Memorial Day Prayer 2021

It’s Memorial Day in America. I found a prayer that I’d like to share with you.

“Almighty God,

We thank You for bringing us together at this Memorial Day celebration to acknowledge the debt we owe to the men and women of the United States military who have guarded this country with their lives. We especially honor those who lost their lives while defending this nation. They fought on land, at sea, and in the air, always understanding that they may not come back from the mission and accepting that as part of the job. They were willing to risk death to protect this land we hold so dear and the American people along with it. We thank them for their sacrifice and promise we’ll carry on their legacy to ensure they did not die in vain.

Father, we pray that You strengthen and protect all our military personnel who are serving presently and in the future. Give them the courage to face whatever comes, protect them in battle, and help them prosper in times of peace. Watch over their families, Lord, as You watch over us all. We put our trust and faith in You and even though we don’t always understand Your ways, we accept that You have a plan for each and every one of us. Please help us fulfill our personal missions, whatever they may be. Amen.”

Thank you to all those who have sacrificed so much for the freedom of this country.

God Bless You,
Chris

Scripture Reading Plan:

Monday – 1 Samuel 8:1-22; 11:14-15

Tuesday – Psalm 138

Wednesday – 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1

Thursday – Mark 3:20-35

Source and Link To More Memorial Day Prayers
https://dying.lovetoknow.com/Prayers_for_Memorial_Day_Services#:~:text=Let%20us%20turn%20to%20You,for%20those%20who%20gave%20all.

Worn Out

Throw Back Thursday.

This is one of my first blog posts. I look back on this entry and think of two things. One, “Hey that wasn’t so bad.” As I grow in faith and my writing I sometimes expect to find old posts of mine and see bad theology or writing but that was not the case with this entry.

Second and most important I have to say, my goodness has God changed me in the last five years. I still struggle but no where near as bad as in the past. Praise the Lord and all Glory belongs to God.

The Good Word

What gets you worn down? The answer for me is A LOT of things. I am constantly worn down. I struggle with depression, anxiety and obsessive, compulsive behavior. I am constantly worrying about the what if’s in life or how horrible something could go. I make schedules, write out pros and cons, check locks over and over again, reorganize things, I will probably re-read this five or six times before I hit post.

I try all these human made things to make my life the best or most efficient it could possibly be but it just ends up wearing me out worse. I’ll tell myself just to turn to God but then I feel guilty for things I have done, or situations I wasn’t being a good Christian. This leads to me just wanting to shut off from the World and many times from God.

The truth is, that no…

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Pentecost Sunday 2021 Service

Real and True Love

Luke 6:32-36 English Standard Version

³² “If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. ³³ And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. ³⁴ And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. ³⁵ But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. ³⁶ Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.

Think about the message in Jesus’ words.

In the modern age how easy is it to only love people who love you.

Those who agree with you, who like the same things, look like you, talk like you, heck are you.

Think about how easy it is on social media to love the people who you want to love.

I know someone who doesn’t feel accepted right now so they go on Facebook and people digitally support them with love and they respond back with the same love.

I’m not saying that is wrong but is it real and true love?

No.

Real and true love is when you see that person not just in their polished public selves but also in their dark times both past and present and chose to love them anyway. However while also not catering to and enabling the darkness.

Now there maybe a person that shows you no care, no love or even look at you as their enemy, love them anyway that is real and true love.

In reality only God can fully love like that.

We have to imitate His love to the best of our abilities and thank God that He loves in ways we can’t even fathom.

Now for those who are looking for someone who truly loves and cares about them what you need to look for is the people I previously mentioned, those who despite all of the bad things you have done chose to love you anyway and are there to help.

You must look for the real and true love.

Have a Blessed and Loving Week,
Chris

Scripture Reading Plan:

Monday – Isaiah 6:1-8

Tuesday – Psalm 29

Wednesday – Romans 8:12-17

Thursday – John 3:1-17

Mother’s Day A Follow Up

Last week was Mother’s Day and I had some extra thoughts that just didn’t fit the blog.

I talked about honoring Jesus and the Mothers out there but what about those who feel like they can’t or shouldn’t honor their mothers?

A great way to honor Jesus is by honoring your Mother like it is commanded, love her and look at her like a blessing from God.

I know this can be tough for those who have been hurt by parents but even if your relationship is strained show love to your Mother. Even if you feel harmed by your Mother or feel they don’t love you like they should, even if you consider your mother an enemy show them love anyway.

Remember God says to love your enemies so of course we have to love our mother no matter what.

That doesn’t mean we have to allow them to hurt us or that gives a mother a free pass for their behavior.

But you can still love your mother by trying to reconcile with them.

Some may have lost their mother or reconciling with their Mother may be impossible right now so instead give a gift to God today and honor Him by forgiving your Mother.

Forgive them even if they don’t accept it.

It will be a blessing.

And God will see it as such.

Have a Blessed Week,
Chris

Bible Verses on Forgiveness:
https://www.biblestudytools.com/topical-verses/forgiveness-bible-verses/

Understanding Forgiveness:
https://www.acts29.com/forgiveness-what-it-is-what-it-is-not/

Mother’s Day 2021

It is Mother’s Day again which is always an emotional time for many.

I reflected on last year’s Mother’s Day post and the first thing that stood out was that we were beginning to face a difficult time that no one truly knew how it was all going to go.

Things are still a bit scary, some may have lost mothers or seen their mothers lives effected by the virus.

Of course many people lost Mother’s or saw their Mother struggle from things that had nothing to do with virus.

I am also not forgetting the Mothers who may be reading this who have their own struggles.

But there is hope in the improvements that appear to be going on compared to last year.

Sometimes it may not seem that way but in all our struggles we can turn to Jesus who is our true hope.

If this day is tough on you turn to Him and rest in Him in your past, current or future struggles rest in the Prince of Peace.

Come to Him those who are burdened.

Come to Him those who are celebrating.

Come to Him in everything.

We should honor God every day, today is no different.

But today we also honor you mothers out there.

So Have a Happy Mother’s Day and May God Bless You,
Chris

Bible Verses for Mother’s Day.

https://www.biblestudytools.com/topical-verses/mothers-day-bible-verses/

Orthodox Easter 2021

Today is Orthodox Easter. I grew up in the Orthodox Church and my Mother and little brother still attend an Orthodox Church.

This week for my entry I am going to be providing some links.

First the Easter Bible Story thanks to Bible Study Tools…

https://www.biblestudytools.com/bible-stories/the-easter-bible-story.html

Next here is an article on Orthodox Easter…

https://www.christianity.com/wiki/holidays/orthodox-easter-origin-and-date.html

Also here is the service from today from my Mother’s Greek Orthodox Church she attends.

Last here is a link to their YouTube channel for more services from Holy Week
https://www.youtube.com/c/SaintsConstantineandHelenGreekOrthodoxChurch/videos

Christos Anestis!