People cannot see the whole scope
of God’s work from beginning to end
(Ecclesiastes 3:11; NLT).
We cannot understand
Your work,
Failing to see its scope
From start to end.
We cannot comprehend
Your Son,
Failing to grow like him,
As you intend.
We cannot understand
Your strength,
Failing to grasp our emptiness
Within.
We cannot comprehend
Your wrath,
Failing to grasp our ignorance
And sin.
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You are indeed angry, for we have sinned
(Isaiah 64:5; NKJV).
Your own ears will hear him.
Right behind you a voice will say,
“This is the way you should go,”
whether to the right or to the left
(Isaiah 30:21; NLT).
May I always
Hear your voice,
And see your face
In everyone,
Serve with love
In all I do,
And grow, each day, Lord,
More like you.
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The Lord – who is the Spirit –
makes us more and more like him
as we are changed into his glorious image
(2 Corinthians 3:18; NLT).
Keep on seeking,
and you will find
(Matthew 7:7; NLT).
To seek is to find;
To loose is to bind.
To lend is to store;
To fall is to soar.
To doubt is to know;
To fail is to grow.
To leave is to stay;
To wait is to pray.
To have is to give;
To die is to live.
Those who die in the Lord will live;
their bodies will rise again!
(Isaiah 26:19; NLT).
The Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground. He breathed the breath of life into the man’s nostrils, and the man became a living person
(Genesis 2:7; NLT).
You made my body
Out of dust,
And formed me
In my mother’s womb;
My mind, Lord,
From the good and bad
You send
To help me grow and bloom.
You made my heart
From your great love,
Poured out through Jesus
Here on earth;
My soul, Lord,
From the breath of life
With which you quickened me
At birth.
The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Mighty quickens me
(Job 33:4; LSV).
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).
“Come, follow me” Jesus said
(Matthew 4:19; NIV).
Lord,
I want to follow you,
And serve you every day.
I want to grow much more like you,
And never cease to pray.
I want to dwell within you, Lord,
And you to dwell in me,
So we may always live in love –
United, strong, and free.
When we died with Christ
we were set free from the power of sin
(Romans 6:7; 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.
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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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Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?
(Job 2:10; NIV).
1. Lord,
May I accept my lot,
For you, alone, send joy, and pain.
Then I will grow, in exile here,
Until we meet in heaven, again.
2. Lord,
May I accept my lot,
For you, alone, bring good from ill.
Then I will grow through suffering,
And never fail to love you, still.
3. Lord,
May I accept my lot,
For you, alone, send hurt, and loss.
Then I will grow in care for all,
And comfort those who bear their cross.
4. Lord,
May I accept my lot,
For you, alone, send every test.
Then I will grow in humble faith,
And gain, at last, eternal rest.
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References
1. Enjoy prosperity while you can, but when hard times strike, realise that both come from God (Ecclesiastes 7:14; NLT).
2. We know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them (Romans 8:28; NLT).
When your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow (James 1:3; NLT).
3. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised (Job 1:21; 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).
4. The Lord your God is testing you to find out whether you love him with all your heart and with all your soul (Deuteronomy 13:3; NIV).
Then we will be with the Lord forever (1 Thessalonians 4:17; NLT).
Image: keywest3, Pixabay
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Jesus told him,
“I am the way, the truth, and the life.
No one can come to the Father except through me”
(John 14:6; NLT).
Lord,
1. May I always choose the path
That brings me closer
To your side.
2. May I always choose the thoughts
That help me grow like you,
My Guide.
3. May I always choose the words
That soothe and heal,
The way yours do.
4. May I always choose the deeds
That nurture others —
Just like you.
Put on your new nature, and be renewed
as you learn to know your Creator and
become like him
(Colossians 3:10; NLT).
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References
1. He guides me along right paths (Psalm 23:3; NLT).
2. We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5; NIV).
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus (Philippians 2:5; NKJV).
3. We will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ (Ephesians 4:15; NLT).
4. Do everything with love (1 Corinthians 16:14; NLT).
The Lord – who is the Spirit – makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image (2 Corinthians 3:18; NLT).
Image: Наталья Коллегова, Pixabay
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It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me
(Galatians 2:20; NLT).
1. Let’s see the world
Through Christ’s own eyes,
2. Observe our thinking
With his mind;
3. Treat everyone
With his great love,
4. And grow like him,
For he is kind.
5. Let’s speak each word
With Christ’s pure truth,
6. Confront our fears
With his strong faith;
7. Approach our death
With his deep trust,
8. Then rest, at last,
In his embrace.
Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us
(Colossians 3:11; NLT).
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References
1. I have come to save the world and not to judge it (John 12:47; NLT).
2. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus (Philippians 2:5; NKJV).
3. Love your neighbour as yourself (Luke 10:27; NLT).
Love your enemies! (Matthew 5:44; NLT).
4. The Lord – who is the Spirit – makes us more and more like him (2 Corinthians 3:18; NLT).
How kind the Lord is! (Psalm 116:5; NLT).
He is kind to those who never say, “Thank you,” and to those who are selfishness itself (Alan Dale, New World: The Heart of the New Testament in Plain English, p125; Oxford University Press, 1967).
5. We will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ (Ephesians 4:15; NLT).
6. Should we accept only good things from the hand of God, and never anything bad? (Job 2:10; NLT).
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).
7. When Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, he said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” Having said this, he breathed his last (Luke 23:46; NKJV).
8. Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43; NIV).
Come to me all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 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 11:28-9; NLT).
Return, O my soul, to your rest (Psalm 116:7: ESV).
So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him (Luke 15:20; NLT).