Category: support

Sea of hope

Ruth Kirk

Image: jplenio, Pixabay

💙

Lord,

1. Guide me
In life’s wilderness,

2. And lead me
Through my darkest night.

3. Comfort
And support me, Lord –

4. Please take my hand,
And hold it tight.

5. Bring me to
Your sea of hope,

6. And help me cross
Your waves of light,

7. To reach, at last,
Your perfect love –

8. For all are precious
In your sight.

💙

References

1. Because of your great compassion you did not abandon them in the wilderness. By day the pillar of cloud did not fail to guide them on their path…

2. …nor the pillar of fire by night to shine on the way they were to take (Nehemiah 9:19; NIV).

Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me…

3. …thy rod and thy staff they comfort me (Psalm 23:4; KJV).

Your right hand supports me (Psalm 18:35; NLT).

4. I will take you by the hand and guard you (Isaiah 42:6; NLT).

Your strong right hand holds me securely (Psalm 63:8; NLT).

5. You are my refuge and my shield; your word is my source of hope (Psalm 119:114; NLT).

6. God is light (1 John 1:5; NIV).


7. God is love (1 John 4:16; NLT).

Perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love (1 John 4:18; NLT).

Love […] is the bond of perfect unity (Colossians 3:14; BSB).

8. Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his faithful servants (Psalm 116:15; NIV).

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

The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made (Psalm 145:9; NIV).

Longing

Ruth Kirk

Image: Jake Heckey, Pixabay

🖤

Evening and morning and at noon
I will pray, and cry aloud,
and he shall hear my voice 
(Psalm 55:17; NKJV).

1. Lord,
I lift my voice in prayer,
Longing for you at dawn:

For life is tough,
And the road is rough –
Yet I am so frail and worn.

2. Lord,
I lift my hands in prayer,
Thirsting for you at noon:

For life is bleak,
And the track is steep –
So I’ll need your assistance soon.

3. Lord,
I lift my heart in prayer,
Aching for you at dusk:

For life is hard,
And the way is barred –
In your help alone, I trust.

4. Lord,
I lift my soul in prayer,
Sighing for you at night:

For life is harsh,
And the path is dark –
Now you are my only light.

Image: cgrape, Pixabay

References

1. I cry aloud to the Lord; I lift up my voice to the Lord for mercy (Psalm 142:1; NIV).

The gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult (Matthew 7:14; NLT).

Have mercy on me, Lord, for I am frail (Psalm 6:2; NET).

2. I lift my hands to you for mercy (Psalm 88:9; NLT).

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

My eyes are blinded by my tears. Each day I beg for your help, O Lord (Psalm 88:9; NLT).

3. Let us lift our hearts and hands toward God in heaven (Lamentations 3:41; NLT).

He has barred my way with blocks of stone (Lamentations 3:9; NIV).

Help us, O Lord our God, for we trust in you alone (2 Chronicles 14:11; NLT).

4. To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul (Psalm 25:1; NKJV).

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

The Lord is my light and my salvation (Psalm 27:1; NLT).

Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path (Psalm 119:105; NLT).

You come again

Ruth Kirk

Image: RitaE, Pixabay

He will come again (Hebrews 9:28; NLT).

1. Lord,
You come again each day,
To see if we ignore you,
Or perceive you.

2. Lord,
You cross our path each day,
To see if we reject you,
Or receive you.

3. Lord,
You speak to us each day,
To see if we dismiss you,
Or obey you.

4. Lord,
You test us out each day,
To see if we support you,
Or betray you.

5. Lord,
You visit us each day
In everyone: the stranger,
And the friendless.

6. Lord,
You challenge us each day
In those we fear, and those
Whose needs are endless.

7. Lord,
You call to us each day
In foreigner and neighbour,
Old and young.

8. Lord,
You come again each day,
For you live in us all:
God’s much-loved Son.

Suddenly their eyes were opened and they recognised him
(Luke 24:31; NLT).

Image: nothingwavering.com, Yandex

References

1. They may indeed see but not perceive, and may indeed hear but not understand (Mark 4:10; RSV).

2. He came to his own, and his own people, did not receive him (John 1:11; CSB).

3. If you love me, obey my commandments (John 14:15; NLT).

Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts (Hebrews 4:7; NIV).

4. The Lord your God is testing you to see if you truly love him with all your heart and soul (Deuteronomy 13:3; NLT).

Jesus knew who would betray him (John 13:11; NLT).

5. Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing so some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it (Hebrews 13:2; NIV).

