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joheun-saram · 4 years ago

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Whenever, Wherever (jhs)

Summary- Hoseok is a time traveller but that’s not the strangest thing that has happened to him. The strangest thing is when he meets a girl he’s never seen and she tells him he’s her best friend.

word count- 6.7k

pairing- timetraveler!Hoseok x Reader

rating- R

genre- angst, fluff, smut

warnings- car accident, mention of parental death, mention of miscarriage, major character death, description of gun shot wound (but not gory), explicit smut (unprotected lovey dovey sex), hoseok pukes a lot (soz babe ily)

a.n- Ahhh I finally finished my Secret Santa fic for @thebtswritersclub! I’m so excited to reveal that I’m indeed @baepsaetan‘s secret santa 🎅🏼Day did you guess I was your ss? Did you like me subtly asking you questions about this during our sprints? hehehe! Happy new year, love! 💕

For people who can guess, this was inspired by the Doctor, River relationship and is loosely based on the Time Traveller’s Wife (eventhough I straight up have never seen the movie and literally only read the wiki page 🥴)

A huge thank you to Bella @hobisbeautifulass for beta reading for me! I’m sorry I made you cry at work!

As always feedback appreciated, a reblog and a like goes a far way. Send me an ask! 💌

The day his mother passed away was when Hoseok discovered his gift.

Stranded by himself in a large suburban park in the middle of the night, there was an eeriness surrounding the dark expanse of road. There were no cars, no streetlights, and no solace to be found on the edge of the wooded trail he stood before. His heart was still racing, adrenaline coursing through his veins as he remembered seeing the blinding lights of the trailer in front of him just moments ago, his mother’s voice ricocheting through his head. He didn’t understand how he got here, and how the loud honks and screeches of tires had fallen to give way to this deafening silence.In the distance, he hears footsteps. The crackle of crushed leaves echoing in the air as he sees a man with dark hair, dressed in a large black sweater and a pair of blue ripped jeans, step forward. In the eight years he had lived thus far he had never been as terrified. The man lifted his arm as if to reach out towards him, and Hoseok closed his eyes tight, wishing he could run away.

Before he knew what happened, he was lying in his bed under his warm, colorful duvet. He rubbed his eyes, his heart still pounding and feeling an overwhelming urge to vomit. He thought it was a dream till his father entered with a tear-streaked face to let him know about his mother’s fatal accident.

That was the first time he time traveled, but it wouldn’t be the last. He didn’t know why he could do it. He didn’t know how he could control it. All he knew was that he was drawn to certain places, certain times. It was never when he wanted, like the first time when he wished he could go back to a few hours and not be greedy for ice cream so his mother would not have to drive him. Or the time he wished he could go back to tell his grandmother he loved her. Or the time in university where he wished he had never got caught cheating and lost his scholarship.

For being a time-traveler Hoseok’s life was full of regrets but the one thing he would never regret was meeting her.

-----------

For most people time is linear. There is the past, the present, and the future. But for Hoseok, time is a tangled mess, a convoluted web of events that he can only watch unfold. Never having the power to control where he ends up, Hoseok felt helpless, like his life was a punchline for the universe. All through his life, he would wind up at weird places at weird times. He would never know how long he would be there before being zapped back to whenever he came from.

Hoseok was twenty-five, he was single, he was a music producer, but most of all, he was tired. Lately, his time jumps were too frequent, going from happening once a year or so to once every few weeks. He would find himself in odd places at odd times, sometimes it was a quaint suburban street at dawn, other times a posh private school at midnight. All to stay there for seconds before zapping in his bed, as usual, his entire day lost, nausea bitting at his throat.

“Hoseok? Oh my god! It’s really you!” The new barista at his favorite coffee shop squealed when he made it to the front of the line, jarring him from his thoughts as he aimlessly scrolled through his Instagram, trying to decipher if he missed out on anything important. He looked at her, dressed cutely in a yellow sundress with the establishment's blue and gold apron on her waist. Her hair was loose around her face, her smile brilliant, as she looked at him with excitement. She was beautiful and it took Hoseok a few moments to stop himself from his shameless ogling.

“I’m sorry, do we know each other?” he asked, confused. He would have remembered if he ever saw her. She looked pretty unforgettable. Maybe she was one of Yoongi's friends, although something tells him Yoongi would find her sunshine persona offputting.

“Yeah! You’re my best friend!” She pointed at him, as his mouth dropped. Okay, so she was crazy. Great...

“Uh…” Hoseok didn't really know how to answer that, so he decided to follow his gut and just ignore her comment. “I’m sorry. Can I just order?”

“Vanilla latte, no whip, half sugar coming right up!” She beamed as she wrote on the cup, leaving him dumbfounded.

“How did you…?”

“Told you! You’re my best friend!” She pranced away to make his drink, as he stood there confused. When she returned, she handed him a drink and Hoseok could do nothing more than smile half-heartedly as he walked away. Did he have a stalker?

He decided not to visit that coffee shop again. Better not give this crazy person any more ideas.

------------

Hoseok stood in someone's home, someone's living room, dark other than the moonlight that filtered through the windows. It was a modest room, resembling one of those he would see on television. In the center of the room, there was a bright yellow rug flanked on three sides by a couch set facing a television hooked to the wall above a fireplace. It seemed cozy, somewhere he would have liked to live.

He had no idea where he was and he cursed his gift once again. This was getting ridiculous. This was the first time he had appeared inside someone's home. He shook his head as he looked at the clock placed on one of the small tables next to the big couch.

3 am. Great. He was trespassing in the middle of the night.

He decided to escape before the owners caught wind of him. As he made his way towards the door, a family portrait caught his eye. It hung right next to the front door, framed by a beautiful gold frame.

His mouth dropped. It was him. He looked a little older, the lines next to his eyes a little deeper as he sat smiling on a grassy field, his arms around a beautiful woman in a yellow sundress holding a small infant wrapped in green blankets.

He felt his heartbeat pick up. He knew her. It was the random barista girl. The one who insisted she knew him. What the fuck?

Before Hoseok could spiral any further he heard a noise behind him. Turning he saw her, dressed in flannel pajamas, walking down the stairs. She looked around her mid-thirties, nothing like the chipper twenty-something he'd seen last week.

He stood there blinking at her as she came closer, awe on her features that quickly morphed into sorrow. She touched his face gently as if in disbelief that he was there as her eyes glistened in the moonlight.

"Hobi?" She spoke, her voice was hoarse as a tear slipped down her cheek. Hoseok didn't know why but he felt his heart lurch at her tears. He had no idea who she was but he felt this innate pull towards her. He wanted to hold her, wipe her tears, and most fucked up of all, he wanted to kiss her.

"I- who are you?" He asked softly, his hand coming to hold hers as if he couldn't help himself, leaning slightly into her touch.

"We haven't met yet?" Her voice was wet with tears as she sniffled, moving closer to him. She hugged him, wrapping her arms around him tightly as if to feel if he was really there. He stood silently as she squeezed him close, and wrapped his arms around her when she started sobbing into his chest. He held her tight as she cried, his eyes brimming with sympathetic tears.

"I missed you so much Hoseok," she said as she looked up at him. He had never seen a more beautiful woman in his life. Before he could think, he was leaning down to capture her lips with his own, his heart in his throat. She tasted like strawberries and mint, and he felt his head turn into a haze. Before he could deepen the kiss, he felt the familiar feeling in the pit of his stomach. He pulled apart as he saw her fade slowly, trying his hardest to hold on to her as she did the same.

All too soon, the familiar sight of his bedroom materialized as he stood there alone, her last words ringing in his head.

"No! Please! It's too soon!"

He didn't know when he started crying, but soon he was kneeling on his floor sobbing for a girl he didn't even know the name of.

-----------

Hoseok didn't know when he fell asleep, but he woke up on the floor of his bedroom, his face puffy and back sore. Without a second thought, he rose from his position, grabbed his keys, and bolted out of his apartment. He had to find her.

It took him six days to meet her again. Six days of anxiety, amped up from the coffees he chugged as he visited the coffee shop at different hours. He couldn't even describe her properly, every time he went to the cashier to tell them how she looked they gave him an odd look. Maybe it was because by the third day he looked like a deranged stalker, describing her height and her build to anyone who worked there. He was surprised they hadn't banned him yet.

On the sixth day, she waltzed in and sat across from him, not a care in the world. Her smile was wide, a juxtaposition to the sad, older version of her he was fixated on. She wore a polka-dotted dress which hitched up a little as she crossed her legs. Hoseok was speechless as he almost choked on his coffee.

"You told me to meet you earlier but honestly, I just wanted to annoy you a little." She giggled, her hand coming up to cover her mouth, her eyes lit with mirth, and the stress of finding her hit him like a ton of bricks. Hoseok jumped out of his seat, his arms around her shaking as he tried to control his breathing. His mind was fuzzy, he had no reason to react this way, but he couldn't help himself. He didn't know her but he missed her. His heart was beating a mile a minute as he held her tighter.

"What took you so long?" He asked his voice a little hoarse from not speaking all day, his breath coming out in puffs against her neck. She hummed a little apology as her hand reached his hair, stroking his scalp in a way that made him instantly relax. He melted into her, her sweet floral scent a balm to his anxious nerves.

"Do you even know my name yet?" She spoke, her voice light and airy, as he finally let go of her. He cleared his throat in embarrassment, the tips of his ears turning as red as the beanie atop his head. He settled back in his chair awkwardly staring at her, fiddling with the string of his sweatpants that laid on his thigh. He looked up at her smiling face, as she put her hand on top of his. "It's Y/N. It's nice to finally meet you, Hoseok."

Her words were simple but their effect was anything but. Hoseok felt like everything in his world made sense, that all those times he had puked after a shitty trip down the stitch of time was worth it. Her hand was so soft, skin so perfectly smooth as her thumb stroked his hand, that Hoseok had a hard time finding words to express how he was feeling.

He looked at her shyly, not knowing where his nerves were coming from, as he smiled, meeting her warm eyes.

"It's nice to finally meet you too, Y/N."

----------

Hoseok sighed in annoyance as he walked down the path of the familiar suburban neighborhood. The sun shone brightly, and all he wanted to do was to be zapped out of here so he could end up in bed next to his girlfriend. It had been barely thirty seconds since he saw her, her soft skin molded against his as she slept next to him, her hair tickling his nose as he spooned her. He missed her already. This wasn't fair. Why did he have to walk around this stupid cul-de-sac when he could be wrapped in her warmth?

