#No Greater Joy Ministries

[fundieshaderoom]

Wonder If This Would Count As An Endorsement Legally?

This was written by the Pearl's granddaughter via Nathan, Ashley Pearl. She writes for NGJM page a lot.

[adz]

A few thoughts on the student protests for Palestine in the USA (and elsewhere) - I am seeing some leftists worrying that coverage of these protests will draw attention away from the genocide. Attention on news & social media is not zero-sum, and there's an increasing dearth of up-to-date info on Palestine as the average person's attention has waned. Western media is naturally inclined to devote more coverage to domestic issues, and taking up as much of this as possible with news related to the genocide can only be a good thing. Local protests against colleges or other organizations doing business with weapons manufacturers etc. also aids the larger story of international support, for which I've seen nothing but joy from Palestinian citizens and journalists.

The USA student protest movement is also a fertile place for building solidarity regarding other issues like labor and for future movements. More action = more experience = stronger coalitions. Many of the groups coordinating support for these protests were formed to fight local police brutality, queer discrimination, or union busting. The current protests are gathering greater attention because of the skills and relationships these groups already have in place. If these protests had zero effect on the universities divesting from Israeli companies, they'd still be useful for radicalizing and strengthening groups on campus and for sending a message of support to the people of Palestine.

Anyway, the central question has always been "what should Americans be doing to support Palestinians & end the genocide?" And I think students leveraging their positions to sever relationships between their universities and the groups causing the genocide is a great step in addition to all the other work being done: protesting the USA government, divesting from Israeli + American weapons manufacturers (like Elbit & Lockheed Martin) and the American businesses working with them (Google & Amazon have a lucrative cloud computing contract with Israel, Microsoft works with their Ministry of Defense), donating eSims so Gazans have internet access, etc etc

Lastly, the making fun of the protestors for being privileged or how they react to being brutalized (e.g. yelling about being a professor)? You know this is not useful. C'mon guys. We share a common goal.

[nettedtangible]

Been having a lot of Tom Riddle thoughts lately.

The way he doesn’t even really subscribe to blood purism, but just uses it as a tool to get what he wants.

The way he comes from an orphan background from Muggle London in the lead up and during WWII and grew up around non-stop death and slipped through the cracks

The way he killed one muggleborn student by accident and then immediately regretted it and uno reverse carded Hagrid when he found out they were gonna shut the school.

The way he only wanted one thing, immortality. Literally just hand this kid a philosophers stone and he probably would’ve never killed anyone.

The way he doesn’t even seem to relish torture or killing. I don’t think it bothers him at all, I think it’s a mix of apathy and fascination. He enjoys studying it up close because he’s so scared of it, enjoys the feeling of it not being him, and I think he doesn’t care about having to do it but I also don’t think he derives much joy from it.

The fact that the only people he seems to enjoy hurting are his own pureblood followers.

The way that he picked Harry as the chosen one, and as Dumbledore says, it’s because of some kind of self-identification, but also because he recognised that as a half-blood, Harry would be oppressed under his regime and would be a greater threat to him, would likely be some kind of freedom fighter, whereas Neville, the pureblood, would grow up favoured by the status quo.

The way that if he was say, a pureblood Black who had access to ancient magic and wealth, would probably have just been a hermit who tinkered away to make himself immortal, and only really started killing in the service of this goal (horcruxes).

The fact that he has no appetite for politics, never inserts himself when the ministry is being run by his death eaters in Hallows. He’s not particularly Machiavellian, or even cunning. He has Snape, Barty, Bellatrix, Quirrell and Peter for that. Most of his plans are either someone else’s idea or total crap.

The way he could’ve been any other house more so than slytherin. He’s power hungry but not in a slytherin way, more in a gryffindor, self aggrandising way (Dumbledores the real Machiavellian cunning ambitious slytherin but let’s not go there) he’s also very brute strength will solve the problem like a gryffindor, values bravery and disdains the weak and cowardly (wormtail) He’s super into magical experimentation and thirsty for knowledge like a ravenclaw, again very smart but not cunning. And he values loyalty and hard work (again look at the way he treats wormtail) and is very single-minded like a hufflepuff. He doesn’t really line up with the slytherin traits other than ambition (although I’d argue he wasn’t ambitious, just extremely motivated to meet one specific goal - be immortal) after all he could’ve gone into the ministry and chose not to, because he has a problem with authority and the system- like a gryffindor. But he’s evil and he talks to snakes so he HAS to be a slytherin.

He literally wanted to be a professor

Bonus: the fact that he would’ve probably stopped trying to kill Harry if he found out he was a horcrux, since the destruction of his horcruxes is one of his biggest fears. So if Dumbledore had leaked that information to him through snape Harry would’ve probably been spared, but Dumbledore fully sacrificed him in service of killing Voldemort.

He’s just so interesting.

[walkswithmyfather]

Romans 8:26-27 (NASB). “In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.”

