SEEDS WE SOW - Galatians 6:7

One autumn afternoon I drove past a field where a farmer had parked some massive machinery by the side of the road. A yellow caution sign read: “Harvest in Progress.” As I glanced over at the field, I knew instantly what the farmer had planted several months ago—tiny kernels of corn. I knew this because he was preparing to drive his harvesting equipment through acres of mature cornstalks.

While i

t may seem obvious that planting corn leads to harvesting corn, we sometimes deny the relationship between sowing and reaping in our spiritual lives. The apostle Paul wrote, “Do not be deceived . . . ; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap” (Gal. 6:7). Living to please our flesh yields corruption in the form of wanting what isn’t ours, self-centeredness, and even substance abuse (5:19-21). Walking with the Spirit produces peace, kindness, and self-control (5:22-23). By God’s grace, we can choose to “sow to the Spirit” and reap eternal life (6:8).

Suppose Jesus declared today “harvest day” in our lives, and He asked us to gather up the yield of our everyday choices over the past year. What would we have to show Him?

Things of the world often pull at my heart,

But, Lord, help me see the end from the start;

Open my eyes to where my life’s going,

What I will reap from all I’ve been sowing. —K. DeHaan

GRATITUDE - 1 Thessalonians 5:18

In Lansing, Michigan, during the winter, we don’t get many sunny days. But last year God blessed us with one of those beautiful days, and it seemed that almost everyone was thanking God, except me. As I left my office, a man said, “What a wonderful day we’re having. This is a gift from God!” To which I replied, “Yes, but we’re getting snow later this week.” What ingratitude!

In his letters, the a

postle Paul helped his readers to develop a theology of gratitude. He wrote about thanksgiving more often than any other New Testament author. From the 23 times he used the word, we learn a few lessons about thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving was always directed toward God and never toward people. People were gifts from God, and Paul thanked God for their growth, love, and faith (1 Cor. 1:4; 1 Thess. 1:2).

Thanksgiving is given through Jesus for everything (Col. 3:15,17). Paul believed followers of Jesus could be thankful for everything because God is sovereign, and He is working things out for the believers’ good (1 Thess. 5:18).

May we intentionally be aware of God’s gifts all around us, and respond with gratitude. In response to God’s gifts, it’s natural to say, “Thank You, Lord.”

LLord, for days that are sunny or gray we simply

want to say, Thank You! And for the daily grace

You give us in Your Son, may we always be faithful

to say, Thank You! You are so good to us.

Christians Vocation

"Turn from Evil and Do Good; Seek Peace and Pursue it." Psalm 34:15

These words are very simple yet it is hard to do. Most of us want the easy way, sad to say but it is true.  When we are having problems in our lives we want it to be solve fast so we choose the easy way. Things we do: a) We just don't spoke or ignore that person as if she/he never exist. b) We make believe ourselves that everything is gonna be fine. c) and finally we are afraid of confrontations and failure. That's why we assume that our problem was solve, but it is not. Why? because you never really faced your trials in life. You never bother or seek advice from the mature people who have experienced the same way you did. and most especially you failed to pray and talk to God and tell Him everything.  

My brothers and sisters just talk and pray to God, make Him your best friend and your father.

Faith, Hope and Love

Unity of Believers

The unity Saint Paul speaks of in his writings to the Church in Corinthians transcends human circumstances of geography or social station. While there is great diversity in gifts among the people who make up the Church, the ONE SPIRIT BINDS all BELIEVERS together. Even with differences in our roles, we are UNITED through the Holy Spirit, and all are challenge to live lives of PRAYER and SERVICE.

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Speak about Peace

Speaking about PEACE brings TRUTH and LOVE into words

we speak to one another. Nearly everyone can recall the sting

 of unkind words and perhaps even the guilty awareness of 

the injury caused by unkind words that were spoken. Our 

LOVE of GOD is manifest in our speech and in our actions

toward one another. Respecting people's privacy and 

possessions is one way to act as people of peace. 

"Whoever would love life and see good days 

must keep the tongue from evil 

and the lips from speaking deceit" 

1Peter 3:10

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God's Promise to His Children

Everyone has it's own journey. Every journey in our lives is a 

challenge. Without God we cannot do it. but With God it will 

be a great adventure. Just as God with Moses, He is always 

with us as we face our new challenges in life. We may not 

conquer the whole world but everyday we face temptations, 

difficult people and tough situations. God promise us that He 

will never abandon us nor fail us. All you have to do is ask 

God to direct us to conquer many of life's challenges.

