August 30, 2021

HE WILL COME AGAIN

Acts 1:9-11

Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”

Encouraging Words

I am quite sure that the apostles' minds and hearts were spinning when this event happened. They had just finished three very full years with our Lord. They had seen Him do miracles, die on the cross, be resurrected, and now ascend into heaven. Even after all of this, the angels were there to tell them to not loose heart because Jesus would be coming again. They lived out the remainder of their lives proclaiming this truth and the hope for everyone of us. We will see Jesus again. He will come again and take us to our heavenly home. This is our hope that drives us through every day and every trial. Glory be to God!

August 29, 2021

HOW IMPORTANT?

John 21:7

Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he had removed it), and plunged into the sea.

Personal Challenge

Is Jesus so important to me that when He shows up in my life that I drop everything and run to be with Him? Peter was informed that his resurrected Lord was standing on the beach calling out to them. He immediately jump into the sea and headed to the beach to be with His Lord. Do we do this? Do I do this? Jesus does show up in our lives. It might be in the form of a fellow human in need. It might be in the opportunity to serve Him. It might be in the need to offer someone a kind word, a cup of water, or a morsel of food. He wants us to drop everything and meet Him there. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

August 28, 2021

Saint of the Week

St. Paisios

August 27, 2021

WE ARE BLESSED

John 20:29

Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Encouraging Words

Faith is a very important part of every human's life. We all have faith in something. Sometimes we have had tangible evidence to support that faith, but most of the time that faith is in something unseen and often unprovable to the doubter. Thomas put his faith in the resurrected Jesus only after he was able to touch Jesus and validate His return to life did he believe. Jesus, however, proclaimed His blessing on all of us who put our faith in Him because we have not seen Him and yet have believed. Glory be to God!

August 26, 2021

DOUBTING

John 20:25

The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord.”

So he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.

Personal Challenge

How much do we truly believe in what our close friends and family tell us. Thomas had spent the last three years hanging out with the other apostles 24 hours a day. They must have been a very close knit group of men. Along with them, he had seen the miracles of Jesus, including the resurrection of Lazarus, and heard the teachings of Jesus. And yet, now after Jesus had been crucified and buried for three days, he did not believe his brothers when they proclaimed that Jesus was alive. It is good for us to be prudent in what we believe in and what we hear from others, however, if they are trusted people and there is a preponderance of truth in what they say, then we should trust them. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner and surround me with godly brothers and sisters that I can trust.

August 25, 2021

ALL MAY BE ONE

John 17:20-21

I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.

Personal Challenge

The American way is to be strong and inde­pendent. The Marlboro Man. John Wayne. The pioneers of old. This psyche has permeated our way of thinking and acting. But this is not what Jesus prayed for, and not how the Church behaved in its early centuries. Jesus, the Father, and the Holy Spirit are one and a community all the same time. As Christians we are to be in unity with one another acting in one accord as a community. This is what Jesus prayed for. That unity was not just amongst those of us who come together on Sunday's, but with all that have come before us and passed down the word of God through the millennia. We are not alone. We have each other, if we are willing to follow Jesus and submit to Him and to one another. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

August 24, 2021

HATED BY THE WORLD

John 17:14-17

I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.

Personal Challenge

If we are living Godly Christian lives, loving our God and loving our neighbor in a way that it is apparent to those around us, then we will be mistreated by those that are of the world. Jesus knew this and prayed for us. He did not pray that we would be removed from the world, because it is through His followers that His light shines into the darkness. He prayed for our protection and sanctification. This does mean that we need to be living lives that are Christlike. We are citizens of His Kingdom and no longer of earth. If we live apolitical lives, people from both sides will be angry and accusatory. If we love our neighbors, all of them, then we will be accused of not upholding God's standards. If we give of our time and possessions on a sacrificial basis, then we will be labeled foolish. If we abide by His moral standards we will be labeled old fashioned and discriminatory, We live this way because we love Him. Glory be to God!