#Commitment Ark of Covenant

[earthcovenant]

Uniting Societies for Global Harmony: The Earth Covenant Manifesto

Uniting Societies for Global Harmony: The Earth Covenant Manifesto. #Covenant #EarthCovenant #TheEarthCovenant #Earth #Legal #Justice #WordofGod #WordofGoddess #Contract #Binding #Law #Commitment #ArkofCovenant #AsktheAnswer #Government #Business #Agency

The Earth Covenant – InfoDownload Uniting Societies for Global Harmony: The Earth Covenant Manifesto The Earth Covenant: Introduction The Earth Covenant is of a representation from the following Societies being:  The Achaemenid Society, The African Society, The Alien Society, The Artificial Intelligence Society, The AI Society, The Atlantis Society, The Aztec Society, The Babylonian Society,…

[mindfulldsliving]

Comparative Sermons: King Benjamin and Apostle Peter's Message Echo Covenant and Repentance

The Book of Mormon is not merely an adjunct to the Bible but a critical interpretive key that unlocks the fuller meaning and application of the Bible’s teachings.

King Benjamin’s AddressJeremy Conrad Winborg (1979)Oil on linen The Book of Mormon is an essential scripture that assists believers in understanding the broader narratives and teachings of both the Old and New Testaments. It serves as a clarifying tool, offering fresh insights and enhancing our comprehension of the Gospel message. My studies of the Book of Mormon have consistently reinforced its…

[is-the-thing-actually-jewish]

are otters or songbirds more jewish i have an argument to settle

Rating: Songbirds, but there's a makhloket

The majority opinion holds that songbirds are more Jewish than otters, as it is written, “Even the sparrow has found a home and the swallow a nest for herself in which to set her young near Your altar, O LORD of hosts, my Sovereign and my God” (Psalms 84:4). There are many other texts that mention songbirds throughout the Tanakh; there are zero results for “otter” as referring to the animal on Sefaria in our sacred texts.* Thus, the simple answer is that songbirds are more important in Judaism, and therefore more Jewish, than otters. Additionally, medieval Jewish illumination such as the famous Bird's Head Haggadah depicts Jews with human bodies and the heads and beaks of birds, indicating a close connection between Jews and birds:

However, as is Jewish tradition, we preserve the following minority opinions as well: 

Otters are more Jewish than songbirds: Songbirds were created on the fifth day of creation, while otters, like humans, were created on the sixth day. Therefore, otters are closer to humanity, and Jews are part of humanity, so otters are more Jewish than songbirds. (Genesis 1:20-24) Furthermore, this photo from the Cincinnati Zoo speaks for itself:

Both otters and songbirds are equally Jewish: Psalms 50:10-11 reads “For Mine is every animal of the forest, the beasts on a thousand mountains I know every bird of the mountains, the creatures of the field are subject to Me.” Clearly, this covers both otters and songbirds, so both are equally Jewish. Furthermore, otters and songbirds both look extremely cute in yarmulkes, which may not be halakhically relevant but feels important to state nonetheless.

Neither otters nor songbirds are Jewish; however, they are righteous gentiles under the Noahide covenant: To be Jewish means to be bound by the Abrahamic covenant in relationship with the Holy One. As animals are neither descended from Jewish parents nor have the agency to choose to be bound by the covenant made between God and Abraham, as human converts do, neither otters nor songbirds are Jewish**. However, following the great flood, God said to Noah, “I now establish My covenant with you and your offspring to come, and with every living thing that is with you—birds, cattle, and every wild beast as well—all that have come out of the ark, every living thing on earth. (Genesis 9:9-10). This covenant, symbolized by the rainbow, is God’s commitment to every living thing (clearly including both songbirds and otters) that God will never flood the Earth again-- something every one of us can support.

*(okay, there are three results: one is a typo for “utter” as in “our otter ruin” and the other two are German). 

** My cat, however, is definitely Jewish.

[why-bless-your-heart]

@audreythevaliant the real question is why some Christians don’t believe she remained a virgin. We have writings stating that she was a perpetual virgin from as early as the 120s, and it was solidified as doctrine in the 400s, shortly after the biblical canon was affirmed. Even Martin Luther asserted that she was a perpetual virgin.

Apostolic tradition aside, we believe that she was a perpetual virgin because:

1. Her questioning of the angel only makes sense if she intended to remain a virgin after being taken into Joseph’s house. If an engaged woman intending to have natural relations with her spouse after marriage is told that she will conceive and her son will be the Messiah, she doesn’t ask “how can this be, since I have not known a man?” She assumes that she will have a child in the normal manner at some point down the line. Mary’s questioning of the angel shows that her virginity was her vocation, not just her state at the time.

2. She is the new ark of the covenant. The visitation of her cousin Elizabeth parallels the entrance of the ark into Jerusalem with King David. Just as David danced before the ark, John the Baptist leaps with joy. Elizabeth’s words — who am I that the mother of my Lord should come to me? — echo David’s — who am I that the ark of my Lord should come to me? The ark of the covenant was so holy that Uzzah was struck dead for putting out his hand to steady it. It carried within it manna, the bread from heaven, Aaron’s rod, symbol of the priesthood, and the Ten Commandments, God’s word. The new ark of the covenant is even holier, because she carried within her the bread of life from heaven, the perfect priest and sacrifice, and the Word of God made flesh. Another word for holy, sacred, means “set apart.” Mary is the daughter of the Father, the mother of the Son, and spouse of the Holy Spirit. She is uniquely holy, and set apart by her virginity.

3. Joseph was a righteous man. A righteous man does not lay claim to what is God’s. It’s a matter of debate whether he believed Mary’s pregnancy was miraculous and so wanted to divorce her because he believed he was unworthy to take her into his home, or if he believed she had committed adultery and wanted to keep her from being put to death. Either way, we know it was only after he was told by the angel it was God’s will that he took her into his home, and we further know that he did not interpret the angel’s message to mean that he was expected to have relations with Mary. Which again, makes sense if the marriage was meant to safeguard Mary’s virginity rather than be consummated.

[infectiouspiss]

my dad scares me man we went into tesco for some shit and got meal deals too and then he committed a fucking sin right in front of me and god and these poor tesco employees

he gets two sandwiches and a drink. no snack. not a meal deal.

then we get to the self scan bastard and he’s like i’ll pay n im like sick cheers for that he put his bag in the bagging area and is absolutely bewildered when the machine gets mardy with him so i have to sort that out

then he goes to pay and this is when i learn something fucking horrific. the man has no tesco clubcard. he was gonna pay full price for everything. i practically dive in front of the card reader like it’s a grenade and i’m like mate your clubcard?? scan your clubcard?? and he just shrugs and goes don’t have one, scan yours.

so i’m completely losing my shit this man was about to pay £30 for everything and didn’t even THINK for the second that he could save money. i scan my clubcard Bam a fiver comes off the total, he’s shocked, looks like i’ve just opened the ark of the fucking covenant in this tesco self checkout

insane fucker has been rawdogging every single tesco shop of his life. never once thought about getting a clubcard. batshit insane.

[fallen-abel]

Okay, I'm curious. (You don't have to answer if this makes you uncomfortable) What are your thoughts on David, as in the second king of Israel? I can imagine it can be......complicated. On the one hand he also has a soft spot for music (a lot of the Psalms involve him) and DEFINITELY sheep, but on the other hand, considering his home life as king (Absolem and Bathsheba as examples) along with the many people he killed, it might be a bit........awkward?

Abel: Uh…He’s not in Heaven for…obvious reasons 👀

For Context:

In the biblical narrative of the Books of Samuel, David is described as a young shepherd and harpist whose heart is devoted to Yahweh, the one true God. He gains fame and becomes a hero by killing Goliath. He becomes a favorite of Saul, the first king of Israel, but is forced to go into hiding when Saul suspects David of plotting to take his throne. After Saul and his son Jonathan are killed in battle, David is anointed king by the tribe of Judah and eventually all the tribes of Israel. He conquers Jerusalem, makes it the capital of a united Israel, and brings the Ark of the Covenant to the city. He commits adultery with Bathsheba and arranges the death of her husband, Uriah the Hittite. David's son Absalom later tries to overthrow him, but David returns to Jerusalem after Absalom's death to continue his reign. David desires to build a temple to Yahweh, but is denied because of the bloodshed of his reign. He dies at age 70 and chooses Solomon, his son with Bathsheba, as his successor instead of his eldest son Adonijah. David is honored as an ideal king and the forefather of the future Hebrew Messiah in Jewish prophetic literature, and many psalms are attributed to him.

Source: Wikipedia

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

How Faith Helps Against the Fear of Man: Explored in Fifteen Aspects

by Jeremiah Burroughs

First, let us discuss where the power of faith lies in helping us overcome the fear of man.

Much has been said about the power of faith in assisting us through sufferings. However, we now have several points to address regarding the power of faith in combating the fear of man.

Firstly, wherever faith exists, it places the believer in a secure and safe state, ensuring the safety of the soul. It assures the believer that the terms between God and the soul are good, thereby delivering the soul from being overwhelmed by fear. Nothing can provide security to the soul regarding the goodness of its relationship with God except faith. This is accomplished by placing the soul within the Covenant of Grace and conveying the blessings of that everlasting Covenant, which can never be broken, to the soul. Thus, the soul is endowed with the sure mercies of David, resulting in a state of security. Just as a person is not troubled with fears when they know they are provided for in life, a believing soul is provided for eternity. What could trouble such a soul now?

