Born again...

A Birthday is a millstone, sorry, milestone...

If I haven't shed some of the attributes that make me less human;

Like speech which does not edify or thoughts that are not checked,

then I am no more improved since this time last year, in fact, I am impoverished!

To restore His image in me, I am called to hold all I am in and to Him, so He can complete His work in me.

Philippians 1 v 6 ...

... being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it to completion...

Complete... Whole...Peaceful...

When

This year has seen great changes in circumstance.

Modifying IDENTITY is the key to Peace; So I will follow where He leads.

In everything, my heart will find Him whom it seeks - For this I have been created, and called, to co-operate in restoring His image in all aspects of life and death.

Of this I can be confident ... He is Faithful!

Lord, Have Mercy...

Happy Birthday Dear Niece!

L.L;
Everything is possiblity
when viewed with eyes and heart open
But, should you choose to accept the mission,
will mean many changes, but much love.

This is how I love you dearest, and uniquely, my only Niece,
and if you look in your heart with the eyes of your mind,
you will find that which you are seeking.

You will!
Don't believe me,
do it for yourself,
for that is who you are -
yourself!

If it's too much like hard work - focus on how much worth you will discover
and the wealth of treasure and hope you have kept hidden!

You are Indiana Jones, follow the clues, and you will find true happiness.

Sing a song.... don't worry that it's not good enough... JUST SING!

Happy Birthday Lou... ALL love...
ALWAYS!

God's plan for you...

We all have ancestors.
We wouldn't be the people we are if it weren't for them, the movement of which, and their choices, brought us to the start of ours.

But our lives are our own and our time is now... and the choices I make today influence all life...

According to tradition, Anna, the ancestor of God, lived for sixty-nine years, and her spouse Joachim, for eighty; according to one account, Saint Joachim died two years before Saint Anna. Mary The Theotokos (or translated - birthgiver of God) had been orphaned of both her parents by the time she was eleven years of age, and was living in The Temple (see the feastdays, Sept. 8 and Nov. 21).
For a child to be orphaned at this early age? Why...?

Would the parents of today give their children to God in a physical way, not having control over them?
Even go as far as to trust society (The Temple) with the most precious gift life has to offer (?!?!)


When it comes to the suffering of children, in whatever way, we cry and question when these heavy burdens are laid upon us, but looking at Anna, Joachim and their society, they were people of Faith and believed, even knew, their life had greater meaning and purpose.

The answer comes through the rest of HIStory -
Godly-minded Anna, thou didst give birth unto God's pure Mother who conceived Him Who is our Life. Wherefore, thou hast now passed with joy to thy heavenly rest, wherein is the abode of them that rejoice in glory; and do thou ask forgiveness of sins for them that honour thee with love, O ever-blessed one.
We celebrate now the mem'ry of Christ's ancestors, while asking their help with faith, that we may all be saved from all manner of tribulation as we fervently cry aloud: Be thou with us, O Lord our God, Whose pleasure it was to glorify them both.


O Lord, Grant to those with children, the grace to parent them in such a way as reflects Your love and care. Bless all homes, villages, towns and cities - every community therein to turn to Thee, The One who can heal them; and in healing them, heal and glorify society that it may Glorify Thee; Amen.
Also we thank Thee O Lord for the lives of our Ancestors, especially our Parents ,who have fallen asleep, saying; In the place of Thy rest O Lord, grant rest unto the souls of our ancestors, Now and ever and unto the ages of ages; Amen.

Christ Is Risen!

Many Years dear Best Friend;
Pamela Anne Magdalena!


Maria Magdalena...

Her Joy was in Her Lord,
The colour of her love
was red, as the heart with which she prayed
and fulfilled within her calling.

She poured her soul upon His feet
to show her need of Him.
Then wiped the oil off with her hair
to devote herself to Him.

In caring for the Church of Christ
she remaines true to her talent;
annointing His followers with faith in Him
and blesses those who share her name.

Maria Magdalena was the disciple to remain when Peter and the others turned away.
She was witness to the Ressurrection because she did not hide away from Him who knew who she was, and loved her, which was why she recognised His voice when He called her by name.
She then took the news to the broken hearted church, and her experience caused the others to desire to know the news too, but for themselves! Not just someone elses story, but to make it their own - so they prayed that He would confirm the truth of her words.
Mary! Teacher!
The shortest coverstaion in the history of the world. But it changed the world.

The Psalmist says -
Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did ...

Saint Paul writes - "So, as the Holy Spirit says: "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion..."

& again... "See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first. As has just been said:"Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion."

