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 “Be still and know that I AM…” (Psalm 46:10). Prayer is a type of listening (shema), a turning back to heed the message of God’s love and hope. Indeed, the word “teshuvah” (תְּשׁוּבָה), often translated as “repentance,” also means an answer or response to a question. God’s love is the question, and the heart’s response is the answer. Some of us may find it difficult to trust, to open our heart to receive grace and kindness. For those of us wounded by abandonment, it can be a great struggle to hear the voice of God calling you “beloved,” “worthy,” “valued,” and “accepted.” When you find faith to receive God’s word of love, however, your heart comes alive and you begin to heal. May you hear the Spirit speaking to you this hour…

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“He covers the heavens with clouds; he prepares rain for the earth; he makes grass grow on the hills. He gives to the beasts their food, and to the young ravens that cry. His delight is not in the strength of the horse, nor his pleasure in the stamina of a man, but the LORD takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love.” – Psalm 147:8-11

הַמְכַסֶּה שָׁמַיִם בְּעָבִים
הַמֵּכִין לָאָרֶץ מָטָר
הַמַּצְמִיחַ הָרִים חָצִיר׃
נוֹתֵן לִבְהֵמָה לַחְמָהּ
לִבְנֵי ערֵב אֲשֶׁר יִקְרָאוּ׃
לא בִגְבוּרַת הַסּוּס יֶחְפָּץ
לא־בְשׁוֹקֵי הָאִישׁ יִרְצֶה׃
רוֹצֶה יְהוָה אֶת־יְרֵאָיו
אֶת־הַמְיַחֲלִים לְחַסְדּוֹ׃

This morning the air temperature was high, so the snow melted and made a misty fog… I took this picture about an hour after sunrise.

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זָרַח בַּחשֶׁךְ אוֹר לַיְשָׁרִים
חַנּוּן וְרַחוּם וְצַדִּיק