February 7, 2008

• Life at our house is back to normal- your prayers worked- thank you! Please keep praying for baby Vivian Anastasia and her parents.

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  Quote for the Week:  For Holy Communion, the confession of our sins to a father confessor is needed; whereas for our communication with God, the confession of our weaknesses before Him is necessary.  Elder Paisios 

  
  

  Scripture for the Week:  “Although I am less than the least of all God’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. His intent was that now, through the Church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.”  Ephesians 3:1-12

  
  

  Question for the Week:

  How do you feel when you consider that we, who are ”less than the least of God’s people”, are entrusted with the sharing of the Gospel message to the people around us? 

  
  

  Thought for the Week:  ‘Chip, Chip, Chip Away!’

   Time seems to slip like sand through our fingers. It feels like there’s never enough of it to do what we most enjoy in life. Not that we mind cooking, cleaning, shopping, chauffeuring, or working outside the home, but these works bring a temporary satisfaction until the next meal, the next load of laundry, the next paycheck, etc. We want to get to other ventures, but few are the days when we are awarded with enough time to start and finish something like framing precious photos, planting seedlings for our garden or inputting addresses for next year’s Christmas cards. There has to be a way, and there is! But it is not necessarily the way WE want it. How many times have we started something we really want to do, only to have meals, laundry, and straightening thrown to the wind? This is NOT the way. We need to take small bites in order to accomplish our goals. It doesn’t take long before a dripping faucet fills up the bucket, and we all know the tortoise’s victory. We just need his PERSEVERENCE. So we have to think differently. An ‘all or nothing attitude’ earns us nothing but frustration. Imagine a mother duck with her ducklings, patiently bringing them along, down the way, across the pond, hither and thither. She doesn’t lose one very often. We are like that mother duck, and the ducklings represent all that our life embodies: wife, mother, worker, artist, musician, hobbyist, whatever makes you uniquely YOU. You must learn to ‘bring along’ all these responsibilities and interests in a way that doesn’t compromise your family or your particular gifts and interests. Sure, there are seasons when you will do well to provide the basics then fall into bed from a job well done. But it won’t be long until you’re itching to paint, or plant, or create. The key is, ‘Chip, Chip, Chip Away!’ Five minutes here, a half hour there, but never at the expense of your cherished relationships. In this way, we can use our God-given talents and interests to enrich our home life, our families, and our communities.

  
  

   “Slow and steady wins the race” 

   “Lord, grant us patience. And please do it quickly! Amen.”

  • 11:47 am
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