#baal my beloved <33< /div> Explore tagged Tumblr posts

[seekfirst-community]

The following reflection is courtesy of Don Schwager © 2023. Don's website is located at Dailyscripture.net

Meditation: Are you prepared to see the glory of the Lord and to share in his glory as well? God made a promise to Abraham that he would make him a channel of great blessing not only to his own family and future descendants but to all the families of the earth as well (Genesis 12:3)! The condition for the fulfillment of this promise was simple and straightforward - "Go from your family and country to the land that I will show you" (Genesis 12:1). Abraham not only believed in God's promise, he promptly obeyed and did as the Lord commanded him. God chose Abraham as his instrument of blessing - that through him and his descendants would come the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ who would reveal the glory and blessing of God's kingdom and bring salvation for all who would call upon his name.

The Lord Jesus came to fulfill all that Moses and the prophets spoke

The Lord Jesus is the fulfillment of all the promises made to Abraham and to his spiritual descendants. In all that Jesus did and said he sought to please his Father in heaven and to bring him glory. Like Abraham, he was ready to part with anything that might stand in the way of doing the will of God. He knew that the success of his mission would depend on his willingness to embrace his Father's will no matter what it might cost him personally.

Jesus on three occasions told his disciples that he would undergo suffering and death on a cross to fulfill the mission the Father gave him. As the time draws near for Jesus' ultimate sacrifice on the cross, he takes three of his beloved disciples to the top of a high mountain. Just as Moses and Elijah were led to the mountain of God to discern their ultimate call and mission, so Jesus now appears with Moses and Elijah on the highest mountain overlooking the summit of the promised land. Matthew's Gospel tells us that Jesus was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his garments became white as light (Matthew 17:2).

Jesus reveals his glory to the apostles and to us

Why did Jesus appear in dazzling light with Moses and Elijah? The book of Exodus tells us that when Moses had met with God on Mount Sinai the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God (Exodus 34:29). Paul the Apostle wrote that the Israelites could not look at Moses' face because of its brightness (2 Corinthians 3:7). After Elijah, the greatest of the prophets, had destroyed all the priests and idols of Baal in the land, he took refuge on the mountain of God at Sinai. There God showed Elijah his glory in great thunder, whirlwind, and fire, and then spoke with him in a still quiet voice. God questioned Elijah, "What are you doing here?" And then directed him to go and fulfill the mission given him by God. Jesus, likewise, appears in glory with Moses and Elijah, as if to confirm with them that he, too, is ready to fulfill the mission which the Father has sent him to accomplish.

Jesus went to the mountain knowing full well what awaited him in Jerusalem - betrayal, rejection, and crucifixion. Jesus very likely discussed this momentous decision to go to the cross with Moses and Elijah. God the Father also spoke with Jesus and gave his approval: This is my beloved Son; listen to him. The Father glorified his son because he was faithful and willing to obey him in everything. The cloud which overshadowed Jesus and his apostles fulfilled the dream of the Jews that when the Messiah came the cloud of God's presence would fill the temple again (see Exodus 16:10, 19:9, 33:9; 1 Kings 8:10; 2 Maccabees 2:8).

Christ's way to glory

The Lord Jesus not only wants us to see his glory - he wants to share this glory with us. And Jesus shows us the way to the Father's glory - follow me - obey my words. Take the path I have chosen for you and you will receive the blessing of my Father's kingdom - your name, too, will be written in heaven. Jesus fulfilled his mission on Calvary where he died for our sins so that Paradise and everlasting life would be restored to us. He embraced the cross to win a crown of glory - a crown that awaits each one of us, if we, too, will follow in his footsteps.

Origen (185-254 AD), a noted early church bible scholar and teacher, explains the significance of Jesus' transfiguration for our own lives:

"Do you wish to see the transfiguration of Jesus? Behold with me the Jesus of the Gospels. Let him be simply apprehended. There he is beheld both "according to the flesh" and at the same time in his true divinity. He is beheld in the form of God according to our capacity for knowledge. This is how he was beheld by those who went up upon the lofty mountain to be apart with him. Meanwhile those who do not go up the mountain can still behold his works and hear his words, which are uplifting. It is before those who go up that Jesus is transfigured, and not to those below. When he is transfigured, his face shines as the sun, that he may be manifested to the children of light, who have put off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. They are no longer the children of darkness or night but have become the children of day. They walk honestly as in the day. Being manifested, he will shine to them not simply as the sun but as he is demonstrated to be, the sun of righteousness." (Commentary on Matthew)

Luke's Gospel tells us that while Jesus was transfigured, Peter, James, and John were asleep (Luke 9:32)! Upon awakening they discovered Jesus in glory along with Moses and Elijah. How much do we miss of God's glory and action because we are asleep spiritually? There are many things which can keep our minds asleep to the things of God: Mental lethargy and the "unexamined life" can keep us from thinking things through and facing our doubts and questions. The life of ease can also hinder us from considering the challenging or disturbing demands of Christ. Prejudice can make us blind to something new the Lord may have for us. Even sorrow can be a block until we can see past it to the glory of God.

We are partakers of his glory

Are you spiritually awake? Peter, James, and John were privileged witnesses of the glory of Christ. We, too, as disciples of Jesus Christ are called to be witnesses of his glory. We all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being changed into his likeness from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:18). The Lord wants to reveal his glory to us, his beloved disciples. Do you seek his presence with faith and reverence?

"Lord Jesus, keep me always alert to you, to your word, your action, and your constant presence in my life. Let me see your glory."

The following reflection is from One Bread, One Body courtesy of Presentation Ministries © 2023.

a hard strength

“With the strength which comes from God bear your share of the hardship which the gospel entails.” —2 Timothy 1:8

We Christians do not run from hardship; we bear it and embrace it. We walk toward the Cross, not away from it. We do not shrink from trials in fear. Thus, the Lord commands in today’s Gospel reading: “Get up! Do not be afraid” (Mt 17:7).

We bear hardship for the sake of the gospel (2 Tm 1:8) in order to spread the Good News. Our Lenten hardships, indeed all our hardships, are for the upbuilding of the Kingdom of God and we bear them purposefully for the sake of the gospel (Acts 14:22).

We bear hardship with the strength that comes from God (2 Tm 1:8). The joy of the Lord must be our strength (Nm 8:10). In Him Who is the Source of our strength, we have strength for everything (Phil 4:13). We don’t bear hardship in our own stoic strength, or with human strength, for even the strongest of us humans are weak. But His grace is sufficient (2 Cor 12:9).

We walk through the cross, through the hardship, to transfigured glory (Mt 17:2) even while here on earth. “Christ suffered in the flesh; therefore, arm yourselves with His same mentality” (1 Pt 4:1). So bear the hardship (see Col 1:24).

Prayer:  Father, You are “my Stronghold; I shall not be disturbed at all” (Ps 62:3).

Promise:  “The eyes of the Lord are upon those who fear Him, upon those who hope for His kindness.” —Ps 33:18

Praise:  “If the dead are not raised, ‘Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!’ ” (1 Cor 15:32) Risen Jesus, purify my heart to live for You and not worldly desires.

Reference:  (This teaching was submitted by a member of our editorial team.)

(For a related teaching on Power in the Spirit, listen to, download or order our CD 64-1 or DVD 64 on our website.)

