Image by RÜŞTÜ BOZKUŞ from Pixabay
Love all creation, the whole of it and every grain of sand within it. Love every leaf, every ray of God’s light. Love the animals, love the plants, love everything. If you love everything, you will perceive the divine mystery in things.~ Starets Zosima (Fyodor Dostoevsky’s The Brothers Karamazov)
I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth. ~ Psalm 121:1-2
Image by Manfred Richter from Pixabay
One should not seek among others the truth that can be easily gotten from the Church. For in her, as in a rich treasury, the apostles have placed all that pertains to truth, so that everyone can drink this beverage of life. She is the door of life. ~ St. Irenaeus of Lyon
For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations. ~ Psalm 100:5
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. ~ St. John 1:14
God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. ~ St. John 4:24
And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. ~ St. John 8:32
For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth…~ Ephesians 5:9
My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. ~ 1 John 3:18
Image by ElasticComputeFarm from Pixabay
🎶 …God keep our land glorious and free! 🎶 ~ Excerpt from Canadian National Anthem
…for our land, authorities and armed forces, let us pray to the Lord… for this city, and every city and land, and for the faithful who dwell therein, let us pray to the Lord… for seasonable weather, for abundance of the fruits of the earth, and peaceful times, let us pray to the Lord… Lord have mercy! ~ Excerpts from the Litany of Peace
Happy Canada Day! ❤️
Poppy in Denmark, shared by Marianne
O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary. Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee. Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name… ~Psalm 63
A dear subscriber has shared some brilliant reflections that I’ve found helpful.
Sometimes we feel like we’re digging channels, ever waiting for the Lord to fill them. (It takes faith to do that!)
We know God is with us, but sometimes we may struggle to feel His Presence and Love, or even pray.
Yet, there is consolation!
When we carry out our “religious duties” we are like people digging channels in a waterless land, in order that when at last water comes, it may find them ready. ~ C.S. Lewis, Reflections on the Psalms
During times of spiritual dryness, faithful perseverance in prayer is the sweetest of all our prayers to God. By clinging tenaciously to Christ’s love with prayer, regardless of circumstances, we are truly blessed.
May we persevere in ploughing our personal furrows and be ready when the Lord fills them… in God’s Good Time.
Image by klimkin from Pixabay
…Give us hope!
Just as the blessings of God are unutterably great, so their acquisition requires much hardship and toil undertaken with hope and faith. ~ St. Macarius the Great
The spiritual life is very simple and quite easy. We make it difficult by not struggling properly. ~ Elder Paisios of Mt. Athos
Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. ~Romans 12:12
Parish icon of St. Basil of Ostrog
Today is St. Basil of Ostrog’s Feast Day, (May 12/April 29) and he is very dear to many.
We are so blessed! God pours out His great, abundant mercy and miracles through His saints– the heavenly great cloud of witnesses!
Through the holy intercessions of St. Basil of Ostrog, may we continue to receive spiritual consolation and healing of physical and mental infirmities.
For he is not a God of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto him. ~ Luke 20:38
Holy St. Basil pray to God for us!
Purple Heath (Heather) and Snowdrops (Candlemas Bells, Fair Maids of February) Dot the Neighbourhood
The only requirements of our soul are righteousness, holiness, truth, love, mercy, meekness, peace, spiritual freedom, or the grace of God in the heart. These treasures give life to our whole being, and are eternal. ~ St. John of Kronstadt (My Life in Christ)
… A five minute prayer with all your body aching is more precious than a prayer lasting the whole night in bodily comfort. ~ Elder Sophrony (Sakharov) [of Essex, England]
These empty ceramic vessels were used to obtain certain colours in the molten silica and glass mixtures at the Orsoni Mosaic Studio Venice, Italy. – 2009
We are like broken glass that reflects reality in small fragments until the power of God makes us whole again. ~ Elder Thaddeus
Patience adorns the soul with diamonds which are not of the earth, but belong to the Jerusalem that is above. Patience is a sweet word. Patience is a sweet breath. Patience is an invincible weapon. Patience is a priceless adornment of man. Patience is a blessing of God. Patience is love and obedience. Patience increases when a person takes God into account. ~ St. Raphael of Lesvos
There is no greater love than that a man lays down his life for his neighbour. When you hear someone complaining and you struggle with yourself and do not answer them back with complaints; when you are hurt and bear it patiently, not looking for revenge; then you are laying down your life for your neighbour. ~ Abba Poemen
