Month: July 2018

 

Lord, 
You share
Our earthly life,

With all its richness, 
Suffering,
And pain.

Please help us 
As we wander here 
In exile, and in strife;

Please help us, Lord,
Till we see you 
Again.

 

References

In this world we are like Jesus (1John 4:17; NIV).

Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross (Philippians 2:6-8; NLT).

In all their suffering he also suffered (Isaiah 63:9; NLT).

Here in exile my heart is breaking (Psalm 42:6; GNT).

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

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

We will see him as he really is (1 John 3:2; NLT).

 

May we wrestle with you, Father,
In our darkness,  

Rather than just longing 
For your light. 

 

References

So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak […] Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome” (Genesis 32:24;28; NIV).  

If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine (Matthew 26:39; NLT).

Darkness is my closest friend (Psalm 88:18; NLT).

 

I don’t expect a dream,
Or revelation.

I don’t expect a vision,
Or a dove.

I don’t expect a miracle 
Of healing –

It’s enough for me to dwell, Lord, 
In your love.

 

References

I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever (Psalm 23:6; KJV).

He loves us with unfailing love (Psalm 117:2; NLT).

Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them (1 John 4:16; NIV).

 

Lord,
When I feel lonely
And depression fills my mind,

I hear the words
You said on earth:

Seek God,
And you will find.

Lord,
When I’ve offended you, 
And sorrow fills my heart,

I hear the words
You said on earth:

Turn back
For a fresh start. 

Lord,
When I reach paradise,
And you receive my soul,

I’ll hear the words
You said on earth:

Your faith
Has made you whole.

 

References 

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

Turn from your wicked ways and start doing things right (Jeremiah 35:15; NLT).

Your faith has made you well (Luke 8:48; NLT).

 

Lord, 

May this church
Not crush my faith;

May its members 
Not reject me.

May its powerful priests
Not put me down;

And may your love
Protect me.

 

References 

He will not crush the weakest reed or put out a flickering candle (Isaiah 42:3; NLT). 

Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples (John 13:35; NLT).

He knows how weak we are; he remembers we are only dust (Psalm 103:14; NLT).

God’s loyal love protects me all day long (Psalm 52:1; NET).

 

Our bodies come from dust, Lord God;
To dust they will return.

Our minds reach out to Christ, your Son,
The One from whom we learn.

Our hearts receive your Spirit, Lord, 
The One so many spurn,

But our souls are part of you, Lord God,
The One for whom we yearn.

Our souls are part of you, Lord –
And to you they will return. 

 

References 

You were made from dust, and to dust you will return (Genesis 3:19; NLT).

Simon Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life” (John 6:68; NLT).

I will send you the Advocate – the Spirit of truth (John 15:26; NLT).

I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb (Jeremiah 1:5; NLT).

I yearn for the Lord, more than watchmen do for the morning (Psalm 130:6; NET).

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

 

Lord,
You’re not found 
In dusty books,   
But in the world around us.

Lord,
You’re not found 
In ritual,  
But in silent contemplation.

Lord,
You’re not found 
In required beliefs,
But in everyone you mould.

Lord, 
You’re not found 
In church or shrine,
But in every living soul.

 

References

The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known (Psalm 19:1-2; NLT).

The people of Israel love their rituals of sacrifice, but to me their sacrifices are all meaningless (Hosea 8:13; NLT).

When you pray, don’t babble on and on (Matthew 6:7; NLT). 

Be silent before the Sovereign Lord (Zephaniah 1:7; NIV).

The Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being (Genesis 2:7; NIV).

You are the temple of the living God (2 Corinthians 6:16; NLT). 

There is […] one God and Father, who is over all and in all and living through all (Ephesians 4:5-6; NLT).

 

Lord,

You make us all from dust;
You know how weak we are.

You send us into exile here,
And watch us from afar.

 

Lord,

You make us all from dust;
To dust we all return.

Then our souls reunite with you,
The One for whom we yearn.

 

References

The Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground (Genesis 2:7; NLT).

He knows how weak we are; he remembers we are only dust (Psalm 103:14; NLT).

My people will know that I am the Lord their God, because I sent them away to exile and brought them home again (Ezekiel 39:28; NLT).

The Lord looks down from heaven on all mankind (Psalm 14:2; NIV).

You were made from dust, and to dust you will return (Genesis 3:19; 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).

I yearn for the Lord, more than watchmen do for the morning (Psalm 130:6; NET).

 

Lord,
When I crave sympathy, 
Forgetting love is key,

You tell me straight
What I must do:

Take up your cross, 
Like me.

Lord,
When I am selfish,
And my heart is feeling numb, 

 You tell me straight
What I must do:

Now, leave your nets, 
And come.

Lord, 
When I’m ungrateful,
And forget you’ve set me free,

You tell me straight
What I must do:

Leave all, 
And follow me.

 

References 

Then [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).

Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” And they left their nets at once and followed him Mark 1:17-18; NLT).

As Jesus left the town, he saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at his tax collector’s booth. “Follow me and be my disciple,” Jesus said to him (Luke 5:27; NLT).

You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free (John 8:32; NLT).