#To my Lord and savior Earth Wind and fire
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June 6
Luke 19:10 the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.
Colossians 1:16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.
1 Corinthians 1:27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty;
Zephaniah 3:17 The Lord your God is in the midst of you, a Mighty One, a Savior [Who saves]! He will rejoice over you with joy; He will rest [in silent satisfaction] and in His love He will be silent and make no mention [of past sins, or even recall them]; He will exult over you with singing.
Hebrews 12:28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.
Romans 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death.
May you be certain that the Word of God will come to pass and His promises to you will be realized, regardless of circumstances or the actions of others, just as David promised that Solomon would reign even though his brother, Adonijah, crowned himself with the backing of the army and the priesthood. 1 Kings 1
May the Lord hear your prayer as you seek Him and, considering the threats you face, enable you to speak the Word of God boldly by filling you with the Holy Spirit and confirming His Word as you speak it with healings and miraculous signs and wonders through the name of Jesus Christ. Acts 4
May you be one in heart and mind with other believers and lay no claim to the riches you have received from God, but share all He has given you with others, that there be no needy among you. Acts 4
May you trust and have faith in the Lord when it seems that the worldly and the religious have the upper hand, succeeding in their plans and achieving their goals against you, for they will be allowed, through the power and the will of God, to do all that the Lord has decided beforehand should happen and what He spoke through His prophets describing will take place, until it is time for His deliverance, and through the power and strength of the Lord, all will bend their knee and acknowledge Him King of kings and Lord of lords. Acts 4
Do you see the raging flood in front you, My child, and wonder how you will be able to cross it safely? Are you facing a fiery trial that you see no way out of, bound and constrained by others with no avenue of escape? Do you find yourself in the midst of a whirling wind storm that threatens to bowl you over and batter you with flying debris, destroying all around you? These struggles that you are facing in your life and these dangers you encounter from the world are serious, My threatened one, but they are still obedient to My word of power spoken in your life.
Know, My precious one, that the raging flood which topples trees, erodes land and tumbles boulders by its power comes into submission to the flowing of the living water which issues forth from your innermost being by My Holy Spirit, for what the raging power of the uncontrolled water's turbulence tears down will be restored and renewed by the life-giving waters which nourish the trees of life on its river banks.
The fiery furnace which contains such a fiercely turbulent vortex of consuming flame is subject to the living fire that I place within your heart; the outward devouring fire is unable to touch those who dwell in the light of the Lord which is unendurable and unapproachable by flesh but is the life of all who are Mine.
The fierce wind which flattens forests and destroys the works of men, sweeping all before it, is calmed by the mere word spoken by the breath of God from Whom all receive the breath of life, and through which any may receive the life-giving Holy Spirit to indwell.
Rejoice, My beset one, that though you are in the midst of trials and sorrows on earth, I have overcome the world and given you peace in the midst of the storm!
May it be the Lord Jehovah Who stands for you when people rise up against you, influenced by the powers that would devour you alive in their burning anger and engulf your soul in the raging fury of flood waters, for God has set the limit and established the boundaries, saying, “This far, and no further,” delivering you from certain defeat into total victory. Psalm 124
May you give sincere praise to the deserving God Who is worthy of all worship, for He has not let you be torn apart by the teeth of your adversary, but has broken the fowler's snare and enabled you to escape like a bird, through the power in the name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. Psalm 124
May your words be kind and pleasant ones, well-ordered, filled with grace and wisdom from the Father above, sweet to the soul and healing to the body. Proverbs 16:24
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9-20-2024 | Bible App Their Verse of the Day | Ephesians 4:29
‘Let everything you say be good and helpful.’ Ephesians 4:29
#Bible - Verse of the Day | Hebrews 4:12
‘For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart.’ Hebrews 4:12
Bible App | overviewbible.com | All the songs in the Bible 📖 | 2 Samuel 22:1-20
David’s Song of Deliverance 💗
‘He said: “The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer. My God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation. My stronghold, my refuge, and my Savior, You save me from violence. I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised; so shall I be saved from my enemies. For the waves of death engulfed me; the torrents of chaos overwhelmed me. The cords of Sheol entangled me; the snares of death confronted me. In my distress I called upon the Lord; I cried out to my God. And from His temple He heard my voice, and my cry for help reached His ears. Then the earth shook and quaked; the foundations of the heavens trembled; they were shaken because He burned with anger. Smoke rose from His nostrils, and consuming fire came from His mouth; glowing coals blazed forth. He parted the heavens and came down with dark clouds beneath His feet. He mounted a cherub and flew; He soared on the wings of the wind. He made darkness a canopy around Him, a gathering of water and thick clouds. From the brightness of His presence coals of fire blazed forth. The Lord thundered from heaven; the voice of the Most High resounded. He shot His arrows and scattered the foes; He hurled lightning and routed them. The channels of the sea appeared, and the foundations of the world were exposed at the rebuke of the Lord, at the blast of the breath of His nostrils. He reached down from on high and took hold of me; He drew me out of deep waters. He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from foes too mighty for me. They confronted me in my day of calamity, but the Lord was my support. He brought me out into the open; He rescued me because He delighted in me.’ 2 Samuel 22:2-20
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God the Sovereign Savior
I will love You, O Lord, my strength.
The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised; So shall I be saved from my enemies.
The pangs of death surrounded me, And the floods of ungodliness made me afraid.
The sorrows of Sheol surrounded me; The snares of death confronted me.
In my distress I called upon the Lord, And cried out to my God; He heard my voice from His temple, And my cry came before Him, even to His ears.
Then the earth shook and trembled; The foundations of the hills also quaked and were shaken, Because He was angry.
Smoke went up from His nostrils, And devouring fire from His mouth; Coals were kindled by it.
He bowed the heavens also, and came down With darkness under His feet.
And He rode upon a cherub, and flew; He flew upon the wings of the wind.
He made darkness His secret place; His canopy around Him was dark waters And thick clouds of the skies.
From the brightness before Him, His thick clouds passed with hailstones and coals of fire.
The Lord thundered from heaven, And the Most High uttered His voice, Hailstones and coals of fire.
He sent out His arrows and scattered the foe, Lightnings in abundance, and He vanquished them.
Then the channels of the sea were seen, The foundations of the world were uncovered At Your rebuke, O Lord, At the blast of the breath of Your nostrils.
He sent from above, He took me; He drew me out of many waters.
He delivered me from my strong enemy, From those who hated me, For they were too strong for me.
They confronted me in the day of my calamity, But the Lord was my support.
He also brought me out into a broad place; He delivered me because He delighted in me.
The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness; According to the cleanness of my hands He has recompensed me.
For I have kept the ways of the Lord, And have not wickedly departed from my God.
For all His judgments were before me, And I did not put away His statutes from me.
I was also blameless before Him, And I kept myself from my iniquity.
Therefore the Lord has recompensed me according to my righteousness, According to the cleanness of my hands in His sight.
With the merciful You will show Yourself merciful; With a blameless man You will show Yourself blameless;
With the pure You will show Yourself pure; And with the devious You will show Yourself shrewd.
For You will save the humble people, But will bring down haughty looks.
For You will light my lamp; The Lord my God will enlighten my darkness.
For by You I can run against a troop, By my God I can leap over a wall.
As for God, His way is perfect; The word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him.
For who is God, except the Lord? And who is a rock, except our God?
It is God who arms me with strength, And makes my way perfect.
He makes my feet like the feet of deer, And sets me on my high places.
He teaches my hands to make war, So that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
You have also given me the shield of Your salvation; Your right hand has held me up, Your gentleness has made me great.
You enlarged my path under me, So my feet did not slip.
I have pursued my enemies and overtaken them; Neither did I turn back again till they were destroyed.
I have wounded them, So that they could not rise; They have fallen under my feet.
For You have armed me with strength for the battle; You have subdued under me those who rose up against me.
You have also given me the necks of my enemies, So that I destroyed those who hated me.
They cried out, but there was none to save; Even to the Lord, but He did not answer them.
Then I beat them as fine as the dust before the wind; I cast them out like dirt in the streets.
