The sun, moon and stars are all in agreement, shining their
light on a broken world
when one land is covered in suffering and darkness, their light
shines brighter!

Prayers are continually ascending for our Ukrainian People

It seemed the easier way to go, the path was smooth and the
stones were few, the mountains and valleys viewed from afar. But
then the path became crooked, the mountains closer, the valleys deeper.
The wounded steps sharper, knocking on
doors with no answers!

The stone in my shoe is small
hardly noticeable at all
How it got there no one knew
Over time it grew and broke in two
I hadn’t a clue what to do
I even tried wax and glue
Maybe if I got a new pair of
shoes that would do, but
the smooth stone became sharper causing pain
walking on uneven terrain
* * * *
There is One who knows our steps

“He will go before ‘us’ and make the
crooked places straight…
the rough places smooth”

Five days into a war that has gripped the attention
of the world, and still there is a lack of words to express
the heartfelt prayers and thoughts, as a greedy nation
has descended, invading a people of a peaceful land.
Only humble words can be offered, as we pray for rest
and peace, for this war to cease!

Where can we go, where You have not been there
before?
Have we escaped from the One who traces our
journey
where can we escape from the presence of our
enemies?
“If we dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea”
and are cast into the depths of waters, if
our breath is taken from us, and the ropes of
death encompass us, even there the cords of
love bind us
“If we descend into the depths of hell”… we are
not left there. His eye is set upon us. If we
trudge into the “Valley of Sheol” descending
into the pit of fire with those who have gone to
sleep before us, though we must join the
dust of a crypt saved for us, He is by our side
“For where can we escape from His Spirit?”
“If we say surly darkness will steal over us
for darkness is no longer darkness for Him
and night is as luminous as day!”
For as surly as the sun rises in the eastern sky,
the Son of God will appear, and all suffering
and war will forever disappear!

(“)Quotes are from The Book of Psalm 139

“Let every sunrise adorn your mind with the power
of hope, let it paint your life with the colors of the morning sky!“

Debasish Mridha

On a fruitful hill the Gardner fences a plot, gathering stones
planting the choicest of vines.
The finest grapes of rose and purple clustered among
splashes of green leaves and branches, weaving through
shadows and sun!

The song of the Beloved touches his vineyard, his pleasant
plants reaping a harvest in the autumn, yielding fruits of sweetness.
A wine press is built to press the fruit, and a strong tower is placed in the midst
that his watchmen may watch for thieves and robbers, and the
people run into and are safe.

Hiring a gatekeeper to protect his vines, the absent Gardner
leaves the country, traveling to a far off land. The gatekeeper’s child
fair skinned with bright blue eyes and blonde tousled hair, digs in
flower beds with songs of laughter. One night the gatekeeper
became imbibed, partaking of wine. Becoming mean, he
fell asleep. As he slept an enemy crept in, stealing his child who ran and hid.

A darkness covered the garden, the fruit withered and
died, the sweet smell of the tender grapes now tainted, became sour
wine. The Gardner returns questioning “Where is my gatekeeper
and his child?” But there is no reply. Sleeping through the night
the gatekeeper comes to his senses, with love and prayers
bidding his son’s return.
The child runs into the the tower of safety!
The vines now tended with love and care, bring about much more
fruit than before!

A late winter storm has given hope and healing to
our ravished land!

“Even the strongest blizzards start with a single snowflake”

Sara Raasch

When it seems that all forces are against us, whether family, friends,
or anything else too difficult to mention, it is so easy to give into despair.

The Jewish Talmud tells us “That even if a person is being accused by
999 people/angels, and there is only one person in his defense, then he
is saved.”

‘We all have One that is in our defense’

The threads of the tapestry woven on the
loom of life, sometimes become frayed and torn.
His children born into abuse and neglect
take longer to sew and piece together,
Producing a fabric of beautiful flowers!
With blossoms brighter than those who have no struggles,
a richer cloth stitched with stronger threads, watered with
tears of joy!

* * * *

To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose
under heaven…
“A time to tear and a time to mend”
Ecclesiastes 3:7

Good Morning On This Valentine’s Day!
February 14th 2024 🌹 🌹 🌹 

Voice was heard
“I spoke to grace
She spoke not back
I spoke to trust she turned her face
I spoke to faith, I spoke to hope
These too did fail
I spoke to love she spoke back

Of all these things
Trust – Hope – and Faith may remain
But love never fails!“

February is a special month with
many traditions and fables

Starting with February 2nd, there is the ancient
Christian tradition of Candlemas, when clergy would
bless and distribute candles needed for winter. The candles
represented how long and cold the winter would be. Germans
expanded on the concept, by selecting an animal as a means
of predicting weather. Thus it is called Groundhog day.

Valentine’s Day, as the story goes, began
with a priest who’s name was St Valentine. It is
said that he was put in prison for conducting
marriages for soldiers which was forbidden.
He fell in love with the jailor’s daughter and the
night before his execution, he sent her a card of
love and signed his name –
“From your Valentine”

Whatever story is true, this day has been recognized as a
special day, celebrating with red roses, chocolates and
confectionary sweets.

The first commercial valentines in America were
printed in the mid-1800s…Because it was thought that
the avian mating season begins in mid-February, birds
along with hearts became a symbol of the day.