Sometimes in life, we go through massive changes. Sometimes those are good. Sometimes those are bad. Sometimes they can be a combination of both. But when they are a combination of both I think it is just because moving out into the unknown, can be a bit scary. And the change away from the familiar,… Continue reading Change
Today marks the very middle of Eastern Orthodox Advent. Our journey to meet Jesus as the Christ Child. I can't believe we are only 20 days from Christmas! And even more, I cannot believe we are nearing the end of 2021! What a year it has been! The last 3 months have been crazy, hectic,… Continue reading Blessed Advent
As I mentioned in my last post, I have been reading the Lenten Triodion a bit each day. It is a rich resource of beautiful hymns and verses. Today it proved to be ever so rich yet again. We have come to the end of our first week of Great Lent. It was a beautiful… Continue reading Leaping Up With Joy
This post has been sitting in my drafts since January 9th. I just let it sit and I haven't looked at it until today. I'm glad I let it be for a bit and I'm glad I happened to open it up today. As we draw near to Great Lent, the time of repentance and… Continue reading Purpose
This Sunday, a Sunday set aside for preparing our hearts and minds for Great Lent, we read in Matthew 25: 31-46 the parable about the last judgement. The OCA website says, It reminds us that while trusting in Christ’s love and mercy, we must not forget His righteous judgment when He comes again in glory.… Continue reading We Have All Been Healed
Your weekly dose of the Resurrection because Christ is Risen Everyday! We sang this beautiful hymn last night at Great Vespers. We sang "in joy". I sing with Joy! Christ is Risen! I was reading through some older notes that I wrote for this blog and came across this "simple idea" I had for my… Continue reading Resurrection Reminder
The last two days feel frozen. Frozen feelings. Stuck in a rut. But yet incredibly busy. As I have shared before, I struggle at times with fighting those "demons at noonday." This is one of those times. Intellectually I can fight. I know what's needed. I pray. I listen and search. I want some answers.… Continue reading Struggles
One of the things I have discovered I need to do is seek to see God all around. When trying to remember the joy of the Resurrection it helps to remember God is "every where present and filling all things". When reading Psalm 18/19:1 I was reminded of this fact. I have tried to become… Continue reading Heavens Declare
I have this fascination with the word "Joy". Being that is the life blood of my prayers and goals for myself, whenever I see the word "joy" in a song or verse or, well, just about anywhere, I perk up and pay attention. I might learn something that will help me on my path, on… Continue reading The Cause of Joy
My dear husband, sent me an email to share with me an amazing find from Fr. Alexander Schmemann. He knew I would be thrilled to read this. The joy of the Kingdom: it always worries me that, in the multi-volume systems of dogmatic theology that we have inherited, almost every term is explained and discussed… Continue reading The Joy of the Kingdom
Kindler of Joy! 