Posts Tagged ‘sin’
It’s Not You; It’s Me
Made popular by a famous TV character, this saying has deep truth. It isn’t about breaking up or cancelling a date. What makes this saying true is the relationship between me and the Church. We like to blame the Church for being too strict and chasing me away, but that isn’t true. Brethren, I am…
Read MoreSin and Grace
One thing we can all agree on is that we all sin. Although we don’t like to admit, at least publicly, we all know just how unbearable temptation can be, because we all fall. We all fall every day, and still Jesus forgave us and forgives us. Still, He saves us, despite our sin. Brethren,…
Read MoreNo Shame in Good News
Shame can be a powerful force. It can be good, and lead to repentance. It can be bad and lead to death. In a society that praises greed, power, self-reliance, and all sorts of immorality, shame can also be used by the devil to keep us away from God. Saint Paul thought otherwise. Paul, a…
Read MoreWho is Your King?
Proud Americans declare to the world, “We have no king!” The idea of king in America is the idea of oppression and fear, opulent wealth and greed. Throughout history kings were known by their loyalties, not their love. Americans have a king. We just don’t like to admit it. Our king is personal. Our king…
Read MoreGreat Compline Prayer Two
Many weeks ago, even before we began our Great Lenten Journey, the Church prepared us with the Parable of the Publican and the Pharisee. One saved and another not. One filled with pride and another who could not even lift his eyes to heaven. We return there today. Today’s prayer reads like the ‘extended version’…
Read MoreLamplighting Prayer Three
Memory is a powerful thing. Just about anything in our environment can trigger a memory, good or bad. Even bad memories make us feel alive among the struggles of life. On the other hand, forgetting our memories can make us feel lost and empty. So, let’s talk about memory. O Lord our God, remember us…
Read MoreLamplighting 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 Ten
It is too easy to think all Saints were always saints. Some of the greatest saints were among the ‘worst’ sinners. Today our Daily Lenten Journey will consider how we can pray for repentance and forgiveness of sins. During Great Lent the Church, because she loves us, elevates saints of great repentance. Since before Great…
Read MoreOrthros Prayer Seven
Something we struggle to embrace is that we don’t inherently know how to pray. The disciples asked Christ, Who taught us the Lord’s Prayer. Still, we stand daily at our home altar struggling how to pray. Lucky for us, the Holy Spirit is on our side. O God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,…
Read MoreEvening Prayer for Forgiveness
I see it all the time. Nobody confesses the ‘small sins’ since we can’t avoid them, but these are the sins the ‘add up’ to a life distant from the love of God. So today our Daily Lenten Journey will focus on an Evening Prayer for Forgiveness, something we all need but rarely ask from…
Read More