#Latter Rain Assembly

[thmles]

| You're Losing Me. (2)

- I can't find a pulse, my heart won't start anymore.

[pairing: miguel o'hara x spider-person!reader]

[warnings: sweet to angst, mentions of physical fight, blood, bruises, mention of deaths]

[a/n: this has been a long time coming!! i've tried to write these past few days but never really finished writing this but i was feeling a lil sad tonight so i managed to focus my motivation on writing this! i also went through some theories on reddit and twitter about miguel's canon theory bc i honestly question it?? anyway i hope i did the first 'you're losing me' fic justice with this, since i tried my best writing this. hope y'all enjoy 🫶🏻]

You were smart enough to leave the watch that was issued to every member of the Spider Society at your apartment. Miguel had been tracking your location only to see ‘you’ in your apartment. He blocked you from creating portals and tracking the location of him, Jess, and Ben. It was for your own good, anyway. He was looming over Brooklyn on a rooftop as rain lightly poured over the city. He looks down at his hand, the very same you returned your promise ring he had given you a year prior. Miguel figured that he’d talk to you after he brings in Miles, that he’ll try to make you understand his side. Miles was a kid, he doesn’t know better. He doesn’t understand how astronomical the consequence of letting his father live. With the help of his suit, Miguel is able to store the ring on the right side of his hip. The hunt for Miles had just begun.

-

You on the other hand managed to get to Gwen’s dimension. A somehow colorful yet gloomy version of Brooklyn. With a few taps on your (much better) watch, you located the apartment complex where Gwen lives. The watch even gave you the exact number of their apartment. Brooklyn was glowing in the dark of the night as you swung through the city. It reminded you of your Brooklyn. A beautiful city that never sleeps.

You approached the rooftop of the apartment and gracefully landed on it. After a quick change (which really just consisted of you taking off your mask and slipping on a jacket you managed to grab before you left your apartment), you slowly descended the stairs from the rooftop to their apartment.

A knock on the door pulled Gwen’s and his father’s attention. It was a long time coming, talking about their feelings, the truth, and being Spider-Woman. “Captain Stacy? I’m uh, a friend of Gwen,” The voice called out. Gwen smiled knowingly at her dad as he stared back at her in confusion. “She said she’s coming back home today and she left something in my house.” The voice continued.

Gwen let out a laugh and quickly opened the door before her dad could do it.

“You came.” Gwen beamed at you. You returned a smile and pulled her in a hug.

“You really think I’d leave you by yourself?” You mumbled in her ear.

She hugged you tighter before pulling away. Her dad looked surprised as Gwen seemed to forget she was in her Spider-Woman attire. Gwen looked between you and her father before exclaiming, “Oh, dad! This is my friend! They have been uhm, a really good friend of mine!” Her dad motioned at her attire. Gwen laughed as you waved at her dad. “Don’t worry, dad. They know.”

-

After a quick goodbye, you gave Gwen the watch you had made similar to the ones issued by the Spider Society. After a few dimension hopping, you managed to assemble a team of Spider-People who hoped to help Miles as Gwen looked for the latter. Gwen detected that Miguel, Jess, and Ben were at Earth-1610 to search for Miles but Miles wasn’t in the dimension. After a quick talk with the team (consisting of Margo, Spider-Noir, Peni, Pav, Peter B. and Mayday, Peter Porker, and Hobie) you were quick to realize that Miles was sent to Earth-42. The group agreed that they should rendezvous with Gwen, but were reluctant at your decision to go to Earth-1610 as a distraction for Miguel.

“What do you think Miguel’s going to say after seeing you’re going against him?” Peter B. asks as you both stand before a portal to Earth-1610. The night sky was cold and you were jealous of Peter’s robe. Your eyes softened as you looked at Mayday looking up at you curiously. You booped her nose and it made her giggle.

“Well, I’m about to find out.”

-

It wasn’t hard to find Miguel. Looming across Miles’ house, scanning if Miles made it home. Silently landing behind him, your heart ached as you stared at his back. It doesn’t even feel like it’s your Miguel anymore. It’s almost as if he’s out of your reach, that no matter what you’ll say will go right through him.

Shakily you called out, “You know he’s not here.” You approached him slowly until there was a reasonable distance between the two of you. The rain pattered on your body as you crossed your arms in front of your chest. You were shaking from nervousness, sadness, and the cold rain.

“I know. I was waiting for you.” Miguel turned to face you. His mask came off, his eyes bore into yours and you swear you could feel your heart drop to your stomach. You took your mask off and threw it in front of him. He looked at your discarded mask before looking at you in confusion.

“I’m sorry it had to end this way, Miguel.” Your voice softly said, getting in a fighting stance. You knew you had to help Miles. You would do anything to help if it were anyone in that situation. You owe it to your own father to help save everyone, to help save someone’s father. Growing up without one was one of the hardest things you ever went through. You didn’t want that for anyone else.

“So, you’re ending everything we went through for a kid?” He scoffed as he approached you, You were quick to back up to maintain the distance you guys had.

“Miguel, that is the point! He is just a kid!” You exclaimed. Miguel rolled his eyes and replied, “A kid who knows nothing about the damage he is causing!”

“It was your fault! You didn’t have to create the Spider-Society or replace someone’s identity! Isn’t that the very reason that universe collapsed!?” You yelled, leaning towards him as he looked at you in shock. “That you willingly replaced someone, and continued to do so? That your actions were the very reason that everyone died in that universe?” Miguel could only look at you as his eyes turned scarlet. You knew he was seething with anger.

“And that you, Jess, and Ben, of all people,” You scoffed as you glared at him. “Have the nerve to tell Miles that he doesn’t belong. When the three of you were never bit, right?” You finished. “Oh and your ‘canon theory’ is bullshit. What if that Spider-Person isn’t close to a police captain or doesn’t have an uncle who needs to die? What then?” Honestly, you were shocked at how much you had told him. Truth be told, the things you said were things you kept to yourself for months.

Miguel didn’t know what to say, but he knew you were right. His supposed theory was only based off of most Spider-People, but it doesn’t guarantee that those events happen to every single one. To him, it felt like an attack on him and his ego. That you questioned his every move despite those actions were done to protect you. Because he can’t risk losing you.

-

The next thing you knew, Miguel launched at you. Thankfully, you had your ‘spidey-senses’ and were quick to dodge him. Before you knew Miguel would rather die than hurt you himself. But when he saw your bruised and bloodied body on the rooftop, he finally realized that he let the anger get the best of him.

“You lost me, Miguel.” Those were your final words before you slipped into unconsciousness. He brought you back to the Spider-Society to get you proper medical attention before he had to leave to hunt Miles. Miguel took your left hand and slipped on the promise ring on your ring finger. He gave the back of your hand a kiss.

“I hope you forgive me, mi amor. I’m sorry.”

[igotanidea]

The love of rain : Nikolai Lantsov x reader

Request submitted as a part of my 1k celebration: Rain and Nikolai (thank you anon!)

Warning: some spice, but nothing explicit, apart from that just fluff

***

The weather in Ravka was whimsical, to say the least.

One day there was sun and clear sky and the other the habitants had to deal with fog or storm or rain. And most of them did not like when it was wet and dark outside, cause it was clear sign that they would be stuck at the little palace for longer than anyone would wish for. It was particularly painful for squallers and tidemakers, the rest were complaining but found their way to deal with it. Of course, it was possible to just use the Grisha power and dissipate the clouds, but nature was nature and there were still rules to stick by, one of them saying that Etherealki were not supposed to mess with it more than necessary.

However, there is always an exception to the rule, or at least they say so.

“Ugh!” Zoya grunted upon noticing the first drops on the ground “I can’t believe it! Why can’t we just make those clouds go away? I can do this.”

