#have you heard about our lord and savior brother only wants

[bloodfreak-boyking]

i've been thinking about this fic since i read it for the first time and i can't get it out of my head. it's just SO good and i feel like its really damn spot on characterization and i love the setup of it and i just needed to tell everyone about it because DAMN does it take up so much real estate in my brain so woe, wincest fic rec be upon ye

brother only wants by @hathfrozen

[whumpster-fire]

The (N+1) Little Pigs

Where N is a comically large number.

From: Fairy Tales To Tell Other People's Children To Get Out Of Being Asked to Babysit In the Future: An Anthology

Once Upon A Time, there were (N+1) little pigs, who lived in a house with their mother. One day, their mother kicked them out to seek their fortunes in the world, because they were unemployed losers who turned their rooms into pigsties.

The First Little Pig saw a farmer selling bales of straw. "Aha!" he thought, "That looks like the perfect material to build a house for the minimum amount of effort!" He told his brothers this. They all looked at him like he was an idiot.

"A straw house is easy to build, but it's also easy to tear down!" said the Third Little Pig. "What if a wolf comes?" He started to show his brother studies about the maximum wind loads of straw houses, but the First Little Pig wasn't listening.

"Wolves are a hoax," said the First Little Pig. He bought the straw anyway, and built a rather ramshackle house.

The Second Little Pig laughed at the first little pig's foolishness, but when he saw a woodcutter selling sticks, he thought: "I want a big house, but I don't want to waste too much time building it. These will be perfect."

The Third Little Pig saw a bricklayer selling bricks, and thought: "These will make the strongest house possible. I'd like to see a wolf break into this!"

Soon, the Big Bad Wolf came along. He saw the houses the pigs had built, and he came up with a plan. He knocked on the door of the First Little Pig's straw house.

"Good Morning," he said to the First Little Pig. "Do you have a moment to talk about our Lord and Savior -"

"Go away, I'm playing Minecraft!" shouted the First Little Pig, and slammed the door in the Big Bad Wolf's face. So the Big Bad Wolf thought of a better plan.

"Hi, I'm installing Rooftop Solar, do you have a moment to talk about -"

"Go away."

So the Big Bad Wolf thought of a better plan.

"We've been trying to reach you concerning your car's extended warranty -"

"Die in a fire, Big Bad Bitch."

So the Big Bad Wolf thought of a better plan. He knocked on the door one more time.

"Little Pig, Little Pig, let me come in!"

"Not by the hair of my chinny chin chin!"

The Big Bad Wolf peered in the window, and decided the hair on the pig's chinny chin chin wasn't much of a threat. It was kind of unimpressive actually. A neckbeard, even.

"Then I'll huff, and I'll puff, and I'll blow your house in!"

Then the Big Bad Wolf huffed, and puffed, and blew the straw house to pieces, and that was the end of the First Little Pig.

He moved on to the Second Little Pig's house, and repeated the process, only without the several ineffective scams. He went straight to the threats and demands, which is an admirable quality in a villain.

"Little Pig, Little Pig, let me come in!"

"Not by the hair of my chinny chin chin!"

"Then I'll huff, and I'll puff, and I'll blow your house in!"

Then the Big Bad Wolf huffed, and puffed, and blew the stick house to splinters, and that was the end of the Second Little Pig.

The Third Little Pig watched his brothers' demise from his brick house, and made a smug FaceBook post about inferior construction methods. When he heard a knock on his door, he said without even waiting for the wolf to speak: "Not by the hair of my chinny chin chin!"

"Uhh, this is your neighbor Bob. I just wanted to check in and see if you're okay, I saw on NextDoor there were two houses blown in by a wolf, and my neighbor Dale said both the victims were pigs, so it seems like there's a pattern."

"Oh. Sorry," said the pig. "Don't worry about me, I've got the strongest house in the whole town!" and he patted the brick walls.

Bob the Neighbor left, and the Big Bad Wolf came along.

"Not by the hair of my chinny chin chin!"

"Aww, come on, man, you didn't even give me a chance to knock!"

"This story's getting too long."

"Fair. Ahem… I'll huff, and I'll puff, and I'll blow your house in!"

The Third Little Pig waited smugly in his armchair, waiting for the wolf to tire himself out. But what he didn't realize was that his attic windows had blown in. The Third Little Pig had built his house with a gable style roof for aesthetic reasons, and he had neglected to install hurricane ties as required by building codes in many areas prone to high wind disasters. With wind blowing inside the attic and over the roof, it acted just like a wing! The whole roof lifted off the house and blew away, and without the structural support, even the sturdy brick walls collapsed, crushing the Third Little Pig armchair and all.

The Fourth Little Pig built his house out of stone, with structurally adequate roof design. The wolf huffed and puffed with all his might, but the house just wouldn't budge!

So the Big Bad Wolf waited for the Fourth Little Pig to leave the house. After a few days, this little piggy went to market, when this little piggy should have stayed home. But this little piggy had to buy roast beef, because this little piggy had none. This little piggy saw a familiar shape in the parking lot, and cried WEEE WEEE WEEE WEEE, half of the way home. Not all the way home, because he only got halfway there before the Big Bad Wolf caught him and ate him.

The Fifth Little Pig purchased a 7500 sq ft McMansion in a gated community. But the house soon began to fall apart due to its subpar construction, and the Little Pig lost all his money in the subprime mortage crisis. The bank foreclosed on him, and threw him out in the streets, where the Big Bad Wolf had an easy meal.

The Sixth Little Pig built a sturdy wooden house: not a flimsy stick one, but solid timber framing. The wolf huffed and he puffed, but he could not blow the house in. Instead, he poured gasoline all over the exterior walls of the house and lit a match. The house caught fire, and turned the Sixth Little Pig into fried bacon.

The Seventh Little Pig built another stone house, and a very nice one it was. In fact, it was a castle. But he'd built it on a swamp, so his castle sank into the swamp. So he built another castle. That one sank into the swamp. So he built a third one. That one burned down, fell over, then sank into the swamp, but the fourth one stayed up! And that's what the Seventh Little Pig's son inherited: the strongest castle in all of Pigland. However, when Wolfram the Conqueror invaded in 1066 AD, the Seventh Little Pig's castle proved incapable of withstanding the ferocious assault of the Warwolf Trebuchet. The Seventh Little Pig tried to surrender before the monstrous siege engine was even completed, but the Big Bad Wolf just laughed, and said there was no way he was going to all that effort to build such a large trebuchet and not use it. Soon the castle lay in ruins, and the Noble House of the Seventh Little Pig was broken.

The Eighth Little Pig built his house out of reinforced concrete. "I'd like to see you huff and puff this house down!" he boasted. "And I've got enough supplies in here to last for two years!"

But the Big Bad Wolf knew a guy who knew a guy who knew a guy, and the guy who a guy who knew a guy who knew a guy knew a guy who knew was an armadillo who worked in the demolitions industry. The armadillo set up several very large explosive charges all around the fourth pig's house.

"Little Pig, Little Pig, let me come in!" said the Big Bad Wolf.

"Not by the hair of my chinny chin chin!"

The armadillo laughed, and said: "Then Fire In the Hole! I'll blow your house in!"

With an almighty BANG! that stone house went away, And what happened to the pig isn't pleasant to say. The locals claim porkchops and cutlets rained down On Roofs, streets and sidewalks for three blocks around And windows were broken all over the town.

A-hem! Enough rhyming, back to the story.

The Ninth Little Pig didn't build a house at all. He just wasn't into it, man. Building houses meant being part of the system! He crashed on other people's couches and smoked weed all day. One day there was a knock at the door.

"Hey, man! Wanna buy some weed?" asked the Big Bad Wolf, who was wearing a clever disguise: he had a baseball cap, sunglasses, and a t-shirt that said "420." The Ninth Little Pig stared at him through bloodshot eyes. He scratched the hairs on his chinny chin chin. "Sure, man. Totally radical." He let the wolf in. The wolf was planning to eat him, but the smell of weed was so overpowering that he immediately became high, and they talked about metaphysical philosophy for three hours. Sadly for the Ninth Little Pig, after that the wolf got the munchies and ate him. Due to the sheer quantity of The Devil's Lettuce the pig had partaken in, the Big Bad Wolf was tripping balls for several weeks.

The Tenth Little Pig decided to move to a faraway land where there were no wolves and build his house there. On his journey he came to a bridge, where a troll was waitin for passerby.

"Ha ha!" said the troll. "You must pay the troll toll! I will eat you, delicious pig!"

"Wait!" cried the Tenth Little Pig. "My big brother is coming, and he has a house made of sticks! Wouldn't you rather eat him instead?"

"What." Said the Troll, and there was a long, awkward silence. "That doesn't make any sense."

"I think this is the wrong fairy tale," said the pig.

"I agree," said the troll, and ate him, so the Big Bad Wolf lost this round.

Later, the Big Bad Wolf came to a train track, where he saw a speeding trolley heading towards a switch. On the track ahead were five little pigs tied to the train tracks, on the other track was a single little pig. By pulling a lever, the wolf could make the trolley switch to the other track, saving the five little pigs but dooming the single pig. The Big Bad Wolf didn't pull the lever and allowed the five little pigs to be run over, because he was a Big Bad Wolf and killing more pigs was a desirable result for him. The Mad Philosophy Professor who had tied the pigs to the tracks and sabotaged the trolley's brakes lost his funding due to the lack of conclusive results, which just goes to show the importance of sound experiment design.

The Seventeenth Little Pig holed up in his house and refused to leave. The wolf waited and waited, but as he was waiting, he saw a little girl in a red hood wandering through the woods with a picnic basket. The Big Bad Wolf decided to try to eat her instead, but that is a story for another time. The Seventeenth Little Pig seemed safe, but little did he know that a deadly swine flu pandemic was spreading throughout the community.

The Eighteenth Little Pig built a very grand and sturdy house of brick and stone, but it had large windows that were easy to break into. One night, a pack of four Big Bad Wolves broke into his house. "What the Devil?" cried the Eighteenth Little Pig as he grabbed his powdered wig and Kentucky Rifle. He huffed, and he puffed, and he blew a golfball sized hole through the first wolf, shooting him dead on the spot. He drew his pistol on the second wolf, but it missed him entirely because it was smoothbore and nailed the neighbor's dog. He had to resort to the cannon at the top of the stairs loaded with grapeshot. The grapeshot shredded two wolves in the blast, and the sound and extra shrapnel set off car alarms. The Eighteenth Little Pig fixed bayonets and charged the last terrified wolf, who bled out waiting for the police to arrive because triangular bayonet wounds are impossible to stitch up. "Ah," said the Eighteenth Little Pig, "Just as the Founding Sounder intended."

The Nineteenth Little Pig went to college to become a Marine Biologist. This had many benefits, including living on a research vessel far away from any Big Bad Wolves. Sharks, on the other hand, were a different matter.

The Twentieth Little Pig didn't build a house: he hid in a cave, where he survived on a diet of 10,000 spiders per day and never left. He survived the Big Bad Wolf, but he is an outlier and should not have been counted.

The End

[asongofstarkandtargaryen]

Stannis and Maester Aemon ( and Azor Ahai)

The first interaction (the first we read on page)of those two men, is so interesting !

Stannis and Maester Aemon are related but neither man acknowledges it, here. Maester Aemon will acknowledge it on AFFC, on the same passage he will declare that Stannis isn't their promised savior.

