Help Us to Believe

Jesus said to his disciples: "If you know me, then you will also know my Father. From now on you know him and have seen him." Philip said to Jesus, "Master, show us the Father and that will be enough for us." Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you for so long a time and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me?"

​Lord, Jesus, Help us to believe; increase our faith, that we may know you and love you above all things even though we have not seen you. Thomas, and Philip looked for a physical sign. You have said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life." We believe you and love you. Amen.

The Keys to the Kingdom

Jesus said to his disciples, "Do not your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me. in my Father's house there are many dwelling places. if there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? And if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you may also be. Where I am going you know the way." Thomas said to him, "Master, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?" Jesus said to him, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." 

Consideration: Jesus tells us to have faith in him as well as the Father. He also tells us that he is going to prepare a place for us and return to take us back with him there. He says, "I am the way and the truth and the life." And he is the only way to the Father. The Father has truly given his beloved Son, Jesus, the Keys to the Kingdom. Amen.

Our Father's Command

​There was a time not long ago, you reaped what was sown, and the dignity of man
You knew your neighbor, had lifelong friends, built community; made sure to plan
Now, this fast pace always in motion insanity has taken over our lives...will we survive
Every person was a craftsman, proud of their gifts; getting over on another, called sin
Believed in a Creator, and his commands, fell short once in a while, then started again
​Yes, my friends, we have all been on this road before, we were stronger, that's for sure 
Let your joy be alive, always grateful for the gifts, blessings, and the peace of our lives
Put to rest unhappy things, extend gifts you have, strive for humility, cast anger aside 
Before the day is over, the power is in your hands, to live joyfully, with your fellow man 
Be grateful for today, choose to love and never hate, this is our Father's Command!

Father and Son...I AM

When Jesus had washed the disciples' feet: he said to them, "Amen, amen, I say to you, no slave is greater than his master nor any messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you understand this, blessed are you if you do it. I am not speaking of all of you. I know those of whom I chosen. But so that the scripture might be fulfilled, the one who ate my food has raised his heel against me. From now on I am telling you before it happens, so that when it happens you may believe that I AM. Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me."

Consideration: Jesus once again makes the point as simply as possible: The Father and I are one. When we receive Jesus, we receive the Father, and when we receive the Father we receive the Son...I AM. Amen.

As the Father Told Me

Jesus cried out and said, "Whoever believes in me believes not only in me but also in the one who sent me, and whoever sees me sees the one who sent me. I came into the world as light, so that everyone who believes in me might not remain in darkness. And if anyone hears my words and does not observe them, I do not condemn him, for I did not come to condemn the world but to save the world. Whoever rejects me and does not accept my words has something to judge him: the word that I spoke, it will condemn him on the last day, because I did not speak it on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and speak. And I know that his commandment is eternal life. So what I say, I say as the Father told me."

Lord Jesus, may we be blessed with the grace to hear your words and act upon them; and in doing so we are obeying you and pleasing God the Father who gave these words to you to proclaim them to his children. Amen.

The Depths of Our Souls

The feast of the Dedication was taking place in Jerusalem. it was winter. And Jesus walked about in the temple area on the Portico of Solomon. So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, "How long are you going to keep us in suspense? if you are the Christ, tell us plainly." Jesus answered them, "I told you and you do not believe. The works I do in my Father's name testify to me. But you do not believe, because you are not among my sheep. My sheep hear my voice; I know them and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish. No one can take them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one can take them out of the Father's hand. The Father and I are one."

Consideration: As we grow in our faith, we encounter many obstacles and question many uncertainties. This is very helpful in our quest for truth. Jesus makes it very clear, once again, that He and the Father are one. To the unbeliever this is not possible and ridiculous, but to the believer it is our faith. We do not believe because we have witnessed signs and wonders, we believe because the voice of the Shepherd has penetrated to the depths of our souls. Amen.

Fire in the Soul

Two sides to every story, people believe what they believe

When it comes down to truth, we ponder with reasoning

We speak of having faith and claim always to be in control 

When it comes to life, truth and faith are the life of the soul

Through the motions of time, we seek our final destination

Choosing different paths to find our way, and find our place

Though we may disagree with the journey others may take

When all is said and done the empty voids will fill with grace 

Left, right, rich and poor; we enter through the same door

In time the old things will pass, never to be seen anymore

Opinions, politicians, ambitions, and positions here below

Two choices, cherish faith, seek truth, the fire in the soul.