The Apostle Peter, in 1 Peter 4:19, urges us to commit our souls to God in times of danger while doing what is right. When the soul is entrusted to God in righteous conduct, there is no need for further fear. It is similar to a person travelling with a precious jewel of great worth. If they can entrust their jewel to a safe and secure hand, they have no reason to fear. Likewise, in some countries, there are banks where individuals, who are afraid of losing their money, entrust it to the bank for safekeeping. In this way, the soul that can commit itself to God through virtuous actions and be assured of it is not troubled by excessive fear.

Question: But should we not be concerned about our estates, lives, and liberties?

Answer: The Apostle says, be concerned about those things, but make sure you commit your souls to God, and you will be well enough.

It is similar to a time of widespread fire and burning. If a person has some ordinary items in the fire, they do not care about them. However, if they have jewels and treasures, they entrust them to a safe place. Similarly, a believer, having entrusted their soul to God through faith and being certain of the relationship between God and their soul, will not entertain fear.

We read about Noah in Genesis 6:14. When he built the Ark, he covered it with pitch. The word translated as "pitch" is the same word used for "propitiation" or "atonement." This signifies that the pitch for Noah's Ark is comparable to the atonement of Christ, apprehended by faith, for the soul. When a soul can apprehend, through faith, the sure mercies of David in the propitiation of Christ, it keeps the soul from fear amidst dangers, just as the pitch kept Noah's Ark safe from the waters. This is the first point.

Secondly, faith prevents fear because it has a special focus on the highest, ultimate being of all things. It is a rule that no inferior cause can function except through influence from the superior. Therefore, when faith can behold the highest supreme cause and see:

First, that all power in any creature comes from it, Second, that the action of that power is from it, Third, that the force of that power is from it, Fourth, that the success of that power is from that cause,

And when the soul looks up to this highest cause and sees clarity in it, it does not need to scrutinise the lower causes extensively. Just as a person has an instrument with many wheels, and even if the lower wheels move and it appears as if it might break and fall upon them, if they have their eye on the highest wheel that moves them all, upon which all depend, and they are sure that it holds, they do not pay much attention to the others. It is the same with a spiritual eye. A worldly eye only looks at things that are perceptible, at the creatures. But a believer looks at the highest supreme cause, and if that is right, they do not concern themselves with the lowest causes.

We have a significant statement in Isaiah 54:16: "Behold, I have created the smith who blows the coals in the fire and produces an instrument for his work; and I have created the waster to destroy. Are you afraid of the sword and the wasters? I have created the smith who blows the coals, and I have created the waster to destroy. If they have any power to harm, it is from me. Why do you focus on the instrument and not the hand? If there is any power in any weapon of war, it depends on God, and He makes them to destroy." Therefore, faith looks to the highest cause, is concerned with that, and directs its affections towards it. It is not greatly affected by subordinate causes. It does not fear the wrath of men or the power of any creature because it looks so much at the highest cause that is above all.

The confidence that worldly hearts have in external aids keeps them from fearing God. Shouldn't the confidence of the saints in God keep them from fearing man?

Thirdly, faith helps against the fear of man because it helps the soul overcome a greater fear than any fear that a creature can cause.

A believing soul has experienced fears greater than the wrath of a king, namely, the wrath of an infinite God. A believer knows what the wrath of a deity means, the terror of conscience, the curse of the Law, and the flames of Hell. They have experienced something of the spirit of bondage that causes them to fear things other than the fear of man. And when faith comes, delivering the soul from these fears, the others must inevitably fade away. The power of faith quickly extinguishes them. Just as David, when he was delivered from the mouth of the lion and the paw of the bear, was not afraid of Goliath, a believing soul is not afraid of the wrath of man because it has been delivered by faith from the wrath of an infinite deity and the terrors of the Law and conscience.

In Isaiah 51:22, observe how God presents the deliverance of His people from the fear of His wrath as an argument to strengthen them against all other fears. "Behold, I have taken out of your hand the cup of trembling, the dregs of the cup of my fury." Why is this spoken? In the beginning of the next chapter (for chapters were not divided by the prophets but added later, and therefore they have an immediate connection), it says, "Awake, awake, put on your strength, O Zion, put on your beautiful garments." This is what faith says to a believing soul: "Why are you afraid of the wrath and disapproval of men? Do not be fearful, for I have taken the cup of trembling out of your hand. There was a time when you held that cup of trembling and were afraid you would drink from it. But I have taken it away, so awaken, put on strength, and do not fear man, for you have been delivered from such fear."

It is a passage in the book of Job, Job 38:17. When God wanted to bring Job to fear, He said, "You seem to have some boldness, but have you seen the gates of death? Has the shadow of death been revealed to you?" That would be a different matter if you had experienced those fears and yet remained bold. But a believing soul can say, "Yes, Lord, the gates of death and the shadow of death have been partially revealed to me, and yet I am bold."

The prophet says in Jeremiah 17:17, "Do not be a terror to me; you are my hope in the day of disaster." Lord, let me be delivered from your terror, and no one in the world will terrify me. Those who have been raised delicately and know not what danger means, tremble when they hear of any disturbance and danger. But those who are accustomed to wars, who constantly hear the noise of cannons and witness alarming and desperate situations, are not easily frightened because they have been where terrors exist and have been delivered from them. Similarly, a believing soul has encountered terrors other than the terrors caused by humans, and faith, which delivers from them, will also deliver from these.

Fourthly, faith helps against the fear of men, as well as all dangers and evils, by instilling the true fear of God in the soul. When faith comes, it brings all grace with it, including the grace of the fear of God. The root cause of all disorderly fear in the world is the lack of true fear of God. By this, I do not mean fear of His wrath, but the reverence that we owe to God as creatures to the Creator, the fear of God that constitutes a significant part of His worship. If the soul is filled with that fear, other fears will vanish.

Just as in other afflictions, true spiritual joy overcomes carnal joy, and the best way to cure carnal joy is to have the heart filled with spiritual joy. Many find satisfaction in the flesh, but they will never mortify their carnal joy until their souls are filled with spiritual joy. Therefore, when they cry out against their carnal joy in times of sickness, it is not truly mortified because they return to it again. They only had the conviction of conscience that their carnal joy was wrong, but their hearts were not filled with its opposite.

The same applies to sorrow. There is no better way to mortify carnal sorrow than to sorrow for sin. Similarly, for desires, there is no better way to mortify sinful, worldly desires than to have desires sanctified for God. Just as in other afflictions, the most effective way to mortify carnal, sinful fear is to have the true fear of God planted in the heart.

As Moses, when the rod turned into a serpent, the magicians also turned their rods into serpents. However, the text in Exodus 7:12 states that Moses' serpent devoured the magicians' serpents. Similarly, the true fear of God has enough power to occupy the entire soul, leaving no space for the fear of man. Just as God is truly worshipped in His presence, when God is truly feared, He is the only one feared, and all other fears are subordinate to that. When God is truly feared, nothing else is feared, and indeed, nothing else needs to be feared. Just as where God is not feared, no creature can help us, where God is feared, no creature can harm us. In Hosea 10:3 it is said, "Because we feared not the Lord, what then should a king do to us?" On the contrary, because we fear the Lord, what then can a king or all the power in the world do against us?

Fifthly, faith reveals to the soul that it has more on its side than against it. You may recall the story of the Prophet who was afraid when he saw his enemies surrounding him, ready to seize him. The Prophet prayed to the Lord to open his eyes, and in 2 Kings 6:16-17, he saw that there were more with him than against him.

Until a person's eyes are opened by faith, they may see many enemies against them, causing fear. But when God opens the eyes of their soul to see that there are more with them than against them, all fears disappear. They see all the attributes of God, all the ways of God's providence, all the angels, and all creatures working for their good. They see that there are more on their side than against them.

If a child or a person is alone in danger, they are afraid. But when they are in the company of their friends, who have more with them than against them, they are not afraid. Through the eye of faith, we see that there are more with us than against us, and that frees us from fear.

Sixthly, faith prevents fear by bringing the spirit of Jesus Christ into the soul and making the soul a partaker of Christ's spirit. Christ is referred to as the Lion of the Tribe of Judah in Revelation 5:5. He was full of courage and did not fear anything that opposed him on his path. Every Christian partakes in the lion-like spirit of Christ and has something of it within them, which imparts strength and courage.

In Isaiah 11:2, we read about the spirit of Christ with which He was anointed: the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. Wherever the spirit of Christ is present, there is a spirit of strength and might that does not easily yield to fear. It is a sign of a poor and low spirit to cower in fear at every little thing, but a magnanimous and elevated spirit will not easily fear. The spirit of Christ is a magnanimous and glorious spirit, sharing the same spirit with the Father. Those who belong to Christ also possess the same spirit of the Son and of the Father. Therefore, as Saint Paul says in 2 Timothy 1:7, "We have not received the spirit of fear, but of power." The spirit of Christ is filled with power and strength, and when faith brings in the spirit of Christ, it undoubtedly helps against fear.

Seventhly, faith helps against fear by redirecting the heart away from the creature and all the comforts associated with it. Why does a person fear? It is because they believe that the creature will take away some comfort from them. But if the heart is detached from the creature and its comforts, and from the evils brought by the creature, not valuing them or considering them of great importance, there is not much reason to fear. Faith takes the heart off from the creature. In Revelation 12:11, it is mentioned that those who overcome Antichrist did not love their lives. By consequence, if they were detached from the love of life, they were also detached from the love of any creature.

