Category: Uncategorized

Saint of the Week
St. Anthony the Great

HEAR ME

Psalms 141:1-2 (140:1-2 LXX)

O Lord, I have cried to You; hear me;
Give heed to the voice of my supplication when I cry to You.
Let my prayer be set forth before You as incense,
The lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.

Encouraging Words

For followers of Christ, God is not some abstract being, dead religious pundit, or conceptual practice. He is a living God who is active in our lives. He hears us when we pray to Him. His desire is that we continually call out to Him, sometimes in supplication, sometimes in praise, but always in sincerity. Our prayers can raise up to Him just as the smoke of incense raises to the sky as it burns. May we burn for Him and lift our hearts, our minds, and our hands to Him in prayer. Glory be to God!

HE IS THERE

Psalms 139:7-14 (138:7-14 LXX)

Where could I go from Your Spirit,
Or flee from Your face?
If I should ascend into heaven, You would be there:
If I should descend into Hades, You would be there;
If I should take up my wings at dawn
And pitch camp at the furthest part of the sea,
Even there Your hand would lead me,
And Your right hand would hold me.
And I said, “Perhaps darkness shall cover me,”
But the night shall be light to my delight;
For darkness shall not be dark because of You,
And the night shall be bright as day;
As its darkness, so also shall be its light.
For You possess my heart, O Lord;
You took hold of me from my mother’s womb.
I will give thanks to You,
For I am fearfully and wondrously made;
Marvelous are Your works,
And my soul knows this very well.

Encouraging Words

No matter where I am in life; no matter how dark or bright the situation; God is there with me, I am not alone. Never have been, never will be. Thanks be to God!

Special note: Today is the eleventh anniversary of my father’s repose and my youngest sister reposed two days ago. May their memory be eternal.

ENDURING TEMPTATION

James 1:12

Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

Personal challenge

It is one of our inate human traits to desire to be blessed. We were created with this in us as part of need to be in relationship with our creator. One way to be blessed is to resist temptation. This fallen world is full of temptations that will attempt to pull us away from God. It is God, through His Son, that we are given the ability to resist these temptations. So the provider of the blessing also gives us what we need in order to receive the blessing and all the benefits that go with it. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

NOT AFRAID

Isaiah 12:2

Behold, God is my Savior and Lord. I will trust in Him and be saved by Him. I will not be afraid, for the Lord is my glory and my praise. He has become my salvation.

Personal Challenge

As a follower of Christ, I am thankful that God is my Savior and Lord. I have chosen to trust in Him and be saved by Him, and have seen His awesome work in my life, and the lives of my loved ones, so many times. Because of who He is, and who I am in Him, I am not afraid. He is my glory and my praise. Glory be to God!

ASK IN FAITH

James 1:5-6

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.

Encouraging Words

God wants the best for His followers. We must always remember that God’s defition of what is best for us is usually different than the world’s definition. James speaks of asking God for wisdom in this passage. He is not referring to earthly wisdom but Godly, Christ-centered wisdom. God promises to give this to us liberally and without reproach if we ask for it in fath and with no doubt. Doubt has no place in the life of a follower of Christ. Glory be to God!

HIS GOVERNMENT

Isaiah 9:7 (9:6 LXX)

Great shall be His government, and of His peace there is no end. His peace shall be upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order and establish it with righteousness and judgment, from that time forward and unto ages of ages. The zeal of the Lord of hosts shall perform this.

Personal Challenge

Today, as we celebrate Pascha (Easter), we must remember that we are not citizens of this world but citizens of heaven. This is true for all followers of Christ. Jesus Christ is the head of that heavenly Kingdom and welcomes His followers into it. We go through our lives knowing this truth and appreciating that He has placed us in various and different earthly kingdoms and countries to be His representatives, His ambassadors. We can participate where we are placed for His glory and strive to make our earthly kingdoms More righteous and godly by living His way, which is loving Him and loving our neighbor. Glory be to God! Christ is risen! Indeed He is risen!

Saint of the Week
St. John Chrysostom

BLESSED IS THE LORD

Psalms 27:6-7 (28:6-7 LXX)

Blessed is the Lord,
Because He heard the voice of my supplication.
The Lord is my helper and my champion;
In Him my heart hoped, and I was helped,
And my flesh revived;
And I will give thanks to Him willingly.

Encouraging Words

I love how David, throughout the Psalms, calls out to God in his times of need, and then calls God blessed for answering those needs. The example here is that we should be blessing God at all times and in all circumstances, whether good or bad. God does hear our voices, and He does respond. The amount of our faith, our hope in Him, is what determines how clearly we see His responses to our supplications. He revives us, if we let Him. Glory be to God!

NOT AFRAID

Psalms 27:2-3 (26:2-3 LXX)

When the wicked drew near against me to eat up my flesh,
Those who afflict me and are my enemies, they weakened and fell.
Though an army should array itself against me, my heart shall not be afraid;
Though war should rise up against me, in this I shall hope.

Personal Challenge

I never thought that a day would come where I would have to defend the values of my country from aggression from within. As a follower of Christ it is my responsibility and privilege to defend the faith, His teachings of loving God and loving others. That is our first and foremost battle to engage in. When the society that we live in decides to attack the rights of those whom we are commanded to love, especially the hungry, the poor, the naked, the widow, the orphan, the alien amongst us, and the prisoner, then it becomes imperative for us to step up on their behalf and protect them. My heart shall not be afraid as I do this for my hope is in my God and His battle is defending these same people. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!