August 28, 2020

OLD AGE

Wisdom of Solomon 4:7-9

But though a righteous man may die before his time,
He shall be at rest.
For old age is not honored for its length of existence,
Nor measured by its number of years;
But discernment is gray hair for mankind,
And a spotless life is the maturity of old age.

Personal Challenge

Old age is inevitable. We will all have to experience it if we are blessed with many years. No matter how much we exercise and pamper our bodies, that old age will still break us down and win out over our youthful thoughts and desires. What is more important than trying to keep our bodies youthful as long as we live? Learning wisdom and gaining discernment from our Lord Jesus Christ. Striving to live a spotless life in our Lord so that we can stand up before our fellow humans as a beacon pointing to our Lord. This is the opportunity that old age brings for each one of us. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

August 27, 2020

VIRTUE

Wisdom of Solomon 4:2

When virtue is present, people imitate it,
And when it goes away, they long for it.
Throughout one's lifetime,
Virtue leads the struggle for undefiled prizes,
Wearing a crown and conquering.

Personal Challenge

Where has the value of virtue gone in our society? It has all but disappeared from our postmodern world and people wonder why it is so chaotic. Do we really want the undefiled, godly prizes of life? Do we want to wear crowns of glory and conquer the evils of this world? Then we must pursue the virtues that are important to God and not the ones important to man. Here is a table identifying a good start at seeing what virtues counter various passions (or vices).

Glory be to God!

August 26, 2020

UNDERSTANDING TRUTH

Wisdom of Solomon 3:9

Those who trust in Him will understand truth,
And the faithful shall continue with Him in love,
Because grace and mercy are upon His elect.

Encouraging Words

We live in a time where fake news and false truths are rampant. This should not surprise any of us who proclaim that we are followers of Christ. This verse helps to make this very clear. If a person is not putting their trust in Christ, then they will not understand, or possibly even know the truth. This does make it imperative for those of us who proclaim Christ to be willing to only speak the truth including posting it on Facebook and not be contributing to the spread of lies and fake news. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

August 25, 2020

FINDING GOD

Wisdom of Solomon 1:1-2

Love righteousness, you who judge on the earth.
Think about the Lord in goodness
And seek Him with sincerity of heart;
Because He is found by those who do not tempt Him,
And He is manifest to those who do not disbelieve Him.

Encouraging Words

God does not play hide and seek with us. It is usually us who are hiding from Him. If we seek Hin with a sincere heart, He will open our eyes and reveal Himself to us. If we believe in Him and do what He asks us to do, His presence in our lives will be manifested. He loves us and desires that we love Him and live for Him. Glory be to God!

August 24, 2020

FEAR GOD

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

Hear the conclusion of the whole matter:
Fear God
And keep His commandments,
For this is the whole man.
For God will bring every work into judgment,
Including everything that has been overlooked,
Whether it be good or evil.

Personal Challenge

We were all created in the image of God. We have a bit of Him in every one of us. So, does it not make sense to fear Him, to hold Him in great awe and respect, to be willing to let Him manifest Himself within us as much as possible. This fear, or respect, should lead us to keep His commandments and expectations of us. We do this because we love Him and desire to please Him. We also do this because we know that our every thought, action, and inaction will someday be brought to light, not to punish us, but to show us and all around us how much we need Him, His love, His mercy, and His grace. Glory be to God!

August 23, 2020

PROPER POSITIONING

Ecclesiastes 10:6

The senseless man devotes himself to great heights,
And rich men shall sit in a lowly place.

Personal Challenge

Once again we see a proverb that appears to be counter to what our culture tells us to do. We are encouraged and even rewarded, for fighting our way to the top, even if it means stepping on someone else to get there. The richness that this verse is referring to is not necessarily what we might expect it to be. It is not necessarily rich in wealth and money. Wealth in the scriptures often refers to that which we lay up in heaven rather than on earth. Lord, Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

August 22, 2020

Saint of the Week

St. John Chrysostom

August 21, 2020

BE CAREFUL

Ecclesiastes 7:16

Do not be overly righteous,
Nor be overly wise,
Lest you be confounded.

Personal Challenge

Solomon warns us to be careful in our pursuit of righteousness and wisdom. It is one thing to pursue our Lord Jesus Christ and in that pursuit, be blessed with His righteousness and His wisdom. However, if we pursue these good things independent of Him, we will become haughty and pumped up. True righteousness and wisdom can only be found in Jesus Christ. Glory be to God!

