Category: Yahweh

I love you

Ruth Kirk

I love you, YHWH, my strength (Psalm 18:1; TIB).

I love you with all my mind:
My Mother, Father, God.

I love you with all my heart:
My Brother, Jesus, Lord.

I love you with all my soul:
My Sister, Spirit, Truth.

I love you with all my strength:
Yahweh, The Three-In-One.

YHWH, our God, YHWH is One! (Deuteronomy 6:4; TIB).

You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength (Mark 12:30; NLT).

References

Mother, Father God: The personal name of God, Yahweh, which is revealed to Moses in Exodus 3, is a remarkable combination of both feminine and masculine grammatical endings. The first part of God’s name in Hebrew, “Yah,” is feminine, and the last part, “weh,” is masculine (David Wheeler-Reed, The Conversation).

Equality of Motherhood and Fatherhood
: Julian of Norwich (1342–1416), insisted that, “As truly as God is our Father, so truly is God our Mother.” She saw no contradiction in attributing both parental roles to God, believing that both are necessary to understand the fullness of divine love and care (Revelations of Divine Love).

You forgot the God who gave you birth (Deuteronomy 32:18; NIV).

As a mother consoles a child, so I will console you (Isaiah 66:13; NET).

I am God, and not man; the Holy One within thee (Hosea 11:9; BST).

This is the Good News about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God (Mark 1:1; NLT).

Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother! (Matthew 12:50; NLT).

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

Those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. For the Spirit that God has given you does not enslave you and trap you in fear; instead, through the Spirit God has adopted you as children (Romans 8:14-15; TIB).

The Spirit, too, comes to help us in our weakness. For we don’t know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit expresses our plea with groanings too deep for words. And God, who knows everything in our hearts, knows perfectly well what the Spirit is saying, because her intercessions for God’s holy people are made according to the mind of God (Romans 8:26-7; TIB).

 

All things are pure

Ruth Kirk

Everything is pure to those whose hearts are pure (Titus 1:15; NLT).

All things are holy,
And all things are pure.

All things are precious,
And all things are good.

All things are pleasant,
And all things are clean:

God is within them,
And Yahweh is love!

There is one Savior, one faith, one baptism, one God and Creator of all, who is over all, who works through all and is within all (Ephesians 4:5-6; TIV).

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

References

God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good (Genesis 1:31; NLT).

Do not call something unclean if God has made it clean (Acts 11:9; NLT).

 

God is with us

Ruth Kirk

Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker (Psalm 95:6; NIV).

Yahweh: you’re our only Maker;
Heaven and Earth’s divine Creator;
First and last; our Mover; Shaker:
You are God, there is none greater.

Jesus: you’re our gentle Brother;
Born here of your human mother;
Our example; Teacher; Lover:
Lord our God, we want no other.

Spirit: you’re our lifelong Carer;
When we sin, there is none fairer;
In our sorrows, you’re the Sharer:
God with us, our burden bearer.

Mighty, steadfast Threefold Power,
In your love we grow and flower;
Father; Mother; Refuge; Tower:
Even in our final hour.

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

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me (Psalm 23:4; KJV).

References

You are God (2 Samuel 7:28; NLT).

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

God is my help (Psalm 54:4; NIV).

I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor – Counselor, Strengthener, Standby) will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him (the Holy Spirit) to you [to be in close fellowship with you] (John 16:7; AMP).

Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens (Psalm 68:19; NIV).

The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and the One who rescues me; my God, my rock and strength in whom I trust and take refuge; my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower – my stronghold (Psalm 18:2; AMP).
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble (Psalm 46:1; NIV).

 

Yahweh

Ruth Kirk

You are my Father, my God, and the Rock of my salvation (Psalm 89:26; NLT).

Yahweh, my Father;
Jesus, my Brother;
Spirit, my Counsellor:
Help me to pray.

Yahweh, my Mother;
Jesus, my Teacher;
Spirit, my Comforter:
Guide me today.

