#Is Psalm 23 a promise?

[jesuslivesinyou]

కీర్తనలు 23: గొర్రెల కాపరి యొక్క మార్గదర్శక హస్తం

23 కీర్తనల గురి౦చి ఆలోచి౦చడ౦, పర్వత ప్రస౦గాన్ని విమర్శనాత్మక౦గా సమీక్షి౦చడానికి ప్రయత్ని౦చడ౦ లాంటిదే! చాలా మంది రచయితలు ఈ అందమైన రచన గురించి విస్తృతంగా రాశారు, నిస్సారంగా అనిపించకుండా జాగ్రత్త అవసరం. కోట్లాదిమందికి, దావీదు యొక్క ఈ కీర్తనలు ముత్యముగా ఉ౦టుంది.

కీర్తన 23 గురి౦చిన ఆశ్చర్యకరమైన విషయమేమిట౦టే, అందులో కేవలం ఆరు వచనాలు మాత్రమే ఉన్నాయి. అయినా, ఆ ఆరు చిన్న వచనాలు ప్రభావం ప్రపంచవ్యాప్తంగా కనిపించింది. 23వ కీర్తన అనేక శతాబ్దాలుగా అలసిపోయిన ఆత్మలకు విశ్రాంతినిచ్చి౦ది, మానవుని రచనలేవీ సరిపోలలేవనే ఆశా సందేశాన్ని అది అ౦ది౦చి౦ది.

యేసుక్రీస్తు మంచి కాపరి అని పిలువబడ్డాడు. ఆయన తన అనేక ఉపమానాల్లో తన పోలికను ఉపయోగించాడు. యోహాను 10:11 లో యేసు ఇలా అన్నాడు, "నేను మంచి కాపరిని. మంచి గొర్రెల కాపరి గొర్రెల కోసం ప్రాణత్యాగం చేస్తాడు." యేసు యోహాను 10:14 లో కూడా చెప్పాడు, "నేను మంచి గొర్రెల కాపరిని; నా గొర్రెలు నాకు తెలుసు, నా గొర్రెలకి నేను తెలుసు." క్రైస్తవులకు యేసుక్రీస్తు మంచి కాపరి. ఆయనతో కలిసిన వారు ఆయనకు తెలుసు, ఎందుకంటే ఒక సంబంధం ఉంది. ఆ బంధం ప్రేమ మీద ఆధారపడి ఉంటుంది. దేవుని ప్రేమ ప్రజలందరికీ రక్షణ మార్గాన్ని తెరిచింది.

కీర్తన 23 యేసుక్రీస్తును ఇలా సూచిస్తుంది మంచి గొర్రెల కాపరి, ఆయన తన శిష్యుల కోస౦ చేసే పనిని కూడా అది వర్ణిస్తు౦ది. గొర్రెల కాపరి తన మందను సంరక్షిస్తాడు మరియు పెంచుతాడు. విశ్వాసము, పశ్చాత్తాపము, ఒప్పుకోలు, బాప్తిస్మము ద్వారా యేసుక్రీస్తుతో కలిసిన వారికి అదే జరుగుతుంది. అందులో ప్రధానమైనది ప్రేమ. పాత నిబంధన లేఖనాల్లో విధేయత, తీర్పుకు ప్రాధాన్యమిచ్చారు. క్రొత్త నిబంధన లేఖనాల్లో విధేయత మరియు తీర్పు సూత్రాలు కూడా ఉన్నాయి; కానీ వాటితో యేసుక్రీస్తు ద్వారా దేవుని గొప్ప ప్రేమ, క్రీస్తులో ఉన్నవారు ఆస్వాదించగల ఆశీర్వాదాలు జతచేయబడతాయి.

క్రైస్తవులు క్రీస్తులోని పరలోక ప్రదేశాలలో ప్రతి ఆధ్యాత్మిక ఆశీర్వాదాన్ని పొందుతారని పౌలు వ్రాశాడు. క్రీస్తు యేసుకు వెలుపల ఉన్నవారు పోయారు. గొర్రెల కాపరి, రక్షణ లేని గొర్రెను మించిన నిస్సహాయత మరొకటి లేదు. కోల్పోయిన గొర్రెలు తోడేళ్ళు మరియు ఇతర జంతువులకు సులభమైన వేట. వారు సులభంగా చిక్కుకుంటారు మరియు వారు తమను తాము చూసుకోలేరు. గొర్రెల కాపరి లేని గొర్రెలు నశిస్తాయి, యేసు క్రీస్తు లేని ప్రజలు కూడా నశిస్తారు.

కానీ క్రీస్తులో ఉన్నవారికి మంచి కాపరి ఉన్నాడు. ఆయన వల్ల విశ్రాంతి, పోషణ, మార్గదర్శకత్వం లభిస్తాయన్న వాగ్దానం ఉంది. ఒక క్రైస్తవుడు జీవిత ప్రమాదాలను ఎదుర్కొన్నప్పుడు, అతడు లేదా ఆమె ఇలా అనగలరు, "నేను ఏ అపాయమునకు భయపడను, ఎందుకంటే మీరు నాతో ఉన్నారు; నీ దుడ్డుకర్రయు, నీ దండమును నన్ను ఆదరించును."

