#Deuteronomy 31: 3

[the-black-reaper]

"I am the Lord's friend if do as he commands"

I understand greatness is mine to manifest, I have a vision, a plan, and ill make it work. My faith is stronger then ever. Amen

In God have I put my trust: i will not be afraid what man can do unto me. Ps 56; 11-13

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and shall direct thy paths. Pr 3: 5,6

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the Lord forever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength. Isa 26: 3-5

The Lord thy God, he will go over before thee, and he will destroy these nations from before thee, and thou shalt possess them: and Joshua, he shall go over before thee, as the Lord hath said. Deuteronomy 31: 3

The eternal God is your refuge, And underneath are the everlasting arms; He will thrust out the enemy from before you, And will say, ‘Destroy!’Deuteronomy 33:27

The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence. I will call on the Lord, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies. When the waves of death compassed me, the floods of ungodly men made me afraid; 2 Samuel 22:3-5

In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness. Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: be thou my strong rock, for an house of defence to save me. For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name's sake lead me, and guide me. Psalm 31:1-3

The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him. Psalm 28:7

Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb. Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. Psalm 37:1-5

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet. Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation. Psalm 91

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore. Psalm 121:1-8

Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, And whose hope is the Lord. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, Which spreads out its roots by the river, And will not [a]fear when heat comes; But its leaf will be green, And will not be anxious in the year of drought, Nor will cease from yielding fruit. Jeremiah 17:7-8

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. Psalm 23:1-6

[walkswithmyfather]

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.” —Proverbs 3:5-6 (NASB)

“Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the LORD your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you.” —Deuteronomy 31:6 (NASB)

“God Shows Us His Will” By In Touch Ministries:

“Our heavenly Father is not the author of confusion, and He will provide the answers you seek.”

“When we believe we have heard from the Lord, it is important to ask clarifying questions:

• Is the message consistent with Scripture? God will never tell you to do something that goes against His perfect, unchanging Word. If you feel called to take an action that is contrary to Scripture, you can be certain that it isn’t the Lord urging you.

• Can you confidently ask God to enable you to do this? If you feel uneasy about asking for the Lord’s help and empowerment, that may be a sign the voice wasn’t God’s. We should be honored—not ashamed—to ask the Lord to equip us.

• Does it fit with your identity in Christ? We are the children of God, who are being conformed into the likeness of Christ. If you feel led to do something that doesn’t reflect the image of Jesus, then you can be sure God hasn’t called you to do it.

Our heavenly Father will never leave His children on their own (Deuteronomy 31:6)—He is with each believer right now. Know that the Holy Spirit is present, enabling you to hear, and His voice will remain clear, no matter what questions you may have. There is no rush; when the Lord speaks, take your time listening to be certain you’re hearing from Him.”

[asyourshadowfalls]

Hey prolifers!

If you don't support a UBI, updated gun restrictions, free quality education, free healthcare, fully inclusive medically accurate sex ed for children who are capable of being pregnant or impregnating, mandatory child support paid from conception on; then you're not actually prolife, you're just hellbent on forcing babies and mothers to suffer :)

[amylinneaposts]

No Match for God

For whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and He knows everything. 1 John 3:20 Ever realized something about fear? When fear speaks into your life, it’s about the present. Your current circumstances. It fills you up with worry about what may happen when presented with your current situation. Except it’s so sneaky, you begin to think fear can perfectly predict your…

[coreofthebible]

Always speaking the truth from a renewed heart

Today we will be looking at the core Bible principle of the Kingdom of God, and how the establishment of the Kingdom is dependent on the truthfulness of its population. This was represented by the simplest of commands among the Ten Commandments that God spoke from Sinai. Exodus 20:16 – You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. As I have mentioned many times before, when God set…

[upstatechristian]

Verse of the Day 12-5-22

Verse of the Day 12-5-22

Joshua: The Value of Stocking Up on Courage Joshua: An Introduction             Every one of us know the story of Moses and his leading of the people of Israel out of captive in Egypt. We know that Moses led the people of Israel through their wanderings in the wilderness after they deliberately disobeyed God and refused to enter the land of Canaan. But the part of the story that we are…

[miss-marlboroice]

Interesting Facts About Vlad Roslyakov (With Links)

• His fav artists were $uicideboy$, Bones, Ghostmane, Yung Lean, Tyler The Creator, Radiohead, David Bowie and Metallica. Full playlist here.

