People look at the outside appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart (1 Samuel 16:7; NIV).
1. At the heart of our faith, Lord:
Your way to the cross.
2. At the heart of our sorrow:
Your truth, and its cost.
3. At the heart of our worship:
Your body and blood.
4. At the heart of our mourning:
Your death, and your love.
Photo: geralt
5. At the heart of our hope, Lord:
Your rising again.
6. At the heart of our gladness:
Your kingdom, and reign.
7. At the heart of our purpose:
Your gospel and grace.
8. At the heart of our yearning:
Your kiss, and embrace.
Photo: sthelenachurch.net
References
1. He humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross (Philippians 2:8; NLT).
2. Pilate turned to the leading priests and to the crowd and said, “I find nothing wrong with this man!” Then they became insistent. “But he is causing riots by his teaching wherever he goes” (Luke 23:4-5; NLT).
3. He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me. In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you” (Luke 22:19-20; NIV).
4. We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us (1 John 3:16; NLT).
5. He is the faithful witness to these things, the first to rise from the dead, and the ruler of all the kings of the world (Revelation 1:5; NLT).
6. The kingdom of God is within you (Luke 17:21; NKJV).
7. My life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned to me by the Lord Jesus – the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God (Acts 20:24; NLT).
We are all saved the same way, by the undeserved grace of the Lord Jesus (Acts 15:11; NLT).
8. While he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him (Luke 15:20; NIV).
1. Jesus Christ, the Son of Man,
I love you.
May I bear my cross
Without complaint,
Rejoicing in your presence
Day and night, Lord,
And loving all I meet
Without restraint.
2. Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace,
I love you.
May I bear my cross
Without reproach,
Thanking you for all,
Both good and bad, Lord,
And bringing those who suffer
Your fresh hope.
3. Jesus Christ, the Son of God,
I love you.
May I bear my cross
Without lament,
Praying for the world, Lord,
Without ceasing,
And praising you,
The Saviour God has sent.
References
1. Jesus said to his disciples, “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).
Rejoice always (1 Thessalonians 5:16; NIV).
Be kind to everyone (2 Timothy 2:24; NLT).
2. Give thanks in all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:18; NIV).
Should we accept only good from the hand of God, and never anything bad? (Job 2:10; NLT).
3. He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word (Isaiah 53:7; NLT).
Pray continually (1 Thessalonians 5:17; NIV).
God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16; NLT).
You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever (Psalm 16:11; NLT).
1. May faith, Lord,
Be my way of life,
And constant thanks
My aim.
2. May hope, Lord,
Be my way of life,
And joyousness
The same.
3. May love, Lord,
Be my way of life,
And serving you
My task.
4. May prayer, Lord,
Be my way of life,
And oneness
All I ask.
References
1. Three things will last forever – faith, hope, and love – and the greatest of these is love(1 Corinthians 13:13; NLT).
My only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me (Acts 20:24; NIV).
2. 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).
3. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength [and] love your neighbour as yourself (Mark 12:30-31; NLT).
You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him (Luke 4:8; NLT).
Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all(Mark 9:35; NIV).
4. Whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit (1 Corinthians 6:17; NIV).
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).
The one thing I ask of the Lord – the thing I seek most – is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, delighting in the Lord’s perfection and meditating in his Temple (Psalm 27:4; NLT).
