Merry Christmas and a blessed feast of the Nativity to all! Today marks the day that the Orthodox Church celebrates Christmas (I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: the best thing about being Orthodox is getting two Christmases!!!). Below is an inspirational pastoral letter written by His Grace Bishop Peter that we read last night in church. Here it is in writing for your edification as well. Merry Christmas everyone!
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Problem Free? Or Peace Filled?
Busy, busy, busy. Everyone is busy. Deadlines and pressure at work… a mile-long to-do list at home… I need to start exercising… I need to spend more time reading my Bible… I need to find time with the kids. UGHH!!! I just have too much on my plate!
Sound familiar? These days I don’t know of single person who isn’t struggling to keep up with everything. Everyone has more than they can handle and it doesn’t seem like there’s an end in sight. Is there???
Somehow in the midst of all the chaos around us, we find the Word of God giving us a beautiful promise in Isaiah 26:3: “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.”
Peace? Where is that peace? How can I get it? And how can I make sure I keep it?
The Bible is clear that God has promised to give us His peace. But so many of us struggle to have peace. So clearly there's a disconnect here. There's something wrong with our view/expectation of "peace" and how to find it.
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Following Focused
“Now they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was going before them; and they were amazed. And as they followed they were afraid.” Mark 10:32
I’ve come across this verse many times before but this time, something hit me. It has to do with the way the sentences are ordered. The order doesn’t seem right – the second sentence doesn't seem to align with the first. Actually, it ignores it as if it's not even there!
Read MoreTHE NEED FOR MARGIN - Burnt Out Part 1
We kicked off a new series in The Well yesterday and I think you'll agree that it is EXACTLY what the doctor ordered - especially as we approach the happy holiday season. The series is titled Burnt Out: Finding Peace on Earth.
We'd all agree that our lives are busier and more fast-paced than ever. We're running at full speed, operating at maximum capacity and living without any margin or breathing room. This inevitably leads to struggles in all areas of life - specifically in our time, our finances, and most of all our relationships.
This goal of this series is to look at ways to create and/or restore margin and breathing room in our overloaded lives.
Letting Go & Letting God
Anxiety. It’s something we all face. Whether it’s coming from work, or from school, or from marriage, or from money (or lack thereof), it’s something that everyone deals with. The consequences of having anxiety are well documented – hyperventilation, nausea, feeling loss of control, and feeling on edge. No one likes being anxious.
Anxiety results from our interpretation of situations. An assessment of a situation as threatening, damaging, or challenging, coupled with doubts over our ability to cope and respond in a manner that produces a desirable outcome can lead to anxiety. But often our interpretation of those situations is distorted – leading to misguided concern rather than the peace of God which surpasses all understanding.
“The servant of the Lord will be afraid only of his Master, while the man who does not yet fear Him is often scared by his own shadow.” St. John Climacus
Read MoreI CAN'T, HE CAN - In The Waiting Room Part 3
“I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation” Philippians 4:12
Is that really possible? Can I really be "content" in every situation? Can I really find peace inside when there's chaos and turmoil and upheaval all around me? Is that possible and if so, how do I get there?
That's the topic of week 3 In The Waiting Room as we discuss the "secret of contentment". You may not believe it but St. Paul gives us a formula to unlock this mystery in our own lives. What is that formula? You have to listen to the message to see. But I'll give you a hint...
I CAN'T, HE CAN.
The Struggle
Meet Mamma Freda. Mamma Freda is an elderly woman that I met during a recent trip to Kenya. She lives with a crippling pain in her left leg, unable to afford medication to alleviate the discomfort. The pain is so immense that it prevents her from daily tasks such as cooking; in fact when we saw her, she hadn’t eaten in three days because of the pain!
Despite that, she received us with a most cheerful countenance. She struggled to greet us – using a huge wooden rod to steady her step, simply overjoyed that we were there to share a short prayer with her.
I wish I could find the words to express the blessedness of this woman – nothing I am capable of writing will do justice to Mamma Freda and her faithfulness to God. She lived with a debilitating pain in her leg, but despite that, she walked long distances every single Sunday just to make it to church. And she always did it with a smile on her face.
With Mamma Freda before me as an example, I had to ask myself: do I ever struggle for my faith? Do I ever seek Christ when it isn’t convenient and easy? Do I ever sacrifice my comfort to be with God or do something for God?