You have delivered me from the strivings of the people; You have made me the head of the nations; A people I have not known shall serve me.
As soon as they hear of me they obey me; The foreigners submit to me.
The foreigners fade away, And come frightened from their hideouts.
The Lord lives! Blessed be my Rock! Let the God of my salvation be exalted.
It is God who avenges me, And subdues the peoples under me;
He delivers me from my enemies. You also lift me up above those who rise against me; You have delivered me from the violent man.
Therefore I will give thanks to You, O Lord, among the Gentiles, And sing praises to Your name.
Great deliverance He gives to His king, And shows mercy to His anointed, To David and his descendants forevermore.
Psalms 18:1-50 NKJV
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2023 Reading List
January:
What Lies Beyond the Veil- Harper L Woods & Adailade Forrest **
What Hunts inside the Shadows- Harper L Woods & Adailade Forrest **
Rhuger's Pearl- Carlotta Hughes ****
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February: X
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March:
4. Silent Lucidity- Tiffany Roberts **
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April:
5. Yearning for Her- Tiffany Roberts ****
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May: X
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June:
6. That Time I got Drunk and Saved a Human- Kimberly Lemming ***
7. How To Marry A Marble Marquis- C.M. Nascosta ****
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July:
8. To Tame a Dragon- Tiffany Roberts *
9. To Love a Dragon- Tiffany Roberts *
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August:
10. Taken by the Aline Next Door- Tiffany Roberts ***
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September:
11. Blood Moon- Jillian Graves **
12. The Sea Witch- Rebecca F. Kenney ****
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October:
13. Rhuger's Cridhe- Carlotta Hughes ****
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November:
14. A Duel with the Vampire Lord- Elise Kova ****
15. A Fellowship of Bakers & Magic- J. Penner ****
16. His Darkest Desire- Tiffany Roberts ****
17. Scream for Us- Molly Doyle **
18. Bloodshed- Molly Doyle ***
19. Melt for Us- Molly Doyle **
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December:
20. All I wanted was sushi but I got abducted by aliens instead- Petra Palerno ***
21. All I wanted was to become a Scientist but now I've got an Alien Boyfriend- Petra Palerno ***
22. All I wanted was a glass of Vine but an Alien Duke kidnapped me instead- Petra Palerno ***
23. A Court of Sugar & Spice- Rebecca F. Kenney ****
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Reading Goals:
Read 45 books (I'm ok if I read at least 20 due to life changes)
Read 10 comics/webcomics/manga
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Rook- Jillian Graves (Delayed)
Welcome to Azathé- CM Nascosta (Delayed)
Welcome to Fae Café- Jennifer Kropf
Enchantment- Orson Scott Card *2
My Side of the Mountain- Jean Craighead George *2
The Goddess of Yesterday- Caroline B. Cooney *2
A Little Princess- Frances Hodgson Burnett *3
Journey to the Center of the Earth- Jules Verne *3
Ascendant- Michael R Miller *1
Throne of Glass- Sarah J Maas
Crown of Midnight- Sarah J Maas
Heir of Fire- Sarah J Maas
Queen of Shadows- Sarah J Maas
Empire of Storms- Sarah J Maas
Tower of Dawn- Sarah J Maas
Kingdom of Ash- Sarah J Maas
Dragon Keeper- Carole Wilkinson *1
A Natural History of Dragons- Marie Brennan *1
Dragon's Flight- Anne McCaffery *1
Dragon Keeper- Robin Hobb *1
Phoenix Unbound- Grace Draven
Dragon Unleashed- Grace Draven
Raven Unveiled- Grace Draven
Undying King- Grace Draven
Entreat Me- Grace Draven
House of Earth & Blood- Sarah J Maas
House of Sky & Breath- Sarah J Maas
Jurassic Park- Michael Crichton
A Rake of His Own- AJ Lancaster (Reading)
Parties- C.M. Nascosta
Contact- Carl Sagan
Spinning Silver- Naomi Novik
Iron Widow- Xiran Jay Zhao
Uprooted- Naomi Novik
The Name of the Wind- Patrick Rothfuss
What Sleeps Within the Cove- Harper L Woods & Adailade Forrest (10/17/2023)
Get off the Unicorn- Anne McCaffrey
Cursed Cocktails: A Cozy Fantasy- S.L. Rowland
Run, Run Rabbit- CM Nascosta
Stolen Midsummer Bride- Tara Grayce
Uncommon Verdant- Daria Vernon
Bow before the Elf Queen- JM Kearl
The Crystal Shard- R. A. Salvatore
Streams of Silver- R. A. Salvatore
The Halfling's Gem- R. A. Salvatore
The Legacy- R. A. Salvatore
Starless Night- R. A. Salvatore
What Lurks Between the Fates- Harper L Woods & Adailade Forrest
Shadow Wizard- Jeffe Kennedy
Rogue Familiar- Jeffe Kennedy
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Witch Hat Atelier
My Father is a Unicorn
Otherworldly Izakaya Nobu
Restaurant to Another World
The Savior's Book Café Story in Another
Campfire cooking in another world with my absurd skill
The Way of the Househusband
Delicious in Dungeon
Housekeeping Mage from Another World
Kakuriyo: Bed & Breakfast for Spirits
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Reading Challenges:
Read 5 Dragon related books (listed)
Read 3 books I read in school (listed)
Read 2 classics (listed)
Read at least 5-7of the Legend of Drizzt books (listed)
Read 5 books recommended to me
Read at least 5 books by Grace Draven (listed)
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Total Reading Goal: 50
Just to be kind to my future self when she looks at this at the end of the year: remember that we were pregnant, had a baby, had to look for a new job, and had to move. We just didn't have time. Maybe we will next year.
Also I will admit I've been binge reading some of Tiffany Roberts' work here and there.
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Ok this year's reading challenge was completely and utterly slashed. I got overly enthusiastic and just went all over the place. I enjoyed reading when I could, especially after having a baby. February through May was difficult for me as I was in a lot of pain and just wanted to sleep on the last few months of pregnancy. I cried a lot. After I gave birth, reading helped me slowly heal my new found scattered and tired mom brain. I started off slow and after August when I started working again, I came back with a vengeance.
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Favorites:
* it was good
** loved it
*** would read again and again
**** Can't stop thinking about it, won't stop thinking about it
Not a fan: X
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Top Reads of 2023:
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2023 Guilty Pleasure Books:
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2023 Favorite Authors:
Tiffany Roberts
Rebecca F. Kenney
Petra Palerno
Kimberly Lemming
Carlotta Hughes
J. Penner
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Favorite Series:
Bubble Babes
Orc Matched
Order of the Unseen
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Re-reads:
The Martian
Project Hail Mary
Ice Planet Barbarian
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2022 Reading List and Reviews- 36
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From The Lord, Our God and Savior ✉️
Section 9 of 10: “I SHALL ESTABLISH THE LINE” (From: I Am Calling You Out! Part 2)
“…Thus says The Lord: Behold, I shall surely establish the line. And all on this side of the line shall be taken. And all on that side shall by no means escape, except through fire and tumult, until pure testimony flows from their lips and death comes to set them free; even as those who at present hold fast to the Testimony of YahuShua HaMashiach, and also keep The Commandments of God, have given up their lives for My sake.
Thus all those who repent shall set themselves apart in that day, and they will keep that which they had forsaken. Yes, they shall honor The Law of The Father, which they had forsaken in My name. Yes, in that day they shall come to testify of Me as I really am! NO MORE shall they pollute My name or the glory of My majesty, in their own names! NO MORE shall they judge their neighbor harshly, with impudent hearts! NO MORE shall they mar My image among the people, by all these detestable doctrines and traditions!
Yes, My beloved, you shall be made new, and all that you were shall pass away in that day. Your vain worship shall cease, and all wickedness shall be purged from the midst of you. And you shall be for Me a testimony and a witness, a great remnant who shall be given a new voice. For I shall put a new song in your mouths and cause your lips to burst forth with praise, even unto pure testimony in My name. And you shall lift up your voices boldly, causing the song to be heard throughout the city, until you fall asleep. Fear not, for though you die, you shall not sleep at all. For you shall be with Me in an instant, in the twinkling of an eye, in the day you give up your life… Having ceased from loving your life in this world, as one who in vain grasps at the wind, keeping it rather unto eternal life, the day your love is made perfect in The Beloved, the day you find solace upon the bosom of your Savior, The One who consoles your heart and wipes away all your tears.