“Our Help in Prayer” By In Touch Ministries:

“The Holy Spirit intercedes for us and shows us what petitions to bring to the Lord.”

“Does this sound familiar? Determined to spend more time in prayer, you kneel, open your mouth to speak to the Lord, and—draw a blank. Sure, you manage a few words about what you need Him to do for you and your family, but you should be praying for more than that, right?

Yes, you should. Believers’ needs are indeed the Father’s concern; nothing escapes His notice. However, He tells His children to imitate Jesus—they should “not merely look out for [their] own personal interests, but also for the interests of others” (Philippians 2:4). Selfless prayer likely isn’t natural to us, but thankfully, God has supplied a Helper. The Holy Spirit, our willing and able partner in praying effectively, intercedes for us (Rom. 8:26).

How should we cooperate with the Spirit’s intercession for us? First, we must recognize God’s authority, holiness, and glory. Then, we need to submit to His leadership. Finally, we must entrust our future to Him, believing that He will bring great good out of negative as well as positive events in our life.

In submission to the Holy Spirit, we’ll discover greater peace and joy. And as we bring petitions inspired by the Spirit, we’ll also find new words for praying to the Father. Even more importantly, we will develop a deeper understanding of God’s greatness.”

[Photo thanks to Matheus Ferrero at Unsplash]

[hiswordsarekisses]

Sarah Edwards had an extremely special experience with the Lord. Like Julian of Norwich, the Lord exploded her being with His love. It all began with a renewed sense of the assurance of her salvation, after a divine revelation of Roman 8:34.

The day was January 20, 1742.

The Spirit of God began extraordinarily to set in. Revival grew, and souls did as it were come by floods to Christ”

That is how Jonathan Edwards described the remarkable progress of the gospel in Northampton in 1734, one local manifestation of what would come to be known as the First Great Awakening.

As her husband was to describe it, God had filled Sarah with “joy unspeakable and full of glory” (I Peter 1:8).

To me it seems that they each were being prepared deep in their souls for the series of bereavements they would endure from the late 1740s on. The stretching of Sarah Edwards is a beautiful testimony that seems other-worldly in detail, but I wanted to share the parts that to me seemed to reveal God’s way with bringing us to the place of trust and rest in His perfect will. Truly removing all fear and anxiety by perfecting His love in us. Just as He said.

Her experience reminds me so much of the Lord’s “showings” to Julian of Norwich.

God “stretched” her soul and then filled it with His own glorious fullness.

Although the first part of Sarah’s life appeared outwardly peaceful, her inner life was sometimes troubled.

Later in life, however, she endured a series of crises, through which she remained serene. The most significant turning point came in 1742, when she was given a fresh appreciation of “the breadth and length and height and depth” of Christ’s love (Ephesians 3:18).

From a young age, Sarah enjoyed an awareness of the beauty and glory of God. Famously, when she was just 13, Jonathan (aged 20) wrote a delightful eulogy to her piety and lovely character.

(Christian artist Sherri Youngward put the poem he had written about his wife to song - I will include it in the post. I have posted it SO many times!)

By 16, Sarah was powerfully aware of her own sin, and trusted God for mercy.

She valued “nearness to Christ as the creature’s greatest happiness,” and she could say, “My soul thirsted for him, so that death meant nothing to me, that I might be with him; for he was altogether lovely.”

Seventeen-year-old Sarah married Jonathan in 1727 and moved to Northampton. Jonathan was assisting his grandfather until he died two years later, and Jonathan succeeded him as sole minister.

A baby girl was born to Sarah and Jonathan in 1728, the first of eleven children. Visitors to their home testified to the warmth and love of their family life. Meanwhile, Sarah continued to know God’s smile. By 1735, she had gone through labor four times (then immensely risky), but she wrote,

During a time of great affliction, I could often say: “Whom have I in heaven but thee? And there is none on earth that I desire beside thee. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God.”

Up to the age of 31, Sarah’s life was reasonably smooth. She did experience mood swings and depression, no doubt associated in part with the rigors of childbearing. She depended a lot on the approval of her husband. She was sometimes overprotective of his reputation, and feared the bad opinion of the townspeople.

At times she was beset with anxiety. Even still, she continued to know and rejoice in God. With the psalmist, she desired ever closer fellowship with God (Psalm 27:4), and longed for greater holiness (Psalm 139:23–24).

Jonathan had begun his ministry at a time when most people in Northampton attended church, but many were nominal Christians. Most of the youth were unconverted, with low moral standards.

The sudden death of one young man in 1734, however, shook the community. At the funeral, Jonathan preached on Psalm 90:5–6, challenging all to prepare for death and judgment. Small prayer groups sprang up. By early 1735, many were convicted of sin, repented, and found assurance of forgiveness.

Throughout the next year, revival continued in Northampton and in many other communities in New England, as well as in Britain and beyond.

At such times of revival, God draws near in a special and widespread way: unbelievers are convicted and converted, and believers are given a deeper awareness of spiritual reality.

