Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it (Luke 18:17; CSB).
I’m not a theologian, God –
I simply know you love me.
I’m not a theologian,
But I know you sent your Son.
I’m not a theologian –
Yet I know that you forgive me.
Theology? It’s not my thing,
For you and I are one.
The person who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with him (1 Corinthians 6:17; NLT).
I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me (John 14:6; NLT).
The way beyond all other ways
Is you, Lord.
The truth beyond all others:
You’re God’s Son.
The life beyond all other lives:
To bear our cross, and follow you.
The joy beyond all others:
We are one!
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).
References
Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us (Colossians 3:11; NLT).
God promised this Good News long ago through his prophets in the holy Scriptures. The Good News is about his Son. In his earthly life he was born into King David’s family line, and he was shown to be] the Son of God when he was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit. He is Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 1:2-4; NLT).
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. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed?” (Luke 9:23-6; NLT).
Jesus was filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit, and he said, “O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike. Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way” (Luke 10:21; NLT).
Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again – rejoice! (Philippians 4:4; NLT).
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).
The LORD will hold you in his hand (Isaiah 62:3; NLT).
May we live in your hands,
And dwell in your mind;
Keep your commands,
And always be kind.
May we stay in your heart,
And rest in your soul;
Never depart,
And there be made whole.
His hands make whole (Job 5:18; KJV).
References
I command you this day to love the LORD your God and to keep his commands, decrees and regulations by walking in his ways (Deuteronomy 30:16; NLT).
I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands (Exodus 20:6; NLT).
How kind the LORD is! Psalm 116:5; NLT).
He is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked (Luke 6:35; NLT).
Be kind to everyone (2 Timothy 2:24; NLT).
God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them (1 John 4:16; NLT).
Be still in the presence of the LORD (Psalm 37:7; NLT).
Here, in stillness,
Here, in silence,
Here, in darkness –
You are light.
Here, in splendour,
Here, in rapture,
Here, in oneness –
You are truth.
Here, in trouble,
Here, in failure,
Here, in ruin –
You are peace.
Here, in sorrow,
Here, in longing,
Here, in anguish –
You are love.
God is love (1 John 4:16; NLT).
References
God is light (1 John 1:5; NLT).
The Spirit is truth (1 John 5:6; NKJV).
The Lord is peace (Judges 6:24; NLT).
I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life. And I assure you that the time is coming, indeed it’s here now, when the dead will hear my voice – the voice of the Son of God. And those who listen will live (John 5:24-5; NLT).
One day
I will hear your voice,
And feel my spirit rise.
One day
I will take your hand,
And look into your eyes.
One day
You will smile at me,
And banish all my fears.
One day
You will make me well,
And wipe away my tears.
One day
We will kiss, and laugh,
And dance, Lord, in your light.
One day
We will merge,
For I am precious in your sight.
Yes, 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).
You are precious in my sight and honored, and I love you (Isaiah 43:4; CSB).
References
My beloved is mine and I am his (Song of Songs 2:16; NIV).
There will be no night there – no need for lamps or sun – for the Lord God will shine on them. And they will reign forever and ever (Revelation 22:5; NLT).
Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life” (John 8:12; NLT).
Reading: John 1:1-5.
Interfaith silence:
Lay aside hate.
Interfaith stillness:
Just sit and wait.
Interfaith darkness:
Set aside fear.
Interfaith sharing:
Friendship is near.
Interfaith learning:
Growing in trust.
Interfaith insight:
Now we are us.
Interfaith service:
Healing the past.
Interfaith caring:
Oneness, at last.
He loves us with unfailing love (Psalm 117:2; NLT).
I love you, Lord (Psalm 18:1; NLT).
You love me,
And I love you –
Thank you that
We’re one, not two.
I love you,
And you love me –
Jesus, you have
Set me free.
One in body,
Heart and mind –
Our shared aim
Is being kind.
One in spirit
And in soul –
Loving you, Lord,
Makes me whole.
Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour (Matthew 9:22, KJV).
We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them (1 John 4:16; NLT).
References
I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine (Song of Solomon 6:3
My beloved is mine and I am his (Song of Solomon 2:16, NIV).
Be kind to everyone (2 Timothy 2:24, 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. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith. I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead! (Philippians 3:8-11, NLT).
God sits above the circle of the earth (Isaiah 40:22; NLT).
God above us,
Brooding, wise:
You hear each cry of grief,
Each breath.
God beside us,
Here on earth:
You give all beings
Life and death.
God in every
Heart and soul:
You are our pearl,
Our King of kings.
God amongst us,
We are one:
Please shelter us
Beneath your wings.
Let me live forever in your sanctuary, safe beneath the shelter of your wings (Psalm 61:4; NLT).
Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life” (John 8:12; NLT).
Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you (Matthew 7:7; NLT).
Seek light
In the heart of the gospel;
Find hope
In the heart of God’s Word.
Seek faith
In the heart of the gospel;
Find peace
In the heart of the Lord.
Seek joy
In the heart of the gospel;
Find strength
In the heart of God’s Son.
Seek life
In the heart of the gospel;
Find truth there –
In Christ we are one.
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).
I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one (John 17:22; NLT).
References
In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it (John 1:1-5; NLT).
We proclaim to you the one who existed from the beginning, whom we have heard and seen. We saw him with our own eyes and touched him with our own hands. He is the Word of life (1 John 1:1; NLT).
I have put my hope in your word (Psalm 119:74; NLT).
The LORD is peace (Judges 6:24; NLT).
God’s word lives in your hearts (1 John 2:14; NLT).
No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is himself God, is near to the Father’s heart. He has revealed God to us (John 1:18; NLT).
This one who is life itself was revealed to us, and we have seen him. And now we testify and proclaim to you that he is the one who is eternal life. He was with the Father, and then he was revealed to us (1 John 1:2; NLT).
Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up (John 2:19; NLT).
In just three days I’ll rise again,
And you will see my joyful face.
You’ll touch my wounds,
And hear my voice again,
And know my grace.
In just three days I will rebuild
My temple in your flesh and blood.
I’ll heal your heart,
And mend your broken spirit
With my love.
In just three days you’ll see again
My way, my truth, my shining light.
Then we’ll be one
For evermore –
And you will share my life.
I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead! (Philippians 3:8-11; NLT).
Rejoice that you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed at the revelation of His glory (1Peter 4:13; CSB).
Reading: John 20:24-9; NLT.