4వ వచనములో, "మరణపు నీడ లోయ" నేరుగా భౌతిక మరణ సమయాన్ని సూచించదు. 4వ వచనము నేటి జీవితంపై మరింత ప్రత్యక్ష ప్రభావాన్ని చూపుతుంది. "మరణపు నీడ లోయ", లేదా "చీకటి లోయ" అనేది ఈ జీవితపు అనుభవాలు తీవ్రమైన దుఃఖం, బాధ మరియు బాధకు దారితీసే సమయం. ఆత్మ వేదన భారంలో గుండె పగిలిపోయేలా చేస్తుంది.

చిత్రాలు చాలా స్పష్టంగా ఉన్నాయి! ఒక వ్యక్తి చీకటి మరియు ప్రమాదకరమైన ప్రదేశానికి దారితీసే మార్గంలో నడుస్తున్నాడు. చీకట్లో శత్రువు సమీపించడాన్ని చూడలేం. నీడలో, తదుపరి మలుపు చుట్టూ ఒక దాడి సిద్ధంగా ఉందో లేదో మీకు తెలియదు. ఒంటరిగా ఉన్న వ్యక్తికి ఎంత భయానక ప్రదేశం? కానీ క్రీస్తులో, ఒక వ్యక్తి ఒంటరిగా లేడు! అడుగడుగునా దేవుని బిడ్డ చెడు నుండి రక్షింపబడతాడు. సమస్యలు వచ్చినప్పుడు, పరిష్కారం లేనప్పుడు, నిరాశ అంచున వణుకుతున్నప్పుడు ఈ మాటలు గుర్తుంచుకోవాలి! మేము ఎప్పుడూ ఒంటరిగా లేము! ప్రభువును నమ్మండి!

ప్రేరేపిత దేవుని వాక్య౦ ఎల్లప్పుడూ జీవిత౦లో పరీక్షలు జరుగుతాయనే సత్యాన్ని చెబుతో౦ది. కానీ 5వ వచన౦ దేవుడు తన ప్రజలను - తన పిల్లలను జాగ్రత్తగా చూసుకుంటాడని మళ్ళీ నొక్కి చెబుతో౦ది. "నా శత్రువుల యెదుట నీవు నాకు భోజనము సిద్ధపరచుదువు. నూనెతో నా తల అంటియున్నావు. నా గిన్నె నిండి పొర్లుచున్నది."

పిల్లలు తమ శారీరక అవసరాలను తీర్చడానికి వారి తల్లిదండ్రుల వైపు చూస్తారు. ప్రేమగల తల్లిద౦డ్రులు తమ పిల్లలకు ఆశ్రయ౦, ఆహార౦, భద్రతను ఇవ్వడానికి ప్రయత్నిస్తారు. అదే విధ౦గా, దేవుడు తన పిల్లలను పోషించడానికి ప్రయత్ని౦చడమే కాదు, నెరవేరుస్తాడు. కొన్నిసార్లు భౌతిక౦గా, కానీ ఎల్లప్పుడూ ఆధ్యాత్మిక౦గా యెహోవా మనకు ఓదార్పును, పోషణను, శత్రువుల ను౦డి రక్షణను ఇస్తాడు.

చివరి వచనము ఈ కీర్తన దానిని వెల్లడిస్తుంది కిరీటం ధరించిన ఆభరణo: "నిశ్చయంగా మంచితనం మరియు కరుణ నా జీవిత కాలమంతా నన్ను అనుసరిస్తాయి మరియు నేను ఎల్లప్పుడూ ప్రభువు మందిరములో నివసిస్తాను." ఈ శక్తివంతమైన ప్రకటన ఈ రెండింటినీ ప్రతిబింబిస్తుంది. ప్రస్తుత సహాయం మరియు and శాశ్వతత్వం కోసం ఆశ—మన లోతైన అవసరాలను తీర్చే లోతైన కలయిక. దేవుని వర్ణనాతీతమైన వరానికి కృతజ్ఞతలు – మన ప్రభువైన యేసుక్రీస్తు!

[dwuerch-blog]

Pillow Promises

Seems the new “sleeping” trend these days is satin pillowcases. That is one of the Christmas presents on my granddaughter’s list last year that I purchased for her for $49. So, when Bed, Bath and Beyond was having its store closing sale, I bought two at $4.50 each. I wanted to see if what “they” said was true and at that price, it was worth the test. So, I put one of those satin pillowcases on…

[thoughtfulchaos773]

I'm so sorry.

Sure I'm delusional but the Claire thing this season read like it represented an addiction to me. He cut Claire cold turkey like he cut cigarettes. Children of addicts can sometimes take the personality traits of addicts. The first episode showsClaire taking an inhale of Carmy's cigarette and cuts to Carmy (without being prompted mind you) to apologize to Sydney. Carmy promises he won't abandon her but that's a lie when he shows he's still thinking about Claire and still distracted by his addiction.