Rescript:  "In accord with the Code of Canon Law, I hereby grant the Nihil Obstat for the publication One Bread, One Body covering the time period from February 1, 2023 through March 31, 2023. Reverend Steve J. Angi, Chancellor, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio June 15, 2022"

The Nihil Obstat ("Permission to Publish") is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted the Nihil Obstat agree with the contents, opinions, or statements

[yumpty-dumpty-inactive]

planting flowers with them ♡ ft. the gods <3

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characters included: baal, venti, zhongli

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(venti's was really bad-)

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pronouns: GN <33

B A A L ♡ ~ :

everyone knew her as the raiden shogun, a fierce and violent dictator, thriving on the fear and anger of her subjects. yet here she was, gazing adoringly at her beloved (S/O), planting dendrobiums and naku weeds on the flowerbeds littered around her estate. you were hard at work, currently digging a hole for a small bunch of naku weeds. turning toward your lover, your curious eyes locked with hers as you held out your gloved hand, "baal? may I have some naku seeds please?" yet she still stared. "...baal? hello? teyvat to baal-?" knocked out of her daze, the shogun blinked, shaking her head and turning her body toward to sack of seeds she had purchased. "o-of course love, my apologies for spacing out." giggling, you took the seeds from her outstretched palm. going back to staring at you, the electro archon gazed at your busy figure once again. your skin glimmered in the sun, with a small breeze fluffing your hair. you looked so happy, and she wanted to always see that expression on your face. the way your eyes shone, your smile reached both of your ears, and your slightly flushed face added a cute pink tint to your cheeks. beginning to dig another hole, you peered over to her. "hm? would you like to do this batch?" your smile only grew, and who was she to say no? nodding her head, she shuffled nearer to you, assisting you in digging into the damp flowerbeds. looking from directly above into the flower hole, her proud head bumped into someones, and gazing up from your work, the both of you gazed at each other, not minding the temporary pain inflicted upon you by the recent clash of skulls. lost in the glimmering pools that were your eyes. fluttering your eyes closed, she followed suit, as the distance between your lips closed, pulling you both into a loving and tender kiss, one that would last a lifetime.

V E N T I ♡ ~ :

tossing seeds from palm to palm, the anemo couldn't help but chuckle as you desperately tried to grab the small bag, laughing along with him. a chorus of angelic laughter was all the bard heard, as your hands flailed around trying to catch the falling and rising packet of cecelia seeds. chuckling lightly, the tone-deaf bard named venti carefully placed the seed packet into your palm, grabbing your waist and placing his chin atop your head. "you're really cute, you know that? hehe~" pushing him off, you scoffed, folding your arms and turning your back to him in pure anger. "what the fuck-" "how dare you. 'tis not 'hehe 'tis 'ehe.' damn, you really are a tone-deaf bard." "what-" "shut it tone-deaf bard." suddenly running toward you with his arms outstretched, the so-called "tone-deaf bard" began aggressively "ehe-ing" as his whines chased you around the flowerbeds you two had made near windrise. finally clasping onto your waist, his hands settled in their rightful places. leaning down to press a soft kiss to your forehead, he bent over onto one knee, leaning over one of the flower holes you two had dug, opening the seed packet carefully. gently dropping tiny cecelia seeds into the hole, he flashed a smile back up at you, only to see you weren't there, his face grew confused. suddenly feeling his face being pulled towards someone by a pair of adorable hands, he caught a glimpse of your figure, before you bridged the gap between your lips, joining the two of you in a soft kiss.

Z H O N G L I ♡ ~ :

cute. that's what this sight was. you were plumped in his lap, cutely planting flowers. his hands were guiding yours, because who said you had more experience planting flowers than the geo archon himself? his deep chuckles and adoring smiles were the cutest things in teyvat, and they were all yours. these moments were precious and special, that is until hu tao decided to rear her head. "hehe, what are you two up too?" deadpanning the both of you simply said, "screw off please. we are trying to have cute and memorable moment here, and you are hot making it any easier-" responding sarcastically, the funeral parlor director said, "...i am hurt." silence. "..." more silence. "..." "...good" falsely offended, hu tao declared, "I'm leaving." "...alright then, bye-" returning to your flowers, the both of you sat in peace, giving life to the glaze lilies you were planting. swallows and butterflies passed you two, flying to the pace of their own wind. the sky was clear, for not a cloud was visible. you could spot the children playing cutely with each other from your spot on the balcony, and it was perfect-

oh. well then.

apparently, that also comes with a side of getting water dumped on you by hu tao.

oh well.

[cruger2984]

THE DESCRIPTION OF OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL The Queen of the Carmelite Order Feast Day: July 16

'Zelo zelatus sum pro Domino Deo exercituum.' (With zeal, have I been zealous for the Lord God of hosts.) -motto of the Carmelite order based on 3 Kings 19:14

Our Lady of Mount Carmel, the patroness of the Order of the Brothers of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel, popularly known in short as the Carmelites, takes her title from that beautiful mountain in Israel facing the Mediterranean Sea.

Since the time of the prophet Elijah (850 BC), the secondary patron of the Order, Mount Carmel was considered a holy place and a symbol of fidelity to the Lord. There, Elijah assembled the people of Israel, 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of Asherah, who sat at the table of Jezebel, the wife of the wicked Israelite king Ahab, in order to demonstrate the supremacy of God over Baal (1 Kings 18:19-29, 33-39). In 1150, St. Berthold of Calabria (Bartoldus of Calabria), a Norman French crusader, founded there the Order of the Carmelites, placing it under the patronage of the Mother of God.

On July 16th, 1251, the Blessed Mother appeared to St. Simon Stock, a prior general of the Carmelites at Aylesford, a village and a civil parish on the River Medway in the county of Kent, and located four miles northwest of the county of Maidstone in England. She gave him the brown scapular and said:

"My beloved son, receive this scapular for your Order. It is the special sign of a privilege which I have obtained for you and for all God’s children who honor me as Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Those who die devotedly clothed with this scapular shall be preserved from eternal fire. The brown scapular is a badge of salvation. The brown scapular is a shield in time of danger. The brown scapular is a pledge of peace and special protection, until the end of time."

Soon after, Simon Stock instituted the Confraternity of the Brown Scapular, whose purpose was to spread the veneration to Mary and the wearing of the scapular. Originally, the brown scapular consisted in two pieces of brown woolen cloth, usually embroidered with an outline of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, and tied together by string and worn over the shoulders. In time, the scapular has shrunk in size, but the devotion to Our Lady of Mount Carmel has spread throughout the world.

Taken from Diocesan Shrine and Parish of Our Lady of Light - Cainta, Rizal Province, Philippines

©2022 photo by yours truly via POCO X3

[catcze]

– Spoilers ‼️

i just fully 100% exploration the entire released inazuma map yesterday 😭 i just did the archon quest now and it was very well written! I really hated the anti raiden quest tho, nearly ripped my hair out ://

also gonna have scara and thoma brainrot for a while </3 i just really missed thoma (did u see his lEAKS? MYGAWD LEGS OPEN) and i absolutely love the scara lore revealed !! also bc in his scene he reminded me of a very angry hamster 😌

ALSO I WAS FIGHTING SIGNORA RIGHT— i realized i had a double pyro double geo team and that put me on a BIG disadvantage until i realized i accidentally put physical artifacts on yoimiya (bc i had to switch it out with another one of my pyro user’s artifacts) THEN i had to physical 1v1 signora with my yoimiya who was doing like 6k per normal attack 😭😭

ANYWAY HBU CATTE HOW IS UR 2.1(?) SO FAR ⁉️

— beloved 90s (nines?) anon! 😎

GENSHIN SPOILERS

AAA omg congrats on the full exploration !!

