Posts Tagged ‘light’
Lamplighting Prayer Two
We continue our review of the lamplighting prayers of Vespers with understanding, and maybe more importantly, admitting our sin in front of God. Today our Daily Lenten Journey of Prayer will focus on our urgent appeal to God’s reason, and not His wrath. O Lord, do not rebuke us in Your indignation nor chasten us…
Read MoreOrthros Prayer Nine
Reading the Holy Scriptures is a part of every Orthodox Christian’s day. Either in the morning or sometime during the day, we are encouraged by the Church daily to read the Bible. Today’s Daily Lenten Journey on Prayer looks at the prayer that reinforces our need for the Bible. Shine within our hearts, O Master…
Read MoreOrthros Prayer Three
Have you ever woken from a deep sleep totally refreshed and ready to ‘take on’ the world? That captures the essence of today’s Daily Lenten Journey on Prayer. Orthros Prayer Three is our siren call to a life in the grace of Christ. Out of the night our spirit awakes at dawn to You, O…
Read MorePrayer of the First Hour
Our Daily Lenten Journey this year is focused on prayer. Yesterday we finished our series on morning prayers. Did you know the Church has ‘services’ dedicated to the different hours of the day? Now we will turn our attention to communal prayers offered during the day. For centuries the People of God have gathered throughout…
Read MoreTemptations Never End
We wake every day to the same reality. The sun shines. The winds blow. Temptation attacks. Like a natural force of weather, temptation blows, and we get ‘pushed around’ like branches in a tree. The key isn’t to avoid the wind, but to prepare the branches. In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee…
Read MoreAll Things Under His Feet
For many years I have struggled with the idea that God is ‘in control’ as if He was playing some sort of game with humanity. “God did…God placed…God chose…” These are expressions of power, not love. God is in control, but He doesn’t play chess. God’s control is based on love. Brethren, God has put…
Read MoreDon’t Give Victory to Darkness
Political debates. Race riots. Homeless camps. Rampant gangs. Drug overdoses. Out of control abortion clinics. These are just a few examples of the darkness of our world. Around every corner lurks darkness waiting to pounce and swallow up your joy and peace. At that time, the Pharisees took counsel against Jesus and said to one…
Read MoreRun to the Light
There was a study of the healing power of light in which it was discovered that patients who were positioned near windows healed faster than patients away from natural sources of light. What is true about light in our physical health is also true in our spiritual health. The Lord said to his disciples: “God…
Read MoreLove God or Love the World
As Christians we all know we are supposed to love God. We know we are supposed to love our neighbor as ourselves. We all know through experience that loving someone is always easier said than done. Love is not easy, but it is a necessary part of life. Who we love makes the difference between…
Read MoreLight Over Darkness
Growing up in Colorado I used to go camping in the mountains. On many occasions we found ourselves sleeping under the stars. There are not so many examples of God’s beauty than the night sky when you are away from the city lights. It is most special during the New Moon when the only light…
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