January 28, 2021

EVERLASTING LOVE

Jeremiah 38:3 (31:3)

The Lord appeared to him from afar, saying, “I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore, I drew you in compassion.”

Personal challenge

We humans think we know so much about love and how to love another. We may know how to love another, our spouse, our children, our parents, but at the same time we express love for our car, our job, or any other myriad of things in our lives. This is not the kind of love that God has for us. His love is everlasting. He loved us before we were even conceived. He loves us even when we reject Him and pursue sin. He loves us to the point of giving His life for us. Our ability to love, or to understand love, pales in comparison to His love. There is no surprise then, that the only two commands that Jesus gave us were to love God and love our neighbor. If we desire to be like Christ, then we must submit to His love and love those around us the way He does. Glory be to God!

January 27, 2021

HE WILL HEAL US

Jeremiah 37:13-14 (30:16-17)

Therefore, all who devour you shall be consumed, for all your enemies shall devour themselves. Your sins multiplied because of the abundance of your wrongdoings, thus they did these things to you. But those who tore you to pieces shall be as prey, and I will give all who plundered you as plunder. For I will bring about your healing from a painful wound. I will heal you,’ says the Lord. ‘For you were called Dispersed, for they said, “She is your prey, because no one seeks her.’ ”

Personal Challenge

If we treat others around us as the world treats us, then we will reap the fruit of the world. A fruit that is bitter. We are called to live in this world as peacemakers who show others the love of God. By doing this God will bring healing to the wounds that we have incurred on our journey through life. Glory be to God!

January 26, 2021

A PLAN OF PEACE

Jeremiah 36:11-13 (29:11-13)

For I shall consider a plan of peace for you, to give you good things and not calamities. Therefore, pray to Me, and I will hear you. Seek Me, and you will find Me, because you seek Me with all your heart.

Encouraging Words

What does God want? He wants to return His creation back to the original state that He created it to be. Perfect. Peaceful. In communion with Him. Why doesn't He just make that happen? Because He is patiently waiting so that more of us can turn to Him and participate in His perfect creation. That is how much He loves His creation and His children. In the meantime, we can pray to Him knowing that He will hear us. We can seek Him knowing the we will find Him. Glory be to God!

January 25, 2021

PRAY FOR PEACE

Jeremiah 36:5-7 (29:5-7)

Build houses and dwell in them. Plant gardens and eat their fruit. Take wives and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons, and give your daughters to husbands; and be multiplied and not diminished. Seek the peace of the land into which I carried you captive. Pray to the Lord for them, for in its peace you shall have peace.

Personal challenge

Paul called us ambassadors for Christ. Jeremiah reminds the Jews that they are dispersed from their promised land. In both cases, we are not living where our true home is. And in both cases, we are told to live fully as citizens where God has planted us, but with our minds and hearts fixed on Him and His kingdom, therefore being His representatives, His ambassadors wherever we are. This does not mean that we are dissenters or disrupters, but peacemakers. We live in such a way so as to be at peace with those around us a lights that point to Christ. Glory be to God!

January 23, 2021

Saint of the Week

St. Antony the Great

January 22, 2021

GOD IS NEAR

Jeremiah 23:23-24

“I am a God who is near,” says the Lord, “and not a God afar off. Can a man hide in secret, and I not see him? Do I not fill heaven and earth?” says the Lord.

Encouraging Words

I have often heard this message expounded on in the negative, that God is watching everything that we are doing so that He can punish us for our sins. I prefer to see the message here that God is always there for me when I need Him, which is all the time. He is there to support and encourage me, to love me, and to help me in times of trouble and temptation to make the right choices. The real question to ask is, "Am I near to Him?" Lord Jesus Christ Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

January 21, 2021

TRUST AND HOPE

Jeremiah 17:3-4 (17:7-8)

But blessed is the man who puts his trust in the Lord, for the Lord shall be his hope. He shall be like a flourishing tree alongside the waters which spreads its roots toward the moisture. He will not fear when the burning heat comes, for He shall be like the root in a grove in the year of drought. He shall not fear, for he shall be like a tree that does not cease yielding its fruit.

