SUNDAYS WITH JOYCE

 

 

SACRIFICE

 

I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life
for the sheep...As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the
Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. And other
sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must
bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one
fold, and one shepherd. Therefore doth my Father love me,
because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No
man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have
power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again.
This commandment have I received of my Father."
John 10:11, 15-18, KJV

"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his
life for his friends."
John 15:13, KJV

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten
Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but
have everlasting life."
John 3:16, KJV

"Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down
his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the
brethren."
1 John 3:16, KJV

"He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. In
this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that
God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might
live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but
that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation
for our sins."
1 John 4:8-10, KJV

"For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ
died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will
one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even
dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that,
while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
Romans 5:6-8, KJV

"For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor
angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present,
nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other
creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God,
which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Romans 8:38-39, KJV

 

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What Is My Best?

I set before the Lord my heart's request.
How shall He answer me? How shall He speak?
"Seek ye my face." Thy face, Lord, I will seek.
And when I find Thy face, I find Thy rest,
Thy sacrifice, Thy love, Christ manifest.
But Thou art strong, O Lord, and I am weak,
so lift me up and lead me to the peak
where Thou shalt also sacrifice my best.
What is my best? It is my heart's desire,
the promise, now fulfilled, Thou wouldst provide.
But Father, I behold the wood and fire,
the cross where Jesus Christ the Lamb hath died,
and now I know what mercy must require -
a living sacrifice, yet crucified.
~ by Michael Rew

 

Now Give Us Charity

If we will live, let's be conservative,
live frugally, save faithfully, and serve,
and what we do not need to live, reserve
for those in need, and liberally give.
This is His will. Conserve, cooperative.
We have received what we do not deserve,
so let us give. His goodness will preserve.
Live simply so that all may simply live.*
Christ, give us hearts of liberality.
Our Father gave us His begotten Son,
the precious Firstborn of His Family,
His greatest given Gift, His Only One.
Now give us faith and hope and charity.
Although it is a cross, Thy will be done.
~ by Michael Rew

 

 

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The important thing is this: To be able at any moment to sacrifice what we are for what we could become.

The remarkable thing is that we really love our neighbor as ourselves: we do unto others as we do unto ourselves. We hate others when we hate ourselves. We are tolerant toward others when we tolerate ourselves. We forgive others when we forgive ourselves. We are prone to sacrifice others when we are ready to sacrifice ourselves.

 

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.