Chrysostom made a notable statement regarding a worldly person. He said that there is no one more miserable and fearful than someone who is attached to earthly things. Such a person lives a life of constant worry and trembling. However, when faith comes, it detaches the heart from being fixated on the creature. As a result, that person no longer lives a life of anxiety and no longer trembles. Chrysostom's life reflected this sentiment. Speaking about Empress Eudoxia, he said, "What will she do? Will she banish me? The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof. Will she cut me asunder? So was Isaiah. Will she drown me? John was cast into the sea. Will she stone me? So was Stephen. Will she behead me? So was Paul. Will she take away my substance? My heart is taken away from that already."

There is a story about Illaria encountering thieves who asked if he was not afraid. He replied, "No, I have nothing to lose." They threatened to kill him, to which he said, "I am prepared to die." When a heart realizes it has nothing to lose and is prepared to die, it does not fear. It does not value any evil in the creature or any good in it, and therefore it is not afraid. It is faith, that glorious and powerful grace, which takes the heart off from all creature evils and creature goods. You can recognize the work of faith in your soul when you feel a principle within you that detaches you from the creature, lifts you above creature comforts and creature evils. That is the glorious work of faith, and that is the seventh aspect.

Eighthly, faith involves God in the cause of a believer. Whatever cause a believer undertakes and exercises faith in, their faith involves God in it. This means that it not only receives the support, command, and faithfulness of God to assist it, but also the name of God and God Himself. It is similar to a situation in England where a person has a debt and does not know how to collect it. They may turn it over to the King, hoping that involving the King in the debt will provide a solution. Similarly, when a believer is in a difficult situation and doesn't know what to do, they look in every direction and see nothing but fear and terror. If they can turn the cause over to God and involve Him in it, they find peace.

Ninthly, faith has a remarkable effect in helping against fear by filling the heart with spiritual goodness. True courage and boldness in the heart stem from the abundance of spiritual goodness within the soul. Just as naturalists observe that lions possess courage and boldness because their hearts are filled with strong spirits, many things are weak when empty but become strong when filled with what is suitable to them. Similarly, when a soul is filled with spiritual goodness, it becomes very strong.

The reason behind the audacity and courage of wicked people in their sinful ways is the abundance of wickedness within their souls. The Apostle addressed this when he said in Acts 5:3, "Why hath Satan filled thy heart to lie unto the Holy Ghost?" If Satan had not filled their hearts, they would not have been so bold as to lie to the Holy Ghost. An example of this can also be found in Esther 7:5, where the king asks, "Who is he? And where is he that durst presume in his heart to do so?" In Hebrew, it is phrased as "Who hath filled his heart to do this?"—indicating a heart so full as to dare such an evil act.

Just as the filling of the heart with evil makes one bold and courageous in doing evil, the filling of the heart with spiritual goodness propels one to pursue what is good. Consider the case of Stephen, who, after being filled with the Holy Ghost, displayed great boldness. He could look upon the faces of his persecutors without fear, as mentioned in Acts 6:15. The council gazed upon him and saw his face as if it were the face of an angel, all because his heart was filled with the Holy Ghost. Similarly, the apostles were very fearful before the Holy Ghost descended upon them, but once they were filled with the Holy Ghost, they had no more fear.

Elisha also exhibited great courage when the three kings approached him. He said, "Had it not been for Jehoshaphat, I had not seen thy face." The reason behind his boldness was that he had the double portion of Elijah's spirit upon him. Just as there is a plenitude of evil that causes boldness, there is also a plenitude of good that fills the heart with boldness. And nothing fills the heart more than faith, which draws from the fullness of Christ. As it is written, "Of his fullness have all we received" (John 1:16).

In the tenth place, faith possesses great power to instill boldness and remove the fear of man. This is because faith acquaints believers with God's ways towards His people, and as a result, they do not fear. Believers gain understanding of God's providential dealings and come to know that it is His usual manner to allow enemies to rage against His people, to prevail over them, and to have power over them, yet they remain His people. Affliction does not signify that God has forsaken them. Therefore, Scripture often speaks of God leading His people through fire and water, assuring them that He will be with them there (Isaiah 43:2). It is God's way to choose His people and set His heart upon them in the fiery furnace. When He intends the greatest good for His people, He guides them through trials and places them in prosperous circumstances (Psalm 66:12). When one is acquainted with God's ways, fear is dispelled.

If a soldier is unfamiliar with the tactics of his General and witnesses him undertaking great and perilous tasks, he becomes afraid. However, someone who is acquainted with the General's strategies and knows that it is customary to face such dangers does not fear. Similarly, carnal hearts are quick to fear at the sight of any danger because they lack the understanding to comprehend God's intentions and ways towards His people. On the other hand, the people of God are aware that it is God's ordinary course to bring about good from evil.

As Luther said, "He kills in order to make alive, and casts down in order to raise up." He elaborates further, stating that understanding this is the art of arts and the knowledge of knowledges, but very few truly grasp and comprehend God's ways. It is a secret that God unveils only to those who fear Him. Faith does not render one ignorant like a child, but rather instructs the soul in the ways of God, empowering it to overcome fear.

In the eleventh place, faith aids in conquering fear by elevating the soul to a lofty and glorious state, ensuring both safety and a remarkable condition. Just as a person of high status in the world is not fearful like others, faith elevates God's people to a position of great eminence and splendour. As stated in Isaiah 43:4-5, "Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honorable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life. Fear not, for I am with thee."

If a King were to approach a poor subject and say, "Fear not, you are honourable in my eyes. I value your life more than the lives of thousands," would this not prevent the subject from being afraid? God says the same to every gracious soul, and faith embraces this assurance, keeping the soul free from fear. In Matthew 10:31, Jesus declares, "Fear not, ye are of more value than many sparrows." God's providence extends even to sparrows, but His people are of greater worth. They are so precious to God that He even takes note of the number of hairs on their heads (Matthew 10:30) and is aware of their every step. He collects their tears in His bottle (Psalm 56:8). Surely, He values every drop of their blood, much more their lives (Psalm 116:15), and their spiritual privileges. They are in a lofty and excellent condition above others.

Chrysostom beautifully describes the priest Azariah who resisted King Uzziah's attempt to offer sacrifice. He says, "Everyone who commits sin is a servant to sin, and therefore lowly, even if adorned with a thousand crowns. But he who maintains righteousness is more of a king than any king, for he is in a higher position than anyone in the world." A most remarkable expression comes from Tertullian, asking, "Why should I fear when the saints shall be raised to judge the world? Why should that man fear who ought to be feared by angels, for he shall judge them? Who ought to be feared by devils, for he shall have power over them? Who ought to be feared by the entire world, for he shall judge all the world? Does a judge fear the prisoner before him?" This is the condition of a saint of God, and faith makes use of this knowledge, understanding what God has revealed about the exalted state of His people, thereby banishing fear.

Twelfthly, faith aids in overcoming fear by greatly strengthening a good conscience. Wherever faith exists, a good conscience is also strengthened in proportion. They are inseparable. Hence, the Scripture speaks of those who have "made shipwreck of faith" as also putting away a good conscience (1 Timothy 1:19). One cannot stand without the other. We understand the immense power of a clear conscience in eradicating fear. To have no knowledge of wrongdoing concerning ourselves is like a wall of brass. The breastplate of righteousness guards against any incoming dart, and a good conscience upholds this breastplate. It declares, "They accuse, but I will excuse. They condemn, but I will justify. I will stand with you in death and before the Lord, pleading on your behalf."

If a person becomes a terror to themselves, it is no wonder they would fear everything else. However, if a person is not a terror to themselves, if they can behold God in righteousness, and if their conscience is sound and good, they can confidently face anything. As Job 11:14-15 states, "If iniquity be in thine hand, put it far away, and let not wickedness dwell in thy tabernacles. For then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot; yea, thou shalt be steadfast, and shalt not fear."

Once again, faith provides significant assistance in overcoming fear by bringing in and utilising all the gracious promises to combat fear. I will mention just two promises, and you will see the immense power they possess in aiding the soul against fear. Deuteronomy 31:8 declares, "He it is that goeth before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed." Note how God emphasises these expressions. Before Moses is instructed to encourage Joshua to be strong in verse 7, God first assures him that He Himself goes before Joshua, secondly, He will be with Joshua, and thirdly, He will not fail him. Similarly, in Isaiah 41:10, we read, "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." God piles up expressions to provide support against fear. Faith makes these encouragements from the Word of God tangible to the soul; faith brings the divine power and efficacy of these promises to the soul.

Furthermore, faith aids in conquering fear by drawing upon all the experiences of God's dealings with His people in the past. Habakkuk, throughout chapter 3, makes use of the ways of God and recounts what God had done for His people before. Psalm 87:4 states, "I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to them that know me: behold Philistia, and Tyre, with Ethiopia; this man was born there."

Lastly, faith assists in overcoming the fear of man by causing a Christian to evaluate people as God Himself judges them, to see them as God sees them, and to have the same thoughts about them as God does. This is a powerful aid against fear.

Now, we must examine how God has revealed Himself concerning humanity and how little reason there is to fear men, especially wicked individuals and enemies of God's people. The Psalmist boldly proclaims, "In God have I put my trust: I will not fear what man can do unto me" (Psalm 56:11). Similarly, in verse 4 of the same psalm, he declares, "In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me."