Therefore, I am sending out this last Trumpet before the time, increasing its sound, a final trumpet blast to warn the people, echoing in all the earth until the consummation. For behold, the Day of The Lord is about to overtake you, and the Great and Terrible Day is very near and shall overcome you, says The Lord. Behold, the judgments of God shall rain down from Heaven upon all who offend! For the wine of God’s fury is poured out, full strength, into the chalice of His reckoning, and in His fierce anger He shall surely cause all in the earth to drink from it!…”
▶ ALL SECTIONS - Video Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAKon-fj-Tc&list=PLE8FlkxQPQkP4Ljrix_obl1uYSx1VNyqE&index=76
#TheVolumesofTruth#LettertotheChurches#WarningfromGod#ThussaysTheLord#LettersfromGod#NewScriptures#propheticWord#DayofTheLord#rapture#rebuke#correction#discipline#churches#falsedoctrines#corrupt#traditions#GodsRebuke#GodsWord#WordofGod#Judgment#Heaven#Earth#Truth#God#YAHUWAH#YahuShua#Jesus#Christ
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30th September >> Mass Readings (USA)
Saint Jerome, Priest, Doctor
on
Monday, Twenty Sixth Week in Ordinary Time.
Monday, Twenty Sixth Week in Ordinary Time
(Liturgical Colour: White. Year: B(II))
(Readings for the feria (Monday))
(There is a choice today between the readings for the ferial day (Monday) and those for the memorial. The ferial readings are recommended unless pastoral reasons suggest otherwise)
First Reading
Job 1:6-22
The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord!
One day, when the angels of God came to present themselves before the LORD, Satan also came among them. And the LORD said to Satan, “Whence do you come?” Then Satan answered the LORD and said, “From roaming the earth and patrolling it.” And the LORD said to Satan, “Have you noticed my servant Job, and that there is no one on earth like him, blameless and upright, fearing God and avoiding evil?” But Satan answered the LORD and said, “Is it for nothing that Job is God-fearing? Have you not surrounded him and his family and all that he has with your protection? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his livestock are spread over the land. But now put forth your hand and touch anything that he has, and surely he will blaspheme you to your face.” And the LORD said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand upon his person.” So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.
And so one day, while his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in the house of their eldest brother, a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were ploughing and the asses grazing beside them, and the Sabeans carried them off in a raid. They put the herdsmen to the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” While he was yet speaking, another came and said, “Lightning has fallen from heaven and struck the sheep and their shepherds and consumed them; and I alone have escaped to tell you.” While he was yet speaking, another messenger came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three columns, seized the camels, carried them off, and put those tending them to the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” While he was yet speaking, another came and said, “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in the house of their eldest brother, when suddenly a great wind came across the desert and smote the four corners of the house. It fell upon the young people and they are dead; and I alone have escaped to tell you.” Then Job began to tear his cloak and cut off his hair. He cast himself prostrate upon the ground, and said,
“Naked I came forth from my mother’s womb,
and naked shall I go back again.
The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away;
blessed be the name of the LORD!”
In all this Job did not sin, nor did he say anything disrespectful of God.
The Word of the Lord
R/ Thanks be to God.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 17:1bcd, 2-3, 6-7
R/ Incline your ear to me and hear my word.
Hear, O LORD, a just suit;
attend to my outcry;
hearken to my prayer from lips without deceit.
R/ Incline your ear to me and hear my word.
From you let my judgment come;
your eyes behold what is right.
Though you test my heart, searching it in the night,
though you try me with fire, you shall find no malice in me.
R/ Incline your ear to me and hear my word.
I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God;
incline your ear to me; hear my word.
Show your wondrous mercies,
O savior of those who flee
from their foes to refuge at your right hand.
R/ Incline your ear to me and hear my word.
Gospel Acclamation
Mark 10:45
Alleluia, alleluia.
The Son of Man came to serve
and to give his life as a ransom for many.
Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
Luke 9:46-50
The one who is least among all of you is the one who is the greatest.
An argument arose among the disciples about which of them was the greatest. Jesus realized the intention of their hearts and took a child and placed it by his side and said to them, “Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me. For the one who is least among all of you is the one who is the greatest.”
Then John said in reply, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow in our company.” Jesus said to him, “Do not prevent him, for whoever is not against you is for you.”
The Gospel of the Lord
R/ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
-------------------------
Saint Jerome, Priest, Doctor
(Liturgical Colour: White. Year: B(II))
(Readings for the memorial)
(There is a choice today between the readings for the ferial day (Monday) and those for the memorial. The ferial readings are recommended unless pastoral reasons suggest otherwise)
First reading
2 Timothy 3:14-17
All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching.
Beloved: Remain faithful to what you have learned and believed, because you know from whom you learned it, and that from infancy you have known the sacred Scriptures, which are capable of giving you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for refutation, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that one who belongs to God may be competent, equipped for every good work.
The Word of the Lord
R/ Thanks be to God.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 119:9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14
R/ Lord, teach me your statutes.
How shall a young man be faultless in his way?
By keeping to your words.
R/ Lord, teach me your statutes.
With all my heart I seek you;
let me not stray from your commands.
R/ Lord, teach me your statutes.
Within my heart I treasure your promise,
that I may not sin against you.
R/ Lord, teach me your statutes.
Blessed are you, O LORD;
teach me your statutes.
R/ Lord, teach me your statutes.
With my lips I declare
all the ordinances of your mouth.
R/ Lord, teach me your statutes.
In the way of your decrees I rejoice,
as much as in all riches.
R/ Lord, teach me your statutes.
Gospel Acclamation
cf. Acts of the Apostles 16:14b
Alleluia, alleluia.
Open our hearts, O Lord,
to listen to the words of your Son.
Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
Matthew 13:47-52
Both the new and the old.
Jesus said to the disciples: “The Kingdom of heaven is like a net thrown into the sea, which collects fish of every kind. When it is full they haul it ashore and sit down to put what is good into buckets. What is bad they throw away. Thus it will be at the end of the age. The angels will go out and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.” Jesus asked them: “Do you understand all these things?” They answered, “Yes.” And he replied, “Then every scribe who has been instructed in the Kingdom of heaven is like the head of a household who brings from his storeroom both the new and the old.”
The Gospel of the Lord
R/ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
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Thursday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time
Readings of Thursday, June 27, 2024
Reading 1
2 KGS 24:8-17
Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he began to reign,
and he reigned three months in Jerusalem.
His mother's name was Nehushta,
daughter of Elnathan of Jerusalem.
He did evil in the sight of the LORD,
just as his forebears had done.
At that time the officials of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon,
attacked Jerusalem, and the city came under siege.
Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon,
himself arrived at the city
while his servants were besieging it.
Then Jehoiachin, king of Judah, together with his mother,
his ministers, officers, and functionaries,
surrendered to the king of Babylon, who,
in the eighth year of his reign, took him captive.
And he carried off all the treasures
of the temple of the LORD and those of the palace,
and broke up all the gold utensils that Solomon, king of Israel,
had provided in the temple of the LORD, as the LORD had foretold.
He deported all Jerusalem:
all the officers and men of the army, ten thousand in number,
and all the craftsmen and smiths.
None were left among the people of the land except the poor.
He deported Jehoiachin to Babylon,
and also led captive from Jerusalem to Babylon
the king's mother and wives,
his functionaries, and the chief men of the land.
The king of Babylon also led captive to Babylon
all seven thousand men of the army,
and a thousand craftsmen and smiths,
all of them trained soldiers.
In place of Jehoiachin,
the king of Babylon appointed his uncle Mattaniah king,
and changed his name to Zedekiah.
Responsorial Psalm
PS 79:1B-2, 3-5, 8, 9
R./ For the glory of your name, O Lord, deliver us.
O God, the nations have come into your inheritance;
they have defiled your holy temple,
they have laid Jerusalem in ruins.