Sarah was so overwhelmed with assurance of the love of God that some wondered whether she would survive until her husband’s return.

In those days, Sarah had felt crushed by awareness of her own indwelling sin, but then overjoyed by the glory of salvation.

Her delight in God was so overpowering it was as if she were already experiencing the joy of heaven.

I never before, for so long a time together, enjoyed so much of the light, and rest and sweetness of heaven in my soul. . . . I continued in a constant, clear, and lively sense of the heavenly sweetness of Christ’s love, of his nearness to me, and of my dearness to him.

Along with that personal sense of God’s love, she felt intense love and compassion for others.

She no longer feared the ill-will of the town or the disapproval of her husband.

Nor did she care whether it was her husband or another preacher who was more effective in ministry.

The priority was that God should be glorified. If that involved suffering, so be it. His glory was all in all.

She said that she seemed to be lifted above earth and hell, out of the reach of everything here below, so that she could look on all the rage and enmity of men or devils with a kind of holy indifference and an undisturbed tranquillity. At the same time feeling compassion and love for all mankind, and a deep abasement of soul, under a sense of her own unworthiness.

She also felt more perfectly weaned from all things here below than ever before. The whole world, with all its enjoyments and all its troubles seemed to be nothing: — My God was my all, my only portion.

She envisaged the worst scenarios that could possibly befall - but God loved her, so Sarah could trust him. Whatever happened, her response would be “Your will be done” and “Amen, Lord Jesus!”

The reality of Sarah’s “resignation of all to God” would soon be tested as she faced a series of crises: war, poverty, rejection, and multiple bereavements.

War resulted in economic hardship. Parishioners struggled to feed themselves, and the Edwardses’ salary often went unpaid. Sarah had to submit detailed household budgets to the church and engage in every conceivable economy.

A controversial case of church discipline also caused friction. Factions in the church, including some of Jonathan’s own relatives, turned against their pastor. The church eventually dismissed Jonathan in June 1750, leaving the family without financial support.

Yet Jonathan and Sarah remained free of bitterness, shut up to the opinion of all but God.

Later on, a relative admitted that he had spread numerous untrue slanders about them, but they never demanded public vindication.

She described entirely swallowed up in God, as her only portion, and His honor and glory was the object of her supreme desire and delight.

At the same time, feeling an even greater love to the children of God than ever before. She seemed to love them as her own soul; and when she saw them, her heart went out towards them with an inexpressible endearedness and sweetness.

She was able to view them by faith in their risen and glorified state, with spiritual bodies re-fashioned after the image of Christ’s glorious body and arrayed in the beauty of heaven.

Then came sorrow.

Jerusha Edwards, Jonathan’s and Sarah’s second-oldest daughter, died in 1748 at the age of 17. She had offered to care for a visiting missionary, David Brainerd, as he died of tuberculosis, but she too succumbed to the disease. Exceptionally godly, Jerusha had been regarded as the “flower of the family.” But her parents submitted to God’s sovereignty, knowing their daughter was with her Lord.

In 1752, 20-year-old Esther married Aaron Burr, the 36-year-old president of New Jersey College at Princeton.

They soon had two children — the youngest, Aaron Jr., would famously kill Alexander Hamilton in a duel in 1804, while U.S. Vice President — but Aaron Sr. died at just 41 years old in 1757. Jonathan then was invited to

take his place as President of the New Jersey College. He moved down to Princeton ahead of the family.

Soon after taking up the post, in March 1758, Jonathan died after a smallpox vaccination.

While dying, he sent word to Sarah, thanking God for the “uncommon union” that they had enjoyed, and looking to the eternity that lay before them in Christ.

When Sarah received the terrible news of his untimely death, she responded with towering faith:

The Lord has done it: He has made me adore his goodness that we had him [Jonathan] so long. But my God lives and he has my heart.

She soon received further terrible news. Esther had died a few days after her father.

Sarah immediately left her own children and traveled down to Princeton to collect her two orphaned grandchildren.

On the way home, she herself fell critically ill and died on October 2, 1758, at age 48.

Throughout this tragic series of events, and in her final hours, Sarah still could testify,

Neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38–39)

From an early age, Sarah Edwards had delighted in God. That delight was intensified during revival, it endured through suffering, and she died knowing that death would be her entry to unbroken delight in him.

Her delight in God gave her a passion that he be glorified. She knew that God is worthy of the praise of every person on earth (Psalm 148), and she could not bear to think of him not receiving his due:

I felt such a disposition to rejoice in God, that I wished to have the world join me in praising him. I was ready to wonder how the world of mankind could lie and sleep when there was such a God to praise!

Sarah longed for revival, not only in her own life, in her own family, or in Northampton, but throughout the earth.

The Edwardses’ ambitions and prayers went far beyond personal, family, or parochial concerns — they were certain of the ultimate and cosmic triumph of Christ. And so, Jonathan urged all believers to unite in prayer for global evangelization and revival.

As we love God more, and enjoy his love, we too long for him to be honored by all, and for his glory to fill the earth.