[infjtarot]

Queen of Cups. Pastoral Tarot

Element: Water Sephirah: Binah (Understanding), sephirah three in Beriah (Creation) Golden Dawn Title: Queen of Cups, Queen of the Thrones of the Waters Elemental Combination: Water of Water Astrological Sign: Cancer Rider Physical Quality: Older woman with light brown hair and gray or blue eyes Rider Deck Theme: Dedication Renaissance Character: Judith Water of water; as one of the four “pure” elemental cards, the Queen of Cups carries a special power. She is much closer to the High Priestess than the impatient King of Wands is to the Magician, for the Queen of Cups is intense and deeply committed to her path, which we might call the creative path of love. Waite says of her that “she sees but she also acts, and her activity feeds her dream.” In the Rider picture, she stares intently at her elaborate cup, which may be her own creation. It stands out in the deck as unique, the only one decorated and the only one covered. Some have compared it to the vessel that holds the “host,” the sacred wafers, or “bread,” that turns into the body of Christ in the Catholic mass. With the winged figures on either side, it recalls the Ark of the Covenant from the temple in ancient Israel, which was guarded by two seraphim. The Ark was the dwelling place of the Shekinah, the female presence of the divine. Notice, by the way, how the Queen from the Visconti holds a similar cup, though without the winged figures. The Rider Queen of Cups has long been one of my favorite cards. Her throne rests on dry land, compared to that of the King, but water swirls all around her and even seems to merge into her dress, so that we can say she blends intense feeling with manifestation. I find the intensity of her gaze symbolic of a strong will, though I know that some Rider devotees find her scowling. In the Shining Tribe deck, the gift of the Gift of Rivers is love. Two streams meet and merge into one, and where they join we see the Holy Grail in the form of a simple bowl. Readings—Intensity, dedication, love, someone who blends feeling with action. She may represent a creative artist or creativity itself. She also can indicate love, both romantic and love of family. Healing and a sense of protection in some difficult situation. Rachel Pollack

[gatoself]

If I'm gonna pledge allegiance to anything it's going to be the rainbow flag

Gilbert Baker picked the rainbow for many reasons, because of the diversity of color and because it has such a varied mythology around the world.

Before 1978, the gay liberation symbol was the pink triangle, referencing the mandatory symbols different queer people in concentration camps wore. There were different colors and some were up or down, but for gay liberation it was universally the pink triangle, a small way of saying "never again"

When bible-thumpers say it's based on Noah's ark I have two points

°Noah's ark story is almost entirely plagiarized from the epic of Gilgamesh, where a character named Utnapishtim builds an ark during a great flood. It was written in cuneiform thousands of years before the Bible.

°Baker made the flag with the great flood story in mind as a symbol for hope that humans will never again commit atrocities towards each other, and the fact that the diversity and joy was like the many colors of the rainbow

From this article below:

"The crowd was as much a part of the show as the band. Everyone was there: North Beach beatniks and barrio zoots, the bored bikers in black leather, teenagers in the back row kissing. There were long-haired, lithe girls in belly-dance get-ups, pink-haired punks safety-pinned together, hippie suburbanites, movie stars so beautiful they left you dumbstruck, muscle gayboys with perfect mustaches, butch dykes in blue jeans, and fairies of all genders in thrift-store dresses. We rode the mirrored ball on glittering LSD and love power. Dance fused us, magical and cleansing. We were all in a swirl of color and light. It was like a rainbow.

A rainbow. That’s the moment when I knew exactly what kind of flag I would make.

A Rainbow Flag was a conscious choice, natural and necessary. The rainbow came from earliest recorded history as a symbol of hope. In the Book of Genesis, it appeared as proof of a covenant between God and all living creatures. It was also found in Chinese, Egyptian and Native American history. A Rainbow Flag would be our modern alternative to the pink triangle. Now the rioters who claimed their freedom at the Stonewall Bar in 1969 would have their own symbol of liberation.”

[kraviolis]

betting on the flood against the ark (The Owl House)

Rating: Teen Relationships: Belos & Golden Guard OC (Darius's Mentor) Words: 2.9k Additional Tags: Manipulation, Implied/Referenced Abuse, Toxic & Unhealthy Relationships, Complicated Feelings, Grimwalker Lore, Emotional Hurt/Comfort But The Comfort Is Kinda Fucked Up Summary:

“Grimwalker.” Kane repeats, irreverent. “And here I was, still thinking those were nothing more than a scarytale parents tell their children to frighten them into not wandering off in the night.”

“Is that all they’re known as, now?” Philip hums in amusement. “A hundred years ago, Grimwalkers were more of a myth or a legend that one told over a campfire; the corpses of Basilisk victims so desperate to get their magic back that they’d devour the still-beating heart right from the chest of any unlucky witch who lost their way.”

“That could explain my preference for rare steaks.”

AO3 LINK

__________________

“Kane,” Belos’s voice is cold as steel and twice as sharp. “What are you doing here?”

Kane doesn’t answer him. None of his answers would be satisfactory to the Emperor and despite it all, he still couldn’t help but wish for his approval. 

(What a mess he was. Still pretending as if he could ever be truly special in Belos’s eyes when even his own face is the copy of a dead man’s.)

No, Kane doesn’t even move. He stays perfectly still, kneeling with his head bowed. His gaze stays locked to the hand of a child sticking out of what looked to be a grave, but Kane now knows it’s more akin to a womb, if anything. After a moment of silence, Belos sighs in a way that says he’d been expecting a confrontation of some sort. 

Did the others try to fight him? How idiotic, Kane thinks.

The Emperor– no, this isn’t the Emperor right now. This isn’t even his old mentor and friend who always makes an effort to spend a portion of his very minimal free time with Kane, who enjoys splitting a bottle of mead and making fun of the other Coven Heads behind their backs.

This is someone Kane knew had always lurked under the old man’s skin but had only ever seen glimpses of. 

(The decade-old scars on Kane's back itch.)

The… the thing wearing his mentor’s face approaches Kane from behind, his gait and footsteps the same as they’ve ever been. The earth is cold and hard against his knees, even through the padding and armor.

“What is your name?” Kane asks, not turning his head.

“Philip,” He answers with a disturbing amount of eager honesty, like he’s been waiting years for the chance to say it out loud. “My name is Philip Wittebane.”

Kane nods in response. They fall into silence again. 

He almost wants to ask if Bel– if Philip is going to kill him. A stupid question to ask. It would be the same as committing suicide, because he’d be giving up control over his fate, just letting Philip forge whatever answer he pleased. Still, he’s burning to know if he even has a chance of leaving this room alive or if it’s foolish to hope. 

Kane wants to live. Titan below, he wants to live. He wants to do his work as the Golden Guard, he wants to bring order and peace to the Isles, he wants to keep teaching the Coven initiates and watch their potential flourish under his guiding hand. There's still so much more that Kane wants to do with his life. He could be so much more.

The boy sleeping under the dirt twitches a finger, dreaming of a world he’s yet to know.

“Do you name them?” Kane asks instead. “Before they’re…”

“Exhumed?” Philip offers.

“Exhumed.” He swirls the word in his mouth like wine. It tastes like rot.

“No, I don’t.'' Kane can see Philip's shadow tilt its head in consideration. “I can’t be sure if they’re entirely viable before their first breath. It’s a rather tricky process, making a Grimwalker.”

“Grimwalker,” He repeats, irreverent. “And here I was, still thinking those were nothing more than a scarytale parents tell their children to frighten them into not wandering off in the night.”

“Is that all they’re known as, now?” Philip hums in amusement. “A hundred years ago, Grimwalkers were more of a myth or a legend that one told over a campfire; the corpses of Basilisk victims so desperate to get their magic back that they’d devour the still-beating heart right from the chest of any unlucky witch who lost their way.”

He says it with the embellishment of a master storyteller. Even the false description makes Kane feel as if something is crawling up his spine.

“That could explain my preference for rare steaks.” He tries to joke, trying to make the tension between them loosen. It feels as easy as it always has been and Kane wonders, not for the first time in his life and certainly not for the last, if there truly was something deeply, irreparably wrong with him.

Philip gets a kick out of the joke, at least. He chuckles, his shadow cast against the wall shaking in mirth. “Ah, you never fail to surprise me, Kane. You’ve always stood out from the rest of them.”

Lie. Kane smiles, turning his head to finally look up at the man behind him. “One of a kind, right?” 

Philip hums again and smiles back. It's indulgent and gives the impression of a predator playing with his prey, despite how his pupils are disturbingly dark even in the low light. The way his eyes aren’t reflective in the dark like all other witches has always been unsettling to him.

“Stand.” Philip commands. Kane obeys, rising to his feet unsteadily. “Can I tell you a story?”

“It depends,” Kane studies his mentor with a piercing gaze. “If I listen, would it allow me to continue my duties?”

Philip's eyes widen, and he blinks down at his student. It’s not only a mild surprise, there– Kane’s actually shocked him for once. “You still wish to serve as the Golden Guard?”

“I cannot see any other path ahead of me that’s worth pursuing. All other roads lead me away from where I want to be," Kane explains. “And where I want to be is with the Coven.”

It isn’t a lie, not really, but it isn’t the full truth. The other paths that Kane could see had the odds stacked against his desire to survive this encounter. He would meet the same end in all of them, the same end as the ones before him who had also learned the truth.

Kane saw the list of names in the journal kept on the slab across the room. He read the reasons why he was here and not them.

(Doing the exact same thing over and over again and expecting different results is the definition of insanity.)

(The ones before him were all at least a decade younger when they were culled. If he had been their age, maybe he would’ve done the same. As it is, Kane is simply too tired and worn-down by life for outrage.)

Philip regards him with a raised brow and suspicion lined in his face. “And you expect me to believe you? After all the times you’ve betrayed me before?”

