December 27, 2017

VIRTUES

Proverbs 17:27 (17:29 LXX)

He who refrains from uttering a harsh word is intelligent,
And a longsuffering man has discernment.

Encouraging Words

What an awesome combination of virtues to have, intelligence and discernment. These, however, are not virtues that are given to us just because we claim to be followers of Jesus Christ. These grow out of diligently living other virtues in our lives. This intelligence, godly intelligence, comes from being able to control our tongues and being able to refrain from speaking harsh words. Being a person of discernment comes from being longsuffering and patient with those around us. There are no "name it and claim it" rewards in true Christianity. There are true, godly rewards for those who diligently follow our Lord, submitting to Him, and living an obedient life. Glory be to God!

December 26, 2017

SET FREE!

John 8:31-32

Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

Encouraging Words

Don't we all want to be set free? Freedom is what Jesus became incarnate for. Freedom from the strangle­hold that death had onus. Freedom from wing a life of sin and separation from God. But this freedom does come at a price. First is the price that Jesus paid by going to the cross for us. Second is the price that we pay for knowing Him as the truth and choosing to abide in His word so that we may know Him. Such a small price to pay to gain what He is offering.

December 25, 2017

CHRIST IS BORN! GLORIFY HIM!

Psalms 139:1-3 (138:1-3 LXX)

O Lord, You test me and know me;
You know my sitting down and my rising up;
You understand my thoughts from afar;
You search out my path and my portion,
And You foresee all my ways.

Encouraging Words

We are never alone. Our glorious God is ever present in our lives. He knew us as we were being formed in our mother's womb and He has been intimately active in every aspect of our lives since our birth. He is active leading us along the journey of our lives whether we recognize that or not. Today we celebrate the birth of our incarnate Lord knowing that He left His place in Heaven to become one of us, to live as we have had to live in our temporal bodies, saying "No!" to temptations and sin, showing us that it is possible as a human being to live a sinless life. He gave His life up for us so that we would never have to yield our lives to death. Christ is born! Glorify Him!

December 24, 2017

UNITY

Proverbs 17:14 (17:15 LXX)

The foundation of righteousness gives authority to words,
But discord and quarreling precede poverty.

Personal Challenge

Isn't righteousness grounded in unity? Unity with our Father in heaven. Unity with our neighbor, both in Christ and the stranger. If we do not have unity with those around us, if we are constantly picking at others or condemning their choices, then we are not loving our neighbor. So without loving our neighbor and treating them with love and respect then how can we expect to have righteousness in our lives? We cannot. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

December 22, 2017

CHRIST IS BORN!

John 8:12

Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”

Encouraging Words

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, or Seasons Greetings! It really doesn't matter which one we use nowadays because the truth of the matter is that Jesus Christ, the incarnate son of God, is the light of God that has entered this dark world and this is the time of year that we celebrate His birth. Glory to God in the highest and peace on earth for all mankind.

December 23, 2017

Saint of the Week

St. John Chrysostom

December 21, 2017

WATCHING OVER THE LOWLY

Psalms 138:4-6 (137:4-6)

O Lord, let all the kings of the earth give thanks to You,
For they heard all the words of Your mouth;
And let them sing in the ways of the Lord,
For the glory of the Lord is great;
For the Lord is high, and He watches over the lowly things;
But the high things He knows from afar.

Encouraging Words

We believe that the glory of the Lord is great. His glory far outshines that of any king, president, or dictator. He is high above all, and yet He watches over the lowly and gives His love to them. Jesus spent most of His time here on earth living with, eating with, talking to, and loving the common person, the lowly. He stayed far from those who were already elevated. And...He asks us to do the same. Glory be to God?

December 20, 2017

DO WE REALLY NEED ALL OF THIS?

Proverbs 17:1

Better is a morsel with enjoyment in peace
Than a house full of many good things and unrighteous sacrifices with quarreling.

