Song of The Week (2/22 - 2/28) - "Desert Song" by: Hillsong

CLICK THE LINK to download "Desert Song" on iTunes:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/across-earth-tear-down-walls/id716167167

"Desert Song" Lyrics:

This is my prayer in the desert

When all that's within me feels dry

This is my prayer in my hunger and need

My God is the God who provides

And this is my prayer in the fire

In weakness or trial or pain

There is a faith proved

Of more worth than gold

So refine me, Lord, through the flame

And I will bring praise

I will bring praise

No weapon formed against me shall remain

I will rejoice

I will declare

God is my victory and He is here

And this is my prayer in the battle

When triumph is still on its way

I am a conqueror and co-heir with Christ

So firm on His promise I'll stand

And I will bring praise

I will bring praise

No weapon formed against me shall remain

I will rejoice

I will declare

God is my victory and He is here

All of my life

In every season

You are still God

I have a reason to sing

I have a reason to worship

And I will bring praise

I will bring praise

No weapon formed against me shall remain

I will rejoice

I will declare

God is my victory and He is here

This is my prayer in the harvest

When favor and providence flow

I know I'm filled to be emptied again

The seed I've received I will sow

Reflection:

In this time of Lent, we often think about the desert, where Jesus sent forty day and nights tempted by Satan. Jesus refused to be mastered by sin and our Lord assures us that, when we turn to him, we too, in the power found in His Name, we can turn away from sin. In "Desert Song" Hillsong sings of that prayer in the desert, when "all that's within feels dry." We all experience spiritual dryness at times, but Lent reminds us of the refreshing mercy and grace Jesus brings to us. Indeed, "this is my prayer in my hunger and need. My God is the God who provides." As we seek to draw closer to Christ, during these forty days of Lent, let us rejoice that "no weapon formed against me shall remain. I will rejoice. I will declare. God is my victory and He is here."

Mark 1:12-13 - "At once the Spirit drove him out into the desert, and he remained in the desert for forty days, tempted by Satan. He was among wild beasts, and the angels ministered to him."


1 Corinthians - "But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Rev. Gary Janak

Pastor

Our Lady of Victory Parish

Song of The Week (2/15 - 2/21) - "Start A Fire" by: Unspoken

CLICK THE LINK to download "Start A Fire" on iTunes:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/unspoken/id845288782

"Start A Fire" Lyrics

This world can be cold and bitter

Feels like we're in the dead of winter

Waiting on something better

But am I really gonna hide forever?

Over and over again

I hear Your voice in my head

Let Your light shine, let Your light shine for all to see

Start a fire in my soul

Fan the flame and make it grow

So there’s no doubt or denying

Let it burn so brightly

That everyone around can see

That it’s You, that it’s You that we need

Start a fire in me

You only need a spark to start a whole blaze

It only takes a little faith

Let it start right here in this city

So these old walls will never be the same

Over and over again

I hear Your voice in my head

They need to know

I need to go

Spirit won't You fall on my heart now

Start a fire in my soul

Fan the flame and make it grow

So there’s no doubt or denying

Let it burn so brightly

That everyone around can see

That it’s You, that it’s You that we need

Start a fire in me

You are the fire You are the flame

You are the light on the darkest day

We have the hope we bear Your name

We carry the news that You have come to save

Only You can save

Start a fire in my soul

Fan the flame and make it grow

So there’s no doubt or denying

Let it burn so brightly

That everyone around can see

That it’s You, that it’s You that we need

Start a fire in me

Reflection:

Too often it seems we’re always waiting on God to do something. We may be waiting on God to give us the grace to persevere through a difficult day or simply the grace to love better. So we might pray and beg God to come to us and let us know He is with us. Now, that is actually a beautiful prayer and nothing wrong with it. But if we keep waiting on God to come to us, we may miss the realization that God is already with us. We are never alone. The first stanza of this song recognizes the evil in the world. Then they sing, “Waiting on something better. But am I really going to hide forever?”  We’re waiting on God to destroy the evil from the world, but the reality is that God has already given us the tools to make the world a better place. At our baptism, we are given the gifts of faith, hope, and love. We can bring God to others through our loving and charitable acts. These acts, though that may appear simple, can truly transform the world. Just think how our faith began. The eleven Apostles were filled with the Holy Spirit and preached the teachings and life of Christ. Their love for Christ drove them out into the world and into doing acts of love and charity. And here we are, 2,000 years later still celebrating the Christian faith. Love can and will transform the world and God has given us the ability to do so.


