Tuesday, May 16, 2017
God is with you!
The LORD your God
is right here
with you –
the Mighty One Who
saves
you.
What delight
the LORD takes
in you!
Celebrate God’s love!
With joy
the LORD your God
will sing and rejoice
over you.
Mary Sayler, © 2017, prayer-a-phrased today’s Bible reading of Zephaniah 3:17 as found in various translations on Bible Gateway.
…
Friday, April 7, 2017
Getting crucified with Christ
Resurrection Power
Galatians 2:20
Look! That’s me on the cross –
selfishness crucified, so
my truest self can now
receive You, Lord.
Now
I can live by You in faith!
Now
I can live in You Who loves me.
Mary Sayler, © 2017, prayer-a-phrased Galatians 2:20 as a poem after reading various translations of today’s Bible verse on Bible Gateway.
…
Galatians 2:20
Look! That’s me on the cross –
selfishness crucified, so
my truest self can now
receive You, Lord.
Now
I can live by You in faith!
Now
I can live in You Who loves me.
Mary Sayler, © 2017, prayer-a-phrased Galatians 2:20 as a poem after reading various translations of today’s Bible verse on Bible Gateway.
…
Thursday, April 6, 2017
Living real love
1 John 3:16
How do we know what real love is?
Jesus!
He exchanged – surrendered –
His life on earth
for our lives eternal.
Now let’s give Him our lives
(give up our wants and wishes)
to provide for the needs
of our brothers and sisters
in Christ.
Mary Sayler, © 2017, prayer-a-phrased today’s Bible reading of 1 John 3:16 with the help of various translations found on Bible Gateway.
Mary's newest book PRAISE! with contemporary psalms and free verse poems has been released by Cladach Publishing
…
How do we know what real love is?
Jesus!
He exchanged – surrendered –
His life on earth
for our lives eternal.
Now let’s give Him our lives
(give up our wants and wishes)
to provide for the needs
of our brothers and sisters
in Christ.
Mary Sayler, © 2017, prayer-a-phrased today’s Bible reading of 1 John 3:16 with the help of various translations found on Bible Gateway.
Mary's newest book PRAISE! with contemporary psalms and free verse poems has been released by Cladach Publishing
…
Friday, March 31, 2017
Jesus commands: Love!
In the Ten Commandments, God gave us our marching orders! Those directives are meant to instruct, guide, and transform our daily lives and develop the right kind of relationship with God, ourselves, and other people.
Revisiting those commandments or “Ten Words” in Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5, we might think we’ve obeyed them all, and externally speaking, that may be true. But Jesus gets into our minds and hearts with His one command: “Love one another as I love you,” John 15:12.
Not only would that one commandment fulfill all ten, but this marching order takes the Golden Rule to a higher level. i.e., Instead of “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you,” we’re told to treat one another the way Jesus would treat us – with relentless love.
This doesn’t just mean to love each other the way we love ourselves since that might not be nearly enough! We’re to love each other the way Jesus loves us – nearly and dearly. Then, as we believe in, accept, and receive Jesus’ love, we’re ready to let His love fill us and overflow.
Mary Sayler on John 15:12 and the Ten Commandments as found in the many translations on Bible Gateway
…
Revisiting those commandments or “Ten Words” in Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5, we might think we’ve obeyed them all, and externally speaking, that may be true. But Jesus gets into our minds and hearts with His one command: “Love one another as I love you,” John 15:12.
Not only would that one commandment fulfill all ten, but this marching order takes the Golden Rule to a higher level. i.e., Instead of “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you,” we’re told to treat one another the way Jesus would treat us – with relentless love.
This doesn’t just mean to love each other the way we love ourselves since that might not be nearly enough! We’re to love each other the way Jesus loves us – nearly and dearly. Then, as we believe in, accept, and receive Jesus’ love, we’re ready to let His love fill us and overflow.
Mary Sayler on John 15:12 and the Ten Commandments as found in the many translations on Bible Gateway
…
Tuesday, March 14, 2017
Growing in love
To your faith, do your best to add goodness,
and to that goodness, increase your knowledge.
