Song of The Week (1/25 - 1/31) - "Jesus, Friend of Sinners" by: Casting Crowns

CLICK THE LINK to download "Jesus, Friend of Sinners" on iTunes:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/come-to-the-well/id470669414

"Jesus, Friend of Sinners" Lyrics:

Jesus, friend of sinners, we have strayed so far away

We cut down people in your name but the sword was never ours to swing

Jesus, friend of sinners, the truth's become so hard to see

The world is on their way to You but they're tripping over me

Always looking around but never looking up I'm so double minded

A plank eyed saint with dirty hands and a heart divided

Oh Jesus, friend of sinners

Open our eyes to the world at the end of our pointing fingers

Let our hearts be led by mercy

Help us reach with open hearts and open doors

Oh Jesus, friend of sinners, break our hearts for what breaks yours

Yeah...

Jesus, friend of sinners, the one who's writing in the sand

Made the righteous turn away and the stones fall from their hands

Help us to remember we are all the least of these

Let the memory of Your mercy bring Your people to their knees

Nobody knows what we're for only what we're against when we judge the wounded

What if we put down our signs crossed over the lines and loved like You did

Oh Jesus, friend of sinners

Open our eyes to world at the end of our pointing fingers

Let our hearts be led by mercy

Help us reach with open hearts and open doors

Oh Jesus, friend of sinners, break our hearts for what breaks yours

You love every lost cause; you reach for the outcast

For the leper and the lame; they're the reason that You came

Lord I was that lost cause and I was the outcast

But you died for sinners just like me, a grateful leper at Your feet

'Cause You are good, You are good and Your love endures forever

You are good, You are good and Your love endures forever

You are good, You are good and Your love endures forever

You are good, You are good and Your love endures forever

Oh Jesus, friend of sinners

Open our eyes to world at the end of our pointing fingers

Let our hearts be led by mercy

Help us reach with open hearts and open doors

Oh Jesus, friend of sinners, break our hearts for what breaks Yours

And I was the lost cause and I was the outcast

Yeah...

You died for sinners just like me, a grateful leper at Your feet

***Song lyrics are property of the owners. We are not the owners***

Reflection:

When I first saw the title of this song, “Jesus, Friend of Sinners,” I assumed it was another uplifting song about Jesus dying and rising for our sins. However, if you listen to the words carefully, it’s actually more than that. The song is challenging us to consider if we’re helping or hurting the spread of God’s love on earth. In the first stanza, the author sings: “The world is on their way to You but they're tripping over me. Always looking around but never looking up I'm so double minded.
A plank eyed saint with dirty hands and a heart divided.” It’s real easy to think at times, “I’m a good Christian. I don’t cause physical harm to others, I don’t lie, I’m not a criminal, etc.” While yes that’s true. It’s easy to see the faults of criminals and terrorists. However, just because we may not be those people doesn’t mean it’s not possible I may be keeping the kingdom of God from spreading. How do I treat others? Do I gossip or talk negatively about someone? Do I get irritated easily with people at work or school? Am I impatient? Am I loving towards my spouse, kids or siblings? We all have flaws and moments of weakness. But no matter our struggle, Jesus remains faithful to us and is our friend. He is truly a friend of sinners, no matter how big or small our sins may be. Therefore, as this song challenges us, where do I need God in my life to help the spread of his kingdom?


Psalm 136:1 – “Praise the LORD for he is good; for His mercy endures forever.”

Luke 6:37 – “Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven.”

Deacon Scott Hill

Our Lady of Victory Parish

Song of The Week (1/18 - 1/24) - "With Everything" by Hillsong

CLICK THE LINK to download "With Everything" on iTunes:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/this-is-our-god-live/id716146936

"With Everything" Lyrics:

Open our hearts,

To see the things

That make Your heart cry,

To be the church

The You would desire.

Light to be seen.

Break down our pride,

And all the walls

We've built up inside,

Our earthly crowns

And all our desires,

We lay at Your feet.

So let hope rise,

And darkness tremble

In Your holy light,

And every eye will see

Jesus, our God,

Great and mighty to be praised.

God of all days,

Glorious in all of Your ways.

Your majesty, the wonder and grace,

In the light of Your name.

With everything,

With everything,

We will shout for your glory.

With everything,

With everything,

We will shout forth your praise.

Our hearts will cry

Be glorified,

Be lifted high,

Above all names.

For You our King,

With everything,

We will shout forth your praise.