We too are to pray and work for revival — in our own experience, our family, our church, our nation, and the world:

Blessed be his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory! Amen and Amen! (Psalm 72:19)

(These are mostly actual excerpts along with my own thoughts compiled from several articles written about Sarah Edwards (1710–1758)

Wife of Jonathan Edwards (1703–1758) by Sam Storms, Sarah James and R.Scott Clark. I wanted to share what stood out most to me about her life)

[purlty23]

blue! just saw your post abt religious rhetoric & the fandom. do you have any specific instances or "takes" you could give us that youve seen? i know for myself peronally i have very little knowledge on religion as a whole, and could always stand to learn something ♡

Hello crow!!! Always a joy to see you in my notifs<3 Tbh, I’m not an expert either! I’ve only very recently in the past few years gained a big appreciation for theology of all sorts. Ghost was a huge part of the motivation for it, too. Most of the reading I’ve done has been though online resources. Here’s my personal library of PDFs! You can find the Satanic Bible, Greater and Lesser Keys of Solomon, and loads more (plus some misc fiction) I would say the biggest thing that I see in fan interpretations of Ghost and Ministry lore is confusing Catholic virtues with Satanic ones. I’m going to disregard a lot of modern Satanism for the sake of the fantasy lore that Ghost has here, since a lot of modern Satanism isn’t actually even related to religious worship of Satan as a figure, but of the values he as a character has held throughout time. Modern Satanism, especially Laveyan Satanism, is more about worship of the self. Ghost is really interesting because it puts Satanism into the same state of popularity as Catholicism in its lore. Imagine if the Vatican was Satan themed instead. That big. However, some people tend to act as if that means it holds the same values or rules as Catholicism, which simply isn’t true. Ghost Satanism falls more into old classical Satanism (devil worship, summoning, magicks, etc etc), which means it likely does ascribe to the biblical story, same as Catholics do but on the opposite side. While Catholics repent and avoid sin, those who follow the religion in Ghost would STRIVE for sin, and encourage those kinds of actions in order to appease Satan and grow chaos, disorder, and ruin throughout humanity. Where Catholicism has made a name for itself through fear, shame, and the threat of exocommunication, the Ministry would likely value confidence, doing what it takes to reach your goals, and the uglier sides of human nature. Classical Satanism is a bloody affair, after all Of course, all of this can differ depending on how you see the plot of Ghost. Does the Ministry value these things, and if they do, do they act on it? Was Sister’s murder of the Papas in line with these values, and if not, are there newer ideas of what’s pious under Copia’s reign? It’s difficult to say, but one thing can be said for sure.

Ghouls would not abide by these values. By any values but their own, likely. Demons and the undead aren’t known for being particularly good at following rules TL;DR: When puritan culture and ways of thinking derived from shame, religiously motivated fear, and doing the ‘right’ thing are placed onto these characters it doesn’t really make sense. It’s important to ask yourself where your thoughts are coming from, especially if you’ve been raised in a highly religious background. (In fact it’s important to ask yourself where ALL thoughts and opinions you have come from in order to fight bias, societal constructs, and ESPECIALLY prejudices against others and against even yourself)

[albertfinch]

March 17, 2024 - Exhortation

Adverse circumstances can be intense, but the love, strength, comfort and encouragement of the Lord surrounds you. This is a deep maturing of faith to partner with Him for greater exploits than could be imagined.

The things that the Lord has spoken to you are going to begin to grow. As you have continued to draw close to the Lord, trials and battles are building your faith, character, and strength to carry and move into more than you have anticipated as you are advancing in His purpose for your life. 

The Lord wants to encourage you -- don't look at what's happening and the stretching right now and despise it, but trust in Him that He has you. He's got you, and He is faithful to accomplish that which He has spoken.

James 1:2-3 - "Count it all joy, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness."

ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY

[usagirln12003]

Nathalie Sancoeur: Hogwarts AU

Nathalie Sancoeur is a Pureblood witch that was born on the 20th of March 1959 and started attending Hogwarts on the 1st of September 1970, being sorted into Ravenclaw House.

She has a Beech wand with a Dragon Heartstring core.

Her Patronus is a Peacock.

Her favorite subject was Transfiguration and her least favorite subject was Defense Against the Dark Arts.

She was one of the Ravenclaw Prefects of her year and later Head-Girl.

Nathalie is a serious and formal woman who works very diligently as Gabriel Agreste's assistant. She has a cold and distant demeanor as she doesn't openly show her emotions around others most of the time. Her will is strong, remaining unfazed even when people of greater authority like Audrey Bourgeois yell at her, knowing the aforementioned couldn't affect her and smiled with satisfaction after the event. Objective, sensible, and understanding, Nathalie can reason with both Gabriel and Adrien whenever they are acting inconsiderately or emotionally, sometimes in relation to each other. While not warm, she can be cordial and polite.

