February 28, 2023

PETER WEPT

Mark 14:72

A second time the rooster crowed. Then Peter called to mind the word that Jesus had said to him, “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.” And when he thought about it, he wept.

Personal Challenge

Earlier in the ministry of Jesus, Peter had proclaimed that he would never forsake Jesus, that he would die for Him. Now, when the going gets tough, Peter denies Jesus, not once, but three times. Is it no wonder that he wept when he was called out for this? The personal challenge for me here is, do I weep when I have committed sin in my life? Am I grieved to the point of tears when I abandon my fist love and put myself, my desires, my passions, before Jesus, God, and others? Am I truly penitent when I ask for forgiveness? Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

February 27, 2023

POSSIBILITIES WITH GOD

2 Chronicles 14:10 (2 Chronicles 14:11)

And Asa cried out to the Lord his God and said, “Lord, with You it is not impossible, whether with the many or with the few. Strengthen us, Lord our God, for we trust in You. And in Your name we go against this multitude. Lord our God, do not let man prevail against You!”

Encouraging Words

Life is very tough at times. When we strive to live godly lives for our Lord, things get even tougher because the world is at odds with God. Here we have king Asa getting ready to go into battle against his his enemy. Asa's army is comprised of about 550,000 soldiers while they enemy's army is over a million. That is when he makes this proclamation. This is how we must think and believe as we confront the challenges in this world and the temptations that come our way. With out God, all things are possible against all odds. Glory be to God!

February 26, 2023

PLEASE FORGIVE ME

Sirach 28:2-3

Forgive a wrong done you by your neighbor;
Then your sins will be pardoned when you pray.
Can a man preserve wrath against his neighbor
And still seek healing from the Lord?

Personal Challenge

Today, in the Eastern Orthodox tradition, Forgiveness Sunday is practiced. In most, if not all, of our parishes, people will be asking for forgiveness of one another for offenses committed throughout the year. This is done in preparation for Lent, which starts tomorrow. In the Western tradition of may liturgical parishes and churches, last Wednesday was Ash Wednesday, where we were reminded that we came from the dust of the earth to which we will return, and again it was a time of repentance and seeking forgiveness.

My family friends, and acquaintances, I come to you today seeking your forgiveness for the wrongs that I have perpetrated against you. Please forgive me!

February 25, 2023

Saint of the Week

St. Francis of Assisi

February 24, 2023

NEVER PASS AWAY

Mark 13:31

Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.

Encouraging Words

Jesus is eternal. He has always been and always will be. In the Old Testament, He is encapsulated in the wisdom writings because He is the source of all wisdom. In the New Testament, He is proclaimed as the Living Word of God. His words are given both by speaking and by His actions. They have been recorded and are still being manifested and not recorded. His words, that which we can put our hope and trust in, will never pass away. Glory be to God!

February 23, 2023

IF...

2 Chronicles 7:14

if My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will be merciful to their sins and heal their land.

Personal Challenge

Solomon had just finished building the spectacular temple for God. God visited Him and this verse is part of His conversation with Solomon. God will hear our prayers from heaven and He will be merciful to us in our sins and He will heal our land...IF. We must humble ourselves before Him and our neighbor. We must pray and seek His face. And we must turn from our evil ways. It is His people who must turn to Him. Is it no wonder that a people, a nation that calls themselves Christian, are not seeing His hand at work? Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

February 22, 2023

OUR GREATEST COMMANDMENTS

Mark 12:29-31

Jesus answered him, “The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is one. And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

Personal Challenge

The whole expectation of what God wants us to do is in these three verses. If one ever has a doubt or a concern about how to live a truly righteous and godly life, it is here. Jesus summed everything up in two commandments for us to live our lives by. We are to love the Lord our God with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our mind, and with all our strength. And we are to love our neighbor as ourselves. There is nothing in here about how many services we should attend, or how many theological books we should read, or how well we keep the fast. If we do not do those things, and everything else that we do, out of love for God and love of others, then it doesn’t matter. If we jeer at the person who returns from a hiatus from church, then we have failed. If we demand an explanation before we let them back in, then we have failed. If we engage in the gossip mill about another without reaching out to them with encouragement and love, then we have failed. If we pride ourselves on how "godly" our church is at the exclusion of those who disagree with us without focusing on reconciliation and unity then we have failed. Woe to us if we act pharisaical in our piety and not show love to one another. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!