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Philippians 2:14-16

Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.

Personal Challenge…

Am I living my life in this way…not complaining or fighting? Is my light, Christ’s light, shining into the world, or is it all about me? Am I investing in others’ lives as Paul did so that some day I can look back and rejoice in the day of Christ rejoicing that my life, my race, was not in vain? Lord have mercy!

1 Timothy 4:7-8

But reject profane and old wives fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness. For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.

Personal Challenge…

It is so easy for me to get caught up in those things that are temporal and of this world. In and of themselves many are not bad, but if I were to put as much time into seeking and pursuing godliness then I would be finding that which is profitable for both this world and God’s kingdom. I believe God wants me to be balanced in my journey through life with Him.

Psalm 141:3 (140:3 LXX)

Personal Challenge…

John 5:24

“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.”

Encouraging Words…

Jesus Christ, fully man and fully God, gave up His position in heaven to become man so that He could put an end to death. Through Adam death entered God’s creation. Through Christ the grip of death upon creation was broken and destroyed. We are now called to believe in God through Jesus Christ so that we can become a part of this gift of life.

Acts 4:13

Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.

Encouraging Words…

It is not critical that I be highly educated or trained in doctrines or religious studies to be used by God. Although it is still good to always be learning more about my faith and the Church. Here we see Peter and John being recognized for their boldness to stand up to the religious elite. This religious elite even marveled at their abilities and boldness. To top this off they were able to realize that these men had been with Jesus. I too, through the power of the Holy Spirit, can be bold in my walk with Christ. He takes me as I am and uses me to build His kingdom. It is up to me to trust Him and say what He tells me to say, to go where He wants me to go, to do what He asks me to do…regardless of what others might think or say.

John 2:9-10

When the master of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom. And he said to him, Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now!

Encouraging words…

One of the things that I love about Eastern Orthodoxy is how we see many of the things of God as mysteries. God is God and we are not. He does not need to reveal how He does what He does, or why, to His creation. Another thing I love is knowing that the scriptures are filled with symbology. How is it that so many Christians can believe that Jesus did indeed start His ministry in Cana by turning water into wine, but do not believe that He transforms the bread and wine of Holy Communion into His Body and Blood? The early Fathers, those who walked with Christ, saw this miracle as a prefiguring, or symbol, of what happens every time we take the Eucharist in Holy Communion. Christ is risen! Indeed He is risen!

Matthew 28:19-20

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

Personal Challenge…

Once again I am reminded that I am not called to an easy chair life as a Christian. Look at all of the verbs in this short passage, “go”, “make”, “baptizing”, “teaching”. God wants me to be an active worker in the building of His kingdom and not just on Sunday mornings. Christ is risen! Indeed He is risen!

Matthew 5:16

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

Personal Challenge…

I am not being told here to let my light shine so that others can see my good works and congratulate me for what a good Christina I am. The purpose is so that they can see God through the works that I do. I should disappear in the process. This also implies that I am doing God’s good works and not just mine. It is His kingdom that I have been adopted into and the works that I should be doing need to be of that kingdom.

Philippians 2:5-7