Yahweh, my Maker;
Jesus, my Shepherd;
Spirit, my Advocate:
Don’t let me stray.

Yahweh, my Bedrock;
Jesus, my Saviour;
Spirit, my Fortitude:
You are my way.

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

Reference

Everyone who comes to me and listens to my words and puts them into practice – I will show you what he is like: He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep, and laid the foundation on bedrock. When a flood came, the river burst against that house but could not shake it, because it had been well built (Luke 6:47-8; NLT).

 

Human gender

Ruth Kirk

Humankind was created as God’s reflection: in the divine image God created them; female and male, God made them (Genesis 1:27; TIB). 

Introduction
Recently, in a split second, God showed me a fresh way of understanding human gender. This experience rocked me to the core, especially as I was very ill with covid at the time.

The creation of human beings
Until that day, I accepted that Genesis 1:27 (see above), regardless of translation, meant human beings were created either female or male, although I knew that, in reality, there are many exceptions to this general principle. Now, however, I saw that when creating us in the divine image, God makes each of us ‘female and male’, not ‘female or male’.

Embryonic development
Every human embryo starts with undifferentiated, bipotential genital structures, which have the potential to develop into either male or female sexual organs (“Sexual differentiation in humans”: Wikipedia). Only later in gestation do these structures generally become female or male. However, for about 1 in 300 babies, gender at birth is unclear, ambiguous, or hidden. This makes complete sense once we recognise that everyone is somewhere on a spectrum of feminine to masculine.

Oestrogen and testosterone
Furthermore, all adults manufacture both oestrogen and testosterone, both of which are essential to every aspect of our health, mood and functioning. Within each individual, these hormones are present in a personal, changing balance throughout life. Their ratio places us all on a gender continuum. Some of us incline more towards femininity, others, towards masculinity, regardless of our sexual organs. It is therefore essential to remember that we all have both feminine and masculine hormones.

We also need to be aware that ‘feminine’ and ‘masculine’ behaviours are largely learned from parental and societal assumptions, customs, expectations and pressures, which vary widely throughout the world. Seeing gender as a simple, absolute, binary split between female and male is therefore a social construct, unconsciously absorbed during childhood. Whatever gender we most strongly identify with, we are all both female and male – just like Yahweh (please see my top-level menu: ‘God’s gender’ for more information about this).

Conclusion
One final detail about my ‘human gender’ revelation continues to amaze me: God sent the prayer-poem below several hours before the insight described above! God really is amazing! So now, here is today’s prayer…

My dear friends, now we are God’s children, but it has not been revealed what we are to become in the future. We know that when it comes to light we will be like God, for we will see God as God really is (1 John 3:2; TIB).

Every child
Is your much-loved daughter,
And every child is your son –
So you want us all
To grow like Christ:
Our God, may your will be done!

Every adult:
Your precious daughter,
And every adult, your son –
So you long for us
To become like you:
Our God, may your kingdom come!

Gender: irrelevant!
You love all!
So let us make no mistake –
For your peace on earth
Is beyond our reach:
Until we love all, for your sake!

May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you (1 Thessalonians 3:12; NIV).

References

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

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus (Philippians 2:5; NIV).

Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ (Ephesians 5:2; NLT).

This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ (Ephesians 4:13; NLT).

May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10; NLT).

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

Love your neighbour as yourself (Leviticus 19:18; NLT).

Love the stranger (Deuteronomy 10:19; NKJV).

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

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

 

Love and wisdom

Ruth Kirk

Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ (Ephesians 5:2; NLT).

Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding (Proverbs 4:7; NIV).

Love and wisdom
Are not rationed:
We can grow them
Everywhere!

All it takes
Is peace and justice;
All we need
Is humble prayer.

With our smiles, our words,
Our service,
We can nurture
Every soul,

Spreading Yahweh’s
Love and wisdom,
Till all people
Are made whole!

