January 6, 2018

Saint of the Week

St. Silouan the Athonite

January 5, 2018

BELIEF

John 11:25-26

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

Encouraging Words

Do you believe this? This may be one of the most powerful and important questions of all time. Do we really believe Jesus when He claims that He is the resurrection and life and that all who believe in Him shall never die? Do we truly believe that our eternal life begins when we put our trust and

belief in Him? If we do, then why do we keep living our lives as if He never existed? Why do we strive so hard to be in control of our lives and abandon God? Why do we flee from loving our neighbor in ways that only a child of God could? It is because we so often say that we believe but still hold on to our doubts and our desires to be in control. I believe, but I need my God to purge any remaining doubts from my heart and mind. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

January 4, 2017

TEST ME

Psalms 139:23-24 (138:23-24 LXX)

Test me, O God, and know my heart; Examine me, and know my paths, And see if there is a lawless way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.

Personal Challenge

It takes either a very humble man or one who is confident in his way of living, to tell God to test him and see if his paths are lawless and godly. My desire is to be able to live my life in such a way that I am willing to cry out to my God and ask Him to test my heart for purity and commitment to Him. I know that I have a very long way to go to get to that point, but I also know that my God is continually working in my heart to get me to this place. May this prayer of the Psalmist someday become my prayer as well. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

January 3, 2018

DISCERNMENT

Proverbs 17:28 (17:30 LXX)

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

Encouraging Words

Discernment has always been viewed as the crown of the virtues. With discernment, a person knows how and when to exercise the other virtues. All of the virtues come to is through Wisdom or Jesus Christ, and He promises to provide these virtues to grow them within us when we seek Him and ask for His virtues to become an integral part of our lives. In the process of taking on these virtues, we go through the process of taking off ourselves. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me the sinner and plant the seeds of Your virtues within me.

December 31, 2017

TRUE LIFE

John 10:10

The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

Encouraging Words

Jesus came into this world for only one reason. It was to give us life and break the chains that death had us bound in. Doing this He defeated the ultimate thief, Satan. We have the opportunity to have a true life while on this temporal earth and abundant life when we enter into eternity. Thank You, Lord Jesus!

December 30, 2017

Saint of the week

St. John of Damascus

December 29, 2017

OVERWHELMING LOVE

Psalms 139:4-6 (138:4-6 LXX)

For there is not a word on my tongue,
But behold, O Lord, You know it altogether,
The last things and the first things;
You fashioned me, and placed Your hands on me.
Your knowledge has become too wondrous for me;
It has become too overwhelming; I am unable to grasp it.

Personal Challenge.

God knows everything about me, past, present, and future. He knows my every thought, every action, every word that proceeds out of my mouth, whether whispered or yelled. And yet He still loves me, He still forgives me, He still desires to have me walk in the gardens of eternity with Him. I know that I do not deserve any of this for I am unworthy. I will, however, cherish this un­limited love that He continually pours out on me. I will strive to submit my will to His, knowing full well that I will continue to resist Him. He made me in my mother's womb and has been making me ever since my birth. His majesty is incomprehensible to me, yet I will trust Him as He is my Lord. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!