Then what you know can help to guide your actions.
And, with this self-control, persist in showing
devoted service to God, especially by being
kind to every brother and sister in Christ.
To all of this add agape – not just brotherly
love or passion – but benevolent, sacrificial,
godly love.
2 Peter 1:5-7 prayer-a-phrased by Mary Sayler, ©2017, using scriptures from many of the translations found on Bible Gateway
…
and to that goodness, increase your knowledge.
Then what you know can help to guide your actions.
And, with this self-control, persist in showing
devoted service to God, especially by being
kind to every brother and sister in Christ.
To all of this add agape – not just brotherly
love or passion – but benevolent, sacrificial,
godly love.
2 Peter 1:5-7 prayer-a-phrased by Mary Sayler, ©2017, using scriptures from many of the translations found on Bible Gateway
…
Monday, March 13, 2017
God is working it out!
What relief God’s Word brings even in the most difficult times!
"For we KNOW
that ALL
things WORK TOGETHER
for GOOD
for those who LOVE GOD
and are called
according to the PLAN
and purpose of GOD!"
Romans 8:28 paraphrased by Mary Sayler, © 2017, using scriptures from many of the translations on Bible Gateway
...
"For we KNOW
that ALL
things WORK TOGETHER
for GOOD
for those who LOVE GOD
and are called
according to the PLAN
and purpose of GOD!"
Romans 8:28 paraphrased by Mary Sayler, © 2017, using scriptures from many of the translations on Bible Gateway
...
Saturday, March 11, 2017
Loving like Jesus
Every time I’ve read John 13:34, I’ve been puzzled by Jesus’ words: “I’m giving you a new commandment: love one another.” Since I’ve heard that longer than I can remember, this word of exhortation did not seem new to me. But when I looked up the phrase “love one another” on Bible Gateway, I found no earlier reference.
In the Hebrew Bible, however, God says, “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might,” Deuteronomy 6:4-5. Bringing that love down to earth, Leviticus 19:18 says, “you shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
In Matthew 26:37-40, Jesus put those two commands together by saying, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment, and the second is like unto it, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
A problem arises, though, when people have trouble loving themselves, much less their neighbors! Nevertheless, God still wants this, and so the New Testament clarifies the concept of the true love to be found in Christ Jesus:
• He spoke healing words.
• He called people by name.
• He showed God’s love.
• He taught the kind attitudes we’re to have.
• He gave His life.
• He brought us life eternal.
• He called us to be brothers and sisters
• He empowered us to be children of God.
• He continues to pray for us now.
In the hours before His death, Jesus told His disciples: “I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I’ve loved you, so you also must love one another,” John 13:34.
Hopefully, we’ll love and appreciate ourselves and our neighbors. Regardless, we must love one another as conduits of Jesus Christ, Whose love flows in and through us. We can't do this by ourselves, but we can agree to it. We can give Jesus' command our amen.
May the Almighty God our Father help us to allow Christ’s love to pour forth profusely. Let it be! So be it. Amen.
Mary Sayler, © 2017, with scriptures from many of the translations on Bible Gateway
In the Hebrew Bible, however, God says, “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might,” Deuteronomy 6:4-5. Bringing that love down to earth, Leviticus 19:18 says, “you shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
In Matthew 26:37-40, Jesus put those two commands together by saying, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment, and the second is like unto it, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
A problem arises, though, when people have trouble loving themselves, much less their neighbors! Nevertheless, God still wants this, and so the New Testament clarifies the concept of the true love to be found in Christ Jesus:
• He spoke healing words.
• He called people by name.
• He showed God’s love.
• He taught the kind attitudes we’re to have.
• He gave His life.
• He brought us life eternal.
• He called us to be brothers and sisters
• He empowered us to be children of God.
• He continues to pray for us now.
In the hours before His death, Jesus told His disciples: “I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I’ve loved you, so you also must love one another,” John 13:34.
