NOTHING removes us from Christ’s love

What can possibly separate us from Christ’s love?
Can pain and suffering, hardships or distress,
harassment, torment, or torture,
starvation or destitution,
danger or death? No!

The Scriptures say, “For Your sake, Lord,
we’ve been destroyed. We've been thought of
as sheep to be slaughtered!”

But, now –
in all these things we are more than conquerors
through Christ Jesus Who loves us!

For I am certain that neither death nor life,
neither angels nor principalities,
neither anything going on right now
nor anything yet to come –

not soaring heights or plunging depths,
and not anything in all of creation
will ever be able to separate us
from the love of God,
which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.


Romans 8:35-38 prayer-a-phrased by Mary Sayler, © 2017, with scriptures from the many translations found on Bible Gateway.

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Jesus: The Love Offering

Here’s what real love really is –
no, not our love for God.

Real love is God
in love with us.

God the Father sent
His Son to die in our place –

to take away our sins,
our mistakes, our
wrongdoings,

to become
the one truly needed
sacrifice –

for God to forgive us –
fully,
wholly –
making amends.


Mary Sayler, © 2017, prayer-a-phrased today’s reading in 1 John 4:10 using various translations found on Bible Gateway.

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Our Old Testament God and Love

Some of us think of our Old Testament God as harsh and vengeful, but that’s not what the Hebrew writers who intimately knew God had to say. Nor is that what we will continue to think if we believe God is faultless, flawless, constant, and in no need of change.

From Genesis to Revelation, we have the same God – everlasting to everlasting. However, our perception of God does change as our understanding broadens and matures. For example, try explaining a difficult situation to a young child, who’s incapable of getting what you’re doing or why at that particular moment. Much later, the same circumstances might become clear as the maturing person understands you did what was best at the time.

God always does what’s best for us!

God’s actions may seem to be harsh or vengeful when needed to chastise, correct, and get a person (or peoples) back on the right track. Nevertheless, we can trust God’s actions to flow from an epicenter of perfect love – a love that began in the beginning as many Hebrew writers clearly showed:

“Therefore, know
the Lord your God
faithfully keeps His promises –
from generation to generation –
and clearly shows love and kindness
to those who love and obey Him,”
Deuteronomy 7:9.

“How priceless is Your persistent love, O God!
We children take cover in the shadow of Your wings,”
Psalm 36:7.

“By day, the Lord sends forth His faithful love.
By night, His song stays with me,”
Psalm 42:8.

“O Lord, I trust You with my soul!
For You are good and ready to forgive,
abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon You,”
Psalm 86:4-5

“Don’t tear your clothes! Open your heart!
Return to the Lord your God,
Who is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and abounding
in a love that will not waver,”
Joel 2:13.

“The Lord Your God lives among You –
the Mighty One Who saves!
Gladly, God rejoices over you.
His love comforts you.
God celebrates your life with song,”
Zephaniah 3:17


Scriptures prayer-a-phrased by Mary Sayler, © 2017-2019, using Bible verses from many translations found on Bible Gateway.


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Love God. Love the children of God

If we say, “I love God!”
but loathe a brother
or sister in Christ,
we’re lying!

If we have no regard
for Christians we see,
how can we love God
Who cannot be seen?

The Lord gives this clear command:
If we truly love God, we’ll truly care
about the children of God.

1 John 4:20-21 from the Verse of the Day posted by Bible Gateway and prayer-a-phrased by Mary Sayler, © 2017


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Watch out for love!

Joshua 23:11: “Be very watchful of yourselves to love the LORD your God.”

Prayer:

Parents often tell their children
to be watchful of potential dangers:
fast-moving traffic,
enticing strangers,
weird weather, or whatever
seems worrisome,
and You, Heavenly Father,
remind us of this too.
But, I do not remember
ever telling my children
to watch out for love:

Yes!
Let us be watchful of kind acts
and learn from them with thanksgiving.
Let us be on the lookout for caring faces
of people who love to help, and let us
listen carefully to tones of voice
accompanying tender words
and honest prayer.

Oh, Lord, my God,
help me to notice You.
Help me to be aware
of Your ongoing goodness
and amazing creativity.

Let me not be distracted
by moods, emotions, desires,
or anything that takes my attention
from You.

Help me to praise You, notice the love
around me,
and give You the love You deserve.

Thoughts: Busyness and skewed priorities often take our focus from God and onto people, problems, or pride. If someone were watching, would that person see an obvious love for God? What evidence do I see of my faith in God and the love I have for others?

Mary Sayler, ©2016

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God Is Love

1 John 4:11-18

Beloved, God loves us so much,
we must love one another too.

No, we haven’t seen God,
and yet, by loving one another,
God lives in us!
And God’s love perfects ours.

