Saint of the Week

St. Porphyrios of Kafsokalivia

FROM BIRTH

Psalms 70:6 LXX (71:5)

By You I have been supported from birth;
From my mother’s womb You have been my protector;
My song shall be always of You.

Encouraging Words

God loves us, His created children, so much that He is with us from within our mother’s womb and through birth. He remains with us throughout our entire life desiring that we submit to Him and choose to walk in His ways. Through all of this He still allows us our free will to choose or reject Him. However we choose does not diminish His love for us. Praise be to God!

OUR FOUNDATION

Psalms 70:1-3 LXX (71:1-3)

By David; of the sons of Jonadab and the first ones taken captive.
O God, in You I hope; may I never be put to shame.
Deliver me in Your righteousness, and set me free;
Incline Your ear to me and save me.
Be to me a God for protection
And a strong place for salvation,
For You are my foundation and my refuge.

Personal Challenge

Everything in life is built upon something. If I am to build a physical structure such as a house or a gazebo, then I must start with a firm foundation. If I am starting a career or changing my path,I need a foundation to start with. Everything starts with a firm and sound base to be built upon· As followers of Christ we choose Jesus to be the foundation for every espect of our life. This is how He becomes our refuge, our salvation, our protection, and our deliverance. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

FOLLOWING CLOSE

Psalms 62:9 LXX (63:8)

My soul follows close behind You;
Your right hand takes hold of me.

Personal Challenge

There are so many today that claim to be Christians but the evidence, or fruit, in their lives is missing. There is an ancient Jewish proverb that goes something like, “May you be covered in the dust of your rabbi”. In those days, the disciples of a rabbi, or teacher, would follow him through the countryside listening to his teachings. They would follow very close so that they could hear every word that he uttered. Since the roads were dirt and therefore dusty, the dust kicked up would be all over those disciples. A true follower of Christ will be doing His works, His teachings, and producing Christ-like fruit. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on my the sinner!

MERCY

Psalms 62:4 LXX (63:3)

Because Your mercy is better than life,
My lips shall praise You.

Personal Challenge

In our modern world, do we really understand what mercy is? Sometimes having so many comforts in our lives deaden us to the great power of mercy. Mercy is typically not something that we deserve or can earn, but something that is freely given to us by another. The more extreme the need for mercy, the more it is appreciated. God’s mercy is better than life itself for it is the source of a true and full life That is why our lips do praise God for His mercy. Glory be to God!

WHAT, OR WHO, DO WE THIRST FOR?

Psalms 62:2 LXX (63:1)

O God, my God, I rise early to be with You;
My soul thirsts for You.
How often my flesh thirsts for You
In a desolate, impassable, and waterless land.

Personal Challenge

David, the Psalmist, was called out by God as a man after His own heart. David was still just a man, and even a sinful man, however, when confronted with his sin, he repented and fled to God. This verse tells us a lot about David and his relationship with God. He rose early to to spend time with God. He thirsted and hungered for God. He viewed the world around him as desolate, impassable,
and waterless without his God. Do we long for God this way? If not, then we can expect desolation, impassability, and dry barren times. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

HOPE

Psalms 61:9 LXX (62:8)

Hope in Him, all you congregation of people;
Pour out your hearts before Him;
God is our helper.
(Pause)

Personal Challenge

It can be so difficult to have hope when the world around us is falling apart. That is always the case when we put our hope in the things, or people, of this world. When we put our hope in God, who is constantly consistent, then He will carry us through whatever chaos befalls us. Glory be to God!

Saint of the Week
St. John Chrysostom

HE IS…

Psalms 61:7-8 LXX (62:6-7)

For He is my God and my savior,
My protector; I shall never be moved.
In God is my salvation and my glory;
He is the God of my help, and my hope is in God.

Encouraging Words

Who is God in the eyes of His followers. He is our God and our salvation. Salvation from what? From eternal death. He is our protector, protecting us from the enemy of God, which is death. He is our glory. He is our help and our hope. Glory be to God!

PATIENT ENDURANCE

Psalms 61:6 LXX (62:5)

However, be submissive to God, O my soul,
For my patient endurance is from Him.

Personal Challenge

Life is filled with challenges and difficulties. As we endure these things God blesses us with patience. Nothing is a waste in our lives for all is for the good of those who love the Lord. This patient endurance is a critical part of our discipleship and growth in our theosis. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!