6. Love your enemies! (Matthew 5:44; NLT).

7. Show love to foreigners (Deuteronomy 10:19; NLT).

Love your neighbour (Luke 10:27; NLT).

Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children (Matthew 19:14; NLT).

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

8. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us (Colossians 3:11; NLT).

This is my beloved Son (Luke 9:35; NKJV).

Jesus

Ruth Kirk

Image: bereanaoficial1, Pixabay

1. Jesus is my Lord and God,
My comforter when I am sad;
Brother, sister, father, mother:
All the love I never had.

2. Jesus is my watchful shepherd,
Teacher, master, mountain guide;
Friend in need, defence in trouble:
He is always at my side.

3. Jesus is my close companion,
Strong support when I’m afraid;
Sword and shield when I’m in danger:
Rescuer when I have strayed.

4. Jesus is my paragon,
My light along the narrow way;
Bread, wine, water; truth, and life:
My inspiration, every day.

 

References

1. “My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed (John 20:28; NLT).

Worship Christ as Lord of your life (1 Peter 3:15; NLT)

The Father and I are one (John 10:30; NLT).

I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, [Comforter, Encourager, Counsellor] who will never leave you (John 14:16; NLT).

Jesus replied, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers? Then he looked around him and said, “Look, these are my mother and brothers. Anyone who does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother” (Mark 3:33-5; NLT).

God is love (1 John 4:16; NIV).

2. I am the good shepherd (John 10:14; NLT).

Since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you (John 13:14-15; NLT).

3. The Lord will guide you continually (Isaiah 58:11; NLT).

The Lord is a friend to those who fear him (Psalm 25:14; NLT).

He is your protecting shield and your triumphant sword! (Deuteronomy 33:29; NLT).

I will be glad because he rescues me (Psalm 35:9; NLT).

If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others in the wilderness and go to search for the one that is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he will joyfully carry it home on his shoulders (Luke 15:4-5; NLT).

4. God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps (1 Peter 2:21; NLT).

I am the light of the world (John 9:5; NLT).

Small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life (Matthew 7:13-14; NIV).

He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you” (Luke 22:19-20; NIV).

Rivers of living water will flow from his heart (John 7:38; NLT).

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

Just as you have received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him (Colossians 2:6; CSB).

I am not worthy

Ruth Kirk
Image: falco, Pixabay

I am not worthy of all the unfailing love and faithfulness
you have shown to me, your servant
(Genesis 32:10; NLT).

1. Lord,
I am not worthy of your light,
Yet you support and guide me
Day and night.

2. Lord,
I am not worthy of your truth,
Yet you inspire and teach me
From my youth.

3. Lord,
I am not worthy of your peace,
Yet you forgive my failures
Without cease.

4. Lord,
I am not worthy of your love,
Yet you, for me, gave up
Your flesh and blood.

References

1. God is light (1 John 1:5; NIV).

Your right hand supports me (Psalm 18:35; NLT).

He guides me along right paths (Psalm 23:3; NLT).

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

You have taught me from my youth (Psalm 71:17; NKJV).

3. The Lord is peace (Judges 6:24; NLT).

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

4. God is love (1 John 4:16; NIV).

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

Enlightenment

Ruth Kirk
Photo: ESTIPINCHASI

The true light that enlightens everyone was coming into the world (John 1:9; HNV).

He is a light to reveal God to the nations (Luke 2:32; NLT).

1. Jesus,
You’re a candle
Enlightening my mind,
Showing me God’s narrow way:
Love everyone; be kind.

2. Jesus,
You’re a lantern
Shining in my heart,
Showing me God’s narrow way:
Help those whose lives are dark.

3. Jesus,
You’re a beacon
Blazing in my soul,
Showing me God’s narrow way:
Befriend; support; console.

References

1. When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12; NIV).

The gateway to life is very narrow and the road difficult, and only a few ever find it (Matthew 7:13-14; NLT).

Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them (Romans 12:9; NLT).

Be kind to everyone (2 Timothy 2:24; NLT).

2. O Lord, you are my lamp. The Lord lights up my darkness (2 Samuel 22:29; NLT).

The people who walk in darkness will see a great light (Isaiah 9:2; NLT).

Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all (Mark 9:35; NIV).

3. I am the light of the world (John 8:12; NIV).

Trust in the Lord, and do good (Psalm 37:3; NLT).

You are my friends (John 15:15; NLT).

He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others (2 Corinthians 1:4; NLT).

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