O Sovereign Lord, Creator of heaven and earth, whose mighty hand holds back the waters and commands the elements according to Your will; look with mercy upon our land now threatened by devastating fires, and stretch forth Your hand to protect Your people. Shield the brave firefighters and first responders who risk their lives in service to others, grant them wisdom and strength in their labors, and surround them with Your divine protection. Send Your refreshing rains to quench these flames, calm the winds that drive them, and preserve both life and property from destruction; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with You and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Fire Chief Stephen Freeman has lived in Bat Cave, North Carolina, for more than six decades. He’s seen severe and deadly weather events. But he’d never seen anything like the force of water that swept through the southern Appalachians in September of last year. He said he’s also experienced God’s presence and the love of God’s people in amazing ways.

“What’s happened is catastrophic,” he said. “But you can see God’s love coming in. It is so good to see God in action. Actions speak louder than words. And the love of Christ has shown through Samaritan’s Purse. They’re in it for the long haul.

“You see God’s beauty in all this instead of seeing all this destruction. Taking something that’s real bad and turning it into something good. Everything is getting better every day.”

Read it all and please take the time to watch the powerful video.

The First Wise Man

 To break down her defenses
And profit from the vision
That plain men can predict through an
Ascesis of their senses,
With rack and screw I put Nature through
A thorough inquisition;
But she was so afraid that if I were disappointed
I should hurt Her more that Her answers were disjointed –
I did. I didn’t. I will. I won’t.
She is just as big a liar, in fact, as we are.
To discover how to be truthful now
Is the reason I follow this star.

The Second Wise Man

My faith that in Time’s constant
Flow lay real assurance
Broke down on this analysis –
At any given moment
All solids dissolve, no wheels revolve,
And facts have no endurance –
And who knows if this is by design pure inadvertence
That the Present destroys its inherited self-importance?
With envy, terror, rage, regret,
We anticipate or remember but never are.
To discover how to be living now
Is the reason I follow this star.

You may read the rest there (pp. 27-28).

Adoration of the Magi by Garofalo #rijksmuseum #garofalo pic.twitter.com/OEtEH1IQx3

— Rijksmuseum Art (@rijksmuseum_art) September 1, 2018

The star shines out with a steadfast ray
The kings to Bethlehem make their way
And then in worship they bend the knee
As Mary’s child in her lap they see
Their royal gifts they show to the King
Gold, incense, myrrh are their offering

Thou child of man, lo, to Bethlehem
The Kings are traveling, travel with them
The star of mercy, the star of grace
Shall lead thy heart to its resting place
Gold, incense, myrrh, thou canst not bring
Offer thy heart to the infant King
Offer thy heart.

Listen to it all.

Keep us, O Lord, constant in faith and zealous in witness, that, like thy servant William Laud, we may live in thy fear, die in thy favor, and rest in thy peace; for the sake of Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

O God, who by the shining of a star didst guide the wise men to behold thy Son, our Lord: Show us thy heavenly light, and give us grace to follow until we find him, and, finding him, rejoice.  And grant that as they presented gold, frankincense, and myrrh, we now may bring him the offering of a loving heart, an adoring spirit, and an obedient will; for his honour, and for thy glory, O God most high.

Adorazione dei Magi, 1505
Andrea Mantegna pic.twitter.com/OP3Q4S181t

— Juan NAVARRO (@jnavarrosimon) January 5, 2025

Though I walk in the midst of trouble,
    thou dost preserve my life;
thou dost stretch out thy hand against the wrath of my enemies,
    and thy right hand delivers me.
The Lord will fulfil his purpose for me;
    thy steadfast love, O Lord, endures for ever.
    Do not forsake the work of thy hands.

–Psalm 138:7-8

Winterse buien drukten het zonnetje weg. Fijne vrijdag😀 #natuur #landschap #winter #Rhenen #ElstUt #Elsterbuitenwaard #Nederrijn #zonsondergang #mooieluchten pic.twitter.com/g1vasiZQHb

— Tjark Dieterman (@DietermanTjark) January 10, 2025