians 4:7; NLT).

O God, you know how foolish I am (Psalm 69:5; NLT).

Turn my heart toward your statutes, not toward selfish gain (Psalms 119:36; HNV).

He awakes, and his soul is still empty (Isaiah 29:8; NKJV).

Forgive my sins

June 2, 2019June 14, 2019Ruth Kirk

I will bless those who have humble and contrite hearts, who tremble at my word
(Isaiah 66:2; NLT).

Lord,
Forgive my sins today;
Help me to start afresh.

Lord,
Forgive my faults today;
Help me to serve anew.

Lord,
Forgive my flaws today;
Help me to speak the truth.

Lord,
Please help and strengthen me,
So I may be like you.

References

Help us, God our Saviour, for the glory of your name; deliver us and forgive our sins for your name’s sake (Psalm 79:9; NIV).

You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him (Luke 4:8; NLT).

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

Put on your new nature, created to be like God – truly righteous and holy (Ephesians 4:24; NLT).

Every worry falls away

May 27, 2019June 14, 2019Ruth Kirk

Every worry falls away
Before the cross of Christ,
For as we gaze upon his wounds
We grasp his sacrifice.

Guilt and enmity dissolve
In his life-giving blood,
For as we listen to his words
We recognise his love.

Sickness, sin, and sorrow fade
Upon his final breath,
For as we contemplate his pain
We understand his death.

Then doubt and fear are banished
By the shining of his face,
For when we see the risen Lord
We know, and share, his grace.

References

This is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice to forgive the sins of many (Matthew 26:28; NLT).

When they came to the place called The Skull, they nailed him to the cross […] Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing” (Luke 23:33-4; NLT).

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

All of you share in God’s grace (Philippians 1:7; NIV).

Your kingdom

May 26, 2019June 14, 2019Ruth Kirk

When love reigns, Lord, instead of hate,
And trust, instead of fear;
When peace prevails instead of war,
Your kingdom will be near.

When kindness dwells in every heart,
And we care every day
For people, creatures, and this world,
Your rule, Lord, will hold sway.

When your light shines from every soul
And brings an end to sin;
When hope dries every bitter tear,
Your realm will be within.

Lord, when we share more equally,
And all of us are one
With you, and with the earth, our home,
Your kingdom will have come.

References

They will hammer their swords into ploughshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will no longer fight against nation, nor train for war any more (Isaiah 2:4; NLT)

Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near (Matthew 3:2; NLT).

Show mercy and kindness to one another (Zechariah 7:9; NLT).

He will rule with fairness and justice (Isaiah 9:7; NLT).

Feed the hungry, and help those in trouble. Then your light will shine out from the darkness (Isaiah 58:10; NLT).

The kingdom of God is within you (Luke 17:21; NKJV).

Share your food with the hungry, and give shelter to the homeless. Give clothes to those who need them, and do not hide from relatives who need your help (Isaiah 58:7; NLT).

I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one (John 17:22; NLT).

There is […] one God and Father, who is over all and in all and living through all (Ephesians 4:5-6; NLT).

Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10; NIV).

Leave sin behind

May 25, 2019June 14, 2019Ruth Kirk

Lord,
May I leave sin behind,
And turn again to you;
Then I will face this troubled life,
And see my trials through.

Lord,
May I leave self behind,
And follow Christ, your Son;
Then I will bear my cross, like him,
And serve till life is done.

Lord,
May I leave all behind,
And ask your Spirit’s aid;
Then I will live in love for all
I meet, before I fade.

Lord,
May I leave life behind
Without a backward glance;
Then I will reunite with you,
And join your timeless dance.

References

Get rid of your sins, and leave all iniquity behind you (Job 11:14; NLT).

Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows (John 16:33; NLT).

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).

He will give you another Advocate [Comforter, Encourager, Counsellor], who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth (John 14:16-17; NLT).

Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them (Romans 12.9; NLT).

If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it (Luke 9:24; NLT).

Anyone who puts a hand to the plough and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God (Luke 9:62; NLT).

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

For you, a thousand years are as a passing day, as brief as a few night hours (Psalm 90:4; NLT).

Thank you for my life

May 8, 2019June 14, 2019Ruth Kirk

Thank you for my life, Lord,
My exile here on earth,
For all I have experienced
And learned.

Thank you for my wounds, Lord,
My healing at your hands;
For all the care I’ve welcomed
And returned.

Thank you for my darkness, Lord,
My losses, and my grief;
For all the times I’ve laid awake
At night.

Thank you for my sins, Lord,
My sorrow and my shame;
For all the ways I’ve tried
To put things right.

Thank you for your gifts, Lord,
Your blessings, and your joy;
For all the fears
I’ve worked to overthrow.

Thank you for my home, Lord,
My kindred, food, and drink;
For all the ways I’ve had to change
And grow.

Thank you for your teaching, Lord,
Your pattern, faith and hope;
For all the sickness
I have had to face.

Thank you for your crown, Lord,
Your forgiveness, and your love;
My birth, life, death, and, most of all,
Your grace.

References

When I bring you home from exile, you will be like a pleasing sacrifice to me (Ezekiel 20:41; NLT).

Though he wounds, he also bandages. He strikes, but his hands also heal (Job 5:18; NLT).

Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows (John 16:33; NLT).

If you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift (Matthew 5:23-4; NIV).

Be thankful in all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:18; NIV).

He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies (Psalm 103:2-4; NLT).

God saved you by his grace when you believed (Ephesians 2:8; NLT).