The Cold Within!

The Cold Within

 

Six humans trapped by happenstance
In dark and bitter cold
Each one possessed a stick of wood
Or so the story’s told

*****
Their dying fire in need of logs
The first woman held hers back
For of the faces around the flame
She noticed one was black

*****
The second man looking all about
Saw no one of his church
And couldn’t bring himself to give
The fire his stick of birch

*****
The rich man sat and thought
Of all the wealth he had in store
Why should his stick be used to warm
The lazy, shiftless poor?

*****
The poor man sat in tattered clothes
He gave his coat a hitch
No way would he let his stick be used
By the greedy selfish rich

*****
The black man bitter and full of rage
Held his oak branch tight
For all he saw in his stick of wood
Was a chance to spite the white

*****
The last man of this forlorn group
Did nothing except for gain
Giving only to those who gave
Was how he played the game

*****
The branches held in fate’s cruel hands
Was proof of human sin
They didn’t die from the cold without
They died from THE COLD WITHIN.

***** 

James Patrick Kenny

What God Has Prepared For Us

What God Has Prepared For Us  

Then she said, “Sit still, my daughter, until you know how the matter will turn out; for the man will not rest until he has concluded the matter this day.” Ruth 3:18

Yes, sit and calm down. What a good advice for those who have life from God, but yet their souls have no comfort. Those who strive, lost hope in finding comfort in their own efforts.

Trials and experience clarify our disability towards our lives. How many times we tried to straighten our ways in lives.

But the secret of the great blessing is that Our Lord and Redeemer considered our case as his own case. Knowing this lead us to think of God instead of thinking about ourselves. 
Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. Exodus 14: 13

We must let the Lord respond to the complainants, as did the sinful woman in John 8: 1-11

John 8:1 - 11


1 But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.

2 Now early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people came to Him; and He sat down and taught them. 

3 Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst, 

4 they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. 

5 Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?”

6 This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear.

7 So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” 

8 And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. 

9 Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. 

10 When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?”

11 She said, “No one, Lord.”
And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.”

The prodigal son has been speculating with himself while on his way back to his father's house. We probably put the focus in the wrong place and speculating with ourselves while on our way back to the Father's house. As we stand in His presence we will notice that the Father holds a feast to celebrate our return. All we have to do is have faith in Him, and know that His plans for us will be greater than we can imagine, and then enjoy the ride.


Luke 15: 22 - 24


22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. 

23 And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry;

24 for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry.

A Glorious And Eternal Kingdom

From the inspiration of Daniel (7)

The world is like a raging sea,
out of which comes wild beasts to devour and dominate!
But Your Kingdom is definitely coming to reign over Your saints forever,
Not on transient earth but on new eternal heaven!

This is the last hour!
You are certainly coming to rule!
The Antichrist is entering a decisive battle.
It is a battle of life or death!

May the evil be mortified and the darkness abolished,
And may the kingdom of light shine inside us!

May the Antichrist come.
He is very violent and destroyer of souls!
But You are much stronger and greater!
May Your church be protected until the end of the ages!



Fr. Tadros Malaty
From the Inspiration of the Book of Daniel     

 

Is it worth it?

Is it worth it?

Brethren, remember what God has promised us - eternal life. Let no one lead you astray to your death, long for eternal life.

What can the world offer you?

But you answer, 'I am urged to sin by someone powerful, and I am afraid of his threats'.  What does he threaten? Prison, tortures, wild beasts, flames? Are those flames eternal?

My brothers, tremble before the Almighty's threats, long for what he promises you and then you will hold cheap anything the world can threaten or promise.

You ask what your reward will be. You say, 'What I have heard from the beginning I keep hold of, I obey. I put up with labours, dangers, temptations, the body which weighs down the soul, all this in order to keep the faith. What will be my reward?'

Listen, beloved, and take courage: if trials seem about to overwhelm you, think of what you are promised, obey him who is Truth itself and whose word cannot fail.

Remember what will be said to those whom he places at his right hand, 'Come you blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom', but to those on his left, 'Depart, you cursed, into everlasting fire'. If you do not as yet long for his promises, at least be afraid of his threats.


     DAILY READING WITH
St Augustine --- The Heart at Rest

Verses - Good Friday

But He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
And by His stripes we are healed.
Isaiah 53:5 

Verses and Fathers Sayings

Hosanna to the Son of David! 

"Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD" 

Hosanna in the highest!"
Matthew 21:9

The enemy rejoices over nothing 

so much as over those who do not 

manifest their thoughts.
Abba John the Dwarf 

 

SHOW ME YOUR HEAVENS

From the inspiration of Ezekiel (1)
 
I long to behold Your heavens!
You revealed Your heavenly chariot to Your prophet Ezekiel;
And You opened a gate in heaven to Your disciple John!
I long to behold Your heavens!
I want to know where I shall settle down, O my soul's beloved!

Amid the bitterness of captivity,
You revealed Your chariot to Your prophet;
So he realized that You are the Maker and Controller of history!
Reveal Your mysteries to me; to be sure that I am carried on Your arms!

Ezekiel saw You in the midst of the whirlwind, the cloud, and the fire.
Let Your Holy Spirit blow on my soul;
so that I may smell a heavenly breathe,
Lift me up as though on a cloud, to protect me from the serpent.
Let Your Holy Spirit inflame my heart with the fire of Your love!

Your chariot is greatly amazing; a cherubim chariot;
Having faces like those of a man, a lion, an ox, and an eagle.
Count me as a chariot and a throne, to dwell inside me!
Sanctify everything in me:
The feelings of my heart, as a man of God;
The strength of my soul as a daring lion;
My offerings and gifts as an ox, a burnt offering for You;
My thoughts and meditations, to fly like an eagle in the heavenliness!
Grant me six wings together with the cherubim.
Grant me humility and hope, as two wings to cover my legs, as though from sin!
Grant me insight and love as two wings;
so as to behold the splendour of Your glory!
Grant me Your proclamations and grace as two wings,
by which to fly up to Your bosom!

Grant me eyes within and without together with the Living Creatures.
Grant me heavenly wisdom to live on the earth as well as in the heavenliness!
Show me Your heavens, to yearn to depart to You!
Let me behold the light of Your face, to become myself light!
Grant me eyes on every side; for my whole being to become a face;
And never to have a back!
To move in every direction; yet never give You a back but a face!

How amazing are those two wheels in Your fiery chariot!
Moving incessantly by the spirit!
How amazing are the two Testaments: the Old and the New!
by Your Holy Spirit I enjoy their mysteries,
to move always toward heaven!
Let Your Word lift me up in the two Testaments,
so as not to stay any longer in the dust!

How beautiful are You who sits on the throne!
How amazing is the rainbow around You!
Show me Yourself … I long to enjoy You!
Grant me a strong faith in Your precious promises and Your eternal covenant! 

Fr. Tadros Malaty
From the Inspiration of The Book of Ezekiel 


 

He Changed Love Into Heaven!

Daniel In The Lion Den

From the inspiration of Daniel (6)

How wonderful is Your care, O You the Almighty!
You allow me to be thrown in the den with Daniel,
however you changed the den into paradise!
You grant me to see Your angels,
who minister unto us for salvation and love and work for the sake of Your kingdom inside us!

May You throw me in the den, but may You shut the mouths of the hungry lions so they would not devour me.

In my perplexity, I see that all are against me,
but I see, even among the unbelievers,
Darius the faithful king! I am ashamed of his sincerity and his confidence in You!
For the sake of Daniel, Darius did not eat until sunset and remained fasting until dawn.
He deprived himself of his human rights,
could not sleep and at dawn hurried to the den for the sake of his servant Daniel!

With a sorrowful voice, he called Daniel to find out what happened to him.
The God of Daniel is able to save unto the end!

Darius condemns me!
Do I fast and weep for the salvation of my brothers,
and for the salvation of the whole world?
Do I believe that the God of Daniel is able to save?
Do I give up sleeping as long as there are souls in the den of the invisible lions?
Do I wake up early seeking the salvation of every soul that is drifting away?
What do I answer?


Fr. Tadros Malaty
From the Inspiration of the Book of Daniel    

The Unprofitable Servant

 The Unprofitable Servant  

I call upon you, O God, my mercy, you who created me, and did not forget me when I forgot you. Let me know you, for you are the God who knows me; you are the power of my soul, come into it and make it fit for yourself. This is my hope.

I beg you to come into my heart, for by inspiring it to long for you, you make it ready to receive you.

Now as I call upon you, do not desert me, for you came to my aid before I called for you. When I was far from you, you persuaded me to listen to your voice, to turn back to you.

I called upon you for help, but all the time it was you who were calling me to yourself. You blotted out all my sins and did not repay me with the punishments I deserved.

I was nothing, you need not have given me being; before I was you were, you had no need of me. My service has not the value of a countryman's who tills his master's land, for if I do not serve you with my labour, your work still bears fruit.

I can only serve you and worship you with the good that comes from you. It is from you alone that I receive it, for but for you I should have no being.


     DAILY READING WITH
St Augustine --- The Heart at Rest