Personal Challenge

Contrary to popular belief, more is not always better. We live in a society, and a culture, that teaches that if I have a little bit of something that gives me pleasure or happiness, then more of it gives me, even more, pleasure or happiness. So what do we end up with? Mega-houses that own us and that have half of their rooms devoid of furniture because we ran out of money to fill them. Myriads of toys such as cars, trucks, boats, and the list goes on, many of which we only use once or twice a year. We end up with closets full of clothes that we never wear, but that we must own. All the while we walk past the homeless on the streets of our communities who spend their nights in tents or cardboard boxes. We say sorry to them because we have no money to put in their cup since it is all tied up in our toys. We ignore the person who does not have a coat to wear in winter or the child who has no shoes while standing before our stuffed closets commiserating that we have nothing to wear. I too am guilty as charged and grieved. Now is the time for fasting and giving of our wealth as alms to those in need. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

December 19, 2017

FORGIVENESS

John 8:7-9

So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.

Personal Challenge

So, who am I to condemn another person for their sin when I have my own sin in my life that condemns me? I need more forgiveness than anyone else for my sin is not only against God but against everyone else. My sin can only be forgiven by the God of mercy and love. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

December 18, 2017

UNITY

Psalm 133 (132 LXX)

Behold now, what is so good or so pleasant
As for brothers to dwell together in unity?
It is like fragrant oil running down upon the beard,
The beard of Aaron,
Running down upon the border of his garment;
It is like the dew of Hermon, running down upon the mountains of Zion;
For there the Lord commanded the blessing
And life forever.

Personal Challenge

What is one of the things that shows up throughout the scriptures as something important for us to all strive for? It is to be in unity with those around us, especially those in the Body of Christ. The psalmist yearned for it. The prophets proclaimed it. Jesus and Paul prayed that we would have it in our local communities. Then why is it so difficult to attain? I believe the difficulty comes from what is at the core of achieving unity. In order to find true unity between two or more humans, they must all be willing to love the other and put their needs before their own. Without that, unity will never be attained. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

December 17, 2017

PATIENCE

Proverbs 16:32 (16:30 LXX)

A patient man is better than a strong man,
And he who controls his temper is better than he who captures a city.

Personal Challenge

Patience, or self-control, is one of the virtues that we should all be trying to build in our lives. This virtue can lead to many of the other virtues. This is not a normal thing for us to pursue if we are attempting to live by the rules of the world today. We live in a time where every­thing is delivered instantly. We have fast food, instant gratification of our senses through the media, and the ability to get whatever we desire. None of this instant stuff feeds our soul or helps us to grow in the image of Christ if it becomes what we desire. Patience will prepare us to be like Him. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

December 16, 2017

Saint of the Week

St. Isaiah the Solitary

December 15, 2017

LIVING WATER

John 7:37-38

On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”

Encouraging Words

Jesus knew that the time was coming soon when He would be leaving His disciples and returning to heaven, In this verse, He is promising to them, and to us, that anyone who comes to Him will be filled by living waters. The early church fathers saw this promise by Jesus as the prophecy of the upcoming Pentecost, that day when the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles and established the beginning of the Church. Jesus and the Father never intended for us to be on our own throughout our lives floundering to figure out how to follow in His footsteps. We are never alone in our journey through life. If we come to Him, not just once, or when we need something, but constantly, He will continuously fill us with Himself. That filling will be so complete that the living water that God fills us with will spill over to all around us. Glory be to God!

December 14, 2017

OUR TRUE SOURCE FOR EVERYTHING

Psalms 127:1 (126:1 LXX)

Unless the Lord builds the house,
Those who build it labor in vain;
Unless the Lord guard the city,
Those who guard it stay awake in vain.

