Cleo's been hanging out while I baked cookies today.
6 dozen baked and cooling.
Listened to this Akathist while baking
to try to focus on what is important -
raising our children and godchildren
through the prayers of the Theotokos.
Then I listened to Fr. Thomas Hopko
on the book
*
I have been thinking on what I wrote yesterday
and how hard it is to be willing to suffer
and to not fear the storms of life...
*
My blog is fairly peaceful if not eclectic.
However,
I cannot ignore a growing trend and the
very troubling implications.
First I read a jointly written article between two faiths about
chastity at Universities and that
Christian and Muslim students are together on this.
It is more of a 'feel good' article over all but
the overt danger and troubling implications came soon after.
for Human Rights violations.
To say I am not concerned would be lying.
Actually I am quite concerned but at a loss as
to what to do.
Most Orthodox Christians know that Muslims are
still killing us overseas,
for example in Egypt.
If people in North America do not think that
we are in danger in the future
of being taken over,
I would say you are ignoring history
and current events.
I hear more and more from legitimate sources
on troubles for us that are coming.
What do we do? How do we prepare? How do we prepare
our children and godchildren
to be Christians in increasingly hostile and godless
environments?
Mat. Anna blogs about these topics more
and I often learn first about these troubling events
*
I know the first things we need to do;
Repent. Pray. Fight the Passions.
Learn to live according the true
Teach our children to value and love God
and the Church.
Frankly we need to learn to be more ascetical.
To have a better witness - a martyeria.
*
Well.
I first thing for me is to pray.
To go soon to vespers.
To continue reading books to teach me how to live
a Christian life.
One I don't own yet is the path to salvation
but for now I can start with what I have
and pray.
For now, I will walk to vespers
and bring my cookies to church
as I was asked to do.
*
Lord help, teach and save us!
5 comments:
1. Cleo looks delightful. Makes me want to take (another) nap.
2. The cookies look delicious. (:
3. Our spiritual father looked at all of us once (when the three girls were just babies) and said, "You're raising martyrs." It was very chilling, but, well, that's the truth, right? There's more than one way of being martyred. It reminds me that I'm not just raising my children to be able to make their way in the world. I'm raising them to be able to stand up for their faith even unto death. A good thing to remember.
Things are changing and shifting, and not in a good way. But I know we are here alive in this time because it is the will of God. He will not abandon us.
Hmmm...really like the pic of Cleo (how does that cat consistently look so cute?), the cookies (do they airmail well?) but the other? seems a wee bit hysterical. Calm is needed. The Lord of our lives will not allow that which He has not ordained. Interestingly, you may actually find much in common with truly holy people of all faiths, rather than your neighbour who has no faith at all. No need to demonize Islam...violent though it certainly is...there are people even in that group who truly seek God...and Him they will find. If he can find me, he can find anyone.
Well,
Islam or secularism, there will be plenty of opportunities to be a confessor in this life, if not a martyr.
And to think God won't allow it -- a quick glance at Church history shows the terrible things Orthodox Christians suffered in the past, both from others (Communists, Turkish overlords) and from their neighbors (iconoclasts, Arians). Same demonic spirit, whosoever was the enemy. You are right, it would be naive to imagine those times are over.
It is really hard to live in this world but not of this world, but with prayer, fasting, taking full part in the services and life of the Church, spiritual reading -- you are clearly on the right track. If I could suggest anything, it would be lives of the saints. We've always been told that is THE essential reading for an Orthodox Christian.
Saying a prayer for you finding a new job....
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