Kane has never once betrayed him. He has been nothing but loyal and they both know this– the implication that Kane is the same person as the ones before him is nothing but bait. It's only Philip trying to rile Kane up and accidentally reveal his true intentions.

What are his true intentions? Kane himself doesn’t even know what he intends to do. He knows what he should do, what the ones who came before him would want– but they aren’t here, are they? They were foolish and acted on instinct before logic and every single one of them died because they thought they were different and could do what many stronger and wiser than them have failed at.

No. There is no should do, would do, could do– Kane cannot hinge his own life on the wishes and failures of the long dead, no matter how much he wants to honor them. He is not them. He is not them . They all share the same blood and bone but Kane is more than the legacy they’ve left behind.

(For years, Kane has hated the haunted look his mentor gave him sometimes. It was as if he wasn’t even looking at him, but a ghost.)

The Emperor’s coven has always encouraged forging your own path to success. To climb higher above the rest using what the Titan has granted you. Kane is an empty-chested half-witch but he climbed higher than any of them just because the Emperor believed he could.

A memory comes to the forefront of Kane's mind, honey-sweet but foggy from the years and from his own intoxication in the moment.

(“I can never repay you for what you’ve done for me,” Kane said once, his voice blithesome and his tongue loosened from bottles of warm mead. “I'll give you anything you ask from me. Anything at all.”)

(“All I ask, Kane, is for you to remain by my side.” Philip, his face flushed from his own drink, had told him- because it had to have been him, the real him, not his countless facades. “Your friendship means more to me than you will ever know.”)

Yes, the Emperor is a liar. Always has been and always will be. Kane cannot deny this, because he has known from the very beginning. He's known for years and years and yet he still dedicates his life to him, because the man standing before him is the one person that Kane has ever loved. the closest thing to family he has ever known. 

Kane is numb to the lies Philip tells so easily. When Kane was still young and still cared about where he came from, his mentor would smile and give him nothing but falsehoods of a life he’d once had but lost, the one he was told he couldn’t remember. 

(“You and your family were attacked by wild witches,” The stranger explained when he was barely fifteen years old, while Kane gently prodded at the bandages on his head. “The coven scouts managed to save you, but… they weren’t fast enough. now both your family and your memories are…”)

(Kane had looked at this man sitting next to his bed and didn’t believe a word he said. But he wanted it to be true, so he nodded in acceptance and watched the man’s lips curl into the self-satisfied smile that Kane sometimes saw in the mirror.)

Also, Kane has never once claimed to be some kind of bastion of truth. Of course he’s lied before. A student always ends up reflecting the qualities of their teacher, after all, and neither one of them have deluded themselves into thinking the other is only ever purely honest, nor have either of them ever assumed entitlement to every little secret the other holds.

Yet they’ve both continued to trust each other with their lives, and even with things far more important, because at the end of the day, what would it even change? Having the confirmation that the story he’d been fed his whole life had been nothing but a lie truly did mean almost nothing to him. He’s never craved a life he will never have. He’s found contentment in the hand he’s been dealt. This was something he’d accepted a long time ago.

No, it’s not the lying he’s upset about. It’s the truth.

(Kane had collapsed to his knees the second he saw the child’s hand. He hadn’t reached for it only because he didn’t know if he’d have the strength not to dig him up out of raw instinct.)

It would be easy to lie to Philip and say he’s not upset about any of this. It would be so easy to tell him that he didn’t care about the other Grimwalkers, that he holds no sorrow or grief for them, or even that he hates them because of how they’d supposedly betrayed Philip again and again.

But lying is how they both got here, and he is tired of trying to keep up with all the lies between them.

So Kane takes a breath, looks Philip in the eye, and he tells him the truth.

“Do you think I care for you so little that lying to me could make a difference?”

Philip's face is an open book without his mask, especially now that he’s not also hiding behind a false identity. He cannot help but broadcast his every emotion and thought, even now. Kane watches as the extended shock before it melts into something… more personal. Something that has Philip searching, yearning, hoping that these words weren’t another lie to smooth his paranoia long enough for Kane to slip a blade between his ribs.

Kane knows his friend has been hurt by someone close to him before. Not just from the green scars of his curse that stripe his body, but also from the way Philip acts when it’s just the two of them, when they take off their masks and put away their titles. 

The downside of trying to hide your wounds from someone who knows you is that you often overcompensate and end up drawing too much attention to it anyways. It's like trying to hide a stain on a rug by removing the entire rug, only for the discoloration of the floorboards to give you away.

“I thought you would be more… upset over this,” Philip begins to circle him, and Kane represses a shudder at how closely he’s being observed. “How can you still wish to carry on working the same as you have, as if nothing has happened?”

“What else do you suppose I should do?”

“Leave? Run off in an attempt to find your own answers?”

“I'm too old to go on a journey of self-searching. That’s something for teenagers to do during their gap year between graduation and Coven applications.”

“Are you not even angry with me?” Philip frowns, stopping his slow tracking. “Do you not have any desire to lash out and kill me for what I've done?”

“My apologies, your Grace.” Kane drawls as he folds his arms behind his back, his voice dripping with sarcasm. He doesn’t mean for his calm demeanor to fall but he can only take being doubted for so long before it begins to sting. “I didn’t realize being angry and wanting to commit regicide were the same thing.”

Philip tilts his head, a strand of his gold-grey hair coming loose and falling across his face. “You are upset.” He murmurs, finally taking notice. “Oh, you are furious over this.”

“What I'm furious about is that even after dedicating my life to you, you still question my loyalty over something as petty as– as this.” He makes a general, sweeping gesture at the entirety of the room. 

Another half-truth. Kane cannot think about the child underneath the earth and the dozens of boys and men who came before him and were seen as nothing but work oxen, or he may actually risk lashing out.

(Finding ways to pull the rage and sorrow from his chest can come later, when his life is not actively hanging in the balance.)

“Surely you can understand my concerns, my friend.” Philip inclines his head, spreading the fingers on one hand. “I have not lived this long by blindly taking even my most faithful at their word, nor by just sitting idly by and waiting for an attack when I could be taking steps to prevent it from ever happening.”

“How long have you– nevermind, don’t answer that.” Kane sighs, running a hand through his mane of chestnut hair. “I don't know how I can convince you that what I'm saying is the truth– because it is. It’s just… difficult, trying to find the words I need when you’ve probably heard my voice say them all before. In this very room, even.”

“...I have.” Philip admits quietly, looking at Kane with a faraway gaze. As if he is seeing the ones that Kane is currently standing in the very footsteps of.

“We… we are going to have problems to work out between us, after this. We might never return to what we once had together. But we can’t let this divide us," Kane raises a hand and clenches it against his chest. “Not now, not when we’re so close to eradicating wild magic and finally honoring the Titan’s will.”

Philip blinks and then blinks again. There's a second where he just stands there, staring at Kane with wide eyes and a slack jaw. His gaze darts rapidly between Kane's eyes, trying to find… something.

Whatever he finds must be adequate, because he lets go of the breath he was holding.

“Yes,” he whispers, then clears his throat. “Yes, you’re right, Ca–ane. We… we still have work to do, don’t we?”

Kane nods and then, impulsively, he falls to one knee, bowing his head in deference exactly as he has always done. As he will continue to do.

“I swear on the blood and bile of the Titan to continue to honor my oath as the Golden Guard. I will follow your will until the day I die, Emperor Belos. Philip Wittebane.”

Coward, his own voice whispers inside his head. You selfish coward. This is not honor.

It’s not, he agrees, pushing away his disgust. It’s survival.

“Rise, Golden Guard.”

There's a real smile on his lips when Kane meets Philip's eyes again. They’ve gone soft around the edges in the way he rarely ever sees, the crows feet at the outer corners more pronounced than ever. The bright blue stands out against the pale of his skin and the dark green of his cursed scars. His gaze is kind and warm, as if inviting Kane in and welcoming him home.

“My dear friend,” Philip croons. He reaches out to hold Kane's shoulder, squeezing affectionately. “I truly believe you are my best work out of them all.”

Horrifically, Kane can’t help but preen at the praise.

[earthcovenant]

Unifying Societies and Beyond: The Earth Covenant Pledge

Unifying Societies and Beyond: The Earth Covenant Pledge. #Covenant #EarthCovenant #TheEarthCovenant #Earth #Legal #Justice #WordofGod #WordofGoddess #Contract #Binding #Law #Commitment #ArkofCovenant #AsktheAnswer #Government #Business #Agency

Unifying Societies and Beyond: The Earth Covenant Pledge The Earth Covenant: Introduction The Earth Covenant is of a representation from the following Societies being:  The Achaemenid Society, The African Society, The Alien Society, The Artificial Intelligence Society, The AI Society, The Atlantis Society, The Aztec Society, The Babylonian Society, The Buddhism Society, The Celtic Society, The…

[halos-top-alien-model]

Sangheili Bracket Round 2 Match 8

More info below:

Usze 'Taham:

Debuted in Halo 3

Born Oct. 31st, 2519, Usze was fathered by the famous swordsman Toha 'Sumai (although only knew him as an uncle that would act as a trainer) and born into a respected merchant family in Sumai keep. He would graduated with honors from a top war college, being posted on the Fleet of Faithful Ardor afterwards. After only a single tour within the fleet, he would be offered a place in the Covenant Honor Guard, but declined out of the desire to start away from ceremonial positions. He continued to refuse offers, which could have put him in danger of accusations of apostasy; but, either due to luck or superiors protecting him, Usze would not be targeted, save for some assassination attempts. His actions during the Human-Covenant war would ultimately cause those wishing him in the Honor Guard to finally back off. Still prior to the Great Schism, Usze would join the Ascetics and serve as a liaison for the Covenant, while also serving under SpecOps Commander Rtas 'Vadumee. Once the Great Schism broke out, he would join the Separatists' Fleet of Retribution, specifically the Special Warfare Group. He would then head to Earth alongside the Arbiter and N'tho 'Sraom. Later, he would take part in the Battle of Installation 00, even being present when the Master Chief deactivated the Halo Array and the Arbiter killed the Prophet of Truth.