“Zoya” Nadia put a hand on her shoulder “you know we are not supposed to do that. King’s orders.”

“Well, someone should knock some sense into Nikolai’s head” the brunette scoffed, raising her hands, ready to call upon the wind “I need training. I want to train and I am not going to stop just because….”

“Surely you are not going to disobey, right?” Adrik came out of nowhere and chimed in “you are a soldier, you have to be obedient.” He reminded her and it made her sigh deeply in frustration.

“I hate it.”

“Yes, we heard you loud and clear, now come on, we have to find shelter before we get drenched.”

And just like that, all the Grisha assembled on the palace ground started running from the droplets, which slowly intensified and after a couple of minutes, the drizzle turned into full-on torrent.

“Aren’t you happy we are inside now?”  Nadia smiled at Zoya, but the latter was even more annoyed than before.

“NO!” she said firmly with a pout on her face

“Someone’s in the mood, today” a male’s voice came from the other entrance to the room and everyone turned to face king Nikolai himself.

“My king” Genya was the first one to raise from her seat and approach him

“I still can’t get used to that title” Nik smiled brightly “but you gotta admit it suits me well, doesn’t it?”

“Well…..” Genya started, but Zoya interrupted her

“Let’s just hope it doesn’t get too much to your head, you majesty.” She smirked

“If it ever does, I give you permission to knock some sense into me.” Nikolai chuckled at the girl’s surprised expression “yes, yes, I heard you use that particular expression. Just be sure to avoid the face, will you? Your punches are quite strong and I can’t risk getting injured in the most visible part of me. Now, is everyone back from the field?”

‘Squallers are at full strength” Adrik assured

“How about tidemakers, Annika?”

“As well, moi tsar.” the girl bowed gently and earned a smile from Nikolai.

“And what about Inferni?” he hesitated a bit

“I think we all know the answer to that question. Y/N is missing, obviously.”

“Guess that’s the aftermath of the time she spend on the ship with you in the role of Sturmhond”

“Good thing I know exactly where to look for her.” Nikolai started walking towards the exit ready to go outside straight into the downpour

“My king!” Genya yelled after him “you should not….”

“Oh, dear Genya, after all this time, you should not use the “you should” with me. Don’t you know I’m gonna do what I want either way. I’m the king after all” he winked at the girl without having any care in the world.

*** “You know, for an Inferni, you are strangely fascinated with water.” Y/N, who was sitting under the canopy near the waterfall, listening to the sound of rain turned around at the voice, a bit alarmed, ready to throw a fireball straight into Nikolai’s face. “Hey! Easy with that!” he raised hands in defense.

“Do not sneak on me!” she spat and then started laughing at the man, her eyes glistening with joy “you are drenched, moi tsar.“

“As if you weren’t.”

“I don’t really care. Besides, I got the heat, I can get myself dry, easily, unlike you.” Y/N smiled at him and reached a hand towards him “come on, we can both fit in here. Can’t risk you getting sick.”

“Oh, you are worried about me” he grinned sitting close to her, sneaking an arm around her waist and puling the girl in “That is just so sweet, my love”

“Mhm, sure. I’m worried about all your people and royal advisors coming after me with pitchforks because I gave the king the flu.”

“Pichfork?” he raised an eyebrow, but could not help a little laugh. “Why pitchfork?”

“I don’t know” she leaned into him. It was kinda funny, how she was the Infeni and yet, he was the one who was giving her warmth. The kind that does not come from the fire, but from the inside and from all the feelings she get because of him “isn’t that what used to be use to deal with witches? And I am a witch after all.”

“Sure you are. You definitely bewitched me.” Nikolai kissed her temple and she closed her eyes enjoying this. Maybe too much. “Besides, as the king, I choose to be here.”

“It’s just so quiet and peaceful, you know” she snuggled closer to him “unlike in the palace or in training. There just always so many people, so many noises. And rain, rain just make it all go away.”

“Like I said, you are one strange Inferni.”

“Maybe.” She sighed “you know people hear “’Inferni” and automatically assume those are the one who beams with energy all the time, have power and strength, and are always ready to jump into action. But hey, guess what, we are people too, we are tired and stressed and worried and need a break from time to time.”

“Hard week?” he asked rubbing on her arm lovingly and reassuringly.

“Like usual. It’s not like I can compare with all your duties. You’ve been busy too.”

“Is that why you’ve been hiding here?” he moved away slightly just to search for an answer in her eyes. “Don’t. turn away from me” his hand found a way to her cheek making her face him “Y/n, darling, tell me.”

 “I… that may have been the reason” she muttered “I just knew you would come to find me.” She looked down for a moment but then raised gaze and focused it on his face “Nik, I’m sorry, I just missed you and ….”

She did not get to finish as he leaned forward and planted his lips on hers in the most gentle, slow and emotional kiss that any girl could imagine and wish for. If she wasn’t sitting, her knees would probably gave up on her and she would fall to the ground. Saints, how she missed this. It’s been a week since they had a single silent moment together and it was all reflected in such simple, yet meaningful gesture. His grip on her waist tightened and he pulled her onto his lap, wanting her closer to him, enjoying how she let him hold her, touch her and kiss her. Just being with her was enough.

“I missed you too, my love. And I’m the one who should be sorry for not giving you enough attention.” Nikolai whispered nuzzling her nose with his making her chuckle since she was ticklish.

 “Don’t be silly, Nik. I am no one, just one rowdy Grisha.”

“You.” he pecked her lips again “are everything. My love. My bride. And the queen to be.”

“Ugh….”

“Still don’t like that?”

“I don’t think I’m the queen material.” She squirmed in his lap and it made him a bit too excited “I hate all that panoply and sumptuousness.”

“Do you even know me?” he groaned when she moved more “I’m the least pompous of my family. Do you remember our time on the Volkvolny? Definitely not a prince-like behavior back then.”

“Oh I remember some of that” she smirked locking hands on his neck and whispering in his ear “I also remember bringing the heat without using Inferni skills.”

“Uh… Um… yeah. You see, being a queen comes with one more benefit. “

“And what is that?” she feigned curiosity, even if the evidence was more than palpable

“You get to be the only person the king will kneel for….” He mumbled, kissing her cheek “Love.”

“Really?”

“Sure. I’ll leave with you with that thought.” With one single motion he moved her away and sat back next to him “maybe you won’t be hiding in the middle of the forest in the future.”

“I will. I definitely won’t stop on your account, love.” Y/N rolled her eyes and laid her head on his shoulder. There would be time to tease him and get revenge later on. Judging by the circumstances it would be painfully easy to make him fulfill that promise. But not now. “Nik?” she whispered, calming down

“Yes, sweetheart?”

“Can we just stay here for a while? I need some peace…. And I want you with me. Just like this.”

“If you think you can get rid of me now you’re crazy. I’m not going anywhere far from….”

“From what?”

“From the person I love.” He answered and just to accent and emphasize those words raised her hands to his lips and kissed her knuckles gently.

At this moment she really wished she was a tidemaker or a squaller. She would definitely disobey all the rules of not messing with nature and will make it rain till the end of the world if it meant just being with him away from the world.

[vesselreborn]

Archives/Religion

Notes/Mentions of Hanuda village's religious beliefs/ customs in the Mana religion/Mana.ism (I hope this doesn't appear in the actual tag/ apologies if so) This one contains pictures (yippie!) Will also try to avoid stories/tales in this one. Will post that in Folklore

a mural that was discovered during the Meiji period in the formerly forbidden-to-enter Irazu Valley. It clearly shows Datatsushi on top of a triangular rock that appears to be the Mana Stone. It depicts three people seeing this and fearing and honoring him. Estimated to have been drawn in the latter half of the seventh century, so obviously centers on the taboo event that took place in 684 AD, when the residents of Hanuda Village were starving during a famine and are said to have "consumed the flesh of a god". Residents are so desperate that they perform the "rain-calling" ritual, and a comet flies past. The comet can also be interpreted as "a mysterious flying object falling from space". In that case, it strongly hints that Datatsushi, revered as a god, is a "being from another planet".

