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James 1:13

Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.

Personal Challenge

It is so easy to blame my sin on someone, or something, else. This is a lie of the enemy. My sin comes from my choice to sin. Sure, the world is full of temptations, none of which come from God, but it is my own responsibility to not allow these temptations to take hold in my mind or my heart and then grow into sin. Jesus has given me the power and the authority to say “No!” to temptation and therefore not to sin. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner!

James 1:19-20

So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

Personal Challenge

It is easy to allow my emotions and my self-centeredness to take over control of me and respond to offenses quickly and with anger. This is ungodly. I am admonished to slow down and listen to all sides of the issue, to hold my tongue so as to not add to the offense, and to hold my wrath and judgment for these are not mine to give out. Oh, how much I need the Holy Spirit to do this within me!

Sirach 14:12-14 LXX

Remember that death does not delay,
And the covenant of Hades has not been shown to you.
Before you die, do good to a friend,
And reach out and give to him based on your ability.
Do not let a day go by without doing something good,
And do not let any of your desire for doing good escape you.

Memory Eternal

I love the tenderness and compassion that my Lord has for me, His child. Today we remember the repose of my father one year ago. This passage was in the middle of my daily reading today. This was my father. I remember so many times that dad would go without in order to meet the need of another. He was always doing good things for those around him because he loved his Father so deeply. Thank You, Lord, for this precious reminder. We love you dad and look forward to seeing you again someday. Glory be to God!

Wisdom of Sirach 7:32-36 LXX

Stretch forth your hand to the poor,
That your blessing may be complete.
Let the kindness of giving be shown
In the presence of all the living,
And do not withhold kindness from the dead.
Do not withdraw yourself from those who weep,
And mourn with those who mourn.
Do not hesitate to visit a sick man,
For by such visits you will be loved.
With all your words, remember the time you will die,
And you will never sin.

Personal Challenge

I am reminded and humbled by these words from Jesus ben Sirach because I know that I do not hold the poor, the sick, and those who mourn properly in my heart. God forgive me for not caring more for those around me who are in need…which ultimately equates to every human being. Forgive me for not putting the needs of others before my own desires and wants. Forgive me for not desiring the salvation of the lost greater than my own salvation. Create in me a new heart that beats in unison with Yours with a love for all of mankind and creation. Lord Jesus christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner!

Wisdom of Sirach 7:29-31 LXX


Fear the Lord with all your soul
And honor His priests.
Love Him who made you
And do not forsake His ministers.
Fear the Lord and honor His priests,
And give them their portion as commanded:
The firstfruits, the trespass offering,
The gift of the shoulder offering,
The sacrifice of sanctification,
And the firstfruits of the holy things.


Personal Challenge


One of the errors that the reformed way of thinking has brought into our faith practice in the West is the elimination of the role of the priest in the church. We have ministers, pastors, teachers, elders, and even people called priests, but we have changed our view of them, and most importantly, their role in the Body of Christ to just being a job or an occupation. I am coming to value and deeply cherish the role, and, therefore, the person filling that role, of the priest in the Orthodox Church. These men are not in their positions without much teaching, scrutiny, prayer, and oversight. They are ordained by the Church with a lineage that goes back to the first days of Christianity. They are deeply committed to their flocks, usually spending many hours of preparation for every hour that we see them at church. I am extremely humbled by this passage in Sirach as I am not only reminded, but commanded, on how to treat my priest. As I learn more about Orthodoxy and continue to pursue “being Orthodox”, I find that I am moving farther and farther away from those around me that desire to be “modern Christians”. Glory be to God!

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

If I am truly trying to live my life the way that Christ would then I will be tempted. Christ was tempted! Christ was confronted and challenged! He even told us that if we are His followers then we should expect, even look forward to, being treated as He was. He also gave us the Holy Spirit to guide us through this life I must strive to capture every thought before it takes root and leads me to sin. I must work at turning my eyes and ears away from those sights and sounds of the world that will try to draw me away from my Lord. I must learn to breath the Jesus Prayer with every breath so that my very life is filled with His presence. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner!

Wisdom of Sirach 2:1-6 LXX

My son, if you draw near to serve the Lord,
Prepare your soul for temptation.
Set your heart right and be steadfast,
And do not strive anxiously in distress.
Cleave to Him and do not fall away,
That you may be honored at the end of your life.
Accept whatever is brought upon you,
And in exchange for your humiliation, be patient;
Because gold is tested in fire
And acceptable men in the furnace of abasement.
Believe in Him, and He will help you;
Make your ways straight and hope in Him.

Personal Challenge

Today, I dedicate this entry to the new martyrs in the Middle East. May they be blessed as they now share eternity in our Lord’s presence. May their persecutors be touched by the love of our Lord Jesus Christ for he died for them.

As I hear more and more about the activities that are going on in the Middle East and the persecution that is being wrought upon our brothers and sisters in Christ my heart becomes more and more broken for those who do not know Jesus for who he really is. He is God Incarnate! He gave up His throne in heaven in order to become man and dwell amongst us. He gave up His physical life after healing those who were sick, raising to life those who had died, and loving the unlovable. He died for the wealthy and the poor, the clothed and the naked, those with many friends and those lonely and downcast. He died for me! And as I read through the teachings of Wisdom that Jesus ben Sirach captured and wrote down in this book I am reminded that following Christ is the only source of true joy, but also a commitment to a life of trials and tribulations, temptations and distresses, because the world does not want to see God magnified. As I pray for these new saints in our modern world, I ask that I will be able to stand firm in my projection of the image of Christ and humbly be the person that He would have me to be.

Psalm 55:22-23 (54:23-24 LXX)

Cast your care upon the Lord,
And He shall support you;
He will never allow the righteous to be moved.
But You, O God, will bring them down into the pit of decay;
Men of blood and deceit
Shall not live even half their days.
But I will hope in You, O Lord.

Encouraging Words

Our Lord is always protecting and uplifting His children. Even in the midst of trials and tribulations He is there with us. And just as Jesus did not avoid His trials and tribulations but endured them, we too sometimes need to run the full course of our trials and tribulations believing that God is using them to refine and shape us into the image of His Son. Glory be to God!