A Servant

A Servant

A young, new servant was walking with an older, more seasoned servant in the garden one day.  He was feeling a bit insecure about what God wants him to do in his service, he was inquiring of the older servant. The older servant walked up to a rosebush and handed the young servant a rosebud and told him to open it without tearing off any petals.

The young servant looked in disbelief at the older servant and was trying to figure out what a rosebud could possibly have to do with his wanting to know the WILL OF GOD for his life and for his ministry. But because of his high respect for the older servant , he proceeded to TRY to unfold the rose, while keeping every petal intact...It wasn’t long before he realized how it was impossible to do so.

Noticing the younger servant’s inability to unfold the rosebud while keeping it intact, the older servant began to tell the following poem...

It is only a tiny rosebud,
A flower of GOD’s design;
But I cannot unfold the petals
With these clumsy hands of mine.

The secret of unfolding flowers
Is not known to such as I.
GOD opens this flower so sweetly,
When in my hands they fade and die.

If I cannot unfold a rosebud,
This flower of GOD’s design,
Then how can I think I have wisdom
To unfold this life of mine?

So I’ll trust in Him for His leading
Each moment of every day.
I will look to Him for His guidance
Each step of the pilgrim way.

The pathway that lies before me,
Only my heavenly Father knows.
I’ll trust Him to unfold the moments,
Just as He unfolds the rose

FOOTPRINTS IN THE SAND

FOOTSTEPS IN THE SAND

One night a man had a dream.
He dreamed he was walking along
the beach with the Lord.


Across the dark sky flashed scenes from his life.
For each scene, he noticed
two sets of footprints in the sand,
one belonging to him and the other to the Lord.

When the last scene of his life flashed before him,
he looked back at the footprints in the sand.
He noticed that many times along the path of his life
there was only one set of footprints.
He also noticed that it happened at the
very lowest and saddest times in his life.
This bothered him and he questioned the Lord about it.

"Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you,
You'd walk with me all the way.
But I have noticed that during the most
troublesome times in my life there is
only one set of footprints.
I don't understand why when I needed you most
you would leave me."

The Lord replied "My precious, precious child,
I love you and would never leave you.
During your times of trial and suffering,
when you see only one set of footprints in the sand,
it was then that I carried you."

Verses and Fathers Sayings

Verses and Fathers Sayings 

Therefore do not cast away your
confidence, which has great reward.
(Heb. 10: 35)




Do not worry nor be sad if God does not answer
your prayers right away… God wants to teach
you to be persistent in prayer and patient in
standing before Him, for what is nobler than
to stand in God’s presence to talk with
Him and to be in fellowship with Him!.

(St. Nilos)


 

The Jumping-Off Place

The Jumping-Off Place

The Lord himself has told us in what the perfection of charity consists: 'Greater love has no man, than to give his life for his friends.' But how can one attain to that level of love?

Well, now we know where its perfection lies, let us see where it begins. St John says if a man is rich, and sees his brother in need and hardens his heart, the love of God is not in him. That is where charity begins. If you can't as yet lay down your life for your brother, at least give him some of your goods - not to show off but from overflowing mercy.

He, your brother, was redeemed as you were by the blood of Christ: he is hungry, in need, perhaps pressed by a creditor, and you have plenty of this world's goods. You say, 'That's no affair of mine. Am I expected to rescue him from distress with my money?'

If that is your attitude, your heart is empty of God's love, you are not a child of God.

You glory in being a Christian - yes, that is what you are called but not what your deeds answer to. If you don't live like a Christian what is the point of being called one? 


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


 

Verses and Fathers Sayings

Verses and Fathers Sayings


The LORD is my strength and my shield;
my heart trusted in Him, and I am helped.  
Ps  28: 7




Let not the wave master you in this troubled
state of your heart. Yet since we are but men,
if the wind should drive us on, and stir up
the affections of our souls, let us not despair;
let us awake Christ, that we may sail on a
tranquil sea, and so come to our country.
St. Augustine 


  

You Grant Me More Than I Ask And You Give Me More Than I Need!

 
You Grant Me More Than I Ask
And You Give Me More Than I Need!

From the inspiration of Daniel (9)

In humility, Daniel felt that he does not deserve Your promises,
Therefore He prayed in sackcloth and ashes.
He confessed his sins and sins of his people.
He wanted You to fulfill the promise of returning after seventy years!

You have justly chastened Your people in the Babylonian captivity.
During the chastisement, You watched over Your people
and everything that befell them was by Your permission.
You like to chastise them, then glorify them!

He entreated You, for the sins of the people have hid Your presence.
Please forgive their sins for the sake of Your name,
for the sake of Your temple and Your city!

Since the destruction of the temple, the offering of sacrifices have ceased.
However, when the time came to offer a sacrifice,
Daniel offered himself as a sacrifice of love crying to You,
O the full of mercy.
You sent him the Archangel Gabriel to grant him understanding.
He told him that he is greatly beloved by You,
And he interpreted the vision to him.

With the old promise of freedom from captivity after seventy years,
You gave him a new promise on the Sabbath of these seventy yeas.
You showed him how the world should be free from the captivity of sin,
And how the believers should not commit sin
But enjoy righteousness and fulfillment of the prophecies about the coming of the Most Holy.

You determined the time of the Incarnation and its purpose and revealed them to Daniel.
You declared to him the mystery of the cross and the unique Sacrifice.
You revealed to him the end of times and the enjoyment of the eternal glories!
Truly, You grant me more than I ask and give me more than I need!


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


 

Verses and Fathers sayings

Verses and Fathers sayings 

And we know that all things work together for
good to those who love God, to those who are
the called according to His purpose. 
 