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You are the Light

Each of us is called to be a light to the nations. The

LIGHT is GENERATED when we are TRUE to our 

VOCATIONS in LIFE. Each of us should acknowledged

 and developed our Talents or Gifts from God. Because

 the LIGHT that we bring to the world or each person

that we meet in life brings salvation. and for that we

became co-creators of God's work in salvation.

Gospel Reading - May 13, 2012

Sixth Sunday of Easter, Cycle B

May 13, 2012

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This Sunday's Readings

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First Reading
Acts of the Apostles 10:25-26,34-35,44-48
The gift of the Holy Spirit comes to Cornelius and his household, and they are baptized.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 98:1,2-3,3-4
A song of praise for God's salvation
Second Reading
1 John 4:7-10
God is love.
Gospel Reading
John 15:9-17
Jesus commands his disciples to love one another.

Background on the Gospel Reading

Today's Gospel follows immediately after the Gospel proclaimed last week, in which Jesus taught that he was the vine and that his disciples were the branches. In the example of the vine and the branches, we learned that our union with Jesus will lead to fruitful service. Today's reading extends this teaching to describe the kind of service that Christians are called upon to offer to others.

When John wrote this Gospel, his community was influenced by a set of religious beliefs called Gnosticism. It appears that one of John's intentions was to distinguish Christian belief from the beliefs held by the Gnostics. Evidence of this can be found in today's Gospel.

One of the tenets of Gnostic teaching was the importance of knowledge, orgnosis, as the determining aspect of faith. We read today's Gospel as a response to this teaching. In John's Gospel, we hear Jesus affirm that he is known by the Father and that his disciples will know the Father by knowing Jesus. In this passage, however, Jesus reminds his disciples that this knowledge is to be expressed in love. Those who know Jesus well—and Jesus says that his disciples do know him—will love one another. Knowledge leads to love, which leads to action. John reminds his community that Jesus taught that love is the sign of a true disciple and, thus, a true Christian. Even more, a true disciple shows a particular kind of love, sacrificial love.

In the Greek, there are two words for love that are used in this passage. The first is agape. The second is philia. The first word is most often used to describe love for other persons and for God. It is understood as the highest and most perfect kind of love. The second word is used to describe the affection of friendship. In this context, John appears to use these words as synonyms. The root of the Greek word for friend comes from this second term for love, philia. By using this word, Jesus transforms the terms of his relationship with his disciples and redefines for them their relationship with God. In the Hebrew Scriptures, faith in God made one a servant of God.

Here Jesus teaches that his relationship to his disciples is based on friendship, not servitude.

Another aspect of Gnostic belief taught that a believer was an elect person, chosen and set apart from the world. John reminds his community that Jesus also taught that a disciple is one who had been chosen—one who had been chosen by Jesus. To be chosen by Jesus, however, is not to be set apart from the world. Instead, to be chosen by Jesus is to be sent to serve the world as he did. The disciples of Jesus were chosen and were sent into the world to bear fruit by serving others, by sacrificing for others, in love.

This reading, like last week's, is part of Jesus' Last Supper discourse. In the context of John's Gospel, these words are spoken before Jesus' Crucifixion. We read his instruction to the disciples in light of his death and Resurrection. We know that Jesus himself gives us the greatest example of the kind of love and service that he teaches to his disciples. He has, in fact, laid down his life for his friends, for his disciples, and for us. Through his death and Resurrection, we have received the grace to love others as Jesus has commanded.

Positive and Inspirational Quotes

Conversation with God

After the Apostles delegated the day-to-day responsibilities of ministry to Stephen and others, they devoted themselves to the most important part of their remaining responsibilities - talking with God and seeking His direction. This passage helps us understand how they did it. The apostles's conversations with God were two way. First one is "They SPOKE to GOD through PRAYER", and the second one is "They LISTENED to GOD through the WORD." Initially, they were fortunate enough to have heard from the Word directly, but as the eye witnesses to Christ died, believers were able to turn to the written Word to hear God speak. That same source is available to us today in the written and inspired BIBLE.

"WHEN WE MEDITATE ON THE WORD, 

THE FATHER SPEAKS TO US, AND WHEN WE PRAY, 

WE SPEAK TO THE FATHER".

Let's teach our kids this skill of "conversing" with God.

God's Plan not ours

Right from the Heart - Purpose for Living

Purpose for Living

What is your purpose for living? Have you ever taken time to pursue in the rat race of life and figure out why you're in it?

I recommend developing a life purpose statement. A man once told me his purpose statement was to "Get all you can; can all you get; and sit on the can!" I hope that when you develop your purpose statement, It'll be more than that.  Don't be shortsighted, focusing on this life alone. Keep eternity in mind. God created all of us for a purpose. What's yours?

