This abandon to the love of Christ is the one thing that bears fruit in the life, and it will always leave the impression of the holiness and the power of God, never of personal holiness.
From 2 Corinthians 5:14-15: “For the love of Christ urges us on, because we are convinced that one has died for all; therefore all have died. And He died for all, so that those who live might live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died and was raised for them.”
From Psalm 146:1-2: “Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, O my soul! I will praise the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God all my life long.”
Singing praises to Holy Lord
Looking up to heavens beyond
Rejoicing, filled with His glory
Trusting faith, believers respond
Building our daily faith and hope
Targeting His grace for our needs
Magnifying love with mercy
Looking upon each tender reed
Blessing earth’s next generation
Doing great things, God is His name
Showing almighty, loving strength
Lighting our way, eternal flame
Watching over His creation
Conceiving heavens high above
Reigning forever and ever
Downloading His infinite love
From Luke 1:46-48: “And Mary said, ‘My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for He has looked with favor on the lowliness of His servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed.'”
Seeking lasting peace
Reverent morning prayer—
Kinship with our Lord
Take each perfect gift
Coming from our Creator—
Transformed by His grace
Respond to His call
Loving hearts serving neighbors—
God of Mercy leads
From Romans 5:5: “Hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.”
Holy Spirit leading
Life takes Father’s high road
His love pours into us
Following divine code
Holy Spirit shaping
Jesus shares Father’s grace
Character’s makeover
Transforming life’s dark place
Holy Spirit aiming
Righteous hand reaches out
Christ ties our sin in knots
Replenishing life’s drought
Holy Spirit forging
God’s desires take over
Feet now follow Jesus
Tasting sweetest clover
Holy Spirit guiding
Actions change journey’s path
Grace strengthens faith and hope
Producing life’s new code
From Romans 8:26-27: “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.”
Praying for others through God’s love . . .
Praying with patience and care
Asking God with nothing to spare
Witnessing son’s lasting love for his Dad
Time spent together, making both glad
Bringing empathy and care to a young boy
Cancer rages, but medical staff deploys
Waiting for prodigal children to return
Inviting God, His lessons will be learned
Watching a lost mother, now showing love
Children feeling God’s mercy, from above
Allowing time to heal a brother’s relationship
Now picking up the phone, full of friendship
Battling health problems for years and years
Faithfulness and hope carry on, without fear
Nurturing a relationship, despite great distance
Love flourishes, with God’s constant assistance
Finding life no longer survives through a bottle
Weekly AA meetings turn up a man’s throttle
Moving to a new city, with its new demands
New job arrives, life settles in God’s hands
Feeling empty loneliness, each and every day
Woman discovers love, with so much to say
Revealing unconditional love toward a spouse
Love carries on, refilling this blessed house
Sacrificing His Son for our sinful ways
God offers Jesus, with Salvation today
Praying for others through God’s love . . .
Children
God’s treasures
Heed His call
Care for each one
Entrusted
Children
Innocent lives
Nurtured with care
Making our world better
Adored
Children
Precious gifts
Share God’s love
Protect them from harm
Cherished
From Mark 10:14:16: “‘Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.’ And He took them up in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them.”
Our children and grandchildren
Grace fills their nurturing love
For generations to come
With God calling out with love
Young, innocent, and fragile
Our youth require constant love
Their welfare rests in our hands
With God sending lasting love
Our decisions beg wisdom
Cherished treasures need our love
Number “One” priority
With God shielding through His love
Unselfish, humble adults
Time to step forward with love
Our angry wrangling at rest
With God moving hearts with love
Common sense should always lead
Precious children seek our love
Misplaced actions now buried
With God dispatching His love
From 1 Corinthians 13:11-13: “When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became an adult, I put an end to childish ways. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known. And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love.”
As a community, we are called by God to provide for the health, safety, and welfare of our children and grandchildren. There can be no greater calling when we are encouraged by the love and grace of our Heavenly Father.
From John 6:35: “Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”
Gathering in community
Preparing for His Hungry Feast
Coming to Heavenly Father
Worshipping Christ, our Holy Priest
Traveling life’s difficult road
Hungering for peace in our hearts
Tasting fellowship with Jesus
Targeting us with grace-filled darts
Fulfilling hope from Father’s love
Joining at His holy table
Seeking lasting, peaceful comfort
Witnessing Bethlehem’s stable
Rejecting evil’s dark presence
Praising and worshipping our Lord
Filling our hunger from His feast
Riding Gospel’s train . . . all aboard!
From Matthew 5:6: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”
The hymn “We Come to the Hungry Feast” inspired the writing of this poem. Some churches also use this tune as a communion hymn.
Beware of idols
Turning away, seeking truth—
Placing faith in God
Love abides in God
Seeking lost and wayward sheep—
Welcoming each home
Father, be gracious
Faithful promises leading—
Hearing each prayer
When Jesus asks His followers to be like salt, He is reminding us that we are valuable and necessary in bringing out the best–in one another as well as the world–through ordinary acts of service, mercy, love, and humility.
From Mark 9:49-50: “For everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is good; but if salt has lost its saltiness, how can you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”
