Seek his face continually
(1 Chronicles 6:11; KJV).
Seek the Lord’s face,
And follow his way.
Take up your cross;
Rejoice every day.
Live in his love,
And rest in his peace.
Thank him for everything;
Pray without cease.
Pray without ceasing
(1 Thessalonians 5:17; NKJV).
I have come that they may have life,
and have it to the full
(John 10:10; NLT).
You came to earth
To teach us how to live,
And love,
And die.
Your Spirit dwells
Within us, Lord,
And helps us
As we try
To speak the truth with love,
Like you,
And do God’s will
Each day,
By taking up our cross
With joy,
And following
Your way.
Then he 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).
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).
All glory to him who alone is God, our Saviour through Jesus Christ our Lord. All glory, majesty, power, and authority are his before all time, and in the present, and beyond all time (Jude 1:25; NLT).
1. Beyond all time,
Beyond all space,
Is God, who makes
The human race.
2. Amidst all gain,
Amidst all loss,
Is God, who suffers
On the cross.
3. Within all love,
Within all hate,
Is God, who saves
The desolate.
4. Beneath all depth,
Above all height,
Concealed in darkness,
God is light.
References
1. He gives breath to everyone, life to everyone who walks the earth
(Isaiah 42:5; NLT).
2. Praise be to the Lord, to God our Saviour, who daily bears our burdens
(Psalm 68:19; NIV).
3. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed
(Psalm 34:18; NLT).
4. Clouds and thick darkness surround him
(Psalm 97:2; NIV).
God is light
(1 John 1:5; NLT).
Image: Sr. Maria-Magdalena R., Pixabay
🤎
1. In danger,
May I know, Lord,
The protection
Of your rod.
2. In sorrow,
May I trust
The consolation
Of your staff.
3. In sickness,
May I share
The tribulation
Of your cross.
4. In anguish,
May I grasp
The desolation
Of your loss.
🤎
References
1. Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod…
2. …and your staff protect and comfort me (Psalm 23:4; NLT).
When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy (Psalm 94:19; NIV).
3. If we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering (Romans 8:17; NLT).
4. My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? (Mark 15:34; NLT).
Image: Harry Fabel, Pixabay
💛
There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends
(John 15:13; NLT).
1. Welcomed by the crowds,
Who later jeered.
2. Kissed; betrayed;
Arrested, Lord, at night.
3. Deserted by your friends;
Alone; bereft.
4. Spat on, mocked, and whipped;
Accusers lied.
5. Judged unjustly;
Sentenced, and condemned.
6. Burdened by your cross,
As women grieved.
7. Crucified by guards,
Whom you forgave:
8. In agony, and anguish, Lord,
You died.
💛
References
1. The next day, the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the King of Israel!” (John 12:12-13; NIV).
The people passing by shouted abuse, shaking their heads in mockery. “Look at you now!” they yelled at him. “You said you were going to destroy the Temple and rebuild it in three days. Well then, if you are the Son of God, save yourself and come down from the cross!” (Matthew 27:40; NLT).
2. The traitor, Judas, had given them a prearranged signal: “You will know which one to arrest when I greet him with a kiss” (Matthew 26:48; NLT).
Then the others grabbed Jesus and arrested him (Matthew 26:50; NLT).
3. Then all his disciples deserted him and ran away (Mark 14:50; NLT).
4. They spat on him and took the staff and struck him repeatedly on the head (Matthew 27:30; NET).
Then they knelt before him in mockery and taunted, “Hail! King of the Jews!” (Matthew 27:29; NLT).
He ordered Jesus flogged with a lead-tipped whip (Mark 15:15; NLT).
Many false witnesses spoke against him, but they contradicted each other (Mark 14:56; NLT).
5. The leading priests stirred up the crowd to demand the release of Barabbas instead of Jesus. Pilate asked them, “Then what should I do with this man you call the king of the Jews?” They shouted back, “Crucify him!” (Mark 15:12-13; NLT).
He […] turned him over to the Roman soldiers to be crucified (Mark 15:15; NLT).
6. Carrying the cross by himself, he went to the place called Place of the Skull (John 19:17; NLT).
A large crowd trailed behind, including many grief-stricken women (Luke 23:27; NLT).
7. Then the soldiers nailed him to the cross (Mark 15:24; NLT).
Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34; NLT).
8. My life is poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart is like wax, melting within me. My strength has dried up like sunbaked clay. My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth (Psalm 22:14-15; NLT).
My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? (Mark 15:34; NLT).
Then Jesus uttered another loud cry and breathed his last (Mark 15:37; NLT).
