St. Theophan the Recluse was a nineteenth century Russian Orthodox bishop.
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Into Your Heart
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones. Proverbs 3:5-8
You've got to get out of your head and into your heart. Right now your thoughts are in your head, and God seems to be outside you. Your prayer and all your spiritual exercises also remain exterior. As long as you are in your head, you will never master your thoughts, which continue to whirl around your head like snow in a winter's storm or like mosquitoes in the summer's heat. If you descend into your heart, you will have no more difficulty. Your mind will empty out and your thoughts will dissipate. Thoughts are always in your mind chasing one another about, and you will never manage to get them under control. But if you enter into your heart and can remain there, then every time your thoughts invade, you will only have to descend into your heart and your thoughts will vanish into thin air. This will be your safe haven. Don't be lazy. Descend. You will find life in your heart. There you must live. --St. Theophan the Recluse
Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. Hebrews 10:19-23
You've got to get out of your head and into your heart. Right now your thoughts are in your head, and God seems to be outside you. Your prayer and all your spiritual exercises also remain exterior. As long as you are in your head, you will never master your thoughts, which continue to whirl around your head like snow in a winter's storm or like mosquitoes in the summer's heat. If you descend into your heart, you will have no more difficulty. Your mind will empty out and your thoughts will dissipate. Thoughts are always in your mind chasing one another about, and you will never manage to get them under control. But if you enter into your heart and can remain there, then every time your thoughts invade, you will only have to descend into your heart and your thoughts will vanish into thin air. This will be your safe haven. Don't be lazy. Descend. You will find life in your heart. There you must live. --St. Theophan the Recluse
Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. Hebrews 10:19-23
Monday, September 12, 2011
Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. And he said, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord." In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong. Job 1:20-22
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus,
This morning I drove down to Camp Lone Star in LaGrange, Texas from Dallas. As I was driving south, I skirted by some of the torched land that has suffered under the wrath of fire voraciously kindled by the extremely dry vegetation that covers most of Texas because of an unbelievably severe drought we are experiencing. As I am writing this I am also listening to a report being given to the Circuit Counselors Conference concerning all the fires around Texas (20 active at the moment) and the Bastrop fire specifically which has taken the homes of over 50 families connected to LC-MS congregations in some way including 3 pastors who lost their homes and a fourth who lost his garage. We earlier had an opening service in which we prayed for rain for Texas as has been done across the state for a long time and yet there is no possibility for substantial rain for the foreseeable future. Is God listening? Does He care? Questions always asked in the midst of disasters.
In the verse above, from the first chapter of Job, Satan had just finished his attack against the property and children of Job, all with the approval of Yahweh God, which resulted in financial devastation to Job but infinitely worse also resulted in the death of all his children. As word concerning the death of his children came to Job, after he was told of the destruction of all his wealth, Job responded, "The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord." With these words Job gives witness to just how much he trusts in the Lord, just how strong his faith is and how actively personal his faith and relationship with God has become. Then comes a commentary about Job: In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong. Even though Job lost everything, including his children, which, by the way, were considered one of the greatest assets of a man back in Job's day, he did not do or say anything that was in any way accusatory of God even though, as we find out later in the book of Job, he understood that none of this happened without God's approval.
We all, at some point of time or another, have had life experiences that have been tremendously taxing on us. How have we responded to the situation? Have we just flat-out blamed God? Have we at the very least questioned God's motives or lack thereof? Or have we been able to rely on the divinely gracious gift of faith, trusting completely in God and His will and purpose in all situations, and then echoed Job's words and blessed the Lord in the midst of the tragedy? As stories are coming out of the fires, especially the Bastrop fire, I am being blessed to hear of and see the faith of Job in many who have lost much in these fires. Praise be to God!
As an aside, at both of the worship services at Tree of Life yesterday, I announced to the congregation that we would be taking a free-will door offering for the LC-MS families that have lost their homes in the fires. Being challenged by this call for help literally at the last minute, God's people faithfully responded with over $800 of donations. As this amount was conveyed to me, I was tremendously moved by the loving response of God's people to others in need. Praise be to God!
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God...
There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from Him: whoever loves God must also love his brother. 1John 4:1, 18-21
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus,
This morning I drove down to Camp Lone Star in LaGrange, Texas from Dallas. As I was driving south, I skirted by some of the torched land that has suffered under the wrath of fire voraciously kindled by the extremely dry vegetation that covers most of Texas because of an unbelievably severe drought we are experiencing. As I am writing this I am also listening to a report being given to the Circuit Counselors Conference concerning all the fires around Texas (20 active at the moment) and the Bastrop fire specifically which has taken the homes of over 50 families connected to LC-MS congregations in some way including 3 pastors who lost their homes and a fourth who lost his garage. We earlier had an opening service in which we prayed for rain for Texas as has been done across the state for a long time and yet there is no possibility for substantial rain for the foreseeable future. Is God listening? Does He care? Questions always asked in the midst of disasters.