Ever since the coffee shop, things with her had progressed extremely fast. He couldn't help himself. He never felt as close to someone as instantly before. Granted, he knew they were going to get married and have a beautiful child together, but that didn't mean he knew how fast he was going to fall for her.

The day he first learned her name, he couldn't wipe the giddy smile off his face. She was different than any other woman he had met. She was outgoing and optimistic, and brave. Much braver than him. While he stuttered to ask her for her number, she leaned across the table grabbed his phone, unlocking it as if by magic, and added her phone number in. While he wrote and rewrote eighteen different texts, pacing in his living room, she beat him to it with a casual "Stop overthinking, dummy. It's only me!"

How could he stop overthinking? It was her. His dream girl gift-wrapped and sent to him by fate. He never thought his gift would be good for anything, but she was here and all his previous suffering finally made sense.

As he walked along the sidewalk, biding his time, he approached a bus stop. It was cute, and definitely not from his decade. A janky blue bus stopped, and out she walked, making Hoseok miss his step and almost trip. She was dressed in a school uniform, a crisp white shirt with a plaid skirt, a cute flower-shaped backpack on her shoulders, and her hands full of college pamphlets. Hoseok couldn't help the smile that overtook his features. He wanted to run up to her but he realized even if she was his girlfriend now, it was still a crime to approach a minor. His gift was so stupid.

He stood there, averting his stare and looking at his shoes instead, as she walked closer to him. He promised himself not to be a creep and try to talk to her but her voice makes him break his resolve.

"Ew. Can you not get a hint? Get away from me, you creep!" she yelled and Hoseok's head snapped up. He felt his face flare with rage as he watched a kid around her age try to put his arm around her as she tried to shove him off. The kid was relentless, throwing cheesy pickup lines her way as she continuously rejected him. He wanted to beat that little shit to a pulp.

Clearing his throat, he approached the two. "Dude, she said no. Get off her," he spoke through gritted teeth.

"What's it to you, old man?" The boy rolled his eyes, his hand still wrapped around her as she pleaded at Hoseok with her eyes. Hoseok wasn't old! He wasn't even thirty yet! He hated this kid.

"It's not nice to forego consent, kid," he sneered, schooling his face into the coldest expression he could muster. It seemed to have worked because one look at Hoseok's face and the future sex offender had his hand to himself before he walked off with a huff. Hoseok glared at him as he disappeared in the opposite direction. Good riddance.

"Thank you so much!" Her voice was higher than it was now, a little spring to it that only comes from innocence as she looked at him with round eyes. "You're like my own personal superhero!"

Hoseok felt awkward. He never wanted to talk to her here. Running his hands through his hair, he smiled at her, throwing an awkward "Any time!" as he rushed away. The feeling in his gut was back and he had never been happier to want to throw up. The afternoon sun faded as he stood in his own room, blinded and running to where he knew his trash can was.

As he vomited into the plastic can, he felt a hand rub soothingly down his back. She handed him a water bottle when he sat up next to the bin, his head aching.

"Welcome back, babe. When did you go this time?" She giggled at her own joke. God, Hoseok loved that laugh.

----------

Hoseok was nervous. He hadn't been this nervous in a really long time. Surrounded by all his friends dressed in custom tuxedos, he fidgeted with his bowtie, and scrutinizing his reflection in the mirror he fixed the lapels of the blood-red jacket he was wearing. Who convinced him this gaudy suit was perfect for the occasion? Oh yeah, his bride.

Jung Hoseok thought he'd accomplish a lot of things by the time he was thirty-one. He thought he would have signed to a major label as an in-house producer (he did), he thought he would be living in a beautifully decorated apartment downtown (he does), he thought he would have a cute little dog to welcome him home (Mickey is adorable, in case you were wondering), but he never thought he would be waiting at the end of the aisle for someone who would want to share their life with him.

Ever since she came into his life, Hoseok felt like it was filled with sunshine. She brightened every aspect of it. The first time he kissed her, really kissed her, it felt like happiness was resonating through his entire skeleton - like she was the one thing missing in his world. The first time he told her he loved her he almost threw up from the nerves knotting in his stomach.

He promised himself he wouldn't cry, but he couldn't help himself as she walked in. She had foregone the usual white gown, quoting something about the patriarchy, as she walked towards him in a dress, equally as red as his suit.

Her smile was wide and he was in awe of her beauty. He sniffled through his vows and she winked at him through hers, a simple gesture that made him chuckle and relaxed the emotions brewing in him. She could always do that with the simplest of things, be it a touch or a look. He kissed her with passion as their friends and family cheered. He hoped she didn't mind how much he was blubbering. He promised himself he wouldn't cry.

Their wedding was one of the best moments of his entire life. Dancing to cheesy music, cheek to cheek, the couple in red stood out amongst others in black. Hoseok was so in love that he didn't even mind when at the end of the night he felt the familiar buzz in his ears. He was slightly upset that he abandoned his new wife on his wedding night, but is it abandonment when the hotel lobby fades into what he knows now is his future home?

He saw her there, sitting on the couch, a frown on her face as she seemingly stared into space, dressed in a set of comfy pajamas and he couldn't control himself. Whispering her name so as not to startle her, he moved towards her when she smiled up at him. Sitting next to her on the couch, he pulled her to him with a grin. She giggled as she settles herself on his lap, running her hands over his jacket, before soothingly scratching his scalp. Hoseok couldn't help but lean into her touch, a goofy grin on his face. He was sickeningly in love.

"If it isn't my handsome new husband. I've been waiting for my wedding night for years." She joked as she pulled his face to hers, kissing him deeply. Hoseok's heart lurched in his chest as a little whine escaped him. She isn't surprised in the least to see him there, and why would she be? In the past five years, Hoseok has visited so many different versions of her. In a way, it's part of how he fell in love with her. She may only be thirty-one to him, but he'd seen her at every stage of her life.

As she deepened their kiss, his hands went around her waist squeezing her tight as she ground on him gently. He remembers the different versions of her as he feels his blood rush through his body, each touch sparking electricity under his skin. He remembered when he first laid eyes on her in that small cafe, his nerves on their first date, her tears when he proposed, the first time he had her under him after she invited him for a movie. But he also remembered her at six playing in the sandbox in the park, sixteen and humming to pop songs while she walked home, thirty-six as she cried in his arms, seventy when she looked frayed and weak but still beautiful. He had seen all of her life, moments that he was lucky enough to be brought to more often as he fell more in love with her. He had visited her hundreds of times, and he couldn't wait to do that for the rest of his life.

He kissed down her neck, leaving little bites that he soothed with his tongue as she undressed him, his jacket somewhere on the floor, his shirt mostly buttoned. She moaned as he cupped her breasts, a beautifully airy noise that set his heart on fire.

Soon the two were breathless and naked as he hovered above her on the couch. She arched into him as he entered her, her little whines encouraging him. He latched his lips on her hard nipples, nipping them how he knows she loves. She fit him so perfectly, always so perfect for him. His wife, his soulmate, his Y/N.

"I love you, wife," he whispered and placed his forehead on hers, his hips thrusting into her heat, as he relished the connection between them. He kissed her deep, almost overwhelmed by how perfectly their lips slotted together. He could kiss her forever.

"I love you, husband," she whispered into his mouth, and his pace increased, a hand coming down to rub at her clit. She writhed under him as he pushes her off the edge. Her legs shaking around him, her heels poking into his back, as he savored the way her walls pulled him in. He was panting when he came, filling her up and babbling a chant of her name.

He pecked her face about a thousand times as they both laid on the couch boneless and giggling. When he, inevitably, ends up back on his bedroom floor, he saw her smirking at his naked body on the floor, dressed in his t-shirt, her hair still wet from her shower. She squatted next to him.

"And where is your suit?" she chided, her lips lifting, even when she tries to pretend she's mad.

"We'll get it back in a few years." Hoseok shrugged as he pulled her into a kiss, missing her body next to him already.

----------

The bar Hoseok sat at is loud, too loud for the conversation Yoongi keeps trying to have with him, and that's precisely why he chose it. Next to their table is a bachelorette party, a gaggle of women dressed in feather boas and plastic tiaras, sloshing drinks on themselves as they excitedly laugh. It's an odd contrast to the way he's feeling, the atmosphere on his own table somber.

"So what? You're going to leave your wife at home and get wasted here? Is that what you do now, Hobi?" Yoongi scolded his friend but Hoseok was already too far gone, having had a few bottles of beers before even inviting Yoongi out. He knew he was an asshole, he didn't need Yoongi to remind him, but he needed to escape.

His once happy marriage was becoming tumultuous, and, no it wasn't because they didn't love each other anymore, but quite the opposite. The past two years had really shown him that even if they were fighting and yelling, they still loved each other. Even when they were mad they crawled into bed together at the end of the day and held each other, not being able to sleep otherwise.

Their marriage started off great. There were cuddles in the kitchen, dance parties in the living room, vacations in Rome, and a night where they both sat next to each other on the floor by the bathroom holding hands as they waited with a little blue stick. They made love on that floor when it showed two lines, but that wasn't a surprise - Hoseok had seen his child in that photo the first time he kissed her.

The surprise was when she woke him up in the middle of the night, thirteen weeks into the pregnancy clutching her stomach, tears running down her face. He had never felt as scared as he did at that moment, breaking all the traffic laws he could get away with to get her to the emergency room. He held her hand through the ultrasound, through the exam where she winced, and through the doctor solemnly telling them they had had a miscarriage. He didn't let himself cry in front of her, always wanting to be brave, but he sobbed when she slept, knowing that he had a child but gaining little solace from the fact as he mourned.

The second time the two lines showed up, they were careful. He waited on her hand and foot, working from home, ensuring she got the proper nutrients. The result was another trip to the emergency room and another night of tears holding each other. By the fourth time, they stopped being surprised, just two zombies driving calmly to the hospital, before returning home. She went to the bedroom, while Hoseok drank himself into a stupor, before asking Yoongi to meet him here.

