#Praying for mental peace in the midst of turmoil

[maglife17]

Prayer Against Every Spell of Confusion!

“For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints.” 1 Corinthians 14:33 In the name of Jesus, I humbly come before you today, seeking your intervention in my life. I speak against any spell of confusion that may be affecting my thoughts and decisions. Your word assures me in 1 Corinthians 14:33 that you are not a God of confusion but of peace. Thus, I…

[albertfinch]

                                   THE GREATEST PROMISE

 "Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which is translated, "God with us." Matthew 1:23

  God sent the prophet Isaiah to King Ahaz  (see Isaiah chapter 7) to tell him that God would protect them from the army that was coming against them. Scripture goes on to remind us of the Kingdom principle that is necessary to possess the promises of God. It is written, "If you will not believe, surely you shall not be established" (Isaiah 7:9b).

It always comes down to our faith and believing that God is faithful to perform what He said -- doesn't it?  It seems that doubting the love and faithfulness of our Creator is the enemy's strongest scheme through which he tries to confuse and mislead God's faithful followers.

  King Ahaz had a big decision to make, yet we have the same type of difficult decision to make each day, too. Will we trust that God is with us and will protect us as He promised, or will we strive to find a way out of a situation ourselves?

 Suddenly, God does the unthinkable. He commanded Ahaz to ask Him for a sign. This sign that God was offering would encourage him and strengthen his faith. God was offering Ahaz some sort of proof. He could look for this evidence in the depths or in the heavens above. Anyplace he could find it, this sign would convince him of God's ability, love, and faithfulness (see Isaiah 7:11).

 Sadly, Ahaz did not take God up on this most gracious offer.

 What makes this so striking is that Ahaz's name means he has grasped, possessing, or possessor, yet he did not reach out and grasp what God was offering him, a sign to convince him of God's faithfulness.

  GOD SENDS US A SIGN

  God gives us a sign anyway. God is a giver and He gave us Immanuel. A virgin did conceive and brought forth Jesus to save His people from their sins. This is a sign that we can see each and every day and receive the hope we need and the strength for any situation we are in. Hallelujah!

 "And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever – the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you" (John 14:16-17).

 He goes on to tell us in John 17:22, that just as the Father was in the Son while He was here on earth and He was in the Father, this is available for us to possess today. "And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one."

 When Jesus made this remarkable statement He was getting ready to head to the Cross. They would no longer have Immanuel – God with them. However, because He was going to the Father they, we, could have something never before offered man: God in us, just as Jesus did.

  ONENESS WITH GOD IS OURS

  There is a oneness, a unity with God that Jesus is offering us that having God With Us (Immanuel) comes shy of.  The promise we can possess today is having God in us just as Jesus did. We can live, move, and have our entire being in God in the exact same way Jesus did. The same intimate relationship. The same power in prayer. The same spiritual insight, just as Jesus did.

  We often look at the life of Jesus as being something outside our grasp because we are human. It makes sense that He could turn water into wine; He is the Son of God after all. It makes sense that He could love the unlovable, heal the sick, and walk on water. He was God in the flesh dwelling here with us. Because of this mentality, many Believers do not possess the fullness of what is being offered to them today.

  Scripture teaches us in Philippians 2 that Jesus purposely emptied Himself of all Divine privileges when He became Immanuel -- God in the flesh dwelling with us. He didn't have any special privileges as the Son of God that He is not offering us today. By His own admission, He said He didn't do anything in His own power. Jesus said it was His Father, who was in Him, who did all the work.

"Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works" (John 14:10). Just as God was with Jesus, He will be with us... just as.

  IN THE MIDST OF STORMS

  In Matthew 8:23-26, the disciples had Immanuel, God with them, on a boat when a great storm arose. Waves were beating the boat and it was filling up with water. In the midst of turmoil that they could not control they came to Jesus saying, "Lord, save us! We're going to drown!" (Matthew 8:25 NIV). This is something we all can identify with and have felt from time to time as the pressure builds.

 Jesus, on the other hand, handled the storm very differently. He and His Father were one and He slept through it all. The disciples needed to wake Him up. We all want to want to possess the peace that He had in the midst of the storms that face us!  In fact, we would like to speak to the waves and watch them become still -- even  walk on the waves of our storms just as Jesus did, unaffected by the turmoil around us.

 Immanuel said we could, "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father" (John 14:12).

  God has indeed given us a sign: a virgin will conceive and bring forth a Son and call His name Immanuel. And while Immanuel was with us He promised us that He would send the Holy Spirit to dwell in us, just as it was with Him. That's a promise we want to possess this Christmas and beyond. Amen and Amen.

  ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY

http://afministry.ning.com

[trossy20]

POD 4/Memorial Day

I remember a bit, the simplicity and wholesomeness I felt in NC. I had freshly graduated college and was doing what I had set out to do, which was something odd and slightly off course of what was expected of me, but that much closer to ultimately the sort of adventures I wanted to continue doing. I vaguely remember that while I was there, I didn’t feel that I was on a clock (or at least for a little while anyway). I was on a schedule, sure-- but I was on an entirely different pace.

It was me and them; me and that family; me and the goats; me and the sun; me and the customers at the farmers market; me and the humidity me and my imagination as I jogged through the neighborhood- through what looked like settings from the walking dead; me and the night sky; me and that cozy little volunteer bunk; me and that Toyota Camry filled as my home, as I had the goal to move there…

I was 22 then. How can 4 years go by so quickly.... I suppose enough has certainly happened within that time frame. At this point I think back to that person and… well, they don’t necessarily feel like a stranger. No, they just seem young. I think those days in NC have a bit of youthful innocence feel to them because it was the last bit of exactly that, at least in one very big part of who I am.