I get it why Stannis doesn't want to admit aloud his blood connection to a Targaryen because he went through some really harsh times during Robert's rebellion ( aka the Siege of Storm's End). However, I also find it hilarious because partly the reason his brother ended up King, and now Stannis can claim to also become one, is because of their blood connection to House Targaryen.

At the beginning of the chapter, Stannis lets all the Black brothers who visited him kneel for a long period of time. Which is harsh considering how old and fragile Maester Aemon is, but is consistent with Stannis characterization to do so.

King Stannis kept the black brothers on their knees for an extraordinarily long time. "Rise," he said at last. Sam gave Maester Aemon his shoulder to help him back up.

ASOS, SAMWELL V

It seems that King Stannis has woken the dragon in Maester Aemon because while he remains his polite self, he keeps interrupting Stannis and correcting him. It reminded me how Jon interacted with Stannis on his first meeting with him.

Let's examine the moments where Maester Aemon is being subtly sassy to Stannis

1. Stannis comments how Sam would make a valuable hostage if he had not taken the black and Maester Aemon immediately interrupts him to say that Sam has indeed taken the black.

If you had not taken the black, you would make a useful hostage," Stannis mused.

"He has taken the black, sire," Maester Aemon pointed out.

I wonder if Maester Aemon, who knows more than he lets show, knows or suspects that Stannis wanted Jon to abandon his oaths and become Lord of Winterfell. It wouldn't surprised me, given how he quickly points out that Sam has taken the black and therefore cannot be used by Stannis but since I have no evidence it's only a speculation of mine.

2. Stannis calls him "Aemon Targaryen" and Maester Aemon reminds him that his loyalty lays with the night's watch.

"I am aware of more than you know, Aemon Targaryen."

The old man inclined his head. "I am only Aemon, sire. We give up our House names when we forge our maester's chains."

3. And my favourite moment is when Maester Aemon asks to see Stannis' sword. It seems an innocent request but Maester Aemon wants to examine whether it's fake or not. And after Sam describes it to him ( reminder that Maester Aemon is blind) he doesn't only thank Stannis for showing it to him but Melisandre as well. In my opinion, he subtly implies that the sword is flamming thanks to her.

"I see it now, Sam. A sword full of sunlight. So lovely to behold." The old man bowed stiffly. "Your Grace. My lady. This was most kind of you."

After all, when he leaves Stannis' chambers and he talks with Sam about the sword he again implies that it isn't the real thing

Maester Aemon was lost in thought as Sam helped him down the narrow turnpike stair. But as they were crossing the yard, he said, "I felt no heat. Did you, Sam?"

"Heat? From the sword?" He thought back. "The air around it was shimmering, the way it does above a hot brazier."

"Yet you felt no heat, did you? And the scabbard that held this sword, it is wood and leather, yes? I heard the sound when His Grace drew out the blade. Was the leather scorched, Sam? Did the wood seem burnt or blackened?"

"No," Sam admitted. "Not that I could see."

It's ironic that Melisandre calls Maester Aemon a blind man ( something that he is) when he's the one who can see that Stannis isn't the Azor Ahai and that his sword isn't Lightbringer, while Stannis and Melisandre ( who aren't blind like Maester Aemon) are blinded by their desire for Stannis to fulfill the prophesy.

Maester Aemon murmur, "It is the war for the dawn you speak of, my lady. But where is the prince that was promised?"

"He stands before you," Melisandre declared, "though you do not have the eyes to see. Stannis Baratheon is Azor Ahai come again, the warrior of fire. In him the prophecies are fulfilled. The red comet blazed across the sky to herald his coming, and he bears Lightbringer, the red sword of heroes."

[ke0mara]

BLOOD LIKE POISON (I)- LEGACIES

Summary: Faith Mikaelson has always felt different from her sister. She felt as if there was ominous inside of her that she was sure Hope didn't feel. After losing their parents the two siblings became a lot closer. Whether it was the fact that they didn't want to risk losing each other as well or because they realized that they only had each other left, they did everything they could to protect each other. But things get a lot more difficult when a creature named Malivore starts sending monsters to the Salvator boarding school which forces the students to fight the monsters in order to protect themselves. During this inevitable battle, Faith finds someone who she ends up making an unexpected connection with and she finds out that she may not be as alone as she originally thinks.

wc: 4.9k

'WHEN WE'RE YOUNG, WE'RE TAUGHT the distinction between a hero and a villain, good and evil, a savior and a lost cause.

But what if the only real difference is just who's telling the story? 

My name is Faith Mikaelson. 

I come from a long line of the villains in the tales you've heard about vampires, werewolves, witches, and everything in between. 

The school behind these gates protects the secrets of people like me. And tonight, under the light of the full moon, we will be opening our doors to someone new.'

"RAFAEL SERIOUSLY, IT'S NOT RIGHT," Landon tells his friend with a chuckle.

"It is what it is, Landon," Rafael said.

"You're not Catholic. You shouldn't have to confess your sins." Landon argued.

"I tossed a lawnmower through the patio doors, bruh. If apologizing to God gets Hector and Maria off of my back, so be it."

They walked up to the church and went in.

"Buenas tardes, Father Pietro," Rafael says as they meet the priest.

"Buenas tardes, Rafael. Por favor, pray with me."The priest returns. Rafael gets in a kneeling position.

"Landon, you can leave now. It's okay, we can take it from here." Hector says.

"I'm good, Hector," Landon argues.

"Landon, this is between your foster brother and God, okay?" Maria tells Landon walking closer to him.

"Hey, I got it, bro. Just wait outside." Rafael reassures. Landon sighs but obeys. He walks out of the building and puts in his earbuds to listen to music while sitting on the steps. Hector and Maria make sure he's out there before putting a chain on the door and locking it.

"Spiritus Sanctus. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst..." The priest then started chanting words in Latin.

"What's going on here? What?" Rafael became wary with what the priest was chanting "What are you doing?!" Rafael exclaimed when Hector and Maria grabbed him holding him still. With the priest still chanting Rafael's bones started breaking. He screamed and grunted in pain. He then collapsed to the ground and when he looked up his eyes were glowing and his fangs came out. 

Landon looked up when he heard tires screeching in front of him.

He then looks up to see Hope and Faith getting out of the car along with Alaric.

"Landon?" Hope and Faith inquired as they walked up to him.

"Hope? Faith?" He asked shock written on his face.

"You three know each other?" Alaric asked once he walked up to join them.

"Long story," Hope replied bluntly.

"Yeah," Faith agreed.

They all looked to the church as they heard yelling and glass breaking inside.

"Dr. Saltzman," Hope said.

"Yeah, I'm on it," Alaric replied going to open the door only to find it locked. He looked back at Hope and Faith. "Doors are locked."

"Dissera portus!" Hope and Faith chanted spreading their arms in an open motion. The doors flew open making the chains break off.

"You're gonna want to stay out here, Landon, trust me," Hope told the boy who looked shocked while entering the church.

When they walked in they saw the priest holding a cross in front of Rafael while chanting.

"Shut down the exorcist, would you?" Alaric asked.

"Silencio," Faith said making the priest stop chanting. "Ad somnum." The priest dropped his cross and fell to the ground along with Hector and Maria. Alaric, Hope, and Faith crouched down by Rafael while Alaric pulled some chains out of the bag he brought.

"Help me..." Rafael grunted out. He started to grow claws. "What's happening?" He asked terrified.

"My God," Landon muttered when he entered the church.

"Help me..." Rafael repeated while transforming more and more with every minute.

Hope, Faith, and Alaric rushed over to chain him to the ground.

"Easy does it. Easy, now." Alaric said while he finished placing the chain on him; whilst Hope and Faith already finished. He then stepped back and Rafael was fully transformed growling and snarling at them.

Landon had a shocked look on his face.

IT WAS DAYTIME NOW AND FAITH, Hope, Alaric, Landon, and Rafael were all driving back to the boarding school in Mystic Falls. Hope was seated in the passenger seat, and Faith was in the back in between Landon and Rafael.

"How do you guys know each other?" Alaric asked breaking the silence.

"He used to serve us milkshakes at the Mystic Grill," Hope replied glancing at Landon.

"Peanut Butter Blast. Whipped cream on the bottom," He said looking at Hope then glanced at Faith. "Mint chocolate chip. With extra whipped cream." Hope looked back at him and smiled along with Faith.

"We danced once." He said referring to himself and Hope.

"We tried," Hope corrected with a laugh, and Faith chuckled lightly at the memory. "And then you moved away."

"Then you both made a door blow off its hinges with your brain. Do you feel like explaining that?"

"Not really." Faith muttered under her breath, but since Landon was right next to her he heard anyway.

"Oh, we'll explain everything. We're almost there." Alaric replied.

"Where are we going?" Landon asked.

"Somewhere safe," Alaric said as they reached the boarding school.

"WELCOME TO THE SALVATORE SCHOOL," Lizzie greeted standing beside Josie at the school's entrance. "We're your tour guides."

"I'm Josie,"

"I'm Lizzie, sisters,"

"Twins,"

"Fraternal. Obvs."

"Rafael why don't you go ahead with the girls while I talk to Landon," Alaric suggested.

The Saltzman twins went to link arms with Rafael. "Morning, Hope." They said sarcastically in unison. "Morning, Faith." They sang in a genuine tone. Faith gave a smile and waved to them.

"Morning, girls," Hope said with the same enthusiasm she got while giving Faith a questioning look to which she just shrugged.

"More like despair," Lizzie muttered.

"I heard that," Hope called.

"No, you didn't," Lizzie said walking away.

"Didn't have to," Hope said. Faith just shook her head at their behavior.

"Everyone, behave," Alaric ordered.

"Love you, Dad." Lizzie and Josie called before leaving.

"So, let's get started," Alaric said motioning towards the doors of the building.

As they entered, Alaric asked a question to Landon. "I'm curious Landon— slow down," He told some kids who were running by, "—were you aware of us when you lived in Mystic Falls?"

"Uh, I knew Hope and Faith went to some fancy boarding school." He replied. "People in town said it was for troubled rich kids. I see the rich part is true." He explained staring at a little girl floating books. "Nobody in town mentioned anyone here could do that."

They entered Alaric's office. "No one in Mystic Falls knows much about us. We blend in just enough. Participate and contribute just enough. Keeps people from asking too many questions." Alaric explained.

"What is there to know exactly?" Landon inquired.

Alaric looked to Hope and Faith. "Well, I used to have a speech prepared, carefully unpeeling the layers of mystical history, but it turns out most people have read Harry Potter and are actually cool with me skipping the tee-up."

"You're a school for magic?" Landon asked incredulously.

"We are a school for the supernatural, which covers a lot of territory. Everyone here has something that makes them special in ways that the outside world... wouldn't understand."

"So, what are you guys?" Landon asked looking the girls over curiously.

"This could take a while to explain," Faith muttered.

"We should get to class," Hope announced gazing at her sister who just evenly met her gaze.

"No. No. Sorry. I don't mean to be a dick, but I don't know you," He said looking at Alaric. "And though the image of you whamming a priest is still fresh, I need you guys here." He said looking at both the girls, but mostly wishing Hope would stay. "Just tell me what all that was in the church last night."

"What do you think it was?" Hope asked.

"Well, as best as I can reason, either I've lost my mind or werewolves are real."

