Month: April 2018

Christ lives within you (Romans 8:10; NLT).

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

God is Spirit (John 4:24; NLT). 

If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it (Matthew 10:39; NLT).

Whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit (1 Corinthians 6:17; NIV).

*********************************

When you and I 
Can live no longer  
In this body, Lord,

With all illusions 
Of a self 
Left on the shore,

My soul 
Will be absorbed 
Into your Spirit –

At one with you 
In love,   
For evermore.

Moments of ecstasy;
Tempted; alone.

Facing your destiny:
God’s cornerstone.

Embracing a future
Revealed by a dove:

Infinite sacrifice;
Infinite love.

**************************************

He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun (Matthew 17:2; NIV).

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted (Matthew 4:1; NLT).

“Listen,” he said, “we’re going up to Jerusalem, where the Son of Man will be betrayed to the leading priests and the teachers of religious law. They will sentence him to die” (Matthew 20:18; NLT). 

The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone (Psalm 118:22; NLT).

After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my dearly loved Son” (Matthew 3:16; NLT).

This is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice to forgive the sins of many (Matthew 26:28; NLT).

There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends (John 15:13; NLT).

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-3; NRSV).

Then he [Jesus] 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” (Luke 9:23; NLT).

He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth (Isaiah 53:7; NLT).

****************************

Love, and joy,
And patience;

Peace;
And kindness, too;

Beneficence;
And faithfulness;

Gentleness;
Restraint;

All these 
Can be ours –

Just follow Christ,
Without complaint.

“Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good – except God alone” (Mark 10:18; NIV). 

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

You are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect (Matthew 5:48; NLT).

*************************

Lord Jesus,

Just as you
Were learning,
Changing,
And growing in faith and love
Throughout your life,

Please help me
To do the same.

I ask this, Lord,
In your dear name,
Amen.

How can we learn
To tell your voice 
From ours, Lord?

Yours always guides us 
In the way of love.

How can we learn
To tell your will
From ours, Lord?

Yours always guides us
In the path of peace.

 ***************************

Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it” (Isaiah 30:21; NIV).

Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children, and walk in the way of love (Ephesians 5:2; NIV).

I want your will to be done, not mine (Luke 22:42; NLT).

The morning light from heaven is about to break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide us to the path of peace (Luke 1:79-80; NLT).

***************************

If we don’t believe
In you, Lord,

And we don’t walk 
In your ways;

If we don’t think of
Your Son, Lord,

Or follow
What he says;

If we don’t respect
Your world, Lord,

Or go 
The extra mile –

May we still
Find something else, Lord,

To make our lives 
Worthwhile!

********************************

The fool says in his heart, “There is no God” (Psalm 14:1; NIV).

Walk in his ways (Deuteronomy 19:9; NLT).

“Come, follow me,” Jesus said (Matthew 4:19; NIV).

The Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it (Genesis 2:15; NLT).

If a soldier demands that you carry his gear for a mile, carry it two miles (Matthew 5:4; NLT).

You lived in this world without God and without hope (Ephesians 2:12; NLT).

******************************

Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done (Philippians 4:6; NLT).

He himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else (Acts 17:25; NIV).

Give thanks in all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18; NIV).

Always be thankful (Colossians 3:15; NLT).

******************************

Lord,

May our requests
In prayer

Be balanced
By our thanks.   

She […] laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them (Luke 2:7; NLT).

As he was praying, the appearance of his face was transformed, and his clothes became dazzling white (Luke 9:29; NLT).

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

When they came to a place called The Skull, they nailed him to the cross(Luke 23:33; NLT).

The ransom he paid was not mere gold or silver. It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God (1 Peter 1:19; NLT).

*********************************************

What could have been more gritty
Than your birth, Lord?

What could have been more treasured
Than your breath?

What could have been more costly
Than your life, Lord?

What could have been more brutal
Than your death?

What could have been more dazzling
Than your light, Lord?

What could have been more earnest
Than your love?

What could have been more bitter
Than your anguish?

What could have been more precious
Than your blood?