Part 2 of women be women, men be men

As I thought more about what I wrote last time, I realized that a lot of what I wrote comes from several books I've read on "dating" and courtship. Some of these ideas I feel very strongly about.

Guys, take the first step! We, as girls, tend to fill in the gaps whenever we hear silence and sometimes it is so nice to lean back and let the guy do the leading part. Unfotunately, in this country with the feminist movement, women are discouraged to follow her man. It is sad for me to see women lead independent lives and making all decisions by themselves.

Women, listen and obey. I've read in one of the Ludy's books a lesson on obedience. I think the perfect example of that would be relating to our fathers. Are we obedient towards them? Do we listen when they have something to say? Can you imagine somebody who works hard all day to provide for the family, and coming home they only thing that they want is a bit of attention, affection and love. I believe there is a deep discontent with today's parents, especially evident in high school age. (For that specific reason I think homeschooling is waaaay better). How many times have I brushed off one of my relatives, who had something amazing to say? How many life lessons have I missed in those instances? I'm afraid to count :-(


Today is one of the 12 feasts in the Orthodox Church: the entry of our Most Holy Theotokos into the Temple. Considering that I wasn't raised in a home, where we celebrated and followed the Church closely, everything concerning Orthodoxy is still new to me. But I want to learn, there is so much. Thanks to my good friends, I've read much regarding today's feast.

more on that to follow....

men be men, women be women

It was interesting when we heard a talk at last week's conference about being married, and one of the talks included the part where the priest has asked all the Orthodox Men to listen up. Well, they should have had a similar talk with women. What does an Orthodox man want in a woman?

I've had some time to think about it, and here's a list that I came up with.

Ladies, I think dressing accordingly is one most important thing, especially at big social functions (such as weddings, balls, dances, birthdays...). Men, notice that a young woman is dressed more modestly from other girls, and comment on it. You will truly impress her, and make her realize how important it is to dress modestly.

Ladies, spend some time in prayer every day. Pray for your future husband, so he may lead a holy life, glirifying Him. I think this is one of the most important things to follow. I think we are easily destracted and always have someone to talk or do something completely unproductive.

Ladies, learn how to cook and your man will appreciate it. It doesn't just come naturally, because your mom is an amazing cook, it's a skill to learn.

Ladies, learn how to do simple finances. I believe it will help you later (just by loooking at my mom right now).

that's it for now, I'll post some more later.

Last weekend... I haven't updated for a while

This last week has been very interesting. I went home on Tuesday and spent Thanksgiving with my brother and my dad, cooked the whole dinner and left them with a loft of left overs. Hopefully, they are still eating them.
But most significantly, I went to the youth conference in Goshen, IN.

That was amazing!!! God has worked in every single way, even ways I never expected. I went into it praying that God will open my heart for a possibility of marriage. And he did. All the talks that we've heard, every single minute was significant. From Father John talking to Vladika Petr, everything that I heard has strengthened my faith. I found out things about Orthodoxy that I didn't know that didn't necessarily pertain to marriage. Wish people I've met, What a blessing!

The most amazing moment of the weekend (well, there were two).
At Vespers on Saturday night (the service was longer than usual) I sang in the choir, and right after going to confessions I went back to sing, and there was this one moment when I got choked up. I was overwhelmed with joy that the Lord has for me, that he picked me up when I was lost, that He gathered me here to worship, that He directed me when I was struggling with my faith, collected my pieces and showed me the path for salvation and life ever lasting. Just for those moments, I'm ready to pray every day. And although every day prayer doesn't always feel the same way, the moments like these is worth living for.

The second moment was during the Liturgy. I also sang in the choir (alto part by the way). And when we started singing the Simvol Veri, and the Altar Men came out and joined us plus the whole congregation, I got choked up again (twice in 2 days) The singing is so powerful, the praise is so powerful. I felt strong, not strong in my own way, but strong in Him, like nothing can take me down. God was present among us. He was leading us. Indescribable! I pray fervently that everyone around me will experience that moment. It's these moments for which it's worth suffering in our lives!


All the young people were wonderful! I was full with joy to see other Orthodox young men and women to have that much passion for the Lord. Leading radical lives is hard, but so worth it!

I'll close with part of the speech from Father John. He quoted from 1 Corinthians 13 4-8.

Charity suffereth long, [and] is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth: but whether [there be] prophecies, they shall fail; whether [there be] tongues, they shall cease; whether [there be] knowledge, it shall vanish away."Fr. John said that St Paul wasn't romantic that his definition of love is of hard work and dedication, long suffering and love. Only then, you and your spouse will achieve salvation together. How wonderful it is!!!

God Bless,
Darina

But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.

1 Peter 3:15

My question is, after reading this passage from my facebook page, am I ready to give an account of my hope in Him. What if someone asked me tomorrow? What about you?