He spends his time painstakingly thinking about Chef David and Claire throughout the season. I wonder why Carmy can't say sorry to Claire and move on? Mind you Natalie called Carmy spending time with her 'moderately' healthy.

I'm still back and forth on he Claire thing coming to conclusion in 3x09 APologies, this episode is the most syd/claire/carmy triangle of the season with a love song as Carmy and SYdney ponder. 3x09 also opened up with a narrator who talks about film and reading between the lines as well as deceiving the audience. Since we're in carmy's brain, is he deceiving himself with Claire? Is Carmy self-sabotaging his relationship with Sydney throughout the show's core story?

At the end of 3x09, Carmy takes the prayer card from Mikey's funeral and reads it, and when he puts it down, it's next to Claire's scrunchie- which eventually blurs. In the back of the card is Psalm 23, and interestingly enough, there's a book that exists called Psalm 23: the cure to addiction.

[walkswithmyfather]

Philippians 3:8-11 (FBV). [8] “Truly, I count everything as loss in exchange for the incredible benefit I've gained through knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. I've thrown away all these things for him, and consider them trash, so that I might gain Christ. [9] I want to be found in him, not being right because of what I've done, or what the law requires, but made right through confidence in Christ, set right by God through trusting in him. [10] I want to really know him, and the power of his resurrection—to take part in his suffering and become like him in his death, [11] so that somehow I might be part of the resurrection from the dead!”

“Handling Difficult Circumstances” By In Touch Ministries:“Focus on Jesus instead of your difficulties—He will provide deliverance, comfort, and peace.”

“The apostle Paul understood how to handle tough situations. Even while he was in prison, he kept his eyes on Christ. Therefore, despite being in chains, he was able to celebrate the Lord’s work in his life. In fact, the epistle he wrote from jail to the Philippians was filled with rejoicing and praise (Philippians 1:18; Philippians 2:18; Philippians 3:1).

Focusing on Christ is neither a natural reaction nor an easy one. Our instinct is to dwell on the circumstance at hand, searching for solutions or stewing over the pain and difficulty. As a result, troubles can look scary and overwhelming.

However, fear and defeat can’t live long in a heart that trusts the Lord. That’s not to say you’ll forget what you’re going through, but you can choose to dwell on God’s provision and care instead. He is our Deliverer (2 Corinthians 1:10), Healer (Jeremiah 17:14), and Guide (Psalm 23:3). The believer who lays claim to divine promises discovers that God pushes back negative emotions and replaces them with hope, confidence, and contentment. This doesn’t mean you’ll be happy about a difficult situation, but you can be satisfied that God is in control and working things for your good.

Focus on Christ instead of your circumstances—God will give comfort and bring you through the trial. Then you’ll be ready to answer Paul’s call to “rejoice in the Lord always” (Philippians 4:4).

[Photo thanks to Christopher Sardegna at Unsplash.]

[saltoftheearth5x2]

As a Christian, I've noticed the days are getting harder. So many people have been influenced by the devil, and his hold has gotten stronger. The spiritual warfare that one may feel can be sometimes too much.

But it's never impossible. God is with you. He's there to make sure you don't fall. And He's kept His promises - even the ones that haven't happened yet.

Have faith. The battle isn't over yet for you, but it's already been won.

Psalm 37:23-24

"The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with His hand. "

Luke 1:37

"For no word from God will ever fail."

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

Do babies and young children go to Heaven?

So, a statement like this begs the question, “Am I just wishing this to be true, or do I Biblically know this to be true?”

Meaning, is there support in Scripture that God welcomes babies (born and unborn), young children, and those with unique mental needs (meaning they may be older, but have the mind of a child) immediately into Heaven?

I absolutely believe the Bible answers this. Here are Biblical reasons why I know this to be true:

God’s Knowledge: The Lord knows every child at conception and values them. They are considered a person, known and loved by God, from the very beginning. (Psalm 139:13 - 16).

God’s Declaration: God refers to young children as “innocents”. Not that they were perfect or without a sin nature, but they were innocent of the ability to understand the need of repentance and forgiveness. (Jeremiah 19:4).

God’s Promise: In Deuteronomy, we find an unbelieving generation of Israelites being prevented from entering the Promised Land, but their children were exempt from that penalty and were able to enter (Deuteronomy 1:39).

God’s Possession: He considers all babies to be His. God condemns Israel in Ezekiel 16:21, of the wretched act of child sacrifice. “You slaughtered My children and offered them up to idols by causing them to pass through the fire.”

God’s Compassion: He has compassion on all little ones and infants, and is not willing that even one of them should perish (Matthew 18:14). His grace covers them, until they realize their need of a Savior.

God’s Illustration: He used a child to illustrate what one must become like to enter His Kingdom (Matthew 18:1 -5). If infants and children would end up in Hell if they died young, He most likely wouldn’t use them as an illustration of how to enter the Kingdom.

God’s Compliment: He said children were the greatest in His Kingdom (Matthew 18:4).

God’s Blessing: Jesus blessed the little children and said the Kingdom of God belongs to them (Mark 9:13 – 16). Jesus typically didn’t bless those destined to Hell or promise them the Kingdom, unless He meant it.