They have given the corpses of your servants
as food to the birds of heaven,
the flesh of your faithful ones to the beasts of the earth.
R./ For the glory of your name, O Lord, deliver us.
They have poured out their blood like water
round about Jerusalem,
and there is no one to bury them.
We have become the reproach of our neighbors,
the scorn and derision of those around us.
O LORD, how long? Will you be angry forever?
Will your jealousy burn like fire?
R./ For the glory of your name, O Lord, deliver us.
Remember not against us the iniquities of the past;
may your compassion quickly come to us,
for we are brought very low.
R./ For the glory of your name, O Lord, deliver us.
Help us, O God our savior,
because of the glory of your name;
Deliver us and pardon our sins
for your name’s sake.
R./ For the glory of your name, O Lord, deliver us.
Gospel
MT 7:21-29
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’
will enter the Kingdom of heaven,
but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.
Many will say to me on that day,
‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name?
Did we not drive out demons in your name?
Did we not do mighty deeds in your name?’
Then I will declare to them solemnly,
‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you evildoers.’
“Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them
will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.
The rain fell, the floods came,
and the winds blew and buffeted the house.
But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock.
And everyone who listens to these words of mine
but does not act on them
will be like a fool who built his house on sand.
The rain fell, the floods came,
and the winds blew and buffeted the house.
And it collapsed and was completely ruined.”
When Jesus finished these words,
the crowds were astonished at his teaching,
for he taught them as one having authority,
and not as their scribes.
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DAILY SCRIPTURE READINGS (DSR) 📚 Group, Thu June 27th, 2024 ... Thursday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time, Year B
Reading 1
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2 Kgs 24:8-17
Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he began to reign,
and he reigned three months in Jerusalem.
His mother's name was Nehushta,
daughter of Elnathan of Jerusalem.
He did evil in the sight of the LORD,
just as his forebears had done.
At that time the officials of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon,
attacked Jerusalem, and the city came under siege.
Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon,
himself arrived at the city
while his servants were besieging it.
Then Jehoiachin, king of Judah, together with his mother,
his ministers, officers, and functionaries,
surrendered to the king of Babylon, who,
in the eighth year of his reign, took him captive.
And he carried off all the treasures
of the temple of the LORD and those of the palace,
and broke up all the gold utensils that Solomon, king of Israel,
had provided in the temple of the LORD, as the LORD had foretold.
He deported all Jerusalem:
all the officers and men of the army, ten thousand in number,
and all the craftsmen and smiths.
None were left among the people of the land except the poor.
He deported Jehoiachin to Babylon,
and also led captive from Jerusalem to Babylon
the king's mother and wives,
his functionaries, and the chief men of the land.
The king of Babylon also led captive to Babylon
all seven thousand men of the army,
and a thousand craftsmen and smiths,
all of them trained soldiers.
In place of Jehoiachin,
the king of Babylon appointed his uncle Mattaniah king,
and changed his name to Zedekiah.
Responsorial Psalm
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Ps 79:1b-2, 3-5, 8, 9
R. (9) For the glory of your name, O Lord, deliver us.
O God, the nations have come into your inheritance;
they have defiled your holy temple,
they have laid Jerusalem in ruins.
They have given the corpses of your servants
as food to the birds of heaven,
the flesh of your faithful ones to the beasts of the earth.
R. For the glory of your name, O Lord, deliver us.
They have poured out their blood like water
round about Jerusalem,
and there is no one to bury them.
We have become the reproach of our neighbors,
the scorn and derision of those around us.
O LORD, how long? Will you be angry forever?
Will your jealousy burn like fire?
R. For the glory of your name, O Lord, deliver us.
Remember not against us the iniquities of the past;
may your compassion quickly come to us,
for we are brought very low.
R. For the glory of your name, O Lord, deliver us.
Help us, O God our savior,
because of the glory of your name;
Deliver us and pardon our sins
for your name’s sake.
R. For the glory of your name, O Lord, deliver us.
Alleluia
Jn 14:23
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Whoever loves me will keep my word,
and my Father will love him
and we will come to him.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
--------
Mt 7:21-29
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’
will enter the Kingdom of heaven,
but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.
Many will say to me on that day,
‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name?
Did we not drive out demons in your name?
Did we not do mighty deeds in your name?’
Then I will declare to them solemnly,
‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you evildoers.’
“Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them
will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.
The rain fell, the floods came,
and the winds blew and buffeted the house.
But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock.
And everyone who listens to these words of mine
but does not act on them
will be like a fool who built his house on sand.
The rain fell, the floods came,
and the winds blew and buffeted the house.
And it collapsed and was completely ruined.”
When Jesus finished these words,
the crowds were astonished at his teaching,
for he taught them as one having authority,
and not as their scribes.
***
FOCUS AND LITURGY OF THE WORD
For some reason (hopefully a Spirit-led one), one of my first thoughts when reading today’s Gospel was about sports. I thought about athletes, coaches and fans who boast about certain statistics while ignoring how badly they – or their team – lost a game. Perhaps it is a soccer (or football, if you prefer) coach who brags how her team controlled possession by stringing passes together, but she seems oblivious to the fact that her team never took a shot on goal. Or maybe a basketball player who is proud of how many points he scored but ignores how many shots he missed when he should have passed to a wide-open teammate who had a better chance to score. You can find numerous examples from a variety of sports of individuals who have forgotten the underlying purpose of the game.
When we read in Matthew of the people Jesus tells to depart – people who have prophesied, driven out demons, and done great deeds – it makes me a little nervous. These seem to be good followers who have done impressive religious works, so what’s the problem? Jesus declares he never knew them, then follows by talking about houses built on rock and sand, which suggests that the works have a foundational problem. I wonder if they were so focused on prophecy, exorcism, or the various “mighty deeds,” they missed the reason, the underlying purpose for those efforts?
So what should be at the foundation of our faithful work? When asked to name the greatest commandment, Jesus responded that loving God was first, loving your neighbor was second, and that “all the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:37-38) I John 4 tells us that all who love know God, but those who do not love do not know God “because God is love.” From the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Corinthians (chapter 13), we know that prophecy, wisdom, faith or charitable acts without love are nothing.
Let's pray ...
Loving God, help us to love one another as Christ loves us. Help us continually to love those around us, even the “enemy” who opposes us at work or who espouses views we abhor. Help us so that we walk humbly with you, God Who is love, in our search for justice and mercy, in our attempts to forgive as You have forgiven us. Holy Spirit, work in us and through us so that all we do is done lovingly and glorifies God.
***
SAINT OF THE DAY
Saint Cyril of Alexandria
(378 – June 27, 444)
Saint Cyril of Alexandria’s Story
Saints are not born with halos around their heads. Cyril, recognized as a great teacher of the Church, began his career as archbishop of Alexandria, Egypt, with impulsive, often violent, actions. He pillaged and closed the churches of the Novatian heretics—who required those who denied the faith to be re-baptized—participated in the deposing of Saint John Chrysostom, and confiscated Jewish property, expelling the Jews from Alexandria in retaliation for their attacks on Christians.
Cyril’s importance for theology and Church history lies in his championing the cause of orthodoxy against the heresy of Nestorius, who taught that in Christ there were two persons, one human and one divine.
The controversy centered around the two natures in Christ. Nestorius would not agree to the title “God-bearer” for Mary. He preferred “Christ-bearer,” saying there are two distinct persons in Christ—divine and human—joined only by a moral union. He said Mary was not the mother of God but only of the man Christ, whose humanity was only a temple of God. Nestorianism implied that the humanity of Christ was a mere disguise.
Presiding as the pope’s representative at the Council of Ephesus in 431, Cyril condemned Nestorianism and proclaimed Mary truly the “God-bearer”—the mother of the one Person who is truly God and truly human. In the confusion that followed, Cyril was deposed and imprisoned for three months, after which he was welcomed back to Alexandria.
Besides needing to soften some of his opposition to those who had sided with Nestorius, Cyril had difficulties with some of his own allies, who thought he had gone too far, sacrificing not only language but orthodoxy. Until his death, his policy of moderation kept his extreme partisans under control. On his deathbed, despite pressure, he refused to condemn the teacher of Nestorius.
