#all tied to a key (kingdom hearts verse)

[damaprimavera]

Square Enix needs to man up and have Spring as a summon and make her Yen Sid's old lover

[damaprimavera]

Spring exhaled. Heavily.

"It's not a costume. It's my body. I am made like this"

Her hair swayed while a few bees and butterflies fluttered and buzzed on the flowers and vines that spontaneously grew on the vines tangled among the wavy green mane.

@damaprimavera had follow you

"What kind of costume you wearing girlie it almost looks magical to yours truly"

[satellite-blossom]

NEW ART !? It's more likely than you think !

I've redesigned Léa's Magical form again, but this time around I've actually colored (& shaded) the whole thing ; I'll share more of my process under the read more.

Feel free to reblog this (but it's ok if you don't) !

(Léa use they/them pronouns and are agender)

So this is Léa's old Magical form, or at least the last art of it I had completed before the 2024 version :

I was going for a fancy, somewhat ouji inspired outfit that'd still be comfortable to wear, as Léa Acorn's style is all about being cute yet comfy. Their body saw no change from their regular form.

I think I was already not fully satisfied with this design by the end of 2021, but as time went on my list of grievances kept growing longer. I started to dislike how much of the design was pure white ; it's not really something I like on Magical Girl designs but for some reason I included it here, probably because I was trying to branch out and take inspiration from series like Lolirock & Pretty Cure for once. I also ended up finding the jacket kinda dumb, or at least the way it fit on top of the shirt seemed off. I had no idea how to color the shoes when I drew this design and it was bugging me more and more over time.

But while I fell out of love with the outfit, my main grievance was the staff-paintbrush-scythe hybrid, which was not only drawn poorly but also pretty boring. I couldn't help but try to redesign it just a month or two after completing the new ref, but I didn't want to redo the whole thing as back then I still made my refs in Microsoft Publisher with the help of Photofiltre, which was a slow and painful process I dreaded.

(Léa's Mobian forms 2021 ref, for... Reference)

So between my laziness, art block and the general state of my life I wasn't able to complete any new design before this year (2024). Let's break down this new design, shall we ?

This was my main inspo board this time around :

As you can see I kept the lolita/ouji influence but added some streetwear elements to it. I felt like the previous design didn't do a great job showcasing the mix of preppy prince & comfy fashion Léa are supposed to encapsulate, so I brought up pictures of a character that had only influenced their story and personality so far : Sora from Kingdom Hearts !

It's not something I bring up a lot anymore, but I used to be well-versed in Kingdom Hearts lore and Léa's story was heavily influenced by it ; they were even supposed to fight with a keyblade at one point ! Design-wise, I borrowed the length of Sora's shorts/jumpsuit for Léa's bloomers, and replaced their cropped suit jacket by a short-sleeved hoodie (which also mirrors some of their Sonic.exe world designs). I mixed these elements with lolita items for a cuter look.

Léa share my love of ties, so I've replaced their bow tie by a regular one ; it's somewhat short to showcase their shirt, which is a revamped version of the old one.

For the legwear I took inspiration from some long flowy legwarmers I saw in a few fairy kei coords, and also the shoes from this CocoPPaDolls screenshot I've taken years ago, back when the game was still up :

(I miss this game every day)

And of course I needed the shoes to be velcro LED shoes, because that's just the Léa Acorn way.

The rounded pink heart-shaped gems throughout the outfit were somewhat inspired by Amulet Heart from Shugo Chara.

Talking about gems, time to talk about the staff ! It was inspired by Amulet Spade's paintbrush, some Lolirock items, and a bunch of bootleg Magical Girl wands. Why reference bootleg wands, you might ask ? Well, since they're already off compared to the real deals, they allow me to not design wands that are too similar to ones from well-known properties.

I've been meaning to make Léa's eyes pink in their magical form for years but didn't actually follow through for a while. I ended up making their eyes brownish pink to not make their eyes too light, as I felt like it'd remove some of their charm (I already felt guilty for not keeping their eyes brown in this form). And of course, I had to bedazzle their eyes to hell and back.

Actually all this shininess and sparkling was inspired by the original drawing of Léa's Magical Form drawn all the way back in 2017 and redrawn in 2018 :

For some reason I took a lot of inspiration from Sailor Moon for these despite Léa's role being inspired by Card Captor Sakura (and Kingdom Hearts). Also Wish Gems used to be called "Magical Chaos Emeralds" and look just like the regular Chaos Emeralds, which was kinda dumb. But I loved the energy of these pieces so I've tried to recapture the "sparkly pink magical transformation void" vibes they had ; I hope I've succeeded on that front.

Anyway, thank you for reading this all the way through ! I hope this was an interesting read, somewhat.

[e-devotion]

thank God for all He has done

This week I am going to continue to share one passage of Scripture, Philippians 4:6-7.  Just two verses, and these God gave me three decades ago as a Bible promise.  I have quoted these maybe more than any other verses I have hid in my heart.  We will take the verse apart and simply learn from it as well as apply what it says.

And here we go…

Philippians 4:6-7 NLT  

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

So many things stick out in these verses.  We have talked about praying about everything and not worrying.  Today we will talk about being thankful.  The rest of this week we will talk about having God’s peace and how God’s peace guards us.

Today we go a little further to give us one piece that we struggle with, or that I struggle with.

Thank Him for all He has done.

Being thankful or grateful is a big deal.  People who are not thankful tend to be stingy and often extremely self-centered.  Have you found that to be true?

Choosing to be thankful changes our minds as well as our situations.  Being thankful can open up doors or conversations or even blessings all around our lives.  What these verses say about being thankful is big.  Are you ready?

First is the direction of our thanks.  Thank God.  Thank Him for all He has done.  Acknowledge that God has worked is working and you know He will work in the future.

Second is the benefit of our thanks.  Less worry, more prayer and fueled with thanks.  Often being thankful is part of the more powerful prayers.  Just stop and thank God when you recognize His word or His work.  

Third and finally is the fact of thanks being partnered with peace.  There is a key to all this.  Maybe it is prayer, but maybe it is being thankful.  Either way both are important and both go well together.  Like jelly and peanut butter.  Like ham and cheese.  Like a glove and a hand.  Like a head and a hat.  You get the picture.

May we always be thankful.  May we be more thankful today than we were yesterday.  Thankfulness is a by product of a heart turned toward God.  Think about it.

1 Thessalonians 5:18  NASB  

in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.

Being thankful is part of obeying God and part of His will for our lives.

Hebrews 12:28  NLT  

Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe.

Worship breeds being thankful.  Yep, prayer and worship are tied together.  There is thankfulness right with it.

May we be thanking God for all He has done!

[painfulbass]

☾ ˚⊹  ❛❛  GENERAL QUICK CROSSOVER GUIDE

So crossovers are usually difficult for a lot of people. So, because I tend to think about these things, I thought I would make this comprehensive list/guide to writing crossovers with me. This isn’t anything in concrete, but to get the ball rolling or to help make it easier for both sides to contribute to plotting. It can be hard when you don’t know the fandom.

FNF, or Friday Night Funkin’ is a rhythm based game around rap battles. The Protagonist (known as BF) is trying to prove himself and win over his Girlfriend’s (GF) Dad, and it spirals from there. Gameplay style, it is very similar to Dance Dance Revolution, and the music is a fast pasted dubstyle/chiptune soundtrack.

What a lot of people know FNF for, however is the Mods. Due to it being on Newgrounds, and the creators having it be open asset, many creators are able to make their own “weeks” for players to challenge their skills in. Ruv, and those within Mid Fight Masses, are one of those mods. You can find most of their lore scattered in the scenes of their week, or by going on their official FNF Wiki.

Now, what does this mean for crossovers? I put it under a read more, simply because this is going to be a lot. I’m going to explain crossover verses I have. How I make them, and how YOU could have your character be in the FNF verse quite easily. So go under the read more to continue reading.

☾ ˚⊹  ❛❛  RUV IN OTHER UNIVERSES

Here are some just ideas that I came up with. While not EVERY interaction will work with these, they are ideas. They’re meant to kick start ideas and inspirations. I do not consider these full verses until I’ve talked with the other mun to make sure that they are okay with it. These can easily be changed, and swapped out for different things. My main goal here is to try and keep Ruv down to his core elements while fitting into a new setting.

POKEMON- Ruv, along with Sarv run the church- which she has turned into a sanctuary and a Nursery. Much like in Canon, Sarv is supernatural, and Ruv as a run away criminal vowed his life for all eternity to protect her. With church’s going out however, the next next step would be a PokeNursery.           Ruv acts as protector of the Nursery from trainers and groups alike. He usually is seen sitting on the roof, throwing pebbles at kids or passerby’s who irk him in some way. You can always find his Onix, his Low-Key Toxtricity, and his Absol around him or the nursery at all times. He does still have his strength, speed, and other abilities. The “face” he has is also a mask- an attempt to hide his identity as the wanted criminal.

OWL HOUSE- Ruv was a wanted criminal for the longest time. His magic, due to where he was born was a lot less like those around him. He could fit into the covens, but anything he did reflected back on him. Living alone, and learning to just modify himself he became a wanted criminal with a bone breaking shout.            However all of those times soon came to a stop as he met the winged mistress he stays with now. Protecting her (though she is much more than capable of protecting himself) she runs one of the many sects in the area. It isn’t the best building, but it’s out of the way and he usually isn’t spotted. However, unfortunately his past comes back to haunt him. He has no choice, and begrudgingly assists the Guards to repay for his crimes.           Tied to Sarv through magical bonds, he has made it clear to those in charge and to her- should something come between his duty as a guard or her, he would chose her a million times over.

DUCKTALES- Ruv is the petrified remains of the guardian of St. Sarvente. Awoken as the earth was shifted off of it’s orbit and forced into something it’s not, the callous guard is in search of the one he calls Sarvente, whom he claims is the Ruler of Souls and the one he Vowed to Protect. He is, 100% made of stone.

TOONTOWN- Stickfigures aren’t uncommon drawings. One’s as complicated as he and Sarv though usually get a few eyes. Not only that, but video game characters are always treated differently in Toontown. Maybe it’s because of a developers history, or lack there of. The story of Ruvyzvat being a heartless killer however spreads like wild flower, and while he and Sarv will primarily stay at the church... sometimes curiosity becomes too much.

KINGDOM HEARTS- FNF is it’s own world. Keyblade turned into a microphone, Ruv & Sarv are some of the first that would be met. Despite their challenge, they are rather distanced from the troubles of the Darkness and Light and would be semi-good companions. 

THE BLACKOUT CLUB- Ruv is a 16. Any day will be the day that a voice will end up taking over, merging with his mind. That’s fine. Much like how Seed-The-Grudge would want, he’ll just get revenge.

HAZBIN HOTEL / HELLUVA BOSS- Ruv ironically enough is one of the few in Hell who does not make him dead. In fact, in some cases that can make him extremely rare. This crossover he IS able to accompany Sarvente into the Underworld, and follow her on her treks through it. While most assume he is a dead sinner, he usually just doesn’t answer. However something about being here and meeting those who reside within the land sets him off. He’s a tad more feral, and a tad more willing to go to the violent answer.

PORTAL- Violence core. What else is there to say? Alternatively, him being a test subject would be fascinating, especially if he was grabbed post-vow. The man is immortal, and therefore would have messed with the tests just by the fact that there is only way for him to die. Death isn’t the worst thing to happen to a man however, and he does still feel pain.

RWBY- Ruv has the ability to manipulate sound waves, specifically his own). Trained with great strength and and even greater speed, his form of combat is continuously dodging as he looks for a weak spot. Weapons of choice are shot gun snow boots, and his sickle that doubles as a short sword.

DOCTOR WHO- Sarv has the ability to create portals. While they are MEANT to be used to intergalactive travel, but instead parallel world travel that in of itself is monumental for a lot of DW plots. Ruv and Sarv can easily go from one universe to the next, however chose to stay in the church. Not to mention Ruv’s skills in target elimination and his abilities would make for some individuals to repurpose him into a weapon. While they have been approached by UNIT on several occasions, they always refuse. However, enough time has passed that they’re starting to notice that the couple in the church aren’t aging...