David’s Assurance: David knew that he would be in heaven forever after death (Ps 23:6). He also had the assurance that his baby (that had died) would be there as well, where they would be reunited. “… I will go to him, but he will not return to me (2 Samuel 12:22 – 23).”

God’s Presence: I do not believe in a “soul sleep”. When babies, young children, and those with unique needs die; they are with the Lord immediately (2 Corinthians 5:8, Luke 23:43).

God is not silent on this topic. Scripture speaks. Therefore, you can know with absolute confidence that you did not “lose” your baby, child, or loved one with unique needs. You didn’t lose them, because you know exactly where they are. They are perfectly and fully alive with Jesus.

copied and pasted from Reformed Faith Forum.

[glass-strawberries]

The Valley by The Oh Hellos: A Biblical Song Analysis

*Full analysis under the cut*

By @glass-strawberries and @glass--grapes

Author's note: we grew up Christian and we love whimsical music so hearing all these references from our childhood hit pretty well. We wanted to analyze it and share all the references because The Oh Hellos are honestly some of the best lyricists we’ve seen. 

This analysis does contain references to Genius Lyrics where we didn’t know what the lyrics were referring to. We didn’t copy them, but we added additional information.

The Valley 

Background/song summary: The Valley is the first track in The Oh Hellos Through the Deep, Dark Valley. Though the album is coined as a concept album, the concept itself is very loose. The album was made in respect to love, journeys, and righting past wrongs. 

This song is about the struggle and confusion of being born into wickedness or sin, as all humans are following the fall of humanity (the original sin). The speaker seeks a leader to the light. 

Lyric Analysis:

We were born in the valley Of the dead and the wicked

A reference to the Valley of Canaan, the ancient land that is now known as Israel/ Palestine. 

That our father's father found And where we laid him down

Moses led the Israelites to the land of Canaan as they were fleeing Egyptian captivity. Before Moses could get there, he essentially pissed off God and was banished from entering the promised land. He dies in Moab and God buries him there(Deuteronomy 34). 

We were born in the shadow Of the crimes of our fathers

 After the fall of humanity, every human ever born is born with sin. The “fathers” in this sense is everyone who came before them(Romans 3:23-24). The speaker struggles with discrimination and labels placed on them from their fathers. 

Blood was our inheritance No, we did not ask for this Will you lead me?

Canaanites were considered wicked, and were killed in a genocide against them. The speaker resents the sin that they have inherited, having been credited to this crime against the Canaanites. They once again yearn for a leader.

We were young when we heard you call Our names in the silence Like a fire in the dark

The speaker did not know God until they started to hope for a leader or divine intervention. God says that He will reveal Himself to those who truly seek him(1 John 3:2). The Bible states that when God calls out to you, He will call you by name and you will know immediately that it was Him that was speaking (Isaiah 43:1).

Like a sword upon our hearts We came down to the water And we begged for forgiveness

Water baptism is a symbolic representation of death in the flesh and being brought back to life in a new “body” that will “live” forever. The purpose of baptism is defined differently in different branches of Christianity and even among churches, but the two popular ones are: 

To proclaim your faith publicly(either way, you are saved as long as you have faith)

To become a true christian and be saved(you will not be saved unless you are baptized)

The singer chose to repent for their sins. Shadows lurking close behind We were fleeing for our lives Will you lead me?

Psalm 23:3- He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

1/24

[thewordfortheday]

Jeremiah 29:11 “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” There are 6 truths that you can ponder in this promise.

• God is a promise-keeper.

• God knows everything.

• God is not out to harm you.

• God wants to help you.

• God has plans for you.

• With God our future is filled with hope.

Numbers 23:19: “God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should change His mind. Does He speak and then not act? Does He promise and not fulfill?” Psalm 145:13: “The Lord is faithful to all His promises and loving toward all He has made.

John Bunyan, who spent much of his life in prison for his faith, wrote these words: “The pathway of life is strewn so thickly with the promises of God that it is impossible to take one step without treading upon one of them.”

In a world of broken promises, God can be counted on.

[princelylove]

Synopsis: In which Enrico Pucci has some thoughts on his situation.

Warnings: Directly quoting the bible, general yandere content, spoilers for part three + six

Enrico tapped his finger on his own arm, unsure of what to do.

Ever since he met you, he’s been distracted.

Two.

He thought of what was written for him- what could only be written with the intent for him to see- and only grew more frustrated with himself. What was he doing here? What was his plan? What was his goal?

“He must be someone who can control his desires. Someone without a lust for power, honor, wealth, or sexual gratification. He must be someone who puts the laws of God before the laws of humans. Will I, DIO, meet someone like this one day?”

‘What a disgusting display,’ he thought to himself. Everything he was doing in this moment, every single one of his feelings, was a plague. It was a disease upon his very nature, the man he must be, yet he persisted. His mind turned traitor. 

Three.

Enrico often wondered what you were doing instead of handling the task at hand. He never understood Perla in his youth, despite supporting and loving most of her decisions. He had never been in love before. It seemed… silly. Frivolous. Like it was just something to pass the time, or something to keep humans from going extinct.