Hoseok knew he had a child, but he felt hopeless, drowning in the undercurrent of hurt and apathy. He loved his wife, loved her more than anything in the world but he couldn't bear to look at her tonight, couldn't bear to convince her once again that he had seen their child. Maybe they adopted he thought bitterly as he switched from beer to shots.

He walked home in a drunken haze despite Yoongi's worried insistence that he take a cab. Somewhere during his walk, he had started crying, tears painting his face and sending shivers down his body as they cooled in the evening chill. He wished he could fix it for her, she was always so brave, always so supportive of his stupid ideas and moods. Every time they had a fight, she was the first to apologize, a smile on her face as she cracked a joke and tickled him till all his worries were forgotten.

Drowning in self-pity, he barely noticed the buzz in his ears as he entered his house. Stumbling into the living room he saw her sitting on the couch with a cup of tea. He stared at her as he realized he was in the future, her hair greying, and her skin wrinkled. He didn't know how to react, but the tears returned as he rushed to her falling on his knees as he held onto her legs.

"I'm so sorry, baby. I'm so sorry." He apologized again and again. He didn't care that this version of her wasn't the one that needed to hear him, but he felt like a terrible husband, a terrible partner, as he kissed her knees. She stroked his hair and shushed him with a soft smile.

"What happened, Hobi?" she asked, her voice gentle, and he felt all his walls come down as he told her things he was sure already knew. He felt exhausted, every cell in his body aching. He laid on the couch, head in her lap as she listened to him, consoling him with the wisdom of a life lived.

After he had fallen silent, sober, and unable to convey any more emotions, she spoke.

"Hobi. You have to be nicer to yourself. You were the perfect husband. The perfect soulmate." Her words were meant to be soothing, but as soon as he heard them he felt like ice was running through his veins. He sat up immediately, looking at her with wide eyes.

"Were?"

"I shouldn't have said anything..." She looked guilty, hurt crossing across her features, as she ran her hands up and down his arms.

"No! Y/N... I die?" His voice was small, almost timid towards the end of the sentence, as he held her hands to ground himself.

"I'm sorry, baby." Her eyes glistened as she cupped one of his cheeks, looking at him sadly.

"When?"

"I'm not telling you. You'll go insane." She was firm in her resolution, her tone taking cadence that she always used with him when declaring the end of a conversation. But Hoseok couldn't help himself. He was going to die, he was going to leave her. He felt like his heart was going to beat out of his chest.

"I'm already going insane! You have to tell me. What if I can stop it? We can be together. I don't want to leave you!" He pleaded, his eyes wide in panic.

"Hobi... You've never left me. You visit so often." She spoke with a small smile, seemingly reminiscing.

"Please! Please or else I'll go every day knowing it's my last with you. I - I can't do that. Please." He was almost whining at his point and he didn't care how desperate he sounded. He just wanted to know how much time he had with her. He was so stupid, how could he leave to get drunk while she waited for him at home. He didn't deserve the way this version of her was looking at him with such love.

"I barely even remember when it happened." He knew she was lying, could see it from the way her gaze averted his. Hesitantly she continued. "I'll... I'll just tell you. It's the day after you see yourself for the first time."

"See myself?" He repeated, his brain running through his memories. He would have remembered if he saw himself. It would be hard to forget, but he came up empty, tears of frustration lining his eyes as he ran his hand through his hair.

"That's all you told me. That you saw yourself and you felt bad for not being able to give yourself advice."

"I won't ever leave you. I promise. I'll come back. As much as I can." He kissed her at that, repeatedly, her lips soft under his. She knew he couldn't control his ability, but she smiled at him anyway, agreeing with his promise, telling him she'll see him soon, even if she had no idea if that was true.

When he was transported back to his room, he couldn't help himself from heaving on the floor, the contents of his stomach painting the hardwood. As always, she rushed to him, wiping his tears and walking him to the bathroom. She helped him change, before cleaning up after him, despite his protests, as she glared at him every time he tried to sit up from the bed.

When she returned from putting the cleaning supplies away, she shut the door to their bedroom, and there, on the hook behind it, hung his wedding suit, the crimson a bright splash of color amongst the white. She followed his eyes, giggling a little.

"You already made up for being an ass, don't worry," she joked, fingers poking at his side to tickle him gently.

Hoseok had missed her laugh. Missed it so much. He cut her off before she could say anything else, whispering apologies against her lips. He was never going to leave her.

---------

He was in a park, the trees throwing looming shadows under the moonlight as he walked around. He recognized this park, it was the one near her childhood home. She had taken him there during their first Christmas together, and he still remembered the silly grin on her face as she showed him the sandbox where she used to spend all her days as a kid, making sandcastles. He smiled at the memory. It was the first time in a while that his time travels hadn't taken him straight to her and he missed not being able to see which part of her life he was visiting.

He walked about reminiscing about his day. It was his daughter's third birthday and he felt a little bad leaving his wife to clean up the mess. He couldn't believe Soojin was three already. He pulled out his phone, scrolling through photographs as he waltzed down memory lane. He smiled softly at the photo from the day she was born. She was so tiny then, her little, pink heart-shaped lips in a pout as she stretched, her eyes almost disappearing beneath her chubby cheeks.

He kept his eyes glued to his phone, looking at photo after photo. There was one of her covered in mushed peas and he remembered how long it took him to get the mess out of the living room rug. There was one of her dressed as spiderman who she had declared her favorite recently after watching the cartoon on Netflix, doing the signature web-shooting pose. There was one of holding on to her mom as she walked for the first time. Hoseok's heart felt full, and he couldn't wait to get back home.

He decided to keep up with the tradition of seeing his wife every time he skipped through time and started walking towards her house, deciding to take the shortcut she had shown him. Humming a little, he placed his hands in his pockets as he strolled along, thinking about the delicious cake he had custom ordered for the party. He could probably eat the whole thing. Would it taste as good after it's been in the fridge?

His musings came to a quick stop however as he looked into the distance, just at the exit of the wooded path. There, dressed in a yellow sweatshirt with a giant dog on the front and jeans that didn't quite reach the ankles, was an eight-year-old boy. He walked closer and his heart stopped as he saw himself for the first time. He was crying, sniffling in the air, and as Hoseok approached his younger self, he vanished into the air.

He felt the air leave his lungs as he stumbled in his steps, falling on to the ground.

"That's all you told me. That you saw yourself and you felt bad for not being able to give yourself advice."

No. It's too soon. He couldn't collect his thoughts as they rushed through his head barely leaving a trace. When he had that conversation four years ago he thought he had more time. Soojin was just three years old. He thought he would have years, that he would see graduations and intimidate boyfriends, and walk her down the aisle. It's too soon.

He could feel himself hyperventilating, his breaths short and his ears echoing with his heartbeat, as he tried to collect himself. He looked at his hands shaking in his lap and his eyes focused on his outfit. How could he have forgotten what the man in his memory was wearing? He put on these ripped jeans this morning, the same jeans that haunted him for the first sixteen years of his life. How could he have not realized that he was the creepy old man he had nightmares about as a kid?

Trying to control his breathing, he started to formulate a plan. He didn't want Y/N to know, he didn't want her to go through the emotions he was going through right now, because she would go through so much worse when he was gone. He sat in the park and let himself cry, hoping that he wouldn't have to leave soon because leaving meant saying goodbye and he was not ready yet. It's too soon.

---------

Hoseok awoke with a sinking feeling in his heart and a lump in his throat. It was the day he had been dreading since before he learned her name. He hated that he didn't have enough time. Enough time to hold her, enough time to watch his daughter grow up, enough time to build a bigger family.

He found the other side of the bed empty and standing up with a groan, he moved to the room next door. He stroked his daughter's cheek a tear spilling out his eye that he quickly wiped. Bending down, he kissed her little cheek, sniffing her calming scent.

"Daddy loves you, baby. Daddy will always love you. Please be good for your mommy okay?"

She only moved a little at his words, sighing before continuing to snooze. Hoseok ran his hands over his face, his heartbeat accelerating. He looked at the mirror in the corner and practiced his smile a few times. He had to be brave. He had to be brave for her, for both of them.

He walked into the kitchen, schooling his expression into one of bliss, as he saw her standing in her underwear and one of his t-shirts, and his heart felt hollow. He loved her so much. He hated that he had to leave this way, but that was his fate from the beginning, wasn't it? Their whole relationship, everything, started from and led to this moment. Padding over to her, he put his arms around her squeezing her tight, his chest molding perfectly to her back as it always did.

She giggled as she leaned into him, softly caressing his arms and making him nuzzle further into her neck. He took in her delicate scent and tried to control his breathing. He could not break.

"Someone's cuddly this morning," she commented, turning around with a grin.

"I just love you, that's all."

She cooed as he brought his lips to hers. What he intended to be a gently good morning kiss, turned into so much more as he lost control of his emotions. He kissed her like he would forget her taste, but it wasn't him who would be dwelling on this moment for years to come.

When the two broke apart, he cupped her cheek as he felt the familiar buzz in his ears.

"You know I love you more than anything in the world right?" He whispered before he started to see his kitchen fade away.

Her voice echoed as he was teleported into a dark room, momentarily blinded.

"Aww, I love you too, my Hobi!"

He fumbled around a little and then he heard it - a loud gunshot, shattering his eardrums. The sound hurt more than the sudden sharp pain in his chest, he thought, as he gasped for air, stumbling to the ground. The lights in the room turned on then and he saw the younger version of his father in law, demanding something, his voice inaudible.

She never told him details about this moment, but kind of fitting that it was in the hands of her father. He never did like Hoseok much anyway. His breaths felt shallow as he chuckled at the irony. Or was it justice? Karma? He didn't know. Nevermind, his chest hurt far more than his eardrums. Fuck, being shot is a bitch.

He felt the nauseous pull for the last time as he dropped into his bedroom. The last thing he saw was his wife rushing over to him. Oh, she was so beautiful, he was so lucky she chose him.

For being a time-traveler Hoseok’s life was full of regrets but the one thing he would never regret was meeting her, even if that was the reason he lost her.

