Month: January 2018

They do not know me, says the Lord (Jeremiah 9:3; NLT).

Keep on seeking, and you will find (Matthew 7:7; NLT).

Our heart’s desire is to glorify your name (Isaiah 26:2; NLT).

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Lord,

May those
Who don’t know you
Start seeking you;

May those
Who seek you
Discover you;

And may those
Who discover you
Find their heart’s desire.

 

The […] Spirit gives great faith (1 Corinthians 12:9; NLT).

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? (Mark 15:34; NLT).

Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands! (Luke 23:46; NLT).

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Lord Jesus,

Give me faith
As strong as yours;

For even when you felt
Utterly forsaken by our Father,

You still trusted him
Completely,

Committing your soul
Into his hands

At the very moment
Of your death.

Be angry
Without blaming
Those who hurt you,

For your task
Is not to blame,
But to forgive.

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Be angry but do not sin (Ephesians 4:26; NRSV).

In all of this, Job did not sin by blaming God (Job 1:22; NLT).

If you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins (Matthew 6:12,14-15; NIV).

Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us (Luke 11:4; NLT).

Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing (Luke 23:34; NLT).

Father,
During every silent prayer
May I keep on seeking you
Until I find.

Father,
Throughout every day and night
May I keep on seeking you
Until I find.

Father,
During every time of need
May I keep on seeking you
Until I find.

Father,
At the moment of my death
May I keep on seeking you,
Until I find.

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Keep on seeking and you will find (Luke 11:9; NLT).

If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me (Jeremiah 29:13-14; NLT).

Evening, and morning and at noon, will I pray and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice (Psalm 55:17; KJV).

In the night, Lord, I remember your name, that I may keep your law (Psalm 119:55; NIV).

When I awake, I am still with you (Psalm 139:18; NIV).

Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit (Luke 23:46; KJV).

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

Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another (1 John 4:11; NIV).

Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them (Romans 12.9; NLT).

Love your neighbour as yourself (James 2:8; NLT).

Love ye therefore the stranger (Deuteronomy 10:19; KJV).

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

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Love everyone,
Exactly as they are –

For this is what
The Lord our God commands.

Love everyone,
Exactly as they are –

For this is what
His Son still teaches us.

Love everyone,
Exactly as they are –

For this is what
His Spirit most desires.

In this world the kings and great men lord it over their people (Luke 22:25; NLT).

The rich rule the poor (Proverbs 22:7, NLT).

Those who are last now will be first then, and those who are first will be last (Matthew 20:16; NLT).

Whoever wants to be first must take last place and be the servant of everyone else (Mark 9:35; NLT).

God blesses are those who are poor and realise their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs (Matthew 5:3; NLT).

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Lord,

Those who have least
Are constantly at risk

Of being exploited
By those who have the most.

Whether its money,
Or education,

Status,
Or property,

Connections,
Or influence,

Power,
Or privilege –

Those who have least
Are constantly at risk

Of being exploited
By those who have the most.

Lord God, at last,
I think I understand –

Forgiving those who hurt me
Heals my body,
Mind,
And heart,

But, far beyond these three,
It heals my soul.

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If you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins (Matthew 6:12,14-15; NIV).

Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us (Luke 11:4; NLT).

Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing (Luke 23:34; NLT).

Don’t sin by letting anger control you. Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry (Ephesians 4:26; NLT).

Lord, be merciful to me; heal my soul; for I have sinned against You (Psalm 41:4; NKJV).

He shall preserve thy soul (Psalm 121:7; KJV).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hello, everyone. Today’s blog might seem a bit strange unless I give you a bit of background. Recently, I spoke in a religious setting about the importance of being lovingly honest and direct with one another if we want to build a healthy, trusting, supportive group. This went down very badly with some of those present. One, in particular, said we should be paying very little attention to our thoughts and feelings, but rather “deconstructing” ourselves, until there is nothing personal left at all. With this approach, feelings, thoughts and honesty have very little importance. Rather, they would be seen as childish and immature.

I do hope I’ve done justice to this man’s words. I thought about what he had said for a long time afterwards, and eventually wrote the prayer/poem below. Remembering that we can’t all think the same, do see what you think.

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Lord, you never said
We should detach ourselves from life;

You came so we can have life
To the full.

You never said
That we should deconstruct ourselves;

You came so we can have life
To the full.

You never said
Get rid of your emotions;

You loved, wept, raged –
And lived life to the full.

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I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full (John 10:10; NLT).

Jesus loved Martha, Mary and Lazarus (John 11:5; NLT).

Then Jesus wept (John 11:35; NLT).

When Jesus saw what was happening, he was angry (Mark 10:14; NLT).

He was in such agony of spirit that his sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood (Luke 22:44; NLT).

 

Lord,

You had emotions,
Just like us,

Yet you faced your trials and sorrows
Without sin.

You loved,
Without possessiveness;

Got angry,
Without blaming other people;

Wept,
Without self-pity;

Feared,
Without avoidance;

Suffered,
Without hatred;

And despaired,
Without losing faith in God.

Lord, you had emotions,
Just like us,

Yet you faced your trials and sorrows
Without sin.

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This High Priest of ours understands all our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin (Hebrews 4:15; NLT).

Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows (John 16:33; NLT).

Be angry but do not sin (Ephesians 4:26; NRSV).

Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing (Luke 23:34; NLT).

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? (Mark 15:34; NLT).

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