May I’d say it was denial if I felt more aware of what it was I did feel. My past and my lies caught up to me one day when I was in that Granite Falls yard, pulling jalapenos carefully off their stalks with gloved hands. “Are you Dan?”

(Disclaimer: the following may be a bit alien speak) My heart plummeted to my butt, with it falling all the color from my face I’m sure. I sat back, looked up, closed my eyes and sighed, attempting to achieve a couple things at once. I knew in that moment (with such confidence of knowing it’d be true that it brought me peace) as though it didn’t matter that every single thing else would change: the variables could swirl around me like a hurricane, pulling me in every which way and leaving things mangled beyond the point of recognition... It didn't’ matter. I could wait until they settled. All because I had one thing to grasp. One thing to clutch as everything I ever knew before would change… and that was the certainty I had of knowing it all would change. As I describe it now I think I’m realizing there was peace in knowing that it would happen, because there was peace in my truth finally surfacing. Maybe it was the truth about Dan. Maybe it was the truth about my feelings. Maybe it was MY truth: identity/orientation That there was relief in all the denial, all the facades, finally receding “I wondered when this day would come…”

So nearly 4 years later and I write from the other side of things. I feel older, but still so incredibly young as if I mentally am going through the puberty that HRT sends you through physically. I’m painfully aware that I’m not where I *should be for anyone my age (*should- the societal expectations drawn in conclusion from anyone who is cis/hetero/has not had much emotional turmoil otherwise).

So, a bit late to the game but I here I am: a 26 year old transdude with more joy/love/support in my life than I’ll ever know what to do with. I stand in the midst of transitioning in more ways than one, open and ready as I can ever pretend to be, for what life decides to grant me. I pray to the universe, to take advantage of my blessings, which have lit this heart afire with passion, adventure, curiosity, and a desire to learn-- and put me to work where most needed.

I’ve allowed myself nearly a year now, of [much needed] self indulgence. I think I’m finally beginning to lift my head up and out of my ass again (though of course not entirely. Afterall, this shit’s too much fun :P ).

[echoesintoeternity]

A Perspective & Practice During the Coronavirus

Anyone need some encouragement? How about some peace? How do we maintain inner peace in the midst of outer turmoil?

This is a long-read. I want to help anyone struggling right now - with a perspective & a practice.

A couple of mornings ago, I was studying a commentary on the biblical book of Lamentations. Now don’t let me lose you here, stick with me.

It’s a book that both mourns the fall of the city of Jerusalem and offers reproof, instruction, and hope to its survivors. Lamentations is associated with the word "how" - a characteristic cry of lament or exclamation. 

Isn't this right? "How" is a question we ask. It's circumstantial, looking for answers to a specific situation. 

Truthfully, sometimes there aren't simple or easy answers for specific situations. Thankfully, there are bigger truths we can look to and hold onto - truths that overcome circumstances or situations, regardless of how dark & heavy they may be.

Here's what was happening leading up to the writing of the book of Lamentations (and notice what they invoked):

Jerusalem's defenses were taken down. Uncertainty & fear settled in for its people.

Her allies had been vanquished in battle & any vain attempts of rescue had not been successful.

The cities around them were crushed.

A siege on the city was ever-tightening. The infiltrating armies unraveled the very fabric of society.

The people cried out to any & everything for deliverance.

Paranoia gripped the people until they turned on God Himself.

Their walls of protection were tore down & the city was left in smoldering rubble.

The once-proud city was trampled in dust. Her people had been devastated by a cruel taskmaster.

Tyler, I thought you were aiming at peace & encouragement? Once again, stick with me.

Most scholars point out that the book of Lamentations attempts to show the fulfillment of what was stated in the biblical book of Deuteronomy. In Deuteronomy, heartaches & hardships had been predicted. But God also promised restoration for repentance. Thus, in Lamentations, the author Jeremiah offers hope in the midst of despair.

Currently, a lot of our personal defenses - who & what we look to for security - are being challenged. A lot of the allies we rely on are trying to figure this out just like us. The world around us is being crushed. Society seems to be unraveling. We are looking for any & everything - information, products, distraction, etc - to deliver us at best or settling for numbing at worst. We are anxious, paranoid, and slowly pointing fingers at any and everything we can to make sense of this. The "walls" we've trusted for protection & infrastructure are being left in a smoldering rubble. We feel scared, unprotected, caught off guard, and upset that something like this could happen to us. The plans we hear don't seem to be able to truly & fully protect us & prevent harm. We’re unsettled, unnerved, and on edge. If we’re honest, it is both an interruption & inconvenience to our lives in trivial ways and simultaneously a big-picture epidemic & life-threatening scenario. This confuses us and we don’t know quite how we’re supposed to feel. No one seems to be responding to this particularly well. We feel trampled in dust, being devastated by a cruel taskmaster. Day after day, we echo “My God…”, for a difference reason...and at a deeper level.

I'm not here to offer you an extensive look into answering the questions of "how" or "why". Only God knows these intricacies. But there is a big-picture question that aims at our current state of mind, but goes beyond just today's circumstance - “What now?”. Let me point you to the one thing bigger than this present circumstance - God Himself, and specifically, God’s truths. If you desire internal peace regardless of external circumstance, if you need hope in the midst of despair, if you need good news today - we must turn to God. Any & everything else we look to, even good things, will fail us ultimately.