He would just say his feelings are fond. Affection is different from love. So is adoration, so is admiration. Enrico doesn’t know how to place his feelings for you. 

Perhaps it was best to leave them unspoken.

Five.

He made a promise, once. A vow. His feelings on the matter are insignificant. He was to continue DIO’s plan- at all costs. He wasn’t feeling love, he was feeling lust- and he is no sinner. 

Oh, if only he were that type of man. That isn’t the truth. Truthfully, he’s fine with sinning. Using the argument of sin against his wants was futile. It’s all just a means to an end. He would sin if he truly needed to- he has and Enrico will, again. His morals aren’t a part of this equation and, to be honest, they never will be.

He would have to find something else to discourage his thoughts of you.

Seven.

He thought of Psalm 23. 

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”

DIO was all he needed. It’s asinine to think otherwise. 

“He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.”

Perhaps he was wrong. Perhaps this is what DIO wanted- to test him.

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”

DIO has never led him astray. DIO has never failed him. Even in death. 

“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.”

Or perhaps this is exactly what his lord wanted for him. Something for good behavior- a reward for his loyalty. For his continuous struggle. 

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” 

Yes- that’s exactly it. Of course it is. This is the little bit of indulgence Enrico will ever get in his entire life. It’s just puppy love. It’ll go away. Surely he just needs to embrace it, and it’ll leave him. His obsession-, no, his infatuation would eventually pass, as all infatuations do. He’s merely fixated on your beauty like any other would be. You’re like something in the Louvre- something to be admired from afar and never to really touch. 

Eleven.

Love is not an option for Enrico Pucci. He only has one calling, and he loves Him like he loves God.

He will not have another- he cannot have another, regardless of the type of love, and the intensity. He has no family, as far as he’s concerned. He’s too old to have a crush.

He’s a failure to his Lord if he cannot meet the prerequisites set by Him. It was right there DIO’s diary- DIO needed someone who wouldn’t succumb to foolish urges such as love. 

With DIO’s death, it’s too late for Him to bet on another player. Enrico must do what he has to do. In Heaven, he’ll find love. He’ll find you again in eternal paradise. 

But admiration is not a hindrance. Appreciation isn’t going to get in his way. 

Thirteen.

“Do you believe that I am able to do this?” He mutters, to no one in particular. The person it’s intended for has long since passed, but it’s almost as if the universe laughs in His place.

The thought does not comfort Enrico in the slightest.

Seventeen.

The sound of a disc being ejected from a cd player is the only sound you can make sense of. Your head feels as if it’s splitting in two, and your vision is getting blurry. 

Enrico shushes you, both of his hands firm on your shoulders, slowly trailing down to your upper arms.

“Be not afraid.”

The whirr of the disc being ejected plays again, and you feel yourself losing consciousness. 

“The thought to harm you hasn’t even crossed my mind.”

Nineteen.

[brattyvice]

Stop acting like a an ugliie heaux and get up and do something that will uplift you mentally, improve your appearance physically and aid you in becoming the rawest b*tch on earth, here’s **— some of what the elites in the BRATTY GANG are doing to pamper themselves today and prepare for the musty mistakes that are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.

IN THE AM

✨Step one, we’re being delusional. This is the weekend, all that stress is strictly for the weekdays, duh. For the next 48hrs, no A&E but baby a lot of us treat this like the vacation it is. Even if you can’t leave your room, get a candle, something new to be excited to look at or fun to use during one of your morning routines.

💕Spend time alone and with your God/Ancestors/Whoever tf you believe in, no phone, no distractions, for 30 minutes. Taking moments to speak and to express gratitude is a necessity during the AM for all the women whose lifestyle you follow, I’m so serious. Even if all you can do is 10 minutes, do it. Nothing is too small and I promise that after you experience how clear your mind is for the rest of the day, you will start to do this more.

😇MOVE YOUR FKING BODY B*TCH! The sun is out and your body needs it, literally as humans that’s one of the ways our bodies keep ‘charge’ If all you can do is open your wind and blinds all the way, DO IT. And for all things expensive please at the bare minimum stretch. You can’t be in this space if you’re over 200lbs, babe.

IN THE PM

✅ For those of us who don’t suffer from substance abuse, girl — Light up. Take a shot. It is Saturday, safely indulge in your vice(s) at home and enjoy the time you have to relax, for most of us it doesn’t last long. We have platforms to create content for, shopping to do, and food to order.

ℹ️ Take a nap. Now I’m giving you some real insider tactics to ‘hearing’ during the weekend so take notes. When you take a tap and wake up after midnight, ask for what you want and let it tf go. Like, completely understand that the answer is ‘yes’ to whatever you want and that you will get it and then forget you even had this encounter. For us girlies who pray you know my faves are always and forever Psalm 23 and 25 and then 91.

🌹Get your rose, clean your dj spinners, whatever you use just don’t watch 🌽 during this. Replace it with thoughts and affirmations that align with something you want (big or small) and release. You’re welcome by the way.