FOR REALL THOOO the anti-Raiden training had me fucking screaming 😭 esp. that part at the end where we shouldn't get hit by the last attack ?? Literally had me frothing at the mouth the 5+ times i couldn't complete it HAHA Literally had so search up how the hell to finish it + add Yanfei to my team HAHA But yeah !! I also had such a field day with all the new lore that came out! ALSO pls not the hamster 😭

YESSS <33 I saw the leaks and I can't wait to bring Thoma home <33 His animations + his idles are literally divine omg 😭💦

Side note but for some reason reading the phrase 'physical 1v1 signora' literally amused me so much HAHAH thank you for the laugh my love aksndkajs

It's been going great so far tbh !! I haven't explored Watatsumi very much yet, since I spent the first few days on Seirai trying to get Baal and Sara's mats !! Deffo enjoyed all the new lore drops in this update tho–– I really really hope we get more soon !!!! <333

[yourlocalsewerdragon]

also congrats on getting baal <3

ty bestie <333 my wife is so beloved <33 and OH I NEED TO FUCKIM PLAY GENSHIN TODAY

[kissesandcream]

Im not good with making headcannons 😭 and I dont know if this is a headcannon either but I just think this is cute and funny soo I wanted to share I have a feeling If Kaeya have children or have to babysit kids in the Modern time He would be very good with it ESPECIALLY Kids that love Frozen like I can imagine him blasting the "let it go" song while acting like Elsa and make little snowflakes and also I have a feeling he is good at singing the song too also I can see the kid even will somehow succesfully make him use a Dress that that looks like Elsa's dress or actually an Elsa Cosplay dress (Or maybe even dress up in general LIKE THAT MAN PRETTY-) Like Imagine going home to Kaeya in a Dress while singing let it go "Hey guys Im back!~" You say signaling your presence as you put your shoes back where it belongs. You walked deeper into the house that you are now sharing.. or well more to living with your now beloved Husband, Kaeya. Your household can be labelled as quite a Lively one if it were to be compared with Diluc's. "Guys?" you called out again as you the put groceries that you were once holding to where it belongs. Weirdly Quiet is what one can describe if they were to be the one there. The quietness of the house was not something to celebrate rather is something to be concern, and that is exactly what you are feeling right now. The house was to quiet for your liking, because by now your Lover would probably be running downstairs to greet you while carrying your child so they can greet you too- and that is also what you expect everytime you come home and you know you will get it everytime. But right now there was no sign of it, no signs of your lover radiating his fun self that will always make you smile everytime, also no signs of your Loving and Lively child that will always give you comfort. You tried calling out a couple of times again, but the outcome was all the same... No responds. And you were not kidding when you say you start to panic a little as you explore your House and still havent found both of them yet until... You heard faint music in the distant. More specifically at the backyard. You immediately ran towards the backyard that was not that far at where you are at. The Closer you get the more louder and clearer the music and song so as you ran you make up the words to what the song is saying and you know well that the song is very familiar to your ears. Once you reach the backyard door you pause yourself before reaching the door handle to think on what is the worst scenario you will see and experience once you open the door. But you shake it off and took the door handle, pushing it open. And the moment you laid eyes on whats going on at the backyard your eyes Widen to the sight to see the whole backyard tho not much is covered in snow but what make shocked you even more is not that you have to later clean up the whole backyard BUT you are more shocked on the one Who's MAKING the snow.. Your Husband the Love of your life.. Is standing at the middle of your backyard in a DRESS singing Let it Go and your Child is not even concern about whats going on They were having laughing and singing along with their FATHER (which is Kaeya). "Conceal, don't feel, don't let them know-" "Well, now they know!" You cut him of in his singing and You can see him snap his head towards your direction in Shocked and his face was in Horror it was pale- he looked like he just saw a ghost. You cant help but laugh at his expression "LET IT GOO! LET IT GOO!" Your Child sang not minding the fact that they just got exposed and that their dad is in shades of red out of embarrassment. You took out your phone and Kaeya knew what was going to happen. "Wait- Love NO-" Kaeya shouted but was to late because the camera had done is Job. Your look at the picture smiling widely at it. "This will be one to remember.." you said happily as you pat Kaeya's back. But even with all you're teasing and the embarrassment Kaeya feels he smiles because he knew and agrees that it will be a memory to remember and a happy one to. He let

out a defeated sigh and pat your head "Indeed it will be.." "Also... who's dress is that-"

(I dont know what I just wrote but I hope its somehow can cheer you up- or just accompany you when you need company! Its weird but This is what I can do- Hope you enjoy it tho!)

HELP NOYA U WROTE ME A WHOLE FIC WTF

THANK U ITS GORGEOUS AND I LOVE IT 😭

kaeya def owns a bunch of dresses i take no criticism. him in an elsa dress,,,, i wanna draw that now oh my gods

sorry baal wip you'll have to wait ive gotta make way for loml princess kaeya <3 i would make the pic my wallpaper forever and ever pls

its so funny to think of him interacting with kids considering he canonically traumatized all of mondstadt's into believing lanterns were firefly souls 😭 but he can be wholesome if he wants <33

this made me smile tysm noya!! ur the absolute sweetest ilysm!! 💖

[l0r3g0r3]

BAAL MY BELOVED <33

[mrlnsfrt]

God or Nothing

We continue our series in 1 Samuel with this post focusing on 1 Samuel 12. Now that Saul has been established as king (for more details see Making a King and You Shall Have Help) Samuel takes this opportunity to retire. He has faithfully served from childhood to his old age (1 Samuel 12:2) and he has helped them transition to a new system of leadership. Interestingly Samuel’s final act as a judge was to place himself on trial. Samuel asked everyone if anyone had suffered any injustice at his hand that he would make it right. (1 Samuel 12:3) A powerful testimony to Samuel’s character, the people replied that his ministry as Israel’s judge has been faultless. Samuel had never abused his power, he had never been dishonest, no one had been cheated or oppressed by Samuel.

The careful student of the Bile should take careful note of this. The example of Israel’s last judge should be contrasted with the examples of the kings who will in the future cheat and oppress the people as well as take their sons, daughters, produce, and animals (1 Samuel 8:11-16; 14:52).

Now that Samuel has established himself as a fair judge, he puts on his prophet hat and delivers his longest speech recorded in the Bible. Samuel begins with a review of their history highlighting how God had raised up leaders and delivered them from their enemies. Samuel also highlights how each time they forgot their God they were overpowered by their enemies. The key lesson Samuel wishes to teach the people is simple. God alone is their Savior. Israel has never been saved by kings, or armies, or weapons or alliances. A closely connected lesson is also that Israel is always delivered by God as a response to their prayers and repentance.

One way to look at this is that the importance of knowing what God has done in the past is to know how to behave in the future. That is why we study the Bible, correct? We look at how God acted in the past in order to know how to best relate to Him in the present.

Good thing God never changes.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. - Hebrews 13:8 NKJV

“For I am the Lord, I do not change; Therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob. - Malachi 3:6 NKJV

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. - James 1:17 NKJV

The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever.” - Isaiah 40:8 NKJV

Whenever we find ourselves facing trials and tribulations we can benefit from looking back on how God has delivered us in the past. Bible study keeps God and what He is like fresh on our minds. Life is really not that complicated. Whenever we are with God we have the assurance of victory even if that victory looks like defeat for a moment. The challenge is to continue to trust in God, that is, to have faith when things are not going according to plan.

Samuel makes it clear that Israel was delivered whenever they repented. God has always graciously responded to the pleas of His children. So when we find ourselves outside of God’s will, if we are willing to repent, He will always deliver us.

 Then they cried out to the Lord, and said, ‘We have sinned, because we have forsaken the Lord and served the Baals and Ashtoreths; but now deliver us from the hand of our enemies, and we will serve You.’ And the Lord sent Jerubbaal, Bedan, Jephthah, and Samuel, and delivered you out of the hand of your enemies on every side; and you dwelt in safety. - 1 Samuel 12:10-11 NKJV

Israel will only prosper when they are faithful to God. Samuel makes it very clear that the children of Israel suffered oppression not because God is weak, but rather because God is a jealous and just God (Exodus 20:5; Deuteronomy 32:4). This means that if you are dishonest, oppressive, abusive, racist, etc. God is not on your side. Also if God is not the only God in your life, He is not with you. This may sound harsh but it’s what the Bible teaches. How else can you interpret passages like,

“I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

“You shall have no other gods before Me.