Listen to this commentary on the book of Lamentations & let this encourage you:

At the climax of Lamentations, God’s covenant faithfulness is affirmed and celebrated. “The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases” (3:22). God “will have compassion according to the abundance of his steadfast love” (3:32).

Just as pain is a global and ever-present experience, however, so too is God’s mercy for those who trust him through Christ. Although it recounts suffering as bluntly and awfully as anywhere in the Bible, the high point of Lamentations is its spelling out of a steady trust that “the LORD is good to those who wait for him” (3:25), for “the steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end” (3:22). As surely as judgment awaits the faithless, mercy awaits the faithful—those who look to God, waiting on him, trusting in his Son, and yielding themselves to him.

Here is the greatest hope of all: God’s unfailing, unstoppable mercy toward his beloved people. The Lord himself sovereignly oversees all that his children go through, yet “he does not afflict from his heart or grieve the children of men” (3:33). “For the Lord will not cast off forever, but, though he cause grief, he will have compassion according to the abundance of his steadfast love” (3:31-32).

God draws near to his suffering saints. Indeed, in Jesus Christ, God has drawn closer to us than could have been imagined—he has become one of us, sharing in all that we suffer in this fallen world (Heb. 2:14-18; 4:14-16). Remembering him and his cross, and the glory into which he entered and into which we too shall enter (Rom 8:17), we trustingly submit to him and his fatherly governance of our lives and the lives of our brothers and sisters around the world today.

This sums up an empowering perspective to guide us through everyday life. But what about some things we can do practically, things we can practice? I’m shifting gears a bit, but I feel it is extremely important to have practical practices to live out the perspective you’ve just been armed with.

I hope these points help you and give you a strategic focus during this season. Please note, do not zoom past these points just because they seem so obvious or cliche. It’s not if you agree that they are true, but are you actually doing them?

Read the Bible. It’s important to set your mind on the things that will contribute to a right mindset & perspective. That does not happen passively or by accident.

Create quiet time to pray & meditate. There’s going to be a lot of “noise” in the next couple of months. Make sure your soul is at rest, you are bringing your fears, concerns, requests to God, and take time to listen to His response.

Journal. If you’re anything like me, your mind can be an overwhelming place. I have to take a proactive approach in sifting through it, collecting my thoughts, and cleansing it. If I don’t, it ends up an overgrown garden, a vicious cycle of more stress. Every day I take 5-10 minutes to answer questions like “3 things I’m grateful for (in the morning & afternoon), one big focus for the day, 3 big things I need to accomplish, lessons learned & opportunities to improve, if I owe anyone amends or need to forgive anyone, wins, patterns, affirmations & reminders. Try it out.

Connect with your family. Have you ever wondered in what ways the most important things in life could have been simpler way back when? This season is an opportunity. Do not get sucked into everything else when a primary opportunity is right in front of you. Spend quality time with your family.

Stay physically fit. Not focusing on this for months can lead to mental, emotional, & physical atrophy. There’s something to be said about the science behind getting the bad stuff out of your system. Don’t let it just sit & accumulate. That’s not going to be fun for your state or others around you. Stay active & eat as well as possible. You may be doomsday grocery shopping and stocking up. Your doomsday may be putting on 20+ lbs the next couple of months. Even if it’s from home, do workouts - look some up if you need to. Walk together as a family.

Keep an inventory of your intake. Yes, it’s a nice opportunity to catch up on your favorite show. Yes, you may have more time to check out social media. Just make sure your intake is balanced. If you go full entertainment, well, see above for my thoughts on junk accumulating in your system.

Connect with healthy relationships, even if it’s via technology. Don’t let hunkering down lead to loneliness, isolation, and depression. You need relationships, maybe now more than ever. Get creative in this.

Don’t neglect your responsibilities. The state of your environment influences your mood. Yes, those stacking dishes can create some anxiety for you or others.

Be wise, taking into account the recommendations of health professionals.

Serve others. Is there anything you can do to help the world or your key relationships right now? Sometimes the best medicine is offering some to someone else!

Listen to the Holy Spirit. Keep all of the general guidelines & recommendations in mind. And be led by the Holy Spirit. He is a personal relationship, living inside of you - your counselor, your helper.

Turn back to God. For your inner state, regardless of outer circumstances. Be wise. Get ahead of this. Have a plan. Connect. Ask for help. 

Love you guys & I’m praying for you.

[adventk-blog]

                                             — ARE YOU WHO YOU WANT TO BE,

       introducing NAKAMOTO YUTA, a MUTANT, under the moniker of TAIYO — and currently a believer of SEPARATION. age ( twenty-three ) and gifted with the ability of SOLAR MANIPULATION, they are currently working as a WOODBLOCK PRINTER.

