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).
Be still and know that I am God.
(Psalm 46:10; NIV)
Lost in stillness;
Lost in prayer.
Lost in silence,
Joy, and light.
Lost in beauty;
Lost in love.
Lost in darkness: Lost in God.
One in stillness;
One in prayer.
One in silence,
Joy, and light.
One in beauty;
One in love.
One in darkness: One in God.
He has made known to us in all wisdom and insight the mystery of his will, according to his purpose which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
(Ephesians 1:9-10; RSV)
“Only God can turn the dark night into glorious heavenly light”
(Alan Kearns).
Lord,
1. Turn our anguish
Into peace;
Our darkness
Into dazzling light.
2. Turn our sorrow
Into joy;
Our blindness
Into perfect sight.
3. Turn our judgements
Into love;
Our sickness
Into welcome rest,
4. And turn our dying
Into life eternal,
When we’ve faced
Each test.
References
1. Lord, see my anguish! My heart is broken and my soul despairs (Lamentations 1:20; NLT).
The Lord turns my darkness into light (2 Samuel 22:29; NIV).
2. Oh, give me back my joy again; you have broken me – now let me rejoice (Psalm 51:8; NLT).
The Lord gives sight to the blind (Psalm 146:8; NIV).
3. Do not judge others, and you will not be judged (Luke 6:37; NLT).
Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them (Romans 12:9; NLT).
The Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, has said: “You will be delivered by returning and resting; your strength will lie in quiet confidence” (Isaiah 30:15; CSB).
4. Our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies (1 Corinthians 15:53; NLT).
Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying” (John 11:25; NLT).
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).
