What is faith? And where does it come from? Is faith truly “blind”? Or is it based on evidence and the witness of reliable sources?
These are some of the questions that we hope to address in our latest series, BLIND FAITH. We’ll take a closer look at the 7 “signs” documented in the gospel according to St. John and we’ll see that faith is so much more than blind optimism or wishful thinking. Faith is based on who Jesus showed Himself to be.
Read MoreIt's Part 2 in our latest series, Meeting (again) for the First Time and this week, we hear from a very dear friend of mine, Maryan Farag. Maryan shares her personal journey into discovering the truth about God and answered prayer. Is God there to simply give us what we ask for? Or is there more to the story?
Check out the video above and listen for yourself and Maryan candidly reveals what God has taught her about this subject.
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Sometimes it’s easy to see our God only as someone who likes playing a game of hide and seek with the world. He hides, we seek; some find Him, others don’t. He hides in obscure places, that only those who are really determined can see Him. Otherwise, like a child, if you’ve been looking for long enough you eventually give up.
To a certain extent, this still remains true in my heart. God commanded us to seek Him, and promised those who do so with all their heart will find Him. But, unlike the child that remains still in a cupboard for 10 minutes hoping that the seeker won’t catch him- He longs for us. He tells us He is everywhere, within us and around us. He shows us He isn’t found or heard in noise and clutter, but in stillness and softness.
Read MoreLook who's back! After a month long hiatus from preaching, I made my return yesterday for the 5th message in THE DANIEL PLAN series. And what I noticed is that when you try to keep a preacher's mouth shut for 4 weeks, then you don't know what's gonna come out when it opens!
And that's what happened yesterday.
The message above is one of those "from my heart" messages that I really want the whole world to hear. It's about how to live a life of blessing and how to be used by God. It's about how to dream BIG and how to turn those dreams into reality with the power of God.
It's a message that I'd love you to listen to and apply in your life. Enjoy!
"Faith is not belief, faith is behavior born out of belief....to say you believe [have faith] in the Resurrection means to say you acknowledge it mentally and then manifest that faith with action." --Fr. Anthony Messeh
One thought hit me after hearing those words: “Man, I’ve spent my whole life believing in God without ever having faith.”
Those who know me know that I am a pretty emotional person. But when it comes to matters of salvation and spirituality, I have made it more of a “study” and less of a reality. I’ve been a student in Christianity 401 – a student who had all the answers but never showed up for a lab or practicum. I’ve mastered writing the right things when I am called to circle "A, B, C, or D," but I have forgotten to choose the right answers in my day to day life.
I’ve shown up for hundreds of lectures, but never felt I could introduce myself to the Rabbi. I believe that God created the heavens and the earth, that Emmanuel came to show us the way, that He sent forth the Holy Spirit to dwell in us; but in all of my belief, in all of my logic and surety, I think I’ve missed faith.
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"Dear Fr. Anthony, I was really moved by your message and began to really believe that through the power of the Resurrection I can change and can overcome my old habits. But it seems like every time I believe that and start to move in the right direction, I inevitably fall and end up even worse than when I started. How can I make a change that will last? Is it even possible for me?”
That’s one of the most common questions I get asked: can I really change? Is it really possible for me to overcome my bad habit? Will I ever be able to stop worrying? Is there really any hope that my life can be different?
It’s not that we don’t believe that it’s possible. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. We believe 100% that it’s possible because we know that “with God nothing will be impossible” (Luke 1:37) and “the things which are impossible with men are possible with God” (Luke 18:27) and of course, everyone’s favorite, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).
We know the verses. We’ve heard the sermons. We’ve seen Jesus change the lives of so many other people around us.
SO WHY CAN’T WE CHANGE? That’s the million dollar question
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