FNAF- RUVYZVAT and SARVENTE were creations of Fazbear Entertainments as karaoke machines... if we want to go the robot route. If we want to go the normal person route, Ruv was hired by Fazbear’s because it’s one of the few places that doesn’t do a background check, and when he said he wanted to wear a mask as part of the work outfit they were all for it. He runs the karaoke machine though. Stays away from quite literally everyone. While he isn’t the infamous killer of children here, he does have a reputation of his own that he is running from, and that does tend to make him silent.

BATIM- Criminal on the run stumbles into the wastelands formerly known as Bendy’s. Actually enjoys it at first because the cartoon was popular when he was a child. ALT. Stickman drawing of one of the artists come to life. Usually pretends to be Lost One, but when he’s alone with another (Sarvente) they turn into their stickman version selves. Has the ability to jump between 2 and 3 dimensions, but none of the strength or voice.

PSYCHONAUTS- Agent Ruvyzvat, Russian sector. Ruv is working for the Psychonauts in some weird, turning event. Mainly because the sole woman that he trusts and saved his life, Agent Sarvente brought him in. The two are inseparable, and despite Sasha and Nein being infamous for their clinginess, these two take it to a whole knew level. Ruve’s “loud voice” is actually a psychic ability he can use outside of the mind to jumble and confuse thoughts and has no damage on anything physically in the present.

GRAVITY FALLS- Sarvente is a Demon, much like Bill. Where sa Bill desires nothing but chaos and madness, Sarvente is trying her best to keep the world like it is and preserve it’s beauty. Seeing such beauty in a runaway criminal, she and he run to the forests of Oregon. Throughout Weirdmageddon, neither managed to be captured or turned to stone, however Ruv seemingly gained his incredible voice abilities. Now, they live in a semi-collapsed church out in the forest. Sarvente always asking those who come her way to join their church, Ruv is suspicious why such events would happen in such a small town, and is distrusting of most everyone he sees.

DETECTIVE CONAN / KAITOU KID / ANY ANIME OR SERIES LIKE THAT- VERY infamous criminal. Take his “Wanted Dead or Alive” that exists in all other verses, and ramp that up quite a bit. Usually wears a mask whenever he is committing a crime. He does seem to be in it for the fun, though it’s hard to tell with the stoic and expressionless looks. That being said, he does seem to have a very clear goal of what he wants. There are no patterns to where he hits, or what he takes. From wallets of people off the streets, to priceless artifacts. He’ll find where Sarvente went, and how they were able to change her mind in such a way.... how they could corrupt her.

MODERN / NON-EXTREMELY FANTASTICAL- Ruv is honestly a rather down to Earth individual, in some terms. He is untrusting of EVERYTHING, but also due to his own strengths finds little that fear or challenges him. Keep him mind he did make a deal with Lucifer (or his Lucifer) for Immortality for protecting her. While he will always be doing things on his own, a lot of his end goals and motives will come back to her. Without her involvement, he is a walking, talking, machine of destruction with no sway on which side he decides to tear apart.

☾ ˚⊹  ❛❛  GENERAL STOPPING POINTS FOR WANTING TO PLOT

DON’T KNOW THE WORLD YOU’RE FROM / YOU DON’T KNOW MY LORE. - That’s fine. I can get my hands dirty. I can research. In fact I usually would love nothing more to. I love learning about new fandoms, or new media to get into. You shouldn’t be afraid of that. As for mine- It should take someone less than an hour to get through all of the links I have posted in the RESOURCES tab in my bio. I’ve timed it. So if you have an hour to spare, or 15, or just enough time to read his wiki that’s fine. He’s not from a long running show, or anything like that. You can catch up extremely quick.

WELL WHAT ABOUT A BOOK/COMIC? HOW WOULD HE FIT IN?- If we are talking about Super Hero comics, then it depends. 90% of the time I will just play up his wanted status a lot more, and make it more of a reason for an interaction. You just ran into a man who has killed hundreds. If your muse is a super hero, or a vigilante? Would you let him go? What a villain? That might make a good partner.

TV SHOW? LIVE ACTION?- Again, it depends on the type of show. Superhero follows the same above. If it’s investigative, have him be a witness. Or a falsely accused man who can prove he isn’t the guilty party. Is it more supernatural- well he did make a deal with Lucifer and is an immortal now from it. There are a million ways to spin it. Don’t look at making him a big character. Quite honestly, side characters that you pass in the street have just as much backstory, and as long as there is a plausible chance of interactions then we can work it out from there.

☾ ˚⊹  ❛❛  GENERAL IDEAS TO BE AWARE OF THAT MIGHT HELP

HE IS A WANTED CRIMINAL.- Meaning his name Ruvyzvat is known. Despite his crimes going on for decades, he is on the run and never stopped. Several city, state, countries, and possibly nations are looking for him, and looking to take him in.

HE IS ALSO AN IMMORTAL.- While he hasn’t been around forever, and nearly not as long as Sarvente has been, he HAS been around for at least 100 years, give or take some. He can be injured, but even fatal injuries heal in an almost Deadpool like way.

HE ALSO HAS SUPERNATURAL POWERS.- His speed and reflexes alone is not something to be taken lightly. He does train and fight with Lucifer on what used to be a semi-regular basis. He has moved and adapted to be able to make sure no one but the singular person he trusts is able to lay a hand on him. That isn’t to say you can’t catch him off guard. You also have his inhuman strength to worry about, but most of all his voice. His voice which could completely demolish a building, and that isn’t the full strength. He has an amazing control over it, but that certainly isn’t a trait of his to ignore.

HE IS NOT ALWAYS IN THE CHURCH. I MADE SURE OF THAT WHEN I MADE MY BLOG.- He goes on walks, and he goes on errands. He also goes to the Gym on occasion, though not as often. He enjoys walks on the beach far earlier than anyone should be awake at. What I’m saying is running into him OUTSIDE of the church is possible. That being said, meeting him IN the church is your best bet for him warming up quicker. He feels safer in the church, and therefore usually wishes to stay there.

DOESN’T FIT THE STYLE OF CHARACTERS/WORLD? - If he doesn’t fit, then I can work to adapt him into something that WOULD fit. What characteristics about him doesn’t work. This is when I would need plotting help. If, lets say it was an all animal world, we can talk about what he is, his traits, and other such things. I am always happy to not use my icons- I just like to because I think they’re neat and I worked hard on them.

WHAT WOULD HE BE DOING?- Any number of things. He likes throwing pebbles at people. He mainly guards and protects Sarvente and her things, but I know we’re talking besides this. He cannot cook, but he does actually sew, and he does read quite a bit. Working on his fist to fist fighting would be a big one. He likes secluded areas, which especially work for explorer’s and people who walk off the beaten path.

IS THERE ANYWHERE HE COULDN’T BE?- He wouldn’t be at a bar. Ruv doesn’t drink, at all. I also don’t see him at any parties unless Sarv dragged him to them. Writing starters or plotting around those are perfectly fine, but do not expect his muse to be comfortable while he’s there.

HE SEEMS OVERPOWERED.- At times, he certainly can be, but only when he feels it’s necessary. He doesn’t flaunt his abilities, and most he has are out of self preservation. If you as a mun are worried about him and what he can do, the best thing you can do is read my information, look into his wiki, and then come and talk to me. Ruv isn’t someone who will 100% abuse what abilities he has, especially since now he is trying his best to be better for her since it makes her happy.

☾ ˚⊹  ❛❛  GENERAL IDEAS TO HAVE YOUR CHARACTERS IN HIS UNIVERSE

LOCATIONS?- The Church, the back alleys, the karaoke bar (that primarily does rap battles), the Alternate dimension that Sarv made so that he can be loud and not retrain his voice.

MOTIVATIONS?- If your muse is in the FNF world, then be ready for some sick beats to be dropped. Your muse could be rescuing someone from the BBEG and going through the slew of minions to sing against. There’s always the alternative side of this of “what the hell is going on?”

MY CHARACTER ISN’T FROM THERE, SO THEY WOULDN’T FIT IN.- Well I do have a “main” verse which replaces raps with fists. Looking for someone important to them, in the search of a deep and hidden artifact within the search, the rumors of a man born 100 years ago- theres a lot to be found in the library if you looked.

WHAT DOES THE FNF WORLD CONSIST OF?- It consists of Demon Daddies, Singing Skeletons and Pumpkins, Tankmen, a Demonic Lemon Demon, Sentient Video Game Characters, and if you take the mods in you also have Demon, Angels, Ghosts, Deadly Ex’s, Bomb Headed Men-- I promise your character will fit in at the end of the day.

ISN’T HE EXTREMELY AGGRESSIVE AND HARD TO TALK TO?- He can be. He talks in very short sentences, however I do my best to give my reply enough that you can reply to. Actions, and I chose to be very descriptive with his expressions in this case. Ruv spend many years alone, and sometimes with him, actions speak louder than words. When you or your muse figure that out is up to you.

WELL WE CAN’T DO AN ENTIRE THREAD IN A CHURCH.- I never said we had to. He is more than happy to leave the church should he want, and should there be a reason. Usually, (despite what it seems) he does like helping people, so you can lure him out that way ;)

[damaprimavera]

They didn't know a massive elk was watching closely, hidden in the foliage, ears perking up and then galloping swift as the wind through bushes and trees.

His call echoed throughout the whole forest, an alarm for the Guardian of that World.

The plants at the base of the dormant volcano slightly shook: massive roots, brambles, thorns, all moved as if they had their own will, as well as many eyes from the woods.

"Leave" commanded a voice, feminine, delicate like fresh dew.

"I know your purpose. And I won’t repeat myself"

For @damaprimavera

The Forest smelled of old gods and new life. Trees like cathedrals of forgotten powers raised their branches in eternal worship of the Sun. The water was clear, like diamonds cut from the deepest dreams of the Earth. Whatever gave power to this land...that held the Firebird here...it felt ancient and powerful...

Hook's body tightened. He'd face fae, monster, and angel before; this was just another place to be plundered.

He raised his iron claw. Heartless crawled out the shadows of weathered trees, shards of the darkest of emotions given life. Dressed as they were as pirates, there was no humanity in their new life, and they looked to their master with empty eyes save cruelty.

"Stay about me, and give what is left of your life to me," he commanded. Nodding, they danced about, following like parodies of children to their father.

He extended his hand, and felt the magic in the air. The Darkness...yes, at first he thought it mere imagination, but in truth it was coming strongest from the volcano. Dead as it was and covered in dense greenery, there was no mistaken it's once-hidden power.

"Of course...a Firebird dwells in the heart of a dead volcano." he smiled at the twist of it all. "Let us go unlock the power of gods," he grinned at his sadistic band.

He stepped to the base of the volcano, his merry troupe following suite.

[raz-b-rose]

Hey so,, the Bible states that Eating burgers is a sin Women speaking in church is a sin Wearing blended fabric is a sin Eating SHRIMP is talked about more in the Bible as a sin than homisexuality is Women wearing pants is a sin Writing in your Bible or defacing it in any way is a sin Do some research on your own religion if you're going to preach it

Thank you for asking, I love this opportunity to help bring understanding to commands such as these. Thank you for your patience, lets get to it. 

I can understand the overwhelming presence that is Gods word. Its a big book full of a lot of things that take a lot of cross referencing on occasion. After all, it is just one continuous story of God who was and is and always will be. 

Warning, there's a lot.

Anyway there is a simple answer to all of those and it starts all the way back at Abraham. Some quick condensed history. God chose Abraham to establish the Hebrew/Jewish people. He faithfully followed Gods commands, and Isaac was born from his faithfulness and for Gods promise. A promise that Abraham’s offspring would cover the earth. 

Isaac then had Esau and Jacob. Jacob then had 12 sons, Joseph the youngest was used to bring the Israelite people to Egypt. Where the Egyptians turned them into slaves. 