WE ARE SO MUCH MORE THAN STORIES,

a modest village sits atop on the outskirts of shimokawa island, an islet sheltered away from a blanket of forestry. offering little sight to a green canopy from above, the island is lush with vegetation. shimokawa is home to an estimated two thousand inhabitants, resting south off the sea of japan. it’s known best for its rich topography and volcanic craters, despite that the island and its residents live in unperturbed isolation.

shimokawa is a sacred haven, been blemished through and through with misconceptions produced by outsiders; those who live amongst the camouflaged gene-capable. they are dubbed as mavericks and unearthly bodies, given the negative connotations as indigenous shamans. technological advances are still in delay, as the civilians and locals residing in shimokawa live with simplicity surrounded by rural landscapes. modernism goes disturbed, left suspended. answering the unconscious digital machine was a taboo. the village of shimokawa has lived in peace for centuries, having marked their last date of civil war in the 18th century.

the waters of the river from where you were born moves with the wisteria trees. mothers scold their children as they’ve waded in the water for far too long, and their newly tailored yukata is ruined. they wade a languid sway during august, carrying themselves a faded radiance of violet. they drift onwards, towards the sea of the east, to the ends of the earth. they continue on with no beginning until no end. there aren’t any existing routes, no signs of prevailing danger as you thread forward and bring yourself to the heart of the indigo forest that stands alone. there is a fragrance that is home to the evening, feathering into the air. the temple bells slowly begin to die into the crying of the cicadas. the air during the late summer is a gentle mist, a calming aroma. beneath the sun’s red eye are the lanterns; brightly lit, scattered by the feet of geta-attired townspeople.

august 30th: the dawning of your festive celebration. the people come clad in vibrant, traditional wear. along with them is their happiness carried in spirit from a long day’s work from humidity. as the day retires into the night, so do the buzzing of the fireflies. the swarming heat of joy wraps around your head when you unbundle the gigantic water-lilies to let free onto the dancing river from where you were born, thirteen years ago.

then, it was decided by a higher deity that the young boy will soon become the wielder of the sun.

“for as long as the earth has been on orbit, the gene is what separates us from common folk. the privilege of your birth brings upon the burdens of generations before you. your slain descendants of air, fire, lightning, ice, light, precognition, and darkness have given you a greater gift, a greater ambition to preserve the sun,” said your mentor, an acknowledged, and elder priest. his face is long and dark, as his hands were gnarled with battles told in storytelling. he stood an overwhelming one hundred and eighty-five, though a centered and wise man he was. he bathes you with cold water in a wooden bathhouse, as you conserve all the warmth that your body’s temperature provides you. the mentor sings a low hum of a time-honored melody as he combs through the toughened knots in your hair. he rests a steady hand onto your shuddering shoulders in relaxation for the trance-like state you experienced.

he washes you clean until your week’s worth of purification ceases. but for so long, have you fought to avoid cold water bathsㅡ and yet, you’ve been running from your duties as the nakamoto manor’s tenth seat junior officer. your father and your great grandfather have always noted you of your appearance. that, perhaps, your charms are kindㅡ the only son of the nakamoto clan, so optimistic and full of vitality. though there is a boundary, that all that is left is a roaring temperㅡ a child with a head too strong to sit on his shoulders. nothing made your blood boil more than the pride that ran behind conviction of conventionality.

your days are spent under the weighted circumstances of rituals: regular purifying, washings with cold water, the importance of abstinence, the practice of adhering to the beginnings of your abilities. the best hours during the day was kept observing the interdiction of life, death, rebirth, illness, spirituality, tradition and blood. sitting among the other boys from well-respected manors, you enjoyed playing endurance games. you count the raised wounds from weeks old worth of floggings on your stomach and legs with the sons of other clans of bone and earth before supper. you strayed from discipline as a child, and the amount of trouble you encouraged cost you physical punishment.

the third day out of the week was always your favorite. after lunch was held, the main training hall was open for hand-to-hand and blade combat instruction. you came prepared. standing at one-seventy-three centimeters tall, sixteen going on seventeen, growing out of last season’s hakama. you’ve always envied the prestigious nomiya nagiko, daughter of a neighboring blacksmith who pushed his gratification on his children blessed with evolution. although you were two years her senior, she always had the first hand at swordsmanship. may she rest easy.

you studied the science following your training with shimazaki and solar energy. your ability to let your selfishness overrun during physical training leaves you with an overheated burn between your eyes. you practice alone into the night, so much that the bottom of your heels is worn, calloused. and at the roots of where the strange flowers lie writhing in the soil, awakens your motivation. it was night from when you remembered, already grown solemn from early years spent in devotion to becoming the village’s next clan officer. authority and rule became very important to you.

the world is a sort of barren wasteland. the land of which that sits abandoned, an empty void. overgrown with dead weeds, almost, as the heart of the town is no more. you enter this territory, unwarned and ungoverned, but will proceed to live under the expectations with the blessings of those in your descent. then, will your temperament change for the better as you age and gather prudence from the men of your elders.

during the silence in december, it was nighttime when the village was up in flames. you remembered it to be a cold evening, the shrine blanketed in snow, and all at once, the moon arose through the thick haze of the fallen village. the snow continued to hail; falling, falling, and having been cascading, became the spilling of blood. you bite back down on your pride that was steadily flourishing; slowly establishing yourself anew. your honor cannot be broken, you yearned to protect the village and all who coexist. however, with your prioress, you fled to a safe sanctuary of the air manipulating sisters in the north. the men and young priests and priestesses defend what little was left of their homes and families. you witnessed that the end was approachingㅡ weary that the end, might’ve been near. the declaration of war is here adopted by long lost brothers who have claimed their vengeance, resentful and weak, no longer with the protection of their superiors. the enemies come with their mortal lives and industrialized weapons of gun and steel. their stances are tall and they move sharp across the fields, now turning into a late, darkened maroon.

though the boy was still young; nakamoto yuta was still in his juvenile years. he was still on the path to becoming a man of the sun as his life had been dedicated from the first summer. with your brothers and sisters, all of congregating manors, do you all gather in the cramped understructure beneath the shaken earth. your elders lie on the war-torn soil to pray, to sing your hymns silently in the midst of fear lurking in the back of your mind.

to gather and be as one during a time of broken warfare, arising from ashes comes a new generation. that even now, there are mental, if not physical scars left behind in conflict against the mortals and your ownㅡ the shamans, priest, and priestess, or commonly known as witches and warlocks.

and yet, you still walk the earth with full potential.