Command with a Promise

We are charged to put our trust and hope in our Lord. This does not mean that we put our trust in some person, some political leader, a political party or other organi­zation, or the stuff that we have acquired. We are to put our hope and trust in our Lord only. What is the promise that goes with this charge? We will flourish like a tree planted by the banks of water. We will not fear... anything. We will grow in Christ and produce fruit. Glory be to God!

January 20, 2021

GLADNESS AND JOY

Jeremiah 15:16

Make an end to them, and Your word shall be the gladness and joy of my heart; for I am called by Your name, O Lord, the Almighty.

Encouraging Words

For those of us who proclaim Jesus as our Lord and strive to follow in His footsteps, He is our gladness and joy. We know that He holds us in His loving arms and gives us life eternal. He will put an end to the trials and tribulations of this temporal life and those who perpetrate them. Glory be to God!

January 18, 2021

BEHOLD, THE DAYS ARE COMING

Jeremiah 9:23-24

Instead, let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows that I am the Lord, who shows mercy, judgment, and righteousness on earth, for in these is My will,” says the Lord. “Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, “that I will visit upon all the circumcised their uncircumcision.”

Personal Challenge

So who is this warning targeted at? Who is this "circumcised" that Jeremiah is talking about? In the day that Jeremiah gave this prophecy, the circumcised would be his fellow Jews. In today's day, it would be those who proclaim Jesus as their Lord. So, what is the uncircumcision that they will be shown? Jesus and the apostles taught that under the new covenant, the covenant of the new law ushered in by Jesus we no longer need to be circumcised in the flesh to be God's people, but that our hearts need to be circumcised, or set apart In Him. Jeremiah is pointing out that if we are not living our lives God's way, we will be shown our uncircumcision. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

January 17, 2021

THRONE AND FOOTSTOOL

Isaiah 66:1-2

Thus says the Lord: “Heaven is My throne, and earth is the footstool of My feet. What kind of house will you build for Me? Or what kind is the place of My rest? For My hand made all these things, and all these things are Mine,” says the Lord; “and upon whom will I show respect, but to the humble and the peaceful and to him who trembles at My words.” 

Encouraging Words

The prophet Isaiah dearly articulates that our God has heaven as His throne and the earth as His footstool. His glory and magnitude exceed everything that we can conceive. And yet He chooses the humble and submissive heart to dwell in. He chooses the lowly to lift up. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner! Glory to You!

January 16, 2021

Saint of the Week

St. Nikolaj Velimirovic

January 15, 2021

UPSIDE DOWN

Isaiah 61:1-4

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because of which He anointed Me. He sent Me to proclaim good news to the poor, to heal the brokenhearted, to preach liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind; to declare the acceptable year of the Lord, the day of recompense, and to comfort all who mourn; to give those who mourn in Zion glory instead of ashes, the oil of gladness to those who mourn; the garment of glory instead of a spirit of indifference. They shall be called generations of righteousness, the planting of the Lord for glory. They shall build the ancient deserts, raise up those formerly abandoned, and renew the desert cities that laid waste for generations.”

Personal Challenge

Are we ready to have our world turned upside down? Was our world as we knew it turned upside down when we chose to follow Jesus? If not, then are we really followers of Jesus? These words by Isaiah were quoted be Jesus when He started His earthly ministry. He proclaimed that He was going to take everything that we knew about God and everything we did in our worship of God and turn it upside down because we had strayed so far from Him. If our lives as Christians are no different than the lives of everyone around us then we may not be following God, but the world's image of God. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

January 14, 2021

SHINE

Isaiah 60:1-2

“Shine, shine, O Jerusalem, for your light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. Behold, darkness and gloom shall cover the earth upon the nations, but the Lord will shine on you; and His glory shall be seen upon you.”

Encouraging Words

Ever since Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit, there has been a veil of darkness over Gods' creation. It is soiled. It is broken. And everyone of us throughout the history of mankind have also been soiled and broken... except for One. Jesus Christ was born into this fallen world just like the rest of us. The difference, however, was that His Father was of heaven and not of earth. He was, and is, fully human and fully God. He is the one that has shone the light of God into this dark world and removed all darkness and gloom. In Him we can be living in God's Kingdom today. Glory be to God!

