Posted on by Lesley

Love, for the Day Is Near

Love Fulfills The Law

 Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. 9 The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

The Day Is Near

11 And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12 The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. 14 Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.

Romans 13:8-13 New International Version (NIV)

Posted on by Lesley

The Lord Watches Over You

Precious Lord Jesus, how great You are and I just want to kneel before You today to say thank You. Thank You that Your blessings and mercies are new every morning. You are a great and wonderful God and I love You.

Thank You, that Your love and grace towards me is waiting for me as I open my eyes to a new day. Thank You, that at the end of the day Your love continues to support me, to guard and protect me during the dark hours of the night.

Thank You, that as I go about my daily business and the duties of the day, You are there to lead and guide to help and to support. And thank You that no matter where I go, Your blessings hover above my head, for my hope is in You.

Thank You for Your great many precious blessings, and thank You that You pour them out on me day by day. Great is Your faithfulness O God my Saviour. All I have needed You have provided. Bless Your holy name for ever and ever,

Amen.

Source: https://prayer.knowing-jesus.com/Psalm/121

Psalm 121

I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
    where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
    the Maker of heaven and earth.

3 He will not let your foot slip—
    he who watches over you will not slumber;
4 indeed, he who watches over Israel
    will neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The Lord watches over you—
    the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
6 the sun will not harm you by day,
    nor the moon by night.

7 The Lord will keep you from all harm—
    he will watch over your life;
8 the Lord will watch over your coming and going
    both now and forevermore.

New International Version (NIV)

Posted on by Lesley

Behold, I stand and knock

THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD , 1866 PAINTING BY WILLIAM HOLMAN HUNT

The figure of Christ holding a lantern and knocking on a wooden door is clear enough. Momentary study reveals that the door has no handle: it can only be opened from within. The door is the door to our hearts, and knock as loudly as he might, only we can open the door and let Christ in.

20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.

21 To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

Revelation 3:20-22

Prayer

Lord Jesus, you stand at the threshold of every heart and seek the welcome of an open door. As our doorbells invite us to welcome friends and strangers alike, may we also invite and welcome you as a permanent guest into our lives. Amen

Source: Adapted from At Home In Lent – An exploration of Lent through 46 objects by Gordon Giles.

Posted on by Lesley

Come to Him – the Living Stone

22 Now that you have taken care to purify your souls through your submission to the truth, you can experience real love for each other. So love each other deeply from a [pure] heart. 23 You have been reborn—not from seed that eventually dies but from seed that is eternal—through the word of God that lives and endures forever. 24 For as Isaiah said,

All life is like the grass,
    and its glory like a flower;
The grass will wither and die,
    and the flower falls,
25 But the word of the Lord will endure forever.

This is the word that has been preached to you.

(1 Peter 1:22-25 The Voice Translation)

2 So get rid of hatefulness and deception, of insincerity and jealousy and slander. 2 Be like newborn babies, crying out for spiritual milk that will help you grow into salvation 3 if you have tasted and found the Lord to be good. 4 Come to Him—the living stone—who was rejected by people but accepted by God as chosen and precious.

(1 Peter 2: 1-4 The Voice Translation)