Now enter Moses. God used this man to bring them out of Egypt and towards the promise land. This is where God starts to establish what would set his chosen people apart from the rest of the world. The old laws were there for their faithful obedience and for outsiders to know “thats an Israelite”. 

The entirety of the OT speaks of Gods character, plans for salvation, and absolute authority. The laws are a reflection of that as well. 

so now we have the group of laws God had Moses establish.

Now Jesus fulfilled the OT law. 

Matthew 5:17-20 (Jesus speaking)

17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. 19 Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least vin the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great vin the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Part of that fulfillment was the laws on food. Food was used to represent Holiness/ cleanliness. Everything about them had to be clean (their bodies, their homes, their sacrifices, etc.) Blemish free. 

The Pharisees had twisted the laws to become legalistic and strict. An example would be here

Mark 7:14-23 (Jesus speaking)

14 And he called the people to him again and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand: 15 There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him.”[e]17 And when he had entered the house and left the people, his disciples asked him about the parable. 18 And he said to them, “Then are you also without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile him, 19 since it enters not his heart but his stomach, and is expelled?”[f] (Thus he declared all foods clean.) 20 And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. 21 For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, 22 coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. 23 All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”

Food isn't what makes us unclean anymore, but rather the condition of our heart. 

There is also a lot of debate over Acts 10:9-16

But I believe this passage has a double meaning. God is reminding Peter that he does not need to be legalistic to be “clean” anymore. Therefore the laws for food were fulfilled. This is reflected in his interpretation of the vision in verses 27-29. 

Remember there was clean food and unclean food. Same for people. You weren't to associate with “unclean people”. Jesus fulfilled this law by opening the path to God to everyone, not just Jews. God gave the great commission to go out into all the world to everyone to preach the good news. This meant that anyone now had direct access to God, and the Jews no longer had to go through the extra steps to seek forgiveness. Salvation is within everyone's grasp, no matter what. 

The command for blended fabric fits with these as well. 

Deuteronomy 22:9-11

“You shall not sow your vine yard with two kinds of seed, lest the whole yield be forfeited, the crop that you have sown and the yield of the vineyard. You shall not plow with an ox and a donkey together. You shall not wear cloth of wool and linen mixed together. 

By reading this we see the pattern that God is commanding that things that are different should be kept separate. Again we need context of the time. 

Pagans in the area believed that by mixing things together they would achieve “magical” results. So God made this law to set them apart from them. He reaffirms this command, even going as far as to say not to let cattle bread with different cattle, in Leviticus 19:19. 

In todays context, what sets us apart from others is our internal change that is projected outward. We become lights for God, and show Him through our change. Of course none of us are perfect, and if we aren't careful it can quickly become fake and legalistic. 

We can wear blended fabric because Jesus fulfilled this law. 

Next keeping with our fabric theme, clothing. This verse comes from Deuteronomy as well, so I will just put the link for both here. 

Deuteronomy 22:5

 “A woman shall not wear a man’s clothing, nor shall a man put on a woman’s clothing; for whoever does these things is utterly repulsive to the Lord your God.”

Some pretty strong language right there, but it's important to acknowledge why. We are sinners. God set very clear laws on what was and wasn't allowed. Remember that was to set His people apart, and to test their faithfulness. 

Historically at the time men and women dressed very similarly. There were cultural ways used to discern between genders and that is what this verse is talking about here. Men did not wear pants when this law was written (at least not by the Jewish people) so why would it be a sin for women to wear pants today? It simply isn't. (Just because human men decided to use the bible to push their weird sexist agenda via mistranslation, does not mean this is what this verse intended.)

To apply it to a modern setting, it would be “why are you wearing what you are? How do you want people to perceive you? What is your heart behind wearing these clothes?”

So really this is another verse directly tied to transgendered identity sin, again a pagan tradition at the time. 

ALL SIN is repulsive to the Lord. (The Hebrew word used in this verse is found all throughout the OT, with various uses.) Yes God established the laws, but He also established the sacrificial system for His people as well. He loved them, loved us, and gave them a way to atone for their sins and find forgiveness from God. 

But the sacrifice of animals could only go so far. That is why Jesus came to be the final sacrifice. The Lamb of Salvation for us. He willingly gave His life for us, just as we can willingly continue to sin against Him, or willingly give our lives to Him. 

Jesus fulfilled the laws and abolished the need for the sacrificial system.  

OK this one has no verse in the bible that God commands us to not write in our bibles. None. Unless I’m just having trouble finding it, it's not a thing. 

The sin is changing the words, as some translations do so you have to be very careful about which ones you use. 

I got a book from the library years ago that was like a devotional for teen girls. In the book it had a verse from Psalms that sounded weird to me and when I compared the translation to my ESV, it had removed the part about God's faithfulness and love. Took it right out. That is a huge problem! 

I know that translating the Hebrew and Greek to English is very difficult, especially given how the Greek had multiple words for love alone, and many other words. However, the languages are not so vastly different that you make changes like that without a prideful agenda. Good translations that I use, ESV, NASB, AMP for study purposes. As well as NKJV if you like a classic. I’m constantly comparing translations, and looking at original texts to get a feeling for what words were used. 

I encourage you to note your bible. Mark what speaks to you, the blessings, the commands, the warnings. Every time God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are mentioned, where verses intersect. Note everything. 

For some of our brothers and sisters around the world they may only have a few pages to pass between each other, or are able to have His full word and treasure God's words dearly and keep everything they can close. They want to remember it all, and remember what they learn. And God wants that for us. 

No writing in your bible is not a sin. Changing the words or removing them is a sin. 

Ok now onto your “woman can’t speak in church” debate. 1 Corinthians 14. But because of everything I’m about to get into, this answer will be longer than the others. Feel free to stop here and come back. I know I’ve already written a lot.  

First we need to look at the history of the city of Corinth, as when Paul wrote his letters, each one was tailored to the church in question and addressed their strengths and weaknesses. 

The city of Corinth was a trade city set in a key location for sailors from all over the world. Its citizens were from all over the world, though mostly Roman, Greek, Jewish, and even a considerable amount of Italians. Because there was such a mix of cultures, there were a mix of religions. 

The largest of these being the worship of the false goddess aphrodite. Sexual actions were common with her “temple” and prostitution was a rampant issue with the city. We have two sins of sexual nature and idol worship already. Within the church itself there were reports of incest, infighting, and drunkenness during services being reported as well.

Acts 10:1-23 is Paul's first visit to Corinth where he helped found the church. A family close to Paul and in the Corinthian church wrote to Paul with their concerns for how the church was conducting themselves. The 1 Corinthians letter (book) was written in response. 

The church was a blend of Jews and Gentiles. So practices such as the aforementioned were common practice within the city and the Gentiles were at a loss for how to conduct themselves because these things were common during the worship of false gods. 

Becoming Christ-like is a beautifully long process. It's not over night, no matter how much we wish it was. These people were still human and loved Christ but still knew very little about Him, and God the Father. (even some of the Jews had a lot of misconceptions they had to change) 

So at the very beginning of his letter, Paul reminds them of their new identity. (1:1-9) and reaffirms their forgiveness through Gods grace and faithfulness to our salvation. Nothing we do after we accept His gift can revoke it. It is ours for all time for one time. 

Woman and men were traditionally seated separately in synagogues so it makes sense that practice was still used in some new churches, such as that of the Corinthians, as they did have Jewish members. 

He is calling out woman for calling to their husbands during sermons and being disruptive. Paul is asking that they save their question for after. He is also teaching woman new to these practices, gentiles, how to be respectfully in the church. 

Paul encouraged woman to pray and praise in the church, chapter 11. So it would be contradictory for Paul to then turn around and say “woman can’t speak in church” in chapter 14. 

To answer, yes woman can speak in church, but not teach to a body of men. Women can teach women, but women can’t teach men. God established a order of command. 

God

Jesus

Men

Woman

Children

Following this upward, everyone is under authority of the role’s above them. That is how God designed the family unit, and in turn the church. The church is the body of Christ, and each of us have a purpose within his body for it function. Woman have a time and place to teach, and lead, but not to men. 

I am only addressing the command pertaining to women at this time. I would love to do an in-depth look at all of 1 Corinthians, there is so much to it. Really, thank you for the opportunity to study these passages deeper, and teach them to you. I hope I did, I hope these make sense now. 

I do need to add. When comparing these commands to the command of homosexuality, its important to remember the context. Homosexuality is a sin because it goes against Gods very direct design for mankind, how the family unit functions in direct relation to the church. These other ones however were established for a period of time to set the people apart from outsiders, and do not go against His intended purpose for creation. That is a very big difference.

Feel free to ask anything else, I loved doing this. I will try to get something for all of 1 Corinthians out, but I have a full life at the moment, so it will probably take awhile.

Praying and God bless 

[itsyourchoicedevotionals]

Wrong Side

“…Cross this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them, to the sons of Israel.” Joshua 1:2NASB

The time had come for Joshua to lead the Israelites into the ‘promised land.’ Joshua receives his marching orders from God. For forty years the faithless Israelites had wandered around in the wilderness very close to the land they were to possess. Every faithless person in the faithless generation had died. Their children and the only two faithful men would cross together.

Joshua and Caleb had seen the miracles in Egypt. These young people had heard about miracles but had seen nothing spectacular. To go, or to stay? They were all camped on the wrong side of the Jordan River. It took three chapters to pump up the faith of Joshua enough to lead them across. He had to go on with God going with him. But God wouldn’t slay the giants before their arrival. They had to slay the giants with the help of God.

We are there people, on the wrong side of the Jordan. God is King and His angel armies are fighting for us. But He’s not going to hand us the victory. Rather, we must take part in the fight. The miracles? They’re on the other side, in the fight, just as Joshua learned to be true.

Since the 1970’s God has been training His ground forces, us, in faith warfare. As a baby believer, one of the first things I learned is Matthew 16:18-20ESV “…on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (No government, no witches, no foreign governments, no organization from hell will prevail against God’s church.) “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” We have the keys. Will we use them?

Jesus gave us the sword of His word, Ephesians 6:17. We’re then told the ‘weapons’ 2Corinthians 10:3-5 are mighty. —How does one sword equal weapons? There are 31,102 verses in the Bible, with 8,810 promises. Depending upon what scripture Holy Spirit decides to bring life— Rhema, potentially thousands more promises. —How does a Bible verse become a weapon? Mark 11:23ESV “…whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be…’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him.” Speak and believe. —How do God’s words work? Hebrews 1:14ESV “Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?” We speak God’s word, binding distinct corruption, rendering the corruption ineffective— angels go to work to accomplish whatever scripture we’ve spoken. As we loose truth, righteousness, and Holy Spirit in those previously corrupted areas, strongholds will be pulled down. When we praise God we multiply the strength of God’s workers

Yahweh will have His Great Awakening and Revival. Our participation is desired to empower us, as we become more like our Bridegroom. He’s on the other side of the Jordan waiting on us to begin declaring, swinging our swords, dispatching angel armies. Holy Spirit doesn’t need us to fight. These battles could be won with His hands tied behind His back. Like Joshua, Gideon and their armies’ presence was required on the battlefield for the battle to be won— God wants us to be parts of the weak army fighting and seeing His mighty deliverance. Will we be there? It’s your choice. You choose.

PRAYER: Almighty God, we worship You. We’re crossing the Jordan, and coming onto the battlefield. We come out to speak Your word and sing Your praises. Help us to learn how to serve You in this new age, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray.

by Debbie Veilleux Copyright 2021 You have my permission to reblog this devotional for others. Please keep my name with this devotional, as author. Thank you.