Reflection
----------
Lives of the saints are valuable not only for the virtue they reveal but also for the less admirable qualities that also appear. Holiness is a gift of God to us as human beings. Life is a process. We respond to God’s gift, but sometimes with a lot of zigzagging. If Cyril had been more patient and diplomatic, the Nestorian church might not have risen and maintained power so long. But even saints must grow out of immaturity, narrowness, and selfishness. It is because they—and we—do grow, that we are truly saints, persons who live the life of God.
***
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2 Samuel 22: David's Song of Praise To God For Delivering Him From His Enemies
1 David sang to the Lord the words of this song when the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul.
2 He said:
“The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
3 my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield and the horn of my salvation.
He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior—
from violent people you save me.
4 “I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise,
and have been saved from my enemies.
5 The waves of death swirled about me;
the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me.
6 The cords of the grave coiled around me;
the snares of death confronted me.
7 “In my distress I called to the Lord;
I called out to my God.
From his temple he heard my voice;
my cry came to his ears.
8 The earth trembled and quaked,
the foundations of the heavens shook;
they trembled because he was angry.
9 Smoke rose from his nostrils;
consuming fire came from his mouth,
burning coals blazed out of it.
10 He parted the heavens and came down;
dark clouds were under his feet.
11 He mounted the cherubim and flew;
he soared on the wings of the wind.
12 He made darkness his canopy around him—
the dark rain clouds of the sky.
13 Out of the brightness of his presence
bolts of lightning blazed forth.
14 The Lord thundered from heaven;
the voice of the Most High resounded.
15 He shot his arrows and scattered the enemy,
with great bolts of lightning he routed them.
16 The valleys of the sea were exposed
and the foundations of the earth laid bare
at the rebuke of the Lord,
at the blast of breath from his nostrils.
17 “He reached down from on high and took hold of me;
he drew me out of deep waters.
18 He rescued me from my powerful enemy,
from my foes, who were too strong for me.
19 They confronted me in the day of my disaster,
but the Lord was my support.
20 He brought me out into a spacious place;
he rescued me because he delighted in me.
21 “The Lord has dealt with me according to my righteousness;
according to the cleanness of my hands he has rewarded me.
22 For I have kept the ways of the Lord;
I am not guilty of turning from my God.
23 All his laws are before me;
I have not turned away from his decrees.
24 I have been blameless before him
and have kept myself from sin.
25 The Lord has rewarded me according to my righteousness,
according to my cleanness in his sight.
26 “To the faithful you show yourself faithful,
to the blameless you show yourself blameless,
27 to the pure you show yourself pure,
but to the devious you show yourself shrewd.
28 You save the humble,
but your eyes are on the haughty to bring them low.
29 You, Lord, are my lamp;
the Lord turns my darkness into light.
30 With your help I can advance against a troop;
with my God I can scale a wall.
31 “As for God, his way is perfect:
The Lord’s word is flawless;
he shields all who take refuge in him.
32 For who is God besides the Lord?
And who is the Rock except our God?
33 It is God who arms me with strength
and keeps my way secure.
34 He makes my feet like the feet of a deer;
he causes me to stand on the heights.
35 He trains my hands for battle;
my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
36 You make your saving help my shield;
your help has made me great.
37 You provide a broad path for my feet,
so that my ankles do not give way.
38 “I pursued my enemies and crushed them;
I did not turn back till they were destroyed.
39 I crushed them completely, and they could not rise;
they fell beneath my feet.
40 You armed me with strength for battle;
you humbled my adversaries before me.
41 You made my enemies turn their backs in flight,
and I destroyed my foes.
42 They cried for help, but there was no one to save them—
to the Lord, but he did not answer.
43 I beat them as fine as the dust of the earth;
I pounded and trampled them like mud in the streets.
44 “You have delivered me from the attacks of the peoples;
you have preserved me as the head of nations.
People I did not know now serve me,
45 foreigners cower before me;
as soon as they hear of me, they obey me.
46 They all lose heart;
they come trembling from their strongholds.
47 “The Lord lives! Praise be to my Rock!
Exalted be my God, the Rock, my Savior!
48 He is the God who avenges me,
who puts the nations under me,
49 who sets me free from my enemies.
You exalted me above my foes;
from a violent man you rescued me.
50 Therefore I will praise you, Lord, among the nations;
I will sing the praises of your name.
51 “He gives his king great victories;
he shows unfailing kindness to his anointed,
to David and his descendants forever.”
#Lord God Jehovah#Holy Bible#2 Samuel ch.22#David#Israelites#Song#Praise#Delivered#Enemies#Wrath#Protection#Shield#Fortress#Stronghold#Rock#Celebrate#Rescued#kindness#anointed#Descendants
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apr 13
the missing link
"the young man replied, 'i’ve kept all these. what am i still missing?' Jesus said, if you want to be complete, go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor. then you will have treasure in heaven. and come follow me.'" matt 19:20-21 ceb
no - i'm not talking about the evolution of man. i'm talking about the revelation of man. the hebrew word for repent means "to turn" or "turn back." over and over the prophets proclaimed, "turn back to God and He will turn back to you!"
but repentance was not only the theme of the hebrew prophets. it was the foundation of Jesus’ own message (the kingdom of God is near. repent and believe the good news! unless you repent, you too will all perish.) without repentance and faith, no one can be saved.
repentance means spiritual revolution. strongholds of sin are demolished. a lifetime bondages are overcome. hardened hearts break open to the love of Christ. satan’s grip is undone. repentance sets the prisoners free! this is what salvation is all about; not just a saving from the wrath to cone - it is a rescuing from the bonds satan wants to capture us in now. it is only our limiting of God's abilities that gives satan his unlimited ability to bind.
what did Jesus tell us? "whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." matt 18:18 these are not words merely asking satan to let go. these are words of power and authority; power purchased at a costly price and given to us to wield.
the early disciples walked in that power. they exercised the authority given to them. not given to them alone. "for the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call." acts 2:39
the trouble is, christians have taken the narrow way and widened it. it's not come as you are and stay as you are. it's go and sin no more. bring forth acts worthy of repentance. it's not just the wholly delivered that have access to this power and authority. it is the wholly committed. that all it takes. everything. is one little lifetime too much to pay for endless time?
yet many of our leaders have implied, “you can have Jesus as Savior before you have Him as Lord. Jesus already died for your sins, so don’t even think about that junk. just confess Him with your lips, believe in your heart, and it’s done!” it sounds so easy. too easy.
yes, that will get you into God's graces. He loves us that much. the question is: how much do you love Him? is that all you want from Him? does your heart not hunger and thirst for more so you might draw closer to Him? not just in the next life, but in this life. in the here and now.
what is the missing link? it's the link that allows you to connect to God in this life. it's a daily living in His presence and it is a joy unspeakable. the cost? it will cost you everything. it is that pearl of greatest price you sold everything to possess.
things that once were wild alarms
cannot now disturb my rest,
closed in everlasting arms,
pillowed on His loving breast;
oh, to lie forever here,
doubt and care and self resign,
while He whispers in my ear
i am His, and He is mine;
while He whispers in my ear
i am His, and He is mine.
you know, i call these dailies my "God whispers." God is whispering all the time. it's just whether we are listening or not. He has whispers He wants you to hear. you only need to get still and listen. "a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice." 1 kings 19:11-12
is there a missing link in your life? link up today. don't put it off for another day that may not come; or another day when He may have already come.
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September 23
2 Thessalonians 3:5 And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.
Matthew 5:45 [God] makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous.
Psalm 96:10 Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns.” The world is firmly established, it cannot be moved; He will judge the peoples with equity.
James 5:20 remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.
Isaiah 32:17 The fruit of that righteousness will be peace; its effect will be quietness and confidence forever.
Zephaniah 3:17 Jehovah thy God is in the midst of thee, a mighty one who will save; He will rejoice over thee with joy; He will rest in His love; He will joy over thee with singing.