• His fav movies were Pulp Fiction, Trainspotting, The Shining, Taxi Driver, La Haine, Ex-Drummer, Reservoir Dogs and Falling Down. Full movies list here.

• He had pets! According to his mother, he had a cat and hamsters. He was responsible for taking care of them, and never hurted any animal. Video here.

• He considered himself a nihilist and "half psychopath".

• He was really introverted and had no friends.

• He had a Youtube channell where he played Minecraft. According to his childhood friend, he really loved The Sims 3 as well.

• He was really great at drawing and even entered an arts school. But the school was too expensive and he gave up ):

• He was an atheist and burned a bible before the school shooting lol

Deuteronomy 31:12 was highlighted in pen: “Gather together the people - husbands, wives and children and your strangers who are in your gates - so that they listen and learn and fear the Lord your God, and try to do all the words of His law.”

• A few weeks before the massacre he started chatting with Liza Panchenko (a beautiful girl from his school) and it's really cute. The entire conversation here.

I wish I could study his brain. But based on everything I researched, I don't think he was a psychopath. I believe he was REALLY depressed and had anger issues. That's all.

[blkluci]

The Little Things <3

**your boyfriend cares for and loves you deeply.

**you're the first girl that found a special place in his heart.

**the first to teach him self-control. the first to nurture him. the first to give him a sense of hope.

**heartbreak after heartbreak, he was losing the desire to pursue anything.

**then poof, you appear; in all your beauty and stole his heart, and time.

**he was never looking to find yet another broken promise, but a friend.

**and somewhere along the line, his heart got mixed into it.

**he could stop himself from getting the butterflies and thoughts that constantly stuck with him even after you have left him,

**all he wanted was to have you back in his presence once more.

**hear your laughs and complains of how hungry you.

**you demanding hug and protesting anytime he denied you.

**adorable is the only word that came to his mind.

**and when he asked you to be his, the reaction and answer was a memory burned into his brain.

**your lips could not hide your teeth as you looked down in a bashful manner, attempting to conceal your face from him.

"look at me."

**all these things still remained the same.

**no matter how much you guys fuss or argue, his love conquers all the bad he feels towards you.

**he could never stay mad. EVER!

**and he tell you all the time,

"my heart could never resent you."

**you've changed him, unwitting, for the better.

**the better of him.

**the better of you.

**the better of your relationship.

**so love him, and never let him go, because he doesn’t wanna let you go.

geto, gojo, choso, zoro, usopp, bakugo, todoroki, iida

deuteronomy 31:8 And the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed. (no matter how hard times are , you have a God that is ALWAYS there to collect your tears and comfort you <3)

[statisticalcats2]

Seven Cat Calls fandom event

What is this event about?

This event is for celebrating your favorite Cats performers!

What types of works are allowed?

Anything you'd like! Gif-sets, fanart, meta posts or essays, anything! Anyway you'd like to share your love for your favorite performers!

When does this event start and end?

This event will begin the week of May 11th and end the week of October 26th (treat these dates as the beginning of their respective weeks.)

General rules/info:

This event is for any and all productions of Cats!

Each prompt/character gets a week and you can post at any time during that week.

Don't worry about being late! I mean for this to be a fun, casual event. If you miss a certain week, you can still make a post for it!

Please tag your event posts with #sevencatscalls2024 Since tumblr can be glitchy with tags at times, also feel free to tag me @statisticalcats2 in your posts!

I will not reblog from people who are anti-fiction/anti-ship.

If you have any other questions, my ask box is open!

Event schedule (below the cut):

Week 1 (May 11-17) - Grizabella

Week 2 (May 18-24) - Bill Bailey/Tumblebrutus

Week 3 (May 25-31) - Rum Tum Tugger

Week 4 (June 1-7) - Coricopat

Week 5 (June 8-14) - Asparagus/Gus the Theatre Cat

Week 6 (June 15-21) - Jellylorum

Week 7 (June 22-28) - Rumpleteazer

Week 8 (June 29 - July 5) - Bustopher Jones

Week 9 (July 6-12) - Bombalurina

Week 10 (July 13-19) - Carbucketty/Pouncival

Week 11 (July 20-26) - Alonzo

Week 12 (July 27 - August 2) - Old Deuteronomy

Week 13 (August 3-9) - Victoria

Week 14 (August 10-16) - Mistoffelees

Week 15 (August 17-23) - Demeter

Week 16 (August 24-30) - Admetus/Plato

Week 17 (August 31 - September 6) - Jemima/Sillabub

Week 18 (September 7-13) - Cassandra

Week 19 (September 14-20) - Jennyanydots

Week 20 (September 21-27) - Tantomile

Week 21 (September 28 - October 4) - Macavity

Week 22 (October 5-11) - Mungojerrie

Week 23 (October 12-18) - Munkustrap

Week 24 (October 19-25) - Skimbleshanks

Week 25 (October 26 - November 1) - Rare characters/swings/production specific characters

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

The Lord is my Rock

A psalm. A song. For the Sabbath day.