[forthehunger]

I AM MADE OF MEMORIES

NAME: Patroclus ALIAS: Son of Menoetius, Prince of Opus, Patroclus Chironides, Skops, Best of men, Best of the Myrmidons SPECIES: Human ETHNICITY: Mixed (African, Mediterranean, Polynesian, Greek, possibly other) YEAR OF BIRTH: Unknown ORIENTATION: Bisexual Biromantic (cis-male, he/him) HOMETOWN: Opus (Opuntian Locris) OCCUPATION: Exiled prince, healer, soldier, student of pre-med, doctor (verse dependent)

PHYSICAL APPEARANCE

FACECLAIM: Jordan Fisher HAIR COLOR: Black EYE COLOR: Brown HEIGHT: 5 feet 6 inches PIERCINGS: TBD SCARS: Faint scar on his left knee, several thin pale scars on his legs

RELATIONSHIPS

MOTHER: Queen Philomela of Opus (formerly of Athens) FATHER: King Menoetius of Opus PATRON: King Pelion of Pthia MENTOR: Chiron SOULMATE, BEST FRIEND: Achilles Peleides

TALENTS & ABILITIES

Though Patroclus is an average soldier at best, it is important to note that who he measures himself against is Achilles. As children he had been able to keep up, more or less, with his demigod companion. Patroclus is not in the same league as popular Greek heroes like Achilles, Odysseus, or Ajax, but he’s not entirely incompetent either.

During their joint training under Chiron, Patroclus and Achilles learned how to hunt, heal sick animals, set splints, clean wounds, recognize herbs, plants, fungi and their healing properties, and whether or not they were edible. They also learned carpentry, blade-forging, the art of surgery, reading constellations, plus the myths that go along with them. 

In the war with Troy, Patroclus is able to utilize what he learned on Mount Pelion. He worked to treat the wounded in battle alongside the Greek’s camp physician, Podelarius, and his brother Machaon. . 

NOTES ON THE PORTRAYAL

My portrayal will be based on Madeline Miller’s book, The Song of Achilles, with influences from The Iliad. Patroclus was once the Prince of Opus, Son of King Menoetius and Queen Philomela. At age five, he first caught sight of golden Achilles when his father hosted the games (quite possibly an Olympic-like collection of sports) where Achilles won and was awarded the victor’s garland. 

At age nine, Patroclus set forth a proposal for Helen of Sparta’s hand, which was then rejected as Helen chose to wed Menelaus. This disappointed Menoetius so thoroughly that he angrily pulled his son off a bench so they could leave instead of join the consequent celebration. It was never brought up again. Shortly after, he accidentally murdered a nobleman’s eldest son named Clysonymus, who was harassing Patroclus into surrendering his dice. 

As punishment, Patroclus was exiled to Phthia, after King Peleus paid for him in his weight in gold. He was stripped of his title and disowned. He felt a significant amount of guilt and shame over his circumstances and it made him aloof around Peleus’ other wards. Achilles earned his friendship over time and Patroclus started to spend a lot of time with him.  

Key events from this point onward include their training at Mount Pelion, Thetis’ disapproval of Patroclus’ friendship with her son, Achilles’ hiding in the island of Scyros and his tryst with Princess Daidemaia which resulted in a pregnancy. Patroclus also slept with Daidemaia because the princess seemed desperately lonely. Important to note that Patroclus seemed to have physically enjoyed his time with Daidemaia even though his romantic feelings are exclusively for Achilles. 

Afterwards, when Odysseus found them in Scyros, Achilles and Patroclus are forced to join Menelaus’ war. Princess Iphigenia is brutally sacrificed to the goddess Artemis who Agamemnon has offended. At some point after a raid, Patroclus urged Achilles to rescue a prisoner named Briseis from Agamemon’s grasp. Patroclus and Briseis form an easy friendship and camaraderie. (Later on, Briseis came to harbor romantic feelings for Patroclus, which he said he wanted to return if only his heart wasn’t already tied to another.)

When Achilles’ pride was slighted, he refused to fight against Troy. He held back his forces from the war efforts which caused the Greeks to sustain significant damages. To prevent further deaths, Patroclus donned on the armor of Achilles so he could rouse the Myrmidons into joining the fight. He put himself at the center of it, which caught the attention of Hector. Patroclus ended up being slain by the Prince of Troy. 

VERSES

❖ MAIN: BEST OF THE MYRMIDONS ⟶ Covers all the events in book canon (TSOA + The Iliad influences).

❖ MODERN: A REMEMBRANCE OF STRENGTH ⟶ Patroclus is the disowned son of a politician. Another affluent family took pity and fostered him. Patroclus is 18+ in this verse and is in university, studying pre-med.

❖ FANTASY: MINGLE OUR ASHES ⟶ Exiled prince from the Kingdom of Opus, Patroclus was fostered by another king, and is now making his way throughout the world as a healer. Compatible with most fantasy verses.

[dailyaudiobible]

03/31/2021 DAB Transcript

Deuteronomy 16:1-17:20, Luke 9:7-27, Psalms 72:1-20, Proverbs 12:8-9

Today is the 31st day of March welcome to the Daily Audio Bible I'm Brian it is great to be here with you. If it's the 31st day of March then it's the last day of March and that's what it is, the last day of the third month of the year. So, the last day of March, the last day of the first quarter of the year. Whew! Can you believe it? It's just so weird, time. It’s just so elastic. It just…because I’m gonna be we saying the same thing to you in six months or whatever and it’s gonna be October and it will be like wasn't it just…wasn't it just March? But here we are. This is how it works. We just keep showing up. This is how it works. Show up, take the next step forward, show up, take the next step forward and we move all the way through the year together in community and through the Bible. And what a year it's been so far. So, anyway last day of the year. Congratulations for making it this far. If you have made it this far there is…you can do this. Like, it’s not a matter of whether you could or couldn't anymore. You can. You’ve made it a quarter of the year. We've got this. And, so, let's dive in. We are in the book of Deuteronomy as we reach the conclusion of our first quarter of the year. Moses is speaking. Moses is the speaker in all of Deuteronomy. These are the things that he needs to say before he is no longer the leader of this people before the transition of power or authority is bestowed upon Joshua and Moses becomes a part of history. And, so, Moses has everyone's attention. He has led them every step of the way and he's reviewing a lot of things and we’re reviewing a lot of the key aspects of the law at this point. Deuteronomy chapters 16 and 17.

Commentary:

Okay. So, we’ve already talked about how this is the last day the month, it’s the last day of the quarter. And, yeah, we’ll flip the page and tomorrow will be a new month and a new quarter and then the day after tomorrow will be good Friday. And, so, we’re in the middle of holy week and we’re coming to the end of the Lenten season for those who have kind of engaged in it to some degree. And we…we’re  moving toward Easter. And we very, very often just move past all of the holy week stuff, the contemplation of…of the sacrifice and just move into Easter and we’ve talked about that before too, about not doing that. And, so, this is kind of one of those times because we’re seeing this story where Jesus goes to Caesarea Philippi. And we talked about this story already but the question that comes out of the story - “who do you say that I am?” - there's not is not a more important question than that, maybe in life. But right now, as we are moving forward, moving forward into new seasons, and embracing where we are as…as we observe Good Friday and think of Jesus crucifixion and His death. And on Saturday just sitting with the loss, basically, because Jesus died and was laid in a tomb and laid in the tomb dead. Like all is lost and then all things are made new. And yet this question, “Who do you say that I am?” sort of burns its way through all of that and continues to come front and center because the answer to that question really truly dictates the trajectory of our entire life. And, so, it's fitting that we would cross this territory as we prepare to leave this quarter behind and move into a new month and move directly into Easter, that this question would sit there like the bookend at the end of a quarter, almost like everything that we have read and learned and thought about and contemplated in the Scriptures up to this point, almost like everything has been leading us to this question.

Prayer:

Jesus, we embrace that fully. We could answer like Peter, You are the Messiah, You are the son of the living God, and that is true, that is our declaration. And yet, how would we…where would we even start if we needed to say all that You are because You are more than we can say and You are more than enough. And yet even declaring that to You in a statement of worship it's also a convicting thing because we can say You are more than enough and then look at the way we live as if that's anything but true. And, so, this question “who do what You say that I am?” really does dictate where we’re going. We want to embrace that today and over the next several days as we move into and through the Easter celebration. What is our lives saying? Who do we say that You are? Come Holy Spirit into that question. Lead us down the pathways of our own hearts we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Announcements:

dailyaudiobible.com is home base, it's the website, it's where you find out what’s going on around here. Of course, as I've mentioned many times if you are using the Daily Audio Bible app you can access these things from there as well by using the Drawer icon in the upper left-hand corner.

So, yeah, check out the Community section. This is where the Prayer Wall is. This is where we get connected.

Check out the Daily Audio Bible Shop. This is where there are resources in many different categories that we've developed over the years for the journey. This particular one, the one that we’re on, the one that is a voyage through a year and across the entire Bible, so that…well…by the time we’re done we’ve read every word, every sentence, every paragraph, every verse. And it's a big book. And, so, taking a journey through a year and investing a year of life together in community to take this journey, there are many resources for that journey in the Daily Audio Bible Shop. So, check that out.

If you want to partner with the Daily Audio Bible, if this mission that we share to bring the spoken word of God read fresh every day and given freely to anyone who will listen to it anywhere on this planet any time of day or night and to build community around that rhythm so that we know we’re not alone on this journey, we’re together and we’re going through the same kinds of stuff our brothers and sisters are going through all around the world. And just have that solidarity as we take this journey is so important and so meaningful. And if that's been true for you, it's important and meaningful than thank you for your partnership. There is a link on the homepage at dailyaudiobible.com. If you’re using the app you can press the Give button in the upper right-hand corner or the mailing address, if that’s your preference, is PO Box 1996 Spring Hill Tennessee 37174.

And, as always, if you have a prayer request or encouragement you can hit the Hotline button in the app, which is the little red button up at the top or you can dial 877-942-4253.

And that's it for today. I’m Brian I love you and I'll be waiting for you here tomorrow.

Community Prayer and Praise:

Hello this is Mountain Girl from New Mexico I just want to thank Brian and Jill and everyone that's involved in the Daily Audio Bible. I've been listening for 12 years and it has become a major part of my life. I would like to pray for Phil. Father I ask that You’d bless his son Andrew who is having open heart surgery. I pray for guidance and wisdom for the doctors, and I pray for healing for Andrew, and I pray that You'd lead and guide Phil. Kingdom Seeker Daniel, I pray for his son Daniel and his mental illness and I just pray for healing for his mind Father. You are a great healer and I ask You to heal his mind. I pray for the lady that called in and sang tis so sweet to trust in Jesus. That was absolutely beautiful. Thank you. Miley from Canada who's retiring from being a family doctor and persecuted for her faith. I just pray for guidance for you and for wisdom and the Lord would lead you to exactly what He wants you to do. Marla from Kentucky whose friend Steve had a stroke. I pray for healing. I pray Lord that You would help him and help him to recover, and I just pray that everyone involved would become closer to You through this trial. C with postpartum and the kids and her husband, Lord I just pray for emotional healing for emotional support. I pray Lord that You would help them and that You would heal her and guide her. For redeemed Rachel whose pastors leaving in a cross-country move. I pray Lord that so many changes but that you would be her constant through all this and that You would be her rock. Jaws of Life in New Hampshire, I pray for you marriage and I pray that God would heal your marriage. I pray that He would be the steady force in your life that would heal. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Heidi DAB Family this is Laura in South Florida. Today is the 28th day of March and this morning I heard a prayer request from someone who did not give their name, but it was a girl who is dealing with a sexual sin. And I just want to tell you dear sister whenever you ask God for to forgive you, He forgives. God is always honest and always truthful. Whatever He says is true and He says if you confess your sins, He is faithful and just to forgive your sin and to cleanse you from all unrighteousness. My sweet sister you are forgiven. I love that word, forgiven. Believe me, I have…I have asked God to forgive me many times and I…I am so grateful for his forgiveness. And I just pray sister that you would just…just every time you feel an urge to sin that you would just say God, I can't do this without You. Please God Holy Spirit give me Your strength to do this and thank You Jesus.

