November 6, 2012

Psalm 62:8 (61:9 LXX)

Hope in Him, all you congregation of people;
Pour out your hearts before Him;
God is our helper.

Encouraging Words...

As another election spectacle comes to an end this verse reminds me that it is not in governments or political parties or elected officials that I should be putting my hope, but in God alone. His is the only kingdom, the only leadership that I am to put my hope into.

November 5, 2012

Luke 12:29-31

“And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind. For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things. But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you."

Personal Challenge...

I have been blessed to have been able to walk through nearly 47 years with Christ as my Lord. Throughout those years I have had my good times and my bad times, I have walked close to Him and sometimes wandered away from His straight and narrow path. But in all of this I have learned the truth of this passage. God does provide for me...more than even I do myself. God does provide for me...not necessarily what I want but what I need. I have learned to be content with Him and not worry or get upset about what is going on around me or in my life. Thank You, Lord Jesus.

Unfortunately I allowed an event yesterday to really get under my skin and get me very angry. One thing that I cannot stand to see is a leader in the church misuse his position of authority for personal gain and get away with it, or worse yet, be protected by other leaders around him/her. This is a misuse and abuse of the authority provided by God and an affront to the Bride of Christ. For this anger I pray, "Lord, Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner." For this acto by another, one in a leadership position I pray, "Father, my Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." My plea for all involved is, "Lord, have mercy!, Lord, have mercy! Lord,have mercy!"

November 3, 2012

2 Corinthians 5:1

For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

Encouraging Words...

Death! One of those inevitable events in life that so many people fear and loathe. This week has been quite a reminder for me of the fragility of life. Earlier this week my priest's father passed away...he was of the generation of my parents, who have had quite a year dealing with physical maladies. Then Laura's cousin passed away...she was of our generation. We went to her funeral today.

The notes in my Orthodox Study Bible have the following comment about this verse:

     "Fear of death is overcome by hope in the resurrection,

     faith in the Holy Trinity (vv. 5, 7), and the love of Christ

     and our union with Him (v. 14). Our earthly house (v. 1)

     is our present mortal body. The building from God, the

     one which is from heaven (v. 2), is the immortal, deified

     body we shall have in heaven (see 1Co 15)."

As these notes go on to explain the glory of our future and the hope that we can have in it I am comforted that i know that Jesus reigns victorious over death.

November 2, 2012

Luke 12:34

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Personal Challenge...

I must constantly be checking the state of my heart. Where my heart gets focused on is where my thoughts, my desires, my actions get targeted at. If the treasure that I truly pursue is the things above then all else will fall into place properly

November 1, 2012

Colossians 4:2

Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving;

Personal Challenge...

Prayer is to be an ever present part of my life. It does not mean that I have to be running to a private place to be in prayer, or in some special position with hands folded. I am to be earnestly and vigilantly pursuing the heart of God, and doing it always with a spirit of thanksgiving. I love how the Jesus prayer, "Lord, Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner!", can be prayed under my breath or out loud, with my prayer beads or not, in the middle of a meeting or while riding my motorcycle. A simple prayer, that when prayed enough, becomes embedded in my very essence and brings me closer to Paul's charge to pray without ceasing.

October 30, 2012

Colossians 3:1-2

If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.

Personal Challenge...

Through my baptism in Christ I have been raised up into Him. Why is it so difficult for me to take my eyes off of the things of the earth and set my heart and mind on Him? It can be done! It must be done! Lord, have mercy.

October 29, 2012

Psalm 35:22-23 (34:22-23 LXX)

You saw this, O Lord; do not keep silence;
O Lord, do not be far from me.
Arise, O Lord, attend to my judgment,
My God and my Lord, to my cause.

Encouraging Words...

Have you ever had one of those times in our life when you felt that you were being judged by everyone around you? This is a passage that I have held onto for a long time. God is my Judge, and God alone. He sees all, He knows all...both my right choices and the wrong ones. He will judge me fairly and because of His love and the work of His Son I will still be victorious over death. So it really does not matter how others judge me as long as I stay true to my pursuit of the likeness of Christ.