“You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments. - Exodus 20:1-6 NKJV

“If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. 27 And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. […] 33 So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple. - Luke 14:26-27, 33 NKJV

Does it surprise you to find Jesus being “more extreme” than the Old Testament? you have to check out the sermon on the mount sometime (Matthew 5-7). The two passages above describe the same principle. Nothing in our lives can be above God. We must be willing to give up anything and everything for God. This may sound crazy or extreme. But when you take into consideration what Samuel says, essentially, how God has behaved in the past, then this behavior makes perfect sense. When we look at God’s history, His interactions with His children in the Bible, and even in our own lives, it makes perfect sense to trust God, because He is everything!

This is how Samuel puts it,

20 Then Samuel said to the people, “Do not fear. You have done all this wickedness; yet do not turn aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart. 21 And do not turn aside; for then you would go after empty things which cannot profit or deliver, for they are nothing. 22 For the Lord will not forsake His people, for His great name’s sake, because it has pleased the Lord to make you His people.  - 1Samuel 12:20-22 NKJV (bold mine)

Samuel tells the people not to go after other gods because essentially they are nothing. I must admit that when it comes to family it is extremely difficult. But even my family members need to take the back seat when it comes to principles concerning God’s will. It should also go without saying that you need to be very careful that you are sure you know God’s will because there is always a great danger that we label our will as God’s will.

I don’t want you to think I am presenting a works-oriented approach to God or theology. We read above (1 Samuel 12:22) that God will not forsake His people for His great name’s sake. This means that Israel never earned their place or status of beloved of God. God has always delivered His children for the sake of His name (Psalm 25:11; 79:9; 106:8; 143:11; Isaiah 48:9; Jer 14:7, 21; Ezek 20:9, 22; Dan 9:19) that is, because of who He is, and not because of what they did to deserve His help or love. Since Israel’s previous efforts were not the basis for God’s love towards them, likewise their failures do not destroy His love for them (Romans 5:8; Titus 3:5-7). However, God’s love for us does not do away with our mission and responsibility.

Let me try to make it clearer like this.

Israel’s threat was never external, it was always internal and spiritual.

The problem with Israel asking for a king is the idea that a king would deliver them and they would no longer need to be faithful to God. Samuel is making it clear that even with a king, their salvation depends on God. God loves them, but there are consequences to disobedience and special blessings that come with a faithful relationship with God.

The thunderstorm they experienced in 1 Samuel 12:18 was a reminder that it did not matter how mighty their king was, no one could stop God’s judgment. Samuel would continue to pray for them, he would continue to teach them. But it was up to them to continue to trust in God and to be faithful to Him.

Only fear the Lord, and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you. But if you still do wickedly, you shall be swept away, both you and your king.” - 1 Samuel 12:24-25 NKJV

[timhatchlive]

Changing is Hard

Saul and Jonathan are dead. David's line to the throne should be clean right? Nope. It's going to take years. There's a LOT of political allegiances in the way and many people with special interests are going to do almost anything to keep the status quo and fight back David's ascension to power. Sounds like the American government... David is a threat to everyone who followed Saul to death. He's unpredictable. What will he do with those who supported a man out to kill him all those years? Surely, it can't be good. In haste, Ish-Bosheth is MADE king by Abner, the commander of Saul's troops. Abner had been with Saul at least since the Goliath event. He brought David to Saul after Goliath was dead. He was rebuked for not protecting Saul by David when he had the opportunity to kill him. You have to know that Abner had a vested interest in Saul's lineage keeping the kingdom. So he takes the fourth son of Saul and makes him king as soon as Saul and Jonathan die. What's interesting that Ish-Bosheth's name is different in Chronicles. It's actually, "Eshbaal". Which translated, means, “man of Baal,” or “Baal exists"! 1 Chronicles 8:33 (ESV) Ner was the father of Kish, Kish of Saul, Saul of Jonathan, Malchi-shua, Abinadab and Eshbaal; This betrays the distance Saul had fallen from grace. To name his fourth son in honor of the false god of the Canaanite's worship is shameful. But Saul's sin became entrenched in his life. Ish-Bosheth is a given name the Jews perhaps assigned to Esh-Baal out of shame of this history. In fact, THAT name means, “man of shame.” Sin always brings shame. There's no getting around it. What we are learning is that old habits die hard. Saul's men are not about to let David just come in and rule. Likewise, David is not going to simply destroy all his enemies in vengeance. And while the men standing in his way to the throne perish, David never approves. The whole moment points to our spiritual development. We have entrenched desires, opinions, and habits that will not die easily. We need change but change is hard. Everyone is born into a status-quo like existence where it just seems easier to keep things the same. Change does not come easy. We hate our shame, but then we fight against the Lord to protect ourselves! Does your spiritual growth seem like a battle? This is what David's men experienced against Ish-Bosheth. The good news is this: it's not your fight. It's handled by the true David of your soul. He comes to destroy those remnants of your old life. But it will not be easy. 2 Samuel 2:17 (ESV) And the battle was very fierce that day. And Abner and the men of Israel were beaten before the servants of David. The other good news is, our true David will grow stronger in us as God works His will into our hearts. Consider how 2 Samuel 3 opens: 2 Samuel 3:1 (ESV) There was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David. And David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul became weaker and weaker. Now we are not without responsibility here. We have to fight the good fight. We have to take captive our thoughts (2 Corinthians 10). We have to offer ourselves and our bodies to God regularly (Romans 6:12-14). We have to pray and seek the Kingdom of God first (Matthew 6:33). We have to walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5:16). But God is at work in us and through these things. Philippians 2:12–13 (ESV) Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. Change is a challenge. But Christ is up to it. via Blogger http://bit.ly/2LelVo1

[rxbyknowby]

➥ Rub their back

@princecfhell

Ruby hid her face in the soft sheets beneath her. A quiet hiss escaped her lips as he moved. She gritted her teeth, knuckles white from fisting her hands. She could no longer keep quiet as he pressed in harder. 

A single, subdued, and tearful sound left her lips, “Ow...”

Baal’s cold gaze snapped up to Ruby’s face. His hands stilled from their rhythmic kneading of Ruby’s lower back, withdrawing from her silken skin as if he’d been burned. He then placed his hands on either side of his wife’s bare shoulders, hovering above her on his hands and knees. If asked, Ruby would have denied sniffing quietly as he nuzzled her. His nose ran along her cheek before moving to her hair, breathing in her sweet scent. His lips pressed repeated tender kisses to her face. 

“I’m sorry, dearest,” he whispered, his tender words expressed in his native tongue. Ruby smiled weakly at him as the Sumerian reached her ears.

Ruby turned her head, a twinge of pain protesting the subtle movement of her spine. Ruby was lying on her stomach, and she very much wanted to turn around to kiss him. It appeared as if she wouldn’t be doing that anytime soon. While stationary, the pain was a low dull throbbing. But when she attempted to move, it was so sharp it knocked the wind from her. 

Ruby had taken one of her horses out for a ride early that morning. Her property was on a relatively quiet patch of country land, and it was very rare to see anything more than a rabbit while out. But as her horse smoothly cantered towards a dense tree line, some errant wildlife she’d never even noticed had spooked her horse. The equine went one way. Ruby, tossed from the saddle by the sudden bolt, went another. She always wore her riding helmet, the expensive one covered in black velvet. Thankfully her head didn’t hurt. No broken bones, though there may be some bruises within the next few days. More than anything, the right side of Ruby’s lower back was in agony due to how she’d landed on the ground. The pain was spreading to her hip and even her thigh. She’d managed to pull herself back into the saddle and make the ride home. She had fairly limped into the house, asking Kelly to tend the horse. 

Baal had been beside her in an instant, ready to rush her up to the bedroom. She’d tried to reassure them both that she was fine, nothing a good back rub and a heating pad couldn’t fix. Kelly had looked as if she would have tears well in her eyes soon, and Baal’s brows knit with concern as he nuzzled her. But they’d been willing to relent for now upon seeing Ruby’s reassuring smile. Baal then took Ruby upstairs so he could tend to her. Kelly had quickly cared for the horse, lecturing the now calm animal for being naughty and hurting her mom. Baal was ready to make steaks out of the animal, much to his injured wife’s protests. 

