#God's Help

[mottttttttt]

OKAY, GOOD. It's scary, but I took a chance and posted something.

I love Eddie, he's my son.

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

A Prayer for Help

Of David.

1 Lord, battle with those who battle with me. Fight against those who fight against me. 2 Pick up the shield and armor. Rise up and help me. 3 Lift up your spears, both large and small, against those who chase me. Tell me, “I will save you.”

4 Make those who want to kill me be ashamed and disgraced. Make those who plan to harm me turn back and run away. 5 Make them like chaff blown by the wind. Let the angel of the Lord chase them away. 6 Let their road be dark and slippery as the angel of the Lord chases them. 7 For no reason they spread out their net to trap me. For no reason they dug a pit for me. 8 So let ruin strike them suddenly. Let them be caught in their own nets. Let them fall into the pit and die. 9 Then I will rejoice in the Lord. I will be happy when he saves me. 10 Even my bones will say, “Lord, who is like you? You save the weak from the strong. You save the weak and poor from robbers.”

11 Men without mercy stand up to testify. They ask me things I do not know. 12 They repay me with evil for the good I have done. They make me very sad. 13 Yet when they were sick, I put on rough cloth to show my sadness. I showed my sorrow by going without food. But my prayers were not answered. 14 I acted as if they were my friends or brothers. I bowed in sadness as if I were crying for my mother. 15 But when I was in trouble, they gathered and laughed. They gathered to attack before I knew it. They insulted me without stopping. 16 They made fun of me and were cruel to me. They ground their teeth at me in anger.

17 Lord, how long will you watch this happen? Save my life from their attacks. Save me from these people who are like lions. 18 I will praise you in the great meeting. I will praise you among crowds of people. 19 Do not let my enemies laugh at me. They hate me for no reason. Do not let them make fun of me. They have no reason to hate me. 20 Their words are not friendly. They think up lies about peace-loving people. 21 They speak against me. They say, “Aha! We saw what you did!”

22 Lord, you have been watching. Do not keep quiet. Lord, do not leave me alone. 23 Wake up! Come and defend me! My God and Lord, fight for me! 24 Lord my God, defend me with your justice. Don’t let them laugh at me. 25 Don’t let them think, “Aha! We got what we wanted!” Don’t let them say, “We destroyed him.” 26 Let them be ashamed and embarrassed. They were happy when I hurt. Cover them with shame and disgrace. They thought they were better than I was. 27 May my friends sing and shout for joy. May they always say, “Praise the greatness of the Lord. He loves to see his servants do well.” 28 I will tell of your goodness. I will praise you every day. — Psalm 35 | International Children’s Bible (ICB) The Holy Bible, International Children’s Bible® Copyright© 1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Thomas Nelson. Cross References: Genesis 30:6; Exodus 3:7; Exodus 15:11; Exodus 23:1; 1 Samuel 24:15; Job 16:10; Job 21:18; Job 30:25; Psalm 3:8; Psalm 7:6; Psalm 9:5; Psalm 13:1; Psalm 22:13; Psalm 22:22; Psalm 38:12; Psalm 44:26; Psalm 55:21; Psalm 56:1; psalm 71:8; Psalm 73:18; Psalm 109:29; Psalm 147:11; Matthew 8:12; Matthew 10:13; Luke 1:47; John 10:32; John 15:25; 1 Thessalonians 5:3

[momentsbeforemass]

“All things work together for good…”

“All things work together for good to them that love God.” - Romans 8:28.

It’s a source of comfort and hope to countless people. It’s one of the most quoted, most loved, verses in the Bible. And it’s also one of the most misunderstood.

Because it’s not about wish fulfillment. It’s not about making poor choices, or sabotaging yourself, and then imagining that somehow it will all turn out great.

It’s not the magic missing piece from the world’s worst business plan.

              (Phase One: do the thing. Phase Two: ???? Phase Three: profit!!!)

It’s not about pretending that if you’re a good person only good things will happen to you. Bad stuff is going to happen to you and me – that’s life in the fallen world we live in.

If that’s not it, then what is it about?

First, there’s more to it - “All things work together for good to them that love God, who are called according to His purpose.”  

And it means that there is a calling from God, an invitation. As St. John Chrysostom tells us, “The calling was not forced on anyone, nor was it compulsory. Everyone was called, but not everyone responded to the call.”

It means that when you and I respond to God’s call, when we turn towards God? When we have a relationship with God, when we try to follow God’s lead?

God will go to work in our lives, to help us become who He made us to be. Because that’s the “good” that St. Paul is talking about, the good that God made us for.

God will use every part of our lives, the good stuff and the bad stuff. The times we did our best and the times we didn’t. The stuff we brought on ourselves and the stuff that just happened to us.

Sometimes those things hit us hard. And when it does, it can feel like the way it hurts will never end.

The key to all of this, to having God use it for our good – no matter what it is – is to do it with God.

To get over ourselves. To get over having to do it all by ourselves. To invite God into the very heart of what we’re dealing with.

To ask God to do it with us. To ask God to use it for our good.

Even if we don’t see how any good could ever come out of it.

God will use every part of our lives for good – the good of becoming who He made us to be – if we’ll let Him.

Today’s Readings

[craigtowens]

We don’t read about Jesus getting angry that often, but what usually got Him upset was when people in need were being kept from the God who could meet their needs. Sadly, it was usually man-made rules and practices that kept people away. 

I don’t want to make Jesus angry, so I need to evaluate anything in my life that may be standing in the way of connecting needy people with a need-satisfying God.