Hope, Faith, and Alaric glanced at one another.

"Th—this is beyond insane. How is that even possible?"

"It's a long story, involving an ancient vengeful witch and a bloodline curse. We cover all that in Origins of the Species, grade six." Alaric told him.

"In sixth grade at my school, we learned the state capitals," Landon stated making Faith and Hope laugh.

"We teach that, too," Hope said.

"I have some questions about Rafael," Alaric stated.

"Like what?"

"Well, let's start with who he killed recently."

"Why would you ask me that?"

"The werewolf gene lies dormant until the carrier takes a human life," Alaric explained. "If Rafael triggered his curse, it's... because he killed someone. And we don't accept cold-blooded killers into our program."

"He's not a killer," Landon said getting defensive.

"We're not trying—" Hope started.

"He's not... a killer," Landon repeated.

"Well, I know a little bit about his background." Alaric started. "Neglectful birth parents. Orphaned in adolescence. Six foster homes in seven years. Prone to fits of anger." He listed and Faith felt some pity for the boy.

"Yeah, you could just as easily be reading my file— that's what it's like out there for people like him and me." Landon exasperated.

"Landon, l know this is a lot to take in right now, but we're only trying to help," Hope said. "Faith and I have been going here since we were seven. This is a safe place for people like Rafael. It's a home."

"Yeah, Landon just let us help him out." Faith tried to reason with him. "He'll do well here. He'll be okay."

"But... if we take him in, we need to make sure that he is not a threat," Alaric said.

"His girlfriend..." Landon sighed. "Cassie. Last month... he was driving, there was a storm, he took a turn too fast. And then he started acting out. At first, I thought it was just grief. And then maybe... maybe drugs or something. And then he threw a 200-pound lawnmower 50 feet across the yard. That was when our foster parents called in the priest. I guess they thought he was possessed by the devil."

"All of that is... consistent with a newly triggered wolf. It's normal. Thank you for that, Landon." Alaric explained. "Oh." He looked to Hope and Faith.

"Everything's gonna be okay. I promise." Hope said walking up to Landon and reassuring him.

"We're ready," Faith called out. The door opened and in came M.G.

"Landon Kirby, Milton Greasley," Alaric introduced as M.G. walked over.

"Come on, Dr. Saltzman," M.G. said indicating that Alaric uses his preferred title— M.G.

"Right. M.G. I'm sorry. Take it from a guy named Alaric. I get it. Landon, M.G. is my student aide." Alaric explained.

"He's also a vampire," Faith added.

"Of course he is," Landon mused. "You know, for a school with a secret to keep, you're kind of liberal with your information."

"Well, we don't actually intend for you to remember any of it," Alaric confessed making Landon confused.

M.G. put his hand on Landon's shoulder, looked deeply into his eyes, and started to compel him. "Forget everything you've seen or learned since last night. All you need to know is that your friend has found a home where he can live a better life. You'll miss him. But you know it's for the best."

Landon roughly removed M.G.'s hand from his shoulder and said, "Are you three out of your minds? How could I forget any of this?"

"What the hell?" Faith exclaimed confused as to how the compulsion didn't work.

"M.G. did you do it wrong?" Hope quickly asked.

"No, I didn't do it wrong," M.G. argued. "It's the easiest vampire trick in the book."

"Well, it didn't work." Hope snapped back.

"Obviously it didn't work." Landon tries to leave the office but M.G. vamp-sped in front of him and grabbed his neck applying pressure until he passed out. They hurried over to them.

"Careful. Get him to the cellar. This is not good this is bad." Alaric said as he opened the door for M.G. to drag Landon out. Hope stared at them with worry in her eyes and Faith just placed a hand on her shoulder in a comforting manner. Hope sent her a small thankful look.

FAITH LEFT HOPE TO TALK TO LANDON alone and meet up with Lizzie and Josie.

Faith saw them heading to the field with Rafael and went up to them.

"Alyssa Chang made a broom fly in physics last year, but Rick Rogers fell 30 feet during practice, so real-life Quidditch remains an elusive pipe dream," Faith heard Lizzie say. "It's called Wickery. My parents invented it when we were ten."

"Hey. Josie. Lizzie." Faith called when she reached them.

"Hey, Faith." They said in unison.

"And..." She said pointing to Rafael. "Rafael, right?"

"Yeah," He replied with a small polite smile still looking overwhelmed by everything, and Faith couldn't blame him. "Nice to meet you, Faith."

"Same to you," Faith said returning the smile.

"Come on, Faith, sit with me and M.G.," Josie said linking her arm with Faith's.

"Ok," Faith told her starting to walk off with her. "See ya, Liz. You as well, Rafael."

"Bye, Faith," Lizzie said while Rafael gave a small wave.

Faith and Josie walked over to where M.G. was seated and unlinked their arms when they sat down on opposite sides of him.

"Yo," M.G. called to them. "Giving up dibs on the new guy so quickly?" He directed to Josie.

Josie smiled while looking at Rafael as she replied, "It's not a competition."

"Yeah, Jo, because if it was, no offense, you would lose to Lizzie," Faith told her to which Josie gave her a look. "Come on. I'm sorry, but you know it's true."

"Plus..." She started again lightly glaring at Faith and ignoring her previous comment. "I'm still nursing a wounded soul."

"Hmm. Penelope Park." M.G. said.

"We don't mention her name anymore, remember?" Josie reminded making M.G. chuckle and apologize.

"Then how about we just call her bitch? That works too, right?" Faith asked with a small grin on her face, trying to lighten the mood. Which worked when she heard Josie and M.G. chuckle.

After a moment of silence, M.G. asked Josie something, "Do you think he'll go for her?"

"Probably. They usually do." Josie said while glancing at Lizzie and Rafael again.

"Don't worry about it too much Jo, we can be single, depressed souls together." Faith sighed out dramatically looking over to Josie. "No one goes for me either."

"Oh please, Faith. Remember Dylan or Rowan," M.G. started listing off the guys who tried to ask out Faith but got rejected.

"Ok, M.G., I meant people who are actually good for me," Faith argued grimacing at the thought of them all. "Point is, Josie, you're an incredible person and soon enough you're gonna find someone for you, alright?"

"Okay, thanks." She said with a small smile. Faith looked back over to where Lizzie was and saw Rafael getting up, the former looking sad. Faith knew that wouldn't end well.

"Oh. I forgot I was supposed to be training with Dr. Saltzman right now— bye guys." Faith said to them quickly getting up.

"Bye Faith."

"I'll talk to you later."

RIGHT NOW FAITH WAS WATCHING AS Hope and Alaric sparred waiting for it to be her turn.

"You didn't have to lock him in a cellar," Hope said angrily stopping for a moment.

"Where else was I gonna put him?" Alaric asked trying to send a right hook to Hope who just dodged. Alaric tried to punch her again but she backed up. "Block with your hand."

"I got it," Hope called back annoyed. Faith just rolled her eyes at her sister's stubbornness.

"If you had it I wouldn't have to say it." Alaric said walking past her and throwing another right hook to which Hope just grabbed his arm and pushed him forward. He quickly regained his composure and Hope threw a left hook which he went back to dodge she then swung her right arm grabbed it and held it behind her back.

"Dimiterre," Hope muttered causing Alaric to flip over her head. Hope then did a backflip and pinned him down.

"Cheater!" Faith exclaimed at the same time as Alaric. Hope only looked over to Faith smirking then looked down to Alaric.

"You should really let a vampire start doing our training. You're getting a little old for me to break your human bones." Hope taunted.

"Speak for yourself I like Saltzman training," Faith said with a small smile.

"Thank you, Faith," Alaric replied giving a grateful smile in Faith's direction. Hope only rolled her eyes as Faith stuck her tongue out at her. Hope then helped Alaric up as he asked, "You and Landon, you a thing or something?"

"I don't have things," Hope replied while they continued to spare.

"Yes, I'm well aware of your quest to avoid all emotional intimacy. There was obviously something."

"I liked him. He's normal."

"Well, let's keep him that way. We survive here because we follow the rules. We can't get sloppy about it." Alaric explained walking over to his water bottle and handing Hope hers.

"You're the one that's always telling us that we need to get out more," Hope said with a chuckle.

And Alaric was right about that. Hope is hardly social, and doesn't really talk to anybody but her sister. Faith has a few friends but she mostly likes the stay by her sister's side, because she feels that if Hope is suffering she should stick around to help her get through it. For another valid reason as well, but what Faith doesn't put into thought to recognize is that she's also suffering inside but trying to push down the emotions and put on a brave face, if that's for herself or her sister she doesn't know.

"I tell you both that you need to stop locking yourselves in your dorm room binge-watching Cutthroat Kitchen and the Harry Potter series." He says taking a glance at Faith. "I don't tell you to go out and fraternize with the human locals." He directed to Hope.

"You know you can just be my headmaster. All this other stuff isn't in the job description." Hope said.

"Hope..." Faith muttered quietly.

"Attempt to make an actual friend here, and we could reevaluate this relationship," Alaric told Hope.

"Dad?" We turned our heads to see Josie standing there. "Cleanup on aisle 'L'."

Alaric sighed. "Want some help?" Faith offered.

"No, I think I got it." He told her walking away.

FAITH AND HOPE WALKED BACK TO their dormitories and laid down getting ready for bed since it was late. Hope kept shifting in her bed gaining her sister's attention.

"That's getting annoying now." Faith muttered turning in bed to look at her sister getting fed up with all the movement.

"Sorry. It's just... should I go see him?" Hope asked her sister who just chuckled and replied,

"Go see him, Hope." Faith told her sister who muttered a quick 'yeah, ok' before getting up to leave.

"Hey, since I'm leaving, you wanna go with me," Hope asked because she knows how hard it is for herself and her sister to fall asleep.

"No thanks. I'll just stay here." Faith replied turning back around to get comfy, not wanting to be a third wheel in her sister's relationship.

"Okay."

HOPE WAS IN THE LIBRARY WITH Landon showing him some books. She had left to grab a book and come back. "The blood that runs through Faith and I's veins isn't human. Our dad was one of the earth's Original Vampires." Hope sat the book down on the table in front of Landon.

"Was?" Landon repeated.

"Was," Hope confirmed. "Turns out even immortal beings can find a way to die eventually."

" 'Klaus Mikaelson: The Great Evil'." Landon read.

"He wasn't very popular around here."

"One of my foster dads used to burn us with his cigarettes. I guess evil is relative." Landon confessed and Hope looked at him sadly.

Hope tried to change the subject, "Our mother was a werewolf alpha."

"There's that 'was' again," Landon observed.

"The people that I care about have a tendency to die on me," Hope told him solemnly.

"What about Faith? You still have her." Landon asked.

"Yeah. I do. And she's amazing, and I love her. But we're around each other most of the time, and what would happen if she decided to leave me like everyone else? Surely, she'll find someone else to stand by and give up on me... or she could leave the same way our parents did." Hope cleared her throat and sighed trying to momentarily get rid of the sadness. "I try not to get close to people anymore, my twin sister is an exception."

"Yeah, I can see that."

"Um, our grandmother was a witch. So, all those things passed down, making us—"

"Unicorns?" Landon joked.

"A hybrid of three different creatures, tri-brid. I can control when I turn, which is what I was doing tonight." Hope explained. "We're the only ones of our kind."