—

I hope you liked this super sad angst piece, for more fics of mine check out my masterlist

#thebtswritersclub #houseofddaeng #jhope angst #hoseok angst #hoseok fanfic #hoseok smut #hoseok fluff #jhope fluff #jhope imagines #jhope smut #jhope x reader #bts fic #bts fanfiction #btsnoonanet #purplearmynet #hoseok x reader

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orthodoxydaily · 4 years ago

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Saint&Reading: Mon., Oct. 12, 2020

September 29_Julian calendar

Venerable Cyriacus the Hermit of Palestine (556)

The Monk Kyriakos was born at Corinth into the family of a presbyter of the cathedral church, John and his wife Eudoxia. The bishop of Corinth, Peter, being a kinsman and seeing that Kyriakos was growing up as a quiet and sensible lad, made him a reader in church. Constant reading of the Holy Scriptures awakened in him a spirit of love for the Lord and of a yearning for a pure and saintly life. Once, when the youth was not yet 18 years old, during a church service he was so deeply moved by the words of the Gospel: "Whosoever would to come after Me, let him deny himself and raise up his cross and follow Me" (Mt. 16: 24), that immediately – not returning home – he went to the harbour, got onto a ship and set off to Jerusalem. Having visited the holy places, Kyriakos dwelt for several months at a monastery not far from Sion in obedience to the hegumen Abba Eustorgios, by whose blessing he made his way to the wilderness Laura of the Monk Euthymios the Great (Comm. 20 January). The Monk Euthymios, discerning in the youth great Divine gifts, vowed him into the monastic form and set him under the guidance of the Monk Gerasimos (Comm. 4 March), pursuing asceticism at Jordan in the monastery of Saint Theoktistos. Saint Gerasimos, seeing the youthfulness of Kyriakos, ordered him to live in the regular community with the brethren. The young monk easily accomplished the monastic obediences, – he prayed fervently, he slept little, food he partook of only every other day, nourishing himself but with bread and water. During the period of great Lent Saint Gerasimos, having set out according to custom into the Ruv wilderness returning to the monastery only on Palm Sunday, – began also to take Kyriakos with him. In the complete solitude the ascetics redoubled their efforts. The Monk Gerasimos each Sunday communed his student with the Holy Mysteries. After the death of the Monk Gerasimos, the 27 year old Kyriakos returned to the Laura of the Monk Euthymios, but he too was no longer among the living. The Monk Kyriakos asked for himself a solitary cell and there he pursued asceticism in silence, communicating only with the monk Thomas. But soon Thomas was sent to Alexandria where he was ordained bishop, and Saint Kyriakos spent 10 years in total silence. At 37 years of age he was ordained to the dignity of deacon. When a split occurred between the monasteries of the Monk Euthymios and the Monk Theoktistos, Saint Kyriakos withdrew to the Sukea monastery of the Monk Chariton (Comm. 28 September). At this monastery they took in monks entering anew as new-beginners, and so also was Saint Kyriakos received, humbly toiling at the regular monastic obediences. After several years the Monk Kyriakos was ordained priest and chosen canonarch [service canon arranger] and did this obedience for 18 years. The Monk Kyriakos spent 30 years at the monastery of the Monk Chariton. Strict fasting and total lack of evil distinguished the Monk Kyriakos even among the ascetics of the Laura. In his cell each night he read the Psalter, interrupting the reading only so as to go to church at midnight. The ascetic slept very little. When the monk reached 70 years of age, he went to the Natupha wilderness – taking with him his disciple John. In the wilderness the hermits nourished themselves only with bitter grasses, which through the prayer of Saint Kyriakos was rendered edible. After a period of five years one of the inhabitants found out about the ascetics and brought to them his demon-possessed son, and Saint Kyriakos healed him. From that time many people began to approach the monk with their needs, but he sought complete solitude and fled to the Ruv wilderness, where he dwelt five years more. But the sick and demon-afflicted came to him in this wilderness, and the monk healed them with the sign of the Cross and prayer. At his 80th year of life the Monk Kyriakos fled to the hidden Susakim wilderness, where two parched streams passed by. According to tradition, the holy Prophet David brought Susakim to attention: "Thou driest up the river Itham" (Ps. 73 [74]: 15). After seven years brethren of the Sukea monastery came to him, beseeching his spiritual help during the time of onset, through the sufferance of God, of debilitating hunger and illness. They implored Saint Kyriakos to return to the monastery, and the monk settled into a cave, in which the Monk Chariton had earlier asceticised. The Monk Kyriakos rendered great help to the Church in the struggle with the spreading heresy of the Origenists; by prayer and word he returned the misled to the true way, and strengthening the Orthodox in their faith. The author of the Vita (Life) of the Monk Kyriakos, a monk of the Laura of the Monk Euthymios named Cyril, was a witness, when the Monk Kyriakos predicted the pending death of the chief heretics Jonah and Leontios, and soon the heresy would cease to spread. The MostHoly Mother of God Herself commanded the Monk Kyriakos to keep to the Orthodox teaching in its purity: Having appeared to him in a dream together with the Saints John the Baptist and John the Theologian, She refused to enter into the cell of the monk because in it was a book with the words of the heretic Nestorius. "In your cell – is My enemy", She said (Comm. of appearance of the MostHoly Mother of God to the Monk Kyriakos is 8 June). At his 99th year of life the monk Kyriakos again went off to Susakim and lived there with his disciple John. In the wilderness an huge lion waited on the Monk Kyriakos, protecting him from robbers, but it did not bother wandering brethren and it ate from the monk's hand. Once in the heat of summer all the water in the pit dried up, where during winter the ascetics had stored up water, and there was no other source of water. The Monk Kyriakos prayed, and here amidst the desert there poured forth copious rain, filling the pit with water. For the two years before his death the Monk Kyriakos returned to the monastery and again settled into the cave of the Monk Chariton. Until the end of his life the righteous elder preserved his courage, and standing with fervour he sang. He was never without deeds, either he prayed, or he worked. Before death the Monk Kyriakos summoned the brethren, gave blessing to all and with a prayer he quietly expired to the Lord, having lived 109 years.

Philippians 1:1-7

1 Paul and Timothy, bondservants of Jesus Christ, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, 5 for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now,6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ; 7 just as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers with me of grace.

Luke 4:37-44

37And the report about Him went out into every place in the surrounding region. 38 Now He arose from the synagogue and entered Simon's house. But Simon's wife's mother was sick with a high fever, and they made request of Him concerning her. 39 So He stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. And immediately she arose and served them. 40 When the sun was setting, all those who had any that were sick with various diseases brought them to Him; and He laid His hands on every one of them and healed them. 41 And demons also came out of many, crying out and saying, "You are the Christ, the Son of God!" And He, rebuking them, did not allow them to speak, for they knew that He was the Christ. 42 Now when it was day, He departed and went into a deserted place. And the crowd sought Him and came to Him, and tried to keep Him from leaving them; 43 but He said to them, "I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent." 44 And He was preaching in the synagogues of Galilee.

#orthodoxy #orthodoxchristianity #ancient christianity #originofchristianity #spirituality #holyscriptures #gospel #sacredtexts #wisdom

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honnismoked · 6 years ago

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i think its about time i open up about why i emphasize whimzy’s motherly traits so much in regards to the developments with azrael, danté, mimi, quartz, and candara all being her precious children.

coming back to whimzy was something i’d wanted to do since i deleted hcneylipped. it really was. she’s one of my oldest characters in my time as a roleplayer, and genuinely has a place in my heart. i never reflected on her too much; at least, not up until early 2018, where i entered probably the most depressing period of my life so far.

in the transition to winter and spring, my mother one day drops me off at school. a normal thing. but something was off. her expressions seemed wrong. it was subtle, but i noticed. i thought she was just having a weird day because she sometimes had those.

and later on she tells me something came up, and that my grandma is going to pick me up and bring me home. i text her back okay, and she sends me an ‘i love you’ text, and i send one back.

usually she gets my aunt to pick me up for things like this, but since my cousins james and david just recently came into the picture at that point, it didn’t weigh on me too much.

i don’t hear anything from her 4 hours after i get home.

then my dad gets back. i made myself some chef boyardee earlier. i was hungry.

he doesn’t know where she is, either. i’ve been texting her with no response. he’s been texting her with no response.

and then he calls my grandma, clearly panicked, and a pit in my stomach just starts rising. something wasn’t okay, and i couldn’t piece anything together.

as it turns out, she got a call from a hospital in the city right over from ours. my mom’s there. he tells grammy to give the worker who called her my dad’s number, and soon enough, he gets a call saying that she’s in the hospital and only gives us “you should get here as soon as you can” in regards to her condition.

my entire mind is racing. we both rush to get in the car and head to the hospital, and the ride is silent. im really close to both my parents, but my dad i’ve always had a certain looseness around. that didn’t seem to hold here. it was just filled with tension, and he’s just rushing as fast as he can.

when we get to the area finally, i’m very close to bursting into tears as the doctor has to pull me away from my father to explain the situation to him. im just sitting in the corner, trying to keep myself from crying uncontrollably about this.

at one point, they call my grandparents, and they get up there. i still haven’t been allowed to see my mother. finally, then, after what seemed like hours to me, my dad comes back from talking with my mom and he’s clearly been crying, and he just gives me a big hug, the tightest you can imagine as i just start bawling. i don’t know whats going on. im so confused.

im eventually allowed to go see her. she sounds weak, looks pale, and her entire bed is covered in dried blood and so is her gown. she doesn’t tell me what happened, but im slowly gathering it together.

it all clicks when the paramedic who saved my moms life comes into the ward to check on her, and explains how she was lucky that she even survived. any moment later and she would’ve been gone. she was bleeding out in a tub.

my mom had tried to kill herself. i keep that observation to myself until my grandparents and father are ready to tell me, but it still... weighs on me.

the next week is me actively visiting her in the hospital with my dad while i start walking home on my own so he doesn’t have to go through the hassle of getting someone to pick me up. it was overdue anyway.

it gave me time to think.

i hate the look of hospital rooms now.

but it doesn’t compare to how i despise the look of the distressed patient ward in a mental facility, though.

after this incident, my mother was forced to admit for the sake of her mental health. the first two days she was left in the distressed patient ward that had no doors and people who definitely were worse off than my mother was. being there stressed her uncontrollably, and i cried a lot in talking to her during the limited hours we had to visit.

thankfully, she got moved to the better side after it was made clear she was putting in all the effort to improve herself.

she was out of there within 2-3 weeks, i feel. now she’s on proper medication and i have never been the same when thinking about scenarios where she’s gone from my life.

azrael and candara are my two releases for this part of me.

azrael, the part that makes up the messy emotions of all of that. all the snotty, messy crying i did. candara, the part of me that hid stuff in. shut it away until it just spilled over into reality.

i do not know what i would do if i got rid of whimzy for good. that’s the same exact emotion i feel in regards to my mom.

as i type this, there are still tears rolling down my face because of course i can’t do this without crying, but...

i hadn’t opened up about this in this specific rpc, when i did in another. and i felt it was time to tell why those familial relationships developed so fast and so quickly.

if you’re still reading this, i just want to say thank you. being in this rpc is a genuine gift because i’ve met so many friends through it, some being long-lasting. i don’t know what i’d do without it. undertale has changed my social life and my mental health all for the better, and its undefinable how much i care for all of this.

thank you.

