Image by Dimitris Vetsikas from Pixabay
If you can help a person, do so. If you are unable to help, then pray for them. If you do not know how to pray, then wish them well. It will help them, because positive thinking is a weapon also. ~ St. Nikolai Velimirovic
Image by sharkolot from Pixabay
Be like little bees that go about from flower to flower and gather only the nectar from which they can make honey. A bee flies from flower to flower – to many flowers. But bees don’t stay where there’s no nectar from which they can make honey – they flee. So, may you collect from everyone only what is good and beneficial to you. Let the rest just slip by, as though through raindrops. ~ Elder Paisios; A Little Corner of Paradise
Our Lord Jesus Christ deserves unending praise!
For all His known and unknown blessings…
For helping us to find and grind the good wheat…
For wisdom to avoid indigestible chaff.
While threshing and milling a myriad of useless thoughts and actions over stressful situations… Mercifully, and with God’s help (again), it recently occurred to me I’d reacquired an ugly old habit of hovering over stinky, nectarless, flowers. Phew!
Thank you for your prayers. They mean a lot to me!
Jesus, beautiful goodness, adorn me with flowers of good thoughts and feelings. ~ Ikos 6; Akathist for Holy Communion
Image by Вячеслав Саксин from Pixabay
The word courage comes from the Middle English and Old French words corage, and from the Latin word cor… All of which mean heart, and what is in one’s mind or true thoughts. Courage is an action within an action.
Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord. ~ Psalm 31:24
Let us hymn the Virgin Mary, the glory of the whole world, who sprang forth from men and gave birth unto the Master, the portal of heaven, and the subject of the hymnody of the incorporeal hosts; for she hath been shown to be heaven and the temple of the Godhead. Having destroyed the middle-wall of enmity, she hath brought forth peace and opened wide the kingdom. Therefore, having her as the confirmation of our faith, we have as champion the Lord born of her. Be of good courage! Yea, be ye of good cheer, O people of God, for He vanquisheth the foe, in that He is almighty! ~ Dogmatic Theotokion
Lord, all my desire is before thee; and my groaning is not hid from thee. ~ Psalm 38:9
Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. ~ Romans 8:26
Cave Monastery in Bulgaria – Image by falco from Pixabay
If we always see God in our minds, and always remember Him, everything will appear tolerable to us. ~ St. John Chrysostom
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ~ Philippians 4:6
In preparing for an upcoming parish fundraiser, some plans had changed. Feeling a bit apprehensive, I sent off revisions with (what I hoped to be) an encouraging response to the flurry of emails, and with a heavy sigh, signed off, “Love in Christ, m Barbara.”
Or – so I thought.
Actually, I’d signed off saying, “Live in Christ, m Barbara”.
A note to self. Yes! Live in Christ! Quit sighing!
Guardian Angel had gently reminded- Everything’s in God’s Hands – not mine.
And those pesky, anxious, tummy butterflies?
Vamoosed!
In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps. ~ Proverbs 16:9
Live in Christ!
m Barbara
Bleeding Hearts are surrounded by the comforting starry cosmos of Sweet Woodruff’s white flowers.
Greetings on:
The (movable) Feast of Mid–Pentecost!
The annual feast of the Wonderworking Icon of the Inexhaustible Cup (Chalice)!
The Icon’s Akathist to the Theotokos for help with the struggle of various addictions is here.
Congratulations to my dear friend Irena on her Saint’s Day!
In Christianity, the Bleeding Heart flower represents the suffering that Christ endured for our sins, and the Theotokos’ grief seeing her Son on the Cross.
Tiny white stars of Sweet Woodruff flowers are symbolic of hope and humility. This perennial ground cover spreads its cheer where other herbaceous plants may find it difficult to thrive. It bursts into burgeoning blooms come early spring, then quietly seems to diminish in the summer. Its fragrant fresh flowers (mildly reminiscent of vanilla) and leaves were used for everything from air fresheners to bed-straw stuffing. Its flowers flavoured wine and jellies, and were used for other medicinal purposes. (Of course, one should always check with a doctor before using any medical herb they’re not familiar with.) Last, but not least – marauding deer abhor sweet woodruff in gardens… and that alone makes it extra sweet to me!
That being said, and setting rascally deer aside…. the many blessings in our lives are unavoidably peppered with banes, but it’s the banes that make each new blessing a heartfelt consolation!
