SACRAMENTAL LIVING

"When we blame our circumstances or the life we happen to be experiencing, we are blaming God. When we look to excuse ourselves by shifting our responsibility onto others, we are denying the truth of our freedom." (Father Spyridon Baily) “How easy it is to excuse our sins by blaming someone else or circumstances. But God knows the truth, and he holds each of us responsible for what we do." (Life Application Study Bible, Genesis 3:11-13) “No one can plead the weakness of the f

“People who have the sort of mind that sees only one side to every question tend towards vigorous action. They succeed in everything they do because they do not stop to split hairs and have abounding confidence in their own abilities …On the other hand, those with subtle and cultivated minds tend to get lost in a maze of fine distinctions. They always see how complicated things really are, so that their powers of persuasion are nil. That is why the world is led by those who a

“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…When we can stay calm when someone attacks us from all sides, when we can keep our inner peace in spite of that person’s rudeness, then our soul will become meek and humble and we will live this life with a full understanding of it. And our

Michael does 1-2 blogs monthly for The Orthodox Christian Network that reach thousands worldwide. His series is titled "Understanding and Living our Faith." May 16 Blog, Understanding and Living Our Faith: The Blessing of Brokenness. “Our Lord Jesus Christ came to heal us of this brokenness…” (Metropolitan Philaret of New York)

"Fear is a life-giving, God-given gift, essential for survival. It is an evolved capacity in the human being, so science tells us. But like other God-given gifts and drives, which I inherently have as a human being, fear becomes harmful to me when it is divorced from God; when it is not “of God” and takes on a life of its own. Inherent, human fear in a life not God-focused is crippling, existential anxiety in the face of the many uncertainties and ambivalences that are part-a

“We need to have perseverance in our petitions before God.” (Orthodox Study Bible, John 2:3-5) “When bad thoughts surround us like a swarm of flies, we shouldn't become discouraged, but persevere in prayer and hold on.” (Elder Sergei of Vanves) “He that endureth to the end shall be saved (Matt. 10:22). Do we have anything to endure? In this no one is lacking. Everyone’s arena of endurance is vast, and therefore our salvation is at hand. Endure everything to the end and you wi