“If the words of God are uttered merely as verbal expressions, and their message is not rooted in the virtuous way of life of those who utter them, they will not be heard. But if they are uttered through the practice of the commandments, their sound has such power that they dissolve the demons and dispose men eagerly to build their hearts into temples of God through making progress in works of righteousness.” IfsMenWayHeartChristianSoundPracticeProgressHeardExpressionMessagesDemonTemplesOrthodoxRighteousnessWord Of GodRootedVirtuousCommandmentsOrthodox Christian Author:Maximus the Confessor
“He who has realized love for God in his heart is tireless in his pursuit of the Lord his God, and bears every hardship, reproach and insult nobly, never thinking the least evil of anyone.” ThinkingHeartChristianEvilLordBearsPursuitGod LoveInsultOrthodoxHardshipOrthodox ChristianReproachInsulted Author:Maximus the Confessor
“A pure heart is perhaps one which has no natural propulsion towards anything in any manner whatsoever. When in its extreme simplicity such a heart has become like a writing-tablet beautifully smoothed and polished, God comes to dwell in it and writes there His own laws.” WritingHeartChristianLawNaturalPureSimplicityExtremesOrthodoxOrthodox ChristianPolishedTabletsPure HeartPropulsion Author:Maximus the Confessor
“Those who seek the Lord should not look for Him outside themselves; on the contrary, they must seek Him within themselves through faith made manifest in action. For He is near you: 'The word is... in your mouth and in your heart, that is, the word of faith' (Rom. 10:8) - Christ being Himself the word that is sought.” ShouldLooksHeartMadeActionChristianChristLordMouthsContraryOrthodoxManifestOrthodox Christian Author:Maximus the Confessor
“Let others mock at you, oppose you, when you are under the influence of any passion; do not be in the least offended with those who mock at or oppose you, for they do you good; crucify your self-love and acknowledge the wrong, the error of your heart. But have the deepest pity for those who mock at words and works of faith and piety, of righteousness; for those who oppose the good which you are doing... God preserve you - getting exasperated at them.” HeartSelfChristianPassionInfluenceSelf LoveErrorsPityPreservesAcknowledgeOrthodoxRighteousnessOffendedPietyOrthodox ChristianMock Author:Soren Kierkegaard
“He who esteems the Virginia reel A bait to draw saints from their spiritual weal, And regards the quadrille as a far greater knavery Than crushing His African children with slavery, Since all who take part in a waltz or cotillon Are mounted for hell on the devil's own pillion, Who, as every true orthodox Christian well knows, Approaches the heart through the door of the toes.” KnowsWellsHeartChildrenChristianSpiritualHellGreaterDoorsApproachDrawsDevilRegardSlaveryDancingSaintEsteemCrushOrthodoxToesOrthodox ChristianVirginiaBaitVery TrueWaltzKnavery Book:Delphi Complete Poetical Works of James Russell Lowell (Illustrated) Source: Delphi Complete Poetical Works of James Russell Lowell (Illustrated)
“Our Savior was crucified for our sakes that by His death He might give us life and train and attract us all to endurance. To Him I press on, and to the Father and to the Holy Spirit. I strive to be found true, judging myself unworthy of this world's goods; and yet not I because of the world, but the world because of me. Think of all these things in your heart; follow them with zeal; fight, as you have been commanded, for the truth to the death: For Christ was made 'obedient' even 'to death'” ThinkingWorldGivingHeartHas BeensMadeMightChristianSpiritFightingFoundFatherChristThis WorldJudgingHolyPressesTrainStriveSakeHoly SpiritEnduranceOrthodoxGoodsSaviorZealOrthodox ChristianUnworthyObedientJudging Myself Author:Saint Basil