Now, Take this guide and go be productive. Even if you were late today there is tomorrow an there are no excuses then!

[thricegreatmagusaugustusofcrete]

Working the Grimorium Verum (P1)

A few weeks ago I decided that I was going to start working the Grimorium Verum. I read and reread and rereread the Grimoire and as much supplemental material as I could get my hands on (I'm referring to all of JsK's pdf books by Hadean Press and that one conjure codex entry by Al Cumins).

Goal/Intent

With that said my primary goal right now is to work towards creating a clay skull, created to the specs Jsk outlined in his notes on the Grimoire in his edition of the book. It is essentially reworking the invisibility spell of the second part into a spell that binds a spirit to the skull. Rather, in his words, "I strongly recommend making a crossroads the place of interment in a reconstruction of this rite using seven coins. The intention of this adaptation would be to make a magical head as a central feature of work with these spirits, a natural extension of the underlying symbolism," (The True Grimoire 160). The only change I am doing to what JsK states is that I am adding grave dirt to the clay for the skull.

The Work I've done thus far

Wednesday, 8/16/23, I began working to get the consecrating the materials necessary for the work. I started the second hour of Mercury at my local graveyard in my town. I asked the spirits of the graveyard to lead me to the grave most suited for my work. I was expecting to be led to a town founder or someone who died violently, rather they sent me to the grave of an old lady who died a hundred years ago on my birthday. This was not intentional on my end. I saw the grave from behind and I felt as though I was being pushed towards it and that it was the right choice for the work. I took the dirt left a coin and promised to pray for her for the next three nights.

I then got home as fast as possible so I could have the second half to craft and consecrate the Asperger and Aspergillus. For the Asperger, I used a black ceramic bowl that I painted the appropriate god names on. For the aspergillus, I took the three herbs, rosemary, (pepper)mint, and oregano (technically you are supposed to use Majoram, but I could not find any in my area and I plan to get the proper plant in the future, but for now both are closely related and I don't think it will do much harm to my work). I consecrated them according to the method in the Third part of the grimoire. Reciting the 7 penitential psalms took long than I thought it would.

Thursday, 8/17/23, in the second hour of Jupiter I engraved a spoon and a knife with Heramael's name and seal. The intention is based out of Goetic Pharamakos, by Jsk where they are used to collect plants in nature for me to work with, such as the branches for the wands. In the 1 night hour of Jupiter I consecrated the two items, however, I slightly adapted the consecration from Jsk's book on Eleogap so that it was to be a general consecration instead of an asperger and aspergillus consecration. The difference between it and the Grimoire's consecration is that it is Thelemic and instead of the psalms it uses chapters 3 and 5 from Liber LXV, which I thought would mean it would be shorter, well it was in the sense that for all things that after you waft the tools of the censer, you are supposed to recite the 7 psalms and psalm 71 and 116, so 21 psalms in total. Personally, I think there is a point where the more you recite over a ritual object the less of an effect it has on it. I could be wrong. Anyhow, below are pictures of the spoon and knife before I consecrated them.

If you have read this far. I thank you and apologize for the length and potential boringness of this blog post. My goal is to generate interest in the grimoire that is less about conjuring all the spirits in it and more about creating spirit relationships. As well as to document my progress and create discussion.

[ome-magical-ramblings]

Anointing, Mystery of χ, and Psalm 23 / Chaldean Oracle Fragment 95

This character (sc. the letter Chi χ ), which belongs to the essence of souls, “…is placed in the heart ’ 5

as the property of every soul…these…are (the doctrines) of the theurgists and gods when they are describing unknown things (Chaldean Oracle Fragment 95)

Now I can't exactly say the procedure for unlocking the secrets of this verse from the Chaldean Oracle, but I can hint to it and point out by saying "hey maybe this and that might work". I promise to reach the where I can say that "this is practical" then stop just before I tell you the exact way to do it.

According to Plato {Tim., 36 b-d), the World Soul had the shape of a Chi (X), the axes of which were bent and joined together to form semi-circles. In Chaldean thought—since particular souls were patterned on the World Soul—they, too, had the same configuration. In the context of Proclus knowledge of this “character" had magical significance, permitting the theurgist to invoke the souls of certain heroes (e.g., Heracles, Pentheus) and even Plato himself Ruth Majercik's Chaldean Oracle

I will point out that our goal is about the letter χ and the anima mundi is in the shape of it! the word χρῑ́ω • (khrī́ō) is anointing and christ is literally χρῑστός (khrīstós) and ἔλαιον • (élaion) is Olive oil. Take Psalm 23:

You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

The Mystery is there. It's not about the exact procedure but the principle which lead to the result. You can do it in a different way than I did it and that's why I am not explicitly mentioning a method. The aim of the anointment is to put you at the center of that world soul and not something that will suddenly happen all at once but a slowly bringing you to the center within you.