THERE IS FLESH AND BLOOD BEHIND THESE TALES,

dynamic isn’t a word that you strongly identify with, regarding your inner framework. knowing yourself and your future, your personality may thread between smug and overweening, which tends to be confused hand in hand with confidence.

short-tempered, impulsive, and outspoken; the qualities that are all too familiar has gotten you into trouble, though contrary to belief, has also kept you alive. you wear your heart on your sleeve as a person who falls disquieted after a series of defeat, or psychological turmoil. you know yourself to be very emotional, even despite the headstrong facade that you’ve created over the years of growing into your age. when challenged with a threatening conflict, you become determined, and wholeheartedly welcome the confrontation to your will. a stubborn man you are and always were, for that you will die with faith according to your beliefs. most often than not, you stand as a person of your word, yet you do not actively make promises that you cannot fulfill.

spirituality cannot be pretended, it’s a way of living. the dawning of your birth pays a great amount to your lifestyle, philosophy, and approach to life. although you boast about conventionality, a part of you wallows in tradition. you love without expecting love to be returned, you don’t adjust yourself to embody an idea that people approve as exceptional, and your shrewdness comes from personal experiences. you are comfortable with your strengths and weaknesses. thus, your desire to learn from those with more expertise prepares you to be a lifelong learner.

AND EVEN MONSTERS CAN LEARN TO WEEP.

solar manipulation (also known as heliokinesis), is the manipulation of the sun. the sun is regarded as the heart of the solar system, as the wielder holds extensive control of its force. some of these said skills can allow the mutant to generate, form, and maneuver most of the sun’s properties. part of the sun’s facets includes organic nuclear energy, heat, illumination, mass or gravitational fields, and magnetic fields.

          APPLICATIONS : solar constructs: solar energy can be used to create objects, varying from weapons to more practical structures such as buildings.

solar attacks: energy from the sun can be implemented as projectile attacks, and the intensity of these can be released to the mutant’s liking.

solar manipulation: the practice of bending the sun’s energy to create, shape, and manipulate.            LIMITATIONS : the mutant is not immune to physical damage from the sun’s rays or energy, and can be well suspected to skin diseases, eye-related complications and/or heat-related injuries.

mental stability is highly looked upon when putting various abilities to use. precision, distance, mass, and volume are determined by the mutant’s knowledge and must be rightfully measured when doing so.

self-imposed exhaustion/drain (including dehydration, overheating of one’s body, sporadic blindness, etc) can result from consequences such as using too much energy over time or all at once.

constructs (all objects including weapons) created by the sun’s energy can slowly deteriorate if the mutant is injured and/or declining into mental/physical fatigue. the result will leave the user with ultimately no control if fallen unconscious.

the mutant’s abilities are rendered useless against an opponent gifted with lunar manipulation.

all attacks/constructs/generations and manipulations are derived from the sun, therefore, the intensity is prone to be stronger during daylight. despite that the sun is still active at night in different parts of the world, the sun itself is not directly present in the proximity of the mutant’s location. hence, the potency of the ability weakens greatly.

THREAT LEVEL TWO.                           01+ BRWN, 03+ RSLNC, 03+ INTLCT, 05+ WLLPWR, 09+ FGHTNG, 03+ SPD

[elainec358]

I pray for healing... All I can say.

I am praying for healing. 

I am thankful for having spent my early childhood years without digital screens or computers. I think this has helped me value life in a way that isn’t so reliant on instant gratification through a computer screen. I am so thankful for that time reading physical books and away from reliance on electronic devices. There was a time when CD players were the best way to listen to music... haha. Life was simplistic and I spent lots of days outside with nature, being amazed by ants on the pavement and tree sap. Being able to do arts and crafts & gardening plants as a kid are some of the things that I wouldn’t want to let go of. Stuff to keep us grounded on Earth and to remind us that we’re not machines. 

There is a lot of brokenness in this world though. One question I have: Did computer technology change our brains? Did our brain structure change in the midst of all these sins, vices, environmental toxins/pollutants (carcinogens, obesogens, etc.)? Sometimes I feel like society is regressing rather than progressing after all of this time. We’ve seen many people with mental health problems and an imbalance on how to properly maintain digital mental health. Some people go on extreme lengths and post obscene & disturbing things online to make a statement. In the case of the gambling addict who murdered an innocent person on Easter Sunday and posted it online for people to view, this is particularly disturbing. So many people are sick emotionally and physically. There are people who have unhealthy addictions to drug abuse, gambling, internet use, sex, alcohol & nicotine... and the list goes on. So much turmoil and brokenness from sinful nature at the individual level and the societal level when people turn away from God. These are disheartening realities.   

Where are we going right now?  I am not sure, but I know that God will be with us throughout the journey to provide hope during trials & tragedy. I hope that more people will be filled with the Holy Spirit and act as lights in this dark world. Bring peace, protection and healing in the dark times. I hope that we can save our planet from destruction. What can we do to improve the future? Spread genuine love and healing to souls. Help people regain that balance and equilibrium to life well at the fullest potential. 

~E.