Mary from Magdala persevered, and was rewarded with the vision of her Risen Lord, and of Eternity, which she kept in her heart (as she had been shown by Jesus' Mother). She then told it to those to whom Christ sent her; Hence, she is known as The Apostle to the Apostles.

In keeping His commandments and laws, O holy Mary Magdalene,
You followed Christ, who for our sake was born of a virgin,
And in celebrating your most holy memory today,
May we receive forgiveness of sins by your prayers!

When God, who is transcendent in essence,
Came with flesh into the world, O Myrrhbearer,
He received you as a true disciple, for you turned all your love toward Him;
Henceforth you would by your prayers work many healings.
Now that you have passed into heaven, never cease to intercede for the world!

and dearest P.A.M. - May I always live to encourage you, as you do me! I love you X X X

Yesterday, Today and Forever

What does this mean?
The writers of the New Testament wrote some of their experiences and encounters with Jesus in letters to The Church. If, therefore, what we believe we experience of God, and what we believe He is 'sending' to and 'asking' of us does not stand by the witness, experience and example as in the lives of His servants and handmaidens down the ages, we need to examine our heart and mind in the Light of revealed Faith.

This is the rule of thumb...
Jesus said "If anyone serves me, he must follow me. And where I am, there my servant will also be. Come to me... Take my yoke on you and learn from Me, because I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light".


Grant us O Lord, Your Grace and Mercy, so that in Peace, we may truly love and serve Thee; The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Many nights we’ve prayed, With no proof anyone could hear.
In our hearts a hopeful song, We barely understood.
Now we are not afraid, Although we know there’s much to fear.
We were moving mountains long, Before we knew we could.

[Chorus]
There can be miracles, When you believe.
Though hope is frail, It’s hard to kill.
Who knows what miracles, You can achieve.
When you believe, Some how you will.
You will when you believe.

Easy to despair, When all you hear is fear and lies.
Easy just to run and hide, To frightened to begin.
But if we dare to dare, Don’t wait for answers from the sky.
Each of us can look inside, And hear this song within.

[Chorus]

They don’t always happen when, you ask.
And it’s easy to give in, to your fear.
But when you blinded by your faith, Can’t see your way clear through the rain,
A small but still resilient voice; Says hope is very near.
There can be miracles, When you believe.
Though hope is frail, It's hard to kill.
Who knows what miracles, You can achieve.
When you believe, Some how you will. . . You will,
You will when you believe.


As Jesus says in reply to some questions about Faith as recorded by Luke in Chapter 17 verses 5-10 & 20&21

The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith!"
He replied, "If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it will obey you.
"Suppose one of you had a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Would he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, 'Come along now and sit down to eat'? Would he not rather say, 'Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink'? Would he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do? So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.' "
Once, having been asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, "The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, nor will people say, 'Here it is,' or 'There it is,' because the kingdom of God is within you.

There can be miracles when you believe...