Gingerly and with much help she’d settled onto the bed. Ruby relished Baal’s gentle attentions, every touch contained nothing but concern and love. She had enjoyed him smoothing lotion over her back, kneading her muscles to loosen them. He’d even gently worked her neck, before he’d stumbled across a large knot in the muscles of her lower back. With nothing but an intent to alleviate it, he’d focused the pressing of his fingers into that harder area of muscle. 

But Ruby couldn’t stand the pressure on that incredibly sore spot. The insistent touch only aggravated her discomfort. She felt awful for not being able to receive his kindness without complaint. Ruby reached her fingertips to find Baal’s cheek, giggling when he pressed his lips to the pads of her fingers. She whispered, “It’s okay. I’m fine.”

Ruby wasn’t fine. Baal knew his wife was in a great deal of pain, and he only seemed to be making it worse. Ruby felt more pecks placed on her shoulder as she thanked Baal for what he was doing. He’d touched a tender spot, but she still wanted him to continue. She received a chuckle at her request, one that was inevitably granted.

Baal’s fingertips traveled up Ruby’s arms, the incredibly light touch sending pleasant tingles over her skin. He rubbed at her shoulders, the warmth of him melting the tension found there. As he moved to sweep his hands over her scapulas, he was even more grateful for all the back rubs Ruby had given him. If he didn’t already know what felt nice, he might not have done that good of a job. He moved his hands to her sides, slowly trailing down. The heat of his hands combated the cold of the room, something Ruby appreciated since she was topless. He pressed little circles on either side of her spine, traversing the length of it. Baal smiled when Ruby took in a deep breath. Her eyes were closed, and she lazily noted she might be fully asleep soon. He took the opportunity to briefly work the knot in her lower back before sweeping his hands elsewhere. He took up a soft pattern of working the area that hurt most before exchanging it for somewhere more pleasant. Eventually the knot seemed to loosen, though it refused to dissipate completely. Baal gently rubbed around Ruby’s hip, enjoying the curve of her form beneath his hands. He glanced up to see her asleep and slipped his hand beneath the waistline of the soft pajama bottoms he’d helped her into. Ruby was hardly in any position to bend down. And she was hardly in a position to do more than be roused from her slumber at the feel of him grabbing her pert bottom. She looked at him as best she could and laughed sleepily. 

“Cheeky boy,” she accused him with a smile. 

Baal winked at her, a playful grin across his lips. “Can’t help myself Toots.” However, he did decide to be behave and leave his wife be. He withdrew his hands and leaned down to place another few kisses on her shoulder. “Where’s the heating pad?”

“Bathroom,” Ruby mumbled groggily. 

Baal left the bed and wandered into the adjacent bathroom. He took a moment to wash the lotion off his hands. With his rings on, the slick sensation irked him. Drying his hands, he dug around the cupboards until he found the heating pad. Ruby’d had the thing for years, but it still worked well enough. He quietly paced back into the bedroom, plugging it in and perching himself back on the bed. Ruby began to wake once more, but she didn’t fight the droopiness of her eyelids as Baal shushed her. He placed the heating pad over her back before throwing a warm blanket over Ruby. He was perturbed for a while as the heating pad did nothing. Then he remembered it had a remote of sorts, so he began pressing buttons until a gentle warmth spread over Ruby. He played with her hair, gooseflesh creeping over her skin at the pleasant sensations. He pressed his lips to her hair, whispering, “I’ll be right back.”

“ ‘Kay,” Ruby breathed out. “Love you.”

He nuzzled her, purring loudly as he replied, “I love you too.”

He then carefully slid off the bed and slipped out the bedroom. He entered the hallway to see Kelly sitting on a bench, the Spawn crouching around her. She hopped to her feet as soon as the saw Baal, anxiety roiling around her tummy. Playing with the ends of her sleeves, she asked, “How’s Mom?”

He sighed softly, striding over to her and taking her in his arms. He pat her hair gently as Kelly leant into her father’s embrace. “Your Mommy is fine,” he promised her. He smiled at how Kelly’s shoulders instantly slumped in relief. He kissed her forehead and said, “And she’s asleep right now, but I know she’s going to want some company. You can go in,” he said, then casting a more stern look upon her and the Spawn, “But you have to be quiet.”

“Where are you going?” Kelly asked, confused.

“I am going to make your Mother a doctor’s appointment,” he said, knowing full well Ruby would not be pleased. She hated seeing the doctor, but he thought it best this time around.

Kelly bit back a smirk and whispered, “Mom’s gonna be pissed.”

Baal sighed, nodding his head at Kelly’s barely suppressed mirth. Removing his arms from around Kelly, he chuckled then himself. Baal’s words were honest and simple, “I know, I know... But she’s taken such good care of me before. I want to do the same for her.”

Kelly beamed up at him as he rubbed her cheek with the backs of his fingers before heading downstairs. It made her...so inexplicably happy that her Mom was so adored by her Dad. But she could also never hide a smile at how much of a softie her old man really was.

[dailybiblelessons]

The Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Revised Common Lectionary Proper 14 Roman Catholic Proper 19

Complementary Hebrew Scripture Lesson from the Former Prophets: 1 Kings 19:4-8

[Elijah has defeated the prophets of Baal, and they are dead. Ahab's wife Jezebel intends to kill Elijah.]

But Elijah himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a solitary broom tree. He asked that he might die: “It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my ancestors.” Then he lay down under the broom tree and fell asleep. Suddenly an angel touched him and said to him, “Get up and eat.” He looked, and there at his head was a cake baked on hot stones, and a jar of water. He ate and drank, and lay down again. The angel of the Lord came a second time, touched him, and said, “Get up and eat, otherwise the journey will be too much for you.” He got up, and ate and drank; then he went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb the mount of God.

Semi-continuous Hebrew Scripture from the Former Prophets: 2 Samuel 18:5-9, 15, 31-33

The king ordered Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, “Deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom.” And all the people heard when the king gave orders to all the commanders concerning Absalom.

So the army went out into the field against Israel; and the battle was fought in the forest of Ephraim. The men of Israel were defeated there by the servants of David, and the slaughter there was great on that day, twenty thousand men. The battle spread over the face of all the country; and the forest claimed more victims that day than the sword.

Absalom happened to meet the servants of David. Absalom was riding on his mule, and the mule went under the thick branches of a great oak. His head caught fast in the oak, and he was left hanging between heaven and earth, while the mule that was under him went on.

And ten young men, Joab's armor-bearers, surrounded Absalom and struck him, and killed him.

Then the Cushite came; and the Cushite said, “Good tidings for my lord the king! For the Lord has vindicated you this day, delivering you from the power of all who rose up against you.” The king said to the Cushite, “Is it well with the young man Absalom?” The Cushite answered, “May the enemies of my lord the king, and all who rise up to do you harm, be like that young man.”

The king was deeply moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept; and as he went, he said, “O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!”

Complementary Psalm 34:1-8

I will bless the Lord at all times;  his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul makes its boast in the Lord;  let the humble hear and be glad. O magnify the Lord with me,  and let us exalt his name together.

I sought the Lord, and he answered me,  and delivered me from all my fears. Look to him, and be radiant;  so your faces shall never be ashamed. This poor soul cried, and was heard by the Lord,  and was saved from every trouble. The angel of the Lord  encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. O taste and see that the Lord is good;  happy are those who take refuge in him.

Semi-continuous Psalm 130

Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord.  Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive  to the voice of my supplications!

If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities,  Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with you,  so that you may be revered.

I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,  and in his word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord  more than those who watch for the morning,  more than those who watch for the morning.

