Jesus Christ says, I love you!

I correct and discipline
those whom I love.

I correct and discipline
you, My love.

Be earnest about turning
your heart and life
toward Me.

Listen!
I’m standing at your door,
knocking.

If you sense My voice
and open your heart, I
will come in
to be with you
and sit down with you,
and together,
we shall dine.

Stay with Me, and I
will seat you near My throne,
just as My Father did for Me.

If you can hear,
listen –
listen to what the Spirit
is saying to you
who live in Me.

Revelation 3:19-22


©2014, Mary Sayler, a poet, writer, and lifelong lover of Christ, the Bible, and the church, prayer-a-phrased today’s reading in Revelation by comparing translations on Bible Gateway.

…

What love does

Remind everyone to obey
those in authority
and be ready to do good.

Remind everyone not
to talk ill of anyone nor
quarrel, but be
gentle and respectful of all.

Remember how we once
foolishly disobeyed? We, too,
went the way of envy
and other evils, and, oh, how
we hated one another!

Then God
our Savior
showed us true
kindness and love
by saving us –
not because
of anything
we had done,
but because
of God’s own
mercy.

And God cleansed us from sin
and gave us a fresh start
and gave us a new life in the Spirit
and generously poured into us
the Holy Spirit of our Savior
Jesus Christ.

God’s grace made us righteous.
God's gift gave us confidence
and hope
of life
forever in Christ.

Titus 3:1-7


©2014, Mary Sayler, a poet, writer, and lifelong lover of the Bible, prayer-a-phrased today’s reading in Titus by comparing translations on Bible Gateway.


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How to imitate Christ’s love

Philippians 2:1-5

Beloved,
If you can find any encouragement in Christ,
any comfort in God’s love,
any fellowship in the Holy Spirit,
any compassion and any mercy anywhere,
you’ll bring joy to the Family of God
by having the same mind,
the same love,
the same loving thoughts
to unite your hearts.

Instead of focusing only on yourself
and the attention you might like,
focus on other people
and their needs.

Then you’ll see – really see –
and look out for others
The Way
Christ Jesus looks out
through His love for you.


©2014, Mary Sayler prayer-a-phrased today’s Bible reading in Philippians 2:1-5 by comparing translations found on Bible Gateway.

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How faith in Christ leads us to love

Because of our faith
in the Lord Jesus Christ,
we have been made right with God!

With God, we have peace.

Because of our faith
in the Lord Jesus Christ,
we have access
to the Grace of God,
and we rejoice in the hope
of God’s Glory.

We can even rejoice
in our troubles,
knowing that trials help us
to endure,
and endurance develops
our character,
and character strengthens
our hope,
and hope will not lead
to disappointment

because the Love of God
pours into our hearts,
through the Holy Spirit,
Who has been given to us
and keeps filling us
with God’s Love.

©2014, Mary Sayler prayer-a-phrased Romans 5:1-5 from the poetic words found in many translations on Bible Gateway.

…

God’s Love reaches everywhere and to all

Prayer-a-phrase of Psalm 36:5-9

O, Lord God,
Your Love reaches beyond the heavens
and Your faithfulness
beyond any clouds we may see.

Higher than great mountains
is Your righteousness,
and Your fair justice
fills the great deep.

What loving care You take
of all living creatures!

How priceless, O God,
is Your loving kindness!

All who trust You will
find shelter beneath Your wings.

For You pour
Your very own goodness into us
and help us to be delighted
with Your good gifts.

O Lord,
You are the Fountain of Life,
and in Your Light,
we see light.


Prayer: In Your love, Lord God, help us to see the love around us in Jesus’ Name.


©2014, Mary Sayler prayer-a-phrased the above poem from the many translations of Psalm 36 found on Bible Gateway.
…

Be Loved, Children of God

Oh, look and see
what manner of love
our Father has given to us
and called us
into being who we
are meant to be –
the loving Children of God.

The world might not see us this way
if it does not yet know
our God as Love.

But, Beloved, be loved!

For now
we are God’s children.

Not yet have we been shown
what we shall become,
but we can be sure –
when our God of love
is fully known –
we shall see Pure Love
as our God truly is.

1 John 3:1-2


©2014, Mary Sayler prayer-a-phrased the above poem from verses found in the translations on Bible Gateway.

 

…

Living the love

Romans 12:9-21 as prayer-a-phrased
by Mary Harwell Sayler

Let your love be genuine
and sincere.

Abhor what is evil.
Hold on to what is good.

Love one another
like an affectionate family.

Take delight
in honoring each other.

Be enthusiastic!

Let the Holy Spirit
glow in you
as you serve the Lord.

Oh, how blessed you are
to have hope!

Hope helps you to be patient
in times of trouble,
but keep on praying too.

Give what you can
to God’s people,
and warmly
welcome strangers.

Bless and do not curse
those who mistreat you.

Rejoice in the joy of others,
and weep with those who weep.

Regard everyone fairly
with equal care,
and never think of yourself
as better or wiser
than anyone else.

Do not pay back evil for evil,
but let your actions honor
all that's good.

As much as possible,
live at peace with other people
and look not to retaliate,
but leave it up to God.

If your enemies are hungry,
feed them!

If your enemies thirst,
give them something to drink.

Showing love like this
will convict them
and convince them of shame
as surely as if they carried
a pan of red-hot coals
on their heads
for everyone to see!

Let no evil defeat you,
but overcome evil
with good.


©2014, Mary Sayler, a life-long student of the Bible and poet-author of many traditionally published books, prayer-a-phrased the above poem by researching and reading the wealth of translations found on Bible Gateway.


...

The LORD God rejoices over you!

Poem prayer-a-phrase
Zephaniah 3:17

The LORD, your God,
lives with you -
mighty to save!

The LORD, your God,
rejoices over you
with gladness
and renews your life
in His love.

The LORD, your God
sings and celebrates
because of you
and cheers you on
and on.


©2014, Mary Sayler prayer-a-phrased the above poem from parallel translations found on Bible Gateway. 

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