Reflection:

How often do we see with the eyes of faith?  This is the continuous struggle we have throughout our life.  Whether it’s a particular sin we struggle with, or getting along with people at work or school, or even wondering where God is during a difficult time, we can forget to see with the eyes of faith.  When that happens, things can look really bleak and we can feel alone.  But with the eyes of faith, we know we are never alone.  This song is a plea to God to open those eyes; to see how God sees and to love how God loves.  This is the goal of the Christian life.  Once God begins to reign in our hearts, then our eyes are open and we become the church, the people, which he desires.

Hebrews 11:1 – “Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen.”

2 Corinthians 5:7 – “For we walk by faith, not by sight.”

Acts 26:18 – “To open their eyes that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may obtain forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been consecrated by faith in me.”

Deacon Scott Hill 

Our Lady of Victory Parish

Song of The Week (1/11 - 1/17) - "Come Thou Fount (Above All Else)" by: Shane & Shane

CLICK THE LINK to download "Come Thou Fount" on iTunes:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/the-worship-initiative-vol.-1/id874893038

"Come Thou Fount (Above All Else)" Lyrics:

Come, thou Fount of every blessing,

tune my heart to sing thy grace;

streams of mercy, never ceasing

call for songs of loudest praise.

Teach me some melodious sonnet, 

sung by flaming tongues above. 

Praise the mount! I'm fixed upon it, 

mount of the redeeming love. 

Here I raise mine Ebenezer; 

hither by thy help I'm come; 

and I hope, by thy good pleasure, 

safely to arrive at home. 

Jesus sought me when a stranger, 

wandering from the fold of God; 

he, to rescue me from danger, 

interposed his precious blood. 

O to grace how great a debtor 

daily I'm constrained to be! 

Let thy goodness, like a fetter, 

bind my wandering heart to thee. 

Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, 

prone to leave the God I love; 

here's my heart, Lord take and seal it, 

seal it for thy courts above. 

Above all else I adore your name, 

above all else tune my heart to sing your praise!

Above all else I adore your name,

above all else tune my heart to sing your praise!

Above all else I adore your name,

above all else tune my heart to sing your praise!

Above all else I adore your name,

above all else tune my heart to sing your praise!

The highest praise, the loudest praise, to the name above every name!

***Song & Lyrics are property of their owners. We are not the owners***

Reflection:

The Name of Jesus is to be highly exalted.  So often we abuse the Name; many times we ignore it.  This song, Come Thou Fount reminds us to cherish the Name, which is above all names.  There is power and strength in the Name of Jesus.  The singers, Shane & Shane, encourage us, above all else, to adore the name of Jesus; above all else to tune our hearts to sing Him praise, to"the highest praise, the loudest praise, to the name above every name!"  Let us worship, praise and honor the Name of Jesus.

John 14:12-14 -"Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these, because I am going to the Father. And whatever you ask in my name, I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.  If you ask anything of me in my name, I will do it".

Philippians 2:9-11 - "Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" 

Rev. Gary Janak

Pastor

Our Lady of Victory Parish

Song of The Week (1/4 - 1/10) - "Joseph's Lullaby" by: MercyMe

CLICK THE LINK to download "Joseph's Lullaby" on iTunes:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/the-christmas-sessions/id159384682

"Joseph's Lullaby" Lyrics:

Go to sleep my Son

This manger for your bed

You have a long road before You

Rest Your little head

Can You feel the weight of Your glory?

Do You understand the price?

Or does the Father guard Your heart for now

So You can sleep tonight?

Go to sleep my Son

Go and chase Your dreams

This world can wait for one more moment

Go and sleep in peace

I believe the glory of Heaven

Is lying in my arms tonight

But Lord, I ask that He for just this moment

Simply be my child

Go to sleep my Son

Baby, close Your eyes

Soon enough You'll save the day

But for now, dear Child of mine

Oh my Jesus, Sleep tight

Reflection: 

We reflect, in this Christmas season, on the faithfulness of Saint Joseph. This beautiful song, Joseph's Lullaby, encourages us to understand the Nativity of our Savior from the perspective of Joseph, who made a conscious decision to adhere to the invitation of God to take Mary into his home and Jesus into his life. How many times Joseph must have held Jesus in his arms; how many times he must have whispered to him similar words expressed in this song: "Go to sleep my Son...baby, close your eyes. Soon enough You'll save the day but for now, dear Child of mine, Oh, my Jesus, sleep tight..." In this new year of 2015, let us take time, like Saint Joseph, and rest with Jesus in our arms.

Matthew 1:20-24 - "...the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means “God is with us.” When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home"



Luke 2:4-7 -"And Joseph too went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth to Judea, to the city of David that is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. While they were there, the time came for her to have her child, and she gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn"

Rev. Gary Janak

Pastor

Our Lady of Victory Parish