Another aspect of the cross-shaped χ is that once you're in that center then that mean your own soul would at that center of spiritual authority, it can be a mere second or 5 seconds but in that period you can with full force bring the spirit of heroes like Heracles or even Hermes Trismegistus. Focus on that relation, it's not about becoming a king by virtue of hereditary but by virtue of the character's knowledge itself. The other more passive aspect of χ is just as you can bring the souls of great people to you, you can also look into the soul of other people with it and it is something I don't know how to describe except in most direct way is that you can see into people's soul, their desires and intentions with it. After a month of working with the character "χ" I can testify it have a great virtue and power by itself and the mysteries of it is in similar veins of anointment, Christ, and a solar initiation. Is there more to it? Definitely, but the more I would ramble about it the more I would lean toward mistakes, If you settle on this character and meditate on it's mysteries I am sure you will be able to see how it's power unfold and the door of mysteries open for you :)

[rosylamb]

Today’s Devotional 🤍

‘Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!’ (Philippians 4:4) ♡

❛ The apostle Paul understood how to handle tough situations. Even while he was in prison, he kept his eyes on Christ. Therefore, despite being in chains, he was able to celebrate the Lord’s work in his life. In fact, the epistle he wrote from jail to the Philippians was filled with rejoicing and praise (Philippians 1:18; Philippians 2:18; Philippians 3:1).

Focusing on Christ is neither a natural reaction nor an easy one. Our instinct is to dwell on the circumstance at hand, searching for solutions or stewing over the pain and difficulty. As a result, troubles can look scary and overwhelming.

However, fear and defeat can’t live long in a heart that trusts the Lord. That’s not to say you’ll forget what you’re going through, but you can choose to dwell on God’s provision and care instead. He is our Deliverer (2 Corinthians 1:10), Healer (Jeremiah 17:14), and Guide (Psalm 23:3). The believer who lays claim to divine promises discovers that God pushes back negative emotions and replaces them with hope, confidence, and contentment. This doesn’t mean you’ll be happy about a difficult situation, but you can be satisfied that God is in control and working things for your good.

Focus on Christ instead of your circumstances—God will give comfort and bring you through the trial. Then you’ll be ready to answer Paul’s call to “rejoice in the Lord always” (Philippians 4:4). ❜

I read this, and found it so encouraging I wanted to share c:

I think many of us struggle with the thought of rejoicing during hard times which is understandable! Nonetheless trials are a part of life, and this is important to remember!

How has everyone been lately? Did you have a good weekend? I hope so !! ♡ ♡

Sending much love, hugs, and encouragement for your day !! Take care, and God bless ~ ! :D

♡ ⊹ . ˚ 🍓 . ˚ ⊹ 🧁

🎀 . ˚ * . ʚ 🤍 ɞ

[pastorelpa]

Song of Solomon 2:16–17

On the intimacy of Divine Love

Thank You Lord for the intimate, personal relationship I have with You through Christ. I am humbled by the assurance that I belong to You and that Your love for me is steadfast and unwavering. In Your presence, I find nourishment, beauty, and purity. You refresh my soul and renew my spirit. May my life reflect the purity and renewal that come from being close to You. Give me hope and courage to face the shadows of doubt, fear, and suffering, knowing that Your light will break through. Strengthen my heart with the assurance that Your mercies are new every morning and that joy comes in the morning. Grant me the agility and swiftness to navigate the challenges and obstacles that lie before me. May my pursuit of You be marked by faith, love, and perseverance.

My beloved is mine, and I am his: He feedeth among the lilies. Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, Turn, my beloved, And be thou like a roe or a young hart. Upon the mountains of Bether. (Song of Solomon 2:16–17)

The declaration "My beloved is mine, and I am his" speaks of an intimate, personal relationship. It reflects mutual possession and belonging, a theme central to the Christian faith. Just as the bride and bridegroom claim each other, we too can claim Christ as our own, and we belong to Him. This mutual belonging is not based on superficial or temporary conditions. It is a deep, abiding commitment that mirrors Christ’s love for us. In John 10:14, Jesus says, "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me." This knowledge and belonging are personal and profound.

Lilies, in biblical symbolism, represent purity, beauty, and renewal. Christ nourishes us in places of beauty and purity. He leads us beside still waters and restores our souls, as is also vividly described in Psalm 23. In our spiritual walk, we are invited to dwell in the beauty of God's presence, to find nourishment in His Word, and to be refreshed by His Spirit. The lilies also remind us of the purity of Christ’s love and the renewal we receive through Him.

"Until the day break, and the shadows flee away" speaks to the hope and anticipation of a new beginning. Night and shadows represent trials, uncertainties, and the struggles we face. But the promise of daybreak, the coming of light, signifies hope, redemption, and the faithfulness of God to bring us through our darkest hours. In our lives, we encounter shadows of doubt, fear, and suffering. Yet, we hold on to the promise that joy comes in the morning. Lamentations 3:22-23 reminds us, "Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."

A roe or a young hart (a deer) represents swiftness and beauty. Pursue Christ with the same passion and devotion, navigating the mountains of life's challenges with faith and determination. The mountains of Bether, though separating, also represent the obstacles that can be overcome through love and perseverance. Our pursuit of Christ may lead us through rugged terrains, but it is a journey marked by love, faith, and the assurance of His presence.