"Yeah. See? Unicorns." Landon repeated making Hope laugh.

"Can I show you something?" Hope asked. "Earlier, you mentioned the jock that had messed with you the day that we danced," Hope mentioned walking close to Landon putting her hands by his neck, and showing him a memory.

Connor dumps his drink on the table in front of Landon and throws the lid at him. He then laughs and sarcastically says, "I'm so sorry." He and his friends then get in the car and drive off

"That's the guy," Landon said. "You can just dial up one of my memories like that?"

"It's not you're memory. It's mine." Hope told him.

Connor was with some of his friends while he was washing his car. Hope and Faith then raised their hands and started chanting. The car freezes over and all the windows break. Everybody starts gasping. "My car! Oh my god!" Connor starts freaking out. Hope and Faith start smirking and then fist bump.

"You both did that for me?" Landon asked.

"He had it coming," Hope replied softly as they stared at each other intently. Hope then broke the silence and cleared her throat, "Plus, Faith said she also did it for herself because Connor winked at her."

"Oh, yeah. Understandable."

"Um, we shouldn't be in here after curfew," Hope said removing her hands from Landon's neck. "We should get you back before anyone knows that you're gone."

THE NEXT DAY FAITH AND HOPE watched as Landon said his goodbye to Rafael before leaving the school. He hugged Rafael goodbye before walking off. Faith turned to her sister, "You gonna miss him?" She asked with a grin already knowing the answer.

"Yeah. And he um... he kissed me." Hope muttered with a big grin on her face.

"Wha— and you're just now telling me this!" Faith exclaimed.

"Faith you were sleeping and I didn't want to wake you, because then you'd keep me up all night and ask me about it." Hope explained certainly.

"Pffftt... I wouldn't do that." Faith denied swatting her hand at her sister's accusation. Hope gave her sister a look to which she caved, "Alright! Well, was he at least a good kisser?!"

"HOW DO YOU KNOW IT WAS HIM?" Hope asked Alaric. Hope, Faith, and Alaric went to talk somewhere private because apparently, Landon stole an ancient knife.

"Ancient artifact goes missing along with too-good-to-be-true hapless human? You do the math, Hope." Alaric argues.

"That would make him a liar, okay? I've known my fair share of those, and there was nothing about him... "

"Yeah. Landon's a good guy." Faith said agreeing with Hope.

"Hope, Faith... " Alaric muttered.

"No, you don't understand. There's no way that the one time that I choose to get close to someone, they turn out to be a liar. It's not possible, okay? I'm not that stupid." Hope said.

"When he walked out that door, we compelled him to go home," Alaric told them.

"So?" Faith inquired.

"So he didn't. It's the first place we checked. And if he didn't go home, that means his memory wasn't erased. He was just pretending that it was. If his mind can't be controlled by a supernatural being, then that only means one thing." Alaric explained. "That he is a supernatural being."

ALARIC DECIDE TO HAVE AN ASSEMBLY and let the students there in on what's happening with Landon. "For ten years we've gone undetected. Protecting you, and protecting our secret has been our singular mission. Tonight I need your help to find Landon Kirby... before he exposes us all." Students then start whispering amongst themselves.

Faith and Josie were walking to Josie's dormitory to study and hang out. They then heard M.G. call them, "Jo! Faith!"

"We're not talking to you," Faith said not bothering to turn around to look at him or stop walking. Josie told Faith about what M.G. did with Penelope and she was shocked and even slightly angry with him. Josie just nodded in agreement.

"Hold on. I'm sorry." He said causing Josie and Faith to stop walking and turn around to look at him. "Alright? I'm an ass. You-know-who, she puts those sex herbs in her weed, and I had a... a momentary lapse of judgment."

"Why does everyone find her so special?" Josie asked.

"She's not special," M.G. said. "She's just... available,"

"Come here," M.G. said going in to hug Josie. He muttered into the hug, "Don't hate me, okay?" He then turned to Faith opening his arms again, "Can I give you one?" He asked.

"Fine," Faith said as she went to hug him.

Faith pulled away from the hug. "Bye, M.G."

M.G. bid both of the girls goodbye then took his leave. Faith turned to Josie who was staring at her ex. She was going to tell her to stop staring but then saw as she muttered something under her breath. Suddenly Penelope's jacket caught on fire. She tried to put it out to no avail so her friends helped her.

"Josiette Saltzman." Faith scolded in disbelief.

"What?"

"I should have been the one to do that," Faith said as she slightly pouted. They started to walk away again neither aware of the other tri-brid watching them.

"I NEED YOUR HELP," Hope said as she walked into the doorway of Josie's dorm. Faith looked up from her book hearing her sister's voice.

"Three more words to me than your annual average," Josie stated not looking up from the book she was getting. "Find someone else. We're studying." She said sitting on her bed next to Faith book in hand. Hope then fully entered the room and closed the door behind her.

"This stuff with Landon is my fault." Hope stated. "I can fix it. I know how to track him, but it involves using dark magic."

"No. We're not doing that, Hope." Faith told her.

"Yeah, and we're not allowed to use dark magic here anyway, so..." Josie agreed.

"Says the girl who just lit her ex on fire," Hope said.

Josie gave Hope a look. "Are you blackmailing me?"

"Hope!" Faith exclaimed. "Seriously?"

"No. No, I'm just looking for a kindred spirit in revenge." Hope said trying to act innocent.

"Sounds like blackmail to me." Faith said glaring at her sister.

"Right," Josie said. They all grabbed the ingredients they needed for the spell. Josie lit a match and lit the candles with it. Hope grabbed a rat out of a box, which made Faith grimace at the sight of it.

"Sorry," Hope said before killing it by breaking its neck. Faith then poured some herbs over the spell pages as Hope held the blade to the rat. She then sliced the rat open and dripped its blood over the pages.

"Are you sure about this?" Josie asked looking uneasy.

"Absolutely," Hope replied.

"I'm not," Faith said with a sarcastic smile, but the look Hope gave her made her quickly shut up. They then joined hands and started chanting.

"Inveniet hostium et tenebrae. Inveniet hostium et tenebrae. Inveniet hostium et tenebrae." They could feel the wind blowing from the spell.

"Do you see anything?" Josie asked Hope and Faith.

"Just flashes," Hope replied. "Come on, give me something."

"I got it. Route 29." Faith said.

"Near the state line." Hope confirmed.

"Is that the knife?" Josie asked in question.

"Yeah." Hope and Faith told her at the same time.

"What's it doing?" Josie inquired.

"I don't know."

"I have no idea."

FAITH, HOPE, ALARIC, AND MATT Donovan were all talking about the crime scene that happened on Route 29.

"Called in a favor with a buddy at State Patrol, asked him to lock down the scene

till we got here," Matt explained. "Local PD thinks it was a chemical spill."

"What's the actual story?" Alaric asked.

"I'll leave that to you to figure out," Matt said shrugging.

"Alright. Thanks, Sheriff."

They walked on the bus and saw all the people on it were burnt corpses.

Link for story on Wattpad-

[faithisthekey-23]

Hi brothers and sisters in Christ

I want to share with you my story of when, how I saw Jesus in my soul and what He told me.

This Tuesday (on 25th May 2023), I wanted to study for the exam that I was supposed to have on the next day. However, I felt that I should spend this time on praying and talking to God. Part of me that wants to have good grades wanted me to study as it kept on reminding me that I will fail the test if I don't start preparing for it. So, I started learning information for this exam. I couldn't focus at all. I kept on thinking about the Holy Trinity and the desire to pray and just talk to Him didn't stop. I thought that I need to study, so I kept on studying. I even tried to give time that I spend on preparing for this exam for the glory of God. It helped me a bit to focus for a few moments.

Then, after a few moments, I saw Jesus in my soul. I am sure that it wasn't in my head or in my thoughts, not even in my heart. I only saw Jesus Lovely and Wonderful Face, but that is way more than enough to see my Savior. However, now that I think about it, it makes me sad. Why? Jesus had crown of thorns on His Precious Head and I could see a few drops of Blood on His Face. He had closed eyes and looked sad. I heard and saw Him saying in my soul ”And you don't put me on the first place again”. His tone of voice wasn't angry. It was very lovely, soft, calm and most importantly, very sad.

I wasn't sure if it truly was Jesus or my imagination. I thought that maybe that's because I kept on reading about Jesus appearing in front of saints and talking to them. That's why I asked Jesus if it was really Him and I asked Him to give me a sign. I didn't even have to wait. He spoke to me by using thoughts right away. He reminded me of the message from Virgin Mary that she left us in Her revelation. These are the words that I got reminded of ”Pray my children, pray”. Then, less than 10 seconds later, God gave me a strong desire to read the Bible. I took it and told God to talk to me through the Bible even though I knew that He has already prepared a part of the Bible that I need to read. He showed me a part of the Bible that said: ”Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation.” (Matthew 26:41).

Why do I write to you about it? To let you know about the fact that we should always pray. Our Lord told us through the Holy Bible: ”Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:16), so we should keep on reminding ourselves that praying is very important in our lives. It protects us from evil and brings us closer to our Almighty God. It blesses us and changes our hearts, gives grace to us and people we pray for. Prayer is very powerful. It is the key to a good relationship with our Heaveanly Father and salvation. Keep on praying and don't get discouraged. Remember faithful promises of our Lovely Savior: ”⁷ Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. ⁸ For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.’ ” (Matthew 7:7-8).

God bless you brothers and sisters, keep having strong faith and keep on seeking Heaven — Home of our Lovely Holy Trinity, Virgin Mary, angels and saints.

[ongolecharles]

DAILY SCRIPTURE READINGS (DSR) 📚 Group, Thu Dec 26th, 2024 ... Feast of Saint Stephen, first martyr

Reading 1

-------------

Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59

Stephen, filled with grace and power,

was working great wonders and signs among the people.

Certain members of the so-called Synagogue of Freedmen,

Cyrenians, and Alexandrians,

and people from Cilicia and Asia,

came forward and debated with Stephen,

but they could not withstand the wisdom and the spirit with which he spoke.

When they heard this, they were infuriated,

and they ground their teeth at him.

But he, filled with the Holy Spirit,

looked up intently to heaven

and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God,

and he said,

"Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man

standing at the right hand of God."

But they cried out in a loud voice, covered their ears,

and rushed upon him together.

They threw him out of the city, and began to stone him.

The witnesses laid down their cloaks

at the feet of a young man named Saul.

As they were stoning Stephen, he called out

"Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."

Responsorial Psalm

---------------

Ps 31:3cd-4, 6 and 8ab, 16bc and 17

R. (6) Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.

Be my rock of refuge,

a stronghold to give me safety.

You are my rock and my fortress;

for your name's sake you will lead and guide me.

R. Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.

Into your hands I commend my spirit;

you will redeem me, O LORD, O faithful God.

I will rejoice and be glad because of your mercy.

R. Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.

Rescue me from the clutches of my enemies and my persecutors.

Let your face shine upon your servant;

save me in your kindness.

R. Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.

Alleluia

----------

Ps 118:26a, 27a

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD:

the LORD is God and has given us light.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

---------

Mt 10:17-22

Jesus said to his disciples:

"Beware of men, for they will hand you over to courts

and scourge you in their synagogues,

and you will be led before governors and kings for my sake

as a witness before them and the pagans.

When they hand you over,

do not worry about how you are to speak

or what you are to say.

You will be given at that moment what you are to say.