Personal Challenge

In light of recent political events (the interim election in Alabama), I have been reminded that so many people, including professing Christians, look to the world to establish their house on and to seek protection from. As Christians, we should be looking to God for this and not to men and women. Only God can help us build a quality home. Only God can guard and protect us. Not man. This can be easy to forget and get us all focused on the things of this world. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

December 12, 2017

GOOD DEEDS

Proverbs 16:20 (16:18 LXX)

A man wise in his deeds is a discoverer of good things,
But he who trusts in God is the most blessed.

Encouraging Words

The scriptures do not discount or discredit the good deeds that people do. It even praises people for the good that we do, even if the person doing the good deeds is not a follower of God. However, the blessings of God are reserved for those who put their trust in Him. We need God more than we need anything else in on lives for He is the source of life for all. Glory be to God!

December 11, 2017

WHO ELSE? WHERE ELSE? 

 

John 6:68-69

But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Encouraging Words

"To whom shall we go?" Once the grace of God has firmly taken hold of our hearts, there is no one else that we want to be with. There is nowhere else that we want to be but in His presence. There is nothing else that we want in life, but to be with Him. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner so that I may see You!

December 10, 2017

WHERE DOES MY HELP COME FROM?

Psalms 121:1-4 (120:1-4 LXX)

I lifted my eyes to the mountains; From where shall my help come?
My help comes from the Lord,
Who made heaven and earth.
Let not your foot be moved;
Neither let Him who keeps you slumber.
Behold, He who keeps Israel
Shall neither slumber nor sleep.

Encouraging Words

My help comes from the Lord. It is so comforting to know that I do not have to count on myself, or any other human being for that matter, to make it through each and every day or situation. My Lord never sleeps and is always there to lift me up, to walk beside me as He did with Adam in the garden. He is my help! He is my hope! He is my all!

December 9, 2017

Saint of the Week

St. Mark the Ascetic

December 8, 2017

PRIDE VERSUS HUMILITY

Proverbs 16:18 (16:16 LXX)

Arrogance goes before destruction
And folly before a fall.

Personal Challenge

Arrogance, or pride, comes in all kinds of forms. The challenge is to recognize it for what it is, sin, and flee from it. Am I dealing with feelings that drive me to believe that I deserve something just because I want it.? This is pride. Am I bullying those around me to do things the way that I want them to because it makes me look good? This is pride. Do I expect God to give me my every wish because I want it? That is pride. Pride only does one thing. It builds me up at the expense of others so that my fall will be even greater. The enemy cherishes that fall so that he can drive me even further into sin. What is the answer to pride? Humility! Putting others before ourselves. Loving our neighbors. Loving those who hate us. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

December 5, 2017

NO MORE HUNGER OR THIRST

John 6:35

And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.”

Encouraging Words

Jesus is our source for everything that we need in our lives. Most importantly He is our source of life, both physical and eternal. He does not dangle some kind of carrot in front of us, expecting us to behave a certain way in order to receive His gift of life. He gives us this gift of life and then shows us how to live our lives so that we can fully reap that which He has for us. So, what should be my response to this gift? Take it! Cherish it! Let it permeate my life, my actions, my thoughts, and my desires so that it changes me into His image. Jesus made it clear that if we are to be recipients of His bread of life and never feel hunger or thirst again, then we must act and come to Him. He is the Gift. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

December 4, 2017

CRYING OUT TO GOD

Psalms 120:1-4 (119:1-4 LXX)

To the Lord in my affliction
I cried out, and He heard me.
O Lord, deliver my soul from unjust lips
And from a deceitful tongue.
What should be given You, and what added to You,
Against a deceitful tongue?
The arrows of the Mighty One are sharpened
With hot coals from the desert.

Encouraging Words

My God, our God, is always there for us, especially in our times of need or affliction. It falls upon us to cry out to Him to fulfill our needs and to submit to His judgment of what is best for us. Glory be to God!

December 3, 2017

SEEKING GOD, FINDING PEACE

Proverbs 16:7 (16:4 LXX)

He who seeks the Lord will find knowledge with righteousness,
And those who seek Him rightly will find peace.