Image: Ruth Kirk
🧡
1. This little cross
Is soaked in prayer.
I wear it day
And night.
2. Washed with tears,
And kissed with love:
In darkness,
It brings light.
3. Held fast in joy,
In fear, and pain;
With me
In all I say, and do.
4. Just as this cross
Is dear to me,
I, Lord, am dear
To you.
🧡
References
1. Pray continually (1 Thessalonians 5:17; NIV).
Then he 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).
2. She knelt behind him at his feet, weeping. Her tears fell on his feet, and she wiped them off with her hair. Then she kept kissing his feet (Luke 7:38; NLT).
The Lord, my God, lights up my darkness (Psalm 18:28; NLT).
3. Hold fast him (Deuteronomy 11:22; NIV).
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).
4. The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God (1 Corinthians 1:18; NLT).
“Don’t be afraid,” he said, “for you are very precious to God” (Daniel 10:19; NLT).
Image: waldryano, Pixabay
✝️
1. Lord,
I want to pray, rejoice,
And thank you.
I want to serve,
Console, forgive,
And love.
2. Lord,
I want to plead
For your forgiveness,
Then follow
In your steps,
Saved by your blood.
3. Lord,
I want to spread
Your priceless gospel,
So others learn
To worship,
And adore.
4. Lord,
I want to bear
My cross to heaven,
Where I
Will lay it down
For evermore.
✝️
References
1. Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18; NIV).
Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all (Mark 9:35; NIV).
He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us (2 Corinthians 1:4, NLT).
Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us (Luke 11:4; NLT).
May the Lord make your love for one another and for all people grow and overflow (1 Thessalonians 3:12; NLT).
Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them (Romans 12:9; NLT; my emphasis).
2. Perhaps even yet they will turn from their evil ways and ask the Lord’s forgiveness before it is too late (Jeremiah 36:7; NLT).
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).
Since we have now been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation (Romans 5:9; NLT).
3. The Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls. When he found one priceless pearl, he went and sold everything he had, and bought it (Matthew 13:45-6; CSB).
I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes (Romans 1:16; NIV).
Even though I am a free man with no master, I have become a slave to all people to bring many to Christ (1 Corinthians 9:19; NLT).
4. Then he 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).
Then Jesus said, “Come to me all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28; NLT).
Image: Ruth Kirk
❤️
Lord,
1. Your cross
Is part of me,
And I am part
Of you.
2. It’s always with me,
Day and night,
In all I think, and say,
And do.
3. It gives me courage,
Comfort, peace,
When I am anxious,
Or in pain –
4. Reminding me
How Jesus lived
And suffered,
Died, and rose again.
🌺🌺🌺
References
1. 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).
Whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit (1 Corinthians 6:17; NIV).
2. 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).
3. I am full of the courage that the Lord’s Spirit gives (Micah 3:8; NET).
I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever (John 14:16; KJV).
Peace I leave you; my peace I give you (John 14:27; NIV).
In all their suffering he also suffered, and he personally rescued them. In his love and mercy he redeemed them. He lifted them up and carried them through all the years (Isaiah 63:9; NLT).
4. The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction. But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God (1 Corinthians 1:18; NLT).
“The Son of Man must suffer many terrible things,” he said. “He will be rejected by the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He will be killed, but on the third day he will be raised from the dead” (Luke 9:22; NLT).
Image: Ruth Kirk
💛
1. Suffused with prayer,
My little cross –
I hold it tight
In joy, and loss.
2. Lord, may I
Be just the same –
Safe in your hands,
Breathing your name.
3. No matter what you send,
I’ll praise
And thank you, Father,
All my days.
4. So, I worship,
And adore –
One with you,
For evermore.
💛
References
1. Pray continually (1 Thessalonians 5:17; NIV).
Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me, cannot be my disciple (Luke 14:27; RSV).
Love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him (Deuteronomy 30:20; NIV).
Rejoice always (1 Thessalonians 5:16; NIV).
Should we accept only good things from the hand of God, and never anything bad? (Job 2:10; NLT).
2. I am in your hands – do with me as you think best (Jeremiah 26:14; NLT).
You are my Father (Psalm 89:26; NLT).
Because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father” Galatians 4:6; NLT).
3. The Lord gave me what I had, and the Lord has taken it away. Praise the name of the Lord! (Job 1:21; NLT).
With every bone in my body I will praise him (Psalm 35:10; NLT).
Give thanks in all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:18; NIV).
4. Worship and serve him with your whole heart and a willing mind (1 Chronicles 28:9; NLT).
We adore you as the one who is over all things (1 Chronicles 29:11; NLT).
Whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit (1 Corinthians 6:17; NIV).