Matthew 17:20 – “Amen, I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”


Philippians 4:13 – “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”


Deacon Scott Hill

Our Lady of Victory Parish

Song of The Week (2/8 - 2/14) - "God of This City" by: Chris Tomlin

CLICK THE LINK to download "God of This City" on iTunes:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/hello-love-with-bonus-track/id716328267

"God of This City" Lyrics:

You're the God of this City 

You're the King of these people 

You're the Lord of this nation 

You are 

You're the Light in this darkness 

You're the Hope to the hopeless 

You're the Peace to the restless 

You are 

There is no one like our God 

There is no one like our God 

For greater things have yet to come 

And greater things are still to be done in this City 

Greater thing have yet to come 

And greater things are still to be done in this City 

There is no one like our God 

There is no one like our God 

For greater things have yet to come 

And greater things are still to be done in this City 

Greater things have yet to come 

And greater things are still to be done here 

There is no one like our god 

There is no one like our God 

Greater things have yet to come 

And greater things are still to be done in this City 

Greater things have yet to come 

And greater things are still to be done here

Reflection:

My favorite lines from this week’s song are: “Greater things are still to come. Greater things are yet to be done.” This seems to echo all of the teachings of Pope Francis. The pope is constantly calling all Christians to not grow weary in our faith. We can never reach a point and think there’s nothing left for me. Our entire lives are about getting closer to God, knowing him better, and loving him better. This is never finished. As long we’re working at it, greater things are definitely still to come.


Jeremiah 10:6 – “No one is like you, LORD, you are great, great and mighty is your name.”


Luke 1:49 – “The Mighty One has done great things for me and holy is his name.”


Deacon Scott Hill

Our Lady of Victory Parish

Song of The Week (2/1 - 2/7) - "Let It Fade" by: Jeremy Camp

CLICK THE LINK to download "Let It Fade" on iTunes:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/id719000810?ign-mpt=uo%3D4

"Let It Fade" Lyrics:

Have you been walking on a surface that's uncertain?

Have you helped yourself to everything that's empty?

You can't live this way too long.

There's more than this, more than this.

Have you been standing on your own feet too long?

Have you been looking for a place where you belong?

You can rest, you will find rest.

You can rest, you will find rest.

Let this old life crumble, let it fade.

Let this new life offered be your saving grace. 

Let this old life crumble, let it fade, let it fade. 

Have you been holding on to what this world has offered? 

Have you been giving in to all these masquerades?

It will be gone, forever gone.

It will be gone, it will be gone

Let this old life crumble, let it fade.

Let this new life offered be your saving grace. 

Let this old life crumble, let it fade, let it fade. 

Let it fade.

Are you carrying the weight too much?, are you running from the call?

Let it fade, Oh yeah.

You can rest, you will find rest.

You can rest you will find rest.

Let this old life crumble, let it fade.

Let this new life offered be your saving grace. 

Let this old life crumble, let it fade, let it fade. 

Let this old life crumble, let it fade.

Have you been standing on your own feet too long?

Have you been looking for a place where you belong?

Reflection:

When we take time for self-reflection, we often discover that, just as Jeremy Camp sings in Let it Fade, we have "been walking on a surface that's uncertain"...helping ourselves "to everything that's empty." We "can't live this way too long" for God wants us to discover that "there's more than this." When we let go of this way of life, which leads only to further emptiness, we will discover that Christ offers us a new life, through his grace. Therefore, whatever we are holding on to that brings us only more emptiness, let it fade. Indeed, as Jeremy sings, "Let this old life crumble, let it fade, let it fade."


Proverbs 3:5-6 -"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, on your own intelligence do not rely; In all your ways be mindful of him, and he will make straight your paths".

2 Corinthians 5:17 -"So whoever is in Christ is a new creation: the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come".



Rev. Gary Janak
Pastor

Our Lady of Victory Parish