St. Marina of Antioch.
St. Marina/Margaret used to be a saint on the Western calendar, too, until the Roman Catholic Church threw her and several others off in 1969, noting that they were "probably myths brought back by the Crusaders from the East" -- since those "myths" include St. Christopher, St. Barbara, and St. Catherine of Alexandria, we will say no more about that, except to note that God's people in our past, His followers, His Saints are not made of "myths."
However, sometime last year, this article came into my inbox, a translation from a newspaper article that appeared in a Greek newspaper. I was thinking of it recently. You draw your own conclusions.
*****
A few years ago, a family from Lemessos, Cyprus, named Vassiliou received the following miracle. In Greece they are well known from the televised requests they made in order to find a donor for their young boy, Andrea, who suffered from leukemia. The donor was indeed found and the parents began preparing for their trip to Texas, U.S.A where the bone marrow transplant was going to be performed. Meanwhile, they also prayed and begged Jesus Christ to save their boy. Before they left for the U.S.A the parents heard of St. Marina's miracles and they called the monastery of St. Marina located on the island of Andros in Greece to ask for her blessing. The Elder of the monastery, Archimandrite Fr. Cyprianos promised that he would pray to St. Marina. He also wished the parents for St. Marina to be with Andrea in the operating room, to help him. With Elder Cyprianos' blessing and with strong faith that St. Marina would help indeed, the Vassiliou family went to the U.S.A.
After the necessary pre-operation tests that Andrea had to undergo, he was taken to the operating room. A short time before the operation was to begin, a woman came to see the surgeon who would be operating on Andrea. She said that she was Andrea's doctor and asked to be allowed to observe the operation. The conversation that ensued proved that the woman was indeed a doctor. However, the surgeon replied that 'outside' doctors were not permitted to be present in the operating room and that his medical teams' policy was that no doctor other than those on the team be involved in such delicate operations. The persistence of the woman however, convinced the surgeon to allow her in the operating room. But before, he asked her to leave her coordinates [presumably, credentials] at the administration desk. The unknown doctor did as told and then entered the operating room with the surgeon. During the operation, she gave several directions regarding the progress of the procedure. The operation went well and in the end the surgeon thanked the woman and exited the operating room.
Andrea's parents immediately went to inquire about the outcome of the surgery and the surgeon replied that all had gone very well, adding that he could not understand why they had brought Andrea to him when they had such a fine doctor. The parents were surprised and responded that they had not brought any doctor with them. The surgeon insisted, however. He also told them that when he came out of the operating room Andrea's doctor had remained there for a little longer with the rest of the operating team and therefore, she would probably still be around. He recommended that they look for her. The search, however, proved pointless, as the 'woman doctor' was nowhere around. The Vassiliou couple then concluded that it must have been a doctor from Greece or Cyprus who had decided to travel to the U.S.A and contribute to the delicate operation. They expressed the wish to know who she was so that they may be able to thank her, and at the surgeon's recommendation they then went to the administration desk to ask for her coordinates.
It was with utter surprise that they read that the unknown woman had signed with the name "Marina from Andros". Tears of gratefulness and joy filled their eyes as they recalled that the Elder at the monastery had said to them that he wished Andrea to have St. Marina in the operating room to help him. Andrea's parents shared with the media their joy both for the successful operation and Andrea's recovered health and for the miracle they received. The Vassiliou family made the vow that the entire family will be present at the saint's monastery every year on the saint's feast day (July 17) and Elder Cyprianos reports that the family has been making the annual trip from Lemessos to Andros every summer to thank Saint Marina for saving Andrea.
Miracles performed by God through the saints, have never ceased to take place in the Orthodox Church. With these miracles, may our Lord Jesus Christ help all of us build our faith.

Thanks to Meg for this posting. We love you Dear Saint Marina X X X

One of the most beautiful prayers of recent times...

When I find myself in times of trouble, mother Mary comes to me,
speaking words of wisdom, let it be.
And in my hour of darkness she is standing right in front of me,
speaking words of wisdom, let it be.

Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be.
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be.

And when the broken hearted people living in the world agree,
there will be an answer, let it be.
For though they may be parted there is still a chance that they will see,
there will be an answer. let it be.

Let it be, let it be, .....

And when the night is cloudy, there is still a light, that shines on me,
shine until tomorrow, let it be.
I wake up to the sound of music, mother Mary comes to me,
speaking words of wisdom, let it be.

You know the tune, so go on... pray!
As you do She will pray for you and add her AMEN!
Amen!

Christ Is Risen.

Why is The Church, Orthodoxy, not permitted or blessed to innovate or modify what has been revealed?

BECAUSE - If it is not "believed in the church everywhere, always, by everyone" [Saint Vincent of Lerins] then it is not to be accepted by the Church because it is not of THE ETERNAL GOD!
If it doesn't equate with what's been revealed already it's no go!

This is not digging in "the heels of taditionalism" nor is it not allowing The Holy Spirit to blow through The Church;
The I AM is ETERNAL ,and as HIS people, we are also called to be...

it's because ... "if you change theology, you change what it means to be HIS Church".


When such thoughts assail, continually bring these thoughts to the heart and remember when pride, NOT HUMILITY, speaks, say...

"[your Name] was not brought, by Jesus, to Faith to change it - but to be changed BY IT"!

An I when 'crossed' out makes






Glory to The Father, and to The Son, and to The Holy Spirit,
Now and ever and unto the Ages of Ages; Amen.



Even as he spoke, many put their faith in him. To [the Jews] who [had] believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
John 8:30-32

In Relationship

Amen.
When translated means; so be it...

Many times it is hard to accept what God asks of us.
If we cannot accept what is being asked of us we leave, rather than change to absorb anothers viewpoint.
If we remain in the moment and not be overprotective of our self, God can work for the salvation of all concerned and all movement is of peace, even if it means leaving is the way forward.
It will be agreeable.

What is God asking my Amen to, today?


Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.
Matthew 5 v. 37

If You're Looking for a Way Out...

(Image - thanks to Graham Peacock,

Yorkshire, England.)

Which way now... ?

How do we find our way when the request for help seems to go unanswered?

Here is what the LORD says: “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask about the ancient paths, ‘Which one is the good way?’ Take it, and you will find rest for your souls.” Jeremiah 6:16

The Orthodox Faith is waiting for you to come home.

It reaches the parts other denominations cannot reach.

Jesus continues to build His Church.

Do Not Strive... Just head for HOME!