1 It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto Thy name, O Most High,

2 to show forth Thy lovingkindness in the morning, and Thy faithfulness every night,

3 upon an instrument of ten strings and upon the psaltery, upon the harp with a solemn sound.

4 For Thou, LORD, hast made me glad through Thy work; I will triumph in the works of Thy hands.

5 O LORD, how great are Thy works! And Thy thoughts are very deep.

6 A brutish man knoweth not, neither doth a fool understand this:

7 when the wicked spring up as the grass, and when all the workers of iniquity do flourish, it is that they shall be destroyed for ever;

8 but Thou, LORD, art Most High for evermore.

9 For lo, Thine enemies, O LORD, for lo, Thine enemies shall perish; all the workers of iniquity shall be scattered.

10 But my horn shalt Thou exalt like the horn of a unicorn; I shall be anointed with fresh oil.

11 Mine eye also shall see what I desire on mine enemies, and mine ears shall hear what I desire upon the wicked that rise up against me.

12 The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree; he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.

13 Those that are planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God.

14 They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing to show

15 that the LORD is upright. He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him. — Psalm 92 | Third Millennium Bible (TMB) Third Millennium Bible, New Authorized Version, Copyright 1998 by Deuel Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved. Cross References: Genesis 11:8; Numbers 24:6; Deuteronomy 32:4; Judges 5:31; 1 Samuel 2:1; 1 Samuel 10:5; 1 Chronicles 13:8; Nehemiah 12:43; Job 12:6; Job 39:9; Psalm 9:2; Psalm 8:6; Psalm 14:2; Psalm 33:1; Psalm 37:2; Psalm 49:10; Psalm 54:7; Psalm 55:17; Psalm 59:16; Psalm 80:15; Psalm 83:18; Psalm 91:8; Psalm 93:4; Psalm 100:4; Matthew 3:10; John 15:2; Romans 9:14; Romans 11:33; James 3:18; Revelation 15:3

Psalm 92: A Song for the Sabbath

[yourbelgianthings]

aforementioned giant list of mountain goats songs for taz

sadly some characters i couldn’t find a song i thought fit for (i.e. angus) that doesn’t mean i don’t like them!!

Magnus- Against Pollution, Spent Gladiator 2, Training Montage, Billy the Kid’s Dream of Magic Shoes

Merle- Hebrews 11:40, Harlem Roulette, January 31 438, Noche Del Guajalote

Taako- Up the Wolves, Get Lonely, Get Famous

Barry- Blues in Dallas, Love Love Love

Johann- Your Belgian Things, Harlem Roulette

Lucretia- Old College Try, Heel Turn 2, Game Shows Touch Our Lives

Davenport- Idylls of the King, Maybe Sprout Wings

Hurley- Magpie, Love Love Love

Sloane- Dilaudid

Lucas- In Memory of Satan

Lup- Going Invisible 2

Taakitz- The Age of Kings, The Coroner’s Gambit

Blupjeans- Bluejays and Cardinals

Carey and Killian- Animal Mask, 1 Corinthians 13: 8-10

IPRE- High Hawk Season, Corsican Mastiff Stride, When A Powerful Animal Comes

Aubrey- There Will Be No Divorce, Dinu Lipatti’s Bones, Amy aka Spent Gladiator 1, Shadow Song, Song For An Old Friend

Duck- Midland, New Monster Avenue, In the Hidden Places, As Many Candles As Possible

Ned- Cotton, Wild Sage, Estate Sale Sign, Prowl Great Cain, The Mess Inside, Bleed Out, Going to Hungary