He is always there, ever faithful

It's true... You'll be surprised to know that everytime I think it's not going to work, I don't put trust in my Heavenly Father. I'm actually turning away from Him and not trusting Him. I still have to know that it might not work out, and I'm open to everything that He has for me.
I'm amazed to see how He has worked in my parents. I'm praying even more for my brother. He needs His guidance even now. High School is a hard time, I never ended up liking it. I wish he had an easier time with it.
Being a man puts a lot more responsibility in him even during his teenage years. He will have to provide for his family one day. He'll be a grown up very soon.
I'm also praying for my dad and his parenting techniques, just because they don't see to work as of right now.

I'm blessed to have a family like mine and friends who love me (and who invite me to go on adventures with them).


Many blessings upon you,
Darina

While I'm working.

BRETHREN, let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you stand firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear omen to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God. For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, engaged in the same conflict which you saw and now hear to be mine. So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any incentive of love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfishness or conceit, but in humility count others better than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests but also to the interests of others.



The words that stood out to me are hightlighted. What a simple, ey powerful message from St. Paul. One thing that got me thinking is "suffering for his sake". Last SUnday at church we had a passage where it said to "take up His cross" (I think it's from John). Suffering ispart of our lives. Instead of always complaining about it, isn't it better to think of it as suffering for His sake? Now, there is a clearly defined purpose. It is no longer, why God did this to me? It is, I can suffer a 1/millionth part of the suffering that Jesus Christ had to go through for us.



What about "count others better than yourselves". How many times have we praised someone for their ability to do something? How many times have we encountered a person who does a particular job better than you and have not praised him or her for it?

My desire is to see everyone to walk in the light of Christ. Let's start by doing little thing...

Many blessings,
Darina

you know the part where it seems you can't do it.... well

if you have the Lord in your life, He will lift you up. Imagine if you didn't!

when everything gets to be dark

when everything gets to be dark and there is no way out, there is actually.

From Eph. 6
"Honor your father and mother" (this is the first commandment with a promise), "that it may be well with you and that you may live long on the earth."

Honor, what is honor and how do we do it? Do you obey completely, or not? How do we say that we love them, but still make our decisions based on our interests. How do we listen and obey?

you know that feeling...

During the prayer meeting today, and throughout the day I felt so blessed. Blessed by the people around me, this wonderful country, everything. It hit me like a stone on a Diag.

This passage can explain my feelings better than I ever could.
It's from Paul Letter to Ephesians 3:8-21

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according
to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with might
through his Spirit in the inner man, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts
through faith, that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have power to
comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and
depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may
be filled with the fullness of God. Now to him who by the power at work within
us is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, to him be
glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, for ever and ever.
Amen.

the song that we learned today was magnificent. "Every heart cries Holy, Every knee should bow" before Him. It sends chills down your spine. indescribable.

Blessings,
Darina

at the time of distress

EPISTLE READING

The Reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Ephesians 2:19-22;3:1-7

BRETHREN, you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow
citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built upon the
foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the
cornerstone, in whom the whole structure is joined together and grows into a
holy temple in the Lord in whom you also are built into it for a dwelling place
of God in the Spirit. For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus on
behalf of you Gentiles-assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God's
grace that was given to me for you, how the mystery was made known to me by
revelation, as I have written briefly. When you read this you can perceive my
insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to the sons of men
in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and
prophets by the Spirit; that is, how the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of
the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God's grace which
was given me by the working of his power.

even in the times of distress, He will comfort me with His open arms.

EPISTLE READING The Reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 3:1-4
HOLY BRETHREN, who share in a heavenly call, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession. He was faithful to him who appointed him, just as Moses also was faithful in God's house. Yet Jesus has been counted worthy of as much more glory than Moses as the builder of a house has more honor than the house. (For every house is built by some one, but the builder of all things is God.)

He has been amazing to me so far. Every house that He has ever built for me was absolutely wonderful. And yes, I do struggle, but all of that is necessary, I think.

the very promising start

I think with Christ's mercy and love this is going to be an amazing year.

The Reading is from St. Paul's First Letter to Timothy 2:1-7

TIMOTHY, my son, first of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers,
intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all men, for kings and all who are
in high positions, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life, godly and
respectful in every way. This is good, and it is acceptable in the sight of God
our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the
truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the
man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, the testimony to which
was borne at the proper time. For this I was appointed a preacher and apostle
(I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith
and truth.


The first sentence of this passage is used directly in the Liturgy. I find this to be a proof that the Divine Liturgy is the way we, the Orthodox, pray. The way that me ask our Lord to have mercy on us.

Why I started this

I would like to start this blog in order to keep up with the daily readings of my church. Here I will post the readings themselves (www.goarch.org) and my personal thoughts about them. I hope it will inspire you too keep one yourself. God Bless!