#{🐝} out of character.#vent post #suicide attempt mention #suicide attempt tw #(its not me attempting)

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updcbc · 8 years ago

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April 30, 2017 - “God, Our Delight” Psalm 103

I-click ang “KEEP READING” para basahin ang buong mensahe.

Kenneth Scott Latourette (1884-1968), the esteemed Christian historian, gives an honest portrait of his life:

“In conclusion I want to say my life has been a guided life. Many things I wouldn’t reveal to you. God has to forgive a lot. The older I grew the more I am aware of his mercy. As I look back the more I am convinced, in spite of all the sins...not just blunders...that the good Lord has been forgiving and using me.”

It is worthwhile for us to pause for a moment and reflect on his words. This portrait of life serves as a mirror to our souls. It is worth to digest every well-chosen word, phrase and statement.

We may choose the personal pronoun “my.” It takes much grace to reveal who we really are. We may focus on the phrase “a guided life.” It takes much conviction to acknowledge the sovereign hands of God at work in our spiritual journey. And we may dwell on this thought, “God has to forgive a lot.” It takes much courage to unveil the sinfulness and brokenness of our hearts. Latourette made a good confession. Isn’t this the hidden cry of our hearts? In his divine mercy, may God be our pure delight.

What does it mean to delight in God? Delight in God is best understood by men and women who acknowledged the depravity of their souls. From a broken and contrite heart, we yield our whole being in the hands of our merciful God. And from the depths of our hearts we offer a song of prayer to our God.

This is the essence of the book of Psalms. A song of prayer is an intimate language of the heart. A prayerful song keeps our souls in tune with the heart of God. King David, the beloved singer of Israel, invites us to one of his living psalms. Let his song be our prayer, “Praise the LORD, my soul; all my inmost being praise his holy name” (Psalm 103:1). This soothing psalm calls us to delight in God for good reasons. We are called to cherish the blessings which God our Father provides for our personal lives (vv. 2-5). We are called to declare his wonderful works as the Good Shepherd to his people (vv. 6-18). And we are called to exalt his dominion as our sovereign Lord who rules over all of creation (vv. 19-22).

A. Cherish His Blessings (The Father to his Children)

Worship is the sublime expression of our devotion to God. To delight in the Lord is to praise him with our whole being. And we praise him by acknowledging that he is the very source of every spiritual blessing he richly poured on us. We join King David with his song of praise, “Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits” (103:2). What are these blessings we need to cherish?

1. Forgiveness

We cherish being forgiven by God. “Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits—who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases” (103:3). In the mind of David, as expressed in the parallelism of each verse of his song, sin is the worst spiritual disease any fallen human being can ever bear; likewise, forgiveness is the greatest spiritual healing a sinful soul can ever receive. Forgiveness is the greatest gift God can ever give to a sinner. This is an irreversible act of grace. When the Lord has forgiven us, he will never count our sins against us for they are good as forgotten. In deep gratitude, we remember how God had fully forgiven our sins and how he provides inner healing to our souls.

Whenever we are tempted to always associate King David with his adultery and murder, our conscience will remind us that we too have our own sins. We are all sinners. David will never forget when the prophet Nathan confronted him, “You are the man!” And those fingers of the prophet could be pointed to anyone of us. But why was David called “a man after God’s own heart” despite all his grievous sins? In his darkest moment in life, he desperately cried to God as he wrestled with the deceitfulness of his heart. He learned that sin is the greatest offense against God. When the Lord had forgiven him, he took sin seriously. And he resolved to live in utmost care not to break the heart of the Shepherd of his soul.

Why are we so hard and harsh against those who have fallen as if we have not committed any sin? When we do this, we may have taken for granted being forgiven by God or have taken lightly the gravity of our sin. If we cherish being forgiven, should we not become more compassionate to anyone who has fallen into sin? And should we not become more serious of not committing any sin?

2. Redemption

Having been forgiven of our sins, we likewise cherish of being redeemed. We use the same refrain, “Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits”—and we add—“who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion” (103:4).

Redemption, as pictured by David, is an act of God rescuing a helpless sinner from the deep pit of sinfulness and crowning him with divine love and compassion. This is a wonderful imagery of saving grace. The redeemed sinner becomes a beloved child of God.

Redemption comes with a great price. In the Old Testament, a sinner can be redeemed through the blood of animal sacrifice. It should be understood that this sacrificial offering in the Old Testament served as a shadow and pointed to the reality and fulfillment in the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. King David had prophesied in his songs about the redemptive act of God. In light of the Scriptures, the God who created us by the power of his word is the very God who redeemed us through his precious blood—in the person of Jesus Christ. We were redeemed with an invaluable price! And let us never forget that each one of us has equal value in the sight of God.

When we are tempted to measure one another with any human standard—title, possession and achievement—may we remind ourselves that we have nothing to boast except the cross of Christ. And if we are redeemed by the blood of Christ—we have no right to despise others in our thoughts, malign someone with our words and destroy anyone by any means. As brothers and sisters in Christ, we are called to be peacemakers and guardians of souls.

3. Satisfaction

Having been forgiven and redeemed, we cherish our fulfilment in God. In gratitude we sing, “Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits—who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s” (103:5). Like an eagle with outstretched wings gliding restfully up on the sky, so we can find our rest in God who alone can fill the vacuum in our hearts.

Every morning, I usually wake up at five o’clock. I have to do this because there are three dozens of “friends” waiting for me early in the morning. In case I would be late in waking up, these friends make their presence known by becoming a delightful choir. It is soothing to listen to their loud refrain and it serves as my waking call every morning. For several years now, it had been my ritual to wake up early morning and prepare handfuls of grains and spread on the open ground in our dwelling place. I do this with a delightful greeting, “Good morning, friends! Enjoy your day!” And the birds settle down and pick up their grains. Are we not more precious than the birds of the air?

B. Declare His Works (The Shepherd to His People)

In our delight for God, we cherish every blessing we receive from above—from our Heavenly Father who cares for us, his beloved children. And as we delight in him, we declare his wonderful works as the Good Shepherd to his own people.

1. Righteousness and Justice

God is absolutely right and just in all his ways. We sing with King David, “The Lord works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed” (103:6). Who are the oppressed? They are usually the poor and powerless who are crushed and burdened by those who abuse their power and authority. David as the king of Israel had learned his lesson on righteousness and justice the hardest way. When he destroyed a marriage and murdered an innocent life to cover up his sin, he suffered an inconceivable pain. God had forgiven David but the consequences fell heavily on his home. He lost his child from Bathsheba. His daughter Tamar was raped by her half-brother Amnon. Amnon was murdered by Absalom, Tamar’s brother. And Absalom was killed in a battle when he rebelled against his own father and almost took the kingdom from him. David’s heart was ripped apart as a father and a king.

What does it mean to delight in God? For us who are in authority and in power, it means to do what is right and just and to defend those who are oppressed. And for us who are oppressed, it means to cry out to God who is the righteous judge of all the earth. In the sight of God, there is no mockery of divine justice. A man reaps what he sows. The guilty will be punished and the innocent will be vindicated.

2. Shepherd to His People

The Lord as king is right and just over the affairs of humankind. And as shepherd, he is both loving and compassionate to his own people. In this particular psalm, King David remembered the journey of his own people being led by Moses in the wilderness. David included this theme in his song, “He made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the people of Israel” (103:7).

a. The Lord’s Loving Kindness

The following passage is one of the most comforting writings in the Scriptures. Like Israel, we can rest in the loving kindness of God.

“The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” (103:8-12)

One may say that Moses was a failure in shepherding Israel. Why not? He failed to lead his own people to enter the Promised Land. Instead, that generation whom he brought out from Egypt wandered in the wilderness for forty years and perished in the desert. We may say that those forty years were the most heartbreaking years of Moses as a pastor to his ungrateful and defiant congregation. Did he abandon his countrymen? Did God forsake his own people? Moses with his Lord journeyed with them to the end. What sustained Moses through all those years? It was the Lord himself—the very delight of his heart. The glory of God rested upon Israel despite her stubbornness. Every day, they have sufficient bread on the table. Fresh water gushed from the rocks and a spring flowed in the desert. The soothing shade of the cloud by day covered them under the scorching heat of the sun. There never was a black out at night as the fire from the Lord lightened over their camp and path. In their entire journey, their sandals did not wear out. All these blessings were daily provided for forty years despite their waywardness. In the vast desert was poured the sea of God’s grace. Moses proved himself a faithful shepherd to his flock in spite of the most adverse circumstances. And he was able to mold the next generation to delight in God and prepare them enter the Promised Land.

At times, we may see ourselves a failure. We are disheartened to see our own flaws and shortcomings. We are discouraged to see the ingratitude and indifference of those whom we are serving. Yet, despite every pain and tear, what really sustains us to be steadfast and remain true to our calling? It is because we set apart God as the very delight of our hearts. Once we enthrone God in our lives, in whatever circumstance, no one and nothing can ever take away the joy in our hearts. And even if we may fall along the way, the Lord will never leave or forsake us. Our footprints on the sand may easily be lost and forgotten. But those invisible footprints of God who journeys with us in our wilderness will ever remain.

The love of God for us is beyond measure. It is as high as the heavens are above the earth! And the forgiveness of God is far reaching out. As far as the east is from the west, thus far, he removes our sins from us! The Lord opens his heart and extends his arms to anyone who fears him. And what does it mean to fear the Lord? In the book of Proverbs, to fear the Lord is to hate every form of sin and to shun from every form of evil—it is reverence to God translated to godliness.

b. The Lord’s Unfailing Compassion

As we rest in the loving kindness of God, we are secure in the Lord’s unfailing compassion. So we sing with David.

