Right from the Heart - TIME

For God saved us and called us to live a holy life.

He did this, not because we deserved it,

But because that was His plan from before

The beginning of time,

To show us His grace through Christ Jesus.

2 Timothy 1:9

Do you hear the clock ticking? Time keeps moving on. It never stops for anyone - no matter how important are. We just can't find enough of that stuff. The late Jim Croce sang about bottling time. But one thing's for sure - God wants us to be good stewards of our time, but we'll never be able to until we're clear about our purpose for living. The starting point is knowing why we're here.

First, ask God to help you develop a life-purpose statement. It will take some time, but it's the best time you'll ever invest. Know why you're here. Second, decide each day what's most important for you to do that day, and do it. By having a clear purpose, and doing the most important thing each day, God can revolutionize your life and help you make the most of your time.

REJOICE!

Right from the Heart - TIME TO TURN ON THE LIGHT

Time to turn on Light

When you're staying in an unfamiliar place, do you ever awaken in the night and get up without turning on the light? Next thing you know, you're tripping over a suitcase or walking into a table. The last time that happened to me, it was so painful! But when you turn on the light, everything is clear.

A lot of folks are trying to make it through life in darkness - spiritual darkness - and much self-inflicted pain and unnecessary fails take place, because most people in the dark feel they're doing just time on their own.

But Jesus tells us He's the light of the world. He means He is the enlightenment about God, man, and life. Without Him, we're in the dark spiritually. We keep stumbling. falling and feeling frustrated about it all. Hey, isn't it time for some of you folks to turn on the light, really see God, and understand life? If you do, everything will make sense.

by: Right from the Heart 1-minute

Life Application - God's teaching

Jesus was alluding to an Old Testament view of the Messianic kingdom in which all people are taught directly by God. He was stressing the importance of not merely hearing, but learning. We are taught by God through the Bible, our experiences, the thoughts the Holy Spirit brings, and relationships with other Christians. Are you open to God's teaching?

by: Life Application Study Bible

Our Mission-SoftheHT

http://www.facebook.com/SoftheHT 

The Living Water

Water in Desert

John 4:14

"I am living water; anyone who accepts me will never be thirsty again." 

If you've ever traveled through the desert, you'll notice that it's mile after mile of dry and barren landscape. Then suddenly, there's a spot of green, some trees, bushes, and flowering plants. It always means there's some kind of water source nearby. With water, the desert blossoms and comes to life.

The same is true with our lives. Without God, we tend to dry up when life gets hard. It saps us of all our energy, creativity and drive. We eventually feel beaten down, worn out, and dried up. But Jesus says, "I am living water; anyone who accepts me will never be thirsty again." He wasn't talking about physical thirst. He was talking about satisfying our spiritual thirst so we can blossom and come to life.

What about it? Do you sometimes feel like a dry, dusty shrub in a dessert of emptiness? Come to Christ and enjoy a cool drink of water whenever you need it.

Fifth Sunday of Lent (March 25, 2012)

Fifth Sunday of Lent, Cycle B

March 25, 2012

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This Sunday's Readings

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First Reading

Jeremiah 31:31-34Jeremiah tells the people that the Lord will make a new covenant with them, planting the law within their hearts.

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 51:3-4,12-13,14-15

A prayer for God's mercy and forgiveness

Second Reading

Hebrews 5:7-9Through his sufferings, Jesus gained salvation for all who obey him.

Gospel Reading

John 12:20-33Jesus teaches his disciples about the way in which he will be glorified by God, and a voice from heaven is heard to affirm this teaching.

Background on the Gospel Reading

Today's Gospel reading is taken from the Gospel of John. We are reading much further into John's Gospel than we have for the past two weeks. Chapter 12 of John's Gospel is a preparation for the beginning of the passion narrative to follow. Jesus has just raised Lazarus from the dead—an important sign in John's Gospel, which inspired many people to believe in Jesus. This event also marks the turning point in Jesus' conflict with the Jewish authorities. John's Gospel tells us that the Sanhedrin met after this event and made plans to kill Jesus. In the 12th chapter of John's Gospel, Jesus is anointed at Bethany and enters Jerusalem in triumph. We again see evidence of the significance of the raising of Lazarus to this event; John reports that the crowds also gathered to see Lazarus.

Following his triumphant entry into Jerusalem, Jesus predicted his suffering, death, and Resurrection and prepared his disciples to believe in the salvation that his death would accomplish. Using the metaphor of the grain of wheat, Jesus presented the idea that his dying would be beneficial. He also taught that those who would be his disciples must follow his example of sacrifice. This theme will be repeated in John's account of the Last Supper, when Jesus washed the feet of his disciples as an example of how they must serve one another.

The final section of today's Gospel might be read as John's parallel to the agony in the garden. Unlike the Synoptic Gospels, the Gospel of John does not record Jesus' anguished prayer in the garden of Gethsemane before his arrest. Although comparable words are found in today's reading, Jesus gives a confident response to the question he raises when asking God to save him from his impending death. After announcing his conviction that it is for this purpose that he came, a voice from heaven speaks, as if in answer to Jesus' prayer. This voice, like the one heard at Jesus' baptism and at Jesus' Transfiguration—events reported in the Synoptic Gospels but not in John's Gospel—affirms that God welcomes the sacrifice that Jesus will make on behalf of others. In John's Gospel, Jesus teaches that this voice was sent for the sake of those who would believe in him.

In today's Gospel, we also hear Jesus speak about the cosmic framework against which we are to understand his passion, death, and Resurrection. Through his death and Resurrection, Jesus conquered Satan, the ruler of this world. In this way the world is judged, but the judgment is not condemnation. Instead, through Jesus' dying and rising, salvation is brought to the world.

by Loyola Press

Servants of the Holy Trinity

Our Mission is  to give Service, Love, Hope, Prayers, 
and bringing back the fire in your heart to GOD. 

Gracious God, 
you have called us to be the Church of Jesus Christ. 
Keep us one in faith and service; 
breaking bread together 
and telling the good news to the world;
that all may believe you are love, 
turn to your ways, and live to your glory;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

There's a CALL going out Across the land in every nation, A CALL to all who SWEAR allegiance to the CROSS of CHRIST a CALL to TRUE HUMILITY, to LIVE our LIVES RESPONSIBLY; to DEEPEN our DEVOTION to the CROSS at any price.

Let us then be sober; moving only in the Spirit, as aliens and strangers. In a hostile foreign land the message we're proclaiming is repentance and forgiveness. The offer of salvation to the dying race of man.

TO LOVE THE LORD, OUR GOD is the HEARTBEAT of our MISSION. The spring from which our service overflows. Across the street, all around the world, The mission's still the same. "PROCLAIM AND LIVE THE TRUTH IN JESUS NAME"

As candle is consumed by the flame, spilling light unsparingly throughout a darkened room. Let us burn to know Him deeper. Then our service flaming bright will radiate His passions and blaze with HOLY SPIRIT.

            

 "TO GOD BE ALL THE GLORY"

 

All scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right."

                                                                      2 Timothy 3:16