January 13, 2021

GOD WILL BE WITH US

Isaiah 58:11

God shall be with you continually, and you shall be satisfied as your soul desires. Your bones shall be enriched, and you shall be like a well-watered garden and like a spring of water that does not fail. Your bones will arise and be enriched like a green plant, and they shall inherit generations of generations.

Encouraging Words

If we choose to heed the words from the verses before this one and be the people, both individually and collectively, that the verses call us to be, then we will see the blessings of God. He will be with us continually. Our soul will be satisfied, not by achieving or acquiring much in this world, but by becoming aligned with God's desires. Our health will be enriched, not that we won't encounter trials and tribulations in this world, but that He will strengthen us to endure and overcome them. We, and the generations coming up behind us, will be enriched by Him. Glory be to God!

January 12, 2021

WHAT TO DO?

Isaiah 58:9-10

Then you shall cry out, and God will hear you. While you are still speaking, He will say, ‘Behold, I am here.’ If you take away your fetter and the pointing of the finger, and the word of grumbling, and if you give bread to the hungry from your soul, and satisfy the humble soul, then your light shall rise up in the darkness, and your darkness shall be as midday.

Personal Challenge

God truly does want the best for us. He wants everything to be returned to how He created it before we broke it with our sin. However, in His love for mankind, He patiently waits for more of us to turn to Him and to do what glorifies Him. If we cry out to Him, He hears us and runs to us as the father of the prodigal son did. If we stop living the way that the world wants us to and start treating our brothers and sisters with love and mercy, we will see His light shine through us. We must give our all to Him. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

January 11, 2021

WHY?

Isaiah 58:3-8

saying, ‘Why have we fasted, but You did not see it? Why have we humbled our souls, but You did not know it?’ Because in the days of your fasts, you seek your own wills, and mistreat those under your authority. If you fast for condemnations and quarrels, and strike a humble man with your fists, why do you fast to Me as you do today, so your voice may be heard in crying? I did not choose this fast, and such a day for a man to humble his soul; nor if you should bow your neck like a ring and spread sackcloth and ashes under yourself, could you thus call such a fast acceptable. I did not choose such a fast,” says the Lord; “rather, loose every bond of wrongdoing; untie the knots of violent dealings; cancel the debts of the oppressed; and tear apart every unjust contract. Break your bread for the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house. If you see a naked man, clothe him, nor shall you disregard your offspring in your own household. Then your light shall break forth as the morning, and your healing shall spring forth quickly. Your righteousness shall go before you, and the glory of God shall cover you."

Personal Challenge

How many times have we called out to God asking why He has abandoned us and laid out all of the wonderful spiritual things that we are doing? I know that I have done this, just to be reminded by Him that it is not the number of times that I go to church or the piety of my prostrations or the completeness of my fasting that He cares about. He cares about the state of my heart and the actions towards Him and those around me which flow from that state. If I am being mean and nasty toward those around me, then my heart is mean and nasty, if I am hoarding the wealth that He bestows upon me and not taking care of those in need, then my heart is hoarding the things of this earth. God wants my love. He wants my actions to be filled with love. He wants me, not my empty sacrifices. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

January 10, 2021

WHO IS GOD

Isaiah 57:15

The Lord, the Most High who dwells on high forever, the Holy One among His saints, whose name is the Lord Most High, who rests among His saints, and who gives patience to the fainthearted and life to the broken-hearted, says this:

Encouraging Words

Our God has many names that define so many of His characteristics. Some of them are in this verse. They are, the Lord, the Most High, He who dwells forever, the Holy One, Lord Most High, lives and rests among His saints, the giver of patience to the fainthearted, the giver of life to the broken-hearted. He is our God and He loves us.

January 9, 2021

Saint of the Week

St. Mark the Ascetic

January 8, 2021

NOT RETURN VOID

Isaiah 55:10-11

For as rain comes down, or snow from heaven, and does not return until it saturates the earth, and it brings forth and produces, and gives seed to the sower and bread for food, so shall My word be, whatever proceeds from My mouth. It shall not return until it accomplishes whatever I willed, and I shall prosper your ways and My commandments.

