I prefer the “straight” times!  I like to be able to see how everything is fitting together.  The “crooked” times are difficult, not just because they’re crooked but because we can’t see how God is working.  Those are the times that require faith.  - Linda Dillow

European Leaders Meet in Paris as U.S. Pushes Ahead With Ukraine Plan

The leaders of many of Europe’s biggest countries on Monday descended on Paris in an effort to forge a strategy for their own security as President Trump’s envoys prepared for talks with Russia over ending the war in Ukraine without them. The meeting in Paris was pulled together rapidly, after Vice President JD Vance’s speech in Munich criticizing Europe’s exclusion of far-right groups from power and the fast-emerging American plans to begin peace talks with Russia in Saudi Arabia this week, without the presence of Ukrainian or European leaders. Expected in Paris are leaders from Germany, Britain, Italy, Poland, Spain, the Netherlands and Denmark, as well as the president of the European Council, the president of the European Commission and the secretary general of NATO. On their agenda: what Europeans are willing to commit to secure any peace deal over the war in Ukraine in the short term, and in the long term, to secure the continent as it faces an aggressive, expansionist Russia and the predicted withdrawal of the assurance of American support.

Lord God of peace and justice, we pray that wisdom and insight from the thoughtful and wise might seize the day as these negotiations unfold. We ask for a sustainable peace.  We pray for justice for Ukrainians.

Israel Says It Will Keep Troops ‘Temporarily’ in 5 Points in Lebanon

The Israeli military said on Monday that it will keep forces in five locations in southern Lebanon after a deadline for its full withdrawal lapses on Tuesday. The announcement raised fears of a resurgence in violence in southern Lebanon between Israel and Hezbollah. After more than a year of war, the two sides reached a cease-fire in late November that was contingent on both Israel and Hezbollah ceding control of southern Lebanon to the Lebanese military by the end of January. Hezbollah had long dominated the region, while Israel had captured large parts of it after invading Lebanon in September. In late January, mediators announced a three-week extension to that agreement, giving Israel more time to complete its withdrawal. The truce has frequently been punctured by bursts of violence — including an Israeli airstrike on Monday that killed a Hamas leader in southern Lebanon — but neither side has reverted to full-scale war. Now, the specter of renewed conflict looms once more after the Israeli military announced that it will keep some troops in Lebanon beyond the Feb. 18 deadline, potentially preventing some Lebanese civilians from returning home.

We pray that these troops are merely visible and represent a commitment to order, rather than a constant threat of violence, or a prelude to further conflict. God, we pray that all Lebanese civilians can return to their homes and move beyond this season of displacement and uncertainty. 

Canada Unveils Direct Air Capture And Storage (DACCS) Offset Protocol

Canada is advancing its carbon removal strategy by developing a protocol for Direct Air Carbon Dioxide Capture and Geological Storage (DACCS). This plan will establish a system for companies that extract CO2 directly from the atmosphere and permanently store it underground to generate federal offset credits. These credits will be tradable under Canada’s existing Greenhouse Gas Offset Credit System Regulations. This initiative aims to stimulate investment in the nascent field of direct air capture (DAC) technology, which is considered a critical tool for mitigating climate change.   The proposed protocol, released by Environment and Climate Change Canada, is subject to public review until March 28, 2025. Key investments and partnerships are propelling DAC development in Canada. Breakthrough Energy, founded by Bill Gates, has committed $40 million to Deep Sky for the creation of a DAC testing facility in Alberta. This site will provide a platform for companies to test and improve their carbon removal technologies, accelerating their commercial readiness.  

Creator, we pray that an “all of the above approach” be pursued. We pray that these efforts to direct air capture CO2 would be fruitful and help us reduce the amount of greenhouse gasses in our atmosphere, and that we prioritize aggressively reducing our burning of fossil fuels. May we together transition our economies and infrastructure, and may you work in our hearts to transform our hearts so that our vision of the “good life” might be aligned with your vision of a flourishing world.

Deadly storms sweep through the American South, leaving at least 9 fatalities

A major storm system with a deadly mix of heavy rains, winds and flash flooding swept through a large swath of the Southeast overnight, causing at least eight fatalities in Kentucky and one in Georgia. The storms rendered some roads impassable, damaged buildings and knocked out power to hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses. The National Weather Service reported at least one tornado overnight in Alabama, and tornado warnings were issued in multiple states. Bob Oravec, lead forecaster with the National Weather Service in College Park, Md., said the slow-moving storm system dropped significant rainfall across parts of Kentucky, Arkansas and Tennessee during the day Saturday. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said at a Sunday afternoon press conference that at least eight people had been killed in the state during the storm, including a woman and child who died in floodwaters. He said he expected the number of fatalities to rise. Another person died in Atlanta after a tree fell on their home, WANF reported. Beshear said all of Kentucky's 120 counties were impacted by the weekend storm. "The biggest challenge of this event is it's everywhere," he said. Parts of Kentucky received more than 6 inches of rain.

We pray for the departed, God. May you comfort them, and their families. We pray that Gov. Beshear, local officials, first responders, and volunteers be empowered to care for their communities. And we pray that all in crisis might turn their eyes to the helpers among them.

Becoming (part of) the Answer to our Own Prayers

U.S. Immigration Guidance for Churches & Ministry Leaders

Over the past several weeks, Thrive has received numerous inquiries from Christian Reformed congregations across the U.S. whose members have been directly or indirectly affected by recent decisions regarding immigration enforcement and refugee resettlement. Some congregations, long-engaged in refugee resettlement and serving communities with many immigrant and refugee members, now face uncertainty about how their ministries will continue. Learn more >>

Deacon Essentials

Introducing a leadership development course designed to equip those who are preparing to serve as a deacon or those who are deacons in the Christian Reformed Church. This 5-lesson, self-led course will orient your team to the teachings about deacons in the Bible, our confessions, and the ordination form for deacons. By the end of this course, you will have a deeper understanding of your role as a deacon and how you can participate in God's mission as it is uniquely embodied by your church.  Learn more »