For it will not be you who speak

but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

Brother will hand over brother to death,

and the father his child;

children will rise up against parents and have them put to death.

You will be hated by all because of my name,

but whoever endures to the end will be saved."

***

FOCUS AND LITURGY OF THE WORD

On Christmas Day, we reflected on the profound mystery of the birth of Jesus, our Savior. This event not only marks the coming of God into our world but also challenges us to recognize the significance of our own lives. In a sense, we are invited to reveal that we are in this world because we are deeply loved, cherished, and wanted by God. The birth of Jesus affirms that each of us has a unique purpose, rooted in God's unconditional love for us.

The feast of Saint Stephen, following so closely after Christmas, brings a more sober message. Just after celebrating Christ’s birth, we are reminded of St. Stephen’s story of the challenges and consequences of following Jesus. St. Stephen's life confronts us with the reality that discipleship requires action. We cannot remain passive; Jesus calls us to make a choice, to stand firm in our faith.

Saint Stephen is honored as a deacon and martyr in the Church. The word "martyr" means "witness," and we see the essence of a Christian witness in the life and example of St. Stephen. Pope Francis often reminds us that there are more martyrs than in the early Church. A witness is not someone who simply holds a good idea but lives and speaks the truth of God’s love.

In the Acts of the Apostles, we see Stephen unjustly accused yet filled with the Holy Spirit; he responds with wisdom and counters falsehoods with truth. St. Stephen lived and died for Christ. Like Jesus, Stephen entrusted his spirit to God and prayed for the forgiveness of his persecutors. He embodied a love that extended even to his enemies, showing us the greatness of God’s love.

May St. Stephen's intercession inspire us to embrace the Holy Spirit so that we, too, can become living witnesses of Jesus. May our lives reflect God's love and be a beacon of hope and faith for the world.

***

SAINT OF THE DAY

Saint Stephen

(d. c. 36)

Saint Stephen’s Story

“As the number of disciples continued to grow, the Greek-speaking Christians complained against the Hebrew-speaking Christians, saying that their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. So the Twelve called together the community of the disciples and said, ‘It is not right for us to neglect the word of God to serve at table. Brothers, select from among you seven reputable men, filled with the Spirit and wisdom, whom we shall appoint to this task, whereas we shall devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.’ The proposal was acceptable to the whole community, so they chose Stephen, a man filled with faith and the Holy Spirit…” (Acts 6:1-5).

Acts of the Apostles says that Stephen was a man filled with grace and power, who worked great wonders among the people. Certain Jews, members of the Synagogue of Roman Freedmen, debated with Stephen, but proved no match for the wisdom and spirit with which he spoke. They persuaded others to make the charge of blasphemy against him. He was seized and carried before the Sanhedrin.

In his speech, Stephen recalled God’s guidance through Israel’s history, as well as Israel’s idolatry and disobedience. He then claimed that his persecutors were showing this same spirit. “…you always oppose the holy Spirit; you are just like your ancestors” (Acts 7:51b).

Stephen’s speech brought anger from the crowd. “But he, filled with the holy Spirit, looked up intently to heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, and he said, ‘Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.’ …They threw him out of the city, and began to stone him. …As they were stoning Stephen, he called out, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’ …‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them’” (Acts 7:55-56, 58a, 59, 60b).

Reflection

----------

Stephen died as Jesus did: falsely accused, brought to unjust condemnation because he spoke the truth fearlessly. He died with his eyes trustfully fixed on God, and with a prayer of forgiveness on his lips. A “happy” death is one that finds us in the same spirit, whether our dying is as quiet as Joseph’s or as violent as Stephen’s: dying with courage, total trust and forgiving love.

Saint Stephen is a Patron Saint of:

Deacons

***

【Build your Faith in Christ Jesus on #dailyscripturereadingsgroup 📚: +256 751 540 524 .. Whatsapp】

[godsmanforeverhis]

(via "Remain Unshaken" 7/28/2024 Posted by Alister Begg for www.truthforlife.org from Spurgeon’s writing)

 Posted by Alister Begg for www.truthforlife.org from Spurgeon’s writing

 Wouldn't you like to be unshaken when you lose your job ?? Wouldn't you like to be joyful, in the midst of the worst trial of your life ?? These things seem to contradict themselves, don't they ??

 They will not be possible in our own mortal strength... BUT, God can give us supernatural strength through the power of the Holy Spirit to be able to lose a job, go through a horrendous trial, or even be able to love someone screaming in our faces for whatever reason !!

 Jesus teaches us this, in...

 Matthew 5:43-44... “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, (NKJV)

 Jesus is speaking to believers in this scripture, if we are a redeemed, "born again" child of God... You see, the Holy Spirit will produce the spiritual fruit of LOVE, JOY, and Peace [along with 6 more fruit of the Spirit- Galatians 5:22-23], which will have nothing to do with the circumstances we find ourselves in...

 Not yet a "born again" Christian ?? Not 100% sure you will be going to heaven when you die ?? You absolutely CAN be sure you are heaven-bound when you are "born again" by God above... Open the P.S. below, and seek Jesus Christ to become your personal Lord and Savior before it’s too late...

 Read this post by Alistair Begg, "Remain Unshaken", for more about how we can remain calm at all times, because we know that God has total control of our lives if we are living a "Spirit-filled", "Christ-centered" life...in submission to the Holy Spirit's guidance and direction... you see, God doesn't make any mistakes, and wants only the best for His redeemed children !! God has the PERFECT plan already laid out... We just have to let God do what God does best !!

 Blessings in Christ, bruce

 Click below to open Alistairs's post-

https://godsmanforever.com/2024/07/28/remain-unshaken-7-28-2024-posted-by-alister-begg-for-www-truthforlife-org-from-spurgeons-writing/

 P.S.  When there is no other place to turn…turn to God !! If you’re not a “born again” Christian, is the Holy Spirit urging you to open this link ?? Here is the truth about how God’s grace is received to become a Christian in God’s eyes; through understanding and obeying the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ…  https://godsmanforever.com

 To my brothers and sisters in Christ, please feel free to share this message of the cross with those in need…

 Posted by Alister Begg for www.truthforlife.org from Spurgeon’s writing

[jdgo51]

God Turns Gloom into Good

Today's inspiration comes from:

Whatever Happens

by Robert J. Morgan

"Last year during a speaking engagement in Tupelo, Mississippi, I checked out of my hotel and started my truck. It roared like a motorcycle with no muffler. During the night somebody had stolen my catalytic converter. I had to leave my truck behind, rent a car, deal with insurance, and send somebody back to fetch my truck. After all that, the vehicle still wasn’t working right, so I left it at the dealership while on another trip.

When I returned, I used a ride-sharing app to take me to the dealership for my truck. As I sat in the back seat, I noticed a Bible in the seat pocket. I asked the young driver about it. He said it had belonged to his dear, departed aunt, and he liked to keep it close to remind him of her. I told him he should read it. I shared some verses I’d read that morning in my own Bible.

He listened with unusual interest, so I explained from Scripture how to have a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. By the time we got to the dealership, he wanted to pray, asking God for salvation — which he did.

That’s when I understood why the Lord had allowed someone to steal my catalytic converter — it had set off a chain reaction that led to the young man’s salvation.

Bad things happen all the time, but what if you knew that every gloomy thing would lead to glorious results under the guiding providence of God?

That’s what Paul told the Philippians. They were distressed at all that had happened to him — the loss of his fourth missionary journey, his imprisonment in Caesarea, his shipwreck on Malta, and his looming trial in Rome. But Paul wasn’t gloomy in the least. He said:

Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear. — Philippians 1:12–14

This is the Philippian version of Romans 8:28, which says,

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. — NKJV

Problems can last a long time, but they can’t last forever as God’s promises do. We live in a world of catastrophes and calamities, and none of us knows what will happen next. Without God’s oversight, our futures are like scraps of paper scattering in the wind. But under His oversight, they’re like pages of hope indelibly written by grace. The Scriptures teach we have a God who turns problems inside out — all our perils and perplexities...

What if you knew that every gloomy thing would lead to glorious results under the guiding providence of God?

In Christ, we have an ironclad, unfailing, all-encompassing, God-given guarantee that every single circumstance in life will sooner or later turn out well for those committed to Him.

Perhaps something has happened to you that has taken the wind out of your sails, the bounce out of your step, the twinkle out of your eye, and the joy out of your heart. Our circumstances must bow before Jesus. We may not be able to control them, and chaos may seem to reign. But the Savior who turned water into wine and death into life can bring about a mutation, a transfiguration, a reversal, an evolution of our circumstances. The Savior can turn our circumstances into His servants for the advancement of His kingdom.

This is part of redemption.

How did Paul’s adversity serve to advance the gospel? In two ways. First, he was chained to soldiers twenty-four hours a day. He always seemed to be on good terms with the soldiers protecting him, and he shared his message with them. They were a captive audience — not only did he speak to them directly, but they heard his conversations with others and they listened as he prayed.

The imperial guard was made up of about ten thousand of Rome’s best soldiers. They served under the direct command of Nero to protect him, to provide a police presence in Rome, and to do his bidding throughout the empire. Paul’s converts among these soldiers took the gospel to far-flung regions he could never have gone himself.

What appeared to be Paul’s tragedy was really God’s strategy.

Second, Paul’s circumstances had a bracing effect on the church. We can see how this works, can’t we? When you read of the courage of a Christian facing persecution in an oppressive land — when they stand bravely for Christ despite threats and intimidations — doesn’t it encourage you to be bolder and more outspoken in your faith?

Gloomy thoughts come from the way we interpret the happenings of our lives. Paul knew that every single circumstance was under the providence, the sovereignty, and the control of Jesus Christ, who had turned an occupied tomb into an empty grave. He knew that everything worked together for the good of those who love God and are living according to His purposes. He could even see some of the benefits God was bringing about.

The things that happen to us have a divine way of actually turning out for our good and for the furtherance of the gospel. In His own way and time, the Lord reverses adversity, overrides misfortune, and dismantles the devil’s schemes.

He will do this for you."

Orison Swett Marden, Everybody Ahead: Or, Getting the Most Out of Life (New York: Frank E. Morrison Publisher, 1916), 310–312. Andrew Brunson, God’s Hostage (Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2019), 208. The last word of the verse is my own paraphrase. The niv uses the word “wasteland.” Frank Laubach, Prayer: The Mightiest Force in the World (Burtyrki Books, 2020), 12 and passim. Words by Joel Hemphill Written for Devotionals Daily by Robert J. Morgan, author of Whatever Happens: How to Stand Firm in Your Faith When the World Is Falling Apart.