[stil-lindigo]

they're burning ballots in the US now btw. in case you wanted to know where things are at.

Edit: to clarify, locations mentioned are Vancouver, Washington and Portland, Oregon. This news story does not involve Canada.

Important info: Context: Dropbox location was Fisher's Landing Transit Center near Southeast 162nd Avenue Hundreds of ballots lost, voters should contact the Clark Auditor ASAP Clark Auditor contact info: clark.wa.gov/auditor (Washington voters) can confirm your ballot was received on: vote.wa.gov (Oregon voters) can confirm your ballot was received on: sos.oregon.gov General Ballot tracker: voteamerica.org/ballot-tracker

[kochei0]

I turn to Ares.

Thanks to Tyler Miles Lockett who allowed me to draw inspiration from his ARES piece for page 2! Look at his etsy page it's SICK

⚔️ If you want to read some queer retelling of arturian legends have a look at my webtoon

[psalmsofhope]

The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and for evermore...

[spr0utsies]

[sloanslone]

Hey, so I thought of this! (Pls be nice)

Since Hermes comes to Uber Ody(spoilers)...

Hermes Vs Calypso :p (bc Jorge said they were supposed to have a fight scene...)

My designs might change though.... 😭

[jacks-the-flower]

is this anything

[angstflavoured]

i dont think bill would be used to someone actually liking him.... especially as much as ford did like it was embarrassing

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

God's Help to Israel

17 The poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue fails for thirst; I, the LORD, will answer them, I, the God of Yisra'el, will not forsake them. 18 I will open rivers on the bare heights, and springs in the midst of the valleys; I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water. 19 I will put in the wilderness the cedar, the shittim, and the myrtle, and the oil tree; I will set in the desert the fir tree, the pine, and the box tree together: 20 that they may see, and know, and consider, and understand together, that the hand of the LORD has done this, and the Holy One of Yisra'el has created it. — Isaiah 41:17-20 | Hebrew Names Version (HNV) The Hebrew Names Version Bible is in the public domain. Cross References: Exodus 6:7; Job 12:9; Psalm 37:25; Psalm 74:21; Psalm 104:10; Psalm 107:35; Isaiah 12:3; Isaiah 29:24; Isaiah 30:19; Isaiah 35:1; Isaiah 43:19; Isaiah 51:3

[momentsbeforemass]

What are you holding onto?

What we hold onto matters. Because you and I can only carry so much.

Even though we often act like there’s no limit to what we can carry.

The truth is that everything we pick up, everything we hold onto reduces our capacity to carry other things.

When I’m carrying my cat (who has suddenly decided that he is incapable of movement and is now a limp noodle), I can’t also pick up my dog (who has no idea that he weighs 75 pounds) just because he saw the cat and decided that he wants to be carried as well.

Sorry. I can only carry so much.

That’s not just true for goofy house pets. It’s true for life in general.

Whether we’re talking about pets or groceries, worries or cares, you and I can only carry so much.

And if our hands are full of worries and cares, problems and anxieties, you and I won’t have the capacity to carry other things.

Including things we might actually want (as opposed to worries and cares). Including the good stuff. Like God’s best for our lives.

What works against you and me is habit. We get in a habit of picking stuff up and carrying it around. Just because it wants us to pick it up and carry it around.

Like my limp noodle cat. Who wants to be carried.

But who will also make a miraculous recovery and start doing unnecessary parkour off the top of the couch - if I don’t pick him up.

What you and I need to remember is that we have a choice. Just because something wants you to pick it up and carry it around doesn’t mean you have to.

I’m not saying don’t deal with your worries and cares, your problems and anxieties.

But there’s a big difference between dealing with your worries and cares - and picking them up and carrying them around like a beloved pet.

So, how do you do that?

First, know that you have a choice. Then know that you have help.

You don’t have to deal with your worries and cares (or even carry them around) by yourself.

In fact, you shouldn’t. Because holding onto your worries and cares, your problems and anxieties is one of the subtlest forms of the dreary old sin of pride.

And there is nothing so effective at separating you and me from the ones who love us best (including God) like pride. It does that by making sure that our hands are full, that we have no room for the good that anyone would do for us (including God).

Instead, take the help offered by the One who loves you best.

No matter what it is. No matter what wants you to pick it up and carry it around.

God isn’t just waiting to help you. God wants to help you.

Not someday, when you’ve got it all figured out. But right now, when you don’t.

“Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about you.”

Today’s Readings

[greykolla-art]

It’s healthy to step out of our comfort zone’s a little!😜

[poryphoria]

tfw you visibly base your entire identity around One Specific Character Or Thing so that whenever it gets brought up (or left out) of a conversation you look like this pointing it out

[drumlincountry]

I was at a Palestinian solidarity gig last night & the one Palestinian artist who was going to perform had COVID so the organisers asked around to see if there were any Palestinians who'd like to say a few words instead.

A local guy who was born & raised in Gaza offered to speak. He started with "I'm an engineer. i'm not a poet or a politician. I don't... do public speaking… I had no idea what to say when I came up here. So i'm just going to tell you about the street I grew up on."

And then he did! He went down the street building by building. He told us about the ice cream shop on the corner, the grocery shop, the charity that supports people with intellectual disabilities. He told us about the people who he knew growing up, the families who still live in the different houses. He told us about the university buildings and about his friends who quit being accountants to start a band together. All on that street.

All of which is gone now, by the way. Bombed to dust.