Category: spirit

Contemplation

Ruth Kirk

I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love
(Romans 8:38; NLT).

1. To contemplation, Lord,
I bring my body –
My weakness, tiredness,
Restlessness and pain.

2. To contemplation, Lord,
I bring my thinking –
My hidden judgements,
Envy and disdain.

3. To contemplation, Lord,
I bring my feelings –
My sorrow, longing,
Anger, guilt, and fear.

4. To contemplation, Lord,
I bring my spirit –
My faith, and hope, and love,
For you are here.

References

1. The flesh is weak (Mark 14:38; NIV).

2. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away (Psalm 139:2; NLT).

3. The Lord looks at the heart (1 Samuel 16:7; NIV).

4. Three things will last forever – faith, hope, and love – and the greatest of these is love (1 Corinthians 13:13; NLT).

God is with us (Matthew 1:23; NLT).

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).

From earth to infinity

Ruth Kirk

1. From earth, Lord, to infinity
We all return, one day.

2. From suffering to perfect health
Our spirits fly away.

3. From wretchedness to happiness
Our souls, at last, will come

4. From death to immortality,
When our race has been run.

5. Yet all this can be ours in life:
Your kingdom is so near –

6. A prayer, kind word, or action
And your kingdom, Lord, is here.

7. Then we will live in heaven on earth,
Released from fear and sin,

8. United in our love, Lord,
For your kingdom is within!

References

1. Return, O my soul, to your rest (Psalm 116:7: ESV).

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

3. Come and share your master’s happiness! (Matthew 25:21; NIV).

4. To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honour and immortality, he will give eternal life (Romans 2:7; NIV).
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful (2 Timothy 4:7; NLT).

5. Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven (Philippians 1:27; NLT).
The Kingdom of God is near (Luke 10:11; NLT).

6. Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them (Romans 12:9; NLT).
The Kingdom of God is already among you (Luke 17:21; NLT).

7. Perfect love casts out fear (1 John 4:18; NKJV).
He gave his life to free us from from every kind of sin (Titus 2:14; NLT).

8. Whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit (1 Corinthians 6:17; NIV).
The kingdom of God is within you (Luke 17:21; NKJV).

The breath of life

Ruth Kirk

1. Lord,
You are the Breath of Life:
Our flesh, our bones, our blood;
Our strength, our mind, our heartbeat,
Our spirit, and our love.

2. Lord,
You are the Bread of Life:
Our water, and our wine;
Our land, our flocks, our shelter,
Our harvest, and our vine.

3. Lord,
You are the Light of Life:
Our lantern, staff, and rod;
Our way, our guide, our Shepherd,
Our Saviour, and our God.

4. Lord,
You are the Book of Life:
Our crucible, our soul;
Our faith, our hope, our passion,
Our dawning, and our goal.

References

1. He breathed the breath of life into the man’s nostrils, and the man became a living person (Genesis 2:7; NLT).

2. I am the bread of life (John 6:48; NLT).

3. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life
(John 8:12; NIV).

4. I will never erase their names from the Book of Life (Revelation 3:5; NLT).

You give me being

Ruth Kirk

Father God,
You give me being.

Jesus Christ,
You make me whole.

Holy Ghost,
You are my helper.

Three-in-One
You are my soul.

References

Let every created thing give praise to the Lord, for he issued his command, and they came into being (Psalm 148:5; NLT).

He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that made us whole, and with his stripes we are healed (Isaiah 53:5; RSV).

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

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

Return, O my soul, to your rest (Psalm 116:7: ESV).

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

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Forgiveness

Ruth Kirk

Father God,
You give us being –
Part of you
And part of earth.

Jesus Christ,
You come to save us –
Sharing with us
From our birth.

Holy Ghost,
You are our essence –
Guide us; teach us
How to live.

Three-in-One,
You are our Godhead –
Heal us, comfort,
And forgive.

References

The Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground. He breathed the breath of life into the man’s nostrils; and man became a living person (Genesis 2:7; NLT).

He called you to salvation (2 Thessalonians 2:14; NLT).

We do not have a great high priest who is unable to empathise with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are (Hebrews 4:15; 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).

O God, you are my God (Psalm 63:1; NLT).

He comforts us in all our troubles (2 Corinthians 1:4; NLT).

He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases (Psalm 103:2; NLT).

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Full circle

Ruth Kirk

Father,
You send us from heaven.

Christ,
You lead with staff and rod.

Holy Ghost,
You comfort us,

And bring us safely
Back to God.

References

I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb (Jeremiah 1:5; 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 me and comfort me (Psalm 23:4; 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).

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

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If you receive these posts by email, you might be interested to visit my new website: http://www.ruthkirk.org

The Son of God

Ruth Kirk

 

The Son of God came down to earth
In flesh and bones and blood,
And now his Spirit lives in us
To show us all his love.

He struggled to survive this world
Of hunger, thirst, and cold,
And now his Spirit lives in us
To make us strong and bold.

He came to set the world on fire
With faith, and hope, and care,
And now his Spirit lives in us
To comfort, and to share.

He drained the dregs from sorrow’s cup
Of anguish, pain, and tears,
And now his Spirit lives in us
To help us face our fears.

Our Saviour suffered life and death,
Humble, poor, roughshod;
And now his Spirit lives in us
To guide us back to God.

 

References

When the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law (Galatians 4:4; NLT).

The Spirit of God lives in you (1 Corinthians 3:16; NLT).

Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place even to lay his head (Luke 9:58; NLT).

He will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit (Ephesians 3:16; NLT).

I have come to set the world on fire (Luke 12:49; 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).

Shall I not drink from the cup of suffering the Father has given me? (John 18:11; NLT).

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

Look, your king is coming to you. He is righteous and victorious, yet he is humble, riding on a donkey (Zechariah 9:9; NLT).

We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” (2 Corinthians 5:20; NLT).