Posts Tagged ‘Fasting’
Half-Way Evaluation
Today is the half-way point of Great Lent. You now realize the days go by quickly when you’re focusing on Christ. You also realize that Pascha will be here ‘before you know it,’ and you still have work to do. It’s time for evaluation. Let’s review what the Church has asked us to focus on…
Read MoreDependence on God
There was an expression I heard often when I was young. “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.” I don’t hear that much anymore, but it still rings true in the life of the Church. When life gets difficult, people of faith get going to Church and God, and blessings flow. Today the…
Read MoreThe Power of Discernment
Life is a series of choices. Some choices are more benign like what shall I eat for dinner tonight. Other choices are more consequential like whom I shall marry. Every choice, big or small, requires a certain level of discernment. Make the wrong choice and life turns upside down. And now, my sons, listen to…
Read MoreThe Power of Repentance
I keep writing that Great Lent is not about following the rules, but about changing our hearts. Fasting from food is how we learn to control our desires, but it all begins with repentance. When we decide to change, then we put into action life choices that change our hearts. But the LORD of hosts,…
Read MoreWisdom is Power
There is a difference between knowledge and wisdom. We gain knowledge by learning either from books or from others. Wisdom cannot be taught. Wisdom is gained by experience. Wisdom requires time and discernment. Knowledge can lead to wisdom. Without wisdom, knowledge is just an empty book. My son, be attentive to my wisdom, incline your…
Read MoreThe Promise of Salvation
When a young child reaches for a hot stove, a loving parent slaps the child’s hand away from the stove. The child feels the pain of the action and likely feels punished. What really happened was that the parent saved the child from serious injury. Sometimes being saved feels like pain. The man gave names…
Read MoreThe Promise of Help
I’m sure you’ve heard the say, “You can’t go it alone.” This is true whether you are climbing Mount Everest or if you are looking for God. As young children we learn the ‘buddy system’ for everything from water sports to study partners in college. No matter where we find ourselves, we always need help.…
Read MoreThe Promise of Food
It is day three of the Great Fast. By now, if you are following the Fast in any way, even if not very strict, you are hungry and craving the foods you used to eat. Trust me. You’ll be ok. You will survive because God promised you would always have food. And God said, “Let…
Read MoreFinal Call
There are just a few days before the Great Fast begins. The Church has already encouraged us to stop eating meat products. Today the Church services are Lenten in character. All this is to direct our attention to what is to come. In case you’re wondering, I’m not talking about Great Lent. “Yet even now,”…
Read MorePride Leads to Sin
As Christians none of us wants to sin. We don’t wake up and think of new ways to sin against God. We believe in God. We were baptized. We pray and fast regularly. Sin is the last thing on our mind as Christians. That’s the problem. It should be the first thing on our mind.…
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