Category: Uncategorized

Isaiah 26:7

The way of the godly is straight; and the way of the godly is prepared.

Encouraging Words…

As we strive to be more like Christ, spend more time with Him, love our God and our neighbor like Him, listen to and follow the guidance and promptings of the Holy Spirit, then we begin to see how He is making our paths straight and preparing them for us. Our walk in Christ on our journey to theosis is a synergistic walk. We must be pursuing Him, doing His will, in order to be on the straight and prepared path. And we must continue this process for there is no stopping and resting on our laurels. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

Psalm 103:10-14 (102:10-14 LXX)

He did not deal with us according to our sins,
Nor reward us according to our transgressions;
For according to the height of heaven from earth,
So the Lord reigns in mercy over those who fear Him;
As far as the east is from the west,
So He removes our transgressions from us.
As a father has compassion on his children,
So the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him,
For He knows how He formed us;
He remembers we are dust.

Encouraging words…

Does this sound like the description of an angry, wrathful, judgmental Father? Not to me! God loves us too much to be anything but compassionate and merciful toward us. That doesn’t mean that we don’t have consequences for our wrong behavior, but even then, the consequences are part of His loving discipline to nurture us back into His ways.We are His sheep and He loves us and desires us to walk intimately with Him. Glory be to God!

Psalm 103:1-6 (102:1-6 LXX)

Bless the Lord, O my soul,
And everything within me, bless His holy name.
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
And forget not all His rewards:
Who is merciful to all your transgressions,
Who heals all your diseases,
Who redeems your life from corruption,
Who crowns you with mercy and compassion,
Who satisfies your desire with good things;
And your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
The Lord shows mercies
And judgment to all who are wronged

Encouraging Words…

Our God is so awesome. Even though we continually reject Him and pursue the things of the world He continues to pour out His love, grace, and mercy upon us. So many faith practices are based on a god, or a leader, that is angry, judgmental, and unforgiving. Even some of the faith practices that call themselves Christians actually portray God this way. But this is not who God is. He loves mankind, His creation, His children so much that He did whatever it took to redeem us from the grip of death. That is true, unconditional love. That is our heavenly Father. Glory be to God!

John 8:31-32

Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

Personal Challenge…

Our Lord expects us to spend time with Him, in prayer, in practice, and in study. We cannot abide in Him unless we take the time and do it. This becomes the life of a disciple. Through spending time with Him we can truly come to know the perfect Truth…Him, and experience the true freedom that He gives.

Proverbs 17:27 (17:29 LXX)

He who refrains from uttering a harsh word is intelligent,
And a long-suffering man has discernment.

Personal Challenge…

Do we truly want to grow in the image of Christ? Then here is one step in that process…to refrain from using harsh words to, or about, those whom God has put into our lives. Also, by being long-suffering. Not easy virtues to pursue, yet nonetheless virtues that will move us closer to the image of Christ. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

Psalm 33:22 (32:22 LXX)

Let Your mercy, O Lord, be upon us,
As we hope in You.

Encouraging Words…

Oh what a blessing it is that we can put our hope in the Living God! He is our rock and our salvation. He is always the same and all powerful. He is the source of all life and He is our Lord! Glory be to God!

James 1:17

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.

Encouraging Words…

God is the creator and owner of everything in existence. Therefore everything that I have, even down to every beat of my heart is a gift from Him. This alone should be enough to cause me to fall upon my face before Him in humility and thankfulness. He deserves my love and adoration because He pours His perfect love and adoration out on me every day. Glory be to God!

2 Corinthians 1:10

(God),who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us,

Encouraging Words…

Christ is risen! Indeed He is risen! The work that Jesus did on the cross, His death, burial, time in hell, and resurrection were all done to break the bonds that death had on us. Jesus is the victor over death, both physical and spiritual, and through Him we too are delivered from this death. Glory be to God!

Luke 16:10

He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much.

Personal Challenge…

All of life is a test…an opportunity for us to grow more in the image of Christ through situations where we can follow Him and discipline received when we don’t. One of these tests comes in the form of stewardship and how we use that which God has given us. This is often thought of as money, or wealth, but can also be time, experiences, our knowledge or wisdom given by God, basically everything that we have or are. As for the money part, here is what the commentary in the Orthodox Study Bible says…

“The test as to whether God will bestow heavenly blessings (true riches) on a person is directly related to how that person spends his money. The money we consider our own is actually another man’s, that is, belonging to God, or at least to the poor. The Fathers universally see a person’s failure to give money to God’s work as stealing: ‘nothing less than embezzlement of money belonging to someone else’ (Theophylact of Bulgaria)”

These can be sobering words or words that can encourage us to hold on to our wealth differently. Glory be to God!

Jeremiah 9:23-24

Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, nor let the mighty man boast in his might, nor let the rich man boast in his riches.” Instead, let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows that I am the Lord, who shows mercy, judgment, and righteousness on earth, for in these is My will,” says the Lord. “Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, “that I will visit upon all the circumcised their uncircumcision.”

Personal Challenge…

We live in such a blessed and prosperous time and part of the world. It becomes so easy for us to boast in the stuff that we have accumulated…that new car or motorcycle, that new home or second one by the lake or in the mountains, that new boat or other toy, that new promotion at work or position that we serve in…and chalk it all up to being blessed by God. Indeed God does bless us this way at times and sometimes, actually most of the time, it is the outcome of the blessing of when and where we live. Are those people who don’t have any of this stuff above any less blessed? What about the 99% of the world that do not have our blessings? Are they any less blessed by God? What do we boast about? What do we put our hope in? What do we value more than God and our neighbor? These are the things that show to God how uncircumcised our circumcision (being set apart) really is. To whom much is given, much is expected. Am I using the blessings that God has given me to feed the hungry, to clothe the naked, to take care of the widow, the orphan, the poor, and those in need around me? Some day I will stand before my Lord and be expected to answer these questions. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!