Love Your Neighbor

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. — Matthew 5:43-45 

Today we heard from our niece Victoria who's been vacationing in the Maldives.

She and Max are now engaged!

And they're planning a wedding for next year in Vienna.

We are thrilled for them.

And we're looking forward to seeing my sister and her family.

It's been 11 years since we've seen them all.

We can hardly wait.

Such exciting news.

Whoever Pursues Righteousness

Whoever pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor. — Proverbs 21:21

Here's our hiking group.

We were relaxing at the waterfall after our 3.5-mile hike.

We prayed together and thanked God for the beautiful day.

Then we headed back up the trail.

And waded through the streams.

And checked in with the rangers at the trailhead.

 Thanking God for a fun day!

The Word of the Lord Is Right and True

For the word of the Lord is right and true; he is faithful in all he does. The Lord loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love. — Psalm 22:4-5 

God's Word is right and true.

He is faithful in all He does.

The Lord loves righteousness.

God love justice.

The earth is full of His unfailing love.

I Love You, Lord, My Strength

I love you, Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.  — Psalm 18:1-2 

Yesterday we hiked out to Cedar Creek Waterfall in Ramona.

What a beautiful day.

The waterfall was much fuller than it was two years ago when we hiked there in April.

And we waded across three streams.

But when we arrived, we were there with just a few other people.

Hiking out we ran into a large group of college students hiking in.

Thankfully we went early and had the waterfall almost to ourselves.

What a beautiful day!

The Things God Has Prepared

However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived”— the things God has prepared for those who love him. — 1 Corinthians 2:9

God has prepared great things for us.

What no eye has seen.

What no ear has heard.

And what no human mind has conceived.

The things God has prepared for us.

And for those who love Him.

We are blessed.

I Will Sing of Your Strength

But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble. — Psalm 59:16

Monday I took dinner to my coworker whose wife just had a baby.

And I made a chicken pot pie for our family, too.

Yum!

 I will sing of God's strength.

In the morning I will sing of His love.

God is my fortress.

He is my refuge in times of trouble.

Abounding in Love

You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to you. — Psalm 86:5 

God is forgiving.

He is good to all.

And the Lord is abounding in love.

He loves all who call to Him.

What a wonderful reminder.

I've been doing Wordle for the past few weeks.

Today the word was cross.

What a perfect reminder as we head into Lent of the sacrifice Jesus made for us.

All because of a loving God who cares for us.

Happy February!