As we stand together, I am compelled to share a tale of transition and guidance from the Lord, woven through the imagery of two cherished prints adorning our home.
Valentine’s Day, with its enchanting allure, offers a glimpse into the depth of intimacy we share with our partners. It’s a night of tender embraces, passionate kisses, and shared moments that remind us of the extraordinary bond we’re fortunate to have. Yet, as the florist’s shutters close and the day fades into memory, we often find ourselves slipping back into routine, neglecting the intentional pursuit of love. But what if we could extend the magic of Valentine’s Day throughout the year? What if we could reignite the flames of passion and rediscover the joy of loving fiercely and fearlessly?
If you can’t handle thorns, how can you ever expect to hold a woman?
Roses were meant to be this way: to entangle their beauty and delicacy in a maize of twisted barbed wire. Perhaps to protect as much as anything. Perhaps to injure those who try to approach the beauty carelessly, but even those who are careful will risk injury. It is to be expected, for love costs.
A story told by Kent Nerburn
Several years ago, a cab driver arrived late at night for a pick-up at a building that was dark except for a single light in a ground floor window.
Under these circumstances, he normally would just honk once or twice, wait a minute, then drive away. Instead he went to the door and knocked.
by Marti and John Fischer
Have you ever had one of those days when you cannot consume enough coffee to prop the eyelids open and you require elbows, like crutches on the table, to hold you up?
I’m having one of those days today.
by Marti Fischer
Whether you are married, dating, about to… thinking of… or already getting a divorce, consider this: Just stop. Stop the complexity, and start making your life more simple. Buy your wife, your date, or your departing partner Roses on Wednesday — today, Wednesday, February 7th, and every Wednesday thereafter.
Welcome to the month of love. It’s a good thing because everything else about February is pretty icky. I remember living in New England where February was wet and cold. Snow was slushy, skies were always gray, but then you’d pass by a flower shop and from then on you would be seeing red. Ah yes, we need this. Welcome to the month of love.
How do you want to go out, with a bang or a whimper? Do you want to rust away from lack of use or blaze out like a comet across the sky? What are we here for? To create a comfortable existence or to serve the Lord and our fellow man and woman? Stop thinking of your life as a continuum with an arc of effectiveness with diminishing returns at the end. Stop making excuses for your lack of momentum and decreasing energy. Stop thinking that you might be done. We are never done until we’re dead.
The Lord had said to Abram [his name was later changed to Abraham], “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.” Genesis 12:1
Abraham was a pioneer. He was told to pack up all his belongings and take off, although he was not told where: “…to a land I will show you.” I think that’s pretty much par for the course for pioneers. Pioneers don’t know where they are going; they just go. They have a general direction (“go west young man”), but nothing specific.
Covered wagon breakdowns? Rough terrain? Blinding snow storms? Robberies? Indian attacks? Is that what we’re talking about in the twenty-first century? No, but we are talking about venturing into the unknown against the odds of our culture like a rapidly changing technology, a polarized society, generation gaps, racial hatred, war, class distinctions, homelessness, postmodernism, suicide, school shootings, climate change, gender dysphoria, dwindling resources, retribution versus healing … no wonder why so many of the younger generation are checking out and older people are becoming one with their La-Z-Boy recliners, waiting out the end.
John Fischer The Catch 