From Ira Kapitonova in Kyiv (Day 615):
O Lord, who shall sojourn in your tent?
Who shall dwell on your holy hill?
Psalm 15:1
The losses of the Russian army have exceeded 300,000. The number is insane! And they keep mobilizing about 20,000 people a month. Poverty and propaganda allow them to keep doing it, no questions asked.
Meanwhile, Ukraine seems to be under aerial attacks this night. We’ve had a ballistic rocket warning, kamikaze drones are coming from different directions, and many regions of Ukraine are lit up red on the air raid map.
Praying for God’s mercy.
Voice of Ukraine 
2 responses to “11/1/2023 – O Lord, who shall sojourn in your tent?Who shall dwell on your holy hill?”
Our Father in heaven,
Deliver us from evil.
Give us today our daily bread.
Lead us not into temptation.
Forgive us our trespasses
May we forgive those who trespass against us.
May we see Your wounds and know You died, taking the punishment of those who deserved it.
May we stand in awe of Your love.
LikeLike
Six months ago:
From Ira Kapitonova in Kyiv (Day 431):
5/1/2023 – Today’s picture is of a pear blossom in our garden. This pear tree was planted during the first covid lockdown in 2020 (another great time of uncertainty). It looked weak and struggling. Finally, three years later, it presents us with this beautiful blossom. What is this if not a message of hope?
“After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, crying out, “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, for his judgments are true and just; for he has judged the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her immorality, and has avenged on her the blood of his servants.”
Revelation 19:1-2
If you ask me, I’d say that the most encouraging book of the Bible is Revelation. Even though it is filled with terrifying images, it carries a beautiful message – the ultimate victory belongs to the Lord. What a loving God we have that He didn’t keep us in the unknown but revealed how everything would be resolved in the end. And this hope helps us persevere during the dark days.
My son often asks when the war will be over. I don’t know how to answer his question. What’s worse, I don’t know how the war will end (even though we hope for the best and trust in God’s mercy, it’s still different from knowing the outcome). We don’t know if all the threats of more massive missile attacks or nuclear strikes will be carried out. We don’t know if or when Bakhmut may fall. We don’t know when or how Crimea will be liberated. We don’t know how long or how much it would take to restore all that’s been destroyed (visible and intangible losses).
In all this unknown, I look to the One who holds the whole world and all the answers in His hands. I know that there will come a day when He will wipe away every tear, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore (Revelation 21:4). When I am overwhelmed with the uncertainty of today, I will look for this certain future He has promised.
LikeLike