Matthew 11: 28-30

 28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

[indurarinks]

the mardi gras conundrum

( 2. )

The boisterous city surrounded them, nearly drowning them in constant festive cheer but only silence accompanied Bonnie and her mysterious escort. Only their steps on the pavement signaled their temporary alliance despite its rocky, unorthodox start. But was there anything orthodox about Bonnie Bennett? The earlier mention of Damon brought chaos into her heart. In return, like a vicious slap, her mind forced her to revisit an ancient, long buried memory. In the thick of the forest surrounding Mystic Falls, there was a small, magical place. Forsaken by all. Except them. Together, they named it their meadow. Their secret, hiding place. A place to escape the madness that danced in their world, even for just a little while. The memory on itself was not a particularly pleasant one yet she still found herself to be quite fond of it. She called it their perfect, final farewell. In desperate need for some peace and quiet, a moment in time to let her thoughts wander and, quite frankly, torment her, she had practically raced toward their spot. Drops of sweat formed a line along her hairline, her breath labored from the exertion. Quickly making a mental note to work out more often, her legs gave out beneath her weight. The bruises on her knees were superficial compared to the ones found on her heart. Brutal silence greeted her and she welcomed it for a change. Lying on her side, her fingers played with stems of grass, and her thoughts ran wild. In the midst of her reverie, she failed to notice his arrival. “What are you doing here?” Her tone gentle, charged with emotional turmoil. He said nothing. Instead, he took a seat beside her and stared at her like he had done a million times before. She brought herself into a sitting position, and her head tilted. The strange light she found in his gaze rose the hairs of her arms in alarm. She grew uncomfortable as the silence stretched. And she hated the sensation. With him, silence had always been peaceful, warm. But everything had changed. His fingers twitched as if he was at war with himself. The struggle in him unleashed chaos in her soul, and her heart's wounds reopened. Stitches weakened under the strain of her love. She bled in silence but dared to do what he did not. Trembling fingers reached for his cheek but a moment of hesitation stilled her fingers. He took her by surprise when his own gripped hers in soothing tenderness and brought them to the side of his face. If she lived a thousand lifetimes, she would never forget the longing wreaking havoc across his chiseled features. The memory imprinted itself on her soul with no expiration date. Then, he let her go. His fingers dropped hers, the emptiness left slapping her. Hard. He rose to his height again, ready to bolt. She wasted not a single breath to follow after him. “Damon! Wait.” She pleaded. “What do you want from me, Bon?” His voice thick with emotion. “I— I. . . Forget it.” She shook her head and turned his back to him, ready to leave. Pieces of her heart tumbled to the ground on her departure. Suddenly, a pair of arms caught her. Halting her rushed exit and opening the gates to humiliation. “Bonnie Bennett, you do not walk away like this. You're the brave one between you and I.” His forehead touched hers intimately. And again, she shook her head. “We can't do this, Damon.” “I know. I... I just needed to see you today.” Her breath fondled his lips as hers parted and her head nodded in understanding. “You. . . be happy. Okay?” The sincerity in her broken voice nearly brought him to his knees. “And, I know one of these days, you won't remember me anymore but I always will. I'll carry you in my heart with nothing but tenderness and respect.” He started to contradict her with a shake of his head. “Your stubbornness still drives me mad, woman. I could never forget you, Bonnie Bennett. You're an amazing person, wonderful friend and one hell of a woman.” Her fingers caressed his cheek. “Thank you. For lying to me in merciful fashion.” “I'm not.” “Then I guess this is just another thing we add to the pile of things we could never agree on.” One of his infamous smirks took over his lips for brief heartbeats until the expression grew serious once more. Then, he unknowingly glued some lost pieces of her back to their original place when he dipped her head and brought his lips to her forehead for an innocent kiss of goodbye. He was gone before she had time to reopen her eyes. “Bonnie? Bonnie? You still with me?” The foreign accent in Kyrian's voice catapulted her back to reality, far far away from the fields of memories. For an entire heartbeat, her feet refused to advance as she centered herself, holding onto any and everything she could that belonged to the present. The past was a mere passage, the place we used to be before experience and wisdom. And her journey had never been an easy one yet on the way, she did find moments of blissful peace. The recollection of those dreamy-like memories strengthened her heart, rebuilt her defenses and offered her renewed purpose. She never faltered in her path. Ink dark hair bounced bewitchingly as she shook her head, gathering her thoughts and words. “I'm sorry. I got caught up in a moment back there. Something about this city...” With an odd light to those fathomless midnight eyes, his gaze penetrating, a myriad of emotions danced across his features before he too shook his head as if he had just walked through a similar hell. The echoes of grief remained etched to his face. “Your love is admirable, Bonnie.” Stupid bewilderment stole the light in her features, darkening her expression. How did he. . . “Excuse me?” He never replied. Pressing his hand to the lower of her back, he prompted her forward before whispering, “We're here.” More disturbed than ever, Bonnie glanced between the stranger who called himself Kyrian (no last name) and the dully-lit entrance of a bar/restaurant with a sign that read ' Sanctuary ' and a moonlit hill and a motorcycle in the background. In smaller letters, she read ' Home of the Howlers '. Curious to learn more about this place as her senses reeled with the suffocating presence of different species of preternatural creatures, Bonnie followed Kyrian's lead as he greeted the man standing guard at the main entrance. The blonde, exceptionally gorgeous man dazzled her with a crooked smile she was sure had charmed many women's panties to the floor. “Evenin', Dark Hunter. Acheron's already inside waiting. He asked me to ask you to meet him in the soundproof room.” Then his gaze landed on Bonnie. “And who might you be, beautiful? A goddess from a foreign pantheon stranded in New Orleans?” At first, Bonnie's innocence had her believe it was just an elaborate mean to flirt with her but then, one quick glance into the bar later, reality kicked into gear. His question hadn't been a metaphor. Kyrian, in all his 6'5 glory of absolute strength and charisma, proceeded with the introductions. “Dev, this is Bonnie Bennett. And she's a child of Hecate, a witch. And a powerful one at that. You best remember that.” Then, he turned to Bonnie with a killer grin. “Bonnie, this huge mountain of a bear,” he paused to chuckle at something she couldn't comprehend as she remained in the dark in all things of this side of the supernatural world, “is Dev Peltier. The Peltiers own this place.” The confusion painted on Bonnie's face gave motive to the two males to burst out laughing at her expense. Big mistake. Bonnie Bennett was an easy witch to anger. Soon enough, they were both frantically slapping themselves to extinguish the flames that rose from thin air on their clothes. “I like her already. She's going to fit in just perfectly in our crazy, demented family.” Dev lifted her hand to his lips to offer her a chivalrous kiss to her fingers. “It's a pleasure, ma chère.” “I'm still deciding but I'll get back to you.” The tiniest grin playing at the edges of her lips betrayed the coldness in her words. One step into the bar had Bonnie hesitating for a second. For some ungodly reason, she could not shake the feeling that the next steps would belong to the beginning of a new chapter of her life. Ever fearless in nature, determination painted itself on her face like war paint before following after Kyrian to the upper floor where they were supposed to meet with this feared, highly respected leader. Once at the top of the stairs, Kyrian paused to admire Bonnie walk through the crowd. No. Not walk, he quickly decided. Glide. She glided with unparalleled grace that even the goddesses lacked. And for a single fraction of time, his missing soul screamed out in agony as it remained tucked away in the hands of the goddess who owned him. Two thousand years of blind solitude were taking its toll on him, his mind, his heart. And the soul that no longer inhabited his body. She commanded attention from every patron, even those who refused to be noticed themselves. A whisperer of souls, she bewitched them all. The tragedy of it all translated in her naïveté; she couldn't even imagine the effect of her own presence. There was peaceful hope radiating off of her that just mesmerized those brave enough to come near her. She was sunlight, exotic beauty and warmth. Fierce loyalty, and raw kindness bled from her. In all his years of existence, he swore he had never come across a woman like her. She stood in a category reserved solely for her. Only a few could ever dream of reaching it. He nearly fell on his knees as a supplicant to a goddess, praying for absolution, when she finally approached him with disarming smile on her Cupid bow shaped lips. The flames of Tartarus chanted his name as he lost the inner battle of wills and his fingers reached for hers. The deep longing to feel the softness of her skin against his slayed his proud stubbornness. Gently drawing her into the quiet, more reclusive corner of the Sanctuary, he ventured into a hallway and opened a door on their right before robbing her of breath as those midnight skies bore into her. Her throat parched, she found it impossible to deliver any words. Her treacherous mind wasn't operating properly anyway, she would only embarrass herself when she stumbled in her words. At last, dread coiled in the pit of her stomach. She wasn't sure what to expect on the other side of the door until Kyrian pushed it open to reveal. . . A horde of incredibly handsome men, all dressed in black and sporting a 'don't fuck with me' attitude. What in the Hades? Bonnie looked over her shoulder to see Kyrian there, a smirk dancing at the edges of his lips. He was enjoying this. The bastard! They all grew quiet as she entered the room. Bonnie never felt so out of her element until this moment. Dumbfounded, her eyes glanced between every individual, expecting to wake up at any moment now. When a minute stretched into a few, she decided this was probably real. Kyrian prompted her forward. Her heart raced, uncertain of how to tread in these unknown waters as every pair of eyes studied her as if expecting her to hold the knowledge of some mystery they needed solved. One of them stepped forward with something akin to controlled fury bleeding from him. The opaque sunglasses kept his gaze hidden from her. Waves of shock shook her all the way to her foundation as she took notice of his young age. He couldn't be older than twenty. The poster child for the Goth movement, the man exuded sensuality from every pore, he commanded respect and dared anyone to cross him with the promise of eternal torment. Abnormally tall, with dark purple hair semi-tamed in a ponytail, he had the gait of skilled predator, ready to pounce if necessary. This was one scary creature.

