SUE O'DONNELL. 06.04.21
“Train yourself to be godly. Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.” (1 Timothy 4 v 7, 8 NLT)
Easter has come, but it has not gone!
The glory of Christ on the †, depends upon,
His glory lives ever on and on, a victory.
From all sin we are set at liberty.
“Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful and kindle within them the fire of Your love.”
(Traditional Catholic prayer)
We are pilgrims on faith’s road,
With loving help to bear life’s load.
Sadness and sorrow have to flee away,
As to the Lord God in faith we can pray.
The weary and sad He restores to life.
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1 v 4 NIV)
Overcoming sin, all its peril and strife.
Mercies are many, large and small,
When to the Lord Jesus we pray and call.
Holy love in harmony over any discord,
For the Lord Jesus, His holiness does afford.
“ ‘…with God all things are possible’.” (Matthew 19 v 26)
Hope uplifts us now and forever
For we experience true love in the Saviour.
The Father of mercy gifts us new life,
Enabled to combat that sin which is rife.
Our joy, our peace, our true delight flourished.
“Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again – rejoice!” (Philippians 4 v 4 NLT)
This is gifted as the Lord Jesus comes within sight.
The pilgrim way we tread each day
Is the place where sin is rolled away.
Holy love tends, watches and cares well for us,
When we give our life to the Saviour Christ Jesus.
“Don’t worry about anything, instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank Him for what He has done.” (Philippians 4 v 6 NLT)
The life enriching Spirit is added too,
Our faith to embolden as love shines through.
Attentive to the promptings of the Holy Spirit,
It is in love with Christ Jesus we gain some merit.
He in us and us in Him.
“The Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil. Those who have been born into God’s family do not make a practice of sinning, because God’s life is in them.” (1 John 3 v 8, 9)
A new reign of Easter love does begin.
The joy we are gifted as an Easter people without sin,
Should ring out from every bell in church steeple.
Holy inspiration and all loving guidance, a reference for God’s people!
For the power of love is always truly beneficial,
It is not ever shallow nor superficial,
Christ Jesus active in us, by the life of the Spirit, thank goodness!
Becoming our prayerful perfection and deference.
“If we love our Christian brothers and sisters, it proves that we have passed from death to life …We know what real love is because Jesus gave up His life for us.” (1 John 3 v 14, 16 NLT)
We must persevere in love with sincerity,
Not afraid to speak out, without any temerity.
Wisely now judging the things on earth,
For in Christ Jesus we are given new birth.
Holy love keeps us in holy company.
“You will know how people must conduct themselves in the household of God. This is the church of the living God, who is the pillar and foundation of the truth.” (1 Timothy 3 v 15 NLT)
All thanks to the wisdom of the Trinity.
Holy has become our faith’s daily foundation,
Its happy way of life, our recommendation.
We long for heaven, its promise and hope
Become our outreach here, love’s holy scope.
“All who confess that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God. We know how much God loves us and we have put our trust in His love. God is love and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them.” (1 John 4 v 15, 16 NLT)
It is by the love of Christ Jesus we move towards Pentecost.
May this love never be squandered nor ever lost.
“O Holy Spirit of God –
Come into my heart and fill me:
I open the window of my soul to let You in.
I surrender my whole life to You.” (The Bishop of Bloemfontein)
“Come and possess me, fill me with light and truth.
I offer to You the one thing I really possess,
My capacity for being filled by You.
Of myself I am an empty vessel.” (The Prayer cont)
But being a child of Easter joy, I pray and ask to be filled, that I will benefit from the life of the Spirit, enabling this to become in its turn, a benefit to others.
I ask for Christ Jesus’ truth and goodness, the beauty of His love and holiness, His wisdom and strength to be shared with me and all believers so the Saviour is found in us.
As we stand beyond the †, may we dethrone ourselves in our heart and make our Lord and Saviour our King,
so that He may be in us and us in Him, now and forever.
Breathe on us, Holy Spirit, act in us, work with us, strengthen us so we can defend all that is holy. Guard us and guide us to live a life of love, peace, hope and joy which are visible, audible, tangible.
We must, as Easter people, desire above all else to become like the Beloved, Him fully alive in us, and us in Him, that the power of holy love grows and grows day by day.
Christ Jesus, the risen Lord and Saviour is the living and abiding God in our midst. Holy Spirit, Lord, please radiate His love amongst us to declare the victory of the †.
May we think about what is holy, decide to live by this, making holiness attractive to all we meet and reach out to. May we guard the holiness of Christ Jesus in us at all times.
This is our desire, our aspiration, our aim, our goal, our hope, to spread the power of holy love wherever, whenever we can because in living through the Lord Jesus, is the joy of life discovered.
Holy Spirit of prayer, of wisdom, of truth, please gift us understanding as we stand beyond the †, enabled to penetrate more deeply into all that You design to reveal to us through the holy life of Christ Jesus.
May He, fully alive in us and us in Him, draw us into the perfect unity of holy love, the gift of God Most High, that the life we live in You, Holy Spirit Lord, be ever graced and blessed beyond measure as we reverence this gift of new life, our Easter joy. Amen.
Images by Artist Christine Garwood
http://www.christinegarwoodartist.co.uk/
Season
EASTER
Key Themes
HOLY SPIRIT
LIFE