Good morning Daily Audio Bible family my name is Julie I've been listening for many years, but this is the first time this introvert has called in and I just wanted to call because as we’re reading through Deuteronomy and listening to Moses his words for the people I can't help but think, you know, see what a compassionate person he is. Here he is not going into the promised land because of them yet he still loves them dearly and is still trying to teach them so that they can be successful. It's just…it is so wonderful, and I feel that this community is Moses too. I feel that we’re a compassionate people, the body of God helping each other, praying for each other. And I just wanted to call and say thank you to all of you are there for this community and keep…keep calling in with your praise reports, keep calling in with your prayers and, who knows, I might call in yet again. It only took four months this year before I made the commitment that I was. So maybe…maybe it won't take another four months for me to call in again but love you all. Thank you.

Hi DAB family this is your sister Julie from North Idaho. I just wanted to call and encourage my little sister that called and didn't leave her name on the podcast that was on March 28th. Sweetheart, thank you so much for making yourself vulnerable to the rest of us and you are in a safe place. And you called and asked the right people to help you out. We’re your brothers and sisters in Christ and we support you and we absolutely encourage you and want to thank you for asking for forgiveness. Honey, you're forgiven, first through the eyes of Jesus and then through your brothers and sisters in Christ in this DAB family. And we also want you to know that while you have been forgiven you need to forgive yourself sweetheart. And sometimes that's so much harder than asking for forgiveness from others. You need to know that you are washed and cleansed by the blood of Jesus, that He no longer counts your sin against you, and that just the fact that you are emotionally and spiritually asking for forgiveness and to be healed and restored, honey, know that it's already been done as soon as you asked Him. Lord we ask that you heal and restore our little sister. You know who…what her name is Lord and we just pray for deliverance and we pray for emotional healing, spiritual healing, and physical healing. To you be all glory honesty and honor Lord Jesus. We love you and honor you and thank you for hearing our prayer and putting your protection at our you're covering over our little sister. May she live in freedom praising you and thanking you for being her Lord and savior. We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen. I love you my brothers and sisters in Christ. Have a wonderful day and happy Easter. He is risen!

This is Candace from Oregon I'm gonna be asking prayers for Karen in Florida but before I do that I just want to say that in my own life, I'm 64 years old now, but I had children starting as a very, very young person first one born when I was 21 and my husband was a really, really great husband a really good provider, did not have as much of a vision as a parent. He didn't ever, you know, get up in the middle of the night with a baby or change a diaper. He didn't��that just wasn't his desire or his thing. He didn't go, you know, throw a ball with his boy or anything like that. So, I raised these three kids alone…also because he was working 70- or 80-hour weeks or off and he was in Asia or traveling somewhere far away. So, I raised them alone although we had materially what we needed. And, so, it was a great relief to me when I turned…we both turned 58 and he retired early. And at the time our oldest child was living here with us with her 3-year-old son and they lived here with us for three years that it was just really wonderful to parent this little boy together rather than me just alone. And, you know, it was really three of us parenting this little boy which was delightful. So, Lord I pray for Karen in Florida, a single grandma raising a 13-year-old in a high…she’s in a highly demanding job. The 13-year-old is homeschooling, she's raising a 3-bedroom household by herself. So, Lord lift her up, be her husband, make this go incredibly smoothly. Let her feel Your support around her at all times and Your guidance and Your provision and we ask this in Jesus’ name.

[ddearddigitalddiary]

folklore: Stoned Favorites

It’s been just about 48 hours since Queen Taylor surprised us with TS8 entitled folklore. This album was born out of quarantine and is becoming her highest critically acclaimed album yet. She’s fucking amazing, magical, powerful, etc. I’ve had a few listen throughs to digest it, but I’m still processing all of its beauty. It has quickly become a favorite. Taylor somehow has this power where she drops an album that is lined up perfectly to the events I’m going through in my personal life. Maybe I’m just finding how it relates to me and seeing myself in the album, but that’s the beauty of it anyways. Going through a tough breakup, living through a global pandemic, society is literally never going back to something we knew... It’s all a bit much. And Ms. Swizzle has put words to my deepest feelings, and as always helped me feel and heal. 

Here are my favorite parts of the beautiful, whimsical, mystical album that is folklore:

the 1: (this one hurts a little much for me right now...) we never painted by the numbers baby, but we were making it count, you know the greatest loves of all time are over now / in my defense i have none for never leaving well enough alone, but it would’ve been fun if you would’ve been the one

cardigan: (first of the love triangle, Taylor freaking Swift. this entire song is so beautiful. one of my faves and i cried the first time i heard it) i knew you stepping on the last train, marked me like a bloodstain I,  I knew you tried to change the ending, Peter losing Wendy I, I knew you leaving like a father, running like water I, and when you are young they assume you know nothing, but I’d knew you’d linger like a tattoo kiss, I knew you’d haunt all of my what if’s, the smell of smoke would hang around this long, cause I knew everything when I was young

the last great american dynasty: (a sweet little bop. i love this one. Taylor’s voice is so pretty. this guitar is *chefs kiss*) she had a marvelous time ruining everything / [the entire bridge!!!!] there goes the loudest woman this town has ever seen, i had a marvelous time ruining everything

exile: (again, this one hurts right now. a bit relevant.) you’re not my homeland anymore, so what am i defending now? / (pretty much Taylor’s whole verse because freaking ouch - it’s describing my heart space right now) i think i’ve seen this film before, so I’m leaving out the side door / cause you never gave a warning sign - i gave sooo many signs

my tears ricochet: (hearing this song with the framing of it being about B*g M*****e is so sad, heartbreaking, powerful) cause i loved you, i swear i loved you, til my dying day, i didn’t have it in myself to go with grace (and then really the whole entire rest of the song.) /  WHEN I’M SCREAMING AT THE SKYYY... YOU HEAR MY STOLEN LULLABIIIIES

mirrorball: (this one feels like 80′s prom or something, i’m in love) *hushh*  when no one is around my dear, you’ll find me on my tallest tip toes, spinning in my highest heels love, shining just for youuu

seven: (this one makes me feel like i’m in a grassy meadow, while of course swinging on a tree, with a light summer breeze) sweet tea in the summer, cross your heart won’t tell no other / love you to the moon and to saturn / (STRINGS) 

august: (another love triangle song, and it’s my favorite of the moment i think... i think. it also hurts a little bit because of my love life heart space ): ) i remember thinking i had you, but i can see us lost in the memory, august slipped away into a moment in time, cause he was never mine, and i can see us twisted in bed sheets, august sipped away like a bottle of wine, cause you were never mine / (and the fact that there’s beautiful flutes noticeable to me and beautiful saxophone is just super convenient for my feelings as well. also, beautiful fade out, *chefs kiss*)

this is me trying: (this beat going into the song goes hard. guess what - song again hits me like a truck. it’s like what i would want him to say to me. i picture it’s fairly similar to what he’s going through. who knows.) so i got wasted like all my potential, and my words shoot to kill when i’m mad, i have a lot of regrets about that 

illicit affairs: (these guitars are like hugging my ears) take the words for what they are, a dwindling mercurial high, a drug that only worked the first few hundred times (that line in particular hits) / don’t call me kid, don’t call me baby, look at this idiotic fool that you made me, you taught me a secret language i can’t speak with anyone else, and you know damn well for you i would ruin myself a million little times

invisible string: (again, guitars hugging the ears :). and of course, this song gives me hope for whatever, whoever could be out there for me. her runs are angelic) bad was the blood of the song in the cab on your first trip to la / time, mystical time, cutting me open then healing me fine~ / one single thread of gold tied me to you / hell was the journey but it brought me heaven / give me the blues and the purple pink skies, baby it’s cooool with meeeee! (so many Lover references in these lines! I’m in love!)

mad woman: (i’m in love with this song as well. like another version of the Man, aka don’t fuck with me. i’m in love with the entire chorus and her voice and the piano) what do you sing on your drive home, do you see my face in the neighbor’s lawn, does she smile or does she mouth fuck you forever / no one likes a mad woman, you made her like that... / women like hunting witches too, doing your dirtiest work for you

epiphany: (the production of this song is so angelic and peaceful yet the lyrics are haunting and i get sad every time i listen to it. the parallel between the war and the pandemic is rough and sad. this song is a different kind of hurt) hold your hand through plastic now, doc i think she’s crashing out, and some things you can’t speak about *and then the moment of silence with horns*...

betty: (the last of the triangle. this is the one that is so beautiful and heartbreaking and hopeful? maybe not hopeful it’s more the nostalgia factor of it all for me that just because of the breakup stage i’m in right now is what makes it heartbreaking... one day it will be more beautiful and i can smile to it with a longing and gratuitous embrace... also a bop, ALSO reminds me of country Taylor and it’s so *hugs my heart and teen me*) but if i just showed up at your party, would you have me would you want me? would you tell me to go fuck myself or lead me to the garden / i don’t know anything but i know i miss you / the only thing i wanna do is make it up to you / (KEY CHANGE !!!) / kissing in my car again, stopped at a streetlight you know i miss you

peace: (another favorite!!!! and apparently the first take she did of this song IS THE ONE THAT’S ON THE ALBUM. artist.) the devils in the details, but you got a friend in me, would it be enough if i could never give you peace, your integrity makes me seem small, you paint dreamscapes on the wall, i talk shit with my friends, it’s like i’m wasting your honor *piannooooo* / and you know that i’d swing with you for the fences, sit with you in the trenches, give you my wild, give you a child... 

hoax: (a hauntingly beautiful one, a favorite, love that it’s the closer. it HURTS me right now but i’ll take it. it’s a beautiful song and it’s helping the heal. can’t wait to hear the lakes on the deluxe! - also i just so happen to be re-reading the twilight series right now and it’s the exact vibes i get from this song - the level of love, the cliff sides, the sleepless nights, the piano, eclipsed sun) stood on the cliff side screaming give me a reason, your faithless love’s the only hoax i believe in.... don’t want no other shade of blue but you, no other sadness in the world would do. 

Taylor announced it and I woke up to the news. I spent the whole day obsessed with the thought of the album and the fact that she literally surprise dropped and shook the whole swiftie kingdom as well as it’s surrounding communities. I had no idea what to expect with it but I said it would be my new favorite Taylor album, i just had a feeling. And I think that this album proved that statement was true. This side of Taylor is the storytelling side I absolutely fell in love with. Her power and creativity and pen are just top tier and she’s the freaking artist of my lifetime. This album will be helping me heal, just as rep did, just as 1989 did, just as Speak Now, Fearless did. I love you Taylor. Thank you for the beauty that is folklore.

[ofthelabyrinth]

the laws of fae

As I do have a few new partners who have expressed both an interest in and a confusion with the laws of fae, I figured I would take a quick moment to outline some of the bigger ones and how they apply to my particular Jareth. Please, feel free to ask after anything that confuses or otherwise intrigues you!

Never tell a faerie your real, full name. Names are powerful things: more than mere identifiers, they are, in some sense, the key to the soul. One legend says that the popularity of middle names arose as a tactic for dealing with tricky Fae: by having a name you seldom use and do not normally divulge, you had an out from becoming a faerie’s thrall! Knowing your full name gives a faerie control over you, sometimes literally and sometimes figuratively. For the sake of this blog, that power is literal, and is put into effect any time Jareth says your muse’s full name and a direct command. They may conscious and attempting to stop it, but saying the name seals an ancient Fae contract and allows Jareth control of your muse’s body. THE EXCEPTION TO THE LAW. If your muse has been placed in a situation where they no longer identify with their name--if they are trans, for example, of refuse some part of a former identity for other reasons, only the name they recognize as being theirs in their heart will have power over them. It’s all about naming conventions and time frames: the convention for your naming is what gives it the power. In our current society, chosen names are more respected than given ones, meaning the name your muse chooses as theirs is the only one with power over it. To offer a counter and a further exception to the law, let’s consider Jareth. In my mind, faerie naming conventions are based on the name the child is given at birth. Jareth was not given a name before being ushered away into the Goblin Kingdom, where he assumed the role of the previous babe before him--technically even then, he was not GIVEN the name “Jareth.” Therefore, although he uses the name, his name will only offer power over him in some verses/moments, when he is feeling particularly connected to his kingdom. THE WORKAROUND. Never introduce yourself with “My name is” or answer a faerie without preamable when asked what it is. You can say “I am called” or “you can call me” or even “I go by,” but NEVER announce your name! Lying might seem like a smart alternative, but it is not. It’s considered terribly rude and any affront to a faerie is an opening they can take advantage of.