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A Lesson on the Worthlessness of Worrying
Tests, assignments, deadlines, speeches!! The list goes on and on for a student like me. God knows I try… try to do well, try to please my parents, try to excel in what I’m doing with the hope of one day doing a job that I “love.” Oh and yes, I forgot to mention I try not to worry too! Yes, all these things God knows… but it was one day when He showed me just how much I did NOT know.
I had a speech due for an accounting unit (can I get a BORING up in here?) the first Monday back after the mid-semester break. And – in the true spirit of university life – it wasn’t until the last weekend of the 2 week break that I gave myself a kick in the pants to actually start writing the speech.
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Finding Peace
Our generation has witnessed numerous events that have, to some extent, made us aware of how much unrest there appears to be around the world. My first experience or realization of this came when I was around seven years old. My family and I heard on the news that a girl my age in another city had been abducted after school. I didn't quite understand what this meant, but my parents kept telling me to never approach or speak with a stranger. Some years later, “September 11” happened and again, I became exposed to the 'evil' in this world. I heard about the wars against weapons, kidnappings, etc.
I remember a time at school when we had to explain what we wished we could have...and it could be anything at all. Although I was only eight years old, I knew what I wanted. I told my class that I wanted WORLD PEACE.
It seems that now more than ever, the world has become filled with numerous dangers. There is so much crime, war, unrest, anger, and sadness around the world. But we don't have to look far - it actually starts within our own lives. I'm not going to focus on the wars around the world - although they are important, too. I prefer to focus on a different kind of peace; that is, the 'peace' that we may get from this world.
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Reflections at the Pond
At a beautiful site in the mountains, I sat at a pond meditating on the beauty of God’s creation as revealed in the majestic mountain, the trees, the farmland, and the farming animals. As I looked in the pond I saw a beautiful reflection of the tall trees and the mountain on the surface of the water. It was a splendid view of God’s creation reflected on the still water of the pond.
Suddenly, a wind blew on the surface of the water and the pond became wavy. The beautiful picture of the mountain and the trees became distorted and unclear as if it was no more there. After a while, the wind stopped, and the water became still again, and the beautiful picture of the trees and mountain appeared again reflected in a splendid view in the pond.
I meditated on this event and thought of what happens in our personal life. When we are still and at peace, and our hearts are pure, the image of God is reflected in our life and we can see God “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God” (Matthew 5:8). Also, others can see God reflected in our life: “So that I live, not I but Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:20).
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The Swan, the Ducks and the Pond
One day I sat at the pond and saw a beautiful, elegant, pure white swan sailing in a majestic way on the still water of a pond. She came in my direction and I was amazed at her beauty, elegance, and splendor. She didn't make any noise but kept on sailing swiftly in the pond.
Suddenly, a batch of ducks invaded the pond. I'm not sure if they were fighting each other or what, but they were quacking loudly and making so much noise. They quickly disrupted the calmness and serenity of the quiet pond. The swan did not mix with them; she passed them and went on her way.
After a while, the ducks came out of the pond and started eating the grass around the pond. The swan did not get out with them but kept sailing in the pond in her majestic way. She never mixed with the ducks. Later on, a nice lady brought food to the swan. The lady started calling her to come and gave her food to eat. She talked to her and the swan was happy to be in her company. After she was fed, the swan went back peacefully on her way. She lived alone in the midst of the noisy ducks.
Read MoreCrazymakers Part 3 - RESOLVING CONFLICT
It's one of the most important things to learn in life - yet it's something that's very rarely ever taught. HOW TO RESOLVE CONFLICT - that was the topic of yesterday's message in the Crazymakers series. In it, we looked at both the strategy (mindset) and the steps (what to do) to resolve the inevitable conflicts of life.
Such an important message for everyone. Unresolved conflict hurts everyone and just sucks the life right out of life. As I said in this message, we need to figure out a way to walk hand in hand, even when we don't see eye to eye.
Hope you enjoy!
Spiritual Sweat Part 3 - SOLITUDE
This week's installment in the Spiritual Sweat series is on the discipline of SOLITUDE - the habit of being alone with God. Is it possible to find true inner solitude and peace in the midst of all the noise and chaos of the world today?
Check out the video and see for yourself.