However, in situations where she is dealing with Gabriel, Nathalie becomes nervous, being afraid to disappoint him. Her desire to be on his good side leads her to unfair actions, such as giving Adrien a birthday gift and claiming it is from Gabriel when it is actually from Marinette. Despite this, she doesn't always obey Gabriel's orders or has acted rebelliously, as seen when she let Lila enter with the intention to help Adrien, not knowing she was being manipulated in that moment.

Although she doesn't usually openly show it, Nathalie desires what is best for the Agreste family and often hopes that Gabriel would pass more time with Adrien instead of acting as a villain. However, her concern is limited to the Agreste family only and she doesn't seem to care about the other magic folks' well-being. In fact, Nathalie obeys Gabriel's orders and helps him with his plans with fierce dedication and loyalty, no matter how morally wrong they are, so he could accomplish his goal and thus finish his time as Hawk Moth. She takes sadistic joy in fooling the ministry into thinking they can win.

Even though she has a cool and calm demeanor, Nathalie can lose her temper on occasion and would disregard any detrimental consequences as a result. She can get frustrated by the fact that her boss is failing and even goes as far as letting herself be harmed in order to success, which actually make many plans successful. Despite this, Nathalie admits that the job is sometimes too much.

However like Gabriel, she didn't think things the whole way through, as they both didn't fully understand the consequences of time travel.

Despite initially being extremely loyal to Gabriel, Nathalie is not above to perceive the madness forming in Gabriel's mind. That is showed at the moment he came up with the plan to force Ladybug to take risks so she would make a mistake. However, it is when she realizes that Gabriel's obsession in defeating Ladybug and Cat Noir is far bigger than his wish to heal Émilie and herself that she finally understands his madness and puts a strain on their friendship, refusing to help him any longer. However, despite stopping supporting Gabriel as Monarch, she would still work for him as his secretary and live at the mansion in order to keep Adrien safe.

After learning about Gabriel's cursed arm that was fated to spread and kill him, what would cause Adrien to become alone (as Nathalie was fated to die as well because of a blood-curse), Nathalie comes to a decision to continue to help Gabriel in his plans, even letting him putting her under the Imperius Curse. However, instead of helping him to give him the Resurrection Stone, she would use him to get it herself so she would be the one to bring Émilie back in order to prevent Gabriel from using them to mold the universe into his madness. Failing to do just that, Nathalie decided to spend the rest of the time she had left to enjoy Adrien's company and ensure his future and happiness.

As Nathalie started to dedicate herself fully to Adrien, the very remaining loyalty she still had for Gabriel started to disappear as she saw her boss abusing the control he had on Adrien. This is seen when Gabriel, after realizing Adrien was dating Marinette instead of Kagami, forced his son to stop seeing Marinette. This led Nathalie, after seeing how miserable Adrien was because of the conflict he was feeling about obeying his father and his love for Marinette, to incentivize him to not let anyone tell him who he should love, something that angered Gabriel. Since that moment, Nathalie started to do her best to protect Adrien's happiness from Gabriel's control, something that is slowly turning Gabriel against her as well.

After Gabriel launched his final plan, Nathalie, despite her illness decided to stop him from taking someone else's life away to revive Émilie, knowing she wouldn't have agreed to that. It's been showed that, despite Gabriel healing her, Nathalie was still willing to confront him and stop him, becoming surprised to learn that he had sacrificed his own life for her and yet relieved that, in the end, Gabriel, thanks to Marinette, was able to rekindle with his humanity and do the right thing. However, while assuring Marinette that she was now on her side, she did regret not stopping Gabriel years ago. When she tearily confessed to feeling guilty and heartbroken about the Agreste family to the point where she admitted that she wanted to sacrifice herself, Nathalie comforted her and began making her amends by telling her where the horcruxes where, destroy evidence linking Gabriel to Monarch and inform her about Tomoe Tsurugi's role as his ally, and where Adrien and Kagami were being kept in London. Nathalie was willing to turn herself into the authorities for what she did when she was Hawk Moth's accomplice, showing she's willing to accept the consequences of her actions, but Marinette advised her not to, stating Adrien still needed her to be a mother figure to him, which surprised her but presumably thought of Émilie's words of being there for Adrien to take care of him as a mother.

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

Abide in My Love

9 As the Father has loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. 10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; even as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. 11 These things I have spoken to you that My joy may be in you and that your joy may be made full. 12 This is My commandment, that you love one another even as I have loved you. 13 No one has greater love than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are My friends if you do what I command you. 15 No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all the things which I have heard from My Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you, and I set you that you should go forth and bear fruit and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name, He may give you. 17 These things I command you that you may love one another. — John 15:9-17 | Recovery Version (REC) The Recovery Version of the Holy Bible © 2016 Living Stream Ministry. All rights reserved. Cross References: Proverbs 18:24; Isaiah 50:5; Amos 3:7; Malachi 1:2; Matthew 7:7; Matthew 18:24; Luke 12:4; John 3:29; John 3:35; John 6:70; John 8:26; John 8:29; John 10:11; John 13:34; John 16:24; John 17:23; 2 John 1:5

[diabolicflame93]

Please try to read the Bible. Jesus is not responsible for what wicked people that profess His name are doing. I follow Jesus, not NIFB, Pentecostals, Calvinists etc.

