Draw nigh to God
While pumping gas in Seattle, recently, I had a man who was on the opposite side of the pumps, ask me how one could begin a relationship with God. Within about four minutes of pumping gas in our own cars, he said he’d really like to know God, but didn’t know how to begin. Wishing I had more time to speak with him, I gave him my calling card, and invited him to call me when he had the opportunity. I also told him that I would be happy to have him come to Vashon Island for a sit down conversation in my office, anytime he felt the need.
As we were parting ways, I quoted James 4:8, “Draw nigh to God and He will draw nigh to you”. The simplest pray can begin a life long relationship with God, because our God desires that we commune with Him. Letting God know we’d like a relationship is the basic first step. God will do the rest.
I hope the man calls me.
With love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon
Friday March 23, 2012
Fourth Week of the Great Lent: Adoration of Cross. Tone seven.
Great Lent. By Monastic Charter: Strict Fast (Bread, Vegetables, Fruits)
Martyrs Codratus (Quadratus) and with him: Cyprian, Dionysius, Anectus, Paul, Crescens, Dionysius (another), Victorinus, Victor, Nicephorus, Claudius, Diodorus, Serapion, Papias, Leonidas, Chariessa, Nunechia, Basilissa, Nice, Galla, Galina, Theodora, and others at Corinth (258).
New Hieromartyr Demetrius, priest (1938).
Martyrs Codratus, Saturninus, and Rufinus of Nicomedia (3rd c.).
Venerable Anastasia the Patrician of Alexandria (567).
New Martyr Michael of Agrapha, Thessalonica (1544). (Greek).
Martyr Marcian (Greek).
Venerable George Arselaites (6th c.).
St. Attalus, abbot of Bobbio (626).
St. Paul of Taganrog (1879).
St. Kessog, bishop of Loch Lomond.
St. John of Khakuhli, also called Chrysostom (10th-11th c.) (Georgia).
We are hoping to retire the mortgage debt of $250,000.00. Having this hanging over our heads, and knowing the bank owns the monastery, is not a good thing. Your prayers are most appreciated, as we need a miracle.
Isaiah 29:13-23
13Therefore the Lord said:
“Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths
And honor Me with their lips,
But have removed their hearts far from Me,
And their fear toward Me is taught by the commandment of men,
14Therefore, behold, I will again do a marvelous work
Among this people,
A marvelous work and a wonder;
For the wisdom of their wise men shall perish,
And the understanding of their prudent men shall be hidden.”
15Woe to those who seek deep to hide their counsel far from the Lord,
And their works are in the dark;
They say, “Who sees us?” and, “Who knows us?”
16Surely you have things turned around!
Shall the potter be esteemed as the clay;
For shall the thing made say of him who made it,
“He did not make me”?
Or shall the thing formed say of him who formed it,
“He has no understanding”?
Future Recovery of Wisdom
17Is it not yet a very little while
Till Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field,
And the fruitful field be esteemed as a forest?
18In that day the deaf shall hear the words of the book,
And the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity and out of darkness.
19The humble also shall increase their joy in the Lord,
And the poor among men shall rejoice
In the Holy One of Israel.
20For the terrible one is brought to nothing,
The scornful one is consumed,
And all who watch for iniquity are cut off—
21Who make a man an offender by a word,
And lay a snare for him who reproves in the gate,
And turn aside the just by empty words.
22Therefore thus says the Lord, who redeemed Abraham, concerning the house of Jacob:
“Jacob shall not now be ashamed,
Nor shall his face now grow pale;
23But when he sees his children,
The work of My hands, in his midst,
They will hallow My name,
And hallow the Holy One of Jacob,
And fear the God of Israel.
Genesis 12:1-7
Promises to Abram
12 Now the Lord had said to Abram:“Get out of your country,
From your family
And from your father’s house,
To a land that I will show you.
2I will make you a great nation;
I will bless you
And make your name great;
And you shall be a blessing.
3I will bless those who bless you,
And I will curse him who curses you;
And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
4So Abram departed as the Lord had spoken to him, and Lot went with him. And Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. 5Then Abram took Sarai his wife and Lot his brother’s son, and all their possessions that they had gathered, and the people whom they had acquired in Haran, and they departed to go to the land of Canaan. So they came to the land of Canaan. 6Abram passed through the land to the place of Shechem, as far as the terebinth tree of Moreh. And the Canaanites were then in the land.7Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your descendants I will give this land.” And there he built an altar to the Lord, who had appeared to him.
Proverbs 14:15-26
15The simple believes every word,
But the prudent considers well his steps.
16A wise man fears and departs from evil,
But a fool rages and is self-confident.
17A quick-tempered man acts foolishly,
And a man of wicked intentions is hated.
18The simple inherit folly,
But the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
19The evil will bow before the good,
And the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
20The poor man is hated even by his own neighbor,
But the rich has many friends.
21He who despises his neighbor sins;
But he who has mercy on the poor, happy is he.
22Do they not go astray who devise evil?
But mercy and truth belong to those who devise good.
23In all labor there is profit,
But idle chatter leads only to poverty.
24The crown of the wise is their riches,
But the foolishness of fools is folly.
25A true witness delivers souls,
But a deceitful witness speaks lies.
26In the fear of the Lord there is strong confidence,
And His children will have a place of refuge.
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