O Israel, hope in the Lord!  For with the Lord there is steadfast love,  and with him is great power to redeem. It is he who will redeem Israel  from all its iniquities.

New Testament Epistle Lesson: Ephesians 4:25-5:2

So then, putting away falsehood, let all of us speak the truth to our neighbors, for we are members of one another. Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not make room for the devil. Thieves must give up stealing; rather let them labor and work honestly with their own hands, so as to have something to share with the needy. Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up, as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with which you were marked with a seal for the day of redemption. Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice, and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you. Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

New Testament Gospel Lesson: John 6:35, 41-51

Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”

Then the Jews began to complain about him because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” They were saying, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?” Jesus answered them, “Do not complain among yourselves. No one can come to me unless drawn by the Father who sent me; and I will raise that person up on the last day. It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’¹ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me. Not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from God; he has seen the Father. Very truly, I tell you, whoever believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”

¹Isaiah 54:3

Year B Ordinary 19, RCL Proper 14, Catholic Proper 19 Sunday

 Selections from Revised Common Lectionary Daily Readings, copyright © 1995 by the Consultation on Common Texts. Unless otherwise indicated, Bible text is from The New Revised Standard Version, (NRSV) copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All right reserved. Footnotes in the Christian Scriptures (New Testament) that show where a passage from the Hebrew Scripture (Old Testament) is used are from The Holy Bible, New International Version® (NIV®), copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. When text is taken from the NIV, the passage ends with (NIV) and the foregoing copyright notice applies. Image credit: Bread of Life, image from page 109 of "With the children on Sundays, through eye-gate, and ear-gate into the city of child-soul", modified by Michael Gilbertson to delete two rolls and add the text. The original image came from flickr.com. The modified image may be freely used. Please credit The Lectionary Company.

[alonelysimp]

DPS BARB ANON AGAIN🙋‍♀️ I dont have c6 sucrose, I only have her at c1 HJBSD pls she came home in Baal's banner, I was sucrose-less until ar55😭 BUT I DO HAVE HER BUILT with uhh mappa mare, 2pc wanderers and 2pc viri - with the stats of all those, she has 400+ elm I dont remember the exact number BUT YEAH my friend is saying : Barbara, xiangling, Bennett, sucrose for the team comp idk man, team comps makes my head hurt JKHSDV ill test the HoD/glad and see how it goes >:D man, I want to build so much characters but I have very limited resin LMAOKHSD I literally spent all of my fragile on the crimson domain for hu tao😭 — dps barb anon/cal

omg u were sucrose-less- my condolences <//3 (shes one of my favs i'm biased <33) her "mollis favonius" passive mostly, i have a 2pc wanderer's (and full elm) with a sac fragments on her so her elm is 915 (blame my constant crit chasing with (REDACTED)). mappa mare has higher atk but lower elm, but honestly i've gotten so many sac fragments that i can't blame u if its a lot easier to get ur hands on an r5 mappa

for team comps, yeah xiangling bennett sucrose is rlly good !! the pyro resonance is v nice too !! on my alt i have dps yanfei too so i have barb, yanfei, bennett/xiao, and diona hehe <3 melt/vaporize my beloved !!

no fr i'm building (REDACTED) rn, along with fixing (REDACTED)'s build bc her crit is horrible even tho shes already one of my best dpses. and i've been building (REDACTED) since i got him in 1.1, i've done the hydro cryo domain so many times ;;

[yumpty-dumpty-inactive]

mutual appreciation post <3!! (again this was from memory so sorry if i missed anyone!!)

---

@mikachuchu - because like YES? you are literally so sweet, the good vibes just spill out all over your page. even though we just became mutuals 5 minutes ago, you are so fucking precious I cannot take it. you literally are the best oml please hug me-

@scorpius-major - *squeals* artemis you are such a good writer,, I literally cannot take it. I hope we can become better friends and write with each other in the future <3! also can i please order some artemis hugs ;___;?

@fiona782 - BWAHAHAHA,, toge, rui, and megumi are all mine, and you can go suck it (u__u) don't worry this is all a joke,, we're like sisters/siblings lmfao

@alberivh - VEILLE AKSKSASKA,, angst is my love and so are you. literally, you are so sweet,, but aren't afraid to speak your mind and I love that!! I look up to you a lot <33!

@anon8d - you literally ask the cutest questions like, tf, I demand platonic cuddles siR (but seriously you deserve more love oml >__<)

@mayple - BWAHAHAHAHA,, WE'RE FUCKING TROLLS HAHA. LITERALLY. (also thanks for the codes you saved my life and got me C1 xinyan o__o) but seriously I love you sm and I hope you get ganyu,, also eat some of your food,, you have way to much damn it-

@yoimiyas-wife - HAHA FUCK YOU. (she has too much luck,, it isn't fair. seriously, she got yoimiya at 21 pity AFTER GETTING AYAKA. LIKE,, WHAT? THEN SHE GOT THUNDERING PULSE. LIKE,, SORRY BUT WHAT??)

@chichikoi - but like,, I literally love you?? chibi albedo,,, mmm. also i have some diluc fluff in the works,, would you like a pinch of angst added into that? :0? but in all seriousness, I fucking love you sm and you need more love. you are so positive, and every time i see you post i just go: >__<

@eternism - JADE MY CUDDLE BUG LOVE,,, jade is literally sitting next to me with our 10 cats named yoimiya, sayu, kokomi, baal, albedo, thoma, kazuha, tomo, sara, and yae. we have smoothies and are cuddling,, not clickbait at all. ANYWAYS, jade i love how sweet and positive you are,, you never fail to answer a message, ask, and your writing is amazing. you are gentle, kind, and just overall an amazing person <33

@xiaosmoon - ERI!! eri my dear your writing is OUT OF THIS WORLD!! I am blown away every time. you never fail to shock me, and I love it. I love seeing how kindly you interact with your followers, and I hope we can become better friends in the future <3

@witch-hazels-musings - HAZEL. I am so excited to start our little project <3!! I absolutely ADORE you and your blog, and just talking with you makes my day better! you're just so positive and sweet,, I feel safe talking with you,, like i can be myself! that is rare, and i hope you know how special and amazing you are <3!!

@catcze - CATTE!! AA,, I LOVE READING YOUR WORKS! YOU'RE SUCH AN AMAZING WRITER, and our talks are weird as not gonna lie,, anyways, you are literally the definition of a summer day, so fun and full of exciting adventures! you're so kind to your followers, and i think you use the "<3" more than you say thoma. just know i adore you and your writing, and will continue to be your mutual and follower for years to come <3!!

@y2nderez - AHAHAHAHA,, TROLL. but literally, you're pretty asf however, even though our talks are cursed and terrible in general, i still love you bestie *awkwardly gives thumbs up* xx

@homesnorky - AA! MY BELOVED SNAIL ANON... hehe,, love you <33

@aquamarine-eyed-girl - i fucking love you so much give me platonic hugs and cuddles rn,, you are literally so supportive and kind, everything you submit into my inbox makes my day, and you sure do know how to make someone smile. i love you sm, and i hope you stick around in the future <3!!

@lavender-cloudz - LAVVIE MY LOVE,, I LOVE YOU SO MUCH HELP I CANNOT EVEN- *faints*

@dilucbar - AERI!! we haven't talked in so long,, we should fix that :\. anyways, you are literally kinder and more fun than yoimiya. i literally ADORE chatting with you,, even if it's about the most random shit ever, i love it, and i hope we'll continue to be best friends in the future <3!!

