Be Transfigured Ministries

Free Will to Choose God

At no time is it more difficult to understand God’s gift of free will for humans than during a tragedy. The recent shooting massacre at a Connecticut elementary school challenges each of us to come to terms with His gift of free will for each person, not only those who “follow His rules” and behave as we would expect. God never forces anyone to choose to accept His invitation for a better life, and we shouldn’t try. God has invited each of us to join Him in a heavenly banquet, but if we continue to make excuses, He won’t force us; He will merely allow us to reject His invitation and He will move on to invite others who choose to join Him.

DELIVERANCE

You may be suffering with a physical or emotional pain, but hope in the Lord’s deliverance you can endure. The Gospel and the history of the Church brings many examples of faithful men and women with deep faith and patience and devotion to God, and they were all delivered from their suffering. You can also be delivered from suffering with patience and faith in God. Don’t give up hope. Deliverance is giving by all those who seek the Lord.

Life is Full of Choices; Choose Christ!

Do you feel like you have lost control of the choices in your life? Are you in a dark period of your life? Many of us are blind to Jesus Christ and His life free from darkness until we call out to Him for mercy. Many will attempt to stop us from calling to Him, but it is our choice whether or not we sit quietly or call to Him even louder, “Lord, Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Don’t allow the crowd to make your choices for you any longer. Choose Christ today, and live a life of blessing and light.

The Fiscal Cliff is Nothing to Fear

NO MORE TWINKIES! That was this week’s top selling “bad news” among business closings and economic downsizing. The coming “Fiscal Cliff” seems to be all consuming these days and most Americans watch the daily news with fear and anxiety for an unknown economic future. But as Christians we do not need to fear the economic future, cliff or no cliff. So long as we keep our hearts focused upon Jesus Christ, we will safely pass over the fiscal cliff and enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

A Good Teacher Requires a Dedicated Student

A teacher is only as good as the student is willing to learn. Not student can learn without a dedicated relationship with a good teacher. Jesus often plays the role as our Good Teacher offering us guidance for our journey to heaven. Our role is to be dedicated students willing to put into action the knowledge that God brings to us. What does the Teacher offer? “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” Jesus then commands “Go and do likewise.”

Which Side are You On?

Throughout life we are faced with a deep chasm in our heart between the pleasures of life and a life dedicated to God. The story of the Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16.19-31) expresses what will happen if we spend too much time digging a canyon so deep we refuse to cross over to be with God. Fortunately for us, God has given us a chance to wash clear the chasm in our heart and cross to the other side in time to spend eternity blessed by God rather than remaining in torment. The choice is ours to make, but it must be now…before we die.

God Will Always Have Time for You

In our society, it has become expected that we give our attention only to those from whom we hope to benefit or from those who can offer us certain privilege. In the Gospel story of Jairus’ daughter (Luke 8.41-56) we see the example of love and patience in Christ. While making His way to Jairus’ home to visit a dying young girl, Christ stops and blesses and heals an unknown woman not because she was important or influential, but because she was a human being in need. While Jairus waits patiently, his daughter dies. Rather than lose hope, Jesus says, “Do not be afraid. Only believe.” Jairus’ daughter is brought back to life and both girls are blessed by God. We must never think that we are not worthy of God’s time and blessings nor that we deserve His time above the needs of others. We must have faith and patience and allow God’s wisdom to prevail.

Love is Golden

When the Lord offers us His Golden Rule, we are called to a higher standard of love. Christian love asks for nothing in return and is vulnerable. Christian love is honest and takes risk. Christian love is golden.

What Are Your Priorities?

In the Gospel of Luke 5.1-11, we hear of three professional fishermen who, when Jesus calls them, immediately turn and give every bit of their attention to following Him. They could accomplish this in part because they had established their priority to find and follow the Messiah. What are your priorities? You might just find that following your priorities works best when Jesus is your priority. And if He isn’t, maybe now is just the time to refocus your priorities upon finding and following Christ.

You’ve Been Invited!

When Jesus Christ invites you to take up your Cross and follow Him, He invites you as a friend. You’ve been invited to join Christ on His walk toward the Cross and to join your life with His in Heaven. You’ve invited to come and know Him better so that when you offer your life to Him it isn’t a burden but an act of love. Many men and women over the centuries have joined Christ and become closer to Him through the Orthodox Church and her way of life. It is a way of life centered upon living in communion with God and joining Him that has been tried and test by the blood of martyrs. It is a way of life open to all believers in Jesus Christ and you’ve been invited!