You are the second person on Tumblr to make this argument to me.

I would like to state though that I have thoroughly read the entire Bible as part of my Bible minor in college. I've also been taught and read the Bible from my childhood till my mid twenties. Knowledge of the Bible is not going to solve the problems I see in my past communities and faith groups.

The only witness of Jesus is his followers. And their actions do shape how people react and feel about Christianity as a whole. I'm tired of the excuse that it's just "wicked people." These "wicked people" are professing Christians that need to be held accountable for their actions and abuse of power. I can name numerous abuses that occurred within the faith communities of my childhood. With the entire pastoral and leadership supporting the abuse. This is what Jesus looks like to so many people.

If you want people to respect your faith then work to call out abuse. Instead of promoting abusive teachers on your page. (like Michael Pearl and Lori Alexander). Both of which have encouraged women to stay in abusive marriages and have encouraged martial rape.

No greater joy ministries is also linked to the death of a child. Due to their beliefs and teaching on spanking.

[moreapples]

“Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.” — 1 Corinthians 9:19–23

~~~~~

"All Things to All People"

By Jennifer Kane

To serve the call of Christ, I yield,

Becoming all things, unafraid to bend,

For His love crosses all boundaries, revealed

In every face, each stranger, a friend.

In every culture, hue, and tongue,

God’s love spans ages, far and wide.

With open arms and praises sung,

In Him, our differences abide.

I meet each heart on sacred ground,

Where customs speak and voices rise.

In learning, I am newly found—

A vessel shaped for His surprise.

Where weakness dwells, I join in grace,

Embracing those whose burdens weigh.

Through empathy, I find my place,

In humbleness, Christ leads the way.

This path demands I lay down pride,

And trade my comforts for His call.

Yet joy abounds, deepened, amplified,

In sharing Christ, I find my all.

Oh, blessed work to share the news,

Where souls unite, a family formed.

In bonds of faith, we can’t refuse,

A love by sacred fire warmed.

With tender heart, I strive to be

In step with sorrows, dreams, and fears,

For empathy becomes the key

To join in laughter, dry the tears.

In giving up, I gain much more—

A harvest greater than my own.

For Christ, who walked through Heaven’s door,

Rewards each seed of love I’ve sown.

~~~~~

Paul’s dedication to spreading the gospel shines in his words to the Corinthians. He relinquished personal comforts and even his rights so that others might come to know Jesus. Paul’s ministry was marked by adaptability—not compromise of God’s truth, but a willingness to meet people where they were. When he was with the Jews, he respected their customs; with Gentiles, he adapted to their culture without straying from Christ’s teachings.

This adaptability wasn’t a strategy to fit in; it was an act of sacrificial love. Paul was willing to “become all things to all people” so that he could reach them effectively for Christ. His approach models how we, too, can build relationships across diverse backgrounds and perspectives to share the gospel.

In order to apply Paul’s approach of being “all things to all people” today, we must start by listening first. Listening is often the most effective way to show love and respect. When we truly listen, we see people as individuals and value their unique stories. This makes them more open to hearing the message of Jesus.

We must be kind. Our words and actions should reflect Christ’s love. Even when discussions become heated or we face hostility, kindness can open doors that defensiveness might close. James 1:19–20 reminds us to be “quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger."

We should understand culture without compromising the gospel. Paul knew that sharing the gospel sometimes meant understanding cultural nuances. Like him, we can learn about people’s backgrounds and perspectives to connect on common ground, as long as we stay rooted in God’s truth.

We must acknowledge and confront prejudice. Recognize and surrender any biases we may hold. Paul had to release his own prejudices as a former Pharisee to embrace his mission to the Gentiles. We can pray for humility to lay aside judgmental attitudes and instead show Christ’s love to everyone.

The gospel is a challenging message—it’s offensive to human pride and contradicts the sin nature. But as Christians, our goal is to ensure that it’s only the cross that offends, not our attitudes or behaviors. Our example in the world should be a reflection of Christ’s compassion, as we humbly give up our “rights” and meet people where they are for the sake of the gospel.

