Monday, May 29, 2017

Love that lasts forever

To those who honor God,
the lasting love of the Lord
will go on and on –
forever.

And to those who keep His covenant
and remember His right ways,
the goodness of the Lord
will reach
[teach, influence, affect]
our children’s children.

Today's Bible reading in Psalm 103:17-18 has been prayer-a-phrased by Mary Sayler, ©2017, with the help of many translations found on Bible Gateway.


Friday, May 26, 2017

The other half of John 3:16

For God so loved
and prized all
of His creation,
He gave
His Only God-Son
that whosoever believes

in Him

will not pass away
and be gone forever
but will have eternal life

in Him.

For God did not send
His Son to us
to accuse and condemn us,
but that we
and the whole world
might be saved
through Him –


Jesus Christ
The Way.

John 3:16-17 as prayer-a-phrased by Mary Sayler, ©2017, in the blessed company of many translations found on Bible Gateway













Wednesday, May 24, 2017

Love and honor others

Devote yourself
to loving God’s children.

Give unto others
the honor you want.



Romans 12:10 prayer-a-phrased by Mary Harwell Sayler, ©2017, after reading various translations on Bible Gateway.


Tuesday, May 23, 2017

Call to freedom

Brothers! Sisters!
You are free
to do as you please!

But, oh, don’t squander
your liberty
on enslaving
sin!

Use your freedom
to help others,
serve others,
and live a life of love.


Galatians 5:13 prayer-a-phrased by Mary Harwell Sayler, © 2017, after reading various translations on Bible Gateway.



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.


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 


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


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



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

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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














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.


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What the Bible Says About Love - the book

God IS love. From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible reveals the timeless, unchanging, ever-present love of God the Father, Son, and Holy S...