A piece of Mana Stone, worshiped by the villagers of Hanuda as an object of their faith. The Mana Stone is a huge rock on a sandbank in the Mana River. It is pyramid shaped, and more metallic than rock-like. It is also known as the "Stone of the Descending God". Could also have fallen from space with Datatsushi.

An Old Medallion of Oxidized Silver. An engraving of the Mana Cross adorns its center. Although almost smooth, the name "TAKEUCHI" is faintly visible. (1)

The "Book of Deliverance" is Hanuda's scriptures. This chapter, "Chaos At The End of Time", tells of the strange occurrences due to the village being sucked into the Other World quite faithfully. "The Earth shall shake, the Winds roar, the Skies weep and Pest rise. The souls of Men shall be tainted with Rot, and the waters shall be dyed red with the blood of the King of the Gods. The souls of those who touch the red waters shall return to their original body and rise from the grave."

Umi-Okuri. A Traditional purification ceremony in Hanuda dating back to ancient times. Participants cloths themselves in black and submerge themselves in the waters of the Mana River on the last day of the lunar calendar. The river was seen as a boundary between the human world and the Underworld. The ceremony began as a way to wash away the shame of human sin and find the favor of the gods. Since ancient times, the other world has been depicted as a utopia of eternal life on the other side of the sea.

The ceremony following after Umi-Okuri is called Umi-Gyeri. In the traditional ceremony, the participants who immersed themselves in the waters of the Mana River on the last day of the lunar year returned at dawn of the new year. It was believed that they received the blessing of the gods and were cleansed of sin, and on their return were honored by the village.

Dosojins are statues placed in such places as borders at the villages, believe to drive away disease and malicious spirits. The design, a carving of a man and a woman, has a Mana cross engraved to it.

Tamon Takeuchi's Research Notes on Hanuda Village's unique legends and faith. "The fact that the people of this village in the middle of the mountains worship Hiruko, the seafaring god, is extremely interesting. How did the worship of a god usually favored by people of the sea take root here, I wonder?"

Hanuda Hymn Book. A collection of songs extolling the mightiness of the alien god. It seems as though most of the residents of Hanuda carried these.

An idol created from a doll, the bones of a fish and all kinds of assembled junk. During a period of oppression for their unusual religion long ago, Hanuda Village adopted the fish as a symbol of their god to avoid persecution; the reason why even rubbish is inside the altar is that they viewed even rubbish that washed up in places such as rivers to be sacred, as a way of revering the god who washed up there.

Midnight Pimpernel. A succulent plant belonging to the cactus family. Known for its blood-red petals, the Midnight Pimpernel blooms once, flowering at night and wilting before dawn. Symbolizes hidden faith. Many bloom in the Underworld.

the pictures keep fucking up. Note to put them uuuuuh, somewhere else.

Devotional Painting - Advent of Angels. Shows Angels descending to Earth to announce the good news of the resurrection of the alien god. Mana crosses can be seen on the angels' heads. All three people of earth are shown covering their ears with their hands, hinting that there is likely an ear-piercing siren ringing out.

Shibito script written by the Shibito-turned Tomoko Maeda in her notebook. By deciphering the message, you can see that it reads, "god is coming."

Book of Deliverance - Fruit of Vieda. A set of scriptures native to Hanuda. This volume describes the Fruit of Vieda, which is said to grant eternal life. In Paradise grows two holy tree, of which the Lord doth say, "Do not eat the fruit they bear, for I have decreed it forbidden".

Book of Deliverance - The Good Tidings. A Set of Scriptures native to Hanuda. This volume describes the angels heralding the Savior's arrival on earth. Heralds from on high appeared before a village girl. Announce they did these glad tidings: "Rejoice in the coming of the Son of the Lord!"

The Takeuchi Monographs - Sacred Beliefs of Hanuda. A series of self-published writings by local historian, Omihito Takeuchi, 1973. This shit is long and I'm Tired. (1) (2) (3) (4)

Devotional Painting - Paradise. A sacred picture of the Land of the Gods (paradise) as defined by the legends of Hanuda Village. It shows a sea, red as blood, and red flowers scattered across the ground, most likely "Midnight Pimpernels". In short, the Land of the Gods from Hanuda legend is the Underworld.

[elsalouisa]

George, Duke of York to Queen Victoria — 16 November — Anichkov Palace

"My dearest Grandmama

As Lord Carrington starts tonight direct for England, I will take this opportunity of sending you a few lines. I know that both Papa and Lord Carrington have continually written to you and kept you informed of what has been going on here, and so I did not write to you. I have written to May each day and we have been so busy that there is not much time for writing and several days I had barely time to finish my one letter, so I hope you will forgive me for not having written before.

It has indeed been a terribly sad time here; but the Wedding came like a gleam of sunshine in the midst of the deep mourning. Poor Aunt Minnie has indeed been brave and has borne her terrible grief in a wonderful way, Mama has been of the greatest possible help and comfort to her, I don’t know how she could have got on without her. Dear Alicky looked quite lovely at the Wedding, the Service was very fine and impressive and the singing quite beautiful, she went through it all with so much modesty but was so graceful and dignified at the same time, she certainly made a most excellent impression. I do think Nicky is a very lucky man to have got such a lovely and charming wife; and I must say I never saw two people more in love with each other or happier than they are. When they drove from the Winter Palace after the Wedding they got a tremendous reception and ovation from the large crowds in the streets, the cheering was most hearty and reminded me of England, an enormous crowd of several thousand people assembled in front of this Palace and cheered continuously from 3.0. till 8.0. The young couple showed themselves at the window several times.

Alicky got a great many lovely presents, I have never seen such jewellery, your charming locket was very much admired. Dear Nicky was most touched by your making him Col. in Chief of the Scots Greys, and it was the Regiment he admired more than any other, when he was at Aldershot this year, he is quite delighted about it. | know your giving him this Regiment has made a most excellent effect here.

The weather unfortunately has been bad, very cold with snow and rain alternately and no frost at all, | am disappointed as I wanted so much to see St Petersburg with snow and ice. I must say I have never been treated anywhere with so much kindness and civility as here from everyone I have met. This is the first time I have been to Russia, I certainly have got a most excellent impression of the people and the country. Uncle Alfred and Aunt Marie leave here tonight, the former for England and the latter for Coburg. Nicky has been kindness itself to me, he is the same dear boy he has always been to me, and talks to me quite openly on every subject. It is really quite touching to see the charming way he treats dear Aunt Minnie; and he does everything so quietly and nicely and naturally; everyone is struck by it, and he is very popular already. I am so glad that May, sisters and our Baby are with you at Windsor now, and that you are going to keep them with you till Papa and I arrive on the 6th.

I am so looking forward to seeing you and them all again. We leave next Sunday and shall spend one day with Aunt Vicky in Berlin. God bless you dearest Grandmama with love to all and hoping to see you very soon.

I remain ever your most devoted and dutiful grandson Georgie".

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

The Terrible Visitation

1 Blow a trumpet in Zion, And sound an alarm on My holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, For the day of the Lord is coming; Indeed, it is near,

2 A day of darkness and gloom, A day of clouds and thick darkness. As dawn is spread over the mountains, So there is a great and mighty people; There has never been anything like it, Nor will there be again after it To the years of many generations.

3 A fire consumes before them, And behind them a flame devours. The land is like the Garden of Eden before them, But a desolate wilderness behind them, And nothing at all escapes them.