At the end of the war, he would become a liaison to the UNSC and an emissary within the Ascetics' naval forces. He also liaisoned between feuding Sangheili keeps and factions, while also helping to resurrect the Ascetic Guard. Upon joining the Swords of Sanghelios, he helped establish the Riftborn: a SpecOps division fully committed to joint operations with the UNSC. In 2555, he learned of an assassination plot against the Arbiter and confronted the would-be assassin, Otar 'Bemet, refusing his attempts to get Usze on his side and killing the rebel. Once that was finished, the Arbiter informed him that the UNSC discovered the Halo Array was suddenly ticking down to activation, so he would be sending him alongside N'tho and the Mayhem to help stop it in Operation: FAR STORM. While waiting for the portal at Voi to be reactivated, he watched over the Huragok Drifts Randomly. When Drifts finally activated the portal, a Forerunner Retriever suddenly appeared and attacked. A meeting would then be organized on Mayhem. The Sangheili wished to continue on with the operation immediately, but Captain Annabelle Richards claimed they needed to wait for consent due to the unknown threat to Earth. Yet N'tho had foreseen this as a possibility, revealing he had tricked the humans necessary for the operation to be on board Mayhem and that he had already decided he would be heading into that portal with or without approval. Another Retriever would attack just then, but Mayhem took care of it before entering the portal. To their surprise, they found the journey took a matter of hours rather than the usual two weeks. Multiple Retrievers were waiting for them, causing Mayhem to crash on the Ark. Usze would then join an expedition on foot, only for a pack of Blind wolves and a group of Chaefka to attack and Olympia Vale to become separated from the group. The team would split up, with Usze, Spartan Elias Holt, and Henry Lamb following Vale's footsteps in the snow. Communications with the other team would then be lost, with increased snowfall sabotaging efforts to follow Vale. Therefore, they decided to head to the Citadel in the hopes they'd regroup with anyone. Forerunner armigers and a giant carnivorous planet would be among the obstacles the trio faced on the way. Once the whole team - barring the still missing Vale - regrouped at the Citadel, the Halo Array was shut down only for more armigers to attack. Usze, Luther Mann, Henry Lamb, Drifts Randomly, and Kola 'Baoth would retreat down the same elevator shaft Usze used as an escape route the first time he was at the Ark, while the rest of the team were teleported elsewhere by the Ark's monitor, 000 Tragic Solitude. In the inner tunnels of the Citadel, they would discover the central power station, where Drifts would start repairs while Lamb was killed by a Sentinel. They would continue to search for an exit, finding a heavy, locked door blocking their path. Usze and Kola would lift the door enough for Luther and Drift to enter, but would be forced to wait on the other side, becoming open to an armiger ambush. As they fought off the armigers, Drifts would finally take control of the Ark from Tragic Solitude, who would be destroyed shortly afterwards. With the galaxy now safe, everyone - including the recovered Vale - returned to the Mayhem and waited for reinforcements to arrive and bring them back to Earth. Following the end of the mission, Usze would have a heart-to-heart with Vale regarding her failure to negotiate with the rampant monitor.

By 2559, N'tho continued to assist the Arbiter. Notably, he helped escort the Arbiter to and from a meeting shortly after the destruction of the Jiralhanae homeworld Doisac, only to be stopped by Created armigers and forced to give up his weapons whilst they searched their vehicle for the perpetrators of a recent conflict. Later, when they returned to Vadam keep, Usze would be present - along with Kola - in hearing out the Oath Warden Crei 'Ayomuu regarding the existence of a weapon that could defeat Cortana.

Chak 'Lok:

Debuted in Halo Infinite

Born Jan. 15th, 2485 on Malurok, he would earn a place within the Seneschal order of the Evocati (known as Ultras to humanity) while serving in the Covenant military. After the fall of the Covenant, he would join the Banished and convinced many other Sangheili Ultras to follow suit. Within the Banished, he utilized interrogation and torture methods to collect intel. By May 2560, he was among the Banished forces occupying Installation 07, taking up the Tower as a personal base of operations. Once he finished gaining all he could out of prisoners, he would send them off to the House of Reckoning. Among those taken prisoner by him were Spartan Hudson Griffin and medic Lucas Browning. On or around May 28th, Chak would set a trap for the Master Chief by activating a distress signal within Spartan Griffin's armor. Then, he put the Tower on lockdown and taunted the Master Chief via hologram. Once the Chief finally made it inside, Chak politely greeted him before engaging one-on-one. However, Chief would recovered Griffin's Threat Sensor, which aided him in killing Chak 'Lok. Following his death, Glibnub the propagandist would claim he was still "100% alive" and that the Tower was merely closed for renovations. Others were not convinced and blamed Chak 'Lok for the fall of the Tower, with Bassus specifically openly expressing delight at his demise.

[bardic-tales]

Fandom OC Introduction: Uncharted

Scorpio | 8w | ENTJ

Faceclaim: Halle Berry

Introducing Kira Mitchell, a woman born on June 12, 1991, in the vibrant city of New Orleans, Louisiana. From an early age, she developed an insatiable fascination with ancient artifacts and honed her skills as a master thief. Kira's exceptional talents quickly caught the attention of Rourke McGloughlin, a notorious criminal figure in the underworld.

Impressed by her unparalleled abilities, Rourke recruited Kira into his organization, recognizing her immense potential as a valuable asset. Over time, Kira's unwavering loyalty to Rourke deepened, and she became one of his most trusted associates. With her sharp intellect, unmatched agility, and expertise in lock-picking, she proved her indispensability in executing intricate heists and retrieving priceless treasures.

Driven by an unquenchable thirst for power, Kira is unafraid to indulge in her desires. She shares a complex relationship with Rourke that extends beyond professional boundaries. Their connection transcends into the realm of physical intimacy, a mutual understanding of fulfilling each other's carnal needs without emotional entanglement. It is a no-strings-attached arrangement, where both parties are fully aware and consenting.

Despite the intimate liaison, Kira remains focused and committed to her role as Rourke's first lieutenant. Leveraging her exceptional skills and expertise, she becomes an invaluable asset to Rourke's operations, always staying one step ahead of their adversaries. Her unwavering loyalty and strategic thinking make her an indispensable force within their ranks.

Kira's involvement with Rourke reflects her astute understanding of the complex world they inhabit, where alliances can be forged in unexpected ways. While their relationship may blur the lines between personal and professional, it remains a consensual understanding between two individuals who have chosen to pursue their desires without emotional attachments.

Driven by their insatiable hunger for grandeur, power, and wealth, Kira and Rourke stumbled upon the knowledge of Arthur Donovan, a renowned archaeologist, treasure hunter, and the father of Niamh Donovan. Aware that Arthur possessed a journal containing crucial information about the legendary Ark of the Covenant, they saw an opportunity to seize control. Kira was entrusted with the mission of acquiring the journal from Arthur Donovan, even if it meant resorting to drastic measures. Resorting to extreme measures, including the torturous murder of Arthur Donovan, Kira's determination remained unshaken. Despite the brutality inflicted, Arthur never revealed the location of his journal, leading Kira to believe it was hidden with Niamh.

Motivated by her unwavering loyalty to Rourke and driven by her insatiable thirst for power, Kira played a pivotal role in a cunning scheme to manipulate renowned treasure hunter Nathan Drake. Recognizing Nathan's expertise and reputation as a master thief, she hatched a plan to exploit his skills.

With the mistaken belief that Niamh possessed her father's journal, Kira orchestrated a tragic turn of events - the orchestrated murders of Elena, Nathan's wife, and Cassie, their young daughter. Carefully weaving a narrative that suggested the Ark held the power to restore Elena and Cassie to life, Kira aimed to manipulate Nathan into stealing the journal from Niamh. It was a diabolical act, fueled by Kira's allegiance to Rourke and her relentless pursuit of power.

FanFiction friends:

@asirensrage @residentdormouse @megandaisy9 @serenofroses @starryeyes2000 @arrthurpendragon

Oh, and if you all have any tag lists, please feel free to put me on them. I love to read your work, but I follow so many blogs and we have so many different time zones, hat I often miss your updates and posts.

[roman-catholic-mass-readings]

4th January >> Mass Readings (USA)

Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton 

on

4th January.

4th January

(Liturgical Colour: White: B (2))

(Readings for the feria (Thursday))

(There is a choice today between the readings for the ferial day (Thursday) and those for the memorial. The ferial readings are recommended unless pastoral reasons suggest otherwise)

First Reading 1 John 3:7-10 Those who are begotten by God commit no sin.

Children, let no one deceive you. The person who acts in righteousness is righteous, just as he is righteous. Whoever sins belongs to the Devil, because the Devil has sinned from the beginning. Indeed, the Son of God was revealed to destroy the works of the Devil. No one who is begotten by God commits sin, because God’s seed remains in him; he cannot sin because he is begotten by God. In this way, the children of God and the children of the Devil are made plain; no one who fails to act in righteousness belongs to God, nor anyone who does not love his brother.