“Bonnie, welcome to New Orleans. Acheron Parthenopaeus.” She nearly gasped when the thunderous voice of his, thick with an ancient accent, slapped her. “That's Talon of the Morrigantes, Julian of Macedonia and Wulf Trygvassen.” The three men inclined their collective heads at her in formal greeting. She fumbled with her rings, suspicious of her role in this meeting. Why would any of them need a female in the midst of an impenetrable wall of testosterone? An angry growl rumbled, unexpectedly. Followed by a curse so foul, she cringed. This time, a gasp escaped her, and her feet brought her a few steps backwards. A firm but impressively gentle grip forced her to a stop and the green of her eyes collided with her own reflection upon the surface of those damned sunglasses. Lifting her wrists, badly bruised from her earlier attempt to escape her temporary imprisonment, Acheron pointed at them as if offended. “I thought I had told you she was to be brought here on her own terms, Commander.” In return, Kyrian brought his arms upwards in initial surrender until his temper flared and scorched all common sense. “Come on, Ash! You knew better than that. All it took me was two seconds in her mind to know she would never come here willingly. That's why you sent me, damn you! Don't think I don't regret doing... that. Stupid mistake, I fucking know it. You don't have to slap my ass, boss.” With that angry tirade, he vacated the room with furious steps. She almost followed him. “He's right, you know? I'm the first to admit his methods were a bit archaic but I wouldn't have come otherwise. This...” Her gaze fell on the bruises left by the merciless bite of shackles. “This is my fault. I don't do well in cages. And something tells me you understand that better than you let on.” A contrite expression fell on Acheron's features. What happened to this man? She couldn't put her finger on it but something about him pulled the strings of her heart in sympathy for his pain and everything he hid from the world behind those dark sunglasses. A familiar warmth spread from her wrists to her arms and rest of the body while his thumbs rubbed the marred flesh. It didn't take him more than two seconds, this walking enigma of a creature unleashed a mere sliver of raw power to return her skin back to its original shade, healing it completely. Unsure of what it meant, Bonnie decided to pull the plug to this ongoing mysterious meeting. She wanted answers and she was going to get them no matter what. If there was one thing she hated more than lies, it was being thrown into a situation she had no knowledge about. And she absolutely despised feeling so lost and disoriented. “Alright. Time's up. Who are you? And why was I brought here? You have one minute before I leave. I suggest you use your time well.”