The Pine Guard- Fire Editorial

Pigeon- Jeff Davis County Blues

Mama- Midland, Bones Don’t Rust

Barclay- Color in Your Cheeks, If You See Light, Harbor Me

Minerva- The Young Thousands, Luna, Mobile, Clean Slate

Dani- Blueberry Frost

Keith- Alpha Rats Nest

Hollis- Alpha Rats Nest, Amy aka Spent Gladiator 1, Guys on Every Corner

Boyd- The House that Dripped Blood

Indrid- Alabama Nova

Thacker- Elijah, How to Embrace A Swamp Creature

Amber- The Recognition Scene, International Small Arms Traffic Blues, Oceanographer’s Choice, 1 John 4:16, Bones Don’t Rust, The Young Thousands, Family Happiness, Game Shows Touch Our Lives, Genesis 3:23

Devo- Cotton, Up the Wolves, Get Lonely, New Zion, Outer Scorpion Squadron, Hopeful Assassins of Zeno, Never Quite Free, Cry for Judas, Mark on You, Autoclave, Genesis 3:23

Zoox- Song for Lonely Giants, Incandescent Ruins, Autoclave

Oksana/Kodira- The Recognition Scene, Oceanographer’s Choice, Luna, Genesis 3:23

Orlean- Trick Mirror, New Zion, In Memory of Satan

The Curator- Deuteronomy 2:10

The Shoreside Community- Letter from Belgium, Going to Lebanon 2

The Coriolis Crew- Steal Smoked Fish

[nerdygaymormon]

Are you willing to condemn the racism the Mormon church has taught you?

The church has been wrong on Racism, Patriarchy, Misogyny and Anti-queerness.

One message that is given in scriptures in different ways is that God loves us all and treats us the same, and we should do likewise.

Deuteronomy 10:17 - For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes.

Mark 12:31 - The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”

John 13:34 - “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.

Acts 10:34 - Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism

Romans 2:11 - For God does not show favoritism.

Romans 10:12 - For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him,

Galatians 3:28 - There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Colossians 3:11 - Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.

2 Nephi 26:33 - ...black and white, bond and free, male and female; … all are alike unto God

Furthermore, the Book of Mormon can be seen as a cautionary tale about a group of violently racist misogynists who wound up getting annihilated explicitly because they would not stop being violently racist misogynists. It also teaches that pride and wealth inequality doom civilizations. Too many Mormons view the Nephites as the heroes of the Book of Mormon and want to be like them, but D&C 38:39 warns us, "lest ye become as the Nephites of old."

[walkswithmyfather]

“12 Promises of God to Lean On” By Instaencouragements.com:

“Leaning on the promises of God means relying on the assurances that He has given us through His Word, the Bible.

God's promises are trustworthy and provide comfort, guidance, and hope to believers.

When we lean on these promises and trust in God's faithfulness, we find peace. Peace that passes all human understanding. Peace that sustains us in the midst of difficult circumstances. Peace that assures us that God is in control.

It's important that we read and meditate on God's Word regularly. When we do, we will be reminded of His promises and to deepen our trust in Him.

​Today, let's look at 12 of His promises and meditate on the Scripture where they are found.

12 promises of God we can confidently lean on today:

1. God will fight for you: “The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.” —Exodus 14:14

2. God will go before you: “It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; He will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” —Deuteronomy 31:8

3. God will be with you: “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” —Joshua 1:9

4. God will renew you: “But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” —Isaiah 40:31

5. God will strengthen you: “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” —Isaiah 41:10

6. God will be your Shepherd: “The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.” —Psalm 23:1

7. God will deliver you: “When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.” —Psalm 34:17

8. God will counsel you: “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you.” —Psalm 32:8

9. God loves you: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” —John 3:16

10. God will make all things work for your good: “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose.” —Romans 8:28

11. God will never leave you: “Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for He has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.” —Hebrews 13:5

12. God will guard you: “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” —Philippians 4:7

[artsymumof5]

