BEADS OF JOY 03-11-18
“He Gave His Only Son”
©2018 James Dacey, Jr. OFS
My Friends,
Today’s Gospel: John 3:14-21 (The Measure of God's Love)
“And as Moses lifted up the
serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of man be lifted up, that whoever
believes in him may have eternal life." For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever
believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God sent the Son
into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved
through him. He who believes in him is not condemned; he who does not believe
is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son
of God. And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and
men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For
everyone who does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light, lest
his deeds should be exposed. But he who does what is true comes to the light,
that it may be clearly seen that his deeds have been wrought in God.”
Reflection:
This
has been a most joyous Lenten Journey for me, I pray that many of you are
deepening your own personal relationship with Jesus. Today's gospel has one of
the most popular verses in scripture. Today we are reading and reflecting on
John 3:14-21 (The Measure of God's Love). "For God so loved the
world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish
but have eternal life." ~John 3:16. What do we love in this life? Can
we ever love God so much as He has loved us? There is so much to think about.
Questions race through my head as I read on here. Does God take absolute first
place in our lives? Is God's act of love so touching in our lives that we can't
help but love the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit and Mary? Or do we feel like
we may have been forced in this choice because of what God has done, by our
guilt? God has a purpose for everything He does for us, but in this act of
love, it was purely His love for us that led to this. I do not know the heart
and mind of God, but scripture says, "Everyone who believes that Jesus
is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child
as well." 1 John 5:1.
How can we incorporate such a meaningful way to live our lives, within our lives? If God has offered up His Son, and Jesus willingly died for our sins; what then in this life can we do in return, to show our love for God the Father and God the Son? I think a life lived, like the life that was given for us, is a great place to start; God the Father and Jesus the Son were humble and sacrificial in their love for us, sinners. Our lives need not be centered on ourselves, but rather on the hearts of others, doing all we can to help one another; that along with a foundation of deep, sincere, devout love for God the Father and Jesus the Son would truly make for a life full of Joy. Can we place Jesus first in our life? Would we willingly do all we had to do, to make sure our love for Him took precedence in all the choices we made? Still so many questions, so many thoughts, hoping and praying that so many of us do just that; put Jesus first and foremost in our ever thought.
Let us look at some very inspiring, uplifting scriptures. I really hope and pray that you spend time in God's Word. It is through God's Word that the Joy inside me pours out of my heart onto these blogs. Please take the time to read, meditate, and pray using the word of God as your guide. Enjoy these scriptures:
“For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me that I shall lose none of all that he has given me but raise them up at the last day. For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day." ~John 6:38-40.
"You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name." ~John 15:16
God Loves Us Indeed.
For God knows our hearts
He is the creator of us all,
He molded our minds and knows
Why Jesus had to take the fall.
His Son was the sacrifice
Because of His love,
He hung on a cross and died
And then He was risen above.
No one ever loved us
Like God the Father has shown,
My life, my love, my focus
I surrender so now He can own.
JJR (Jim Dacey Jr OFS)
How can we incorporate such a meaningful way to live our lives, within our lives? If God has offered up His Son, and Jesus willingly died for our sins; what then in this life can we do in return, to show our love for God the Father and God the Son? I think a life lived, like the life that was given for us, is a great place to start; God the Father and Jesus the Son were humble and sacrificial in their love for us, sinners. Our lives need not be centered on ourselves, but rather on the hearts of others, doing all we can to help one another; that along with a foundation of deep, sincere, devout love for God the Father and Jesus the Son would truly make for a life full of Joy. Can we place Jesus first in our life? Would we willingly do all we had to do, to make sure our love for Him took precedence in all the choices we made? Still so many questions, so many thoughts, hoping and praying that so many of us do just that; put Jesus first and foremost in our ever thought.
Let us look at some very inspiring, uplifting scriptures. I really hope and pray that you spend time in God's Word. It is through God's Word that the Joy inside me pours out of my heart onto these blogs. Please take the time to read, meditate, and pray using the word of God as your guide. Enjoy these scriptures:
“For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me that I shall lose none of all that he has given me but raise them up at the last day. For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day." ~John 6:38-40.
"You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name." ~John 15:16
God Loves Us Indeed.
For God knows our hearts
He is the creator of us all,
He molded our minds and knows
Why Jesus had to take the fall.
His Son was the sacrifice
Because of His love,
He hung on a cross and died
And then He was risen above.
No one ever loved us
Like God the Father has shown,
My life, my love, my focus
I surrender so now He can own.
JJR (Jim Dacey Jr OFS)
Pondering these thoughts today: Today I would like to offer a simple challenge. Try to spend time everyday reading and absorbing God’s Word. The challenge in its complete expression of simplicity is this: Monday’s read Matthew, Tuesday’s read Mark, Wednesday’s read Luke, Thursday’s read John and on Friday’s read The Acts of the Apostles. I have been using this method for decades. Long ago I thought, how can I simply and learn the scriptures, mostly the Gospels and Acts. This is what I came up with. Somehow, someway try to make a plan of action that focuses on that in general. This will help you get more familiar and knowledgeable about each individual Gospel and Acts. I am writing a book all about this, broken down and simplified.
LOVE YOU GUYS !!!!
Your brother in Christ Jesus
And His Most Blessed Mother,
Jim (The Rosary Man) Dacey Jr OFS
Today is Sunday during Lent:
We pray the Sorrowful Mysteries:
The Sorrowful Mysteries
1. Agony on the Garden (Sorrow for sin) –Matt 26:36-46
2. Scourging at the Pillar (Purity) –Mark 15:1-16
3. Crowning with Thorns (Moral Courage) –Matt 27:27-31
4. Carrying of the Cross (Patience) –Mark 15:20-22
5. The Crucifixion (Perseverance) –Luke 23:33-46
Thank you Lord for loving us so much…
We pray the Sorrowful Mysteries:
The Sorrowful Mysteries
1. Agony on the Garden (Sorrow for sin) –Matt 26:36-46
2. Scourging at the Pillar (Purity) –Mark 15:1-16
3. Crowning with Thorns (Moral Courage) –Matt 27:27-31
4. Carrying of the Cross (Patience) –Mark 15:20-22
5. The Crucifixion (Perseverance) –Luke 23:33-46
Thank you Lord for loving us so much…
Rosary Man Jim’s Sorrowful Reflection: http://beads-of-joy-blog.blogspot.com/2014/02/the-sorrowful-mysteries_11.html
MY
FIRST BOOK. MORE TO COME…
