Category: Truth

Together!

Ruth Kirk

I love you, Lord; you are my strength (Psalm 18:1; NLT).

I love you, Lord Jesus –
I love you, forever.

You love me, Lord Jesus –
We share life’s endeavour.

I love you, Lord Jesus –
We’re in this together.

You love me, Lord Jesus –
No doubt whatsoever!

He loves us with unfailing love; the LORD’s faithfulness endures forever. Praise the LORD! (Psalm 117:2; NLT).

References

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6; NLT).

My beloved is mine and I am his (Song of Songs 2:16; NIV).

 

My life

Ruth Kirk

Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23; NLT). 

I love you, Lord,
Through thick and thin.
I want to serve,
And not to sin;

To turn away
From selfishness,
And comfort others
In distress;

To follow daily,
Bear my cross,
And trust in you
Through gain and loss:

For you’re my Lord,
My God, my Light;
My Bread, my Way,
My Truth, my Life.

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6; NLT).

References

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

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

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

Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life” (John 6:35; NLT).

I am the living bread that came down from heaven (John 6:51; NLT).

 

So much love

Ruth Kirk

They will see his face (Revelation 22:4; NLT).

For now we see in a mirror indirectly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, just as I have been fully known (1 Corinthians 13:12; NET).

So much love,
And so much faith
Embodied in
Your patient face.

So much pain,
So many sighs
Reflected in
Your gentle eyes.

So much truth,
And so much light
Cascading from
Your yielded life.

So much joy,
And so much grace
Expressed, Lord, in
Your warm embrace.

So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him (Luke 15:20; NLT).

References

Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end (John 13:1; NIV).

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).

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

 

Worship

Ruth Kirk

Then the disciples worshiped him. “You really are the Son of God!” they exclaimed (Matthew 14:33; NLT).

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

I worship you, my Counsellor;
The Son of Man: my faith, outpoured;
My guide, my staff, my shield, my sword –
My way.

I honour you, my Advocate;
The Chosen One: my hope, adored;
My Shepherd King, my light, my Lord –
My truth.

I bow to you, my Prince of Peace;
The Son of God: my love, restored;
My Saviour, and my great reward –
My life.

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6; NLT).

Because you trusted me, I will give you your life as a reward. I will rescue you and keep you safe. I, the LORD, have spoken! (Jeremiah 39:18; NLT).

References

For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6; NLT).

The Son of Man is Lord (Matthew 12:8; NLT).

I will send you the Advocate – the Spirit of truth (John 15:26; NLT).

This is my Son, my Chosen One. Listen to him (Luke 9:35; NLT).

And as they went, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they ran to him, grasped his feet, and worshiped him (Matthew 28:9; NLT).

 

Silence is not void

Ruth Kirk

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

My silence is not void –
It’s full of God,
And full of truth.

My stillness is not dull –
It’s full of God,
And full of love.

My desert is not dry –
It’s full of God,
And full of life.

My darkness is not bleak –
It’s full of God,
And full of light!

Moses went into the darkness where God was (Exodus 20:21; BST).

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

References

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

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

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

Be still in the presence of the LORD, and wait patiently for him to act (Psalm 37:7; NLT).

God is love (1 John 4:8; NLT).

Dry bones, listen to the word of the LORD! (Ezekiel 37:4; NLT).

I will open up rivers for them on the high plateaus. I will give them fountains of water in the valleys. I will fill the desert with pools of water. Rivers fed by springs will flow across the parched ground (Isaiah 41:18; NLT).

Even the wilderness and desert will be glad in those days. The wasteland will rejoice and blossom with spring crocuses (Isaiah 35:1; NLT).

The LORD is your life (Deuteronomy 30:20; NIV).

 

Finding love

Ruth Kirk

I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine (Song of Songs 6:3; NIV).

I find my love in God,
And find my truth there, too.

I find my peace in God,
Whose Spirit makes me new.

I find my fire in God,
However cold the night.

I find my strength in God,
And Jesus is my light.

The Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength (Isaiah 26:4; KJV).

The Lord will be your permanent source of light (Isaiah 60:19; NET).

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

References

God is love (1 John 4:8; NLT).

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

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

I am the LORD, who heals you (Exodus 15:26; NIV).

The Lord your God is a consuming fire (Deuteronomy 4:24; NIV).

He made darkness his covering (Psalm 18:11; NIV).

Moses went into the darkness where God was (Exodus 20:21; BST).

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

You, Lord, are my lamp; the Lord turns my darkness into light (2 Samuel 22:29; NLT).

 

A prayer for peace and justice

Ruth Kirk

Pray for peace (Psalm 122:6; NLT).

Seek justice (Isaiah 1:17; NLT).

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

We pray for peace and justice here:
In your dear name,
Amen.

For joy to grow, instead of fear:
In your dear name,
Amen.

For love to reign, instead of hate:
In your dear name,
Amen.

Before we leave it far too late:
In your dear name,
Amen.

Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows (Isaiah 1:17; NLT).

But if you turn away and refuse to listen, you will be devoured by the sword of your enemies. I, the LORD, have spoken! (Isaiah 1:20; NLT).

References

The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine… For you will break the yoke of their slavery and lift the heavy burden from their shoulders. You will break the oppressor’s rod…

The boots of the warrior and the uniforms bloodstained by war will all be burned. They will be fuel for the fire.

For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity. The passionate commitment of the LORD of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen! (Isaiah 9:2, 4-7; NLT).

 

We can’t make peace without listening!

Ruth Kirk

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

Fools think their own way is right, but the wise listen to others (Proverbs 12:15; NLT).

We can’t make peace
Without listening.

We can’t make peace
Without truth.

We can’t make peace
Without justice.

We can’t make peace
Without love.

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

To you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you (Luke 6:27; NLT).

References

The way of peace they do not know; there is no justice in their paths. They have turned them into crooked roads; no one who walks along them will know peace (Isaiah 59:8; NIV).

Love truth and peace (Zechariah 8:19; NIV).

Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love (1 John 4:8; NIV).

This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy. Listen to him (Matthew 17:5; NLT).

The harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace (James 3:18; RSV).

You must return to your God; maintain love and justice, and wait for your God always (Hosea 12:6; NIV).

Be at peace with each other (Mark 9:50; NIV).

 

Worship

Ruth Kirk

In the beginning God (Elohim) created [by forming from nothing] the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1; AMP).

God is faithful (1 Corinthians 1:9; NIV).

You are faithful,
Wise, and strong:
Elohim –
We worship you.

You are gentle,
Kind, and calm:
Elohim –
We trust in you.

You are patient,
Just, and good:
Elohim –
We live in you.

You are loving,
Great, and true:
Elohim –
We rest in you.

Yes, my soul, find rest in God (Psalm 62:5; NIV).

References

You alone are the one we worship (Isaiah 26:13; NLT).

We trust in you alone (2 Chronicles 14:11; NLT).

God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them (1 John 4:16; NLT).

Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:28-9; NLT).

 

We cannot have your light…

Ruth Kirk

Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life” (John 8:12; NLT). 

We cannot have your light
Without your fire.

We cannot have your fire
Without your truth.

We cannot have your truth
Without your peace.

We cannot have your peace
Without your love.

Anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love (1 John 4:8; NLT). 

References

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

God is a consuming fire (Deuteronomy 4:24; NIV).

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

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