Hopefully, we’ll love and appreciate ourselves and our neighbors. Regardless, we must love one another as conduits of Jesus Christ, Whose love flows in and through us. We can't do this by ourselves, but we can agree to it. We can give Jesus' command our amen.
May the Almighty God our Father help us to allow Christ’s love to pour forth profusely. Let it be! So be it. Amen.
Mary Sayler, © 2017, with scriptures from many of the translations on Bible Gateway
Wednesday, March 1, 2017
Giving up fear for Lent and for ever
On this Ash Wednesday, let us give up all of our fears for Lent and for ever! Pray for the Lord to bind any spirit of fear in or around you and fill you with the Holy Spirit of Love, Joy, Peace, and the Power found in Jesus’ Name. As the Bible says:
God did not give us a spirit of fear!
God gave us a Spirit of Power,
a Spirit of Love,
a non-chaotic Spirit of Order
and Self-control.
2 Timothy 1:7 has been prayer-a-phrased and italicized by Mary Sayler, © 2017, using scriptures from many of the translations found on Bible Gateway.
...
God did not give us a spirit of fear!
God gave us a Spirit of Power,
a Spirit of Love,
a non-chaotic Spirit of Order
and Self-control.
2 Timothy 1:7 has been prayer-a-phrased and italicized by Mary Sayler, © 2017, using scriptures from many of the translations found on Bible Gateway.
...
Monday, February 27, 2017
Putting our loving actions where our mouth is
Dearest Children of God,
let’s not just talk about love
or say we love one another.
Let us demonstrate love
by actions
that show we truly care.
1 John 3:18 has been prayer-a-phrased in the lines above by Mary Sayler, © 2017, who used scriptures from many translations on Bible Gateway.
…
let’s not just talk about love
or say we love one another.
Let us demonstrate love
by actions
that show we truly care.
1 John 3:18 has been prayer-a-phrased in the lines above by Mary Sayler, © 2017, who used scriptures from many translations on Bible Gateway.
…
Tuesday, February 21, 2017
All of God's laws in one word
The laws of God clearly say:
Do not be unfaithful to your spouse.
Do not take the life out of anyone.
Steal absolutely nothing.
And never agonize over having
what someone else has!
These commandments
and all of God’s law can be
summed up in one word:
Love.
Care about other people
and their well-being
as much as you care
about your own.
Love
never wrongs anyone
nor wishes them ill.
So if you keep at heart
your own interests
and also your concerns
for other people, then
your love will completely
satisfy God’s law.
To show how the Bible speaks to us today, Romans 13:9-10 has been prayer-a-phrased by Mary Sayler, © 2017, who used scriptures from the many translations found on Bible Gateway.
…
Do not be unfaithful to your spouse.
Do not take the life out of anyone.
Steal absolutely nothing.
And never agonize over having
what someone else has!
These commandments
and all of God’s law can be
summed up in one word:
Love.
Care about other people
and their well-being
as much as you care
about your own.
Love
never wrongs anyone
nor wishes them ill.
So if you keep at heart
your own interests
and also your concerns
for other people, then
your love will completely
satisfy God’s law.
To show how the Bible speaks to us today, Romans 13:9-10 has been prayer-a-phrased by Mary Sayler, © 2017, who used scriptures from the many translations found on Bible Gateway.
…
Monday, February 20, 2017
Love one another
Beloved friends in Christ,
God loves us so much,
we ought also to love one another.
We haven’t seen God,
but if we give love
to people we can see,
we know God lives in us
and perfects in us His love.
1 John 4:11-12 prayer-a-phrased by Mary Sayler, © 2017, with scriptures from the many translations on Bible Gateway.
…
God loves us so much,
we ought also to love one another.
We haven’t seen God,
but if we give love
to people we can see,
we know God lives in us
and perfects in us His love.
1 John 4:11-12 prayer-a-phrased by Mary Sayler, © 2017, with scriptures from the many translations on Bible Gateway.
…
Friday, February 17, 2017
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.
...
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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