All this time, Peter was sitting out in the courtyard. One servant girl came up to him and said, “You were with Jesus the Galilean.” ⁷⁰ In front of everybody there, he denied it. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” ⁷¹ As he moved over toward the gate, someone else said to the people there, “This man was with Jesus the Nazarene.” ⁷² Again he denied it, salting his denial with an oath: “I swear, I never laid eyes on the man.” ⁷³ Shortly after that, some bystanders approached Peter. “You’ve got to be one of them. Your accent gives you away.” ^74-75 Then he got really nervous and swore. “I don’t know the man!” Just then a rooster crowed. Peter remembered what Jesus had said: “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” He went out and cried and cried and cried.” Matthew 26:69-75

Happy Valentine’s Day……

How do I love thee?  Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.
I love thee to the level of everyday’s
Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.
I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.
I love thee with the passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood’s faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints,–I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life !–and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.

Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Pastor Dave