Consider someone in your life who might need a gentle, understanding approach to hearing the gospel. Pray for the opportunity to connect with them in a meaningful way, and be willing to listen to their story. Remember that Christ has called us to love others as He does, with grace and compassion.

~~~~~

Lord, help me to become all things to all people for Your glory. Give me the courage to let go of my comforts and preferences so that I can reach others with Your love. May I listen with compassion, act with kindness, and stand firm in Your truth. Teach me to see people as You see them and to meet them where they are, just as You met me.

Grant me the wisdom to understand without judgment, and to speak with words that lift others up and point them toward Your heart. When I am with those who feel lost or rejected, may I offer Your hope; when with those burdened by shame or guilt, let me bring them to Your grace. Guide me to build bridges across divides, and to break down walls of prejudice and pride within me.

Help me surrender my fears, my pride, and my desire for comfort. Instead, let Your Spirit fill me with courage, humility, and love that knows no bounds. Give me the strength to embrace each person I encounter as a child of God, with their own struggles, dreams, and value. May I bear Your light in every situation, making space for Your Spirit to move in the lives of those around me.

Lord, use me as a vessel of Your mercy and truth, and make my heart tender to the needs of those I seek to reach. Let my life be a living example of Your love and grace, drawing others not to myself but to You. For Your glory and the sake of Your gospel, Lord, I give my life into Your hands. In Jesus' name, Amen.

[fundieshaderoom]

Pearls Statement on the Trump Assassination Attempt

[campgender]

on “sacred housework”

from God’s Daughters: Evangelical Women and the Power of Submission by R. Marie Griffith (1997) pp. 181-182

Related to this tactical notion of submission as a means for turning men into happy husbands who then want to please their wives is the notion of what may be termed “sacred housework,” wherein surrendering to one’s ordained tasks is seen as an act of worship that also leads to greater happiness within the home. This idea is frequently articulated in Aglow literature, as in Aglow in the Kitchen, a cookbook for Christian wives. The author of that book writes of being “stunned” when her husband taught her that “cooking and homemaking are ministries to the Lord.”

Recalling the kinds of “homey tasks” that Jesus had performed during his time on earth, she tells of getting the lettuce from the refrigerator, tearing it up for salad, and “talk[ing] to the Lord”: “Jesus, thank You for showing me that housework is sacred. Help me to realize while I am cooking and cleaning that I am doing them for You because You are living here and my husband is Your representative.” In this way, what was once drudgery can apparently be transformed into worship, service, and domestic happiness.

When housework is perceived as sacred, it may also become an important source of self-esteem. As a young housewife and mother whose husband was a traveling evangelist, Betty found herself “very dissatisfied” and “depressed.” Finally, she was healed from her misery when Jesus gave her a “vision” of her “role in the home as a happy wife and mother.” She began to see that if she were happy, her husband and her children would also be happy, a notion that allowed her to begin to see herself as “the ‘hub’ of the wheel,” around which “everything revolves.”

She notes, “I began to see myself as VERY IMPORTANT to the members of my family.” Her concluding words suggest the continuing ambivalence she feels toward this state, along with her hopeful determination to feel good about herself as a housewife: “I know from experience that I will not always be staying at home, but I also know that with God’s help I can have that real contentment WHEREVER I AM.”

Here again the lesson is that surrendering to the roles of housewife and mother brings joy to everyone in the home, most significantly to the submissive woman herself. As Betty tells her readers, women find joy and learn that they are “VERY IMPORTANT” when they simply yield to God’s expectation of them, transforming housework from a source of boredom and depression into a wellspring of joy and self-esteem.

The frequent admissions by Aglow authors that they find such work as cooking and cleaning and running errands mind-numbingly dull show that such a transformation is anything but easy. Still, in their description of submission and surrender as “natural” and in the reminder that other members of the family could not get along without them, the women of Aglow formulate what they perceive as a workable solution to a persistent dilemma, achieving a kind of pride and self-respect in the most mundane and ordinary of tasks.

Once again, for these evangelical women the meanings of submission and surrender represent far more than simple passivity. They are cen- […]

[godslove]

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐢𝐟𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠

The Greek word for those with the spiritual gift of teaching is didaskalos. From the root of this word we get our English word, “didactic.” The word didasko means to teach, instruct, instill doctrine, explain, and expound. Those with the spiritual gift of teaching love to study the Word of God for extended periods of time. They consume the Scriptures as food for their hearts, souls and minds with the expressed purpose of knowing Him and then making Him known to others. They want to know what God has revealed of Himself and what He requires of us as people created in His image. They take great joy and satisfaction in seeing others learn and apply the truth of God’s Word to their lives. They love to see how the Gospel is woven throughout the Scriptures and how it glorifies and magnifies Jesus Christ in the hearts and lives of those who love Him by grace.

The spiritual gift of teaching is one that carries a heavy responsibility in the church. In fact:

³ “My brothers, not many of you should become teachers. You know that we who teach will be judged more strictly than others.”

—James 3:1

Like every believer, teachers are to be stewards of every word that comes out of their mouths. But the greater responsibility to which they are called is to be stewards of the Word of God to His people. Teachers have been entrusted with the task of effectively communicating what the Bible says, what it means, and how we as followers of Jesus Christ are to apply it to our lives here and now.