I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. ~ Romans 7:15. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do — this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. ~ Romans 7:19-20
Like St. Paul in his epistle to the Romans, we find ourselves in spiritual battles. We want to do what’s right, yet sometimes we do the very things we hate… even when knowing we’re wrong.
Granted, we can look back on the past – but don’t stare. Staring backwards can make one disheartened, overwhelmed and anxious. Everyone has a heartache, and we’re all dealing with struggles of some sort. Focus Forward!
Anxiety about ourselves means lack of faith; anxiety about our neighbour means pain. Feeling the intensity of other’s pain from within is accompanied by prayer and then comes the divine consolation. Therefore, you should pray as much as you can and then leave everything in the hands of God and calm yourself. Does God hurt His creatures less than you? Why worry? God gives a lot of comfort to anyone who is in spiritual pain and suffering for others because otherwise, one could not bear this burden… But from this pain comes true joy. ~ St. Paisios
Let the heavens rejoice; let earthly things be glad; for the Lord hath wrought might with His arm. He hath trampled down death by death; the first-born of the dead hath He become. From the belly of Hades hath He delivered us, and hath granted to the world great mercy. ~ Troparion of the Resurrection (Tone 3)
Image by Denis Doukhan Pixabay
Good morning! What a wonderful day the Lord has provided!
Scooting along the remainder of this Lenten Journey, I’m reminded that every Lent is uniquely different, with its own flavour of adventures and distractions.
So, I’m attempting to take a wee posting break until (God-Willing), Bright Week… and greet you now, in advance, on tomorrow’s most beautiful, shining Feast of the Annunciation!
Below, is a Ladybird’s-eye view of past Postings to take you to Pascha!
Lazarakia Buns Recipe for Lazarus Saturday
Natural Onion Skin Brick- Red Dye for Pascha Eggs
May your Lenten Journey continue in peace, and may you be filled to the brim with the blessings of Palm Sunday and Holy Week.
St. Matthew’s Passion Music composed by Metropolitan Hilarion Alfeyev, takes us through the services in Holy Week, as recorded through the Gospel of St. Matthew. Music and Scripture are poignantly entwined.
Great and Holy Tuesday
Hymn of St. Kassiani The Woman Who Had Fallen Into Many Sins
Great and Holy Friday
Do Not Lament Me O Mother One of my favourite hymns by St. Kassiani
I’m truly looking forward to greeting you again and “on the other side” of Great and Holy Pascha!
Let us open our arms and throw ourselves in Christ’s embrace. When Christ comes, we will have gained everything. Christ will alter everything within us. He will bring peace, joy, humility, love, prayer and the uplifting of our soul. The grace of Christ will renew us. ~ Elder Porphyrios, Wounded By Love
Here’s a short and edifying Youtube Orthodox Movie with a Trio of Good Proverbs (English Subtitles). My favourites are #2 and #3.
Thank you for visiting Blisswood!
Image by Matthias Grießhammer
The beautiful Lenten hymn below is from Psalm 141, and sung only at the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts.
By opening the noetic eyes and ears of our hearts during these special services, we are imbued with the timeless, heavenly beauty of the Presanctified Liturgy.
May your Lenten Journey be peaceful and fruitful.
Roses and beeswax candles beside icon of St. Gregory Palamas – from Second Sunday of Great Lent.
We know that prayer in and of itself cannot save us, but carrying it out before God can. For when the Lord’s eyes are upon us He sanctifies us, as the sun warms everything upon which it shines. ~ St. Gregory Palamas
May your Lenten Journey be peaceful and fruitful.
Image by congerdesign Pixabay
Greetings on Clean Friday!
The word alms in Old English was aelmysse. In Latin – eleemosyna.
Alms in Greek is eleemosune – meaning compassion; while eleemon and eleos, also used for alms – imply mercy.
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. ~ Matthew 5:7
A poor man when he reaches out to you does not beg, but offers you the Kingdom of God. ~ St. Arsenie Papacioc
He who gives alms in imitation of God does not discriminate between the wicked and the virtuous, the just and the unjust, when providing for men’s bodily needs. ~ St. Maximos the Confessor
Sins are purged by alms and acts of faith. ~ St. Clement of Alexandria
May your Lenten Journey be peaceful and fruitful.
Image by Mammiya – Pixabay
The crocus is also known as the penitent flower.
Happy Clean Monday!
During the week days of Great Lent… we say this beautiful and ancient prayer by St. Ephraim the Syrian (4th century).
