To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified. ~Isaiah 61:3
God’s love for us is greater than we could ever imagine. By Christ’s Resurrection, He takes the ashes of grief and sin, and transforms them into beauty, hope, and joy.
This is a pussy willow branch from a third generation church tree… originally grown from a dried and blessed Palm Sunday bouquet, which sprouted in an icon corner!
These furry little catkins are among the first to blossom forth, in early spring, seemingly to show the trees and bushes it’s time to awake from their cold winter sleep!
Pussy willows make easy everlasting flowers. Pick a bunch, and put them into a dry vase. No water. They will keep for years.
If you think of planting a pussy willow tree near your home, do keep it far away from drains. For, as an exuberant willow, it is determined to seek water.
He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. ~Ecclesiastes 3:11
They were runners together in tandem
A perfect relay of mind and heart
Striving together towards a finish
Which each crosses separately
And we were the bystanders
Cheering them on.
They were upholding each other
Carrying each other toward the end
And we were the bystanders
Cheering them on
With bursting hearts.
© Anastasia Sharon Braun
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. ~ Hebrews 12: 1-2
Hawaiian Daybreak, 2012
We should be spectators every day of the wonders of God. ~Mother Gavrilia
All true beauty has the power to draw the soul towards thee, and to make it sing in ecstasy: Alleluia! ~ Kontakion 7, Akathist of Thanksgiving Glory to God for All Things
Blessed be the name of the Lord from henceforth, and forevermore! ~ Psalm 113:2
Happy Sunday!
Sunrise on Golden Sand – Hawaii 2008
A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. ~ John 13:34-35
Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. ~ Romans 5:5
God loves us more than a father, mother, friend, or any else could love, and even more than we are able to love ourselves. ~ St. John Chrysostom
What is perfection in love? Love your enemies in such a way that you would desire to make them your brothers … For so did He love, Who hanging on the Cross, said ‘Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.’ ~ St. Augustine of Hippo
If you find that there is no love in you, but you want to have it, then do deeds of love, even though you do them without love in the beginning. The Lord will see you desire and striving and will put love in your heart. ~ St. Ambrose of Optina
“Love covers a multitude of sins,” (I Pet. 4:8). That is, for love towards one’s neighbour, God forgives the sins of the one who loves. ~St. Theophan the Recluse
Do not ask for love from your neighbor, for if you ask and he does not respond, you will be troubled. Instead show your love for your neighbour and you will be at rest, and so will bring your neighbour to love. ~ St. Dorotheos of Gaza
You don’t become holy by fighting evil. Let evil be. Look towards Christ and that will save you. What makes a person saintly is love. ~ St. Porphyrios
Perplexed Snowman with Lei
Just when the cherry blossom trees think it’s safe to nudge their sleepy little pink buds awake… it snows. Every February.
Beneath the sulking trees we made a snowman with the GG’s, and a dear friend shared her really cool artistic ice creations and how to make them! (((Thank you Vera)))
I put stuff in a flower pot saucer, add water and let it freeze. The temperature needs to stay at about -5 C for a couple of days at least. When frozen, I pop it out and … ta da!
Fire, and hail; snow, and vapour; stormy wind fulfilling his word. ~ Psalm 148:8
Cat caught napping amid ancient Church Ruins in Thyatira (Western Turkey) – 2004
In the New Testament Book of Acts, we meet Lydia of Thyatira who was a business woman and a seller of purple. She and her household had moved to Philippi and converted to Christianity after meeting the Apostle Paul. Acts 16:13-15;40. Further along in the Acts, we read of Paul and Silas’ miraculous release from a Philippi prison Acts 16:16-40. They returned to stay with Lydia and her family briefly, before continuing along their journey.
Thyatira was an ancient Greek city and important cloth trade centre famous for its dyeing facilities. Thousands of marine snails were collected and boiled for days in gigantic vats, producing vibrant purple pigment for fabric.
Since apostolic times, Thyatira had been home to a significant Christian church, and was mentioned as one of the Seven Churches in the Book of Revelation.
The Christian community continued there until 1922, when the city and surrounding areas were captured by the Turkish army resulting in the deaths and deportations of thousands of Christians. (Most of the deportees also died in harsh conditions.) A church in Thyatira, harbouring about five hundred souls seeking sanctuary, was set on fire. May God rest their souls with the saints!
No operational church or Christian community remains in Thyatira, and the official name for the city changed to Akhisar.
The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever. ~ Isaiah 40:8
Jesus Christ the Pantocrator
Icon from St. Sophia Orthodox Church, Canada
Pantocrator from the Greek, means Ruler of the Universe. In this icon, Christ’s right Hand is raised in a blessing gesture and His left Hand holds a Gospel.
Gospel came from the Old English word godspel (long “o” sound) literally meaning good news. The first four books of the New Testament are written by the four evangelists (the bearers of good news) Sts. Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. The Gospels narrate our Lord’s teachings, His life, death and Resurrection. They invite us to believe Jesus Christ was born to save the world from sin, and help humanity to truly know God as a Father.
A favourite passage of mine:
And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen. ~ St. John 21:25
For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light. ~ Psalm 36:9
In a world where seeing is believing, it is through Faith we understand that believing is seeing.
Faith opens our spiritual eyes and ears. With awe and reverence, Faith is the beginning of wisdom, and it often comes before a miracle.
After the Resurrection of Christ, the (doubting) Apostle Thomas, absent at Christ’s previous visit to the other Apostles said, “Except I see in his hands the prints of the nails… I will not believe.” When Jesus came again, He invites Thomas to “reach hither and touch” and reproaches Thomas, “be not faithless, but believing.” (John 20:27)
My favourite part comes next. It’s powerful. It surpasses time. It’s a direct consolation from Christ to us, right here and right now… in today’s world, where seeing is believing.
Jesus blesses those who believe before they see: “blessed art they that have not seen, and yet have believed.” (John 20:29)
“I believe in Christianity as I believe that the Sun has risen, not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.” ~ C. S. Lewis
When very young, I’d climb a mountainous chair and peer out the front room window to watch the sun rise. Dawn was breathtaking, and I used to think when the sun “woke up” it sleepily “yawned” out all those dazzling colours into the sky. When accompanied with birdsong, the combined beauty of it all made my little heart nearly burst with joy.
With a foretaste of paradise… years later… At the break of day, I stood on a tropical beach with warm, fragrant trade winds blowing, and these beautiful verses from Psalm 104 came to mind…
Bless the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty. Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain: Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind: Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire…
Until the day break, and the shadows flee… ~ Song of Solomon 2:17