August 20, 2020

DON'T GO IT ALONE

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

Two are better than one
Because they have a good reward for their labor.
For if they fall, one will lift up his companion.
But woe to him who is alone when he falls,
For there is not a second one to help him up!
If two lie down together, both stay warm,
But how can one stay warm alone?
If one is added strength, two will stand before him,
And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

Personal Challenge

Another outcome of living in a culture that is built upon the worship of the self-made person is the belief that we don't need anyone else in our lives. This has created a world filled with lonely people. We do need each other. Sometimes that other person just provides friendship, someone that we can share our successes and excitement with. Sometimes that person is a beacon in our lives showing us the right way to go. Sometimes they provide discipline and correction to shake us out of our error. We need each other and we need to stop going through life alone. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

August 19, 2020

THERE IS A TIME

Ecclesiastes 3:4-8, 11

A time to weep
And a time to laugh;
A time to mourn
And a time to dance.
A time to throw stones
And a time to gather stones;
A time to embrace
And a time to refrain from embracing.
A time to seek
And a time to lose;
A time to keep
And a time to throw away.
A time to tear
And a time to sew;
A time to keep silent
And a time to speak.
A time to love
And a time to hate;
A time of war
And a time of peace.
...
He made everything beautiful in its time, and He indeed put eternity in their hearts in such a way that man may not find out the work God made from the beginning to the end.

Personal Challenge

So many of us nowadays live in the moment, looking for instant gratification or recognition. We have become very short-sighted people by taking our eyes off of eternity. It is in eternity that our salvation will be worked out by our living God. This passage in Ecclesiastes is such a good reminder that life happens. Sometimes that life is exciting and wonderful. Sometimes it is hard and devastating. What stays wonderful through it all is that God still holds us in the palm of His hand and desires that we include Him in all aspects of our lives. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

August 18, 2020

ARROGANCE OR HUMILITY

Proverbs 29:23

Arrogance humbles a man,
But the Lord supports the humble-minded with glory.

Personal challenge

Living in the age of the self-made person has brought us to a place where arrogance is not only accepted but in many cases, it is revered. We are reminded in the Scriptures that God prefers that we be humble-minded. We cannot love Him and our neighbor without becoming humble in relation­ship to them. We must remember that if we choose to hold on to our arrogance and put ourselves first, then we are destined to be humbled by God or another person. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

August 17, 2020

FRIENDSHIP

Proverbs 27:17

Iron sharpens iron,
And a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.

Encouraging Words

We need others in our lives in order to grow. No person can become a better person in a vacuum. People around us teach us how to see God and grow in His image. But in order to be truly sharpened in our walk with Christ, we need one or more close friends that can speak the truth into our lives and sharpen us. Sometimes this can be painful, but it is always worth the pain. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

August 15, 2020

Saint of the Week

St. John Maximovitch

August 14, 2020

POUNDINGS OF LIFE

Proverbs 25:4

Beat drossy silver,
And it will be made entirely clean.

Personal Challenge

One of the challenges that many people have when reading the scriptures is not understanding some of the images that are used to explain the lessons that are being taught. This lesson comes from the silversmith and the practice of making silver clean and pristine before it is made into its final form of artwork. As silver goes through its process of refinement and preparation the impurities of the silver will come to the surface. The process of bringing these impurities, or dross, to the surface is pounding it with a hammer, over and over. Why is this here? This is a reminder for us that God allows trials and tribulations in our lives to pound on us and remove the impurities of our lives. This process will cleanse us and make us more like Christ. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

August 13, 2020

OUR HOPE

Proverbs 23:18

For if you keep these words, you shall have offspring,
And your hope will not depart from you.

Encouraging Words

As Christians, we put our hope in Jesus Christ, the living God. He is not an idol made of wood or clay. He is the Son of God with no beginning and no end. He is also truly and fully a human being, conceived through the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary. He lived a life like every one of the rest of us, except He lived His life without committing sin. This is who we put our hope in. That hope is not in vain and it leads us to do good works for God and to keep His words, which then feeds our hope in Him. Glory be to God!

August 12, 2020

THE WORDS OF THE WISE

Proverbs 22:20-22 (22:17-19)

Incline your ear to the words of the wise and hear my word,
And establish your heart, that you may know they are good.
And if you apply them to your heart,
They will gladden you and at the same time be upon your lips;
That your hope might be in the Lord,
And His way might be known to you.

Personal Challenge

All through the Scriptures, both Old Testament and New, it is clear that we are not meant to be alone. Even God as the trinity is a community. Unfortunately, we have become a people that think alone, act alone, and live as if we are all that we need. Nothing could be farther from the truth. We need each other. We need to be in community. It is from being involved with others that we gain the opportunity to incline our ears to the words of the wise. It is through others that God teaches and nurtures us. It is through others that we can grow in the image of Christ. If we want to receive wisdom then we need to be in fellowship with others. Glory be to God!

August 11, 2020

LIVING "THE LIFE"

Proverbs 21:20 (21:21)

The way of righteousness and mercy shall find life and glory.

Encouraging Words

We live in an awesome country. We are blessed by much and yes, we have many challenges that are chipping away at that awesomeness. But we do have a way that we can make a difference. If we live our lives according to God's righteousness and be merciful to those around us, we will find the life that is full of glory. It is not about the pursuit of happiness or the desire for self-satisfaction and self-fulfillment. It is about loving our God and our neighbor and meeting the needs of others. This is how to live, "the life". Glory be to God!