The Word of the Lord

R/ Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 98:1, 7-8, 9

R/ All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.

Sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done wondrous deeds; His right hand has won victory for him, his holy arm.

R/ All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.

Let the sea and what fills it resound, the world and those who dwell in it; Let the rivers clap their hands, the mountains shout with them for joy before the LORD.

R/ All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.

The LORD comes; he comes to rule the earth; He will rule the world with justice and the peoples with equity.

R/ All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.

Gospel Acclamation Hebrews 1:1-2

Alleluia, alleluia. In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets: in these last days, he has spoken to us through the Son. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel John 1:35-42 We have found the Messiah.

John was standing with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he said, “Behold, the Lamb of God.” The two disciples heard what he said and followed Jesus. Jesus turned and saw them following him and said to them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (which translated means Teacher), “where are you staying?” He said to them, “Come, and you will see.” So they went and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day. It was about four in the afternoon. Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, was one of the two who heard John and followed Jesus. He first found his own brother Simon and told him, “We have found the Messiah,” which is translated Christ. Then he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John; you will be called Cephas,” which is translated Peter.

The Gospel of the Lord

R/ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

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

Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton 

(Liturgical Colour: White: B (2))

(Readings for the memorial)

(There is a choice today between the readings for the ferial day (Thursday) and those for the memorial. The ferial readings are recommended unless pastoral reasons suggest otherwise)

Either:

First Reading Deuteronomy 10:8-9 The Lord himself is our heritage.

Moses summoned all of Israel and said to them: “At that time the LORD set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the ark of the covenant of the LORD, to be in attendance before the LORD and minister to him, and to give blessings in his name, as they have done to this day. For this reason, Levi has no share in the heritage with his brothers; the LORD himself is his heritage, as the LORD, your God, has told him.”

The Word of the Lord

R/ Thanks be to God.

OR: --------

First reading 1 Kings 19:4-9a, 11-15a Go outside and stand on the mountain before the Lord.

Elijah went a day’s journey into the desert, until he came to a broom tree and sat beneath it. He prayed for death saying: “This is enough, O LORD! Take my life, for I am no better than my fathers.” He lay down and fell asleep under the broom tree, but then an angel touched him and ordered him to get up and eat. He looked and there at his head was a hearth cake and a jug of water. After he ate and drank, he lay down again, but the angel of the LORD came back a second time, touched him, and ordered, “Get up and eat, else the journey will be too long for you!” He got up, ate, and drank; then strengthened by that food, he walked forty days and forty nights to the mountain of God, Horeb. There he came to a cave, where he took shelter. Then the LORD said to him, “Go outside and stand on the mountain before the LORD; the LORD will be passing by.” A strong and heavy wind was rending the mountains and crushing rocks before the LORD— but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake– but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake there was fire– but the LORD was not in the fire. After the fire there was a tiny whispering sound. When he heard this, Elijah hid his face in his cloak and went and stood at the entrance of the cave. A voice said to him, “Elijah, why are you here?” He replied, “I have been most zealous for the LORD, the God of hosts. But the children of Israel have forsaken your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to the sword. I alone am left, and they seek to take my life.” The LORD said to him, “Go, take the road back to the desert near Damascus.”

OR: --------

First reading 1 Kings 19:16b, 19-21 Elisha left and followed Elijah.

The LORD said to Elijah: “You shall anoint Elisha, son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah, as prophet to succeed you.” Elijah set out and came upon Elisha, son of Shaphat, as he was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen; he was following the twelfth. Elijah went over to him and threw his cloak over him. Elisha left the oxen, ran after Elijah, and said, “Please, let me kiss my father and mother goodbye, and I will follow you.” Elijah answered, “Go back! Have I done anything to you?” Elisha left him and, taking the yoke of oxen, slaughtered them; he used the plowing equipment for fuel to boil their flesh, and gave it to his people to eat. Then he left and followed Elijah as his attendant.

EITHER: --------

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 1:1-2, 3, 4 and 6

Blessed are they who hope in the Lord. or Blessed are they who delight in the law of the Lord. or The just will flourish like the palm tree in the garden of the Lord.

Blessed the man who follows not the counsel of the wicked Nor walks in the way of sinners, nor sits in the company of the insolent, But delights in the law of the LORD and meditates on his law day and night.

Blessed are they who hope in the Lord. or Blessed are they who delight in the law of the Lord. or The just will flourish like the palm tree in the garden of the Lord.

He is like a tree planted near running water, That yields its fruit in due season, and whose leaves never fade. Whatever he does, prospers.

Blessed are they who hope in the Lord. or Blessed are they who delight in the law of the Lord. or The just will flourish like the palm tree in the garden of the Lord.

Not so, the wicked, not so; they are like chaff which the wind drives away. For the LORD watches over the way of the just, but the way of the wicked vanishes.

Blessed are they who hope in the Lord. or Blessed are they who delight in the law of the Lord. or The just will flourish like the palm tree in the garden of the Lord.

OR: --------

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 15:2-3a, 3bc-4ab, 5

The just one shall live on your holy mountain, O Lord.

He who walks blamelessly and does justice; who thinks the truth in his heart and slanders not with his tongue.

The just one shall live on your holy mountain, O Lord.

Who harms not his fellow man, nor takes up a reproach against his neighbor; By whom the reprobate is despised, while he honors those who fear the LORD.

The just one shall live on your holy mountain, O Lord.

Who lends not his money at usury and accepts no bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be disturbed.

The just one shall live on your holy mountain, O Lord.

OR: --------

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 16:1-2ab and 5, 7-8, 11

You are my inheritance, O Lord.

Keep me, O God, for in you I take refuge; I say to the LORD, “My Lord are you.” O LORD, my allotted portion and my cup, you it is who hold fast my lot.

You are my inheritance, O Lord.

I bless the LORD who counsels me; even in the night my heart exhorts me. I set the LORD ever before me; with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed.

You are my inheritance, O Lord.

You will show me the path to life, fullness of joys in your presence, the delights at your right hand forever.

You are my inheritance, O Lord.

OR: --------

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 23:1-3, 4, 5, 6

The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. In verdant pastures he gives me repose; Beside restful waters he leads me; he refreshes my soul. He guides me on right paths for his name’s sake.

The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side With your rod and your staff that give me courage.

The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

You spread the table before me in the sight of my foes; You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

Only goodness and kindness follow me all the days of my life; And I shall dwell in the house of the LORD for years to come.

The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

OR: --------

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9, 10-11

I will bless the Lord at all times. or Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall be ever in my mouth. Let my soul glory in the LORD; the lowly will hear and be glad.

I will bless the Lord at all times. or Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

Glorify the LORD with me, let us together extol his name. I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.

I will bless the Lord at all times. or Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

Look to him that you may be radiant with joy, and your faces may not blush with shame. When the poor one called out, the LORD heard, and from all his distress he saved him.

I will bless the Lord at all times. or Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. Taste and see how good the LORD is; blessed the man who takes refuge in him.

I will bless the Lord at all times. or Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

Fear the LORD, you his holy ones, for nought is lacking to those who fear him. The great grow poor and hungry; but those who seek the LORD want for no good thing.

I will bless the Lord at all times. or Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

OR: --------

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 103:1bc-2, 3-4, 8-9, 13-14, 17-18a

O bless the Lord, my soul!

Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all my being, bless his holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.

O bless the Lord, my soul!

He pardons all your iniquities, he heals all your ills, He redeems your life from destruction, he crowns you with kindness and compassion.

O bless the Lord, my soul!

Merciful and gracious is the LORD, slow to anger and abounding in kindness. He will not always chide, nor does he keep his wrath forever.

O bless the Lord, my soul!

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.

O bless the Lord, my soul!

But the kindness of the LORD is from eternity to eternity toward those who fear him, And his justice toward his children’s children among those who keep his covenant.

O bless the Lord, my soul!

OR: --------

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 112:1-2, 3-4, 5-7a, 7b-8, 9

Blessed the man who fears the Lord. or Alleluia.

Blessed the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in his commands. His posterity shall be mighty upon the earth; the upright generation shall be blessed.

Blessed the man who fears the Lord. or Alleluia.

Wealth and riches shall be in his house; his generosity shall endure forever. Light shines through the darkness for the upright; he is gracious and merciful and just.

Blessed the man who fears the Lord. or Alleluia.

Well for the man who is gracious and lends, who conducts his affairs with justice; He shall never be moved; the just one shall be in everlasting remembrance.

Blessed the man who fears the Lord. or Alleluia.

An evil report he shall not fear; his heart is firm, trusting in the LORD. His heart is steadfast; he shall not fear till he looks down upon his foes.

Blessed the man who fears the Lord. or Alleluia.

Lavishly he gives to the poor, his generosity shall endure forever; his horn shall be exalted in glory.

Blessed the man who fears the Lord. or Alleluia.

OR: --------

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 128:1-2, 3, 4-5

Blessed are those who fear the Lord.

Blessed are you who fear the LORD, who walk in his ways! For you shall eat the fruit of your handiwork; blessed shall you be, and favored.

Blessed are those who fear the Lord.

Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine in the recesses of your home; Your children like olive plants around your table.

Blessed are those who fear the Lord.

Behold, thus is the man blessed who fears the LORD. The LORD bless you from Zion: may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life.

Blessed are those who fear the Lord.

OR: --------

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 131:1bcde, 2, 3

In you, Lord, I have found my peace.

O LORD, my heart is not proud, nor are my eyes haughty; I busy not myself with great things, nor with things too sublime for me.