As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust. The life of mortals is like grass, they flourish like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children—with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts. (103:13-18)

A flower is one of the wonders of God’s creation. Its natural beauty is greater than the finest royal robe. Its beauty that captivates our eyes is imprinted in our souls. Yet, a flower lasts for a while. It is here today and tomorrow it is gone.

Human life is like a flower. The miracle of human life is awesome and astounding. Yet life—in all its wonders—is short and shorter than we can ever imagine. And regardless of its glory and grandeur, it will soon pass and fade away. Before our eternal God, we see our own mortality. In our mortal state we agonize with our fallen nature. Yet, in our sinfulness and brokenness, God pours upon us his unfailing compassion so we can find wholesome peace for our restless souls.

Why did the Lord care for his own people in the wilderness despite their stubbornness? The Lord was compassionate to them. And why does our Heavenly Father care for us in spite of all our sins? He is compassionate to us. His steadfast compassion draws us to delight in him and never a license for us to dwell in sin. For us who delight in him and fear him, the Lord embraces us with his compassion and he extends his loving arms to bless our children and grandchildren.

C. Exalt His Dominion (The King Over All)

We delight in God. He is our Heavenly Father who is the source of every blessing. He is our Good Shepherd who cares for us his beloved people. And we delight in him as our sovereign King who is the Lord of all.

1. The Lord Rules over All

With David we sing this majestic song and exalt our God who rules over all his creation: “The Lord has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all” (103:19).

Nebuchadnezzar was the greatest pagan king who ever reigned in ancient times. He subdued nations including Israel. In his pride he thought he was invincible. Yet God dethroned him from his kingdom and made him wander like a wild beast in the forest for seven years. On the seventh year, he came to his senses and acknowledged the Lord of all. Listen to his words.

At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the most High; I honoured and glorified him who lives forever. His dominion is an eternal dominion; his kingdom endures from generation to generation. All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back his hand or say to him: “What have you done?”....Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble. (Daniel 4:34-35, 37)

The great confession of King Nebuchadnezzar is a dreadful proclamation to all royalties and every human being. Every one of us, great and small, is accountable to God. We will give account to him to every careless thought, word and deed.

What is the practical significance of the Lordship of Jesus Christ in our lives? There is a familiar hymn that makes us uncomfortable whenever we sing it as we seriously weigh the lyrics of the song. Any guess what this hymn is? Right, it is “Take My Life and Let It Be.” This was written by Frances Havergal in 1874. Ponder on the very thought of this hymn.

Take my life and let it be; Consecrated, Lord, to Thee. Take my moments and my days; Let them flow in endless praise. Take my hands and let them move; At the impulse of Thy love. Take my feet and let them be; Swift and beautiful for Thee. Take my voice and let me sing; Always, only for my King. Take my lips and let them be; Filled with messages from Thee. Take my silver and my gold; Not a mite would I withhold. Take my intellect and use; Every pow’r as Thou shalt choose. Take my will and make it Thine; It shall be no longer mine. Take my heart, it is Thine own; It shall be Thy royal throne. Take my love, my Lord, I pour; At Thy feet its treasure store. Take myself and I will be; Ever, only, all for Thee.

If we really mean every word of this hymn—and every word we say—what a godly difference it will create in us and the people around us will take notice of it.

2. The Lord is Worthy of All Praise

For us to delight in the Lord is to enthrone him in our hearts. Our sovereign Lord who rules all of creation is worthy of all glory. With King David, we join with him and all of creation in the heavens and the earth to worship the King of kings and the Lord of lords.

“Praise the Lord, you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding, who obey his word. Praise the Lord, all his heavenly hosts, you his servants who do his will. Praise the Lord, all his works everywhere in his dominion.” (103:20-22a)

God alone is to be worshiped! And may this glorious worship ascribed to the Lord of the universe—by all the angelic hosts and all of creation—be the very song of our hearts: “Praise the Lord, my soul” (v. 22b). Worship must be our way of life.

Conclusion

What does it mean to delight in God? It means for us to have a grateful heart and cherish every blessing we receive from our Heavenly Father. It means for us to have an obedient heart and yield our all to the Shepherd of our souls. It means for us to have a heart of worship to exalt our sovereign King who is the Lord of all.

God is our delight. For God to be our delight in our hearts and our homes, how then should we live? In our sinfulness, we cry out, “Oh, God have mercy on my poor and wretched soul!” In yielding our souls to our Heavenly Father, we allow his Holy Spirit to sanctify our lives so we can be transformed in the image of our Lord Jesus Christ. What does this mean? It means for God to change our hearts! Like gold purified under fire, we all need the Lord’s painful disciplines of grace. May our Lord straighten our crooked paths, smoothen our rough edges, break our unwholesome lifestyles, cleanse our lustful thoughts, bridle our unruly tongues, purify our deceitful hearts, uproot our bitterness and redeem our straying souls.

This is a heartbreaking and humbling process. Is there any better way? There is none. To delight in God is a lifetime journey for a broken and contrite heart. This calls us to search our souls. For those who yield their lives and all to the Lord, nothing in the world could ever take the inexpressible joy from their hearts! This is all by the grace of God. Kenneth Scott Latourette is right.

“My life has been a guided life. Many things I wouldn’t reveal to you....The older I grew the more I am aware of his mercy. As I look back the more I am convinced, in spite of all the sins...not just blunders...that the good Lord has been forgiving and using me.”

This honest confession is the cry of our hearts. Truly, “God has to forgive a lot!”

#sermon #englishservice #God #church #forgiveness #psalms #satisfaction #worship #redemption

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dailyofficereadings · 5 years ago

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Daily Office Readings March 02, 2020 at 11:00PM

Psalm 45

Ode for a Royal Wedding

To the leader: according to Lilies. Of the Korahites. A Maskil. A love song.

1 My heart overflows with a goodly theme; I address my verses to the king; my tongue is like the pen of a ready scribe.

2 You are the most handsome of men; grace is poured upon your lips; therefore God has blessed you forever. 3 Gird your sword on your thigh, O mighty one, in your glory and majesty.

4 In your majesty ride on victoriously for the cause of truth and to defend[a] the right; let your right hand teach you dread deeds. 5 Your arrows are sharp in the heart of the king’s enemies; the peoples fall under you.

6 Your throne, O God,[b] endures forever and ever. Your royal scepter is a scepter of equity; 7 you love righteousness and hate wickedness. Therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions; 8 your robes are all fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia. From ivory palaces stringed instruments make you glad; 9 daughters of kings are among your ladies of honor; at your right hand stands the queen in gold of Ophir.

10 Hear, O daughter, consider and incline your ear; forget your people and your father’s house, 11 and the king will desire your beauty. Since he is your lord, bow to him; 12 the people[c] of Tyre will seek your favor with gifts, the richest of the people 13 with all kinds of wealth.

The princess is decked in her chamber with gold-woven robes;[d] 14 in many-colored robes she is led to the king; behind her the virgins, her companions, follow. 15 With joy and gladness they are led along as they enter the palace of the king.

16 In the place of ancestors you, O king,[e] shall have sons; you will make them princes in all the earth. 17 I will cause your name to be celebrated in all generations; therefore the peoples will praise you forever and ever.

Footnotes:

Psalm 45:4 Cn: Heb and the meekness of

Psalm 45:6 Or Your throne is a throne of God, it

Psalm 45:12 Heb daughter

Psalm 45:13 Or people. 13 All glorious is the princess within, gold embroidery is her clothing

Psalm 45:16 Heb lacks O king

New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1989, 1993 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Psalm 47-48

Psalm 47

God’s Rule over the Nations

To the leader. Of the Korahites. A Psalm.

1 Clap your hands, all you peoples; shout to God with loud songs of joy. 2 For the Lord, the Most High, is awesome, a great king over all the earth. 3 He subdued peoples under us, and nations under our feet. 4 He chose our heritage for us, the pride of Jacob whom he loves.Selah

5 God has gone up with a shout, the Lord with the sound of a trumpet. 6 Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises. 7 For God is the king of all the earth; sing praises with a psalm.[a]

8 God is king over the nations; God sits on his holy throne. 9 The princes of the peoples gather as the people of the God of Abraham. For the shields of the earth belong to God; he is highly exalted.

Psalm 48

The Glory and Strength of Zion

A Song. A Psalm of the Korahites.

1 Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised in the city of our God. His holy mountain, 2 beautiful in elevation, is the joy of all the earth, Mount Zion, in the far north, the city of the great King. 3 Within its citadels God has shown himself a sure defense.

4 Then the kings assembled, they came on together. 5 As soon as they saw it, they were astounded; they were in panic, they took to flight; 6 trembling took hold of them there, pains as of a woman in labor, 7 as when an east wind shatters the ships of Tarshish. 8 As we have heard, so have we seen in the city of the Lord of hosts, in the city of our God, which God establishes forever.Selah

9 We ponder your steadfast love, O God, in the midst of your temple. 10 Your name, O God, like your praise, reaches to the ends of the earth. Your right hand is filled with victory. 11 Let Mount Zion be glad, let the towns[b] of Judah rejoice because of your judgments.

12 Walk about Zion, go all around it, count its towers, 13 consider well its ramparts; go through its citadels, that you may tell the next generation 14 that this is God, our God forever and ever. He will be our guide forever.

Footnotes:

Psalm 47:7 Heb Maskil

Psalm 48:11 Heb daughters

New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

Genesis 37:12-24

Joseph Is Sold by His Brothers

12 Now his brothers went to pasture their father’s flock near Shechem. 13 And Israel said to Joseph, “Are not your brothers pasturing the flock at Shechem? Come, I will send you to them.” He answered, “Here I am.” 14 So he said to him, “Go now, see if it is well with your brothers and with the flock; and bring word back to me.” So he sent him from the valley of Hebron.