4 Their appearance is like the appearance of horses; And like war horses, so they run.

5 With a noise as of chariots They leap about on the tops of the mountains, Like the crackling of a flame of fire consuming the stubble, Like a mighty people drawn up for battle.

6 Before them the people are in anguish; All faces turn pale.

7 They run like warriors, They climb the wall like soldiers; And each of them marches in line, Nor do they lose their way.

8 They do not crowd each other, Every warrior of them marches in his path; When they burst through the defenses, They do not break ranks.

9 They storm the city, They run on the wall; They climb into the houses, They enter through the windows like a thief.

10 Before them the earth quakes, The heavens tremble, The sun and the moon become dark, And the stars lose their brightness.

11 The Lord utters His voice before His army; His camp is indeed very great, For mighty is one who carries out His word. The day of the Lord is indeed great and very awesome, And who can endure it?

12 “Yet even now,” declares the Lord, “Return to Me with all your heart, And with fasting, weeping, and mourning;

13 And tear your heart and not merely your garments.” Now return to the Lord your God, For He is gracious and compassionate, Slow to anger, abounding in mercy And relenting of catastrophe.

14 Who knows, He might turn and relent, And leave a blessing behind Him, Resulting in a grain offering and a drink offering For the Lord your God.

15 Blow a trumpet in Zion, Consecrate a fast, proclaim a solemn assembly,

16 Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, Assemble the elders, Gather the children and the nursing infants. Have the groom come out of his room And the bride out of her bridal chamber.

17 Let the priests, the Lord’s ministers, Weep between the porch and the altar, And let them say, “Spare Your people, Lord, And do not make Your inheritance a disgrace, With the nations jeering at them. Why should those among the peoples say, ‘Where is their God?’”

Deliverance Promised

Then the Lord will be zealous for His land, And will have compassion for His people.

19 The Lord will answer and say to His people, “Behold, I am going to send you grain, new wine, and oil, And you will be satisfied in full with them; And I will never again make you a disgrace among the nations.

20 But I will remove the northern army far from you, And I will drive it into a dry and desolate land, Its advance guard into the eastern sea, And its rear guard into the western sea. And its stench will ascend and its odor of decay will come up, Because it has done great things.”

21 Do not fear, land; shout for joy and rejoice, For the Lord has done great things.

22 Do not fear, animals of the field, For the pastures of the wilderness have turned green, For the tree has produced its fruit, The fig tree and the vine have yielded in full.

23 So shout for joy, you sons of Zion, And rejoice in the Lord your God; For He has given you the early rain for your vindication. And He has brought down for you the rain, The early and latter rain as before.

24 The threshing floors will be full of grain, And the vats will overflow with the new wine and oil.

25 “Then I will compensate you for the years That the swarming locust has eaten, The creeping locust, the stripping locust, and the gnawing locust— My great army which I sent among you.

26 You will have plenty to eat and be satisfied, And you will praise the name of the Lord your God, Who has dealt wondrously with you; Then My people will never be put to shame.

27 So you will know that I am in the midst of Israel, And that I am the Lord your God And there is no other; And My people will never be put to shame.

The Promise of the Spirit

28 “It will come about after this That I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind; And your sons and your daughters will prophesy, Your old men will have dreams, Your young men will see visions.

29 And even on the male and female servants I will pour out My Spirit in those days.

The Day of the Lord

30 I will display wonders in the sky and on the earth, Blood, fire, and columns of smoke.

31 The sun will be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes.

32 And it will come about that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord Will be saved; For on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem There will be those who escape, Just as the Lord has said, Even among the survivors whom the Lord calls. — Joel 2 | New American Standard Bible (NASB) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved. Cross References: Genesis 37:34; Exodus 10:5; Exodus 32:11-12; Leviticus 26:5; Leviticus 26:10,11 and 12; Numbers 10:3; Deuteronomy 4:29; Deuteronomy 11:5; Deuteronomy 11:24; Job 16:14; Psalm 65:12-13; Psalm 126:3; Isaiah 5:27; Isaiah 13:8; Isaiah 37:32; Jeremiah 18:8; Jeremiah 46:23; Matthew 21:16; Matthew 24:21; Matthew 24:29; Mark 13:24-25; Luke 1:67; Luke 21:25; John 10:1; Acts 2:21; Acts 14:17; 1 Corinthians 12:13; 1 Corinthians 14:8; 1 Thessalonians 4:16; Revelation 6:17; Revelation 9:2; Revelation 9:7; Revelation 9:9; Revelation 18:8

[moonsofmachinery]

On the topic of fics, have you read Assembly or Taking Life As Is? (The former is one of my personal favorites as an on the string advocate and the latter I consider required reading for someone getting into rain world fics)

I have read both! Assembly is so very good, I adore the characterization + ideas behind it, it seems incredibly well thought out / planned and I love the fact that, despite being 'off the string' in many ways, there is still that question of whether or not their mobile platforms are truly 'them' or not, even once their memories sync up. Its handled incredibly well, one of my favourites, for sure! I have read Taking Life As Is, and while it isn't my favourite fic (Just some personal miffs of mine), it certainly isn't bad! I found it to be a quite enjoyable read. I definitely had a good laugh over some parts of it too, its a good story, and there were chunks of it that really made me very happy. 10/10!

[archfeyworkshop]

World of Arturium: Orcs & Hobgoblins (name under construction)

So I was intending to cover Oberstyre today, but the sixteen-character piece has eaten up my time so instead here's a quick thing today for some more of the modified species of my setting, the Orcs and Hobgoblins, though the latter may get renamed.

Before I launch into them, there's something I want to explain. There was at some point a post, I think on this site, that talked about how fantasy species are defined by how they're different to humans. It's the reason that Elves are often tall, long-lived, aloof and magically-inclined and Dwarves are short, broad, axe-wielding metalsmiths and masons. It comes with the principle that if you decide to really revamp those species, they stop being those species because...those features are what make those species themselves. So when I look at altering a species for my setting, I try to figure out what concepts I consider core to them and retain those when I rework them.

So let's look at the species born to fight demons. During the Dark Convergence, Demons attempted to invade the material plane and the mortal world was hard-pressed to fight back. Though it was a time of unprecedented cooperation between all nations, they simply lacked the forces and the means to fight the invasion in all places it reared its head. These species are thus born at around the same time for similar purpose, by the goddesses Adelaide and Sirona. Goddess of Strength at Arms & Honour, and Goddess of Beasts & Hunters respectively, they were given leave to find means to defend the world, to halt the Demons at the walls and within the hidden places.

Adelaide, patron of a great many heroes and legendary warriors, chose to look to the past, to the thousands of years of history, and petitioned the vault of legendary souls for the weight of their experience. Not allowed to resurrect the souls themselves, she instead legendary took samples of countless heroes great and small and mixed them with a few droplets of her own blood and cast them into the world. This fell across the world as a rain of blood, a week long, drenching the land and collecting into great pools. From these pools rose red-skinned sharp-featured warriors, bearing the names of the heroes of ages past and assembling into companies and legions to combat the armies of Demons. This was the first and most legendary march of the Hobgoblins, but it would not be their last. The blood that drenched the world soaked in well, and even once the Convergence came to an end and there was no need for the Hobgoblins, they were not gone from the world. Many died it is true, but in later years they would emerge again in twos and threes whenever a place knotted with the tension of conflict.