In you, Lord, I have found my peace.

Nay rather, I have stilled and quieted my soul like a weaned child. Like a weaned child on its mother’s lap, so is my soul within me.

In you, Lord, I have found my peace.

O Israel, hope in the LORD, both now and forever.

In you, Lord, I have found my peace.

Gospel Acclamation Matthew 5:3

Alleluia, alleluia. Blessed are the poor in spirit; for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven. Alleluia, alleluia.

Or: Matthew 5:6

Alleluia, alleluia. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied. Alleluia, alleluia.

Or: Matthew 5:8

Alleluia, alleluia. Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God. Alleluia, alleluia.

Or: See Matthew 11:25

Alleluia, alleluia. Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth; you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom. Alleluia, alleluia.

Or: Matthew 11:28

Alleluia, alleluia. Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest, says the Lord. Alleluia, alleluia.

Or: Matthew 23:11, 12b

Alleluia, alleluia. The greatest among you must be your servant. Whoever humbles himself will be exalted. Alleluia, alleluia.

Or: Luke 21:36

Alleluia, alleluia. Be vigilant at all times and pray that you may have the strength to stand before the Son of Man. Alleluia, alleluia.

Or: John 8:12

Alleluia, alleluia. I am the light of the world, says the Lord; whoever follows me will have the light of life. Alleluia, alleluia.

Or: John 8:31b-32

Alleluia, alleluia. If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, and you will know the truth, says the Lord. Alleluia, alleluia.

Or: John 13:34

Alleluia, alleluia. I give you a new commandment: love one another as I have loved you. Alleluia, alleluia.

Or: John 14:23

Alleluia, alleluia. Whoever loves me will keep my word and my Father will love him and we will come to him. Alleluia, alleluia.

Or: John 15:4a, 5b

Alleluia, alleluia. Remain in me, as I remain in you, says the Lord; whoever remains in me will bear much fruit. Alleluia, alleluia.

Or: John 15:9b, 5b

Alleluia, alleluia. Remain in my love, says the Lord; whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit. Alleluia, alleluia.

EITHER: --------

Gospel Matthew 19:3-12 For the sake of the Kingdom of heaven.

Some Pharisees approached Jesus and tested him, saying, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause whatever?” He said in reply, “Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator made them male and female and said, For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, man must not separate.” They said to him, “Then why did Moses command that the man give the woman a bill of divorce and dismiss her?” He said to them, “Because of the hardness of your hearts Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. I say to you, whoever divorces his wife (unless the marriage is unlawful) and marries another commits adultery.” His disciples said to him, “If that is the case of a man with his wife, it is better not to marry.” He answered, “Not all can accept this word, but only those to whom that is granted. Some are incapable of marriage because they were born so; some, because they were made so by others; some, because they have renounced marriage for the sake of the Kingdom of heaven. Whoever can accept this ought to accept it.”

OR: --------

Gospel Mark 10:17-30 Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor; then come, follow me.

As Jesus was setting out on a journey, a man ran up, knelt down before him, and asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus answered him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: You shall not kill; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness; you shall not defraud; honor your father and your mother.” He replied and said to him, “Teacher, all of these I have observed from my youth.” Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to him, “You are lacking in one thing. Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” At that statement his face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions. Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the Kingdom of God!” The disciples were amazed at his words. So Jesus again said to them in reply, “Children, how hard it is to enter the Kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of God.” They were exceedingly astonished and said among themselves, “Then who can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “For men it is impossible, but not for God. All things are possible for God.” Peter began to say to him, “We have given up everything and followed you.” Jesus said, “Amen, I say to you, there is no one who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands for my sake and for the sake of the Gospel who will not receive a hundred times more now in this present age: houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and eternal life in the age to come.”

OR: --------

Gospel Mark 10:17-27 Go, sell what you have and give to the poor; then come, follow me.

As Jesus was setting out on a journey, a man ran up, knelt down before him, and asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus answered him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: You shall not kill; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness; you shall not defraud; honor your father and your mother.” He replied and said to him, “Teacher, all of these I have observed from my youth.” Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to him, “You are lacking in one thing. Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” At that statement his face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions. Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the Kingdom of God!” The disciples were amazed at his words. So Jesus again said to them in reply, “Children, how hard it is to enter the Kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of God.” They were exceedingly astonished and said among themselves, “Then who can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “For men it is impossible, but not for God. All things are possible for God.”

OR: --------

Gospel Luke 9:57-62 I will follow you wherever you go.

As Jesus and his disciples were proceeding on their journey, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus answered him, “Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head.” And to another he said, “Follow me.” But he replied, “Lord, let me go first and bury my father.” But he answered him, “Let the dead bury their dead. But you, go and proclaim the Kingdom of God.” And another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but first let me say farewell to my family at home.” Jesus said to him, “No one who sets a hand to the plow and looks to what was left behind is fit for the Kingdom of God.”

OR: --------

Gospel Luke 12:32-34 Your Father is pleased to give you the Kingdom.

Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not be afraid any longer, little flock, for your Father is pleased to give you the Kingdom. Sell your belongings and give alms. Provide money bags for yourselves that do not wear out, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven that no thief can reach nor moth destroy. For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.”

Or:

Gospel Luke 14:25-33 Everyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple.

Great crowds were traveling with Jesus, and he turned and addressed them, “If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. Which of you wishing to construct a tower does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if there is enough for its completion? Otherwise, after laying the foundation and finding himself unable to finish the work the onlookers should laugh at him and say, ‘This one began to build but did not have the resources to finish.’ Or what king marching into battle would not first sit down and decide whether with ten thousand troops he can successfully oppose another king advancing upon him with twenty thousand troops? But if not, while he is still far away, he will send a delegation to ask for peace terms. In the same way, everyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple.”

The Gospel of the Lord

R/ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

[tj-van-heerden]

Anointing oil.

We use olive oil to anoint people or things for specific purposes. Olive oil normally represent the Holy Spirit. We can anoint our homes for protection and to dedicate it to the Lord. We can anoint people and pray for them for healing. We can anoint occult objects that belong to someone else so that they don't work any more. We can anoint people to receive an anointing from the Holy Spirit for a specific ministry. We can anoint people or objects to consecrate them for a specific purpose. After a demonic attack we can anoint the person and pray for cleansing and healing. We can anoint a church building for protection from evil spirits and for dedication or consecration to the Lord.

Exod 30:22-31 [WEB] Moreover Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, “Also take fine spices: of liquid myrrh, five hundred shekels; and of fragrant cinnamon half as much, even two hundred and fifty; and of fragrant cane, two hundred and fifty; and of cassia five hundred, according to the shekel of the sanctuary; and a hin of olive oil. You shall make it into a holy anointing oil, a perfume compounded after the art of the perfumer: it shall be a holy anointing oil. You shall use it to anoint the Tent of Meeting, the ark of the covenant, the table and all its articles, the lamp stand and its accessories, the altar of incense, the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils, and the basin with its base. You shall sanctify them, that they may be most holy. Whatever touches them shall be holy. You shall anoint Aaron and his sons, and sanctify them, that they may minister to me in the priest’s office.

Exod 28:40, 41 [WEB] “You shall make tunics for Aaron’s sons. You shall make sashes for them. You shall make headbands for them, for glory and for beauty. You shall put them on Aaron your brother, and on his sons with him, and shall anoint them, and consecrate them, and sanctify them, that they may minister to me in the priest’s office.

Exod 29:21 [WEB] You shall take of the blood that is on the altar, and of the anointing oil, and sprinkle it on Aaron, and on his garments, and on his sons, and on the garments of his sons with him: and he shall be made holy, and his garments, and his sons, and his sons’ garments with him.

Exod 40:9 [WEB] “You shall take the anointing oil, and anoint the tabernacle and all that is in it, and shall make it holy, and all its furniture, and it will be holy.

Exod 40:13 [WEB] You shall put on Aaron the holy garments; and you shall anoint him, and sanctify him, that he may minister to me in the priest’s office.

Mark 6:12, 13 [WEB] They went out and preached that people should repent. They cast out many demons, and anointed many with oil who were sick, and healed them.

Jas 5:14, 15 [WEB] Is any among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the assembly, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord, and the prayer of faith will heal him who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. If he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.

[curtiscroachblog]

Wholehearted devotion

Word for Today written by Bob and Debby Gass

Monday 11th November 2024

'David... a man after my own heart.' Acts 13:22 NIV

The Bible says, 'Amaziah...did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, but not wholeheartedly' (2 Chronicles 25:1-2 NIV). Contrast that with what God said about David: 'I have found David...a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do' (Acts 13:22 NIV). This can be a little bewildering because when you read about David's life, you find chapters of adultery, murder and cover-up. He's a disaster as a husband and inferior as a dad. But his heart is devoted to God. How do we know? Because when he makes mistakes and sins, he repents and desires to get right with God again. When David guided the return of the ark of the covenant to Israel, he danced before the Lord 'with all his might' (2 Samuel 6:14 NKJV). He put his whole self into it. If you wonder how that dance looked, the text reveals it involved King David 'leaping and dancing before the Lord' (2 Samuel 6:16 NIV).

The heart, in early history, was the core of a person. It meant not only feelings, as we many times think of the heart, but the centre of a person's being, especially the will. So, wholehearted devotion to God reveals what you choose to embrace with all your energies. Amaziah lived twenty-nine years of his life finessing his commitment to God. He did what was right, but his heart was elsewhere. David, in spite of his flaws, pursued God with all his heart.

So the word for today is - strive for wholehearted devotion to God.