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. 

…

Love shines from the Golden Rule

“Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets,” Matthew 7:12, King James Version (KJV.)

“Do to others whatever you would have them do to you. This is the law and the prophets,” Matthew 7:12, New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE.)

“In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets,” Matthew 7:12, New American Standard Bible (NASB.)

“Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets,” Matthew 7:12, New Living Translation (NLT.)

The Golden Life

Love others
The Way
you want them
to love you.

Love others,
and you will
fulfill
what the Law
and Prophets
agree our
God of Love
requires.

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

...

Nothing can separate you from God’s love

Romans 8:38-39

For I am totally convinced
that neither death nor life,
nor angels nor principalities
nor powers,
nor things present
nor things to come,
nor height nor depth,
nor any other created thing,
shall be able to separate us
from the love of God
which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.


©2014, Mary Sayler prayer-a-phrased from Romans 8:38-39 with the parallel translations found on Bible Gateway.

...

Love, like a good child, obeys God

And they brought little children to Jesus
for Him to lay His hands on them
and pray for them.

But His followers spoke sternly
to those who brought the children
until Jesus said, “Let
the little children come to Me
without hindrance
for the Kingdom of Heaven
belongs to little ones.”

And He touched each child
before going on His way.

Then someone said,
“Good teacher, what good
must I do to get eternal life?”

And Jesus said, “Why do you ask Me
about doing good? Only One is good!
If you want to have life in God,
keep the commandments.”

“Which ones?" the man asked,
and Jesus replied,

“You shall not commit murder.
You shall not commit adultery.
You shall not commit theft.
You shall not give false testimony,
but you shall
honor your father and mother,
and you shall love your neighbors
as though giving God’s love to yourself.”

©2013, Mary Sayler prayer-a-phrased today’s Gospel reading from Matthew 19:13-20 using parallel translations found on Bible Gateway.

…

Jesus gives all-forgiving love

Then they came to Calvary,
the place called The Skull,
the place where
they nailed
Jesus to the cross –
right there –
placed between two criminals,

and Jesus said, “Father,
forgive them
for they don’t know what
they’re doing.”


©2013, Mary Sayler prayer-a-phrased today’s Gospel reading from Luke 23:33-34 with parallel translations found on Bible Gateway.

Thank God for love

As the Apostle Paul wrote to Philemon, so he writes to us:

Grace to you and peace
from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ.

As I mention you in my prayers,
I thank God for your love
toward all the people of God
and for your faith toward the Lord Jesus.

I pray your sharing of faith
may become effective
as you know every good
given for the glory of Christ.

For I have received great joy
and encouragement from your love,
and the hearts of the saints
have been refreshed through you.

©2013, Mary Sayler, prayer-a-phrase of today’s Daily Bible Reading in Philemon 1:3-7

~~~

Love one another in Christ

Let your love for one another continue.
Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers,
for without even knowing it,
you might entertain angels!

Remember people in prison
as though you were locked up with them.
Remember those being mistreated
as though you yourselves were being hurt.

Honor marriage, and keep
your marriage bed unsoiled
for God will judge unfaithfulness.

Keep your lives free from loving money,
and be satisfied with what you have,
for God has said,
"I will never leave you nor forsake you."

Therefore, with confidence, we can say:
"The Lord is my helper!
I will not be afraid.
What can anyone do to me?"

Remember your leaders,
who spoke the word of God to you.
Consider their good way of life,
and imitate their faith.
For Jesus Christ is the same –
yesterday, today, and forever.

Through Him let us give God
a sacrifice of praise.
Let our lips – fruitfully and continually –
confess His name.

And do not neglect doing good
or sharing what you have
for these sacrifices of love
please God.

©2013, Mary Sayler, prayer-a-phrase of today’s Daily Bible Reading in Hebrews 13:1-8, 13:15-16

Living Love

As the Father loves His Son,
so Christ loves you.

Live in His love.

If you obey the LORD,
you will indeed abide –

dwell, settle down, and reside –

in Christ’s love
as He lives in the love
of our Father.

How?
Love one another
as Christ loves us!

No greater love can we possess
than this: His love
laid down for our lives.


© 2013, Mary Sayler, prayer-a-phrase, John 15:9-13

God’s costly love for everyone

God the Father
loved the world
so very much
He gave His only Son,
so everyone
who believes in Him
will not perish but will
have life forever.

For God the Father
did not send
His Son into the world
to condemn the world,
but that, through Him,
the whole world might be saved.

And all who believe in Him
are never condemned,
but oh, those who do not believe
have already been sentenced
because they found no faith –
in the Name
of God’s only Son.

So this is the verdict:
Light came into the world,
but people loved darkness
to hide their sinfulness.
And all who act abhorrently
apparently hate the Light
and will not come to light,
so no one can see what they’re doing.

But those who want what’s true
do come to the Light,
so everyone can clearly see
their deeds have been done in sight
of God –
the Father Who so loves.

© 2013, Mary Sayler, prayer-a-phrase, John 3:16-21

Bible-taught love

Dear Child of God,
teach others about true love:

Let the older men know
to show self-control,
thoughtfulness, and wisdom
with sound faith, patience,
and a pure love
that endures.

Let the older women know
to live with reverence
for God and life,
avoiding too much wine
and unkind words of any kind
as they teach what’s good
and show young women how
they should respect their husbands
and love their families –
becoming their biggest fans!

Such behavior will reflect well
on the Word of God.

And, as you urge young men
to show control, let your life
display a sure way to integrity,
gravity, and pure speech
that speaks well for each
of us in Jesus’ Name
as true love puts evil to shame.

© 2013, Mary Sayler, prayer-a-phrase, Titus 2:1-8

~~

#Valentine from God

Holy, holy, holy
are you to the LORD –
treasured and held
by the heart of God.

Even though few,
the LORD loved you
and kept the vows
sworn to you
as Family.

With power, the LORD
bought your freedom

from anything that enslaved you,
from anyone who held you hostage
from anywhere foreign
to where God Is.

And, therefore,
you can be sure of this:

The LORD, your God
is the only God,

loyal to all who
accept the covenant
with the LORD God,
Who Is and Will Be
keeping a faithful
love vow with your
whole Family for
a thousand generations,
starting now.


© 2013, Mary Sayler, prayer-a-phrase, Deuteronomy 7:6-10

Who gives up God for Lent?

And now says the LORD

Return to Me with all your heart!
Fast! Weep! Mourn!

In grief, tear not your garments, but tear
your hearts in regret
and sorrow for your sin.

Return to the LORD your God Who Is

gracious, merciful,

slow to anger,

and unswerving

in love –

a God – your God
Who wants not to punish
but turn toward you

with bread and wine
and blessing.


© 2013, Mary Sayler, prayer-a-phrase of today’s Bible reading from the Prophets, Joel 2:12-14