This is what defines a Hobgoblin - not born and not even truly a species of their own, they form from mysterious blood pooling in the presence of brewing conflict and rise to meet it. Each Hobgoblin bears the name of a hero past, one great or small from folk hero to world-saver and loosely bears their likeness and a smattering of talents, and once thrust into the world must build their own transient legend. Each one is only a mere reflection and so what they may accomplish in life will not always mirror their past reflections yet they are always effectively fated to do things to effect change. This isn't some cosmic force, simply that the kind of person that has a legend to inspire a Hobgoblin is the kind of person who will not sit idly by. Similarly as a result, most Hobgoblins die fulfilling this fate, driven to martyrdom in pursuit of their beliefs. But it's not always the case that a Hobgoblin will die alone. Less regularly a Hobgoblin will be given the opportunity to fall in love and have children, able to bear progeny. Curiously though, the child will not be of Hobgoblin descent even if both parents are such. Rather, the child will instead bear the lineage of the hero the Hobgoblin came from, resulting periodically in the reintroduction of ancient heroic lineages back into the world. Needless to say, it annoys the people who do those books of family trees.

Hobgoblins were formed to provide the world with its legions. Orcs, by contrast, were formed to give it its peerless hunters. A problem that arose during the Convergence was that while the gateways through which demons poured could be found in the open spaces and closed, it was not from where most stemmed. The majority of demons slipped into the world through doorways hidden deep underground or within mountains where no army could hope to traverse and survive in fighting form. Settling this threat was given to Sirona. A deity of simpler manners than Adelaide, she chose to offer her power in a more direct manner, a test of faith. She bade a group of daring hunters into a hunt of a great beast, and though many died the survivors were given the boon of her expertise, transformed into the first Orcs, keen survivalists and demon-hunters. Like Hobgoblins they were simply left to survive once the Convergence fell, but unlike the Hobgoblins they found themselves with much closer ties to their goddess.

To be an Orc is to be somewhere between a natural species and a given title. Orcs and Half-Orcs are born as any other - through the union of two, bearing children. But any child of Orcish descent is born without the ability to themselves have children. To gain the ability and 'right' to do so, there are the trials of the huntress; an Orc must undertake a hunt to best a foe of significant ability compared to their own, be this a personal hunt the likes of which adventurers may embark upon, or one of the two rites of Sirona. The first, the coming of age ritual, is one organised roughly every twenty years in Orcish communities, a community festival of totems where those to participate are spirited away to the goddess's hunting grounds to hunt the beasts there, survivors earning the right to reproduce. The final alternative is the Kada Adara, a specific hunt to track down and slay a demon of worthwhile power. All such hunts grant an Orcish adult the ability to have offspring, but the Kada Adara is granted a second boon of shifting form, affinity with an animal that makes their skin a mix of their original selves and the creature with which they have affinity.

This necessity, these hunts which dictate an Orc's ability to have kids, puts their culture in a difficult place. Death is nearly guaranteed for at least some in these hunts, and it makes them unusual amongst the mortal species for how they interact with life and death. Orcish families are typically large as a result, with many children so that the line will survive, with tests of strength and skill being commonplace growing up. Scars are well-respected as marks of survivorship, and their very attitude towards death is irreverent and gregarious, with the cultural belief that one should laugh at death and celebrate the foolishness and the successes of the dead. With these tribalistic rituals and hunter society and open attitude towards living, Orcs are often viewed by outsiders as more primitive or simplistic, but those who examine the culture more closely realise that they simply pay homage to a god who prefers certain ways of living, and are bound to rituals that lean on such aspects of a community.

Pardon this one being a bit haphazard; it's been a busy time.

[deasims4stories]

Lighting the tree is a great way to start the day. A grand tofurkey dinner is on its way! And with winter holiday music being Arceus's favorite, she's having a blast! As are Flaaffy and Weston, jamming out to some jazz this morning.

"Dinnerlunch is ready!" Quite why Ampharos and Mareep are eating in the rain outside, though, not sure.

Flaaffy, where did you get the money for that, that's half the family's funds????

After that, everyone rushed to the mailbox to see what they'd gotten, while Arceus complains to Ampharos about their parents. Beezlebuzz moodlet is back, despite nothing visibly wrong and the maid's cleanup, and Skin-So Soft decides to drop by for a Winterfest visit.

Mareep, Ampharos, and Flaaffy didn't get anything in the mail, Weston got a Yuki from his sister Hailey, and Ampharos got a fearsome dragon toy.

Ampharos gets a Hopper! Angel gets a Zen Again Yoga Mat! Arceus gets a Let There Be Light! Laser Show! Mareep gets a Blarffy! Flaaffy gets a Pre-Assembled Model Stunt Plane! Weston gets a bowl of fruit!

Father Winter arrives, eagerly awaited.

Angel gets a GnomeSports Soccer Ball. Mareep gets a True Prodigy Child's Violin. Flaaffy got a Yuki. Arceus gets an Enormous Trilobite. Ampharos gets a Lots of Love Bear. Weston gets..."there was literally nothing in the present other than sadness and lies". But before Weston could yell at Father Winter, the latter left. Angel, still wide awake, decides to practice with the soccer ball after fully cleaning the house.

[fordecree7]

THE BIBLE BOOK OF GOD

Joel 2

The Day of the Lord

2 Blow a trumpet in Zion;     sound an alarm on my holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble,     for the day of the Lord is coming; it is near, 2 a day of darkness and gloom,     a day of clouds and thick darkness! Like blackness there is spread upon the mountains     a great and powerful people; their like has never been before,     nor will be again after them     through the years of all generations.

3 Fire devours before them,     and behind them a flame burns. The land is like the garden of Eden before them,     but behind them a desolate wilderness,     and nothing escapes them.

4 Their appearance is like the appearance of horses,     and like war horses they run. 5 As with the rumbling of chariots,     they leap on the tops of the mountains, like the crackling of a flame of fire     devouring the stubble, like a powerful army     drawn up for battle.

6 Before them peoples are in anguish;     all faces grow pale. 7 Like warriors they charge;     like soldiers they scale the wall. They march each on his way;     they do not swerve from their paths. 8 They do not jostle one another;     each marches in his path; they burst through the weapons     and are not halted. 9 They leap upon the city,     they run upon the walls, they climb up into the houses,     they enter through the windows like a thief.

10 The earth quakes before them;     the heavens tremble. The sun and the moon are darkened,     and the stars withdraw their shining. 11 The Lord utters his voice     before his army, for his camp is exceedingly great;     he who executes his word is powerful. For the day of the Lord is great and very awesome;     who can endure it?

Return to the Lord

12 “Yet even now,” declares the Lord,     “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; 13     and rend your hearts and not your garments.” Return to the Lord your God,     for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love;     and he relents over disaster. 14 Who knows whether he will not turn and relent,     and leave a blessing behind him, a grain offering and a drink offering     for the Lord your God?

15 Blow the trumpet in Zion;     consecrate a fast; call a solemn assembly; 16     gather the people. Consecrate the congregation;     assemble the elders; gather the children,     even nursing infants. Let the bridegroom leave his room,     and the bride her chamber.

17 Between the vestibule and the altar     let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep and say, “Spare your people, O Lord,     and make not your heritage a reproach,     a byword among the nations. Why should they say among the peoples,     ‘Where is their God?’”

The Lord Had Pity

18 Then the Lord became jealous for his land     and had pity on his people. 19 The Lord answered and said to his people, “Behold, I am sending to you     grain, wine, and oil,     and you will be satisfied; and I will no more make you     a reproach among the nations.

20 “I will remove the northerner far from you,     and drive him into a parched and desolate land, his vanguard into the eastern sea,     and his rear guard into the western sea; the stench and foul smell of him will rise,     for he has done great things.

21 “Fear not, O land;     be glad and rejoice,     for the Lord has done great things! 22 Fear not, you beasts of the field,     for the pastures of the wilderness are green; the tree bears its fruit;     the fig tree and vine give their full yield.

