Category: Uncategorized

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). 

Introduction
Hello, my name is Ruth, and I try to follow the teaching and example of Jesus. This website explores the heart of his gospel.

My faith is:
Christian
Liberal
Non-denominational
Egalitarian
Inclusive
Universalist
Constantly developing and growing

My writing reflects my core beliefs that:
God loves us all unconditionally
God lives in, over and through everyone and everything
Everyone is of equal value
We are all one with God
We all have free will
We can all choose to embrace God, or to separate ourselves from God
God includes and transcends all that is feminine and masculine

Gender-neutral language for God:
This website uses solely gender-neutral language when writing about God.

My background:
I am 73 years old, and my life has been full of physical and mental challenges following an emotionally abusive childhood. My health is poor, but my faith is still growing.

My inspiration:
Whilst praying, and whilst going about my day, I often experience spiritual insight and inspiration.  Sometimes I also have strange dreams and visions. These experiences form the basis for everything I share here.

My sister website:
I also run Take heart, a much larger website of original prayers, poems, articles and booklets dating back to 2013. It focuses on supporting those who are struggling with life’s trials and sorrows. Followers receive a short email of each day’s blog. Everything on Take heart is free, and it can be found at: ruthkirk.org.

Finally:
The posts on this website are free to read, copy and share.
Please feel free to leave polite comments.
Every day I pray for those who visit here.

I hope very much that you will find something interesting or helpful in the quiet reflective space of The heart of the gospel.. 

With love and blessings for all who read this,
From Ruth xxx

Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world (John 16:33; NLT).

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People look at the outside appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart (1 Samuel 16:7; NIV).

At the heart of our faith, Lord:
Your way to the cross.

At the heart of our sorrow:
Your truth, and its cost.

At the heart of our worship:
Your body and blood.

At the heart of our grieving:
Your death, and your love.

At the heart of our hope, Lord:
Your rising again.

At the heart of our gladness:
Your kingdom and reign.

At the heart of our purpose:
Your gospel and grace.

At the heart of our yearning:
Your kiss and embrace.

While he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him (Luke 15:20; NIV).

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References

He humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross (Philippians 2:8; NLT).

Pilate turned to the leading priests and to the crowd and said, “I find nothing wrong with this man!” Then they became insistent. “But he is causing riots by his teaching wherever he goes” (Luke 23:4-5; NLT).

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).

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

He is the faithful witness to these things, the first to rise from the dead, and the ruler of all the kings of the world (Revelation 1:5; NLT).

The kingdom of God is within you (Luke 17:21; NKJV).

My life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned to me by the Lord Jesus – the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God (Acts 20:24; NLT).

We are all saved the same way, by the undeserved grace of the Lord Jesus (Acts 15:11; NLT).

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

Jesus is my gospel;
My light, and my good news;
Jesus is the Word of God:
My Lord, the Way I choose.

Jesus is my shepherd;
My truth, my sword, my shield;
Jesus is my living bread:
In him, God is revealed.

Jesus is my spirit;
My mind, my heart, my soul;
Jesus is my life, and death:
Through him, God makes me whole.

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).

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References

Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my Gospel (2 Timothy 2:8; NIV).

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

His name is the Word of God (Revelation 19:13; NIV).

Choose today whom you will serve (Joshua 24:15; NLT).

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

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

I am the living bread (John 6:51; NLT).

Christ is the visible image of the invisible God (Colossians 1:15; NLT).

The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being (Hebrews 1:3; NIV).

We all share the same Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:13; NLT).

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus (Philippians 2:5; NKJV).

I will give them one heart (Jeremiah 32:39; NLT).

Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned to the Jordan River (Luke 4:1; NLT).

I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised (Luke 24:49; NLT).

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

If we die with him, we will also live with him (2 Timothy 2:11; NLT).

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Hello everyone! My name is Ruth, and I am a Christian writer. This website offers a series of meditations on the heart of Christ’s gospel. It gathers together the best of the prayers, poems and articles I have published on my long-established sister website, Take heart, at: ruthkirk.org. Everything on both my sites is free, fully accessible to all, and can be shared with others, too.

With very best wishes from Ruth xxx

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