We can find a rich tapestry of love, intimacy, hope, and pursuit. He nourishes us among the lilies, provides hope until the dawn of a new day, and calls us to pursue Him passionately. Let us hold fast to this divine love, embracing the purity and the renewal it brings, and let us live with the hope of a new dawn, pursuing our beloved with all our hearts. May we find strength and joy in belonging to Him, knowing that He is ours, and we are His.

Amen

With love, Pastor Elpa

[albertfinch]

Scripture Of The Day - July 17, 2024

Psalm 100:4,5 - "Enter His gates with thanksgiving And His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him, bless His name For the LORD is good; His lovingkindness is everlasting And His faithfulness to all generations."

  Satan’s plan is to make us somehow accept, either through our upbringing, our experiences or through Church dogma that certain portions of the life of Christ are untrue or not valid in our case.  Every battle we face in life is over the word and whether or not we can build our lives upon the faithfulness and integrity of God.

Hebrews 10:23  - "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is FAITHFUL;"

Do not fret because of evildoers, nor be envious of 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; dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. Psalm 37:1-3

In this Psalm, David is instructing the children of God not to fret when it seems like everyone around you is prospering, especially the unrighteous. The antidote given by King David for "fretting" is to feed on the Lord's faithfulness.

Like Psalm 27:13 says, "I truly would lose heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord," nevertheless, there are more times that the worries of the world knock us out. This is why it is crucial that we feed on His FAITHFULNESS.

Yet, how do we do that? One of the primary ways is to feast on His Word -- for it is written, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God" (Matthew 4:4).

RECALLING GOD'S FAITHFULNESS IN TRYING TIMES

In the third chapter of the Book of Lamentations -  the prophet Jeremiah, was suffering through God's chastisement along with his people. As a result of his distress, Jeremiah confessed that his soul was far from any peace, that he had forgotten what happiness was, and that his strength was gone. He felt that God shut out his prayers and had lost his expectant hope in the Lord through his terrible struggle.

Despite all his feelings of being forsaken, Jeremiah prayed again! He boldly said, "Remember my affliction and roaming, the wormwood and the gall" (Lamentations 3:19). The word for "remember" doesn't imply that God forgot His children.  The Hebrew word used here is zakar (Strong's #2142) and speaks of recalling something, meditating on it, purposefully pulling it up in your mind. Jeremiah was asking God to think on him, to focus His Divine intentions on him!

"My soul still remembers and sinks within me" (Lamentations 3:20). Yet, after praying again to God, something happened. Instead of thinking on his circumstances, he "turned to the Lord" and found hope. "This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope" (Lamentations 3:21).

TURN TO THE LORD

"Recall" is connected to one of the primary words used for repentance, shuwb (Strong's #7725), and means to turn back or return. You see, Jeremiah was thinking on his distress and affliction, which was, in a sense PUTTING A SPIRITUAL DISTANCE BETWEEN HIMSELF AND GOD. All he had to do was turn his thoughts to the Lord, to return to Him.

 "Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you..." (James 4:7-8).

Jeremiah went from thinking on his circumstances to thinking on God. -- Lamentations 3:22-26  - "The LORD’S lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. 'The LORD is my portion,' says my soul, 'Therefore I have hope in Him.' The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, To the person who seeks Him. It is good that he waits silently For the salvation of the Lord."

He fed on God's faithfulness!  God uses ALL distress and affliction for His glory to produce character in us. "...tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope" (Romans 5:3,4).

Acts 16:25,26  -  "And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God:  and the prisoners heard them.  And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken:  and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed."

God's faithfulness is triggered by our faith, while praise brings us into His presence.  When we praise God, He raises us out of our situation.

When we find ourselves in trouble, we use praise as a key to unlock the "prison doors" of our circumstances.  No matter what is going on in our life -- we fill our mouth with the ADORATION AND GREATNESS OF GOD.

ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

Assurance of Faith

19 Brothers and sisters, because of the blood of YESHUA we can now confidently go into the holy place. 20 YESHUA has opened a new and living way for us to go through the curtain. (The curtain is his own body.) 21 We have a superior priest in charge of God’s house. 22 We have been sprinkled with his blood to free us from a guilty conscience, and our bodies have been washed with clean water. So we must continue to come to him with a sincere heart and strong faith. 23 We must continue to hold firmly to our declaration of faith. The one who made the promise is faithful.

Encourage Each Other

24 We must also consider how to encourage each other to show love and to do good things. 25 We should not stop gathering together with other believers, as some of you are doing. Instead, we must continue to encourage each other even more as we see the day of the Lord coming. — Hebrews 10:19-25 | Names of God Bible (NOG) The Names of God Bible (without notes) © 2011 by Baker Publishing Group. Cross References: Leviticus 16:4; Numbers 19:19; Psalm 26:1; Lamentations 3:23; Matthew 10:15; John 12:48; John 14:6; Romans 5:2; Ephesians 3:12; 1 Timothy 3:15; Hebrews 2:17; Hebrews 3:13; Hebrews 6:19; Hebrews 13:1

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Putting Your Position into Practice