Be very, very, VERY polite. The Fae are creatures of old and will take any slight against their person as a reason to incite a grudge, curse, or debt upon you--especially if you’re “only a mortal,” and thereby likely both younger AND from a younger race than them. THE WORKAROUND. Being polite to a faerie is going to be a lot of dancing around on your end, though, because of certain linguistic ticks listed below. The best way to be polite? Keep refusals to a minimum and make them sound very nice, and then flatter the fuck out of the faerie who made the offer. The more aware Fae, like Jareth, might string you along when they realize what you’re doing, but most Fae will walk away happy if you just flatter their ego and think nothing of it.

No matter how tempting it is, never accept a faerie gift. The measure of acceptance varies according to the mythology at play, but the staples of the rule are clear: if you take a faerie gift, you owe that fairie a debt, and the debt can be repaid in any way and at any time the faerie owning it so chooses. It’s definitely a lose-lose situation for you! THE WORKAROUND. Although some mythologies say not to take anything ever touched or intentionally set down by a faerie, EVER, that’s a little impractical for RP. The best way to deal with “receiving” a gift is to decline it. Also, and this is very important, a faerie just handing you something also counts as a gift! If you take it, you’ve accepted it! In order to dodge this little deception, wait for the faerie to put the item down away from them before taking it. If it’s a gift--a REAL gift--you still shouldn't touch it, But if it’s a regular old household item you were just asking them to pass you? It’s safe again once it’s left their hand and touched something else. In other words, anything announced as a gift is gonna screw you over. Anything they try to sneak to you as a “gift” can be briefly quarantined before being safe again! However, make sure to

NEVER SAY THANK YOU! “Thank you” implies a debt to the faerie, whether you doing it to be polite, to express real gratitude, or even just on reflex! Avoid faerie debts at all costs--but be polite as you do so! THE WORKAROUND. We’re back to that second workaround, folks: be kind and flatter them! Rather than saying “thank you,” tell the faerie in question that they are “very generous” or that you “appreciate” what they’ve done, even if you don’t. A lie told in politeness (as a substitute for thanking someone, for example) is seen as politeness and not a lie--but be careful! A lie told out of politeness (as a substitute for potential offense with the truth) is STILL a lie, and will absolutely land you in hot water!

Don’t eat or drink the faerie food. The reasoning is partially the debt of a favor, of course, but it’s a little more complicated than just that. Faerie food is tempting by nature and of course the Fae around you might act like eating or drinking it is no big deal, but it definitely is. For one thing, it ties you to the faerie lands--and with no power or lineage of your own, that puts you in a bad position right off the bat. For another? Some faerie foods are rumored to be sweet poisons for mortal creatures--sometimes fatal, and sometimes only damaging to your psyche. Either way, don’t risk it! THE WORKAROUND. Since this is another impracticality to deal with in an RP setting, know that the water--as long as it’s neither sweet nor sparkling!--is not a faerie food, and can be imbibed without penalty when stuck. Some breads are also considered of mortal making, although these are rarer and less likely to be seen at big events like parties. Stay sharp!

Never mention a newborn babe. Some rumors say that the Fae cannot repopulate on their own, and so must rely on kidnapped babies and changelings to keep their lineage going. Either way, letting a faerie know where a newborn baby is, or a new mother is!, can be life-threatening and will almost guarantee one or both will go missing. THE WORKAROUND. There really isn’t one: just don’t bring up a baby you don’t want to see kidnapped, and if you accidentally do, don’t reveal their age! I think it’s fairly clear at this point, but the goblins have no issues with kidnapping children of any age, and I do headcanon that Jareth makes goblins out of the babies who are so carelessly thrown his way. They are less goblinoid than natural-born goblins and grow to be more like feral children: however, very few make it to adulthood thereafter. Best not to risk it.

Never step into a faerie ring. Faerie rings are natural portals through which the Fae pass between our realm and theirs: stepping into one will transport you to the faerie world, and it isn’t always a guarantee that things will work out if you try to step through the other way! This is, again, a real non-workaround situation. Just don’t do it.

Be wary if joining a faerie dance. As well as the documented issues with faerie time versus mortal time--meaning you could dance for an hour and leave a century later than you arrived--as well as the fact that mortals can’t always keep up with a faerie dance and may well end up dying trying, there is a lesser-known danger to a faerie dance that actually persists in all of the above dangers as well. The realm of the faerie is an impossible one: impossibly beautiful, impossibly warm, impossibly inviting--impossibly cold, cruel, vicious, brutal. A mortal may well end up mesmerized by the world of the faerie, and even the most tenacious spirit may be worn away by it all and into a state of complacency. You may well never want to leave if you enter it, may never want to stop if you eat or drink of it, when you dance in it, when you feel the gifts of it. It is itself a trap, and a poison. Sometimes, even after you leave, you find you never really left it. You can’t stop thinking about it. And you die--you die trying to get back to it, or despairing that you never will, or knowing the world will never be as beautiful again, or trying to get it out of your mind. The biggest danger of the faerie world isn’t the Fae, but the world itself, and all the terrible and beautiful things it can do for you. THE WORKAROUND. Walk away. Leave it behind. Never enter it. Never speak to any part of it. Pray you are safe in your bed and will never be so haunted by such strangeness in your lifetime.

[damaprimavera]

"It's one way to put it. But i don't consider myself a goddess, neither i ask for worship"

She fidgeted with her long, vine-like hair "Hmmm, i'm more of an entity. A force of nature who gained a consciousness and the ability to walk the land by herself"

"Uhm... Sure, we can be friends. But i think you misinterpreted"

She shook his hand like mortals did to greet each other, a slightly sheepish smile on her cute face. Despite being an ancient entity, her mindset was and would always be the one of a young woman in her early twenties.

"I am Spring. Literally. The season of Spring, that's me..."

[thehierophage]

Holy Day Meditation for April 2, 2020 æ.v.

April 2, 2020 æ.v. Dies Jovii, Sol 13° Aries, Luna 26° Cancer An Vvi æ.n.

Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.

The Day of Teth, the Day of Lust

Hebrew Letter: Tet

Numerical Value as Letter: 9

Numerical Value as Word: 24 (Tet+Vav+Tet)

Meaning: Serpent (or coiling)

Thoth Card: Lust (Atu XI)

Alternate Title: Strength, Fortitude, The Daughter of the The Flaming Sword.

Image:

Correspondences:

Tree of Life Path Association: Key 19 - Geburah to Chesed (from Sephira 5-4)

Astrological Sign: Leo

Element: Fire

Egyptian Godforms: Ra-Hoor-Khuit, Pasht, Sekhet, Mau/Horus

Geomantic Figure: Fortuna Major and Fortuna Minor

Gemstones: Onyx, Diamond, Jasper, Cat's Eye

Perfumes: Frankincense/Olibanum

Plants: Chestnut, Cyclamen/Sowbread, Aesculus, Lady's Seal, Sunflower

Animals: Lion, Cat, Tiger, Raven

Colors:

King Scale – Yellow, greenish

Queen Scale – Deep purple

Prince Scale – Grey 

Princess Scale – Reddish amber

The Secret Instruction of the Master:

Mitigate Energy with Love; but let Love devour all things. Worship the name _______*, foursquare, mystic, wonderful, and the name of His House 418. (*This Name to be communicated to those worthy of that Initiation.)

Mnemonic:

The Lion-Serpent begets Gods! Thy throne 

The rampant Beast, our Lady Babalon!

Liber Arcanorum Verse

8. Also came forth mother Earth with her lion, even Sekhet, the lady of Asi.

Genius of the House of Mercury

θalعⲝer-ā-dekerval 

Genius of the Prison of the Qliphoth

Temphioth

Recommended Text for Meditation:

Liber Stella Rubeae (LXVI)

Liber Stella Rubeae

A secret ritual of Apep, the Heart of IAO-OAI, delivered unto V.V.V.V.V. for his use in a certain matter of Liber Legis, and written down under the figure LXVI A.˙.A.˙. Publication in Class A. Imprimatur: N. Fra A.˙. A.˙.

1. Apep deifieth Asar.

2. Let excellent virgins evoke rejoicing, son of Night!

3. This is the book of the most secret cult of the Ruby Star. It shall be given to none, save to the shameless in deed as in word.

4. No man shall understand this writing --- it is too subtle for the sons of men.

5. If the Ruby Star have shed its blood upon thee; if in the season of the moon thou hast invoked by the Iod and the Pe, then mayest thou partake of this most secret sacrament.

6. One shall instruct another, with no care for the matters of men's thought.

7. There shall be a fair altar in the midst, extended upon a black stone.

8. At the head of the altar gold, and twin images in green of the Master.

9. In the midst a cup of green wine.

10. At the foot the Star of Ruby.

11. The altar shall be entirely bare.

12. First, the ritual of the Flaming Star.

13. Next, the ritual of the Seal.

14. Next, the infernal adorations of OAI

         Mu pa telai,

         Tu wa melai

         a, a, a.

         Tu fu tulu!

         Tu fu tulu

         Pa, Sa, Ga.

         Qwi Mu telai

         Ya Pu melai;

         u, u, u.

         'Se gu malai;

         Pe fu telai,

         Fu tu lu.

         O chi balae

         Wa pa malae: ---

         Ut! Ut! Ut!

         Ge; fu latrai,

         Le fu malai

         Kut! Hut! Nut!

         Al OAI

         Rel moai

         Ti --- Ti --- Ti!

         Wa la pelai

         Tu fu latai

         Wi, Ni, Bi.

15. Also thou shalt excite the wheels with the five wounds and the five wounds.

16. Then thou shalt excite the wheels with the two and the third in the midst; even Saturn and Jupiter, Sun and Moon, Mars and Venus, and Mercury.

17. Then the five --- and the sixth.

18. Also the altar shall fume before the master with incense that hath no smoke.

19. That which is to be denied shall be denied; that which is to be trampled shall be trampled; that which is to be spat upon shall be spat upon.

20. These things shall be burnt in the outer fire.

21. Then again the master shall speak as he will soft words, and with music and what else he will bring forward the Victim.

22. Also he shall slay a young child upon the altar, and the blood shall cover the altar with perfume as of roses.

23. Then shall the master appear as He should appear --- in His glory.

24. He shall stretch himself upon the altar, and awake it into life, and into death.

25. (For so we conceal that life which is beyond.)

26. The temple shall be darkened, save for the fire and the lamp of the altar.

27. There shall he kindle a great fire and a devouring.

28. Also he shall smite the altar with his scourge, and blood shall flow therefrom.

29. Also he shall have made roses bloom thereon.

30. In the end he shall offer up the Vast Sacrifice, at the moment when the God licks up the flame upon the altar.

31. All these things shalt thou perform strictly, observing the time.

32. And the Beloved shall abide with Thee.

33. Thou shalt not disclose the interior world of this rite unto any one: therefore have I written it in symbols that cannot be understood.

34. I who reveal the ritual am IAO and OAI; the Right and the Averse.

35. These are alike unto me.

36. Now the Veil of this operation is called Shame, and the Glory abideth within.

37. Thou shalt comfort the heart of the secret stone with the warm blood. Thou shalt make a subtle decoction of delight, and the Watchers shall drink thereof.

38. I, Apep the Serpent, am the heart of IAO. Isis shall await Asar, and I in the midst.

39. Also the Priestess shall seek another altar, and perform my ceremonies thereon.

40. There shall be no hymn nor dithyramb in my praise and the praise of the rite, seeing that it is utterly beyond.

41. Thou shalt assure thyself of the stability of the altar.

42. In this rite thou shalt be alone.

43. I will give thee another ceremony whereby many shall rejoice.

44. Before all let the Oath be taken firmly as thou raisest up the altar from the black earth.

45. In the words that Thou knowest.

46. For I also swear unto thee by my body and soul that shall never be parted in sunder that I dwell within thee coiled and ready to spring.