Encouraging Words

We have a very powerful promise here from God. He pours out His living Word on all of the population. He makes the love and sacrifice of His Son available to everyone. And He promises that it will not return to Him until it accomplishes that which He wants to accomplish. We can claim this promise on behalf of our loved ones who have grown up hearing and knowing the truth, yet who have chosen to walk away from Him. God will always puya it. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

January 7, 2021

DIFFERENCES

Isaiah 55:8-9

“For My counsels are not as your counsels, neither are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. “But as heaven is distant from earth, so is My way distant from your ways, and your thoughts from My mind.”

Personal Challenge

No matter how educated we may become, how much wealth we may acquire, how much power we may seize, we are still temporal and unable to compare to God. We may seek the counsels of other people, especially those who agree with us, but God's counsel far exceeds theirs. His ways are so much farther above the ways of man. We must always yield to Him and pursue Him if we desire to see Him in our lives. Glory be to God!

January 5, 2021

VALUE HIM

Isaiah 55:1-2

“You who are thirsty, go to the water, and all who have no money, go and buy wine and fat, and eat and drink without money and price. Why do you value at the price of money, and give your toil for what does not satisfy? Listen to Me and eat good things, and your soul will delight in good things.”

Personal Challenge

The affluence of our culture has made it difficult for us to value that which is really the most valuable, our Lord Jesus Christ. Through Him, we do not need the stuff of this world to quench our thirst or satisfy our hunger. These temporal things quickly fade away. It is only in Jesus that our soul is truly satisfied and enriched. It is in Him that we can really appreciate the temporal gifts that He has made us stewards over. Glory be to God!

January 4, 2021

GLORIFIED IN GOD

Isaiah 45:25

All the seed of the children of Israel shall be made righteous by the Lord, and glorified in God.

Encouraging Words

We put our hope, all of it, in God. To do anything less is to dilute our relationship with Him and His power in our lives. One aspect of this hope is that one day we will be made righteous by Him and through that righteousness glorified in Him. Righteousness is not something that we can achieve or acquire on our own. It is bestowed upon us in His love for us. Glory be to God!

January 1, 2021

LOOKING FORWARD

Isaiah 43:18

“Do not remember the former things, nor reason about the things of old.”

Encouraging Words

What a perfect verse for January 1, 2021! It has been quite a year, a year to forget, and a year that we will always remember. It is so important that we learn from our past, but it does not do us any good to dwell upon it and let it control us. It is also important to not invest too much of ourselves focusing on the future, for we cannot make it happen just as we cannot change the past. Today is what we have before us and today is the day that we can glorify God and love our neighbor. Goodbye to 2020 and hello to our new day. Glory be to God!

December 30, 2020

FEAR NOT

Isaiah 43:1-2

And now, thus says the Lord God who made you, O Jacob, and who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I redeemed you. I called you by your name, for you are Mine. If you pass through water, I am with you; and the rivers shall not overflow you. If you pass through fire, you shall not be burned up, nor shall the flame consume you.”

Encouraging Words

As followers of Christ, we are members of His Church. His Bride. It is our God who formed and made us. He has called us by name because we are His. No matter what trials and tribulations we pass through, He will not let us be over­whelmed or overtaken. Glory be to God!

December 28, 2020

IN HIS NAME

Isaiah 42:1-4

“Jacob is My Servant; I will help Him. Israel is My chosen; My soul accepts Him. I put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. He will not cry out, nor raise His voice, nor cause His voice to be heard outside. A bruised reed He will not break, and smoking flax He will not quench; but He will bring forth judgment in truth. He will shine forth and not be broken until He establishes judgment in the earth; and in his name the Gentiles will hope.”

Encouraging Words

Who is this passage referring to? Who is this Jacob, that is chosen and accepted by God? Who will have the spirit of God put upon Him? Who will do, and be, all the other wonderful things that this passage calls out? It is Jesus who was fully man and fully God. As man, Jesus had God's Spirit descend upon Him. He showed love, compassion, mercy, and grace to those around Him. He is our salvation. Glory be to God!

December 26, 2020

Saint of the Week

St. Nektarios of Aegina

December 25, 2020

FEAR NOT

Isaiah 41:10

Fear not, for I am with you. Do not go astray, for I am your God who strengthens you; and I will help and secure you with My righteous right hand.

Encouraging Words

We have nothing to fear when the world around us goes awry. We have no reason to turn away from God when our lives get difficult. God is the one who gives us strength. He is the one who helps and secures us. He is our refuge and our fortress and we can fear not. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!