A LETTER FROM YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER! The following words come from the heart of God. After all God loves you, and He is the Father you have been looking for all your life. This is His Love Letter to you! My Dear Child, You may not know me, but I know everything about you. (Ps 139:1) I know when you sit down and when you rise up. (Psalm 139:2) I am familiar with all your ways. (Psalm 139:3) Even the very hairs on your head are numbered. (Matthew 10:29-30) For you were made in my image. (Genesis 1:27) In me, you live and move and have your being. For you are my offspring. (Acts 17:28) I knew you even before you were conceived. (Jeremiah 1:4-5) I chose you when I planned the creation. (Ephesians 1:11-12) You were not a mistake, for all your days are written in my book. (Psalm 139:15-16) I determined the exact time of your birth and where you would live. (Acts 17:26) You are fearfully and wonderfully made. (Psalm 139:14) I knit you together in your mother’s womb. (Psalm 139:13) And brought you forth on the day you were born. (Psalm 71:6) I have been misrepresented by those who don’t know me. (John 8:41-44) I am not distant and angry but am the complete expression of love. (I John 4:16) And it is my desire to lavish my love on you. (I John 3:1) Simply because you are my child and I am your Father. (I John 3:7) I offer you more than your earthly father ever could. (Matthew 7:11) For I am the perfect Father. (Matthew 5:48) Every good gift you receive comes from my hand. (James 1:17) For I am your provider and I meet your needs. (Matthew 6:31-33) My plan for your future has always been filled with hope. (Jeremiah 29:11) Because I love you with an everlasting love. (Jeremiah 31:3) My thoughts toward you are countless as the sand on the seashore. (Psalm 139:17-18) And I rejoice over you with singing. (Zephaniah 3:17) I will never stop doing good to you. (Jeremiah 32:40) For you are my treasured possession. (Exodus 19:5) I desire to establish you with all my heart and all my soul. (Jeremiah 32:41) And I want to show you great and marvelous things. (Jeremiah 33:3) For if you seek me with all your heart, you will find me. (Deuteronomy 4:29) So, Delight in me, and I will give you the desires of your heart. (Psalm 37:4) For it is I who gave you those desires. (Philippians 2:13) I am able to do more for you than you could possibly imagine. (Ephesians 3:20) For I am your greatest encourager. (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17) I am also the Father who comforts you in all your troubles. (2 Corinthians 1:3-4) When you are brokenhearted, I am close to you. (Psalm 34:18) As a shepherd carries a lamb, I have carried you close to my heart. (Isaiah 40:11) One day I will wipe away every tear from your eyes. And I will take away all the pain you have suffered on this earth. Revelation 21:3-4) I am your Father, and I love you even as I love my son, Jesus. (John 17:23) For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed. (John 17:26) And to tell you that I am not counting your sins. Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled. (2 Corinthians 5;18-19) His death was the ultimate expression of my love for you. (I John 4:10) I gave up everything I loved so that I might gain your love. (Romans 8:31-32) If you receive the gift of my son Jesus, you receive me. (I John 2:23) And nothing will ever separate you from my love again. (Romans 8:38-29) When it’s time for you to Come home I’ll throw the biggest party heaven has ever seen. (Luke 15:7) I have always been your Father, and will always be your Father. (Ephesians 3:14-15) My question is….Will you be my child? (John 1:12-13) I am waiting for you. (Luke 15:11-32) With Love, Your Father, Almighty God

[saras-devotionals]

Quiet Time 9/2

What am I feeling today?

I’m feeling overwhelmed and troubled but I know I can continue asking God for His wisdom and strength to be with me through this time especially in terms of doing His will for my life. Also, I had gone on a date a couple days ago and I found myself to really like him. I have a history of letting my emotions lead me and cloud my judgement and I don’t want a repeat of last year. I thought I had learned my lesson and want to operate in these feelings in a wise manner and will soon seek advice to make sure I’m grounded in the truth and not operating under delusion.

Bible Plan: Rethinking Love And Romance

What comes to mind when you think about romantic love? A bouquet of red roses? Physical attraction? Dancing in the moonlight or sharing a candlelit dinner?

Maybe romantic love means being so strongly drawn to another person that you cannot imagine a life without them. Or maybe romantic love is about finding your soulmate or “the one”—the person who “completes you,” as Jerry Maguire put it. But is that the essence of real love or just part of it?

Does truly loving another person mean we will experience a sense of excitement similar to discovering a treasure, a sense that I've found something deeply valuable for me? Or is real love about something different, something more?

The concept of romantic love as we understand it today isn’t directly addressed in the Bible, partly because the authors wrote and compiled it long before the Romantic era. We do have some racy love poetry in Song of Songs, and we have stories about loving relationships and marriages between people. But we don’t see relationships that look like modern dating—no boyfriends and girlfriends, no partners (in the way we think of romantic partners today), and no diamond rings and elaborate marriage proposals.

So what can we learn about romantic love from the Bible?

Let’s consider three stories of loving relationships in the Bible that will help us get to the heart of romantic love—not the popular expectations surrounding modern romance, but the essence of true love.

But before we do, let’s first explore the ways the biblical authors use the word “love” (ahavah), and how they depict God as the ultimate source and goal of all human love.

Jeremiah 31:3 NIV

“The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.”