47. I will give thee the kingdoms of the earth, O thou Who hast mastered the kingdoms of the East and of the West.

48. I am Apep, O thou slain One. Thou shalt slay thyself upon mine altar: I will have thy blood to drink.

49. For I am a mighty vampire, and my children shall suck up the wine of the earth which is blood.

50. Thou shalt replenish thy veins from the chalice of heaven.

51. Thou shalt be secret, a fear to the world.

52. Thou shalt be exalted, and none shall see thee; exalted, and none shall suspect thee.

53. For there are two glories diverse, and thou who hast won the first shalt enjoy the second.

54. I leap with joy within thee; my head is arisen to strike.

55. O the lust, the sheer rapture, of the life of the snake in the spine!

56. Mightier than God or man, I am in them, and pervade them.

57. Follow out these my words.

58. Fear nothing.

     Fear nothing.

     Fear nothing.

59. For I am nothing, and me thou shalt fear, O my virgin, my prophet within whose bowels I rejoice.

60. Thou shalt fear with the fear of love: I will overcome thee.

61. Thou shalt be very nigh to death.

62. But I will overcome thee; the New Life shall illumine thee with the Light that is beyond the Stars.

63. Thinkest thou? I, the force that have created all, am not to be despised.

64. And I will slay thee in my lust.

65. Thou shalt scream with the joy and the pain and the fear and the love --- so that the ΛΟΓΟΣ of a new God leaps out among the Stars.

66. There shall be no sound heard but this thy lion-roar of rapture; yea, this thy lion-roar of rapture.

Love is the law, love under will.

[cover2covermom]

Today I’m going to be sharing my favorite books that I’ve read in 2020 thus far…

» The Ruins of Gorlan (Ranger’s Apprentice #1) by John Flanagan

Genre: YA fantasy

They have always scared him in the past — the Rangers, with their dark cloaks and shadowy ways. The villagers believe the Rangers practice magic that makes them invisible to ordinary people. And now 15-year-old Will, always small for his age, has been chosen as a Ranger’s apprentice. What he doesn’t yet realize is that the Rangers are the protectors of the kingdom. Highly trained in the skills of battle and surveillance, they fight the battles before the battles reach the people. And as Will is about to learn, there is a large battle brewing. The exiled Morgarath, Lord of the Mountains of Rain and Night, is gathering his forces for an attack on the kingdom. This time, he will not be denied….

My mother-in-law actually recommended this book for my son.  After reading it for myself, I agree that this book would definitely appeal to boys.  There are some wonderful themes like hard work, courage, friendship, etc.  I would also consider this a wonderful gateway book into fantasy.

» Black Enough: Stories of Being Young & Black in American by Ibi Zoboi

Genre: YA contemporary ((anthology))

Black Enough is a star-studded anthology edited by National Book Award finalist Ibi Zoboi that will delve into the closeted thoughts, hidden experiences, and daily struggles of black teens across the country. From a spectrum of backgrounds—urban and rural, wealthy and poor, mixed race, immigrants, and more—Black Enough showcases diversity within diversity.

Whether it’s New York Times bestselling author Jason Reynolds writing about #blackboyjoy or Newbery Honor-winning author Renee Watson talking about black girls at camp in Portland, or emerging author Jay Coles’s story about two cowboys kissing in the south—Black Enough is an essential collection full of captivating coming-of-age stories about what it’s like to be young and black in America.

Black Enough was a game changer for me.  I don’t tend to read anthologies because I find that I tend to struggle to connect to short stories, but I loved this collection!  What an excellent book to incorporate during #BlackHistoryMonth in February!

» Girls Like Us by Randi Pink

Genre: YA historical fiction

Set in the summer of 1972, this moving YA historical novel is narrated by teen girls from different backgrounds with one thing in common: Each girl is dealing with pregnancy. Four teenage girls. Four different stories. What they all have in common is that they’re dealing with unplanned pregnancies.

In rural Georgia, Izella is wise beyond her years, but burdened with the responsibility of her older sister, Ola, who has found out she’s pregnant. Their young neighbor, Missippi, is also pregnant, but doesn’t fully understand the extent of her predicament. When her father sends her to Chicago to give birth, she meets the final narrator, Susan, who is white and the daughter of an anti-choice senator.

Randi Pink masterfully weaves four lives into a larger story – as timely as ever – about a woman’s right to choose her future.

Wow!  A book about teen pregnancy set in the 70s?  Yes!  I flew through this book.  I was very invested in this story & the characters.

» Awkward (Berrybrook Middle School #1) & Crush (Berrybrook Middle School #3) by Svetlana Chmakova

Genre: MG contemporary ((graphic novels))

I’ve adored each graphic novel in this series.  Chmakova captures the essence of middle school perfectly.  She also does a wonderful job giving us a diverse cast of characters, and tackling relevant topics.

» On the Come Up by Angie Thomas

Genre: YA contemporary

Sixteen-year-old Bri wants to be one of the greatest rappers of all time. Or at least make it out of her neighborhood one day. As the daughter of an underground rap legend who died before he hit big, Bri’s got big shoes to fill. But now that her mom has unexpectedly lost her job, food banks and shutoff notices are as much a part of Bri’s life as beats and rhymes. With bills piling up and homelessness staring her family down, Bri no longer just wants to make it—she has to make it.

On the Come Up is Angie Thomas’s homage to hip-hop, the art that sparked her passion for storytelling and continues to inspire her to this day. It is the story of fighting for your dreams, even as the odds are stacked against you; of the struggle to become who you are and not who everyone expects you to be; and of the desperate realities of poor and working-class black families.

While this didn’t necessarily have as much as an impact on me as The Hate U Give, this book was amazing in its own right.  I think Angie Thomas has a brilliant way of writing YA contemporary that is not only relevant & important, but also entertaining at the same time.

» The Language of Thorns by Leigh Bardugo

Genre: YA fantasy

Love speaks in flowers. Truth requires thorns.

Travel to a world of dark bargains struck by moonlight, of haunted towns and hungry woods, of talking beasts and gingerbread golems, where a young mermaid’s voice can summon deadly storms and where a river might do a lovestruck boy’s bidding but only for a terrible price.

Inspired by myth, fairy tale, and folklore, #1 New York Times–bestselling author Leigh Bardugo has crafted a deliciously atmospheric collection of short stories filled with betrayals, revenge, sacrifice, and love.

Perfect for new readers and dedicated fans, these tales will transport you to lands both familiar and strange—to a fully realized world of dangerous magic that millions have visited through the novels of the Grishaverse.

This collection of six stories includes three brand-new tales, all of them lavishly illustrated with art that changes with each turn of the page, culminating in six stunning full-spread illustrations as rich in detail as the stories themselves.

  A collection of deliciously dark short stories are inspired by classic fairytales & folklore.  I LOVED these stories!  They gave me Neil Gaiman vibes, so if you are a NG fan, I’d recommend these stories to you.  I also adored the illustrations throughout that really enhanced the story.

» Far From the Tree by Robin Benway

Genre: YA contemporary

Being the middle child has its ups and downs.

But for Grace, an only child who was adopted at birth, discovering that she is a middle child is a different ride altogether. After putting her own baby up for adoption, she goes looking for her biological family, including—

Maya, her loudmouthed younger bio sister, who has a lot to say about their newfound family ties. Having grown up the snarky brunette in a house full of chipper redheads, she’s quick to search for traces of herself among these not-quite-strangers. And when her adopted family’s long-buried problems begin to explode to the surface, Maya can’t help but wonder where exactly it is that she belongs.

And Joaquin, their stoic older bio brother, who has no interest in bonding over their shared biological mother. After seventeen years in the foster care system, he’s learned that there are no heroes, and secrets and fears are best kept close to the vest, where they can’t hurt anyone but him.

Far From the Tree is a beautiful YA contemporary about adoption, family, identity, and love.  Told in 3 different perspectives, I enjoyed the journey & development of each of these characters.

» Keeper of Lost Cities (Keeper of the Lost Cities #1), Exile (Keeper of the Lost Cities #2), & Everblaze (Keeper of the Lost Cities #3) by Shannon Messenger

Genre: MG fantasy

Twelve-year-old Sophie Foster has a secret. She’s a Telepath—someone who hears the thoughts of everyone around her. It’s a talent she’s never known how to explain.

Everything changes the day she meets Fitz, a mysterious boy who appears out of nowhere and also reads minds. She discovers there’s a place she does belong, and that staying with her family will place her in grave danger. In the blink of an eye, Sophie is forced to leave behind everything and start a new life in a place that is vastly different from anything she has ever known.

Sophie has new rules to learn and new skills to master, and not everyone is thrilled that she has come “home.” There are secrets buried deep in Sophie’s memory—secrets about who she really is and why she was hidden among humans—that other people desperately want. Would even kill for.

In this page-turning debut, Shannon Messenger creates a riveting story where one girl must figure out why she is the key to her brand-new world, before the wrong person finds the answer first.

I am LOVING this MG fantasy series.  While these books are a bit chunky, don’t let the page count deter you.  I fly through these books.   I’d recommend this series to fans of Harry Potter.

» SHOUT by Laurie Halse Anderson

Genre: YA memoir ((told in verse))

A searing poetic memoir and call to action from the bestselling and award-winning author of Speak, Laurie Halse Anderson!

Bestselling author Laurie Halse Anderson is known for the unflinching way she writes about, and advocates for, survivors of sexual assault. Now, inspired by her fans and enraged by how little in our culture has changed since her groundbreaking novel Speak was first published twenty years ago, she has written a poetry memoir that is as vulnerable as it is rallying, as timely as it is timeless. In free verse, Anderson shares reflections, rants, and calls to action woven between deeply personal stories from her life that she’s never written about before. Searing and soul-searching, this important memoir is a denouncement of our society’s failures and a love letter to all the people with the courage to say #metoo and #timesup, whether aloud, online, or only in their own hearts. Shout speaks truth to power in a loud, clear voice– and once you hear it, it is impossible to ignore.

This is a must read for fans of Laurie Halse Anderson’s Speak.  While you don’t HAVE to read Speak to read SHOUT, I feel like it makes a bigger impact if you read Speak prior to this.  If you didn’t know, SHOUT is Anderson’s memoir told in verse.

» Loveboat, Taipei (Loveboat, Taipei #1) by Abigail Hing Wen

Genre: YA contemporary

When eighteen-year-old Ever Wong’s parents send her from Ohio to Taiwan to study Mandarin for the summer, she finds herself thrust among the very over-achieving kids her parents have always wanted her to be, including Rick Woo, the Yale-bound prodigy profiled in the Chinese newspapers since they were nine—and her parents’ yardstick for her never-measuring-up life.

Unbeknownst to her parents, however, the program is actually an infamous teen meet-market nicknamed Loveboat, where the kids are more into clubbing than calligraphy and drinking snake-blood sake than touring sacred shrines.

Free for the first time, Ever sets out to break all her parents’ uber-strict rules—but how far can she go before she breaks her own heart?

  This is a guilty pleasure type of read.  Actually, it reminded me a bit of Crazy Rich Asians a bit.  It is a tad racy for a YA book… So I’d probably recommend for older YA readers that are 16+

» The Penderwicks (The Penderwicks #1) by Jeanne Birdsall

Genre: MG contemporary

The Penderwick sisters busily discover the summertime magic of Arundel estate’s sprawling gardens, treasure-filled attic, tame rabbits, and the cook who makes the best gingerbread in Massachusetts. Best of all is Jeffrey Tifton, son of Arundel’s owner, the perfect companion for their adventures. Icy-hearted Mrs. Tifton is less pleased with the Penderwicks than Jeffrey, and warns the new friends to stay out of trouble. Is that any fun? For sure the summer will be unforgettable.

