God grant you all a blessed christmas

[Charalambos Andrew Geo]

For those on the new calender God Give you all a blessed Christmas on those on the old calender, I pray that God blesses the time of preperation for you all,
With love in Christ
Charalambos

[helen]

http://www.monachos.net/mb/clipart/happy.gif..And a blessed Christmas to you Charalambos ...
This is my second attempt to write something.....
And again I dont know what to say!
Not because I dont have anything to say, but ...I'm sorry , im saying too much and I dont understand it myself!
And after all that, Im searching the internet looking for some words on Christmas...
I must sound like a nut, but I'm not!
Though nuts are good for you!
Why do people call people "your nuts"?
Oh well!
Sorry about my talking much with nothing to say...
Merry Christmas to all !

I found a nice web site that tells us about the nativity...
THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST

"Christ is born, glorify him!
Christ came from heaven,
welcome Him!
Christ is on earth, exalt!
Sing to the Lord all the earth,
Joyfully praise Him all you nations,
For He has become glorious!"

from here...
http://www.byzantines.net/feasts/christmas/nativity.htm

In Christ
helen...

[Melissa]

Dear Helen,
It sounds to me like you have a lot of feeling about your faith, and also many thoughts. I wonder if you're struggling to find words for all you think and feel, like I often struggle? Orthodoxy presents us with confrontations to our thinking that can't be ignored, and with confrontations to our tendency (mine, at least) to avoid knowledge of my continual sinfulness. When I can't avoid it any longer, the OTHER knowledge Orthodoxy confronts us with - the continual love of Christ for all repentant sinners - brings me often to tears, and almost always to difficulty expressing myself. I'm a 3-yr. convert, so I don't know if any of this applies to you, or to cradle Orthodox.
I've enjoyed your posts, and have felt you have many things to say.
Melissa

[helen]

Thank you for your kind words Melissa!
http://www.monachos.net/mb/clipart/happy.gif
I have not taken to writing much in ;Monachos' although I do enjoy reading manyother people and what they have to say.

I can honestly say we cannot try to please everyone .....and it use to be my concern, although still many times I try to please but end up hurting because people sometimes cannot see that your trying to please them,although I at times have responded to people with negative words, more out of being hurt then being hateful.
I guess all one can do is to be a good person and try to do the right thing .....and whatever the outcome, we should be thankful to the Lord!
Many times it does not work out all good,but if we ourselves have done things in good intentions and not to gain praise, then we should be humble and thank the Lord for all that comes our way.
I'm sorry for going on a bit too much......sometimes I tend to do that, and words come out different to what we intend them to.
Melissa, I am Greek Orthodox...babtised from a baby from Greek parents.
We were never brought up in a strict religious home..although my father was pretty strict about going out and who our friends were....We did attend church on sundays, and receive communion, but I did not understand or question Orthodoxy.I just beleived because I guess that is how I was brought up.
I truly beleive that coming home (to the true Ancient Orthodox church)for a convert(coming home is a better word...I remember reading it somewhere that coming home is better then a 'convert' to Orthodoxy)brings their faith closer to God then someone who is babtised from young because the words of the Lord come to mind...
quote// the "last" became "first", and the "first" "last",
and,
perhaps,
were even completely deprived of participation in the Kingdom of Heaven.
For, Christ added, many be called, but few chosen (Matthew 20:1*16).
So whether we are chosen from our parents to become Orthodox or we find our home later, we truly need to humble ourselves before God and repent of our sins everyday, asking for forgiveness and truly become what many will find ''silly'' or 'wierd' because we are not like the rest of ''modern day people'' .....many times including myself, I look at what and how I seem to people and try to imitate them because I want to fit in, but in this life we dont know when our time will be up and if we think of the little pleasures that will only last for a moment it does not compare to the true happiness we will feel if we truly do things for God and imitate the Fathers and Saints of True Orthodoxy ..It is hard to be in this world, and especially when we are surrounded by many that make us feel that we are some type of 'alien'(Not the demons,as I know them,and many know of them in U.F.O'S ..iLL talk about that another time)
But YES, it is especially very difficult times and we are being tested for our faith every second,minute, of our lives, so we should be thankinfg God for this because when we are tempted, we know that God loves us and wants us to call out to him ......If we fall, then we simply get up and we continue to do this all our lives because then we know that God has not forgotton us but loves us and wants us to be aware of the times we live in..
I'm sorry for going on a bit too much, and this being not the place to write about it.
In Christ
helen..

I also write in another forum web site..It is called Abovetop secret ..I write in the discussions forum in the religious section....but have found myself coming back here to 'Monachos' to read the lovely comments and thoughts of all here...
All take care..

[Charalambos Andrew Geo]

Helen, sorry for being rude and not replying, thank you for your response, i had a nice one thanks, kind of special when i did the good things and when i did not it was another day, my new years was the best one this year, me and a friend of mine spent it praying and at the last 30 seconds went down to count and say happy new year, put some chants on, it was quite special being with his family and praying, did not want to leave because i know what i am like,
now i have to TRY to study, if anyone has kids that get distracted they will understand in some way, keep me in your prayers that i may concentrate on my studies, i hope your Christmas time was blessed,
With love in Christ
Charalambos