[crigil-blog]

GOD SPEAKS TO YOUR LIFE: (9123) Receive my prayer as an offering of incense! To you I lift up my hands as an offering in the evening" (Psalm 142:2). my hands like an evening offering" (Psalm 142:2). There are many different types of prayer, and many different ways to pray. Many think that prayer can only be heard if you are on your knees, but God hears your prayers whether or not you are on your knees, standing, sitting, driving a car or taking a shower. He hears prayers out loud, whispered or completely silent. Some pray out of sheer frustration when they have difficulty completing a task, others when they expect something good to happen, while others pray with passion in the sincere desperation of needing a Savior. God loves for you to talk to Him and is interested in all aspects of your life. He hears the trivial prayers such as losing your keys, and He hears your desperate cries for help. But most of all, He loves to hear prayers that are sincere and come from a deep desire to draw closer and closer to Him. It is important to be faithful in your prayer life, but it ceases to be "prayer" if it is done out of habit. Don't make the mistake of thinking that prayer is best saved only for bedtime; at the end of a busy, tired and exhausted day, prayers can end up being babbling, repetitive and meaningless. It is good to pray at bedtime, but also to pray throughout the day, and find that special moment in your schedule each day that you dedicate to God, to really talk to Him, sharing your innermost thoughts, dreams and desires, and don't forget to praise Him! PRAYER OF SALVATION. Lord, I know I am a sinner. I want to ask for your forgiveness. I believe that Jesus Christ is Your Son. That He died for my sins and that You raised Him from the dead. I want Him to come into my heart and take control of my life, from this day forward. In Jesus' Name, amen". PRAYER FOR OUR SICK BROTHERS: Lord, there are brothers and sisters who are facing various illnesses today.Give them the hope and courage they need today and every day. Heal their pain, calm their fears and surround them with Your peace. In Jesus' name, Amen. ✝Do not tire of asking God, for He will never tire of listening to you. Tell Him about all your fears and needs. Tell Him about your problems and your dreams. Tell Him, He will listen and understand you, like no one else.

[herdeardiaryy]

devotion 45

"The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom."

Proverbs 10:21

What comes from our mouth is very powerful. I remember my Mom's sermon when I was still in the Philippines, she spoke about the power of tongues, saying that the words that come out from our mouth can either bring life or death, which is really true. If we speak beautiful words, it come out wonderful not only for ourselves, but for the ones that we've been talking to, same goes if we speak bad words.

I too, speak bad words before, but now that I'm realizing the consequences of my actions, I lessen doing it. Even in my actions, instead of being pissed off and say things that might be a regrets for me later on, I'll take a deep breath and will stay quiet (but my face will say it all haha), but sometimes we cannot really control ourselves when needed.

In this verse, it teaches me to be more watchful to my mouth, because we don't know how people can interpret the words came out, and not only ourselves can understand it. It says here that, "...but fools die for want of wisdom.", people have lack of wisdom because of innocence, ans by innocence, people ended up just approving on everything they have heard even if they don't understand what people just said. And I admit, sometimes I am like this, because my mind cannot accept words anymore for being tired and I think that's the other thing.

Let us be careful on the words that we are using, it might be satisfying and gave us confidence of our own, but let us also think on someone else's point of view, and that depends on the situation. Because sometimes being so careful to the words ended up taking advantage of, and that's not even fair. Let us also use our mind before our mouth do its thing.

Let us not be fooled on the things around, it is not bad to be on trend or to do whatever we want, but be careful. Also, let us not agree too easily on the things because we can be judged as a fool for agreeing in everything without using our mind.

This is my prayer:

"Lord, thank You for this wonderful day that You have given to us. Thank You, Lord, for giving us blessings that we can enjoy and give back to You the Glory. Father, in this verse of the day, may You help us to be more careful not only on the things we say, but also to the actions that we may take. Give us more patience, oh God. Do not let us be fooled by someone or anything else, Lord. Help us get through with everything that we are currently taking. Forgive us, Lord, if there are times for today that we speak and move not according to Your ways. Forgive us, Lord, if You see us uncontrollable, forgive us. I am asking for Your forgiveness, God, and change it into something that made You glad. Thank You, Lord God, I receive blessings from You God, You are indeed Faithful and Majestic, Lord. Thank You, Jesus, thank You so much. I am asking for the protection for my family in the Philippines, Lord, and I thank You for giving away Your provisions to my Sister and Brother-in-law. Continue to heal my Father in his heart disease and diabetes, Lord. I declare healing upon healing, in Jesus Name. I declare Strength and success to our family and friends. I declare financial stability and savings, in the Name of Jesus. Thank You for giving us authority to get closer to You, Lord, thank You.

Everything I pray and asked, I'm lifting them up to You, Lord, in the Mighty Name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior,

Amen."

210823 | 23:03

[dailyaudiobible]

4/28/2023 DAB Transcript

Judges 8:18-9:21, Luke 23:44-24:12, Psalms 99:1-9, Proverbs 14:9-10

Today is the 28th day of April, welcome to the Daily Audio Bible. I’m Brian it’s great to be here with you today. Every day it’s great to be here together as we gather and take another step forward in the Scriptures. And our next step forward leads us back into the Book of Judges and we have been working our way through the story of the judge named Gideon, which we will continue today. Judges chapter 8 verse 18 through 9 verse 21.

Commentary:

Okay, so in the Book of Judges today, we do indeed come to the end of Gideon, the judge of Israel, his life. But before all of that, the Israelites came and attempted to make Gideon and his family the leaders over the tribes due to his…his leadership and his victory over Midian. Gideon refused. Gideon refused that he would be leader, that any of his sons would be leader. It was the Lord who would lead them and then they had peace for 40 years and then Gideon died and then it’s just like, immediately they switch gears and go in another direction. And so, the Bible tells us that as soon as Gideon died, the Israelites started to prostitute themselves by worshiping Baal, Baal-berith witch became their God and they forgot the God who had rescued them from…from the Midianites. And then to come take things to another level, Gideon had 70 sons, one of his sons was named Abimelech, he was born of a concubine of Gideon in the city of Shechem. And so, he goes and asks the people of Shechem who are wanting to appoint a leader. Shouldn't he be their leader, basically? He's one of them, he’s their own flesh and blood. He's a real brother of theirs, shouldn't he be the leader? And they basically, they say, yeah, he should be the leader. And so, what ensues is that Abimelech goes and tries to assassinate, kill all of his actual brothers, like destroy the whole family of his father, Gideon, and only the youngest one escaped. Like this is a picture of unbelievable injustice, after what God had done for them. But if we’re talking injustice, than we just flip over to the Gospel of Luke and we see it on full display. By looking upon a Savior nailed to a cross, dying. And obviously, this is…this is the Easter story, the story of the passion of Jesus and his death and burial, and resurrection, all of which we read about today. So, we should have an enormous joy in our hearts that having the opportunity to see this story come around once again and remind us of our salvation. We can also see just what was going on because the Gospels tell us they were confused. The women go to the tomb. They don’t know what's going on. Some men tell them he's not here. He's among the living, and they go back and tell the apostles and then Peter runs to the tomb because the apostles had all heard the women and thought that they were talking nonsense. And so, Peter goes and sees that the tomb is empty and is amazed and they have to believe, as we do that with the Gospel of Luke tells us, He isn't here, He is risen from the dead, is true. Imagine when they began to believe that, even though they had been told that when they began to believe that when they began to be able to see that. Imagine the hope that came out of complete hopelessness. And may we remember that the same hope in the face of hopelessness is available to all of us. And may we spend this day as a day of gratitude, continually being reminded of our rescue and continually offering gratitude to Jesus for that rescue, in the face of profound injustice, life sprang forth and changed the world and we are the recipients of this, as our lives are transformed. So we have moved through this territory in the Gospel of Luke, which leaves one more gospel for us. We've experienced this story three out of the four times that we get to. So let's spend some time today immersing ourselves in the fact that we were hopelessly lost and we were rescued when we didn't deserve it. And now our lives are spent revealing the Good News to all who will hear that rescue is available that there is a better way.

Prayer:

And so, Father, we invite You into that. Holy Spirit, plant this reality deep in the soil of our hearts. May it be unshakable. May we cling to it, our hope is in You. We are utterly dependent upon You. And we ask that You lead us into all truth today, as we consider and meditate upon the fact that You came for us to rescue us and You were victorious and all we need to do is believe You. And so, lead us, we pray. In the name of Jesus we ask, Amen.

Announcements:

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

Prayer and Encouragements:

Hello, I’m a fairly new listener. You can call me Early Bird if no one is using that already. I’ve been giving myself whiplash on trying to decide to call in or not. But there were a few people who called in that felt like little nudges, so here we are. I have just felt like so many things in my life are currently on fire, that I get overwhelmed just trying to think of what to ask for prayer for, if that makes sense. But I feel nudged to just start, just do something instead of waiting to feel better able to articulate my requests. I don’t want to feel like I’m always waiting on something to finally feel better or be better and miss out on living. All of this to say, I had to quit my job before having a plan ironed out due to it becoming a very unhealthy environment. But I also run an animal rescue out of my home and my income was basically funding everything. So, I have all lives that I’m responsible for and only a couple of months worth in my savings to get something figured out. My second request is prayer for sleep. My sleep aid that I’ve used for years recently stopped working and I’ve probably slept 6 hours in the past three days. And I’ve also been sick and so my body aches. And I’m just, I’m constantly miserable. So, yes, I would appreciate your prayers. Thank you.

Hello, Brian and Daily Audio Bible Family. I am a long time listener, off and on. And when I’ve been off, I’ve been off. So, it’s been really good to be back in the house of the Lord with people who are moving toward being better versions of themselves. Today, I was listening to Book of Joshua. As you read through on April 13th I believe, talking about Achin taking the gold and how we have to choose who we’re gonna serve, either serve God or whatever else distraction in our lives are. And for me that happened through the lens of adultery. And I made a huge mistake that is impacting my family, it’s impacting me and my children and of course it's mostly impacting my wife the hardest. And so I’m calling for prayer. This happened quite a bit ago like over a year ago and it’s just now coming out and like there hasn't been any contact. I cut off all contact and I’ve been seeking the Lord, and trying to turn right when I turned wrong. And it’s not easy – and this is my first time calling, although I’ve known about you for the entire 18 year. And I just really need prayer, not only to get past this, but to really understand deep within me what caused this trauma and how I got to be in this place, because trying to figure it out but I appreciate everybody. I appreciate the prayers and thank you so much for the opportunity to have folks alongside you in prayer. And again, I’m sorry to my family, to my wife and so on and so forth. Thank you.

Hey DAB, it’s J from the Bay. Victoria from Louisiana, thank you. God, I’m gonna cry. Thank you, so very much for your prayers for my little brother Nick. And everybody else to whom which called Victoria, my mom boo hoo’d cried, I just told her, you just have to give it to God. Nonetheless, I’m asking for prayers again for my little brother. As we all know he was shot. The detectives believe that his friend shot him. He’s saying that it was three men, three in total, including my little brother. So, they don’t know if it was the friend or the friends friend, that shot him. But nonetheless, I’m just asking for prayers for him because even though he was shot and doctors said like, it could have went a smidge to the left or the right and he would have been dead. He’s not taking Him serious. He never wore the sling; he’s still hanging out with these boys because they grew up together and just, I don’t know. We got into an argument this week and I have to ask God for forgiveness but I just have to give it to God. I…I…I, even though I’m the big sister, I can’t deal with this and can’t keep allowing my mom to deal with it, so I told him I’m done. If you want to throw your life away, go for it. I’ll continue to pray for you but there is absolutely no reason why he should be acting like this. My mom and his dad did a great job of raising him and made sure that we had everything and anything that we could ask for. Whether it was when we asked for it or it was delayed, we got it. So, I just want to ask if you guys could keep him in your prayers or in your thoughts. And his friends, just keep praying for them all. Thank you and I love you all so much and I hope you all have a blessed day.  