23 “Be glad, O children of Zion,     and rejoice in the Lord your God, for he has given the early rain for your vindication;     he has poured down for you abundant rain,     the early and the latter rain, as before.

24 “The threshing floors shall be full of grain;     the vats shall overflow with wine and oil. 25 I will restore to you the years     that the swarming locust has eaten, the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter,     my great army, which I sent among you.

26 “You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied,     and praise the name of the Lord your God,     who has dealt wondrously with you. And my people shall never again be put to shame. 27 You shall know that I am in the midst of Israel,     and that I am the Lord your God and there is none else. And my people shall never again be put to shame.

The Lord Will Pour Out His Spirit

28  “And it shall come to pass afterward,     that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,     your old men shall dream dreams,     and your young men shall see visions. 29 Even on the male and female servants     in those days I will pour out my Spirit.

30 “And I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke. 31 The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. 32 And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape, as the Lord has said, and among the survivors shall be those whom the Lord calls.

Joel 2

Diane Beauford

[epackpeb]

HOW CAN SOLUTIONS FROM PEB MANUFACTURERS MITIGATE MONSOON-RELATED DISASTERS?

It’s not a surprise that India has diverse climatic conditions. Because of these weather extremities, our nation is also not a stranger to the intense and destructive monsoon season conditions.

Undoubtedly, the rainy season is vital for agriculture. However, it also brings severe issues like flooding, landslides, and cyclones, which ultimately cause rampant damage and loss of life.

While climate change is an essential reason for the recent weather pattern, one must recognize how our obsolete construction techniques further exaggerate the problem. Due to this, the demand for pre-engineered buildings (PEBs) has been rising lately.

PEB manufacturers register multiple orders every day because these structures have shown their advantage across different necessities, including monsoon readiness. These are robust, versatile, and long-term cost-saving structures that enhance community resilience and the durability of infrastructure against such disasters.

Pre-Engineered Building Structures Can Enhance Early Warning Systems

One of the critical aspects of disaster management is establishing early warning systems. PEBs can play a vital role in this regard. Pre-engineered structures can be rapidly deployed to house weather monitoring and communication equipment, ensuring that remote and vulnerable areas receive timely alerts. These installations can withstand harsh weather conditions, ensuring the continuity of operations even during severe storms. PEB Manufacturers in India can customize these structures, considering the intensity at which a specific region faces floods.

PEB Buildings Are Reliable Community Shelters in Times of Crisis

Monsoons often necessitate the evacuation of communities from flood-prone or landslide-affected areas. Here, PEBs come into their own as efficient and reliable community shelters. These structures can be quickly erected to provide safe and secure housing for displaced populations. Unlike traditional buildings, industrial shed manufacturers and suppliers take a fraction of the time to design these structures. At the same time, these buildings can endure extreme weather, offering protection against heavy rains and high winds.

All Types of PEB Structures Are Resilient

Critical infrastructure resilience is paramount during monsoon seasons. Traditional construction methods often lack the durability and speed required to rebuild or reinforce infrastructure in disaster-prone regions. PEBs, however, offer an ideal solution. Well-known PEB companies like EPACK Prefab make modular designs, which allow for quick assembly. Also, their steel framework provides superior strength and durability. This makes PEBs suitable for constructing resilient bridges, roadways, and utility buildings that can better withstand monsoon impacts.

PEBs Can Protect Lives and Resources in Coastal and Flood Zones

In coastal regions prone to cyclones, PEB structures can be used to build emergency response centers that remain operational during and after storms. PEB building manufacturers can construct elevated storage facilities in flood-affected areas, protecting vital supplies from water damage.

PEBs Vs Traditional Structures: Who Wins?

Traditional structures pale in comparison to pre-engineered building systems when it comes to the range of benefits the latter offers. Here’s a review:

Construction Speed: PEBs have a rapid construction timeline. In disaster scenarios, where time is of the essence, the ability to quickly erect shelters and infrastructure can save lives and resources. The swift assembly is possible because components of a PEB structure are manufactured off-site, then transported to the location, where they are quickly assembled.

Cost-Effectiveness: These structures are generally more cost-effective than traditional building methods over time, as the prefabrication process reduces labor costs and material waste, making PEBs an economical choice for disaster management.

Durability and Maintenance: PEBs require minimal maintenance compared to conventional structures. Their steel components resist corrosion, pests, and mold, ensuring long-term durability even in harsh monsoon climates.

Flexibility and Scalability: Such buildings can be easily modified or expanded to meet changing needs. This flexibility is crucial in disaster-prone areas where the demand for shelters and infrastructure can vary significantly.

PEBs emerge as a clear winner, offering a versatile and efficient solution to disaster management’s unique challenges. Their unmatched combination of speed, affordability, durability, and adaptability makes them a game-changer in disaster preparedness and recovery efforts.

Get in Touch with Pre-Engineered Building Manufacturers Today!

Flash floods and other monsoon-related disasters are rising in intensity every year. Shifting to pre-engineered buildings is a promising solution that can help create infrastructure that lasts longer and make our community more resilient.

From early warning systems to community shelters and resilient infrastructure, PEBs provide versatile, cost-effective, and robust options that traditional building methods often cannot match.

As one of the best PEB manufacturers in India, we at EPACK Prefab are committed to leveraging the potential of prefabricated solutions to safeguard communities and infrastructures against the adverse effects of monsoon seasons.

Curious to know more about how PEB works? Check out our blog section, which explains how PEB is changing the face of infrastructure. To find out how we have established PEB-based resilient structures, kindly check out EPACK Prefab projects, where we’ve displayed our innovative solutions.

Also Read: ESSENTIAL PRE-MONSOON CHECKLIST FOR PRE-ENGINEERED BUILDINGS (PEB)

[angelojamal]

”Like keepers of a field they are against her all around, Because she has been rebellious against Me,” says the Lord. “Your ways and your doings Have procured these things for you. This is your wickedness, Because it is bitter, Because it reaches to your heart.”“

‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭4‬:‭17‬-‭18‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

”“Run to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem; See now and know; And seek in her open places If you can find a man, If there is anyone who executes judgment, Who seeks the truth, And I will pardon her. Though they say, ‘As the Lord lives,’ Surely they swear falsely.” O Lord, are not Your eyes on the truth? You have stricken them, But they have not grieved; You have consumed them, But they have refused to receive correction. They have made their faces harder than rock; They have refused to return. Therefore I said, “Surely these are poor. They are foolish; For they do not know the way of the Lord, The judgment of their God. I will go to the great men and speak to them, For they have known the way of the Lord, The judgment of their God.” But these have altogether broken the yoke And burst the bonds. Therefore a lion from the forest shall slay them, A wolf of the deserts shall destroy them; A leopard will watch over their cities. Everyone who goes out from there shall be torn in pieces, Because their transgressions are many; Their backslidings have increased. “How shall I pardon you for this? Your children have forsaken Me And sworn by those that are not gods. When I had fed them to the full, Then they committed adultery And assembled themselves by troops in the harlots’ houses. They were like well-fed lusty stallions; Every one neighed after his neighbor’s wife. Shall I not punish them for these things?” says the Lord. “And shall I not avenge Myself on such a nation as this? “Go up on her walls and destroy, But do not make a complete end. Take away her branches, For they are not the Lord’s. For the house of Israel and the house of Judah Have dealt very treacherously with Me,” says the Lord. They have lied about the Lord, And said, “It is not He. Neither will evil come upon us, Nor shall we see sword or famine. And the prophets become wind, For the word is not in them. Thus shall it be done to them.”“

‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭5‬:‭1‬-‭13‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