August 10, 2020

PLEASING GOD

Proverbs 21:3

To do righteous things and to speak the truth
Are more pleasing before God than the blood of sacrifices.

Personal Challenge

We live in a time and a culture where ritual sacrifices do not happen. There was a time when the sacrifice was a reminder, a foreshadowing, of what Jesus, the Son of God, would do someday for His creation. Sacrifices were done for both the redemption of sins and to show God our love for Him. They were an important part of the law. Even with all of that in place, God consistently told His people that doing righteous things, like loving our neighbor, giving alms to the poor, and taking care of those in need, as well as speaking the truth in love, was far more pleasing to Him than these sacrifices. It is the condition of our hearts and how that drives us that God cares about. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

August 9, 2020

WHO DO WE LISTEN TO?

Proverbs 19:21

There are many thoughts in the heart of a man,
But the counsel of the Lord abides forever.

Personal Challenge

We are surrounded by fake news or lies, talking heads, and opinions. It seems like everyone deems themselves to be, not only an expert but the expert on what they are expounding on. We must be careful to not fall for these thoughts of man for they can very quickly lead us astray. So, where do we get our counsel, our guidance? We need to get it from our Lord, through His teachings, His word, from the saints that have gone before us, and the godly around us. God is our counsel. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

August 7, 2020

A LIFE LONG PURSUIT

Proverbs 19:20

Hear, my son, the instruction of your father,
That you may become wise in your last days.

Personal Challenge

Wisdom is not something that is easily acquired. If we want to be wise in our later years of life then we need to spend our lives pursuing God and His wisdom. This can start early in our lives by listening to our fathers for they have the experience that surpasses ours. I miss my father but I remember the many things that He taught me as I was growing up. Glory be to God!

August 6, 2020

THE NAME OF THE LORD

Proverbs 18:10

The name of the Lord is of great strength,
And when the righteous run to it, they are exalted.

Encouraging Words

We are not alone in this world or in our journey through life. Our Lord is always with us and always available for us to run to. In Him, we will find great strength to make it through any situation. Glory be to God!

August 5, 2020

SILENCE IS GOLDEN

Proverbs 17:30 (17:28)

Wisdom shall be imputed to a man without understanding who asks for wisdom,
And anyone who holds his peace will seem to have discernment.

Personal Challenge

Have you ever received that juicy tidbit of information and have everything within you burn to share it with everyone? In the eyes of our Lord and the saints that have gone before us, it is better to bury that information rather than share it, especially if it will end up hurting someone. This is why holding our peace is showing discernment. We would be in a much better world if we would all hold our opinions and share our love with each other more. Glory be to God!

August 4, 2020

INTELLIGENCE AND DISCERNMENT

Proverbs 17:29 (17:27)

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

Personal Challenge

There is a lot of guidance packed into this short proverb. We live in the information age. Every kind of information is available at our fingertips. The problem is that so much of this information is either false and invalid or without the appropriate ability to do thorough research, incomplete. We have also devolved to the point where opinion is taken as fact and everyone has their opinion about everything. We also live in a time where hatred and anger are rapidly ramping up. This makes it all the more important for those of us who proclaim to be followers of Christ to refrain from uttering harsh words...ever, and to be long-suffering in our listening and reading, being quiet more than engaging so that we can learn to discern the truth. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

August 3, 2020

OUR FOUNDATION

Proverbs 17:15 (17:14)

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

Personal Challenge

What is our foundation as individuals based on? Is it righteousness or ungod­liness? Is it Jesus Christ or ourselves? This can be a hard question for many of us to answer objectively for many believe that they are followers of Christ and yet live contentious, quarrelsome lives. Jesus said that He is the God of peace, unity, and order. You cannot be disruptive, argumentative, dividing, and full of discord and be living a life based on the foundation of our Lord. We all need to examine our hearts, our minds, and the fruit of our lives to determine what our foundation is and then strive to make it based on Jesus. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

August 2, 2020

JUST ENOUGH

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

We have come to be a people where what we have is never enough. We want more or we want the next best thing or we want what someone else has. By living this way, we are never content. When we get to the point in our walk with Christ where we truly believe that God has given us exactly what we need and remain content with that, then we begin to enjoy His peace, a peace that passes all understanding. Help me, oh Lord, to be content with that which you have blessed me with and to be willing to share in my abundance with others so that You might be glorified and my brothers and sisters edified.

August 1, 2020

Saint of the Week

St. Athanasius the Great

July 31, 2020

PATIENCE

Proverbs 16:30 (16:32)

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

Person Challenge

Here we go with another charge to be patient. I want what I want and I want it now. Isn't that how we all behave most of the time? I know that I do, all too often. Instant gratification. Isn't that what being an American all about? Well, not according to the teachings of the scriptures, our Lord, and the saints that have gone before us. Do we want to be strong, then be patient. Do we want to be able to capture a city, or conquer that formidable task that sits before us, then control our temper? So many of these teachings do not make sense because they are so contradictory to our modern way of thinking. But heavenly thinking is not of this earth. Glory be to God!