“…you may not know how to say it out loud: “I thought it would be easier.” And your God comes near: I will provide the way. You may not even know who to tell: “I thought it would be different.” And your God draws close: I will provide grace for the gaps. You may not even know how to find words for it: “I thought I would be…more.” And your God reaches out: I will provide Me.

God gives God. That is the gift God ultimately gives. Because nothing is greater and we have no greater need, God gives God. God gives God and we only need to slow long enough to unwrap the greatest Gift with our time: time in His Word, time in His presence, time at His feet…

Now I know. Now I know. Since You did not spare Your only Son, how will You not also graciously give us – even me – all things You know I need? (Romans 8:32)

Now I know. Now I know, because You have not withheld from me Your Son, Your only Son. Now I know how You love me…Jesus, the Gift, comes to give freely though His passion what every other god forces you to get through your performance.”

Ann Voskamp

“There are two paths that lead to God: the hard and debilitating path with fierce assaults against evil, and the easy path of love. There are many who chose the hard path and ‘shed blood in order to receive the Spirit’ until they attained great virtue. I find the shorter and safer route is the path of love.

That is, you can make a different kind of effort: to study and pray and have your aim to advance in the love of God and of the Church. Do not fight to expel darkness from the chamber of your soul. Open a tiny aperture for the light to enter, and the darkness will disappear. The same holds true for our passions and desires. Do not fight them, but transform them into strengths by showing disdain for evil.”

Do not choose negative methods to correct yourselves. There is no need to fear the devil, hell or anything else. These things provoke a negative reaction…The object is to live, to study, to pray and to advance in love…” Elder Porphyrios

Isaiah 9:6

Merry Christmas BFA family! Really praying for all of you to enjoy this wonderful time with family and friends. May our hearts be the manger for Our Lord Jesus Christ’s birth, and may we be the Bethlehem Star that gives hope of everlasting joy to all the hopeless and broken around us. Have a wonderful Christmas, love you all.

What does it mean to be fully alive?

This is the question we asked to many people from all different walks of life, all around the world.

Here were some of the responses:

to be happy

interacting with and meeting different people

traveling

living everyday empowered by God’s love and grace

being present

being content

photography

to know what it means to be fully dead

knowing God

eating delicious food

believing that God loves you

being challenged

knowing Jesus Christ

having faith

experiencing freedom

being loved

having a family

enjoying nature

being healthy

having joy

making a difference

How about you? What does it mean to be fully alive? Let us know in the comments below!

2 Corinthians 5:17