This is Tom from Texas. I’m in desperate way. I’m in a place I’ve never been before; the last several years just going down and down and down. Wife, divorced, kids don’t have much of anything to do with me. Family, even all my supposedly close friends aren’t around. I’m completely alone. Even God seems far away. I know he has me but He doesn’t seem to be speaking or giving me any guidance. Physical health has gone down the last couple years, things that have happened, not even working. Seems like everything's been taken away. Can't figure out why, is it me and my sin, is just attacks of the devil. But I am alone, hanging on. Reading God's word every day, praying, wondering what I’m supposed to be doing.

Hello, Daily Audio Bible Family. Thank you for all your lovely prayer requests and prayers and blessings and care for each other. Thank you Brian and family for continue faithfulness of this amazing Audio Bible program. Just want to ask a few things because our Savior says all you have to do is ask and you shall receive and I firmly agree when something special happens. So, I just ask for your blessing on my family situation. My wife is in a psychiatrist unit, my daughter is just about to be discharged from an eating disorder unit, coming home. My wife’s mother, my mother in law has cancer and just got a blood clot in her lung. So, I pray that You would heal my wife, she had a nervous breakdown really over our daughter’s situation. Will You heal her, would you heal our daughter and You’d heal my mother in law. And Your peace would be with her as she’s 80 something and nearing, you know, not that long. I pray that everyone would be blessed who listens to this and that Jesus would share everyone with His blessings. All keep abiding and strength from him. In Jesus name. Amen.

[stpaullutheranchurch]

december 11 2022

2022 Advent 3 December 11th

Old Testament: Isaiah 35:1-10

Psalm: Psalm 146

Epistle: James 5:7-11

Gospel: Matthew 11:2-15

Sermon Text: Matthew 11:2-15 Sermon Title:

Grace to you and peace, from God the Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

John the Baptist preached of the coming Kingdom of God. As we heard last week, he preached both strong Law and sweet Gospel. He preached both repentance and faith; pointing everyone who would listen, to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. For this, the governing authorities, both religious and political, conspired to kill him and eventually succeeded. Throughout its history, both Old and New Testaments, the people of God; “the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence”. (Matthew 11:12b) This is one of many themes that appears repeatedly in the Bible; God often acts in ways different from what people want or expect.

In the Gospel text for today, John is not dead yet, but He is in jail for daring to proclaim the law of God to the authorities of his day; something we seem very reluctant to do in our day. John publicly condemned the divorce of King Herod, who had afterwards married his brother’s wife. “John had been saying to Herod, it is not lawful for you to have her”. (Mark 6:18b) John had been faithful to his calling from God; preaching repentance of sins and faith in Christ for the forgiveness of those sins. In doing this, many of his own disciples began to follow Jesus; which is exactly as he would have wanted; after all John said that “He (Jesus) must increase, but I must decrease”  (John 3:30)  and “I am not worthy to untie His sandal”. (John 1:27b)

Still, John had likely not expected to end up in prison for his proclamation of that “the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand”. (Matthew 3:2b) Perhaps he was wondering why Jesus would allow him to remain in prison, while so many of the wicked were not only free, but remained quite powerful. (Something many of us wonder today as well). Maybe, he was wondering where was the coming judgment of God that he had been told to proclaim? At the very least, John was concerned about how his disciples would respond to these circumstances. So, “when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to Jesus, Are you the One who is to come, or shall we look for another”? (Matthew 11:2-3)

Jesus didn’t just say yes; He pointed to His mighty works saying, “Go and tell John what you hear and see; the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them”. (Matthew 11:4-5) All this is what was prophesied by Isaiah in the Old Testament reading today and elsewhere in his prophecy. Then Jesus said to them, “Blessed is the one who is not offended by Me”. (Matthew 11:6) Blessed is the one who does not stumble or fall away from faith because they suffer in this wicked world for the sake of the Gospel.

“As they (John’s disciples) went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John. What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings houses. What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you and more than a prophet. This is he of whom it is written; Behold I send My messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you”. (Matthew 11:7-10)

As was mentioned last week, and Jesus affirms here; the Old Testament Scriptures pointed to John the Baptist as the one who would come announcing the Christ. “If you are willing to accept it, he (John) is Elijah who is to come”. (Matthew 11:14) Then Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, among those born of women, there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he”. (Matthew 11:11) What does this mean?

We know from the Holy Scriptures that John was a prophet sent by the living God to proclaim repentance and faith in Jesus Christ, the long-promised Messiah. But, we also know that he did not live long enough to see the completion of Jesus’ ministry; His atoning death on the cross for the forgiveness of the sins of the world, His bodily resurrection on the third day. In that way, we who look back on these historical events recorded in the Bible, have an advantage on those who lived before.

All of the great things Jesus had to say about John the Baptist, and yet at the end of our text this morning he is still in prison, awaiting execution. This is offensive to those who think that Jesus is a means to an end, a way to receive not just spiritual, but material blessings in this world. Some people, when they do not get what they want or expect from God or when the Bible testifies to the truth of something they do not like, or when they suffer some insult or even great persecution like John, they abandon their faith for what is more comfortable. The truth is though, John is right where he is supposed to be, because even from prison he is proclaiming Jesus as the Christ.

Getting back to what I began the sermon with; Jesus said something interesting; “For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John … from the days of John the Baptist, until now, the Kingdom of Heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force”. (Matthew 11:13, 12) You see, John was not the first, nor was he the last, preacher/prophet of God who suffered violence for the sake of the truth of God’s Word. Our Lord Jesus Himself suffered the pains of mocking, arrest, lying witnesses, beatings and crucifixion.

In the great faith chapter of Hebrews, the author speaks of Old Testament saints (and not just prophets and preachers) who “were tortured … suffered mocking and flogging and even the chains of imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute afflicted, mistreated … wandering about in deserts and mountains and dens and caves of the earth”. (Hebrews 11:35b-39)

In the New Testament, we hear of Stephen being stoned to death. We know from history that the Apostle Peter was crucified upside down and the Apostle Paul was beheaded. Eleven of the twelve disciples were martyred under both Roman and Jewish authorities. Various kinds of authorities have violently persecuted the church throughout its history; sometimes Christians persecuting other Christians, such as during the time of the Reformation. Historically and in recent decades, countless Christians have been killed in the name of Islam. Atheistic communist and socialist governments have killed or imprisoned many millions of people; including violently suppressing the church, in the last 150 or so years.

For the most part, so far, the persecution in our own country has not been violent; but threats to our freedoms, both religious and economic are very real. The passage (and) signing of the “Defense of Marriage” act recently, not only enshrines so-called gay marriage into federal law, (which is an abomination to our Lord) it opens the door to endless legal actions against individual Christians and churches simply trying to be faithful to God’s Word.

We also saw this during COVID, as our own government, supposedly for our own good, threatened fines and imprisonment if we didn’t do what they said; and a few pastors were arrested, jailed and fined. In many places, they forbade gathering around God’s Word, receiving the Sacrament, and visiting the sick, just to name a few. This was a radical overreach and we need to be aware that it could happen again. We seem to have forgotten that what people need to be comforted with when death is all around, (is not science) it is the Good News of the Gospel; that Jesus has conquered death, by His own death and bodily resurrection.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, we need to understand the times we are living in. These types of things are happening at an increasingly alarming rate, and to ignore they are happening is foolish. We need to realize that our faith in Jesus will cost us; it will cost you. If you are not willing to make the sacrifices necessary now, in order to remain faithful to Christ, (while the consequences are somewhat mild) your faith will not survive when the persecution gets worse. (Matthew Dent)

Therefore, in the face of these, sometimes violent trials, we in the church must say with Luther, “Here I stand, I can do no other”. We stand with all the prophets, apostles, martyrs, and all who have confessed the Gospel, whether in peace or subject to violence. “We pledge to remain faithful, come what may, even in the face of those who violently oppose the Kingdom; be they believers in Isam or Hinduism or any other man-made religion; be they political leaders, academics, mobs, or invaders; be they people in the church who are offended by what we believe, and so oppose the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Through it all, may God grant us the grace to remain faithful; to take up our cross daily and follow Jesus; who saved us by His grace alone, through faith alone. Let us (daily) read the Scriptures. Let us treasure every opportunity to assemble together; confessing our sins and receiving absolution and receiving the body and blood of our Lord in the Sacrament. Let us proclaim the light of Christ in an increasingly dark world. Let us live lives of prayer and good works; living as baptized Christians; whether we are loved or hated by the religious and political leaders of our day.

The words of our Lord remain true in this fallen world; “the Kingdom of Heaven has suffered violence and the violent take it by force”. (Matthew 11:12b) Whether we end up suffering violence or not, beloved; we confess the same unity of faith with those who do. We confess that the Kingdom of Heaven has come near in the person of Jesus; who He has conquered sin, death, and the devil for us; so, we rejoice in His precious gifts and promises, “for the Lord is compassionate and merciful”. (James 5:11b) “He who has ears to hear, let him hear”. (Matthew 11:15)

The peace of God …

[deaconwords]

Filled with Emotion

In today’s Gospel lesson Jesus describes acts and the emotions that precede them. And his teaching is specifically about these emotions.

When discussing murder and the anger that causes it, Jesus says, “You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, 'You shall not murder'; and 'whoever murders shall be liable to judgment.' But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment.” Jesus is saying that we must concern ourselves with more than the acts of sin, we must be mindful of their preceding emotions; they too can separate us from God.

Jesus then addresses adultery and the emotions that surround it. And again he focuses on the emotions in saying, “But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”

And then there is divorce. What matters to Jesus is the underlying motivation for divorcing one’s wife. Jewish society had abused divorce in Jesus’ time. It had become a means to discard an unwanted wife, stigmatizing her and casting her out, sometimes into homelessness.

So Jesus clarifies the use of divorce. “But I say to you that anyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of un-chastity, causes her to commit adultery.”

And then there is the swearing. Jesus says, "Again, you have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, 'You shall not swear falsely, but carry out the vows you have made to the Lord.' But I say to you, Do not swear at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is God’s footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black.”

Jesus is interested in our motivation for making promises. We only have control over ourselves and even in that we fail. So, if we have no control of heaven or earth or Jerusalem, then what business have we using them to inflate and legitimize our promises? None, whatsoever.

I believe that Jesus wants us to honestly look at ourselves. When we say ‘Yes’ or ‘No,’ mean it and carry out the promise, nothing more is within our power to assure completion of the deed.

Now, in all these matters I don’t believe Jesus is condemning us for having emotions. He is pointing out, however, what can happen when we mishandle them. Regarding anger, do we cling to it; do we let it fester? Do we allow ourselves to fantasize how we might use it to gain personal justice? Or, do we deal with it openly, honestly, work it out, and let it go? Because if we retain it, it will fill our consciousness and prevent God’s grace-filled moments from registering there. If we are filled with hate, there is no room for love.

Have you ever wondered about Episcopal liturgy? You know, why are the various segments of the service arranged as they are? On a typical Eucharist Sunday, we confess our sins, we reconcile with one another in the sharing of the peace, and then we come to the table.

You see, the liturgy, in its very structure and sequence, takes us through the steps necessary to do as Jesus has told us to do when he says, “So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift.”

In today’s world, it is ourselves we offer as a gift when we come to the Eucharistic table. To do so honestly we are to empty ourselves by confessing our wrongdoings to God and each other first so there is space to receive into ourselves that most blessed body and blood of our savior.

