We will speak the truth in love,
growing in every way more and more like Christ
(Ephesians 4:15; NLT).
If you want to follow Christ,
Face all you feel
With honesty
And love.
If you want to live like him,
Treat every thought
With honesty
And love.
If you want to grow like Christ,
Say every word
With honesty
And love;
And if you want to be like him,
Serve everyone
With honesty
And love.
Anyone who wants to be first
must be the very last,
and the servant of all
(Mark 9:35; NIV).
You, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand (Isaiah 64:8; NIV).
Father,
I am damaged –
Please repair me.
Mend me with the clay
From which I came.
Heal me with your sacred touch,
As Christ did,
And save me, by the power
Of your name.
There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12; NLT).
Come to me, all of you who are weary
and carry heavy burdens,
and I will give you rest
(Matthew 11:28; NLT).
Father,
If I never lay my cross down,
If I never pause to rest,
If I never try to pray:
I’ll never bear each test.
If I never stop to listen,
If I never care to seek,
If I never wait on you:
I’ll never hear you speak.
If I never ask forgiveness,
If I never feel remorse,
If I never start afresh:
I’ll never stay the course.
If I never spread your Gospel,
If I never praise your grace,
If I never worship you:
I’ll never see your face.
If I never share your body,
If I never taste your blood,
If I never strive to follow Christ:
I’ll never know your love.
Those who wish to boast should boast in this alone:
that they truly know me
and understand that I am the Lord,
who demonstrates unfailing love
(Jeremiah 9:24; NLT).
Jesus called out to them,
“Come, follow me”
Matthew 4:19; NLT).
If you want
To follow Christ,
Share his
Humble sacrifice,
And walk the stony path
He trod,
For Christ will lead you
Back to God.
If we are to share his glory,
we must also share his suffering
(Romans 8:17; NLT).
Christ is all that matters…
You are the centre of my world,
Son of the living God.
You are the centre of my day:
My love, my strength, my peace.
You are the centre of my faith:
My light, my truth, my call.
You are the centre of my life:
My heart, my soul, my all.
…and he lives in all of us
(Colossians 3:11; NLT).
Image: Sasin Tipchai, Pixabay
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He said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands.
Reach out your hand and put it in my side.
Stop doubting and believe” (John 20:27; NIV).
1. Reach out to Christ.
Take his way as your own.
Have faith in his teaching,
And make his praise known.
2. Reach out to Christ.
Take his truth as your guide.
Then trust in his mercy,
And walk by his side.
3. Reach out to Christ.
Take his life as your light.
Love all those you contact,
And dwell in his sight.
4. Give him your body,
Your heart, soul, and mind –
Then follow him gladly,
And serve humankind.
💛
References
1. Jesus told him, “I am the way” (John 14:6; NLT).
A person is made right with God by faith in Jesus Christ (Galatians 2:16; NLT).
Make known his praise around the world (Isaiah 12:5; NLT).
2. Jesus told him, “I am […] the truth” (John 14:6; NLT).
When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth (John 16:13; NLT).
I trust in the mercy of God forever and ever (Psalm 52:8; NKJV).
3. Jesus told him, “I am […] the life” (John 14:6; NLT).
His life brought light to everyone (John 1:4; NLT).
Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them (Romans 12:9; NLT).
Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress, and refusing to let the world corrupt you (James 1:27; NLT).
The eye of the Lord is on those who fear him (Psalm 33:18; NKJV).
4. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind (Luke 10:27; NLT).
If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me (Matthew 16:24; NLT).
You welcome those who gladly do good, who follow godly ways (Isaiah 64:5; NLT).
Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me (Matthew 25:40; NIV).
Image: geralt, Pixabay
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1. There’s always time
To offer love,
And treat each person
With respect.
2. There’s always time
To listen,
To respond with kindness,
And connect.
3. There’s always time
To understand,
And put the other person
First.
4. There’s always time
To see in them
Our Saviour, Christ,
Who cried, “I thirst!”
❤️
References
1. Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them (Romans 12:9; NLT. My emphasis).
Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me (Matthew 25:40; NIV).
You will be treated as you treat others (Matthew 7:2; NLT).