@jooninya - AAA! MY GOTH BESTIE,, I LOVE YA. OUR MATCHING DISCORD PFP'S ARE LITERALLY WEIRD BUT COOL,, even if they don't EXACTLY match :0! literally, you are so positive, and i love arguing with you about scaramouche (JKJK ASKASKSA-) 8|! we need to chat more, we're slipping through the cracks my dear ;___;

@heaven-dissolution - you. are. the. fucking. best. i. literally. love. you. so. DAMN. MUCH. *screeches* LITERALLY. you're just so to pleasant to talk to,, and i can tell you really have a passion for writing! you know what i say? follow that passion! anytime you ever need backup i'm always ready to whoop some ass. I know you genuinely care for me and will have my back, which is why I will forever have yours.

@kazuhasbunny - ELI!! aaa i love chatting with you so much!! you're literally the easiest person to talk to,, and i feel like i can talk about literally anything with you and we'll have a fun conversation!! love you,, have a good day <33

[twatd]

The Great TWATD Reread, VI: Imperial Phase Part II

Alex: Here we are, at the end of my big annotated WicDiv reread. Observations, speculations, a joke about public exhibitionism – this one’s got it all!

Read what I had to say on the previous volumes below. Part I (Faust Arc) Part II (Fandemonium) Part III (Commercial Suicide) Part IV (Rising Action) Part V.i (Pantheon Monthly) Part V (Imperial Phase I)

NB: Spoilers (direct and implied) for everything up to the end of Imperial Phase, including Specials.

#29

Hrmm. Foreshadowing is going to be a bit of theme in this batch of notes, but I’m not sure exactly what is being foreshadowed by Mini and Baal here. Obviously #33’s final reveal, but it feels like it might be reaching towards something beyond that – like after a few more issues we’ll be looking back at these lines with new understanding.

This is the same power Mini used on Brunhilde in #7, but based on its effects, not the one she uses on Sakhmet. More on that later.

I’m always intrigued by which names the gods choose to use for one another. Dio dropping ‘Morrigan’ and ‘Baphomet’ in favour of their given names is interesting – especially given he never actually knew Marian. It seems like a plea to drop all the roleplay and just be human for a second.

#30

It’s interesting that the Urðr/Dionysus/Woden gig-ritual has to be exactly 44,444 people. Presumably because of the Power of Four in WicDiv – but how did the three of them come to that conclusion?

Of course, Minerva follows her own advice, and isn’t wearing her goggles for the any of events of #32-33.

A good issue for my beloved tertiary characters, this. Another bit of Beth – with the same crew as before, suggesting she turned down her cameraman’s stinky resignation letter. I remain confident she still has a role to play, although this may just be because I enjoy and relate to Beth.

And a bit of Brunhilde too, though I am significantly less impressed with her decisions here. Giving her the benefit of the doubt, I guess the Valkyries are supposed to be a more equal partnership now… but I imagine Leigh Alexander, cropped off at the bottom of the comments, is about to give her both barrels.

#31

This is a particularly harsh bit of foreshadowing. See also last issue’s exchange between Morrigan (“Leave now or meet him only in the next life.”) and Dionysus (“Yeah, I know.”). Sad face emoji.

It’s an interesting choice to highlight Amaterasu’s worst side – namely her inability to apply any critical thought to topics like colonialism – right before she dies. In fact, Imperial Phase as a whole is pretty unflattering to ol’ Ammy – a couple of gags at her expense, the “evil sort of Muslims” speech, the horrorshow that is ShinTwo™...

The standard narrative approach would be to get the audience to sympathise with a doomed character as much as possible, to make sure the death has its fullest impact. (See: Dio next issue.) I’m not sure if this is just done to differentiate the deaths, of which there are three in two issues; to underline that the comic sees her as problematic; or for some other as-yet-unknown narrative reason. I’d be intrigued to hear your thoughts.

#32

So what exactly were you trying to do, Woden? Assuming he’s not just being a superior prick – which you never really can with Woden – the only possibility I can come up with is that it was a bit of extracurricular research, outside of what he was supposed to be doing with Cass and Dio. Blake is, after all, an academic who spent his life studying the Pantheon. But he’s also just a prick.

Speaking of people being pricks… This panel does not paint anyone in a good light. I’ve already established how disappointed I am that Brunhilde went back to the Valkyries, but helping out Woden in a pretty transparently evil scheme? Cheering after you beat a man into a coma? “That was amazing”? Not cool, probably-Brunhilde. Not cool at all.

The same goes for the audience’s “One more!” chant. It’s another example of WicDiv’s jaundiced view of fans. They’re frequently depicted them as mindless hedonists, incapable of understanding what they’ve just experienced and constantly demanding more at whatever cost. Going back to Woden’s description of the Valkyries as “addicted”, I wonder if that describes the Pantheon’s audiences too. Are they all just addicts?

A couple of noteworthy things here. The first is that we’re not shown the moment of impact. At the time, it felt like a way of sparing us – which should have been a giveaway, since when has that been the WicDiv way? Revisiting the scene now, it’s clearly a way of hiding the telltale swirly headsplosion effect we’ve seen Ananke use repeatedly, which seems to be a teleport power.

But I’m also watching Baal very closely. His line is a reprise of the one he used to comfort Mini last time she had to do this, back in issue #7, but rereading I can’t help but notice that it could be summed up as “it is necessity”. Hrmm, where have we heard that before?

I’m fascinated by Cass describing Persephone’s performances as “safely middlebrow” here, for a reason I can’t quite put my finger on. All of Persephone’s performances that we’ve seen have been pretty damn personal, and given she was the first god ever to affect Cass, I guess I’ve always assumed she was the best at it.

#33

A rare glimpse into the decision-making process behind who gets to be a god. When Ananke says Jon is “quite unsuitable”, it doesn’t seem like she means ‘…to wield the power’ – after all, he ends up deified regardless – as much as ‘…for the purposes of my manipulation’. She’s not wrong, given Mimir’s immediate reaction is “I won’t do it!”, but for me this is the final blow to the myth that only twelve in all the world are chosen for godhood, and Ananke is merely the arbiter.

What is it with Ananke and back gardens? It’s probably just a narrative symmetry thing, as we have seen her transform a few gods indoors. Maybe she just prefers doing it outdoors. I can sympathise with that.

I’d been wondering why Mimir was so eager to make weapons for the father who beheaded him, but this seems to suggest there’s some kind of mind control involved. Like the kind of mind control that Woden was testing at the gig-ritual, perhaps?

[cfijerusalem]

Haifa (חֵיפָה) A City of Distinction

One of the many jewels of Israel is the beautiful, cosmopolitan city of Haifa. During a visit there with my Jewish friends, Ilan and Lori, I discovered some of its unique distinctions. It is a clean, green city built on the side of a hill that extends from the shores of the Mediterranean Sea up the slope of Mount Carmel and is crowned by the high-rise University of Haifa. This city is Israel’s largest major seaport located on the Mediterranean coastline in the Bay of Haifa. From lofty Mount Carmel, Ilan proudly displayed the breathtaking panorama of the sea as seen from his beloved hometown, Haifa.

Haifa is the third-largest city in Israel – after Jerusalem and Tel Aviv – with a population of 285,316 in 2019. As of 2016, covering 63.7 square kilometers (24.6 square miles), it lies about 90 kilometers (56 miles) north of Tel Aviv and is the major regional center of northern Israel.

Although Haifa does not appear in the Bible, it is mentioned in other ancient Jewish literature as a well-established seaport city. Over thousands of years, this area has changed hands several times: being conquered and ruled by the Canaanites, Israelites, Phoenicians, Persians, Hasmoneans, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Crusaders, Ottomans, and the British. By the sovereign hand of God, Haifa again became a part of Israel in 1948 when the nation was officially established. The influences of all these various cultures are still seen in this city today.

The Haifa municipality plays an important role in Israel’s economy. It is home to Matam, one of the oldest and largest high-tech parks in the country, and to the prestigious Technion, Israel Institute of Technology. Haifa Bay is a center of heavy industry, petroleum refining and chemical processing, and it produces cement, electronic equipment, glass, steel and textiles. Haifa also has the distinction of owning the only underground rapid transit system located in Israel, known as the Carmelit.