[albertfinch]

            THE GREATEST PROMISE

"Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which is translated, "God with us." Matthew 1:23

God sent the prophet Isaiah to King Ahaz  (see Isaiah chapter 7) to tell him that God would protect them from the army that was coming against them. Scripture goes on to remind us of the Kingdom principle that is necessary to possess the promises of God. It is written, "If you will not believe, surely you shall not be established" (Isaiah 7:9b). It always comes down to our faith and believing that God is faithful to perform what He said -- doesn't it?  It seems that doubting the love and faithfulness of our Creator is the enemy's strongest scheme through which he tries to confuse and mislead God's faithful followers.

King Ahaz had a big decision to make, yet we have the same type of difficult decision to make each day, too. Will we trust that God is with us and will protect us as He promised, or will we strive to find a way out of a situation ourselves?

Suddenly, God does the unthinkable. He commanded Ahaz to ask Him for a sign. This sign that God was offering would encourage him and strengthen his faith. God was offering Ahaz some sort of proof. He could look for this evidence in the depths or in the heavens above. Anyplace he could find it, this sign would convince him of God's ability, love, and faithfulness (see Isaiah 7:11).

Sadly, Ahaz did not take God up on this most gracious offer.

What makes this so striking is that Ahaz's name means he has grasped, possessing, or possessor, yet he did not reach out and grasp what God was offering him, a sign to convince him of God's faithfulness.

GOD SENDS US A SIGN

God gives us a sign anyway. God is a giver and He gave us Immanuel. A virgin did conceive and brought forth Jesus to save His people from their sins. This is a sign that we can see each and every day and receive the hope we need and the strength for any situation we are in. Hallelujah!

"And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever – the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you" (John 14:16-17).

He goes on to tell us in John 17:22, that just as the Father was in the Son while He was here on earth and He was in the Father, this is available for us to possess today. "And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one."

When Jesus made this remarkable statement He was getting ready to head to the Cross. They would no longer have Immanuel – God with them. However, because He was going to the Father they, we, could have something never before offered man: God in us, just as Jesus did.

ONENESS WITH GOD IS OURS

There is a oneness, a unity with God that Jesus is offering us that having God With Us (Immanuel) comes shy of.  The promise we can possess today is having God in us just as Jesus did. We can live, move, and have our entire being in God in the exact same way Jesus did. The same intimate relationship. The same power in prayer. The same spiritual insight, just as Jesus did.

We often look at the life of Jesus as being something outside our grasp because we are human. It makes sense that He could turn water into wine; He is the Son of God after all. It makes sense that He could love the unlovable, heal the sick, and walk on water...He was God in the flesh dwelling here with us. Because of this mentality, many Believers do not possess the fullness of what is being offered to them today.

Scripture teaches us in Philippians 2 that Jesus purposely emptied Himself of all Divine privileges when He became Immanuel -- God in the flesh dwelling with us. He didn't have any special privileges as the Son of God that He is not offering us today. By His own admission, He said He didn't do anything in His own power. Jesus said it was His Father, who was in Him, who did all the work. "Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works" (John 14:10). Just as God was with Jesus, He will be with us... just as.

IN THE MIDST OF STORMS

In Matthew 8:23-26, the disciples had Immanuel, God with them, on a boat when a great storm arose. Waves were beating the boat and it was filling up with water. In the midst of turmoil that they could not control they came to Jesus saying, "Lord, save us! We're going to drown!" (Matthew 8:25 NIV). This is something we all can identify with and have felt from time to time as the pressure builds.

Jesus, on the other hand, handled the storm very differently. He and His Father were one and He slept through it all. The disciples needed to wake Him up. We all want to want to possess the peace that He had in the midst of the storms that face us! In fact,  We would like to speak to the waves and watch them become still -- even  walk on the waves of our storms just as Jesus did, unaffected by the turmoil around us.

Immanuel said we could, "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father" (John 14:12).

God has indeed given us a sign: a virgin will conceive and bring forth a Son and call His name Immanuel. And while Immanuel was with us He promised us that He would send the Holy Spirit to dwell in us, just as it was with Him. That's a promise we want to possess this Christmas and beyond. Amen and Amen.

ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY http://afministry.ning.com