May you know that when you are poor and needy, parched with thirst, searching for living water to refresh your soul, the Lord will answer you, the God of Israel will not forsake you, but will make rivers flow on barren heights and springs within valleys, turning the desert into pools of water, and the wilderness into an orchard, so that people may see and know, consider and understand, that the hand of the Lord has done it. Isaiah 41
May you realize through the work of God in your life that the enemy of God is defeated and has become less than nothing with works that are utterly worthless, and anyone who chooses him becomes polluted; for the former things he reminds you of are cleansed and removed by Christ's sacrifice, and the future things he warns you of are lies which never happen, intended only to make you fear, but instead are cast out by the perfect love of Jesus. Isaiah 41
May you be led by the Spirit of God, following the example of Jesus as a servant, delighting the Father with obedience, that He may use you to bring justice to the nations through the finished work of Christ, neither shouting or crying out in the streets, gentle with those who have been damaged, encouraging to those about to give up, faithfully persistent in His grace, neither faltering nor giving up until His work through you is finished. Isaiah 42
May you be willing to take the hand of the Lord, Who has called you in righteousness, for through Christ He will keep you and by His faithfulness to you show His covenant to the people and make His light shine through you to the nations, so that blind eyes will see and imprisoned captives are freed, and release is given to those sitting in the darkest dungeons, because the Lord is His name and He will not give His glory to another, or let His praise go to idols. Isaiah 42
May you sing to the Lord a new song and spread His praise from the ends of the earth, from the seashore to the mountaintops, for the Lord will march out like a mighty man and come out like a warrior, full of fury and indignation, raising the battle cry as He triumphs over His enemies. Isaiah 42
May you not be afraid, for the Lord has redeemed you and summoned you by name, for you are His; He will be with you when you pass through the waters so the rivers will not sweep over you and the flames will not burn you when you walk through the fire, for the Holy One of Israel, your Savior, has given nations as your ransom and others in exchange for your life because you are precious and honored in His sight, and He has created you for His glory. Isaiah 43
May you be the Lord's witness, and a chosen servant of His, so that you may know and believe the Lord, understanding that He is the One Who is God, with none formed before Him and none created after Him, and He alone is your Savior, Who has revealed, saved, and proclaimed, and when He acts, who can reverse it? Isaiah 43
My child, I tell you what is to come before it occurs, that you may know that I am the Lord.
I prepare for you a shelter when the sky is clear, so that when the wind picks up and the clouds start to cover the sky, you have a place to take refuge.
I place a person in your life as a dear friend, so that when you need a shoulder to lean on, they can show you My love.
I put a yearning in your heart that pulls you from your comfort zone and sends you searching My Word and praying to receive direction, so that when My servant speaks truth in your life, you know the witness of the Spirit which has been preparing you for the next step.
If you will look, My love, you will see and know that I have always been preparing the way for you, making provision for you, providing that which you will need in time for the need to be met.
Is there any other who has done this for you? Recognize Me as the majestic Lord whose direction is worthy of allowing your life to be disrupted for, whose Word is reliable enough to trust even when it does not conform to public expectations.
Know that I do not casually or lightly bring change to your life, My dear one, but when I hear your heart cry out for more of Me, I will not ignore your plea.
I will lift you to a higher plateau and show you a closer fellowship in the Spirit, giving you a more intimate relationship with Me and a greater revelation of the love of the Father. Realize that this will cause you to become more devoted to the needs of My people, which is the work of the kingdom, for this is the heart of the Three-in-One.
May you remember that, though you once followed the ruler of the kingdom of the air, gratifying the cravings of your sinful nature and obeying its desires and thoughts, by grace God gave you the gift of faith to be saved because of His great love for you and the richness of His mercy. He made you alive with Christ and seating you in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, that you may see the incomparable riches of His grace expressed in His kindness to you in Christ Jesus. Ephesians 2
May you understand that you are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for you to do. Ephesians 2
May you recall that though you were once separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in His kingdom and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world, now in Christ Jesus you have been brought near through the blood of Christ, for Christ Himself is your peace, and through Him you have access, with all others, to the Father by one Spirit, joined together as the whole building rises to become a holy temple in the Lord, where God dwells by His Spirit. Ephesians 2
May God be gracious to you and bless you and make His face shine upon you that His ways may be known on earth and His salvation among all nations. Psalm 67
May you praise God with all the peoples of the nations, gladly singing for joy, for He rules the peoples justly and guides the nations of the earth. Psalm 67
May you praise God with all the peoples for then the land will yield its harvest and God will bless you, and all the ends of the earth will fear Him. Psalm 67
May you forsake the wine of vintners and the drink of merchants, not seeking the fellowship of the world or the enjoyment of material things, and turn instead to the new wine of the Spirit and be infused with the joy of the Lord wherein there is no indiscretion or reckless abandon, but only considered wisdom and patient endurance with gentle long-suffering towards others. Proverbs 23:29-35 Ephesians 5 Galatians 5
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Hebrews 1:1–14 NLT - 1 Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. 2 And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son. God promised everything to the Son as an inheritance, and through the Son he created the universe. 3 The Son radiates God's own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven. 4 This shows that the Son is far greater than the angels, just as the name God gave him is greater than their names. 5 For God never said to any angel what he said to Jesus: "You are my Son. Today I have become your Father." God also said, "I will be his Father, and he will be my Son." 6 And when he brought his supreme Son into the world, God said, "Let all of God's angels worship him." 7 Regarding the angels, he says, "He sends his angels like the winds, his servants like flames of fire." 8 But to the Son he says, "Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever. You rule with a scepter of justice. 9 You love justice and hate evil. Therefore, O God, your God has anointed you, pouring out the oil of joy on you more than on anyone else." 10 He also says to the Son, "In the beginning, Lord, you laid the foundation of the earth and made the heavens with your hands. 11 They will perish, but you remain forever. They will wear out like old clothing. 12 You will fold them up like a cloak and discard them like old clothing. But you are always the same; you will live forever." 13 And God never said to any of the angels, "Sit in the place of honor at my right hand until I humble your enemies, making them a footstool under your feet." 14 Therefore, angels are only servants--spirits sent to care for people who will inherit salvation.
Jesus, your journey to the cross was full of betrayal, grief, torture, and darkness, yet your love for us, your people, propelled you onward. Help us to comprehend just how powerful that love is, that you would suffer such a cruel death to make way for us to be with you in glory forever. What a gift, Jesus. What a gift.
May our praise never cease in this season. May our worship be unending. May our love for you find new depths. May this season bring new hope and new healing. May we journey toward the cross prayerfully and purposefully, even through the pain, doubt, questions, and searching.
May we find resurrection life springing up from this old dusty ground, and may we be surprised by joy in all of it. May Easter be a day of complete celebration as we rejoice in our risen Savior and praise our gracious Father.
In you, we find the truest joy, Jesus.
Thank you, thank you, thank you. We praise you in all of it.
Hallelujah and amen.
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DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR OCTOBER 25, 2022
Beauty in Brokenness
By Ann Stewart (South Australia, Australia)
READ ISAIAH 43:1-7
Jesus spoke to the people again, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me won’t walk in darkness but will have the light of life.”
JOHN 8:12 (CEB)
"While walking along a beach where the bush meets the sand, I noticed a beautiful gum tree that had fallen. The tree continued to grow despite being battered by wind and weather. It remained beautiful with its papery soft white bark; and although some branches had died, new growth stretched toward the light.
Like that tree, we are often battered and knocked down by the storms of life. However, like that tree we can remain beautiful and strong in our brokenness. Through the storms that come our way, God can bring new growth into our lives. And as we trust God, our difficulties strengthen us and teach us.
Even when we are broken, we can reach out to Jesus, the light of the world. As we endure our trials, we have the assurance that God has overcome the world (see Jn. 16:33) and that nothing can separate us from God’s love. Through our experiences, we become more understanding and compassionate toward others and their struggles. We also learn to draw closer to God and to rely on God in deeper ways than before. In Christ we receive comfort, strength, hope, and new spiritual growth." The storms of life will continue to be a part of your existence. Each one will be different and will require different responses. Just know God is there and He will hold you up. He will provide answers of what you need to do in each situation. Remain strong even when you are knocked down, as God will always lift you up.
