Valley Princess

a God-centered blog about poetry, music, and art

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
    I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
    your rod and your staff,
    they comfort me” (Psalm 23:4).

Latest Posts


  • He Appeared at the Right Time

    This week’s Torah reading covers the same passage that was read not long ago for Rosh Hashanah, the binding of Isaac. In my post for the readings of Rosh Hashanah, “Rosh Hashanah: Isaac, Ishmael, and the Well,” I discuss how… Continue reading

    He Appeared at the Right Time
  • “We Are One in the Spirit” on the Native American Style Flute

    This is a recording of “We Are One in the Spirit” by Peter Scholtes transposed to the Native American style flute. Scholtes, “[a] parish priest at St. Brendan’s on the South Side of Chicago in the 1960 was very involved… Continue reading

    “We Are One in the Spirit” on the Native American Style Flute
  • In the Beginning: Remaking of You

    The Very first prophecy we have of the Messiah comes immediately after the first sin was committed. Eve ate the fruit she was told by God not to eat, and she shared with Adam. The serpent’s deception had worked. The… Continue reading

    In the Beginning: Remaking of You
  • Get Yourself Out – Out of Sin and Into Faith

    This week’s parsha focuses on the life of Abram who became Abraham. He is known for his great obedience to God and great faith. Through him came God’s promise to bless the whole world. Abraham, however, was not perfect, but… Continue reading

    Get Yourself Out – Out of Sin and Into Faith
  • Noah: Mercy Triumphs over Judgement

    God promised Noah he wouldn’t flood the earth again, not because future generations would be any better than the past ones (He actually said human hearts are still evil from youth (Gen. 6:5, 8:21), but because God chose mercy for… Continue reading

    Noah: Mercy Triumphs over Judgement
  • Sukkot Shabbat During Middle Days: Numbers 29

    Numbers chapter 29 seems like an outdated mundane list of to-do’s for a now obsolete sacrificial system, but is there more to this chapter? On the first day of Sukkot, thirteen bulls were supposed to be offered, along with other… Continue reading

    Sukkot Shabbat During Middle Days: Numbers 29
  • Sukkot (Tabernacles/Booths) 2nd Day

    As I mentioned in my last entry, a tabernacle, booth, or tent is used Biblically as an image of the physical body, which is a temporary dwelling place for the soul. Similarly, the Tabernacle of God was a temporary dwelling… Continue reading

    Sukkot (Tabernacles/Booths) 2nd Day
  • Sukkot (Tabernacles/Booths)

    Sukkot is an appointed time full of rejoicing, beginning the fifteenth day of the seventh month of the Hebrew calendar. It is the third holy day that required Israel to pilgrimage to the temple. During this time, spanning seven days,… Continue reading

    Sukkot (Tabernacles/Booths)
  • Yom Kippur: Repentance and the Well-Watered Desert Garden

    Yom Kippur is the only biblically mandated fast day or Israel. The day is spent in prayer for forgiveness of sins. At the close of the day, the final shofar is sounded, a long extended blast, and by tradition it… Continue reading

    Yom Kippur: Repentance and the Well-Watered Desert Garden
  • Vayelekh: He Went Ahead of You, For You

    Moses gave Israel the Torah, but Joshua led them into the promised land. They miraculously crossed the river that dried up at their crossing point and piled up upstream. The walls of their enemies in Jericho fell down for them.… Continue reading

    Vayelekh: He Went Ahead of You, For You