In the verse above, from the first chapter of Job, Satan had just finished his attack against the property and children of Job, all with the approval of Yahweh God, which resulted in financial devastation to Job but infinitely worse also resulted in the death of all his children. As word concerning the death of his children came to Job, after he was told of the destruction of all his wealth, Job responded, "The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord." With these words Job gives witness to just how much he trusts in the Lord, just how strong his faith is and how actively personal his faith and relationship with God has become. Then comes a commentary about Job: In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong. Even though Job lost everything, including his children, which, by the way, were considered one of the greatest assets of a man back in Job's day, he did not do or say anything that was in any way accusatory of God even though, as we find out later in the book of Job, he understood that none of this happened without God's approval.
We all, at some point of time or another, have had life experiences that have been tremendously taxing on us. How have we responded to the situation? Have we just flat-out blamed God? Have we at the very least questioned God's motives or lack thereof? Or have we been able to rely on the divinely gracious gift of faith, trusting completely in God and His will and purpose in all situations, and then echoed Job's words and blessed the Lord in the midst of the tragedy? As stories are coming out of the fires, especially the Bastrop fire, I am being blessed to hear of and see the faith of Job in many who have lost much in these fires. Praise be to God!
As an aside, at both of the worship services at Tree of Life yesterday, I announced to the congregation that we would be taking a free-will door offering for the LC-MS families that have lost their homes in the fires. Being challenged by this call for help literally at the last minute, God's people faithfully responded with over $800 of donations. As this amount was conveyed to me, I was tremendously moved by the loving response of God's people to others in need. Praise be to God!
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God...
There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from Him: whoever loves God must also love his brother. 1John 4:1, 18-21
Monday, September 5, 2011
The "Ruach Yahweh"
Early this morning I sat out on my backyard deck with a cup of coffee and the morning devotions, thanking God for the beauty and abundance of His creation, given to His people as a gift as gracious as salvation itself through His Son Jesus Christ. When I finished the first devotion I glanced at the surrounding trees and reveled in the refreshing breeze that was blowing through the leaves. Every time I feel a breeze I am reminded of the Holy Spirit as the Hebrew word for wind is ruach which is also translated into English as breath or spirit. Therefore, whenever the wind blows, I am reminded of the very breath of life that was breathed into the crown of creation by the Father and His Spirit which comes and goes according to His will, without any need of our consent or approval as well as where we go in life, according to the will of the Father.
John 3:8
The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit. (ESV)(NASB)
The wind blows wherever it pleases; you hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. That is how it is with all who are born of the Spirit. (Jerusalem Bible)
As we travel through this life, one of the things that we Christians desire more than anything is seemingly one of the most difficult things to accomplish; to hear, recognize and follow the voice and direction of the Lord.
When the prophet Elijah had had enough of Queen Jezebel's threats, he fled to the mountains south of Israel and asked the Lord to take him out of the world. He claimed he had been faithful, even jealous for the Lord and all it had achieved was what he thought was the death of all believers accept him and he did not want to be the only one left. In addition, he had no clue as to what purpose his life would serve at that point anyway. He wanted to hear God's voice.
I Kings 19:9-13
There he came to a cave and lodged in it. And behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" He said, "I have been very jealous for the LORD, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away." And he said, "Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord." And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper. And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" (ESV)
And after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of a gentle blowing. (vs. 12 NASB)
After the earthquake came a fire. But Yahweh was not in the fire. And after the fire there came the sound of a gentle breeze. (vs. 12 Jerusalem Bible)
[Just as an aside, everywhere you find LORD in the ESV and NASB the original Hebrew has the tetragrammaton YHWH which is the name of God, pronounced Yahweh. Ancient Jewish tradition forbade the utterance of the sacred name of God therefore whenever the Scripture had YHWH the word adonai was spoken which in English is "LORD" often printed in all capital letters to signify being in the place of YHWH.]
The Greek translation of the Old Testament, the Septuagint, also has "a gentle breeze" for that in which Elijah hears the voice of Yahweh. He did not hear Yahweh boom in the great wind, earthquake or fire. When all quieted to silence, Elijah heard Yahweh speak in the "sound of a gentle breeze" or "sound of a low whisper."
Every time I am out by myself in the early morning sunrise, when the breeze is blowing, I am reminded of this story about Elijah and of the account in the third chapter of the Gospel of John, where God encourages us to silence our lives and our spirits so we may hear, recognize and follow His voice. This place of silence is found in the eye of our heart, in the nous, where God dwells in His people and speaks gently and lovingly to us.
Almighty God, in this hour of quiet I seek communion with Thee. From the fret and fever of the day's business, from the world's discordant noises, from the praise and blame of men, from the confused thoughts and vain imaginations of my own heart, I would now turn aside and seek the quietness of Thy presence. All day long have I toiled and striven; but now, in stillness of heart and in the clear light of Thine eternity, I would ponder the pattern my life has been weaving.