TODAY'S PRAYER
"Loving God, as we reach out to you in our struggles, heal our hearts, bind our wounds, and work all things together for our good. Amen."
Isaiah 43:1-7
"'1 But now, says the LORD the one who created you, Jacob, the one who formed you, Israel: Don’t fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are mine. 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; when through the rivers, they won’t sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you won’t be scorched and flame won’t burn you. 3 I am the LORD your God, the holy one of Israel, your savior. I have given Egypt as your ransom, Cush and Seba in your place. 4 Because you are precious in my eyes, you are honored, and I love you. I give people in your place, and nations in exchange for your life. 5 Don’t fear, I am with you. From the east I’ll bring your children; from the west I’ll gather you. 6 I’ll say to the north, “Give them back!” and to the south, “Don’t detain them.” Bring my sons from far away, and my daughters from the end of the earth, 7 everyone who is called by my name and whom I created for my glory, whom I have formed and made."' We are seen as precious in His sight. He has a deep love for us and He is always with us. Such comfort we find in this knowledge. Blessings flow! Joe
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I know that it’s not the week for it, but you know what’s going through my head today?
Michael, going to Purgatory to fish out the Ghoul’s soul, just like he promised Adam that he would, and how annoyed he must have been when he realized he’d have to make the trip alone. Because of course the Ghoul couldn’t go, being soulless—that’s the whole reason Michael has to go in the first place, since Adam’s gone and enmeshed their lives together not just with the monster who had killed him in his first lifetime, but with the very part of that monster’s being that is tied to the earthly plane and incapable of traversing the higher levels of existence available to humanity and all its misfit offshoots only in the afterlife. And of course, with Adam now settled in his old, human body—having been painstakingly reformed from the ashes that the three of them had tirelessly rooted for in the woods outside of Windom—the Ghoul couldn’t very well be left on his own. Soulless and driven primarily by his id, there was no telling where the Ghoul would wind up or who he might hurt if left unsupervised.
And so, Michael begrudgingly has to go to Purgatory alone, possibly aware of the fact that no sooner would the portal close behind him (after all, Michael could open and close the door to Purgatory at will, there was no need to risk who knew what creeping out into their motel room), before the Ghoul leaned over to Adam and murmured something along the lines of, “So, you remember when Michael was dead, and how we’d get off telling each other all the things we’d do if we weren’t stuck in the same body?”
MEANWHILE, Michael was left with the nearly impossible task of finding one stray monster soul in the gruesome, ongoing battle royale that is Purgatory. His choices of strategy are to either assume his trueform and squint down at the souls scurrying over the realm like a swarm of ants in hopes of finding one specific ant, or to walk around in his human-looking form, hoping to find the one soul he needed to find in order to go home. Both were exhausting, and not helped by the fact that Michael had no idea if the Ghoul’s soul was even there—what with the way that the monsters were constantly murdering one another. Even the angels (as per Castiel in season 6) didn’t know where the shredded souls of Purgatory went after they died again here. On top of that, even when presenting himself as human, Michael’s grace gave off an aura that inherently attracted the attention of monsters and Leviathans alike, and while neither was a true threat to an archangel, the continuous fighting was numbingly tedious to say the least.
Especially since most of the beasts that Michael bested and offered to show mercy in exchange for information burst out laughing when Michael then revealed that he was looking for a ghoul from roughly ten years ago. Monsters on the more harmless end of the spectrum didn’t last long in Purgatory.
Eventually, Michael gets a lead about a cave rumored to be a djinn’s nest. Djinn were naturally highly sought after by the less violent souls who found themselves in Purgatory. With no way to escape, it wasn’t uncommon to pursue a gentler avenue to that second, inevitable death in a djinn’s trance. But some people had overheard telltale sounds of fighting coming from inside the nest, suggesting that something else might actually be hiding there.
Michael tracks down this nest, knowing that it’s a long shot. The Ghoul’s soul would have been living in this bloodbath for a decade, after all, but he steps into the alleged djinn’s nest and feels the solid impact of a club striking ineffectively against the back of his head, and sure enough, there stands the Ghoul.
One thing that Michael found unexpectedly jarring was how young the Ghoul looked. He hadn’t thought much of it when Adam had asked him to age up their shared body—supposedly to help him slip back into his old life if he came across anyone he used to know—but the difference was hard to ignore when he was looking at Adam’s face as it was the day they met, under the coating of grime that marked every moving thing in Purgatory. A face that was, additionally, staring at Michael in a mix of confusion and terror. And it was only then that Michael turned his head and realized that it wasn’t a club that had hit him, but an axe—made of silver, if Michael wasn’t mistaken.
It was an awkward first meeting. Naturally, having been in Purgatory over the entirety of his soulless-sona’s relationship with Michael and Adam, the Ghoul had no idea who or what Michael was, and looking between Michael and the now dented axe, could only reasonably conclude that whatever Michael was was a lot harder to kill than a shifter. He took about three seconds to assess the situation, and then did exactly what had helped him survive in Purgatory for so long: ran for all he was worth.
On Michael’s part, he was realizing that he’d been so caught up on the headache of finding the Ghoul in the first place, that he hadn’t even considered what he would say to him when they finally met in this place. “No, wait!” were certainly not the first words he would have planned on.
The next hour or so was spent with Michael reminding himself over and over again that he loved Adam, and Adam loved the Ghoul, and he had promised to do this for both of them. He let the ghoul run outside the cage and then used his wings to relocate himself into the Ghoul’s path, the wayward soul crashing directly into his chest, and Michael’s arms springing around him to keep him from getting away. The Ghoul turned out to be surprisingly feisty though, and while Michael had no doubt that the Ghoul wouldn’t break free, his struggling was a nuisance. Michael wound up pinning the Ghoul against a tree—decidedly ignoring how his soulless-sona would likely have enjoyed that.
“WHAT are you?”
“I am the archangel Michael—”
The Ghoul’s struggling promptly resumed, along with a line of panicked cursing. “Okay, fuck, I know I wasn’t the best guy, but fuck, really? There are so many bastards in here, and you’re going after—”
“I’m not here to hurt you!”
“Okay, but I’m not looking to accept anyone as my lord and savior either! GET OFF ME!”
“Adam Milligan sent me.”
The Ghoul finally stopped struggling at that. As best he could around Michael’s hold on him, he started to gesture to his own face—then stopped and gestured to both his and Michael’s face. “You mean Adam Milligan as in. . ?”
“Yes.”
“WHY?”
“I will likely ask him that question every day for the rest of our lives.”
“Our—”
And it is at that point that Michael becomes aware that his grace—beacon that it is in the madhouse that is Purgatory—had attracted a horde of Leviathans. The Ghoul can hear it too, as whatever’s coming their way is big enough to topple trees. Michael tells the Ghoul to stay close so he can keep him safe, which elicits another strange look from the Ghoul, who had had very few experiences with people wanting to keep him safe, even before he and his siblings were killed. He reminds Michael that Leviathans are pretty high up on the food chain, and Michael assures him that he’s so far above them that he isn’t even on the food chain. The Ghoul winds up running anyway when he sees how big the horde is, Michael shouting after him.
Leviathans, of course, can’t actually kill an archangel, but that isn’t the Leviathans’ goal. They’d heard the rumor about a vampire who managed to make its way out of Purgatory smuggled inside a human soul, and wondered what their chances would be stuffed inside an archangel’s grace. And as such, they abandoned their humanoid forms and proceeded to throw themselves onto Michael as tar-thick liquid goo. Michael could blast them off of himself, but it was difficult with how they skittered around, and there were so many of them—and then all at once, a bottle crashed against Michael’s side, and his entire being was enveloped in fire. A startled, terrified noise burst out of his throat, realization triggering a memory that Michael usually kept firmly out of mind. Then something heavier crashed against Michael’s chest, and he tumbled backward with a splash.
When he opened his eyes, the Ghoul was on top of him. The two of them were laying in the bed of a shallow river Michael hadn’t even noticed before.
Scrambling up into a sitting position, the Ghoul asked, “You alright?”
“What was that?”
