Month: November 2018

 

Then silence falls
As we draw near

To see your face,
So bright, so dear,

And hear your voice,
So still, so small,  

And grasp how much 
You love us all. 

 

References

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

Come near to God and he will come near to you (James 4:8; NIV).

We all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image (2 Colossians 3:18; NIV).

God shines in glorious radiance (Psalm 50:2; NLT).

I love you, Lord (Psalm 18:1; NLT).

God speaks again and again, though people do not recognise it (Job 33:14; NLT).

After the fire [came] a still small voice (1 Kings 19:12; NKJV).

May you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is (Ephesians 3:18; NLT).

The only part of me that’s right
Is God, 
Who dwells within.

The only part of me that’s light
Is God, 
Who dwells within. 

The only part of me that’s good
Is God, 
Who dwells within.

The only part of me that’s love
Is God, 
Who dwells within. 

The only part of me that’s true
Is God, 
Who dwells within –

For I am part of you, Lord God,
The One 
Who dwells within.

References 

The Lord is right (Lamentations 1:18; NLT).

God is light (1 John 1:5; NIV). 

“Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked. “Only God is truly good” (Mark 10:18; NLT).

God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them (1 John 4:16; NLT).

Every word of God proves true (Proverbs 30:5; NLT).

The Spirit is truth (1 John 5:6; NKJV).

Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? (1 Corinthians 3:16; NKJV).

Love is not finite, Lord,
It grows!

It multiplies, spills over,
Flows 

From you to us, 
From us to all,

For you are great,
Though we are small;

From us to neighbour,
Stranger, foe,

No matter where we live,
Or go;

Till, like your Son, 
We burn with love –

At one with you,
In heaven above.

References

The Kingdom of God […] is like a mustard seed planted in the ground. It is the smallest of all seeds, but it becomes the largest of all garden plants; it grows long branches, and birds can make nests in its shade (Mark 4:30—32; NLT).

Love your neighbour as yourself (Mark 12:31; NLT).

Love the stranger (Deuteronomy 10:19; NKJV).

Love your enemies! (Matthew 5:44; NLT).

Love flashes like fire, the brightest kind of flame (Song of Songs 8:6; NLT).

I have come to set the world on fire (Luke 12:49; NLT).

He will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and with fire (Matthew 3:11; NLT).

God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them (1 John 4:16; NLT). 

Anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love (1 John 4:8; NLT). 

 

Lord,

Our wilderness
Can be a place
Of beauty;

Our wilderness
Can be a place
Of fear.

Our wilderness
Can be a place
Of suffering;

But, beautiful,
Or dreadful,
You are here.

 

References

Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer (Luke 5:16; NLT).

God is with us (Matthew 1:23; NLT). 

 

You wake with us each morning,
And join us when we pray.  
You go with us into the world,
And serve with us each day. 

You laugh with us in good times, 
And sigh when we are lame.
You bow your head when we have sinned, 
And burn with us, in shame.

You sit with us in darkness,
And watch with us at night.
You suffer when we’re full of dread,
And wait with us for light. 

You stay with us in danger,
And shed tears when we weep.
You share our pain when we despair,
And mourn with us in grief.

You comfort us in sickness, 
And help us face death’s rod;
Then walk with us through heaven’s gate –
And gaze with us on God.

 

References

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

Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me (Psalm 23:4; KJV). 

Enter his gates with thanksgiving (Psalm 100:4; NLT).

Now we see in a mirror, indirectly, but then we will see face to face (1 Corinthians 13:12; NET).

We all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image (2 Colossians 3:18; NIV).

One thing I ask of the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple (Psalm 27:4; NIV).

 

To breathe is to pray.
To pray is to live.

To live is to love.
To love is to give.

To give is to grow.
To grow is to serve.

To serve is to die.
To die is to merge. 

 

References

I will pray as long as I have breath (Psalm 116:2; NLT).

Never stop praying (1 Thessalonians 5:17; NLT).

The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love (Galatians 5:6; NIV).

The godly love to give (Proverb 21:26: (NLT).

Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ (Ephesians 5:2; NLT).

Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all (Mark 9:35; NIV).

We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters (1 John 3:16; NLT).

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

The person who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with him (1 Corinthians 6:17; NLT

You gaze at me,
I gaze at you;
We love each other
Through and through.

Help me to grow 
More like your Son
In mind and heart,
Till life is done.
 
Then my small soul
Will join with yours –
Forgiven, healed,
Redeemed, restored.


References

You are the God who sees me (Genesis 16:13; NIV).

We all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image (2 Corinthians 3:18; NIV).

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

I love you, Lord (Psalm 18:1; NLT).

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

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

He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies (Psalm 103:2-4; NLT).

He restores my soul (Psalm 23:3; NKJV).

As you build yourselves up in your most holy faith, 
praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the 
love of God, waiting expectantly for the mercy of 
our Lord Jesus Christ for eternal life 
(Jude 1:20-21; CSB).


We cannot build a holy faith  
By judging those who don't behave like us.	

We cannot build a holy faith
By hating those who don't agree with us.

We cannot build a holy faith  	 	 
By killing those who don't share our beliefs.

We only build a holy faith
By loving all our enemies, and friends.


References

The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: 
‘I thank you, God, that I am not a sinner like 
everyone else’ (Luke 18:11; NLT).

How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me 
help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you 
can’t see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! 
(Matthew 7:4-5; NLT).
  
Then Peter replied, “I see very clearly that God 
shows no favouritism. In every nation he accepts 
those who fear him and do what is right” 
(Acts 10:34-5; NLT).

Love your enemies! (Matthew 5:44; NLT).

You, too, must show love to foreigners (Deuteronomy 
10:19; NLT).

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

Love your neighbour as yourself (Mark 12:31; NLT).

 

You keep us safe in childhood,
And teach us from our youth,
For though we’re only dust and ash, 
Lord Jesus, you’re our Truth.

You seek us when we wander,
And walk with us each day,
For though we’re only dust and ash,
Lord Jesus, you’re our Way.

You sit with us in darkness, 
And comfort us at night,
For though we’re only dust and ash, 
Lord Jesus, you’re our Light.

You understand our hunger,
And see the feast is spread,
For though we’re only dust and ash, 
Lord Jesus, you’re our Bread.

You bring joy out of sorrow,
And turn our gall to wine,
For though we’re only dust and ash,
Lord Jesus, you’re our Vine.

So why do you support us,
And give us all that’s good,
Although we fail you every day?
In three words: you are Love.

 

References

I am nothing but dust and ashes (Genesis 18:27; NIV).

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

I am the light of the world (John 8:12; NLT).

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

Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy (Psalm 126:5; NLT).

We know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God (Romans 8:28; NLT).

I am the vine (John 15:5; NLT).

“My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed (John 20:28; NLT). 

God is love (1 John 4:16; NLT).