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Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid.’ (Isa. 12:2)

“What brings peace to my mind and heart is the assurance that I am endowed with words that will always remain with me, continuously calming my heart amidst life's worries and confusion. And what are those words? They are a Christian declaration, brimming with vibrant confidence and extraordinary soothing power: The Lord is everything to me. It is a priceless treasure! It is a precious possession that grants serenity in any circumstance, enriching even in poverty, fostering generosity and kindness in abundance; a treasure that assures us of hope even in moments of sin. The Lord is everything to me. He is my faith, my trust, my love, my strength, my power, my peace, my joy, my wealth, my sustenance, my nourishment, my covering, my life in essence, my everything. Just as the Lord is everything to you, embrace being everything to the Lord. Since all your treasures reside within your heart and will, and as God calls for your heart, saying: ‘My son, give me thine heart’ (Prov. 23:26), therefore, in obedience to God's will, forsake your flawed, wrathful, idolatrous will: relinquish knowledge of your own desires, seeking only the will of God, affirming: Not my will, but Thine, be done.”

—St John of Kronstadt

#orthodoxy #orthodox church

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In the beginning. Delightful stories. 1888.

Internet Archive

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Piero di Cosimo, Simonetta Vespucci, detail

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‘And He turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head.

Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet.

My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment.

Wherefore I say unto thee, her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.

And he said unto her, thy sins are forgiven.

And they that sat at meat with Him began to say within themselves, who is this that forgiveth sins also?

And He said to the woman, thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.’

—Luke 7:44–50

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“Moon’s shadow on the earth, as seen from the moon.” A study of the sky. 1896. 

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Insect wings. Martin Gerlach, photographer. Formenwelt aus dem Naturreiche. 1904.

Internet Archive

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The Merry Trio (Company Playing Music and Drinking in an Interior), Judith Leyster, 1629-31

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Nervous system. Spinal treatment. 1912.

Internet Archive

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#orthodoxy #orthodox church

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Old strawberry plant. The small fruit culturist. 1881.

Internet Archive

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Astronomy vignettes. Learning about our world. 1932.  

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Busy crows. Caw caw; or, the chronicle of crows. 1848.

Internet Archive

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The Turkeys by Claude Monet

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“You must bear the spiritual infirmities of your brother gladly, and without annoyance. For when someone is physically ill, we are not only not annoyed with him, but we are exemplary in our care of him; we should also set an example in cases of spiritual illness.”

—St Moses of Optina, “Living Without Hypocrisy: Spiritual Counsels of the Holy Elders of Optina”

#orthodoxy #orthodox church

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Polar bear vs. walrus. Kings of the forest and their kindred tribes. 1892. 

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making doilies is a useless hobby because i have all these pretty things and not enough flat surfaces to put them on