This is the perfect book to pick up during the summer months.  It really gave me modern Little Women crossed with The Secret Garden vibes.  The ending was so heartwarming it almost brought me to tears.

» Becoming by Michelle Obama

Genre: Adult memoir

In a life filled with meaning and accomplishment, Michelle Obama has emerged as one of the most iconic and compelling women of our era. As First Lady of the United States of America—the first African American to serve in that role—she helped create the most welcoming and inclusive White House in history, while also establishing herself as a powerful advocate for women and girls in the U.S. and around the world, dramatically changing the ways that families pursue healthier and more active lives, and standing with her husband as he led America through some of its most harrowing moments. Along the way, she showed us a few dance moves, crushed Carpool Karaoke, and raised two down-to-earth daughters under an unforgiving media glare.

In her memoir, a work of deep reflection and mesmerizing storytelling, Michelle Obama invites readers into her world, chronicling the experiences that have shaped her—from her childhood on the South Side of Chicago to her years as an executive balancing the demands of motherhood and work, to her time spent at the world’s most famous address. With unerring honesty and lively wit, she describes her triumphs and her disappointments, both public and private, telling her full story as she has lived it—in her own words and on her own terms. Warm, wise, and revelatory, Becoming is the deeply personal reckoning of a woman of soul and substance who has steadily defied expectations—and whose story inspires us to do the same.

  Despite the fact that this memoir is LONG, I was interested from start to finish.  I adore Michelle Obama and find her so inspiring.

» The Stonekeeper’s Curse (Amulet #2) & The Cloud Searchers (Amulet #3) by Kazu Kibuishi

Genre: MG fantasy ((graphic novel))

I enjoyed these subsequent installments even more than the first!  The art style is absolutely stunning and I really enjoyed the story line.  I can really see this as a TV series or movie.

» Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo

Genre: YA contemporary

Camino Rios lives for the summers when her father visits her in the Dominican Republic. But this time, on the day when his plane is supposed to land, Camino arrives at the airport to see crowds of crying people…

In New York City, Yahaira Rios is called to the principal’s office, where her mother is waiting to tell her that her father, her hero, has died in a plane crash.

Separated by distance – and Papi’s secrets – the two girls are forced to face a new reality in which their father is dead and their lives are forever altered. And then, when it seems like they’ve lost everything of their father, they learn of each other.

Papi’s death uncovers all the painful truths he kept hidden, and the love he divided across an ocean. And now, Camino and Yahaira are both left to grapple with what this new sister means to them, and what it will now take to keep their dreams alive.

In a dual narrative novel in verse that brims with both grief and love, award-winning and bestselling author Elizabeth Acevedo writes about the devastation of loss, the difficulty of forgiveness, and the bittersweet bonds that shape our lives.

Another 5-star read from Elizabeth Acevedo! Clap When You Land is a heart-wrenching book in verse about loss, betrayal, and forgiveness.

» All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson

Genre: YA memoir

In a series of personal essays, prominent journalist and LGBTQIA+ activist George M. Johnson explores his childhood, adolescence, and college years in New Jersey and Virginia. From the memories of getting his teeth kicked out by bullies at age five, to flea marketing with his loving grandmother, to his first sexual relationships, this young-adult memoir weaves together the trials and triumphs faced by Black queer boys.

Both a primer for teens eager to be allies as well as a reassuring testimony for young queer men of color, All Boys Aren’t Blue covers topics such as gender identity, toxic masculinity, brotherhood, family, structural marginalization, consent, and Black joy. Johnson’s emotionally frank style of writing will appeal directly to young adults.

Johnson shares his experiences growing up as a queer black boy in this powerful memoir.  I love that Johnson wrote his story for the teen audience.  This is a must read!

What are some of your favorite books of 2020 thus far?

Have you read any of my favorites?  If so, what did you think?

Comment below & let me know 🙂

Favorite Books of 2020 (January - June) #BookBlogger #Books #Reading #Bookworm #BookNerd #BookTalk Today I'm going to be sharing my favorite books that I've read in 2020 thus far...

[kaito-yuki]

Shout Out Thank Yous!

Alrighty I can already tell that this is going to be a long ass post, so I’m just going to say general things here first. I will then address each mun under the Read More (there’s 20+ of you!), so search for your blog mentioned to find my message to you! 

This Fairy Tail OC blog is my 3rd most popular blog by follower count, just under my Vegeta (DBZ) blog which is popular because of the muse itself over the RPing. Kaito is the opposite, which is why I especially find it important to address and thank each and every mun who’s interacted with me through this blog. For actual posts made it is only second to my personal, which just affirms  that this blog has earned its popularity (and bronze medal) here in my opinion. 

I put in my all and beyond to this blog especially, how it’s navigated, organizing the threads and tags as much as I can so me (and you) can read back on things whenever we want, will use it as a template for my other muses/blogs too haha. Kaito (and my other OCs) have grown as characters thanks to the interactions here, especially when it comes to ships! I also have done the most mun/muse vs muse posts here (Shiro has his own tag FFS lmao), which I’m pleased that many of you are a fan of (the posts, not Shiro!) 

To all my followers, thank you for following and sticking with me, esp those from the beginning! To the other RP blogs I haven’t interacted with yet, I’d love to, especially you OCs! I want to also use this blog to advocate for other similar (OC) blogs, that they can also be great and relevant as canon ones with enough hard work!  Now onto the special thanks!

@crystaldragonslayer: Oh looks like the Queen Pixie has returned, the timing couldn’t have been better with your RP comeback! You are just one of the best RP partners out there, I am very grateful for the time and effort we combined together on our RPs/ships. Vivienne is just awesome and probably the main reason why Kaito is too, creating a OTP that deserves it’s own paragraph gdi!

+KaiVi: Kaito & Vivienne have a total of 69 threads by my count atm (I hope I miscounted lmao). I just love this OTP of ours to bits, it is a pleasure and honour working with you on them so far. I can’t wait to start exploring the next stage of their lives and beyond! You know what they say, ’First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes-”-mouth gets frozen by Kaito coz spoilers!- I’m so happy that KaVi has got at least a couple of fans too! Then there’s the AUs, and interactions with them with/and our other muses, so much to look forward to! It’s just really fun to just crossover this ship with others, with other muses ours and our RP partners! Highlights: Battle of Fairy Tail (Thread) | Song | Promo | Wedding (Art)

@starlightxveins​: I usually ship Kaito with Lucy romantically, I never would have thought they’d be the BrOTP too! Your Lucy is a delight and fun to interact with, crossing over the KaiVi, ShiroAqua, GraLu, JerZa and WendyCookies ships is just fabulous and I look forward to more of them (crack) [group] interactions lmao. Can’t wait to start on the other ships we discussed as well!

@celestial-weirdo-lucy: We may only have one thread on here, but I love it! Your Lucy is great, and it’s awesome I get to make a spin on KaiLu by having Kaito have a crush on her already lmao. Then there’s our other ships that I’m excited to develop too! Our KaiLu bodyguard AU is probably my favorite AUs which I look forward to sharing, I’m excited for our other  AUs too (like Gods and Bleach) and ships with our other muses, damn there’s lots to RP!

@celestial-keys-princess​: The Lucy that started it all, Ava you are first mun I approached in the FT RP community and became my guide to others. KaiLu is awesome and I thank you for going through plots and headcanons with me for them! Look forward to continuing their interactions when we do! 

I appreciate you also helping me expand Kaito’s Sabertooth verse with Minerva. Kaito’s ship verse with Tori is still the only one where it’s Shiro and the female teaming up against Kaito, which is so hilarious that I will keep it there lmao. Then there’s our other interactions/ships I’d be happy to get into again like Rukia/Aizen, Laxus/Tori, GraLu (with modern band AU) and Lucy/Jackal, who is atm growling at Lucy behind me because of and/or for her ear rubs lmao Highlights:  A Prayer in the Rain (Thread) | Song | KaiLu (Art/Promo)

@pitchblacksteel: Akira I just love your Gajeel, especially your ships with Lucy and Mira! I look forward to more interactions with him and muses on your multi (like Natsu and Erza!) Kaito still feels bad over the crap Shiro has dragged Gajeel (and Natsu) into lmao.

@poisonouslightslayer: Your Sting is the Sting me (and Kaito) think of whenever Sting is mentioned, you portray him with such depth, it’s really nice to read the posts I see from you! Our interactions also helped inspire me to add a Guild Master addon/verse for Kaito, would love to explore that too!

@itashiro-hitsuchiha​: Thank you for helping me expand Kaito’s Sabertooth and Kingdom Hearts verses, I look forward to continuing our threads with Harumi and Perix!

@dxvilishgrin: Our Kaiio/Mira ship started on Discord, so I’m happy we could also expand upon on it on Tumblr too! Also enjoyed the interactions with your other muses, canons and OCs alike!

@stellcrblossom: Rin I appreciate you and your OCs so much, you gave Kaito a [adoptive] daughter (Ember) and sister (Kamui), and pretty much helped extend his family and my OCs too. Also this helped me branch into going through the next generation of FT, got me working on my other ship’s children too which is appreciated! Can’t wait to RP as Issei (KaiVi’s son) when I’m done with his info! +SakuEm: Sakurai x Ember is one of my favourites and is awesome to see them upgraded to an OTP, and that we created a whole plot/saga/arc/war around Ember’s kidnapping. Can’t wait to continue that and crossover it with my other ships, it’s going to be awesome! Don’t get me started on our AUs, excited for them too! Highlights: Ember Fading (Thread) | Asterius Arc Promo & Graphic

@gureixfurubasuta: Your Gray is great, and I just love their brotherly (gay according to Shiro lmao) bond esp with their shared ties to Ul. Thank you for inspiring me to start my own Gray blog, even though it’s just so I don’t force anyone (like you) to RP Gray for Kaito, and look how that turned out haha. Your Gray (and Juvia) will always by my main for Kaito, and my Gray’s more angsty twin lmao. I’d be happy to interact more through our other muses too!

@sky-dragon-slayer-wendy: Your Wendy is so precious (and a rebel GDI lmao), I loved our thread together and would be happy to continue interactions when you’re free enough again! 

@broken-memories-and-silent-tears: Alice is great and I’m happy to crossover this with our Gralice ship, Kaito and Alice have a great sibling bond with my Gray (and Shiro) between them haha. I’d be happy to add Alice into my fan game as we discussed before way back too, esp now things are better on my end!

@imaginaryserver: Me and (my muses) miss you and your Mavis! Our Cards Against Humanity game is still a memorable time for me from way back, I’m still waiting for an artist to draw it!

@shrimps-variety-garden: I just adore your Levy and her ship with Kaito, the modern AU is especially interesting since it’s based on song lyrics haha. Looking forward to us RPing though to the endgame! Our ship also has helped me develop a more antagonistic version of my Gajeel which is awesome too.

@scythe-rps: Hiroshi is a better guy (and muse) thanks to his best friend Gyrain! it’s good that we can bring more focus onto the usually underappreciated Blue Pegasus! I look forward to when Lyon & Gyrain finally clear the air about their relationship lmao, and thanks for helping me develop Masaru more through their interactions! 

@sunaarashii: Thank you for interacting with Hiroshi, his ship with Cari is just precious with the thread we have currently, can’t wait to RP out what comes next!

@bunnysmultimuse: The thread with Sorano was fun, so I’d like to continue interactions (esp with the headcanons discussed) if you’re still up for it! That goes for Jellal with Meredy too!

@ultecr: Still have your post in my drafts, I know you said to take my time but even I know taking months is ridiculous lmao. I look forward to starting the Kaito/Ultear ship once I do reply, love your portrayal of Mavis too!

@herhorns:  I love seeing your Mira on my dash, especially her ships with Gajeel and Gray! Looking forward to interacting with Ravyn when we get to it, your art is awesome too!

@angelsoffiore: Welcome back man! Mizumi is a great OC and is why I approached you in the first place, so appreciate you still continuing our thread after so long. Hope to interact more with Mizumi, your other OCs, and your Laxus too!