Posts Tagged ‘repentance’
Ungodly Behavior is a Choice
Excuses like ‘the devil made me do it’ and ‘I’m not a saint’ just won’t cut it when we stand in front of the Judgement Seat of Christ. Every time we ignore the joy, mercy and grace of God we ignore the possibility of heaven. Brethren, since the ungodly did not see fit to acknowledge…
Read MoreBelief is not Enough
We all know that being a Christian isn’t easy. There are teachings to memorize and rules to follow. For Orthodox Christians there are Sacred Traditions to keep and spiritual disciplines to practice. Is all this necessary? Why can’t we ‘just believe’ in God? Consider today’s lesson from Saint Paul. There were many who knew God,…
Read MoreTake No Offense
We’ve all said it. We’ve all had that moment when we needed to tell someone the truth, but we knew it would hurt to hear the truth. So, we soften it with a simple warning. “No offense, but…” Let’s face it, with the wrong heart, hearing these words are always an offense. We take offense…
Read MoreHave I Changed Yet?
Today is the Leave-taking of Pascha, the last day of the Feast. It is the final day we greet each other and sing Christ is Risen, until next year. Last year in my blog “Christ is Always Risen” I wrote about reviving the fervor of Pascha. Today, I still wonder about my fervor. Every year…
Read MoreThe Gospel of Repentance
One of the greatest prophets of the Old Testament, an ancestor of Christ, was King David. He was a murderous adulterer who repented and was blessed by God. There are countless examples of sinful men and women in the Scriptures who repented and were later blessed. One of the greatest Saints is Saint Paul, a…
Read MoreChristians Don’t Flaunt Miracles
I am often asked if I have ever witnessed miracles. I have, but I rarely discuss them. First, miracles are not normally for ‘public’ consumption. The miracles I witnessed have been quiet and mostly private. Second, If God wants His miracles public, He will perform them publicly. In those days, Peter went to the house…
Read MoreEpisode 478 – Lessons from our Mothers
On Mothers’ Day, our memories of our mothers bring us joy and love. Our mothers offer us important lessons of faith and repentance. They brought us to Church to encounter God’s mercy and forgiveness. They taught us to love God enough to confess our sins and live in His glory. May we live up to…
Read MoreWhen Light Shines
Since we were children, we have understood the power of light to reveal the truth. A glimmer of light was enough to send monsters into hiding, and a mere night light was sufficient to keep them away. There is nothing hidden when the light shines. Today the Church commemorates the appearance of the Cross as…
Read MoreStrength in Trials
I get this question often. “Why do Christians have to struggle?” I get it. Nobody likes to struggle, but without struggle, we don’t grow. If everything was always easy, we would grow weak instead of strong. Without trials, our faith would fade rather than burn with passion. I was reminded about this today, because it…
Read MoreStop Questioning God
We say we believe. We say we trust. We say that Jesus Christ is God. Still, we question whether He knows the best way to live or not. Sure, way not actually ask Him, but our actions speak for themselves. We live as if we question who knows best and nobody is immune. In those…
Read More