2. The wise listen to others (Romans 12:15; NLT).
Be kind to everyone (2 Timothy 2:24; NLT).
Anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf is welcoming me (Matthew 18:5; NLT).
Love your neighbour as yourself (Mark 12:31; NLT).
Love the stranger (Deuteronomy 10:19; NKJV).
Show love to foreigners (Deuteronomy 10:19; NLT).
Love your enemies! (Matthew 5:44; NLT).
He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others (2 Corinthians 1:4; NLT).
3. Whoever wants to be first must take last place and be the servant of everyone else (Mark 9:35; NLT).
4. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us (Colossians 3:11; NLT).
Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfil the scripture), “I thirst” (John 19:28; RSV).
Image: geralt, Pixabay
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Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us
(Colossians 3:11; NLT).
1. Christ, the light within us all,
You make our nights
As bright as day.
2. Christ, the peace within us all,
You hear our sighs,
And help us pray.
3. Christ, the truth within us all,
You cleanse our sins,
And heal our shame.
4. Christ, the love within us all,
We lift our hearts
To praise your name.
💙
References
1. God is light (1 John 1:5; NIV).
I am the light of the world (John 8:12; NLT).
You, Lord, are my lamp; the Lord turns my darkness into light (2 Samuel 22:29; NLT).
2. The Lord is peace (Judges 6:24; NLT).
Peace I leave you; my peace I give you (John 14:27; NIV).
The Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words (Romans 8:26; NRSV).
3. The Spirit is truth (1 John 5:6; NKJV).
Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6; NLT).
Through this man Jesus there is forgiveness for your sins (Acts 13:38; NLT).
On that day you shall not be put to shame because of the deeds by which you have rebelled against me (Zephaniah 3:11; ESV).
4. God is love (1 John 4:16; NLT).
No power in the sky above or in the earth below – indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:39; NLT).
I will praise the Lord, and may everyone on earth bless his holy name forever and ever (Psalm 145:21; NLT).
Let us lift our hearts and hands to God in heaven (Lamentations 3:41; NLT).
Image: Pexels, Pixabay
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1. Christ is just
A tiny step away.
2. He lives within us all,
And waits, each day,
3. For us to talk with him
In constant prayer,
4. Seek him in all,
And find him everywhere.
5. Christ is just
A tiny step away.
6. He lives within us all,
And waits, each day,
7. For us to hear his voice,
To learn, and grow,
8. Then love him in others,
Everywhere we go.
🤎
References
1,5. Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me (Psalm 23:4; KJV).
2,6. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us (Colossians 3:11; NLT).
The Lord must wait for you to come to him so he can show you his love and compassion (Isaiah 30:18; NLT).
3. Pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge (Psalm 62:8; NLT).
Pray about everything (Philippians 4:6; NLT).
Pray constantly (1 Thessalonians 5:17; NIV).
Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them (Romans 12:9; NLT).
4. Keep on seeking, and you will find (Matthew 7:7; NLT).
There is one Lord […] who is over all and in all and living through all (Ephesians 4:5-6; NLT).
7. This is my dearly-loved Son, who brings me great joy. Listen to him! (Matthew 17:5; NLT).
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls (Matthew 11:29; NIV).
You must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18; NLT).
8. Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me (Matthew 25:40; NIV).
Then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone” (Mark 16:15; NLT).
Image: truthseeker08, Pixabay
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Everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him (Philippians 3:8-9; NLT).
1. Unite with Christ,
The Lord of lords,
And with all those
Who offer prayer.
2. Unite with Christ,
The Son of Man,
And with all those
Who love, and care.
3. Unite with Christ,
The King of kings,
And with all those
In want, and fear.
4. Unite with Christ,
The Son of God,
And with all those
Who suffer here.
May the Lord make your love for one another
and for all people grow and overflow
(1 Thessalonians 3:12; NLT).
🤎
References
1. They all met together and were constantly united in prayer (Acts 1:14; NLT).
2. Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them (Romans 12:9; NLT).
3. Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me (Matthew 25:40; NIV).
4. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us (Colossians 3:11; NLT).
I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one – as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me (John 17:21-3; NLT).