The greatest command that Jesus stated in the Bible is for us to love God with all our heart, mind, and soul. How can we begin to love Him in that way without first realizing how He loves us? Take this scripture: everlasting love, unfailing kindness. Let those words soak in - He will never fail us, He will love us forever. This is powerful! And it’s important to keep in mind as we love Him.

Leviticus 19:18 NIV

““ ‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.”

Oh this is so timely! There’s a brother in the church I’ve been having issues with and I had to work through forgiving him and trying to treat him with love as I would anyone else in the kingdom. It’s been proving a bit difficult for me but I do want us to reconcile. I need to keep these words on my heart: don’t bear a grudge - LOVE just as the Lord commands. I will aim to have a conversation with him this Wednesday and Lord willing I will have the confidence and proper words to discuss with him and put aside our past issues.🙏🏼

Deuteronomy 10:12-13 NIV

“And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the Lord’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good?”

This is really all we’re called to do. It’s quite simple (although, incredibly difficult). Satan does not want it to be easy for us to obey, love, and serve. In fact, he is truly working against us because he holds absolutely no love for us. In comparison to our Father, He loves us so dearly and wants what’s best for us which is why we have these commands in the first place♥️

1 John 4:18-21 NIV

“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because he first loved us. Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.”

TIMELY AND POWERFUL! I love 1 John 4 so much and it’s a powerful reminder of God’s love for us and how we are able to love because He loved us first. However, as mentioned before, there’s a issue I have with a brother and neither of us are showing love to each other in the way we should. Additionally, he makes me fearful, I avoid him due to past hurt and held bitterness in my heart towards him and I don’t want that. I want us to be resolved but I can only do so much as relationships are a two way street. I pray that we are able to talk and get past all of this so that we can further be secure in God’s love and express it to everyone we encounter!🙏🏼♥️

[religion-is-a-mental-illness]

"If he commands you to burn [kill] children, your lord is evil." -- Ser Davos Seaworth

Genesis 22:1-2, 9-10

And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am.

And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of. [...]

And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood.

And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son.

Deuteronomy 3.3-6

So the Lord our God delivered into our hands Og also, the king of Bashan, and all his people: and we smote him until none was left to him remaining.

And we took all his cities at that time, there was not a city which we took not from them, threescore cities, all the region of Argob, the kingdom of Og in Bashan.

All these cities were fenced with high walls, gates, and bars; beside unwalled towns a great many.

And we utterly destroyed them, as we did unto Sihon king of Heshbon, utterly destroying the men, women, and children, of every city.

Numbers 21:33-35

And they turned and went up by the way of Bashan: and og the king of bashan went out against them, he, and all his people, to the battle at edrei.

And the Lord said unto Moses, Fear him not: for I have delivered him into thy hand, and all his people, and his land; and thou shalt do to him as thou didst unto Sihon king of the Amorites, which dwelt at Heshbon.

So they smote him, and his sons, and all his people, until there was none left him alive: and they possessed his land.

Numbers 31:1-3, 17-18

And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,

Avenge the children of Israel of the Midianites: afterward shalt thou be gathered unto thy people.

And Moses spake unto the people, saying, Arm some of yourselves unto the war, and let them go against the Midianites, and avenge the Lord of Midian. [...]

Now therefore kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman that hath known man by lying with him.

But all the women children, that have not known a man by lying with him, keep alive for yourselves.

Regarding Abraham, believers always wail "bUt gOd wAs nEvEr gOiNg tO LeT hIm KiLL hIs sOn!!"

Okay, question: did Abraham pass the test, or fail the test? Did god want someone as his prophet who would unquestioningly murder his own son, or did he want someone who would find such a command barbaric and insane? The problem isn't what god would have done, it's what Abraham would have done, and why god would find that desirable in an ideal messenger.

And never mind Isaac, what about all the other children that god ordered be murdered, or murdered himself?

Genesis 7:19-23

And the waters prevailed exceedingly upon the earth; and all the high hills, that were under the whole heaven, were covered. Fifteen cubits upward did the waters prevail; and the mountains were covered. And all flesh died that moved upon the earth, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of beast, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth, and every man: All in whose nostrils was the breath of life, of all that was in the dry land, died. And every living substance was destroyed which was upon the face of the ground, both man, and cattle, and the creeping things, and the fowl of the heaven; and they were destroyed from the earth: and Noah only remained alive, and they that were with him in the ark.

Your god is evil.