Here's a hint. Knowing God has put you on this earth for a purpose becomes clear when you get to know the person of Jesus Christ. With Him, it's amazing how all things become clear. Otherwise, you end up like the masses, too busy to take time to know why you're here and too lost to know where you're going.

Are you racing through life going nowhere fast? Stop for a second. Look to God in Christ and discover the purpose of your life.

"Whoever has the Son has life;

whoever does not have God's Son does not have life."

1 John 5:12

Right from the Heart - Friends

Friends


What is your definition of true friendship?

Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "Happy is the house the shelters a friend," and "A friend is a person with whom I may be sincere and before him I may think aloud. The only reward of virtue is virtue; the only way to have a friend is to be one."

Walter Winchell defines a friend as "one who walks in when others walk out." Someone else has said a friend is "a man who laughs at your funny stories, even when they ain't so good, and sympathizes with your misfortunes, even when they ain't so bad."

As for me, a friend is the "one who always be there for you no matter what, who will stand before you and fight for you till the end."

Do you have a friend? Do you know true friendship?

Many, I'm sad to say, have to answer no. The good news is this: you can have a best friend forever. That friend is Jesus Christ. I encourage you to get to know Him. You'll never be disappointed. He'll always be there with you.

"A friend is always loyal, and a brother or a sister 

is born to help in time of need."

Proverbs 17:17

Right from the Heart - Use it or Lose it

Use it or Lose it

I have friends who are learning to speak Spanish. They are struggling with different sounds, different words. Acquiring a new skill takes practice and patience. You have heard the cliche, "Use it of lose it." My friends realize that they have to use the few Spanish words they know or they will quickly forget them. We must use what we know, or we don't retain knowledge.

The principle applies in the spiritual dimensions as well. Faith in God is like a muscle. The more you use it, the stronger it becomes. The manual for getting this muscle in shape is the Bible, and the personal trainer is Jesus Christ. If you submit yourself to His leadership and His guidance, you will discover how to use the faith muscle every day. It's either use it or lose it.

"You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus."

2 Timothy 3:15

Proverbs 3:3-4

Jeremiah 29:11

God's Love

The one who comes from above is above all.

The one who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of earthly things.

But the one who comes from heaven is above all.

He testifies to what He has seen and heard,

but no one accepts His testimony.

Whoever does accept His testimony certifies that God is trustworthy.

For the one whom God sent speaks the words of God.

He does not ration His gift of the Spirit.

The Father loves the Son and has given everything over to Him.

Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life,

but whoever disobeys the Son will not see life,

but wrath of God remains upon him.

John 3:31-36

What earthly pleasures hinders me from seeking the pleasures of heaven?

Right from the Heart - WHAT A MAN AND A WOMAN MOST NEEDS FROM HIS/HER WIFE/HUSBAND

WHAT A MAN MOST NEEDS FROM HIS WIFE

So many wives are clueless about what their husbands need the most. They often make the mistake of thinking his greatest need is like hers - the need for romantic love. But the husband's greatest need is for respect. This is how God has wired him. So, wives, how can you live this out?

Praise him. Build him up, in a world where he often gets beaten down. Just think how much you like to hear the words, "I love you," and praise him just that much and more.

Seek to be his best friend. With his wife, he needs support, not competition. For the most part, men are not as relational and verbal as women. 

Have a willingness to follow his lead. You're kidding! In the 21st century you want me to follow his lead? Try it. You might just be pleasantly surprised.

If this makes you mad, argue with God, not me. It's from His Book. This is how you really respect your husband. When he senses these thing,. it's amazing how much he will strive to please you and respect what you have to say.

"As the church submits to Christ, 

so you wives should submit to your husbands in everything"

Ephesians 5:24

WHAT A WIFE MOST NEEDS FROM HER HUSBAND

Dr. James Dobson was asked, "Why are men so insensitive to women's needs  today?"

He answered, "I question whether men have really changed all that much. I doubt if men ever responded as women preferred. Did the farmer of a century ago came in from the fields to say, 'Tell me how it went with the kids today? No. He was as oblivious to his wife's nature then as husbands are today."

So men, if you're struggling to meet your wife's needs, the Bible gives a few tips:

1)Physical affection. Not just sex, but a tender touch which may include a few hugs through this day.

2)Security. Physical, financial and emotional ..... a wife desires security in all its forms.

3)Understanding. Listening more than telling her what to do.

4)Reassurance. Knowing you think she's beautiful, in a society of constant comparison.

5)Spiritual leadership. Not dictatorship, but servant leadership, like Christ for His church.

These are what a wife needs from her husband.

"For husbands, this means love your wives, 

just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her."

Ephesians 5:25

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.