Verse of the Day

  • December 16, 2012


    Colossians 3:4-11

    When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.


    Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.

    But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.

    Personal Challenge…

    In the Orthodox Church this passage and Luke 14:16-24 are read every year on the second Sunday before Christmas as we remember the Holy Ancestors of Christ. This has been a tradition for over 1,000 years.


    These verses teach us about true asceticism: As baptized Christians, we are becoming in practice what we are already in spirit. As we died with Christ, so we must will to experience death daily by killing old sinful and disintegrating passions (vv. 5–9). As we were raised with Christ, so we must will to experience life daily by the virtuous and unifying desires of the new man we all are in the body of Christ (vv. 10–14). (taken from The Orthodox Study Bible)

    In light of the tragic events this past week: 26 shooting victims in Connecticut, 20 stabbing victims in China, bombings and killings in Afganistan and Pakistan, and many other events in OUR world, I have been prompted to search my heart, mind, and soul for my response to this.

    As a Christian I (we all are) am commanded, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:37-39) My response is to love my neighbor. To love them before during, and after these events. This love does not include politicizing, evangelizing, proselytizing condemning, retaliating, etc. but loving like God loves…enough to let His Son die.

    Maybe it is time to stop looking at the world through my eyes, my desires, my biases and look at it through God’s. Isn’t that what “willing” to live like Christ is all about?

  • December 15, 2012


    Titus 2:6-8

    Likewise, exhort the young men to be sober- minded, in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you.

    Personal Challenge…

    As I get ready to enter into my “senior” years of life this passage speaks to me a very sobering message. Am I living my life in a way that I am exhorting the younger men around me? Am I being a patter of good works? Is the living out of my faith, my doctrine, showing integrity, reverence incorruptibility and sound speech Can I go into any situation and not be condemned? This is a tall order, but isn’t this what God has called me to do in my later years? Isn’t this stage of life what God has been equipping me to be ready for? Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner.

  • December 13, 2012


    Psalm 46:11 (45:12 LXX)

    The Lord of hosts is with us,
    The God of Jacob is our protector.

    Encouraging Words…

    In this day and age when there are so many occurrences and issues of abandonment it is refreshing to know that the Lord of Hosts, the Creator of all, is always with us, always our protector.

  • December 12, 2012


    2 Timothy 4:7-8

    I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.

    Encouraging Words…

    Isn’t this the definition of sainthood…to be able to look back on your life in your final days and be able to claim that you have fought the good fight, finished the race, and kept the faith. I desire to follow my Lord in such a way tat not only will I be able to say this in the end, but those whom I leave behind would be able to say this about me as well.

  • December 11, 2012

    2 Timothy 3:16-17

    All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

    Encouraging Words…

    God has not sent me out into the world to live for Him by my own means. He has given me the tools needed to live a complete, righteous, and equipped life. He has given me His scriptures, the teachings of the saints that have gone before me, and the traditions and mysteries of His Church. I must, however, take up these tools of the faith, absorb them into every aspect of my life, and become like His Son in order to serve Him effectively.

  • December 10, 2012


    2 Timothy 2:22-26


    Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.

    Notes from Orthodox Study Bible…

    vv 2: 20- 23 Heresy corrupts: bad theology leads to bad behavior. The Church on earth is a mixture of wheat and tares sown together (vv. 19–21). Membership in the Church guarantees nothing—even the baptismal confession (quoted in v. 19) acknowledges the necessity of struggle.


    vv 2: 24- 26 Good theology helps us along the path to good behavior. Although the truth stands firm and unalterable and cannot tolerate the false (see 1Co 5: 1–13; 2Co 6: 14–18), it instills a reasonable patience and gentleness toward all, especially toward false teachers—while not losing sight of the fact that they are enemies and to be avoided (3: 5).

    Personal Challenge…

    I have been blessed to be a follower of Christ for most of my life. In that time I have seen many theologies and teachings. It has only been within the last couple of years that I have discovered that there is another perspective on living the Christian life, one that dates back to the beginning of the Christ’s Church. The more I learn how to live with this perspective the more i grieve for those whom I hold dear and hold onto a doctrine that is not complete. As I look back I can now appreciate why there was always a restlessness in my spirit which has been calmed. Lord, have mercy and thank you!

  • December 9, 2012


    Ephesians 6:10-18

    And you, masters, do the same things to them, giving up threatening, knowing that your own Master also is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him.

    Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

    Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

    Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—

    Personal Challenge…

    One of the big mistakes in modern Christianity is that we only see our faith in the temporal, that which we can see, touch, hear and smell. One of the beauties of the Orthodox Church is that we hold on to the mysteries of God as those things that He does in the spiritual realm. Through His grace we can participate in that realm. This passage not only reminds us that we are always surrounded and living in both the temporal and the spiritual realms, but that we also have available to us the tools needed to protect ourselves in both of these realms. Life is a battle and we must treat it as so. I am so thankful that I am a part of the winning side.

  • December 8, 2012


    Psalm 73:26 (72:26 LXX)

    My heart and my flesh fail,
    O God of my heart; and God is my portion forever.

    Encouraging Words…

    Even though I sin and fail my God, He never gives up on me. My God is my portion for everything.

  • December 7, 2012


    2 Timothy 1:7

    For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

    Encouraging Words…

    I know that I can stand firm in confidence that the Holy Spirit dwells within me and the He will guide me through any persecution. Through Him I do not need to be fearful or timid, but can go through life with a spirit of power and a sound mind.

  • December 6, 2012


    Psalm 119:130 (118:130 LXX)

    The revelation of Your words gives light,
    And it causes children to understand.

    Encouraging Words…

    It is interesting that Christ told His disciples that we must be like children to receive Him. Here the psalmist expresses that God’s words shine light into our lives and helps us who are like children to understand these words. God desires that we desire Him.