He came to Shechem, 15 and a man found him wandering in the fields; the man asked him, “What are you seeking?” 16 “I am seeking my brothers,” he said; “tell me, please, where they are pasturing the flock.” 17 The man said, “They have gone away, for I heard them say, ‘Let us go to Dothan.’” So Joseph went after his brothers, and found them at Dothan. 18 They saw him from a distance, and before he came near to them, they conspired to kill him. 19 They said to one another, “Here comes this dreamer. 20 Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits; then we shall say that a wild animal has devoured him, and we shall see what will become of his dreams.” 21 But when Reuben heard it, he delivered him out of their hands, saying, “Let us not take his life.” 22 Reuben said to them, “Shed no blood; throw him into this pit here in the wilderness, but lay no hand on him”—that he might rescue him out of their hand and restore him to his father. 23 So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe, the long robe with sleeves[a] that he wore; 24 and they took him and threw him into a pit. The pit was empty; there was no water in it.

Footnotes:

Genesis 37:23 See note on 37.3

New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

1 Corinthians 1:20-31

20 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, God decided, through the foolishness of our proclamation, to save those who believe. 22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, 23 but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.

26 Consider your own call, brothers and sisters:[a] not many of you were wise by human standards,[b] not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are, 29 so that no one[c] might boast in the presence of God. 30 He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31 in order that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in[d] the Lord.”

Footnotes:

1 Corinthians 1:26 Gk brothers

1 Corinthians 1:26 Gk according to the flesh

1 Corinthians 1:29 Gk no flesh

1 Corinthians 1:31 Or of

New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

Mark 1:14-28

The Beginning of the Galilean Ministry

14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news[a] of God,[b] 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near;[c] repent, and believe in the good news.”[d]

Jesus Calls the First Disciples

16 As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. 17 And Jesus said to them, “Follow me and I will make you fish for people.” 18 And immediately they left their nets and followed him. 19 As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets. 20 Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him.

The Man with an Unclean Spirit

21 They went to Capernaum; and when the sabbath came, he entered the synagogue and taught. 22 They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. 23 Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, 24 and he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God.” 25 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” 26 And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. 27 They were all amazed, and they kept on asking one another, “What is this? A new teaching—with authority! He[e] commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” 28 At once his fame began to spread throughout the surrounding region of Galilee.

Footnotes:

Mark 1:14 Or gospel

Mark 1:14 Other ancient authorities read of the kingdom

Mark 1:15 Or is at hand

Mark 1:15 Or gospel

Mark 1:27 Or A new teaching! With authority he

New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

#March 02 #2020 at 11:00PM

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dailyofficereadings · 6 years ago

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Daily Office Readings November 15, 2018 at 11:00PM

Psalm 88

Prayer for Help in Despondency

A Song. A Psalm of the Korahites. To the leader: according to Mahalath Leannoth. A Maskil of Heman the Ezrahite.

1 O Lord, God of my salvation, when, at night, I cry out in your presence, 2 let my prayer come before you; incline your ear to my cry.

3 For my soul is full of troubles, and my life draws near to Sheol. 4 I am counted among those who go down to the Pit; I am like those who have no help, 5 like those forsaken among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave, like those whom you remember no more, for they are cut off from your hand. 6 You have put me in the depths of the Pit, in the regions dark and deep. 7 Your wrath lies heavy upon me, and you overwhelm me with all your waves.Selah

8 You have caused my companions to shun me; you have made me a thing of horror to them. I am shut in so that I cannot escape; 9 my eye grows dim through sorrow. Every day I call on you, O Lord; I spread out my hands to you. 10 Do you work wonders for the dead? Do the shades rise up to praise you?Selah 11 Is your steadfast love declared in the grave, or your faithfulness in Abaddon? 12 Are your wonders known in the darkness, or your saving help in the land of forgetfulness?

13 But I, O Lord, cry out to you; in the morning my prayer comes before you. 14 O Lord, why do you cast me off? Why do you hide your face from me? 15 Wretched and close to death from my youth up, I suffer your terrors; I am desperate.[a] 16 Your wrath has swept over me; your dread assaults destroy me. 17 They surround me like a flood all day long; from all sides they close in on me. 18 You have caused friend and neighbor to shun me; my companions are in darkness.

Footnotes:

Psalm 88:15 Meaning of Heb uncertain

New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

Psalm 91-92

Psalm 91

Assurance of God’s Protection

1 You who live in the shelter of the Most High, who abide in the shadow of the Almighty,[a] 2 will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust.” 3 For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence; 4 he will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. 5 You will not fear the terror of the night, or the arrow that flies by day, 6 or the pestilence that stalks in darkness, or the destruction that wastes at noonday.

7 A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. 8 You will only look with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked.

9 Because you have made the Lord your refuge,[b] the Most High your dwelling place, 10 no evil shall befall you, no scourge come near your tent.

11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. 12 On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone. 13 You will tread on the lion and the adder, the young lion and the serpent you will trample under foot.

14 Those who love me, I will deliver; I will protect those who know my name. 15 When they call to me, I will answer them; I will be with them in trouble, I will rescue them and honor them. 16 With long life I will satisfy them, and show them my salvation.

Psalm 92

Thanksgiving for Vindication

A Psalm. A Song for the Sabbath Day.

1 It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name, O Most High; 2 to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night, 3 to the music of the lute and the harp, to the melody of the lyre. 4 For you, O Lord, have made me glad by your work; at the works of your hands I sing for joy.

5 How great are your works, O Lord! Your thoughts are very deep! 6 The dullard cannot know, the stupid cannot understand this: 7 though the wicked sprout like grass and all evildoers flourish, they are doomed to destruction forever, 8 but you, O Lord, are on high forever. 9 For your enemies, O Lord, for your enemies shall perish; all evildoers shall be scattered.

10 But you have exalted my horn like that of the wild ox; you have poured over me[c] fresh oil. 11 My eyes have seen the downfall of my enemies; my ears have heard the doom of my evil assailants.

12 The righteous flourish like the palm tree, and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. 13 They are planted in the house of the Lord; they flourish in the courts of our God. 14 In old age they still produce fruit; they are always green and full of sap, 15 showing that the Lord is upright; he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.

Footnotes:

Psalm 91:1 Traditional rendering of Heb Shaddai

Psalm 91:9 Cn: Heb Because you, Lord, are my refuge; you have made

Psalm 92:10 Syr: Meaning of Heb uncertain

New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

Joel 2:28-3:8

God’s Spirit Poured Out

28 [a] Then afterward I will pour out my spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. 29 Even on the male and female slaves, in those days, I will pour out my spirit.

30 I will show portents in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke. 31 The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes. 32 Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved; for in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape, as the Lord has said, and among the survivors shall be those whom the Lord calls.

3 [b] For then, in those days and at that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem, 2 I will gather all the nations and bring them down to the valley of Jehoshaphat, and I will enter into judgment with them there, on account of my people and my heritage Israel, because they have scattered them among the nations. They have divided my land, 3 and cast lots for my people, and traded boys for prostitutes, and sold girls for wine, and drunk it down.

4 What are you to me, O Tyre and Sidon, and all the regions of Philistia? Are you paying me back for something? If you are paying me back, I will turn your deeds back upon your own heads swiftly and speedily. 5 For you have taken my silver and my gold, and have carried my rich treasures into your temples.[c] 6 You have sold the people of Judah and Jerusalem to the Greeks, removing them far from their own border. 7 But now I will rouse them to leave the places to which you have sold them, and I will turn your deeds back upon your own heads. 8 I will sell your sons and your daughters into the hand of the people of Judah, and they will sell them to the Sabeans, to a nation far away; for the Lord has spoken.

Footnotes:

Joel 2:28 Ch 3.1 in Heb

Joel 3:1 Ch 4.1 in Heb

Joel 3:5 Or palaces

New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

James 1:16-27

16 Do not be deceived, my beloved.[a]

17 Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.[b] 18 In fulfillment of his own purpose he gave us birth by the word of truth, so that we would become a kind of first fruits of his creatures.

Hearing and Doing the Word

19 You must understand this, my beloved:[c] let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20 for your anger does not produce God’s righteousness. 21 Therefore rid yourselves of all sordidness and rank growth of wickedness, and welcome with meekness the implanted word that has the power to save your souls.

22 But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves. 23 For if any are hearers of the word and not doers, they are like those who look at themselves[d] in a mirror; 24 for they look at themselves and, on going away, immediately forget what they were like. 25 But those who look into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and persevere, being not hearers who forget but doers who act—they will be blessed in their doing.

26 If any think they are religious, and do not bridle their tongues but deceive their hearts, their religion is worthless. 27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

Footnotes:

James 1:16 Gk my beloved brothers

James 1:17 Other ancient authorities read variation due to a shadow of turning

James 1:19 Gk my beloved brothers

James 1:23 Gk at the face of his birth

New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

Luke 16:1-9

The Parable of the Dishonest Manager

16 Then Jesus[a] said to the disciples, “There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was squandering his property. 2 So he summoned him and said to him, ‘What is this that I hear about you? Give me an accounting of your management, because you cannot be my manager any longer.�� 3 Then the manager said to himself, ‘What will I do, now that my master is taking the position away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg. 4 I have decided what to do so that, when I am dismissed as manager, people may welcome me into their homes.’ 5 So, summoning his master’s debtors one by one, he asked the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ 6 He answered, ‘A hundred jugs of olive oil.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it fifty.’ 7 Then he asked another, ‘And how much do you owe?’ He replied, ‘A hundred containers of wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill and make it eighty.’ 8 And his master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly; for the children of this age are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than are the children of light. 9 And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of dishonest wealth[b] so that when it is gone, they may welcome you into the eternal homes.[c]

Footnotes:

Luke 16:1 Gk he

Luke 16:9 Gk mammon

Luke 16:9 Gk tents

New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

#November 15 #2018 at 11:00PM

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dailyofficereadings · 7 years ago

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Daily Office Readings February 19, 2018 at 11:00PM

Psalm 45

Ode for a Royal Wedding

To the leader: according to Lilies. Of the Korahites. A Maskil. A love song.

1 My heart overflows with a goodly theme; I address my verses to the king; my tongue is like the pen of a ready scribe.

2 You are the most handsome of men; grace is poured upon your lips; therefore God has blessed you forever. 3 Gird your sword on your thigh, O mighty one, in your glory and majesty.

