A dream that describes me

I woke up today sweating a bit thanks to the heater still on and multiple blankets with my wife way too early before my alarm clock, then I realized what dream I had. It was like, I can retell without mincing words nor telling a lie:

Me and my wife went into a "haunted house" and saw some really scary ghosts, the one you see mostly on Halloween Day television stories, or experiences by people suffering mostly from PTSD. My wife was scared, but I told her to pray instead while not closing our eyes. So, before I told her to say Our Lord's Prayer, I told the ghosts to "have peace", "we will pray for you and don't worry your loved ones, God is with us all!" and simultaneously, me and my wife mentioned Lord's Prayer(Orthodox Christian) repeatedly while making sure the ghosts will finally have peace, knowing that we gave them a heartwarming sendoff. They vanished, and suddenly I woke up this morning while not panicking.

That dream just told my way of life: pray for the living and the dead's repose, as well as making sure my wife will have emotional power, as strong as I do.

I had never seen any ghosts, nor believe it, even before I became an Orthodox Christian, although my parents, two older sisters and other extended family members have their experience seeing one, even if they remain strong Roman Catholics, or it was ingrained on their culture, that has a strong belief in ghosts.

It just mean one thing: prayer is the best weapon for emotional strength.

Are we praying sincerely?

Prayer. What we should do but because of busy schedules or for others, just doesn't have time because they are busy partying or destroying their belief in God for money or fame or any other useless reason. If I can share something during my Catholic days, it may surprise everyone how I changed. Here goes:

I was born and raised a Catholic until 2015 by God's will, I am an Orthodox Christian. During those Catholic days, ok...I was praying the rosary, at school and was the most eager pupil to lead the prayer inside a classroom. But, the Christian Living(CL) teachers couldn't tell me what I am really praying to.

Why?

It's very unclear even to this point. I know even during those times I am praying sincerely during those times but I soon realized when I knew Orthodox Christianity that those times were not properly done as a prayer, but as a PR. You don't tell anyone you're praying every single second or pray the rosary or pray to Mama Mary(in Catholicism, she is a demi-God) or compete with Protestants.

SEE.

You can't pray properly with people guarding you or forcing you to do it. I have some advice for people who are unsure how to pray:

Pray without anyone seeing you. Pray from within your heart, ask God for forgiveness, acknowledge you're a sinner and never, ever forget why we, Christians are blessed since we were taught how to pray properly.

Molitva posredovanje sveta je važno

I am always praying, regardless of any given situation every night. When i live alone or with my family, i may pray every morning even a simple prayer facing my own alter i made with the icons of Isus Hristos, the Bogorodice, Sveta Familija and Sveti Knez Lazar. I will also light my incensce and would ask to God for forgiveness, thanksgiving, enlightenment and the power to give my very potential for my family.

An old friend of mine would tell me often to pray for St. Xenia's intercession for my job hunting and everyday work, which i did. I may have prayed that when i was a Catholic during my younger yeas but i never realized those prayers to the saints because it is not yet clear to me what i am praying for and what is my role as a true Christian. 

Ever since i found out about Orthodoxy, my prayers may have a meaning now, even in my future baptismal, now i know why i am praying the Isusa Molitva or the Oče Naš or the Bogorodice Djevo or even the Molitva za Sveti Knez Lazar. And my prayers are right now for my future and my future family. I am continually grasping my future since i know, these prayers came from my heart and what my spiritual fathers told me.

That is why, a prayer to a saint's intercession is like the saint is helping us to pray for God's miracles and forgiveness and not praying to the saints themselves.

The relics of Sv. Lazar glowed green before the great floods

I saw on facebook an entry about the relics of Saint Prince Lazar's headless relics that it glowed green before the day that disastrous floods happened. Stored in Ravanica, the relics were kept in exception to World War II and returned after the war.

I chose him as my patron saint because of his strong will and resilient attitude. It is somehow a blessing i knew his story so well that, i wished to awaken the Serbian identity in the Serbs. If there was a Filipino saint king, i would invoke his intercession.

This was probably a warning or there is a near evil. Either the Ukrainian unrest or Conchita Wurst winning or world poverty, his relics's miracle was a wake up call to us. Like the crying icons before Srbija was bombed by the evil NATO forces.

This is what we need to do. Simple as is. We need to return to God and pray more and more until God comes back for us. While we wait, let's live our life to the fullest.

Solidarnost

People helping each other to build sandbag shields against the waters near Sremska Mitrovica(picture courtesy of Countries that have not recognized Kosovo Facebook page)

From what i learned from this facebook page "Countries that have not recognized Kosovo", the Balkan neighbors helped Srbija and Bosna, ranging from Hrvatska to Makedonija and others.

That is from Wikipedia, but were is Albania? Japan, the country i am right now is fair enough more, sending money to both Bosna i Srbija. Where are the other countries not mentioned there or even helping without the news? Can't even other rich countries send help? If you would ask me, i will help them if i am there.

Good for Srbija is that, almost everyone helped from within. Notable Delije and Grobari supporters, KK Crvena Zvezda players, OFK Beograd, Dejan Lazarević(lost during the rescue efforts) and others. Even people helped animals and animals helped each other as well.

Yet, CNN and BBC is idle when reporting about the flooding, which was criticized so much by Serbian Tennis Champion Novak Đoković, describing the lack of reporting by this big news outlets as idle. Good thing that, more people who loved Srbija and knew the Balkans(Bosna too and others) prayed for the people affected and donated what they can donate for them. I actually envy those who donated everything or what they can do because i have to hide from my parents this love and support for Srbija. Yet, the only thing i can give Srbija i Bosna is, Molitva. Yes, Molitva is the Serbian term for a prayer. Sincere prayers will strengthen the people affected to stand up and fight the rising waters as they will live on after everything would be fine.

Molim, Molitva Za Srbija! Hvala Ti

I contacted my Srbi brate i sestra just this Saturday(May 17th) with effort and continuity since, i cared for their country and if they are in good hands. Some of them are safe, but most are affected by these rising waters. I also learned from a friend, Tami, that the Meteorological agency used the name "Tamara" so she was a bit unwell. I told everyone i knew that, Help is On the Way or i will pray for their safety or any goodwill thoughts from my heart to make sure there spirits will high.

Continue helping Bosnia and Serbia to fight the rising waters of the Sava and Danube and pray for their safety more and their strength!

Hvala Svako moja brate i sestra +++

Ja Molitva Srbiju narod pogođeni jaka kiša

Moja molitva za brate i sestra pogođeni jaka kiša. Pomoć Srbija!

This is my personal prayer for my brothers and sisters in Serbia and Bosnia that lost their loved ones or deeply affected by the heavy rains that swept the two nations in the last 24 hours.

God, with all our sincere prayers, save those deeply affected by the heavy rains that plagued Serbia and Bosnia the past few days. Keep the families safe, make them stronger emotionally to withstand the pain of losing their loved ones, and never let another strong surge of water pass through homes.

Through the Bogorodice, save their lives from another potential life threatening heavy rains and safeguard those who give their very best to help the affected people.

And through the prayers of St. Prince Lazar, strengthen the Serbian nation as it face its difficult part of their history. Never let their courage and Godliness sway in these kind of times!

Amin! +++