”Therefore thus says the Lord God of hosts: “Because you speak this word, Behold, I will make My words in your mouth fire, And this people wood, And it shall devour them. Behold, I will bring a nation against you from afar, O house of Israel,” says the Lord. “It is a mighty nation, It is an ancient nation, A nation whose language you do not know, Nor can you understand what they say. Their quiver is like an open tomb; They are all mighty men. And they shall eat up your harvest and your bread, Which your sons and daughters should eat. They shall eat up your flocks and your herds; They shall eat up your vines and your fig trees; They shall destroy your fortified cities, In which you trust, with the sword. “Nevertheless in those days,” says the Lord, “I will not make a complete end of you. And it will be when you say, ‘Why does the Lord our God do all these things to us?’ then you shall answer them, ‘Just as you have forsaken Me and served foreign gods in your land, so you shall serve aliens in a land that is not yours.’ “Declare this in the house of Jacob And proclaim it in Judah, saying, ‘Hear this now, O foolish people, Without understanding, Who have eyes and see not, And who have ears and hear not: Do you not fear Me?’ says the Lord. ‘Will you not tremble at My presence, Who have placed the sand as the bound of the sea, By a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass beyond it? And though its waves toss to and fro, Yet they cannot prevail; Though they roar, yet they cannot pass over it. But this people has a defiant and rebellious heart; They have revolted and departed. They do not say in their heart, “Let us now fear the Lord our God, Who gives rain, both the former and the latter, in its season. He reserves for us the appointed weeks of the harvest.” Your iniquities have turned these things away, And your sins have withheld good from you. ‘For among My people are found wicked men; They lie in wait as one who sets snares; They set a trap; They catch men. As a cage is full of birds, So their houses are full of deceit. Therefore they have become great and grown rich. They have grown fat, they are sleek; Yes, they surpass the deeds of the wicked; They do not plead the cause, The cause of the fatherless; Yet they prosper, And the right of the needy they do not defend. Shall I not punish them for these things?’ says the Lord. ‘Shall I not avenge Myself on such a nation as this?’ “An astonishing and horrible thing Has been committed in the land: The prophets prophesy falsely, And the priests rule by their own power; And My people love to have it so. But what will you do in the end?“

‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭5‬:‭14‬-‭31‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

[gospelhotspot]

[Video] Biggi God - Kayode Michael Akinyemi

Minister Kayode Michael Akinyemi, a talented musician and preacher of the gospel, recently unveiled an enthralling music video titled “Biggi God.” Minister Kayode possesses a deep devotion to God. He hails from a CAC Christian family and embarked on his spiritual journey by surrendering his life to Christ during his teenage years at Latter Rain Assembly. His mother played a pivotal role in…

[lindajenni]

sep 16

if we're still here

"for yet a little while, and He who is coming will come and will not tarry." heb 10:37

we must not relinquish our hope until the whole month of tishrei has passed, meaning around the middle of october. then, and only then, will i concede our hope may lapse into next year. i do not believe it will, seeing all the evil and insanity griping the whole world in increasing madness. but if it does, i will still be waiting on my Lord. it is the imminency of jacob's time of trouble that dictates rapture time.

i almost changed the title of this daily to "waiting on the Lord." you see, in my morning prayers, for an extended time the word "wait" was heavily in my thoughts. i don't mean i thought it was the Lord telling me i had longer to wait. it was more of a feeling of "watch closely." the hour approaches.

the scriptures are rampant with exhortations to "wait upon the Lord." i said Lord, "am i not waiting?" - followed quickly by the question, "what is waiting?" there are several scenarios of waiting; waiting on Him in worship, waiting in service, waiting for guidance and yes, waiting for His glorious appearing.

if one is waiting on an appointment, it means the appointment has been made. they have an expected event that is coming up and they watch and wait for that time to arrive. well, God has made several appointments with mankind and He has kept everyone so far. should He not be expected to keep the rest?

my thoughts then went to a pregnant woman who recognizes when the expected time is and knows what signs to look for; i.e., my water has broke and the event is imminent. (unlike the world's way, there will be no aborting this time. delivery will be completed.)

even now there are signs in the heavens - the revelation 12 sign of a woman about to deliver a male child. "then being with child, she cried out in labor and in pain to give birth." rev 12:2 is the church not crying out in labor now? is this not our sign of one's water breaking? we are drowning in other signs as well. a birthing is about to take place. thus we endure the labor pains that brings forth that new life.

looking at all i am seeing and what i might not be seeing, i believe we are in "push" time. i have never known the joy of bringing a new life forth but those who have are now getting to experience what the newborn did. we will be birthed into a new, glorious life.

all these things and more flashed through my mind, but the word "wait" remained heavy on my heart. i would like to give you all a few of the many benefits one receive from waiting on the Lord.

"wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart." psa 27:14

"but those who wait on the Lord, they shall inherit the earth." psa 37:9

"truly my soul silently waits for God; from Him comes my salvation." psa 62:1

"so he who waits on his master will be honored." prov 27:18

and who can forget:

"but those who wait on 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." isa 40:31

"wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come." 1 thess 1:10

yes, there are many benefits that come from waiting on the Lord and a strong warning for those who don't. "'therefore wait for Me,' says the Lord, 'until the day I rise up for plunder; My determination is to gather the nations to My assembly of kingdoms, to pour on them My indignation, all My fierce anger; all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of My jealousy.'" zeph 3:8

and why not wait for Him? He waits for us. "see how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain." james 5:7 He is our rose of sharon and all the fruitful harvest is His to reap. "we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing." 2cor 2:15

thus we shout yes, Lord, we will wait in all the different aspects of waiting, until time itself waits no longer. You will cast it aside, along with this world and all the heavens. "now i saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away… behold, I make all things new." rev 21:1,5

[argyrocratie]

JUBILEE.

(...)

"The jubilee story begins in the 13th century B.C. when, supposedly, Moses led the slaves out of Egypt. Three hundred years later Solomon and Saul formed the Israeli monarchy. Four hundred years after that, in 587, Jerusalem was destroyed and the Jews entered the Babylonian captivity. They returned at the end of the 6th century which commences the period of the postexile when the priests tried to put the pieces together again by collecting, editing, and copying various songs, laws, cultic practises, traditions, and oral memories. The Torah, or "Law of Moses," the first five books of the Old Testament, was the result.

They merged several authorial traditions ("J," "E," "D," and "P"). Jose Miranda distinguishes two political tendencies within these traditions: the exodic, libertarian or Kadesh tendency, and the legal, covenantal, or Sinaitic tendency. The former refers to the revolutionary time; the latter refers to the sociopolitical counter-revolution under the monarchy. As part of "P" or the Priestly Code, Leviticus was written during the postexilic age when Israel was under Persian domination. Leviticus stresses the uniqueness and antiquity of Israelic regulations and customs, and falls generally under the Sinaitic tendency. In 1877 Klostermann identified a separate "Holiness Code" (H) within "P." It begins with chapter 25, and it is part of the Kadesh tendency. The 25th chapter represents a memory not of the period of the monarchy but of the prior revolutionary period. Thus, Leviticus 25 is the condensed displacement into a law code of an egalitarian experience of five hundred years earlier. It may usefully be compared to the Bill of Rights which salvaged a little from the revolutionary times that otherwise were so completely extinguished by the U.S. Constitution of landlords, merchants, and slavocrats.