The Ghoul reached into a satchel he was wearing—which was now soaked through. What he held up was clearly a molotov cocktail, but when Michael looked closely there was something swirling in the liquid inside.
“Phoenix ash. Djinn who had the cave first, um, had one. I heard it took out Eve, figured it could help with those things.”
“I see. . .” Michael started to sit up as the Ghoul carefully tucked the bottle away.
Then the Ghoul cleared his throat and asked, “So. . Are we friends, or something?”
“Something like that.”
The look the Ghoul shot Michael was sharp. After all, phoenix ash wasn’t exactly a resource to waste on just anyone, and Michael begrudgingly offered, “You have memories waiting on earth that will explain all of this.”
“How do I have memories on earth? I’m dead.”
“. . .It’s complicated.”
“And what, I’m supposed to just trust you? No secret code, or sales pitch or anything?”
“It’s a long story. If I go into it, we'll likely be interrupted.”
The Ghoul frowns and stands up, water running off his clothes as he wades out of the river, thinking. Michael moves to splash water on his face, still shaken from having been set on fire, even though his grace is already healed. He’s interrupted by the Ghoul saying, “Alright, let’s go.”
Michael says, “Just like that?”
And the Ghoul looks uncomfortable, frustrated and vulnerable because he isn’t convinced, but he gestures around them, to the scenery that is currently calm but littered with bones sticking out of the mud left and right, evidence of past bloodshed that would only repeat again and again throughout eternity. “What else am I gonna do?”
And so Michael snaps his fingers, and the portal back to earth opens.
Outside of a body, a soul is actually a very small thing (see season 11), and so Michael actually winds up cradling the Ghoul’s soul in his hands as he steps back into the motel room. And then promptly drops it when he finds Adam and the soulless Ghoul in a state of undress in their king-sized motel bed.
“Oh hey, you’re back!” Adam says, rising out of the bed in a pair of shorts, as if he hadn’t been doing anything wrong—which, of course, he hadn’t been, Michael reminds himself as he let Adam kiss him in greeting. Even so, he finds himself having to draw in a long, calming breath when he looks over and sees the soulless Ghoul grinning at him, reclining on the bed, unbothered and completely naked.
Souls are immaterial things and not subject to the laws of gravity. And as such, when Michael dropped the Ghoul’s soul, it didn’t so much hit the ground as float gently toward the bed, inherently drawn to the other part of itself that resided within the Ghoul’s body. When it reached him, it fazed right through the Ghoul’s chest, without ceremony, and only then did the self-satisfied smirk leave the Ghoul’s face, as he bolted upright, looking like he was about to be sick. Adam was concerned, but Michael assured him that everything was fine. The Ghoul’s head was merely spinning as a decade’s worth of memories inserted themselves into his consciousness, merging who he’d been on earth with the part of him that had fought for his life in Purgatory.
“He should probably stay in bed. It will take him awhile to adjust.”
“Right. . .” Adam nodded and turned back to Michael. It was actually a little surprising how quickly concern disappeared from Adam’s demeanor, Adam trusting Michael’s assessment of the situation unequivocally. Heat replaced it as Adam’s lips found Michael’s again. “I know you don’t need to sleep, but do you want to lay down with us for awhile?”
Adam already had a hand lightly resting on Michael’s belt.
Still on the bed, the Ghoul was watching them with interest.
Later, when Adam was asleep, half sprawled on Michael’s chest with the Ghoul curled against his back, Michael opened his eyes when he felt finger tips idly moving over his stomach. He looked over and found the Ghoul, propped up on one arm, watching the movements of his own hand over Adam’s shoulder, with an expression on his face that Michael found unreadable. The Ghoul’s hand withdrew, and Adam nuzzled in closer to Michael when he moved incrementally, trying to get a better look at their third companion. And even as the Ghoul laid there, perfectly still when their eyes met in the dark, as an angel Michael was aware of how the Ghoul’s heartrate spiked as he seemingly sucked his tongue for a moment before saying, “Thanks for, you know.”
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He remembered the day he first saw Him, the anointed one. With his clear skin, supple lips, beautiful body, and his humble demeanor, no one could see him and not immediately be taken. Judas had followed him across the land, preach to everyone to let His Father into their lives, and to let him into them. Judas knew no one could be so intimate with Jesus except for himself. Perhaps Jesus is humble, and perhaps he submits himself to man, but Judas is the only one Jesus has ever felt kin with. They both had a purpose in this land, and Judas’s was to serve Jesus. And so he would let Jesus inside of him. And as Jesus took off his clothing, showing his body in all its nakedly divine glory, Judas thought that this was the man kings had bowed to. He had never felt such a desire in his life. He wanted to truly know what it meant to be one with God. Jesus had already been baptized once, and now all Judas wanted to do was to bathe in his sweat, blood, tears..... and whatever other juices came out of him. Judas wanted to be baptized and cleansed of all the sins he was currently committing, that he was about to commit. “Forgive me, Father,” he whispered, as he took a blind step forward. He felt as if he was walking on water, as if it was him that day on the lake instead of Peter. He was blindly putting all of his faith into the one he worshipped, hoping that he would accept him, every part of him, as Judas would soon accept Jesus. He reached out to Him, He who was anointed in oil. The sun behind him had almost made a halo around his head. As Angels welcomed his birth, so too would they welcome his life, and surely, no one could feel more alive than as Judas did, standing in the naked presence of his savior. The tips of his fingers barely grazed at Jesus’ chest, drawing a groan like a prayer from Him. He didn’t look like a man in this moment—no, He looked ethereal. Divine. Glorious. He looked like God. And Judas would worship him on his knees. The golden glow lit the room as if the entire house was on fire from Jesus’ holiness, now unmasked from his clothes. And Judas was burning in it, reveling, soaking it up and shivering with the pleasure from his head to his chest to his stomach.... and a bit lower. Judas slowly sank to his knees, still reveling in the Lord’s presence, before bowing his head to place soft kisses on his feet. Jesus knelt, taking his hands. “There is no place for that here, Judas,” he said, giving a soft smile as he stared into his disciple’s eyes. He made a movement to raise him up, but Judas resisted, firmly placing himself on his knees, level with Jesus’s manhood, before looking up with pleasing eyes. “Please, Lord,” he choked. “Let me worship you. Let me take you, on my knees.” The Lord hesitated, if only for a moment, and then gave a brief nod. Judas felt relief wash over him as he leaned slightly forward, taking in Christ with the mouth he used to pray, gently swaying his head as he whispered prayers of forgiveness and gratitude, of reverence and sin. And he felt the moment he became one with the son of God, when he drank in the water of His skin, the wine of His blood, the bread of his Skin and the milk, the milk and honey Moses had spent his life leading his people in search for, and Judas had found it, sliding down his throat, settling into his stomach like a warm liquid gold. And as Jesus took himself out of Judas, laid him down on his bed, Judas could only feel reverence for the Lord. This was what men have spent their entire lives searching for. This was the moment when, in the forest of his mediocre life, after the winds and the hurricane and the flood and the snow, this was the moment of silence, when God himself spoke to Judas, “Worship me, and me alone, for I am thy God, and you are My subject.” So when his wrists were held down by His son, as if he was being crucified, he let himself go. He lost complete control of himself, trusting in Jesus as his friend and his Savior. And he let Jesus inside of him. It was unexpected, but not unwelcome—how most meetings with the Master of Mankind were. Judas had taken the fruit of the devil, the one created in the garden of Eden itself, and found himself addicted. He could not shy away from his purpose on earth—to only be a vessel for God Himself to do unto earth His will. He accepted it. Allowed it. Reveled in it. Basked in the weight of the warm body on his and the glorious ache building between his thighs. Judas felt his burning bush, felt his cock flush as it rose with heat as the son of God set him ablaze. And as he came, as he released himself, he found himself whispering sweet prayers to the Father once more, thanking Him for the task he had given him, praising Him for his infinite wisdom. And when Jesus was finished with him, He knelt on the ground by the bed and kissed at Judas’s feet, who was too dazed with glory to be aware enough to stop it. And when Jesus looked up and into his eyes, He looked at him with reverence.
i did not write this
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