How do we know we’re in God,
and God is in us?
We have His Spirit.

Furthermore, we have seen
(through God’s Word) how
the Father sent His Son
to save us and the world.

If we acknowledge Jesus
as the Son of God,
we can be sure God lives in us
and we in Him. And we can know
and believe in the power of love
God gives.

For God Is Love!

So as we remain in love,
God remains in us
and brings our love
to perfection.

Then we can know for sure
not to worry about judgment day
because we’re living as God wants.

Oh, Beloved, in love
there is nothing to fear!

God’s perfect love
frees us
from any fears we have
of being punished,
tormented, or even
harshly rebuked.

So if you’re still afraid,
pray to experience
ever more fully
the pure, pure love
of God.

© 2016, Mary Sayler prayer-a-phrased today’s reading in 1 John 4 with the help of several of the many translations found on Bible Gateway.

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Obliged to love

Romans 13:8-10

Don’t be obliged
to anyone for anything
except for being
obligated to love.

Whoever loves others
has fulfilled the law!

Consider the commandments:

Do not commit adultery with anyone.
Do not murder anyone.
Do not steal from anyone.
Do not scheme to get
what anyone else has.

See?
The commandments add up to one:

Love anyone as yourself.

Love harms no one!
Therefore, your love fulfills God’s law.


© 2015, Mary Sayler prayer-a-phrased today’s reading in Romans 13 from several of the many translations on Bible Gateway

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Christ’s love does not let us down

Romans 5:5-11

Our hope in Christ Jesus
does not disappoint us
or put us to shame
because the Holy Spirit
pours into us
the love of God!

For when we were weak and helpless
and unable to save ourselves,
Christ died for all of us – sinners all –
at just the right time.

Think of it! Few of us would be willing
to die for someone else, though, perhaps,
we might for family or friend.

But the Lord proved His amazing love for us
that, while we were way far away from God,

Christ died for us:

justifying us by His blood,
saving us from end-time wrath,
reconciling us to God by His death.

Oh, how much more
will our lives be saved by His life!

Praise God!

Through Jesus Christ our Lord
our fellowship with God, ourselves,
and one another is restored!


© 2015, Mary Sayler prayer-a-phrased today’s reading in Romans 5:5-11 from several of the many translations found on Bible Gateway

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To the young or inexperienced

1 Timothy 4:12-16

Beloved,
give no one cause to look down on you
just because you’re young or inexperienced.

Set a good example
by the way you speak, act,
and show love, faith, and
wholesome behavior.

Keep reading God’s word
before teaching
or exhorting anyone else.

And do not neglect
the God-given gift
you have received –
conferred to you
through the church.

Practice these things.

Be committed to them.

Then your spiritual growth
will be a blessing to everyone.

Take care of yourself
and what you say
in teaching others.

As you keep on doing
your work in the Lord,
you’ll receive saving grace
for yourself and all who listen.

© 2015, Mary Sayler prayer-a-phrased these words from today’s Epistle reading in 1 Timothy by drawing on a variety of translations on Bible Gateway.

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For God so loved the world

John 3:13-17

And Jesus said,
“No one has gone up to heaven
except The One
who came down from heaven:
the Son of Man.

And as Moses lifted up
the serpent in the desert,
so must the Son of Man be lifted up,
so that everyone who believes in Him
may have everlasting life.”

For God so loved the world,
He gave His only Son
so that everyone
who believes in Him
might not perish
but have eternal life.

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


© 2015, Mary Sayler prayer-a-phrased these lines from today’s Gospel reading in John with the help of translations on Bible Gateway.

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Deck yourself out in love

Colossians 3:12-17

You are God’s chosen ones –
the holy elect –
dearly loved!

Now clothes yourselves
in mercy, kindness,
gentleness, and patience,
so you can bear up
under complaints
and forgive one another
as the Lord has forgiven you.

Beyond this
clothe yourself in love –
the perfect bond –

and let the peace of Christ
control your hearts.

You’re called to be
One Body in peace,
so be thankful!

Let the word of Christ live
in you richly
as you teach
and exhort one another
with wisdom,
singing Psalms and hymns
and spiritual songs
with hearts given in grace
to God.

And whatever you do –
whether in words or actions –
do all in the Name
of the Lord Jesus
with thanks to God our Father
to Whom we belong
in Christ.

© 2015, Mary Harwell Sayler prayer-a-phrased today’s reading from Colossians with help from the many translations on Bible Gateway.

Love brings home the Lord

John 14:23

Jesus answered and said,

If you love Me,
you will keep My word,
and My Father will love you.
And We will come to you,
and make Our Home
to be at home
with you.

©2015, Mary Harwell Sayler prayer-a-phrased this verse in the Gospel of John with readings from many of the translations provided on Bible Gateway.
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