Category: Unity

Jesus!

Ruth Kirk

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

The way beyond all other ways
Is you, Lord.

The truth beyond all others:
You’re God’s Son.

The life beyond all other lives:
To bear our cross, and follow you.

The joy beyond all others:
We are one!

Everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him (Philippians 3:8-9; NLT).

References

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

God promised this Good News long ago through his prophets in the holy Scriptures. The Good News is about his Son. In his earthly life he was born into King David’s family line, and he was shown to be] the Son of God when he was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit. He is Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 1:2-4; NLT).

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. 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. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed?” (Luke 9:23-6; NLT).

Jesus was filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit, and he said, “O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike. Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way” (Luke 10:21; NLT).

Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again – rejoice! (Philippians 4:4; NLT).

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18; NIV).

In your hands

Ruth Kirk

The LORD will hold you in his hand (Isaiah 62:3; NLT).

May we live in your hands,
And dwell in your mind;

Keep your commands,
And always be kind.

May we stay in your heart,
And rest in your soul;

Never depart,
And there be made whole.

His hands make whole (Job 5:18; KJV). 

References

I command you this day to love the LORD your God and to keep his commands, decrees and regulations by walking in his ways (Deuteronomy 30:16; NLT).

I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands (Exodus 20:6; NLT).

How kind the LORD is! Psalm 116:5; NLT).

He is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked (Luke 6:35; NLT).

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

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

Here, in stillness

Ruth Kirk

Be still in the presence of the LORD (Psalm 37:7; NLT).

Here, in stillness,
Here, in silence,
Here, in darkness –
You are light. 

Here, in splendour,
Here, in rapture,
Here, in oneness –
You are truth.

Here, in trouble,
Here, in failure,
Here, in ruin –
You are peace.

Here, in sorrow,
Here, in longing,
Here, in anguish –
You are love.

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

References

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

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

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

One day…

Ruth Kirk

I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life. And I assure you that the time is coming, indeed it’s here now, when the dead will hear my voice – the voice of the Son of God. And those who listen will live (John 5:24-5; NLT).

One day
I will hear your voice,
And feel my spirit rise.

One day
I will take your hand,
And look into your eyes.

One day
You will smile at me,
And banish all my fears.

One day
You will make me well,
And wipe away my tears.

One day
We will kiss, and laugh,
And dance, Lord, in your light.

One day
We will merge,
For I am precious in your sight.

Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him (Philippians 3:8-9; NLT).

You are precious in my sight and honored, and I love you (Isaiah 43:4; CSB).

References

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

There will be no night there – no need for lamps or sun – for the Lord God will shine on them. And they will reign forever and ever (Revelation 22:5; NLT).

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).

Reading: John 1:1-5.

 

Love and oneness

Ruth Kirk

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

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

You love me,
And I love you –
Thank you that
We’re one, not two.

I love you,
And you love me –
Jesus, you have
Set me free.

One in body,
Heart and mind –
Our shared aim
Is being kind.

One in spirit
And in soul –
Loving you, Lord,
Makes me whole.

Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour (Matthew 9:22, KJV).

We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them (1 John 4:16; NLT).

References

I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine (Song of Solomon 6:3

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

Be kind to everyone (2 Timothy 2:24, NIV).

Everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith. I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead! (Philippians 3:8-11, NLT).

God

Ruth Kirk

God sits above the circle of the earth (Isaiah 40:22; NLT).

God above us,
Brooding, wise:
You hear each cry of grief,
Each breath.

God beside us,
Here on earth:
You give all beings
Life and death.

God in every
Heart and soul:
You are our pearl,
Our King of kings.

God amongst us,
We are one:
Please shelter us
Beneath your wings.

Let me live forever in your sanctuary, safe beneath the shelter of your wings (Psalm 61:4; NLT).

Meeting

Ruth Kirk

LORD, my heart is not proud; my eyes are not haughty. I don’t concern myself with matters too great or too awesome for me to grasp. Instead, I have calmed and quieted myself, like a weaned child who no longer cries for its mother’s milk. Yes, like a weaned child is my soul within me (Psalm 131:1-2; NLT).

I don’t need to move,
Or think,
Or speak.

I don’t need to wait,
Or pray,
Or seek.

I don’t need to hope,
Or sigh,
Or search.

I don’t need to weep,
Or grieve,
Or thirst –

Because you are here!
We meet,
And kiss.

I rest in your love,
Your peace,
Your bliss.

My Lord and my God!
My task
Is done –

You’re here, in my heart,
And we
Are one.

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).

Everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him (Philippians 3:8-9; NLT).

References

The person who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with him (1 Corinthians 6:17; NLT).

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

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

May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God (Ephesians 3:19; NLT).

Suddenly, their eyes were opened, and they recognized him (Luke 24:31; 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. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light” (Matthew 11:28-30; NLT).

Inner light

Ruth Kirk

This blog describes what I experienced in prayer yesterday morning.

His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as light (Matthew 17:2; NLT).

You flood me
With your inner light,

And warm me
With your blissful sun.

You overwhelm me
With your love –

Our spirits join:
And we are one. 

The person who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with him (1 Corinthians 6:17; NLT).

References

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

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

When you struggle

Ruth Kirk

Is not all human life a struggle? (Job 7:1; NLT).

How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul, with sorrow in my heart every day? (Psalm 13:2; NLT).

When you struggle:
I am near.

When you suffer:
I am here –

Sharing all your
Grief and pain –

Come, be one with me
Again!

The person who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with him (1 Corinthians 6:17; NLT).

References

Though the Lord gave you adversity for food and suffering for drink, he will still be with you to teach you (Isaiah 30:20; NLT).

I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb (Jeremiah 1:5; NLT).

The LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul Genesis 2:7; KJV).

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

Reading: Philippians 3:8-11.