Under the Monarchy class differentiation took place. This was the period of prophetic denunciation, the wrath of Isaiah, the lamentations of Jeremiah, the scorn of Ezekiel. During this period the jubilee is expressed as part of a visionary poetics of denunciation when the prophets attempted to awaken the people from their numbness to the pride and idolatry of their rulers. Their denunciations were written in the eighth century, two or three centuries earlier than Leviticus, and therefore closer to the experience of the liberation of the 13th century. Isaiah denounces landlords and the agribusiness men who depopulate the land:

Shame on you! you who add house to house and joining field to field until not an acre remains, and you are left to dwell alone in the land. (5:8)

Michah identifies with the landless and he refers to an assembly of land distribution:

Shame on those who lie in bed planning evil and wicked deeds and rise at daybreak to do them, knowing that they have the power! They covet land and take it by force; if they want a house they seize it; They rob a man of his house and steal every man's inheritance. (2:1-2) We are utterly despoiled: the land of the Lord's people changes hands. How shall a man have power to restore our fields, now parcelled out? Therefore there shall be no one to assign to you and portion by lot in the Lord's assembly. (2:4-5)

How did a visionary poetics become a legislative code? A class deal of some sort was made, that is, a weakening of the class of priests and landlords relative to the dispossessed, the debtors, and the slaves whose cooperation against Persian domination was purchased by the acceptance of the practical possibility of jubilee, at least by the priests and scribes who would have put the Bible together.

What was the earlier period like? It is important that we not think of it in ethnic terms; this is a salient and indubitable contribution of recent scholarhsip. The term "Hebrew" derives from 'apiru of the Egyptian language; it is a pejorative epithet for an outlaw, insubordinate, and opponent of Egyptian imperialism. The people survived by rain agriculture (grain, oil, wine) and a pastoral economy (bovine herds, sheep and goats). Iron implements in the highlands of Canaan, rock terracing, and slaked lime plaster for water cisterns were technological changes of the late 14th century which disturbed the social structures and land allotment systems. The productivity of the earth and preservation of the surplus permitted the indigenous development of classes and the formation of small city-states.

Scholars have proposed three models for the settlement of Canaan: 1) the invasion model which is the oldest and most familiar, 2) the model of immigration and infiltration which Alt suggested in 1925, and 3) the internal revolt model first proposed by Mendenhall in 1962. Norman Gottwald writes, "early Israel was an eclectic formation of marginal and depressed Canaanite people including `feudalized' peasants, 'apiru mercenaries and adventurers, transhumant pastoralists, tribally organized farmers and pastoral nomads, and probably also itinerant craftsmen and disaffected priests." The usual suspects in other words. He concludes, "A class in itself, hitherto a congeries of separately struggling segments of the populace, has become a class far itself' — Israel. The early literature of Israel, therefore, gives voice to the revolutionary consciousness of the Canaanite underclasses. Indeed, the earliest literature of Israel was a "low" literature both in its origins and in its subject matter."

-Peter Linebaugh, "Jubilating; or, How the Atlantic Working Class Used the Biblical Jubilee Against Capitalism, With Some Success" (1990)

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A Solemn Assembly: Friday, 7pm @JWC for Intercession, Worship and Prophecy

On Holy Friday JWC is gathering a convocation of remembrance of the moment on Golgotha where Jesus was crucified and darkness covered the land.

“It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three, because the sun's light failed” (Luke 23:44)

Like the deep and deadly darkness in Egypt during the Passover, like the darkness prophesied by the prophet Joel:

“The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes.” (Joel‬ ‭2‬:‭31‬).

Sacred Friday is a moment to fast and pray in darkness knowing that a great light is about to dawn!

We are calling people to gather in the revelation of The Cross of Christ.

“…now once at the consummation of the ages He has been revealed to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.” (Heb 9:26).

Such a moment in the ages of eternity calls for God’s people to fast and pray, to proclaim the ancient prophecies that have been fulfilled and are unfolding in the Earth.

Jesus is returning for a people prepared for His coming apocalypse. Days of darkness are sweeping over the land and as Joel prophesied and the Apostle John foresaw there’s a devouring plague of locusts consuming the good of the land that’s been unleashed from the bottomless pit of demonic orgin.

Joel 1:4

“What the cutting locust left, the swarming locust has eaten. What the swarming locust left, the hopping locust has eaten, and what the hopping locust left, the destroying locust has eaten.”

Revelation 9:2-3

“And he opened the bottomless pit, and smoke arose out of the pit like the smoke of a great furnace. So the sun and the air were darkened because of the smoke of the pit. Then out of the smoke locusts came upon the earth.”

Joel prophesied that it is in these times that the Spirit of God sends a great Holy Spirit outpouring!

The darkness cannot conceal the Sun for long! Rains are falling and the Sun is breaking through the storm clouds.

Joel‬ ‭2‬:‭23‬-‭28‬, ‭30‬-‭32‬ ‭

““Be glad, O children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God, for he has given the early rain for your vindication; he has poured down for you abundant rain, the early and the latter rain, as before.

“The threshing floors shall be full of grain; the vats shall overflow with wine and oil.

I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter, my great army, which I sent among you.

“You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, who has dealt wondrously with you. And my people shall never again be put to shame.

You shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the Lord your God and there is none else. And my people shall never again be put to shame.

“And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions.

“And I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke. The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes.

And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape, as the Lord has said, and among the survivors shall be those whom the Lord calls.”

We are praying that those whom the Lord draws will join us for this Solemn Assembly before the Lord to fast and pray for great breakthroughs in the season of our country in the days ahead!

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Old Testament Reading 

The Reading is from Joel 3:12-21

Let the nations bestir themselves, and come up to the valley of Jehosh'aphat; for there I will sit to judge all the nations round about.

Put in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Go in, tread, for the wine press is full. The vats overflow, for their wickedness is great.

Multitudes, multitudes, in the valley of decision! For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision. The sun and the moon are darkened, and the stars withdraw their shining.

And the Lord roars from Zion, and utters his voice from Jerusalem, and the heavens and the earth shake. But the Lord is a refuge to his people, a stronghold to the people of Israel.

"So you shall know that I am the Lord your God, who dwell in Zion, my holy mountain. And Jerusalem shall be holy and strangers shall never again pass through it.

"And in that day the mountains shall drip sweet wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the stream beds of Judah shall flow with water; and a fountain shall come forth from the house of the Lord and water the valley of Shittim.

"Egypt shall become a desolation and Edom a desolate wilderness, for the violence done to the people of Judah, because they have shed innocent blood in their land. But Judah shall be inhabited for ever, and Jerusalem to all generations. I will avenge their blood, and I will not clear the guilty, for the Lord dwells in Zion."

Old Testament Reading 

The Reading is from Joel 2:12-26

"Yet even now," says the Lord, "return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments." Return to the Lord, your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and repents of evil. Who knows whether he will not turn and repent, and leave a blessing behind him, a cereal offering and a drink offering for the Lord, your God?

Blow the trumpet in Zion; sanctify a fast; call a solemn assembly; gather the people. Sanctify the congregation; assemble the elders; gather the children, even nursing infants. Let the bridegroom leave his room, and the bride her chamber.

Between the vestibule and the altar let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep and say, "Spare thy people, O Lord, and make not thy heritage a reproach, a byword among the nations. Why should they say among the peoples, 'Where is their God?'"

Then the Lord became jealous for his land, and had pity on his people. The Lord answered and said to his people, "Behold, I am sending to you grain, wine, and oil, and you will be satisfied; and I will no more make you a reproach among the nations.

"I will remove the northerner far from you, and drive him into a parched and desolate land, his front into the eastern sea, and his rear into the western sea; the stench and foul smell of him will rise, for he has done great things.

"Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice, for the Lord has done great things! Fear not, you beasts of the field, for the pastures of the wilderness are green; the tree bears its fruit, the fig tree and vine give their full yield.

"Be glad, O sons of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord, your God; for he has given the early rain for your vindication, he has poured down for you abundant rain, the early and the latter rain, as before.

"The threshing floors shall be full of grain, the vats shall overflow with wine and oil. I will restore to you the years which the swarming locust has eaten, the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter, my great army, which I sent among you.

"You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, who has dealt wondrously with you. And my people shall never again be put to shame."