Haifa is a diverse, tolerant, and largely secular metropolis that differs from many other cities in the Holy Land. It has always had a large Arab population and today, is one of the few places in Israel where Jews and Arabs are in regular contact and make genuine efforts to promote coexistence. Others have also found this to be a comfortable place to live including a few Orthodox Jews and some believers. Haifa is the world headquarters for the Baha’i faith, whose golden-domed shrine of the Bab and gardens are part of the outstanding landmarks in the city. It is a destination for many Baha’i pilgrimages. This municipality is a cultural mecca with its own symphony orchestra, theaters, museums and a zoo. It was surprising to learn that this is the only city in Israel where the buses run on Shabbat (the Sabbath) and where many businesses stay open. Haifa is a port city where people from various parts of the world enter bringing their goods and their ideologies into the Holy Land.  (Jewish Virtual Library; Wikipedia)

Another of the famous attractions in Haifa is the entrance to Elijah’s cave.  According to Byzantine tradition, this is where Elijah the Prophet hid to escape the wrath of King Ahab. The site is celebrated by Christians, Muslims and Jews. (Jewish Virtual Library) Scripture tells us the Israelites began worshiping the idol Baal, at the insistence of Jezebel, King Ahab’s wife.  Elijah stressed exclusive worship of the God of Israel as the only true God. As God’s punishment for the worship of Baal, Elijah prophesied a great drought, which lasted three and a half years. (I Kings16:29-33)

According to the Biblical account (I Kings 18-19), Elijah staged a contest of power to demonstrate who was the true God. A sacrificial bull was placed on the altar and four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal called on their god to deliver fire, but with no result. Then, Elijah’s prayers were answered as his bull was consumed by fire from heaven. The people recognized the power of the God of Israel and began to cry out, “The Lord, He [alone] is God” (Adonai, hu ha-Elohim)” [I Kings 18:39]. Rain begins to fall, ending the drought. In this manner, the preeminence of the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob was manifested on Mount Carmel; His authority has never diminished!

Oh, that the secular residents in Haifa and those embracing false beliefs today would come to the same conclusion as the Israelites did on Mount Carmel in Elijah’s day!  The Word of God has promised that they will at the appointed time.

Praying for Haifa

Magnify the Lord for His supremacy above everything! Although other gods are being worshipped in the Holy Land, there is only one true God – the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. “Are there any gods like you, Lord? There are no gods like you. You are wonderfully holy, amazingly powerful, a worker of miracles” (Exodus 15:11 NCV).

Praise God for His unfailing promise to awaken Israel to His true identity. “Then I will pour out on the house of David …a spirit of grace and supplication, when they will look toward Me whom they pierced. They will mourn for him as one mourns for an only son and grieve bitterly for him, as one grieves for a firstborn” (Zechariah 12:10 NIV).

Intercede for the people of Haifa and the surrounding area. We are thankful for their ability to live peaceably with those around them. “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone” (Romans 12:18 NIV). Please pray that they will be spiritually alert and not be lulled into apathy by the influences of mindsets around them. Please lift up the believers in Haifa so that they will continue to be salt and light to those with whom they have contact.  May their light draw others to the Light of the World. “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden… let your light shine before men so they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16 TLV).

Dear Prayer Partners:

It is such a joy to hear from many of you as you contact us and/or pray with us on the various prayer calls.  With each month, we are becoming a closer family. “It is good and pleasant when God’s people live together in peace!” Psalms 133:1.

Thank you for your continual prayers for Israel. I love seeing your faces on the Israel Watch prayer map above my desk. When we look at your faces, we also pray for you as you stand for Israel in your nations.  Jewish visitors that come into the Jerusalem office are always impressed that people from across the world love them and are praying for them.  If you would like to add your photo to the map, you are welcome to send them to prayer@cfijerusalem.org. May the Lord grant you power, perseverance, and peace.

In His Love,

Linda D. McMurray

Wall of Prayer Supervisor

[dailychapel]

O merciful God, open the depths of our souls that we may receive the immortality of our spirits through the new birth of your Son by the power of his body and precious blood; for he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

[Pro 1:20-33 NKJV] 20 Wisdom calls aloud outside; She raises her voice in the open squares. 21 She cries out in the chief concourses, At the openings of the gates in the city She speaks her words: 22 "How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? For scorners delight in their scorning, And fools hate knowledge. 23 Turn at my rebuke; Surely I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you. 24 Because I have called and you refused, I have stretched out my hand and no one regarded, 25 Because you disdained all my counsel, And would have none of my rebuke, 26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your terror comes, 27 When your terror comes like a storm, And your destruction comes like a whirlwind, When distress and anguish come upon you. 28 "Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me. 29 Because they hated knowledge And did not choose the fear of the LORD, 30 They would have none of my counsel [And] despised my every rebuke. 31 Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way, And be filled to the full with their own fancies. 32 For the turning away of the simple will slay them, And the complacency of fools will destroy them; 33 But whoever listens to me will dwell safely, And will be secure, without fear of evil."

[Jdg 2:1-23 NKJV] 1 Then the Angel of the LORD came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said: "I led you up from Egypt and brought you to the land of which I swore to your fathers; and I said, 'I will never break My covenant with you. 2 'And you shall make no covenant with the inhabitants of this land; you shall tear down their altars.' But you have not obeyed My voice. Why have you done this? 3 "Therefore I also said, 'I will not drive them out before you; but they shall be [thorns] in your side, and their gods shall be a snare to you.' " 4 So it was, when the Angel of the LORD spoke these words to all the children of Israel, that the people lifted up their voices and wept. 5 Then they called the name of that place Bochim; and they sacrificed there to the LORD. 6 And when Joshua had dismissed the people, the children of Israel went each to his own inheritance to possess the land. 7 So the people served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great works of the LORD which He had done for Israel. 8 Now Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died [when he was] one hundred and ten years old. 9 And they buried him within the border of his inheritance at Timnath Heres, in the mountains of Ephraim, on the north side of Mount Gaash. 10 When all that generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation arose after them who did not know the LORD nor the work which He had done for Israel. 11 Then the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served the Baals; 12 and they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt; and they followed other gods from [among] the gods of the people who [were] all around them, and they bowed down to them; and they provoked the LORD to anger. 13 They forsook the LORD and served Baal and the Ashtoreths. 14 And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel. So He delivered them into the hands of plunderers who despoiled them; and He sold them into the hands of their enemies all around, so that they could no longer stand before their enemies. 15 Wherever they went out, the hand of the LORD was against them for calamity, as the LORD had said, and as the LORD had sworn to them. And they were greatly distressed. 16 Nevertheless, the LORD raised up judges who delivered them out of the hand of those who plundered them. 17 Yet they would not listen to their judges, but they played the harlot with other gods, and bowed down to them. They turned quickly from the way in which their fathers walked, in obeying the commandments of the LORD; they did not do so. 18 And when the LORD raised up judges for them, the LORD was with the judge and delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge; for the LORD was moved to pity by their groaning because of those who oppressed them and harassed them. 19 And it came to pass, when the judge was dead, that they reverted and behaved more corruptly than their fathers, by following other gods, to serve them and bow down to them. They did not cease from their own doings nor from their stubborn way. 20 Then the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel; and He said, "Because this nation has transgressed My covenant which I commanded their fathers, and has not heeded My voice, 21 "I also will no longer drive out before them any of the nations which Joshua left when he died, 22 "so that through them I may test Israel, whether they will keep the ways of the LORD, to walk in them as their fathers kept [them], or not." 23 Therefore the LORD left those nations, without driving them out immediately; nor did He deliver them into the hand of Joshua.

[Jde 1:20-25 NKJV] 20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. 22 And on some have compassion, making a distinction; 23 but others save with fear, pulling [them] out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh. 24 Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present [you] faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, 25 To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, [Be] glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever. Amen.

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.