...الرب راعي فلا يعوزني شيء

 

The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe... Though the LORD is high, He regards the lowly, but the proud He knows from afar... (Proverbs 18:10; Psalm 138:6)

 

اَلنَّفْسُ الشَّبْعَانَةُ تَدُوسُ الْعَسَلَ، وَلِلنَّفْسِ الْجَائِعَةِ كُلُّ مُرّ حُلْوٌ --- A satisfied soul loathes the honeycomb, but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet...

 

If you do not know where I am o fairest among the women, then follow in the steps of the flock and tend your young goats at the Shepherd's tents... (Song of Solomon 1:8)

 

Blessed is the man who has made the LORD his trust, who has not turned to the proud, nor to those who lapse into falsehood... (Psalm 125:2)

 

Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds His people from this time forth and forever... (Psalm 125:1-2)

 

For many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, in your name we cast out demons and in your name we performed many miracles?’ But then I will declare to them, "I never knew you, depart from Me you who practice lawlessness..." (Matthew 7:22-23)

 

طوبا للرجل المتوكل عليه.... Blessed is the man who trusts in Him... (Jeremiah 17:7)

 

Do not fear those who kill the body but but afterwards can do no more. But fear Him who has the authority to destroy both soul and body in never quenching fire... (Luke 12:4-5)

 

طوبى لكم إذا عيَّروكم وطردوكم، وقالوا عليكم كل كلمة شريرة من أجلي كاذبين. افرحوا وتهللوا، لأن أجركم عظيم في السماوات

 

The Son of Man will go just as it is written about Him, but woe to that man by whom He goes. It would have been better for him if he had not been born... (Matthew 26:24)

 

A VALUABLE LESSON... It was said that a young man once asked the elder of a monastery about how to live as a true Christian. So the elder said to him, "Son, I want you to rise up before sunrise tomorrow morning and visit the nearby graveyard. Once you're there, I want you to say the most flattering words to all those who are there and tell me what they reply to you..." So the man indeed rose up very early in the morning and visited the nearby graveyard. Once he was there, he flattered those around him with the most eloquent descriptions. He did this until sunset. To his shocking surprise however, no one replied anything back to him. So he went back in disappointment to the elder and said, "Father, I did everything you asked me to do but no one said anything back to me..." The elder said, "Don't worry son, go again tomorrow morning. This time I want you to say the most degrading statements and see what they reply to you..." So the young man indeed, took himself early in the morning before sunrise and went to the graveyard. He insulted those around him with the most offensive statements. He did this until sunset. To his utter disappointment however, no one replied anything back to him. So he went back to the elder and said, "Father, I did everything you asked me to do but again no one said anything back to me. So what's the point of all that I did?" The elder replied, "Son, you asked me what it was like to live as a true Christian and I was showing you this. You have to be like those who are dead. Meaning, you are not flattered when others praise you, nor are you petrified by their down-statements..."

Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name! From the rising of the sun to its setting, let the name of the Lord be praised... (Psalm 103:1; Psalm 113:3)

 

..and if the blind leads the blind will they not both fall into the ditch.. (Luke 6:39)

 

Divine Liturgy | 19.12.2021

من لي في السماء سواك ومعك لا اريد شيئا علي الارض

 

طُوبَى لِلرَّجُلِ الْمُتَوَكِّلِ عَلَيْهِ....

 

But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: “A dog returns to his own vomit,” and, “a pig, after being washed, returns to the mud...” (2 Peter 2:22)

 

Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every house divided against itself will not stand... When an unclean spirit leaves a person, it passes through arid places seeking rest but finds none. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house from which I came.’ And when it returns, it finds it empty, swept, and put in order. Then the spirit goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they enter and dwell in that person; such that the last state of that man is worse than his beginning... .” (Matthew 12:25; Matthew 12:43-45)

 

“A time is coming when men will go mad, and when they see someone who is not mad, they will attack him, saying, 'You are mad; you are not like us!” (Abba Anthony the Great)

 

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not be in want.... (Psalm 23:1)

 

10.12.2021 Revelation 3:7-13 |

Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are a few who find it... (Matthew 7:13-14)