He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away (Revelation 21:4; NIV).

References

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

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

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

Love your neighbour as yourself (Leviticus 19:18; NLT).

Love the stranger (Deuteronomy 10:19; NKJV).

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

Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect (Matthew 5:44-8; NIV).

When they came to the place that is called called The Skull, there they crucified him… And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:33-4; ESV).

Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me (Matthew 25:40; NLT).

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).

 

When I wake

Ruth Kirk

When I wake up, you are still with me! (Psalm 139:18; NLT).

Yahweh, when I wake, each day,
May I turn to you, and pray,
Resolved, no matter what you send,
To cling, like Jesus, to the end.

Then, before I sleep each night,
Knowing that you’ve shared my plight,
With thanks for all the day has brought,
I’ll cling to you, as Jesus taught.

You in me, and I in you,
Trusting all your words are true,
I’ll walk with you from birth to death,
And cling, like Christ, till my last breath.

Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last (Luke 23:46; NLT).

References

Cling tightly to the LORD your God (Joshua 23:8; NLT).

I cling to you; your strong right hand holds me securely (Psalm 63:8; NLT).

Praise be to the Lord, to God our Saviour, who daily bears our burdens (Psalm 68:19; NIV).

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).

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 and comfort me (Psalm 23:4; NLT).

 

We adore you

Ruth Kirk

Yours, O LORD, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty. Everything in the heavens and on earth is yours, O LORD, and this is your kingdom. We adore you as the one who is over all things (1 Chronicles 29:11; NLT).

We adore you,
Holy God:
Yahweh, Spirit,
Christ, your Son.

We revere you,
Mighty God:
Steadfast, patient –
You are One.

We extol you,
Blesséd God:
Caring, sharing –
You are good.

We proclaim you,
Gracious God:
Tender, faithful –
You are Love.

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

References

Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19; NLT).

Then a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, my Chosen One. Listen to him” (Luke 9:35; NLT).

The LORD our God, the LORD is one (Deuteronomy 6:4; NIV).

Only God is truly good (Luke 18:19; NLT).

 

Jesus’ faith

Ruth Kirk

I have written about Jesus’ faith before, but this week grasped its depth and significance even more clearly. Today I’ve tried to express this again, in the form of a prayer.

At about three o’clock, Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” (Matthew 27:46; NLT).

Lord Jesus,

Despite all the terrible pain and humiliation you suffered, you never lost your faith in God.

When you were dying on the cross, you felt abandoned by God, but even this didn’t make you reject God, or doubt Yahweh’s existence.

I know this because, with your final words, you still entrusted your soul into God’s hands.

There can be no deeper faith than yours.

Whatever happens to me, please help me to cling to my faith in God, just as you did, even if I, too, feel completely abandoned.

Please help me always to remember God’s great and faithful promise:

I will never fail you. I will never abandon you (Hebrews 13:5; NLT).

I ask this through your own dear name.

Amen.

References

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

Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you (Deuteronomy 31:8; NLT).

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and staff they comfort me (Psalm 23:4; KJV).

Be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age (Matthew 28:20; NLT).

Love and worship

Ruth Kirk

I love you, YHWH, my strength (Psalm 18:1; TIB).

I worship YHWH, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the land (Jonah 1:9; NLT).

I love you, and worship you,
Trust in, and cling to you,
Praise, and bow down to you:
Yahweh, my God.

I love you, and honour you,
Learn from, and follow you,
Bless, and rejoice in you:
Jesus, my God.

I love you, and cherish you,
Look to, and pray with you,
Thank, and rely on you:
Spirit, my God.

Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19; NLT).

References

It is YHWH, the God Most High, whom you must serve with awe; whom you must cling to and by whom you must swear; who is your praise; who is your God; who has done great things which your eyes have seen with awe (Deuteronomy 10:20-21; TIB).

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).

They worshiped him (Luke 24:52; NLT).

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

The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words (Romans 8:26; NLT).