Footnotes:

Psalm 45:4 Cn: Heb and the meekness of

Psalm 45:6 Or Your throne is a throne of God, it

Psalm 45:12 Heb daughter

Psalm 45:13 Or people. 13 All glorious is the princess within, gold embroidery is her clothing

Psalm 45:16 Heb lacks O king

New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

Psalm 47-48

Psalm 47

God’s Rule over the Nations

To the leader. Of the Korahites. A Psalm.

8 God is king over the nations; God sits on his holy throne. 9 The princes of the peoples gather as the people of the God of Abraham. For the shields of the earth belong to God; he is highly exalted.

Psalm 48

The Glory and Strength of Zion

A Song. A Psalm of the Korahites.

Footnotes:

Psalm 47:7 Heb Maskil

Psalm 48:11 Heb daughters

New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

Genesis 37:12-24

Joseph Is Sold by His Brothers

Footnotes:

Genesis 37:23 See note on 37.3

New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

1 Corinthians 1:20-31

Footnotes:

1 Corinthians 1:26 Gk brothers

1 Corinthians 1:26 Gk according to the flesh

1 Corinthians 1:29 Gk no flesh

1 Corinthians 1:31 Or of

New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

Mark 1:14-28

The Beginning of the Galilean Ministry

Jesus Calls the First Disciples

The Man with an Unclean Spirit

Footnotes:

Mark 1:14 Or gospel

Mark 1:14 Other ancient authorities read of the kingdom

Mark 1:15 Or is at hand

Mark 1:15 Or gospel

Mark 1:27 Or A new teaching! With authority he

New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

#February 19 #2018 at 11:00PM

0 notes

dailyofficereadings · 8 years ago

Text

Daily Office Readings March 14, 2017 at 01:00AM

Psalm 61-62

Psalm 61

Assurance of God’s Protection

To the leader: with stringed instruments. Of David.

1 Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer. 2 From the end of the earth I call to you, when my heart is faint.

Lead me to the rock that is higher than I; 3 for you are my refuge, a strong tower against the enemy.

4 Let me abide in your tent forever, find refuge under the shelter of your wings.Selah 5 For you, O God, have heard my vows; you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.

6 Prolong the life of the king; may his years endure to all generations! 7 May he be enthroned forever before God; appoint steadfast love and faithfulness to watch over him!

8 So I will always sing praises to your name, as I pay my vows day after day.

Psalm 62

Song of Trust in God Alone

To the leader: according to Jeduthun. A Psalm of David.

1 For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation. 2 He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall never be shaken.

3 How long will you assail a person, will you batter your victim, all of you, as you would a leaning wall, a tottering fence? 4 Their only plan is to bring down a person of prominence. They take pleasure in falsehood; they bless with their mouths, but inwardly they curse.Selah

5 For God alone my soul waits in silence, for my hope is from him. 6 He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. 7 On God rests my deliverance and my honor; my mighty rock, my refuge is in God.

8 Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us.Selah

9 Those of low estate are but a breath, those of high estate are a delusion; in the balances they go up; they are together lighter than a breath. 10 Put no confidence in extortion, and set no vain hopes on robbery; if riches increase, do not set your heart on them.

11 Once God has spoken; twice have I heard this: that power belongs to God, 12 and steadfast love belongs to you, O Lord. For you repay to all according to their work.

New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

Psalm 68

Praise and Thanksgiving

To the leader. Of David. A Psalm. A Song.

1 Let God rise up, let his enemies be scattered; let those who hate him flee before him. 2 As smoke is driven away, so drive them away; as wax melts before the fire, let the wicked perish before God. 3 But let the righteous be joyful; let them exult before God; let them be jubilant with joy.

4 Sing to God, sing praises to his name; lift up a song to him who rides upon the clouds[a]— his name is the Lord— be exultant before him.

5 Father of orphans and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation. 6 God gives the desolate a home to live in; he leads out the prisoners to prosperity, but the rebellious live in a parched land.

7 O God, when you went out before your people, when you marched through the wilderness,Selah 8 the earth quaked, the heavens poured down rain at the presence of God, the God of Sinai, at the presence of God, the God of Israel. 9 Rain in abundance, O God, you showered abroad; you restored your heritage when it languished; 10 your flock found a dwelling in it; in your goodness, O God, you provided for the needy.

11 The Lord gives the command; great is the company of those[b] who bore the tidings: 12 “The kings of the armies, they flee, they flee!” The women at home divide the spoil, 13 though they stay among the sheepfolds— the wings of a dove covered with silver, its pinions with green gold. 14 When the Almighty[c] scattered kings there, snow fell on Zalmon.

15 O mighty mountain, mountain of Bashan; O many-peaked mountain, mountain of Bashan! 16 Why do you look with envy, O many-peaked mountain, at the mount that God desired for his abode, where the Lord will reside forever?

17 With mighty chariotry, twice ten thousand, thousands upon thousands, the Lord came from Sinai into the holy place.[d] 18 You ascended the high mount, leading captives in your train and receiving gifts from people, even from those who rebel against the Lord God’s abiding there. 19 Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears us up; God is our salvation.Selah 20 Our God is a God of salvation, and to God, the Lord, belongs escape from death.

21 But God will shatter the heads of his enemies, the hairy crown of those who walk in their guilty ways. 22 The Lord said, “I will bring them back from Bashan, I will bring them back from the depths of the sea, 23 so that you may bathe[e] your feet in blood, so that the tongues of your dogs may have their share from the foe.”

24 Your solemn processions are seen,[f] O God, the processions of my God, my King, into the sanctuary— 25 the singers in front, the musicians last, between them girls playing tambourines: 26 “Bless God in the great congregation, the Lord, O you who are of Israel’s fountain!” 27 There is Benjamin, the least of them, in the lead, the princes of Judah in a body, the princes of Zebulun, the princes of Naphtali.

28 Summon your might, O God; show your strength, O God, as you have done for us before. 29 Because of your temple at Jerusalem kings bear gifts to you. 30 Rebuke the wild animals that live among the reeds, the herd of bulls with the calves of the peoples. Trample[g] under foot those who lust after tribute; scatter the peoples who delight in war.[h] 31 Let bronze be brought from Egypt; let Ethiopia[i] hasten to stretch out its hands to God.

32 Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth; sing praises to the Lord,Selah 33 O rider in the heavens, the ancient heavens; listen, he sends out his voice, his mighty voice. 34 Ascribe power to God, whose majesty is over Israel; and whose power is in the skies. 35 Awesome is God in his[j] sanctuary, the God of Israel; he gives power and strength to his people.

Blessed be God!

Footnotes:

Psalm 68:4 Or cast up a highway for him who rides through the deserts

Psalm 68:11 Or company of the women

Psalm 68:14 Traditional rendering of Heb Shaddai

Psalm 68:17 Cn: Heb The Lord among them Sinai in the holy (place)

Psalm 68:23 Gk Syr Tg: Heb shatter

Psalm 68:24 Or have been seen

Psalm 68:30 Cn: Heb Trampling

Psalm 68:30 Meaning of Heb of verse 30 is uncertain

Psalm 68:31 Or Nubia; Heb Cush

Psalm 68:35 Gk: Heb from your

New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

Jeremiah 2:1-13

God Pleads with Israel to Repent

2 The word of the Lord came to me, saying: 2 Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem, Thus says the Lord:

I remember the devotion of your youth, your love as a bride, how you followed me in the wilderness, in a land not sown. 3 Israel was holy to the Lord, the first fruits of his harvest. All who ate of it were held guilty; disaster came upon them, says the Lord.

4 Hear the word of the Lord, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel. 5 Thus says the Lord:

What wrong did your ancestors find in me that they went far from me, and went after worthless things, and became worthless themselves? 6 They did not say, “Where is the Lord who brought us up from the land of Egypt, who led us in the wilderness, in a land of deserts and pits, in a land of drought and deep darkness, in a land that no one passes through, where no one lives?” 7 I brought you into a plentiful land to eat its fruits and its good things. But when you entered you defiled my land, and made my heritage an abomination. 8 The priests did not say, “Where is the Lord?” Those who handle the law did not know me; the rulers[a] transgressed against me; the prophets prophesied by Baal, and went after things that do not profit.

9 Therefore once more I accuse you, says the Lord, and I accuse your children’s children. 10 Cross to the coasts of Cyprus and look, send to Kedar and examine with care; see if there has ever been such a thing. 11 Has a nation changed its gods, even though they are no gods? But my people have changed their glory for something that does not profit. 12 Be appalled, O heavens, at this, be shocked, be utterly desolate, says the Lord, 13 for my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living water, and dug out cisterns for themselves, cracked cisterns that can hold no water.

Footnotes:

Jeremiah 2:8 Heb shepherds

New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

Romans 1:16-25

The Power of the Gospel

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel; it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who has faith, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed through faith for faith; as it is written, “The one who is righteous will live by faith.”[a]

The Guilt of Humankind

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and wickedness of those who by their wickedness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 Ever since the creation of the world his eternal power and divine nature, invisible though they are, have been understood and seen through the things he has made. So they are without excuse; 21 for though they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their senseless minds were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools; 23 and they exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling a mortal human being or birds or four-footed animals or reptiles.

24 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the degrading of their bodies among themselves, 25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.

Footnotes:

Romans 1:17 Or The one who is righteous through faith will live

New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

John 4:43-54

Jesus Returns to Galilee

43 When the two days were over, he went from that place to Galilee 44 (for Jesus himself had testified that a prophet has no honor in the prophet’s own country). 45 When he came to Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him, since they had seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the festival; for they too had gone to the festival.

Jesus Heals an Official’s Son

46 Then he came again to Cana in Galilee where he had changed the water into wine. Now there was a royal official whose son lay ill in Capernaum. 47 When he heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went and begged him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. 48 Then Jesus said to him, “Unless you[a] see signs and wonders you will not believe.” 49 The official said to him, “Sir, come down before my little boy dies.” 50 Jesus said to him, “Go; your son will live.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and started on his way. 51 As he was going down, his slaves met him and told him that his child was alive. 52 So he asked them the hour when he began to recover, and they said to him, “Yesterday at one in the afternoon the fever left him.” 53 The father realized that this was the hour when Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” So he himself believed, along with his whole household. 54 Now this was the second sign that Jesus did after coming from Judea to Galilee.

Footnotes:

John 4:48 Both instances of the Greek word for you in this verse are plural

New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

#March 14 #2017 at 01:00AM

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