November 3, 2015

I am not my own!

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.

Personal Challenge

So, if I start thinking that because I have been born into the land of the free and that I have the right to pursue happiness and self-gratification, then I am in for a rude awakening. When I was baptized into Christ and sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit I gave over my life, all of it, to God. I am no longer my own. He owns me! Yes, I am His bondservant! He dictates to me what I should think and do! My political preferences, my work preferences, my hobbies, my relationships, my desires and expectations of those around me, everything, must be submitted to Him! I am His, He is not mine. Am I living this way? Lord, have mercy! Am I willing to live this way? Lord, have mercy! Will He lead me and bless me in living this way? Lord, have mercy! It is time to let go...

November 2, 2015

When I cry out, He hears me!

Psalm 119:147 (118:147 LXX)

And I shall keep Your testimonies.
I arose at midnight and cried out;
I hoped in Your words.

Encouraging Words

My God never sleeps. He is never hidden or absent. If I cannot feel His presence in my life it is because I have moved away from Him. Because of this I can call out to Him at any time and in any situation knowing that He will hear my voice. Glory be to God!

November 1, 2015

His mercy endures forever!

Psalm 118:1-4 (117:1-4 LXX)

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good;
For His mercy endures forever.
Let the house of Israel say that He is good,
For His mercy endures forever.
Let the house of Aaron say that He is good,
For His mercy endures forever.
Let all who fear the Lord say that He is good,
For His mercy endures forever.

Encouraging Words

Throughout our liturgy we proclaim, "Lord, have mercy!" While quoting/praying the Jesus Prayer we plead, ""Lord, have mercy on me, the sinner!" We do not do this because we believe that God might relax on giving us His mercy. We do this because we recognize how little we deserve His mercy and how much forgiveness we need for our sinfulness. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

October 31, 2015

Saint of the Week

St. Mark the Ascetic

October 29, 2015

Singing out to my God!

Psalm 101:2 (100:2 LXX)

I will sing and understand in a blameless way;
When will You come to me?
I walked in the innocence of my heart in the midst of my house.

Encouraging Words

What better way to start the day than singing out to our God and beginning the day with a clean and innocent heart. We can call upon our God to be with us throughout the day and strive to be blameless as we bathe in His glory, love, mercy, and grace.

October 28, 2015

Glory be to God!

Psalm 119:89 (118:89 LXX)

And I shall keep the testimonies of Your mouth.
Forever, O Lord,
Your word continues in heaven.

Encouraging Words

Nothing about our God is temporary or fleeting. He is eternal, and therefore, His precepts and His love for us is eternal. I will never be out from under His wing. Glory be to God!

October 27, 2015

To Whom Shall I Go?

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

I love how Peter makes it so clear that now that he has truly met Jesus there is nowhere else that he can go. His life will never be the same again. I have found that the more I grow in my relationship with my precious Lord the farther from this world I am drawn, the less the cares and concerns of this world mean to me. There is nowhere else to go except to the fee of Jesus. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God have mercy on me the sinner!