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).
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Lord Jesus,
Through your teaching
And example,
Each woman
Is my cherished, precious sister,
And every man
My treasured, much-loved brother.
Wait patiently for him (Psalm 37:7; NIV).
Be silent before the Sovereign Lord (Zephaniah 1:7; NIV).
Be still and know that I am God! (Psalm 46:10; NLT).
Wait on the Lord (Psalm 27:14; NKJV).
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Don’t expect voices,
Don’t expect tears,
Don’t expect visions,
Although God is near.
Just wait in the silence,
Wait, and be still,
Wait on our Father,
For this is his will.
The Kingdom of God is already among you (Luke 17:21; NLT).
The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed planted in a field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but it becomes the largest of garden plants; it grows into a tree, and birds come and make nests in its branches (Matthew 13:31-2; NLT).
The kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17; NLT).
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The Kingdom of God
Is here and now –
Not pie in the sky,
Not after our death;
And it’s up to us
To help it grow –
Though offering love
To all, without exception.
Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18; NLT).
Whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit (1 Corinthians 6:17; NIV).
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Lord God,
When I’m too ill
For joy,
May I still pray to you;
When I’m too ill
For prayer,
May I still thank you;
And when I’m too ill
For thanks,
May we be one.
The Lord is my strength and shield (Psalm 28:7; NLT).
He is my shield, and I take refuge in him (Psalm 144:2; NLT).
He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety (Psalm 18:2; NLT).
You, Lord, are a shield around me (Psalm 3:3; NLT).
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Lord God,
The outward “personality”
I’ve built up
Since my childhood
Is nothing but a frail facade
That shields
My damaged core
As best it can.
You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate […] The gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it (Matthew 7:13-14; NLT).
You are the temple of the living God (2 Corinthians 6:16; NLT).
Whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit (1 Corinthians 6:17).
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Lord,
Show me the narrow way
To find your Kingdom –
Not through my flesh,
For all flesh dies at last;
Not through my mind,
For all minds fade away;
Not through my heart,
For all hearts cease to beat;
But through my soul,
Where you and I are one
For evermore.
I will give you treasures hidden in darkness (Isaiah 45:3; NLT).
I am the Lord who heals you (Exodus 15:26; NLT).
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Friends,
Don’t reject
Your wandering thoughts
In silent prayer,
Pushing them back
Into your shadow self,
Or substituting them
With views you find
More “positive”.
Instead,
Please hear them out
With due respect,
So you can learn from them,
And change, and grow –
For their purpose
Is to tell you
Who you are.
