My Space in God's Creation

Monday, September 9, 2013

My Notes on Our Thoughts Determine Our Lives: the Life and Teachings of the Elder Thaddeusof Vitovnica

“Our life depends on the kind of thoughts we nurture. If our thoughts are peaceful, calm, meek, and kind, then that is what our life is like. If our attention is turned to the circumstances in which we live, we are drawn into a whirlpool of thoughts and can have neither peace nor tranquility.”
Smiljanic, Ana (2011-12-19). Our Thoughts Determine Our Lives: the Life and Teachings of Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica (Kindle Locations 57-59). St. Herman of Alaska Brotherhood. Kindle Edition.

Oftentimes, when trials come our way, we allow ourselves to be sucked into the negativity of the situation. The right thing to do is to be vigilant in our prayers. To allow God to be with us through the whole ordeal shows how much we trust Him to help us, after all, He is Greater than us.

Elder Thaddeus saw that the only cure for man’s illness was a return to a life-centered on Christ the God-man, the only One Who can fulfill all of mankind’s needs.
Smiljanic, Ana (2011-12-19). Our Thoughts Determine Our Lives: the Life and Teachings of Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica (Kindle Locations 61-62). St. Herman of Alaska Brotherhood. Kindle Edition.

In God we trust.
He is all knowing before we even understand anything.

“If you wish to preserve this gift of Grace, you must pray to God all the time in order to block oppressive and dark thoughts from your mind and thus preserve the peace and joy which you feel when you are illumined by Grace.”
Smiljanic, Ana (2011-12-19). Our Thoughts Determine Our Lives: the Life and Teachings of Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica (Kindle Locations 238-240). St. Herman of Alaska Brotherhood. Kindle Edition.

Prayer has a unique way of calming our thoughts, of making us realize that God is the source of peace.

The fear of God is not the animal-like fear of this world. Our fear is like that, and we must strive to conquer this. Such fear is from hades. Our life is filled with fear. We fear what tomorrow will bring, what the future has in store for us.... That is an animal-like fear. The fear of God is when you love Him, when you truly love Him with all your heart and you strive never to offend or sadden Him—not only with your deeds, actions, and words, but also with your thoughts. You try to please Him in everything you do or say. That is the fear of God—the fear of doing anything that might sadden or offend our Parent.
Smiljanic, Ana (2011-12-19). Our Thoughts Determine Our Lives: the Life and Teachings of Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica (Kindle Locations 1056-1060). St. Herman of Alaska Brotherhood. Kindle Edition.

When I first heard the words, "with the fear of God, with Faith and with love, draw near," I was so confused. How can one have the courage to come close to God, if He is feared?
It is only when I read this part of the book that I realized the difference between animal-like fear and having the fear to displease the Father of our actions. This kind of fear involves love... for God.

Monday, August 19, 2013

The Jesus Prayer

The Jesus Prayer and the Prayer Rope

http://www.sprint.net.au/~corners/Aug00/JesusPrayer.htm

IN THE FIRST Epistle to the Thessalonians the Apostle Paul says: "Pray without ceasing." How then is one to pray unceasingly? By often repeating the Jesus Prayer: "O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy upon me a sinner." By becoming accustomed to this appeal, great consolation and the need to continually make this petition will be felt within, and it will be carried on, as if of itself, within one.

Although in the beginning, the enemy of the human race offers hindrances to this, by causing great weariness, indolence, boredom and overcoming sleep, having withstood all these with the help of God, one will receive peace of soul, spiritual joy, a benevolent disposition towards people, purification of thoughts, and gratitude towards God.

In the very Name of Jesus a great and graceful power is present. Many holy and righteous people advise repeating the Jesus Prayer (also known as the Prayer of heart), as frequently as possible; almost without interruption.

It is necessary for everyone, whether eating, drinking, sitting, serving, traveling, or in doing anything, to ceaselessly lament: "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy upon me a sinner" in order that the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, in descending into the depths of our hearts, may humble the serpent of destruction, and save and enlighten the soul.

"Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy upon me, a sinner." Let your attention and instruction be centered on this. Walking, eating, standing in Church before the beginning of the service, continue with the prayer on your lips and within your heart. In such a manner, with the invocation of the Name of God you will find peace, you will attain to purity of spirit and body and the Holy Spirit, the Origin of all good, will make for Himself a dwelling within you and will guide you in all purity.