Encouraging Words

Don't we all desire to have knowledge, especially godly, righteous knowledge? Don't we all desire to have peace in our lives, especially in these chaotic times? The writer of the Proverbs tells us how to get these in our lives. We get these by rightly seek the Lord. Fast forward about 4,000 years from this writing and we find Jesus walking the streets of Jerusalem proclaiming that He is the way, the truth, and the life and that no one can find the Father except through Him. Jesus is the personification of what this Proverb is telling us to do. We can find righteous knowledge by seeking Jesus. We can find peace by seeking Him. Glory be to God!

December 2, 2017

Saint of the Week

St. Seraphim of Sarov

December 1, 2017

GOD IN THE SIMPLE THINGS

John 6:14

Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said, “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.”

Personal Challenge

Here in John, Jesus had just finished feeding 5,000 people. It was this sign that caused the people to proclaim Him to be the Prophet of God. He Had already performed many other miracles, This one made such an impression because so many individuals were impacted and collectively they started to proclaim who they thought He was. The problem with this way of thinking is that it only looks for Jesus in the grandiose miracles that He performs when He is just as much in the mundane one-on-one miracles of everyday life. Even today, we continue to look for God only in the big, grandiose, and spectacular things of life. We look for the big miracles, the big shows of His blessings, and forget to look for Him in the little things that He is ever so present in, This is one of the reasons we are told to be still and know that He is God. We need those quiet times with God to see Him, hear Him, and know Him, Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, the mercy on me, the sinner!

November 30, 2017

GOD IS OUR HOPE

Psalms 118:147 (119:47 LXX)

I arose at midnight and cried out; I hoped in Your words.

Encouraging Words

My God is always present in my life. He is always available to me when I call out for His assist­ance in my life. He is where my entire hope in this life rests. He is when I find my confidence to make it through each day and to find true peace in the chaos of life. He is constant even as everything around me is in constant change. Glory be to God!

November 29, 2017

DOING GOOD THINGS

Proverbs 16:3

The beginning of a good way is to do righteous things,
And this is more acceptable to God than to offer sacrifices.

Encouraging Words

The author of Proverbs reminds us that the journey toward living a godly and righteous life begins by doing righteous, or good, things. He is not saying that our righteousness comes from the things that we do, God is the source of our righteousness through Christ. But when God has begun His saving work within us, we humbly follow in the footsteps of our Lord and start doing good things that glorify Him and begin the process of building righteousness in our lives. This is much more acceptable to God than sacrifices. Glory be to God!

November 28, 2017

COME AND SEE!

John 5:39-40

You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.

Personal Challenge

Jesus is not a book. So many people today act as if the leather-bound Bible is Jesus, however, it is the inspired Word of God that was canonized by the church a few hundred years after Jesus walked upon this earth as the incarnate God. Up until that canonization the church operated from the traditions and teachings of the early church fathers. Those traditions and teachings still exist, in addition to the canonized scriptures. Our modern approach to Christianity has abandoned the foundational components of our faith and substituted for them the expositions and interpretations of so many individuals. No wonder the modern church has fractured and splintered into thousands of denominations and self-defined institutions. In the early church, this would have been viewed as heresy. If we really want to have a full understanding of who Jesus is and enter into a deep and life-changing relationship with Him, we must do as He said in this verse over 2,000 years ago, and go to Him in order to have the life He has for us. We need to return to the ways of the early church and the early church fathers. Come and see!

November 16, 2017

GOD'S DIRECTION

Psalms 118:133 (119:133 LXX)

Direct my steps according to Your teaching
And let no lawlessness rule over me.

Personal Challenge

This verse, like so many others, poses a dilemma for a modern person. We believe today that we have the final say on who we are and what we do. We live in a very individualistic and self-focused society. The Psalmist reminds us that it is God's teaching that we submit to if we desire to live a godly life. His teachings come from His Word, His Church, His traditions, not what we determine to be taught. Glory be to God!