May there fall upon me now, O God, a great sense of Thy power and Thy glory, so that I may see all earthly things in their true measure.
Let me not be ignorant of this great thing, that one day is with Thee as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day.
Give me now such understanding of Thy perfect holiness as will make an end of all pride in my own attainment.
Grant unto me now such a vision of Thine uncreated beauty as will make me dissatisfied with all lesser beauties.
Though earth and man were gone,
And suns and universes cease to be,
And Thou wert left alone,
Every existence would exist in Thee.
I am content, O Father, to leave my life in Thy hands, believing that the very hairs upon my head are numbered by Thee. I am content to give over my will to Thy control, believing that i can find in Thee a righteousness that I could never have won for myself. I am content to leave all my dear ones to Thy care, believing that Thy love for them is greater than my own. I am content to leave in Thy hands the causes of truth and of justice, and the coming of Thy Kingdom in the hearts of men, believing that my ardour for them is but a feeble shadow of Thy purpose. To Thee, O God, be glory forever and ever. Amen.
(a prayer for the fifth day of the month from "A Diary of Private Prayer" by John Baille)
In the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
John 3:8
The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit. (ESV)(NASB)
The wind blows wherever it pleases; you hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. That is how it is with all who are born of the Spirit. (Jerusalem Bible)
As we travel through this life, one of the things that we Christians desire more than anything is seemingly one of the most difficult things to accomplish; to hear, recognize and follow the voice and direction of the Lord.
When the prophet Elijah had had enough of Queen Jezebel's threats, he fled to the mountains south of Israel and asked the Lord to take him out of the world. He claimed he had been faithful, even jealous for the Lord and all it had achieved was what he thought was the death of all believers accept him and he did not want to be the only one left. In addition, he had no clue as to what purpose his life would serve at that point anyway. He wanted to hear God's voice.
I Kings 19:9-13
There he came to a cave and lodged in it. And behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" He said, "I have been very jealous for the LORD, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away." And he said, "Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord." And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper. And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" (ESV)
And after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of a gentle blowing. (vs. 12 NASB)
After the earthquake came a fire. But Yahweh was not in the fire. And after the fire there came the sound of a gentle breeze. (vs. 12 Jerusalem Bible)
[Just as an aside, everywhere you find LORD in the ESV and NASB the original Hebrew has the tetragrammaton YHWH which is the name of God, pronounced Yahweh. Ancient Jewish tradition forbade the utterance of the sacred name of God therefore whenever the Scripture had YHWH the word adonai was spoken which in English is "LORD" often printed in all capital letters to signify being in the place of YHWH.]
The Greek translation of the Old Testament, the Septuagint, also has "a gentle breeze" for that in which Elijah hears the voice of Yahweh. He did not hear Yahweh boom in the great wind, earthquake or fire. When all quieted to silence, Elijah heard Yahweh speak in the "sound of a gentle breeze" or "sound of a low whisper."
Every time I am out by myself in the early morning sunrise, when the breeze is blowing, I am reminded of this story about Elijah and of the account in the third chapter of the Gospel of John, where God encourages us to silence our lives and our spirits so we may hear, recognize and follow His voice. This place of silence is found in the eye of our heart, in the nous, where God dwells in His people and speaks gently and lovingly to us.
Almighty God, in this hour of quiet I seek communion with Thee. From the fret and fever of the day's business, from the world's discordant noises, from the praise and blame of men, from the confused thoughts and vain imaginations of my own heart, I would now turn aside and seek the quietness of Thy presence. All day long have I toiled and striven; but now, in stillness of heart and in the clear light of Thine eternity, I would ponder the pattern my life has been weaving.
May there fall upon me now, O God, a great sense of Thy power and Thy glory, so that I may see all earthly things in their true measure.
Let me not be ignorant of this great thing, that one day is with Thee as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day.
Give me now such understanding of Thy perfect holiness as will make an end of all pride in my own attainment.
Grant unto me now such a vision of Thine uncreated beauty as will make me dissatisfied with all lesser beauties.
Though earth and man were gone,
And suns and universes cease to be,
And Thou wert left alone,
Every existence would exist in Thee.
I am content, O Father, to leave my life in Thy hands, believing that the very hairs upon my head are numbered by Thee. I am content to give over my will to Thy control, believing that i can find in Thee a righteousness that I could never have won for myself. I am content to leave all my dear ones to Thy care, believing that Thy love for them is greater than my own. I am content to leave in Thy hands the causes of truth and of justice, and the coming of Thy Kingdom in the hearts of men, believing that my ardour for them is but a feeble shadow of Thy purpose. To Thee, O God, be glory forever and ever. Amen.
(a prayer for the fifth day of the month from "A Diary of Private Prayer" by John Baille)
In the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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