The Holy Spirit gives certain people the spiritual gift of teaching so that they would help the church fulfill her ministry as “a pillar and buttress of the truth”

¹⁵ “Then, even if I cannot come soon, you will know about the things that people must do in the family of God. That family is the church of the living God, the support and foundation of the truth.”

—1 Timothy 3:15

Without this gift, the church would quickly fall into error and sin. Teachers are there to make sure that doesn’t happen. They hate when Scripture is abused and used out of context or with ill intent. They love the truth and speak the truth in love. They will never hide or withhold it. On the contrary, they desire to follow in the footsteps of Jesus who taught in the synagogues and in the Temple as well as anywhere the people were gathered. They are called to demonstrate God’s love while revealing His truth to the world without fear. The effect of their ministry is the upholding of God’s Word and the growth and maturity of His Bride until the day of His return.

¹¹ “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,”

—Ephesians 4:11

²⁸ And in the church God has given a place first to apostles, second to prophets, and third to teachers. Then God has given a place to those who do miracles, those who have gifts of healing, those who can help others, those who are able to lead, and those who can speak in different languages.”

—1 Corinthians 12:28

⁷ “If one has the gift of serving, he should serve. If one has the gift of teaching, he should teach.”

—Romans 12:7

[walkswithmyfather]

‭Psalms 40:1-3 (NLT‬). [1] I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry. [2] He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along. [3] He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what he has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in the Lord.”

“To Wait Is to Wait. God is always working for our good—even when the answers we want are delayed.” By In Touch Ministries:

“It’s likely we’ve all had the difficult experience of praying for something and wondering how long God would take to respond. We express our desire, pray sincerely, and sometimes get impatient when we don’t get our answer. We might even begin to create a backup plan if it seems He’s taking too long to come through.

Learning how to wait patiently on the Lord is an acquired skill—and an essential one. David, who learned to do so in times of joy, exile, and conflict, wrote in Psalm 40:1 that he “waited patiently” for God. In fact, the Hebrew word qawa is repeated, which gives the verse a literal sense of “to wait, I waited on the Lord.” That repetition also lets us know the writer is stating something important. David recognized that patient stillness helped his faith to grow—a truth he emphasized by writing it twice.

The psalmist was saying that he persevered in prayer and anticipated God’s answer. For us as well, waiting develops perseverance. Then, as Romans 5:3-5 teaches, perseverance will lead to character, and character will bring about hope. If, while waiting, we look to God for wisdom and direction, we will begin to see His work in our life and recognize His goodness. Not only does waiting patiently express our trust in and reliance on God; it also helps us develop greater faith.”

[Photo thanks to Merritt Thomas at Unsplash]

[theprayerfulword]

August 14

Psalm 139:7 The psalmist wrote, “Where can I go from Your spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence?”

Galatians 5:25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.

Romans 4:21 And being fully persuaded that, what He had promised, He was able also to perform.

Isaiah 26:3 You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.

2 Samuel 22:31 As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him.

Psalm 31:19 Oh, how great is Your goodness, which You have laid up for those who fear You, which You have prepared for those who trust in You in the presence of the sons of men!

May you not grieve or weep when you hear the Word of the Lord and understand the meaning of it, but let the joy of the Lord be your strength. Nehemiah 8

May the Lord find your heart faithful to Him Who keeps His promises to you because He is righteous. Nehemiah 9

May you know that all who sow spiritual seed have a right to receive a material harvest, for if even the ox who treads the grain is not to be muzzled, how much more the servant of God should have the hope of receiving liberally from all who hear and benefit from their ministry? 1 Corinthians 9

Be glad in Me, My child, and rejoice in My work today. Acknowledge Me in all your ways, My love, and let My Word be in your mouth, and My praise upon your lips, wherever you go. What greater testimony can you carry with you to others than that of a present and visible joyous hope in Me, for which you can give an account at any time when someone I bring to you questions you on it? Do you recall when I comforted you in your sorrow and affliction, bearing the weight and lightening the load, speaking words of love and encouragement to your heart? Walk in that joy, My loving one, remaining ready and willing to share the reality of it with one who needs to hear what I can bring to their life, sharing My truth in gentleness and respect. Do you remember how you have been reconciled in your relationships, first with the Father above, through My love and sacrifice and then, as you walked with Me, with one after another of the people from your past? Exult in the knowledge that you have been given right-standing with God above, the faithful Judge, and rejoice in His acceptance of you in Me, for you no longer walk in the fear of retribution and punishment, and are free of the burden of guilt. Your face will be radiant and your step will be light as you dwell on this fact; others, still bound, will notice, and some will ask. Do not be reticent, My filled one, but let My love overflow and spill out, in meekness and tenderness. Rejoice in Me, My special one, as I enwrap you in the garments of salvation that I have prepared for you. Do not be bashful, My darling, but boast in what I have done for you, and proclaim My love with trust in your heart and a song in your mouth. There is no witness more effective than this.

May you put your hope in the Lord even as His unfailing love rests upon you. Psalm 33

May you wait in hope for the Lord, Who is your help and your shield, for you trust in His holy name as your heart rejoices in Him. Psalm 33

May you fear the Lord and hope in His unfailing love, for the eyes of the Lord are on you to deliver you from death and keep you alive in famine. Psalm 33