Those who have truly decided to serve the Lord God must train themselves in the remembrance of God and in unceasing prayer to Jesus Christ, saying mentally, "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy upon me, a sinner."

Through such activity, and by guarding oneself from distraction, and with the preservation of peace in one’s conscience, it is possible to draw near to God and to be united with Him. For, according to the words of St. Isaac the Syrian, "Except for unceasing prayer we cannot draw near to God"

The prayer rope is one of the items given to an Orthodox Christian monk at the rite of tonsure; it is given to him as his spiritual sword with which he, as a soldier of Christ, must make war against our spiritual enemy, the devil. This sword is wielded by calling on the name of our Lord and God and Saviour Jesus Christ in a plea for mercy, that is by praying the Jesus Prayer: "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner." This prayer can be said in a shorter form, such as: "Lord Jesus Christ have mercy on me;" or in a longer form, as: "By the prayers of the Most Holy Theotokos and all the Saints, Lord Jesus Christ have mercy on me."

"Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy upon me, a sinner."

A Meaningful Summer

At the school where I work as a special education paraprofessional, our vice principal asked all of us (every faculty member and staff) to write something about our summer. She told us to send it as a PowerPoint slide. All our slides will be compiled and presented as, "Summer Fun."

I am sharing this picture (above) which shows how my summer has been blessed with abundant goodness. I truly enjoyed the many simple, yet, meaningful experiences with family and friends. Whether it is spending time with my girls at home, cooking, sewing, or painting, or going places with Costa during the weekends...all these made me whole, content, and fulfilled.

I am thankful for the time I was in camp. Embracing Children will always be special for me. Being with the children validated what God wants me to be, and to be good at it! It was my form of diakonia to God, through others.

This summer, I was able to go back to doing what I always wanted to do: reading and writing. I will use the talent I was given to share the greatness of my Lord.

How was my summer... Fun does not give justice to how my summer was.
My summer was simply perfect!

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Blessed Commitments

Ephesians 5:22-33

Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body. “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh” This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

During the reception, in a Philippine wedding, it is customary to release a pair of white male and female doves. This symbolizes harmony and peace. The doves are in a white bell-shaped cage, decorated with with lace and ribbons. The newly-wed couple pull the ribbon at the same time and release the doves.

Together as One

From a far away distance,

With certainty, with confidence

The exchange of “I do’s”

A fortnight and twelve years ago.

East meets West,

Blending of minds and souls,
Unite in love,

In the presence of God.

Commitment...

Establishing cornerstones,

Building the foundation

With love, with care, with acceptance.

Through the years

We traveled together

as stewards of God

to the children He entrusted.

On August 15, 2004
As an answer to the calling
You submitted yourself
to be a humble servant of God.

The road together we’ll trek,

Along smooth highways and bumpy country roads,

With arms and hands together, and God as our Guide,

He will make us stalwart and brave.

I love you then,

I love you now,
With God as my Witness,
I’ll love you forever.

written: August 10, 2013
for Costa/Dean on the occasion of our 26 year union, and your 9th year of service, our life with Christ. (August 15, 2013)
Fr. Constantine was ordained as a priest on August 22, 2004

“Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife,

and the two shall become one flesh”

On our wedding day, this was the processional song

THERE IS LOVE

(Paul Stookey from Peter, Paul, and Mary)

- Wedding Song-

He is now to be among you at the calling of your hearts.
Rest assured this troubadour is acting on His part.
The union of your spirits here has caused Him to remain,
for whenever two or more of you are gathered in His name,
There is love. There is love.

Oh, a man shall leave his mother, and a woman leave her home.
They will travel on to where the two will be as one.
As it was in the beginning, is now until the end,
woman draws her life from man
and gives it back again and there is love.
Oh, there's love.

Well then what's to be the reason for becoming man and wife?
Is it love that brings you here or love that brings you life?
For is loving is the answer then who's the giving for?
Do you believe in something that you've never seen before?
Oh, there's love. There is love.

He is now to be among you at the calling of your hearts.
Rest assured this troubadour is acting on His part.
The union of your spirits here has caused Him to remain
for whenever two or more of you are gathered in His name
there is love. Oh, there is love.

Yes, there is love. For God is Love. He was, He is, and always shall be!

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