(Rom. 8: 28)




If you doubt God’s care ask the earth, the heaven,
the sun, and the moon; ask the dumb creatures
and the plants... ask the rocks, the mountains,
the sand dunes, and hills; ask the day and night.
God’s care is much more clear than the sun and
its rays. Everywhere, in the wilderness and the
inhabited cities, on earth and in the sea... wherever
you go, you will hear a testimony of that exalted care

(St. John Chrysostom)


 

Don't Believe Him

Don't believe him 

The psalmist says,  "Thou hast shown us thy mercy among the people", but some people say to themselves, 'That could only apply to a few, to hardly anyone - will God be content that a multitude should be lost?  If we lead evil lives, revel in this world's pleasures,  are slaves of our desires, will God let us perish? Will he only set free the few who keep his commandments, and condemn all the others?'  'Of course not',  they say,  'When he comes and sees such a vast multitude on his left hand, he will have pity on them and forgive them.'

Brethren, that was what the serpent said to the first man. God had threatened him with death if he ate the fruit, and the serpent said, 'Of course not, you won't die'.  Adam believed him and then found that what God had threatened was true, and what the devil promised was a lie. So don't listen to that sort of talk.

Don't suppose that the good are few in number - there are a great many, but they are hidden among many evil-doers.  It cannot be denied that there are so many wicked men that the virtuous may seem concealed like grain in the chaff.
But if you want to find out who are the good, live virtuously yourself and then you will find them.  

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

I AM YEARNING TO LABOR IN YOUR VINE

From the inspiration of Ezekiel (2)

When You revealed Your heavens to Ezekiel, 
He yearned to minister to you.  
Revealed it to me, to make me labor seriously in Your vine.  
Your heavens are joy and rejoicing;  
Ministering to You is a heavy cross,  
But, at the same time, it is joy and rejoicing.  
How wonderful is working for You,  
You proclaim Yourself to those working by, and for You. 

You sent Your prophet to a very stubborn people.  
But Your Spirit raised him to raise many.  
Grant me the spirit of resurrection, so as not to fear death.  
Death has gotten into my brethren and me.  
But You are the Resurrection itself.  
You sent him to a stubborn people. 
And feared lest stubbornness may get into him.  
Keep me, lest, in my ministry, I may fall and weaken. 
Keep me by Your grace, and keep your people.

What can I offer my brethren?  
Here I am, opening my mouth, for You to stretch Your hand with the scroll.  
I will eat it, and enjoy its sweetness, O You, the sweetness of my soul.  
This stretched hand is Your incarnation.  
You have given me Your Body to eat, O the Word of God. 

In Your Word, there is sweetness and bitterness.  
Make it sweet by Your grace; as I acquire Your divine promises.  
Grant me to accept Your chastisements, as temporary bitterness,  
For the sake of everlasting edification of my soul. 

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

The Holy Family Flight Into Egypt


The Holy Family Flight Into Egypt  

June 1st - 24th Bashans    

The entry of the Lord to Egypt: Fulfills the prophecies: "Behold the Lord ride on a swift cloud and will come to Egypt" (Is: 19 : 1)

The Fathers of the Church explained that the cloud denotes St Mary. His entry is a Blessing for His Chosen little flock (Lk 12:32) This fulfills the prophecy "Blessed is Egypt My people." (Is 19 : 25)  The idols of Egypt were destroyed when the Lord entered any city to fulfill the prophecy: "The idols of Egypt totter of His Presence, And the heart of Egypt will melt in its midst." (Is 19 : 1)  

St John Chrysostom  explained what written in the 2nd chapter of the Gospel according to St  Matthew about the Entry of the Lord to Egypt:  

1-The saying of Angel to St Joseph "Arise, take the Child and His Mother" that St Mary is attached to the Lord and not to St Joseph.  The Angel did not say (Take your wife)  

2- The Lord demonstrated to us, by His flight to Egypt, that all who desire to live godly living must suffer "and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution."  (2Ti: 3: 12)

 3- This teaches us that we have to gladly  accept any trial and follow the commandments and words of the LORD as St Joseph did when he did not return till the Lord ordered him " And stay until I bring you the word" ( Mt: 2: 13). "Out of Egypt I called My Son" (Hosea  11:1)  This prophecy was fulfilled "Arise and take the young Child and His mother and go to the land of Israel." (Mt  2:20)  

"In that day five cities in the land of Egypt will speak the language of Canaan" (Is  19 : 18)   This prophecy was fulfilled when the five western cities were joined to the Christian faith. "In that day here will be an altar to the Lord in the midst of the land of Egypt" (Is 19:19)  

This Prophecy was fulfilled when an altar was consecrated  By the Lord Himself according to the Holy Tradition  at the St Mary Mooharak Monastery at Assuit.  

Geographically the spot on which the altar is situated in the middle of Egypt "And a pillar of the Lord at its border" (Is 19:19)    Again the Holy tradition explained that this prophecy was fulfilled by the entry of St Mark the Apostle, the Egyptian lands preacher, to Alexandria at the border of Egypt.  

The Lord is waiting to enter the door of our hearts.   May the Lord Support us to allow Him to enter  our hearts and minds  " Behold I stand at the door and knock, if any one hears My voice and opens the door I will come to him and dine with him" (Rev: 3:20).  

It is said that we are born without our will but we can not be saved except when by our will we accept the Lord in our hearts. That is why some painters draw the picture of the Lord knocking on a door that has no door knob from its out side.  

May we open our doors and hearts to the Lord when He comes knocking at our door.

Verses And Fathers Sayings

 Verses And Fathers Sayings

Then there appeared to them divided tongues, 
as of fire, and one sat upon each of them.
And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit ..
(Acts 2: 3,4)




By the Holy Spirit we become free of servitude
and called to freedom! By it we became
children of God, through adoption! 

(St. John Chrysostom)