We needn’t feel bad for having emotions. We need simply be honest with each other about them, thereby preventing them from filling us up so that we have no room left for God and God’s graces. Amen.

—Offered at St. George’s Episcopal Church 2-12-2023

[thefanficmonster]

Few Too Many

Corpse Husband x Reader (Female)

Warnings: Swearing, In-game violence and death, Suggestive comments

Genre: Protective fluff, Humor, RPF (Real Person Fic)

Summary: Jealousy is a dangerous thing, especially when the jealous person is armed with a gun....in a game of Counter Strike. At least Y/N’s friend will now know not to mess around and flirt with her, especially not with Corpse around.

Requested by 🐐 Anon. Hi dear! Thank you so much for your request! Sorry it’s taken me so long to complete and post your request but here it finally is! I didn’t want to make it IRL violence to avoid triggering anyone while I also felt it’d be very ooc for Corpse to beat someone up but I still hope you enjoy the fic if you come across it and read it! Love, Vy ❤

“Hey everyone!“ Y/N greets her squad as they all customize their characters while I sit there, observing and unknowing of what I’m supposed to do. “I invited Corpse to play with us today, hope y’all don’t mind.”

“Of course not! Nice to finally meet you, Corpse. We’ve heard a ton about you from Y/N, thanks for making our girl the happiest she’s ever been.“ One of her friends says, the tone of his voice suggesting he’s only half-joking with the dad like comment he made.

“Nice to meet you too, man. Glad I’m the one she gave the chance of making her happy. That’s all I ever wanna do.“ Though it may sound cheesy, as guys, her friends can probably read into how genuinely I mean what I’ve said.

Dating a girl with only guy friends has it’s pros and cons. Which outweigh which is still up for debate since I’m still researching, but so far so good in my opinion. This is the first time I’m interacting with them directly so I’ve still got a long way to go in terms of getting to know them and the details of their relationship with Y/N better. Regardless, I at least know they can easily understand me and put themselves in my shoes if I ever ‘mess things up’ with Y/N and she goes to complain to them - something that will most likely never happen. I’d never dare make this girl upset. Chances are, if I do, her friends won’t get to me on time - I would deliver my own punishment just the way I think I deserve it. However, there’s also the chance of them getting super protective of her and ganging up on me over something as small as a fight. By the many things and stories Y/N’s shared with me about them, I believe they wouldn’t think twice about kicking someone’s ass for her. They’re not massive dudes - I’ve seen pictures of them - but I for one don’t ever wanna see em angry.

“Ay bro, what’d you do to score our best girl? You must know what she likes. If so please, by all means, do tell.“ One of them, not the one who was previously talking, speaks up, his words making me furrow my brows in both confusion and irritation.

I open my mouth to complain as I slowly start cracking my knuckles when Y/N and her friends beat me to it. Thing is, Y/N’s friend group consists of three guys and her and yet four voices scolded the guy that made that suggestive comment. That being said, this guy probably isn’t considered to be one of her friends, at least not one that’s a permanent part of her friend group.

“Seth, cut it out!“ The guy I was previously speaking to says sharply before softening his tone to refer to me, “Sorry about my brother, excuse his lack of brain cells, please.“

Just then, I also receive a message from someone. Checking my phone, turns out it’s Y/N who by the way is currently in the living room while I’m in the recording room. Her text reads:

Y/N ~ Ignore Seth. I told Leo to not invite him but he’s still here somehow

I send her back a quick reassuring text before answering the guy I now know is named Leo, “No worries, it’s fine.”

“See? The guy can take a joke, you’re all just freaking out over nothing!“ Seth laughs, reminding me and the others of how loud he is compared to us.

Despite acting like it’s no big deal, I can’t help but admit to myself that this behavior of Seth’s has awoken a deeply buried suspicion of mine that’s not only mine but also arises in every guy whose girlfriend hangs out with a lot of guys. It’s not that I don’t trust Y/N - she could literally blindfold me and tell me to walk through a pool of lava, promising it wouldn’t hurt and I’d do it - but we all know about that saying that every guy in a group with one girl has liked said girl at least once.

Disturbing to think these four, including Seth five, dudes could’ve possibly been my competition at some point. It’s nice that they’re all super chill about it, mostly cause some of them have girlfriends as I was told.

Nevertheless, we get over that hiccup and carry on with the small talk and preparations for the game. Since it’s my first time playing CSGO, Y/N, Leo and her other friend Clancy explain the mechanics to me in detail to avoid me getting confused mid-game and getting myself killed. When they finish, we start the round and wait for the game’s algorithm to separate us into two teams which Y/N jokingly refers to as cops and robbers. Unfortunately, the end result of that separation ends up being me getting put in the terrorists’ force with Leo and Clancy while Y/N’s with the FBI, partnered with Seth and her other friend Evan.

“Alright, team, we shall now disperse. Corpse, remember, if you see more than one of them, radio in and lay low, we’ll be with you as soon as possible.“ Leo informs me as he runs off in one direction, Clancy going in the opposite. I confirm I understand and go along my way too, heading for this ancient looking structure that looks like it could belong in an old-timey movie. 

Walking in, I realize the place is way bigger than it appeared on the outside. A quick look up confirms that there are three fucking floors above, not to mention that the ground floor is huge. Luckily, there are many crates and barrels to hide behind if I come across an FBI agent. I sure as hell hope it’s Y/N, I could maybe even try talking her into giving me a second chance at life and pretend she never saw me. Come to think of it though, I’d probably prefer getting killed by her rather than her friends - especially Seth.

Given that we’re in a Discord call, I can hear all the conversation going on. They are all quiet though, I can just periodically hear the mumbles of someone muttering to themselves as they navigate the map cautiously out of fear of running into their opponent unprepared. The silence is put to an end though when Seth speaks up, addressing Y/N.

“Yo, your boyfriend’s with the terrorists, ain’t he? That’s like the universe giving you a sign that y’all shouldn’t be together.“ The fucker laughs at his own joke while I can literally hear Y/N rolling her eyes.

“Have you heard of Romeo and Juliet, Seth?“ She asks sarcastically, almost getting a chuckle out of me but I suppress it to avoid getting caught listening in.

“Yeah, they both die at the end. Fucking boooriiinngg.“ Just then, I spot two silhouettes entering the building. Aiming my gun at them reveals their names - just the people I’m currently involuntarily eavesdropping on. Seth and Y/N don’t notice me though so I quickly duck behind a crate and prepare to radio in when Seth continues verbally torturing Y/N and dancing on my last nerves, “I personally think the friends-to-lovers trope is far more interesting...“

Did this guy just- no, he’s gotta be fucking kidding me

I’m left with my jaw hanging in disbelief at this guy’s audacity. I have no doubt Y/N’s about to put him in his place herself but I just gotta have my own chat with this guy. And by ‘chat’ I mean I mindlessly rush out from behind the crate towards where I saw him and Y/N and open fire on him.  I hear his startled and upset screams with Y/N’s laughter in the background. She doesn’t try to stop me as a teammate of his should and would, instead she just observes the scene unfold, laughing her ass off.

“Yo man what the fuck was that for?!“ I hear Seth’s yell but only faintly since the sound of gunshots is still echoing through my headphones. Yeah, I’m not done shooting this fucker.

“Corpse...Corpse, buddy...“ Y/N manages through fits of laughter she cannot tame, “That’s a few too many bullets, he’s already dead.”

“And that was a few too many comments for him to be let off the hook.” I answer as sharply as I can with the new-formed smile on my face. What can I say, her happiness is contagious.

“Well, you got your first kill in CSGO. Good job, babe! I’m super proud of you!” She cheers for me, clapping her hands excitedly. 

“Nah that was my first overkill.“ I quickly add, with a more threatening tone: “And it won’t be my last.”

“Let’s just hope there aren’t few too many of these overkills either.“ She snickers.

“That doesn’t depend on me, babe.“ I say smugly, suggestively enough for Seth to pick up the dropped hint. Mother fucker’s officially been put in his place and I couldn’t possibly be happier - with the added bonus of getting a ton of laughter out of Y/N who also decides to walk away, leaving me unharmed but promising to shoot to kill next time she sees me.

I’m ok with that. She could kill me anyday.

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[cursestothemoon]

A Swish Of Your Wand Away

Requested: yes

Draco Malfoy x Malfoy!fem!little sister!reader

warnings: mentions of death, war, marriage 

Summary: Draco loses his little sister in the midst of battle and can’t help but think the worst. 

i got just a tad carried away but I hope you guys like it :)))

word count: 1400+

✧✧✧

“Do it for sissy, Draco.”

The back of his neck exploded in goosebumps as his aunt's hot breath hit his skin. Do it for sissy, Draco knows what she means and his hand trembles at the insinuation. He has to do it, a life for a life, it’s only fair. But why is he starting to lower his hand, why is he struggling? Was Y/n not just as or more important than Dumbledore? Why can’t he just-

“Step aside, Draco.”

It was the low voice of Severus Snape and Draco could hear the sneer his auntie Bellatrix let out. He didn’t want to look at him, he wasn’t strong enough to look at him, not strong enough to ensure the safety of his little sister. And it was with her in mind that he watched the body of his now former headmaster fall over the railing of the tower. How he wished he could take credit for it, his father would be proud, and his family safe.

“Draco, go get your sister. Quickly, and make sure to find us in one piece.” Professor Snape grunted in his face, hand fisted in the lapel of his black suit.

Draco nodded, quick to go find Y/n and get them both out of the school.

That seemed a lifetime ago now, the catalyst of the now war, a distant memory. His breaths were frantic and hands trembling, with each wall that would get blown away or blasted down he’d flinch thinking the worst. It was only her fourth year, she was only fourteen and just barely at that. He remembers when he was fourteen, fourth year being the last year he could bring himself to enjoy. Now his sister, little Y/n, was fighting in a war he had started and she was forced to fight for the wrong side.

Draco had gone to grab her from the horde of Slytherin’s in the dungeons, he grabbed her, Blaise, and Goyle. He shoved them out of the crowd and looked to his sister, telling her to leave, to find their parents and stay out of trouble. He should’ve known she wouldn’t listen, especially when she saw her friends being attacked.

Y/n Malfoy, though young, had always been one for hard work and truth. It seemed people from all houses were quite friendly with her, a luxury Draco was never accustomed to. She was a better person than Draco would ever be, and he was proud of her for it, but in the middle of a war was not the time for her to be a savior. Or worse, a martyr.

He turned down a corridor, or what was left of one, and his stomach jumped at the flash of blonde hair but his hope fizzled out, it wasn’t Y/n. Draco couldn't help but groan, where is she? He had seen her just moments before the fighting got really bad, her emerald green robes were tattered and ice blonde hair blood stained and ashy.

Draco’s feet hurt, blisters and pebbles making themselves known in his once expensive shoes and he couldn’t help but pray to Merlin, and Helga Hufflepuff, and Rowena Ravenclaw, and even Godric Gryffindor that Y/n was still breathing. With a final glance around, Draco turned to go back to the Great Hall and continue his search outside.

He almost missed it, but honestly how could he, the red hair and pinecone wand. Fred Weasley lay under piles of rumble, his head and right shoulder being the only things not crushed by the broken wall. His figure unmoving and unnaturally grey, Draco felt the bile rise in his throat as he realized not only was Fred Weasley dead but George was somewhere out there forced to fight alongside someone that wasn't his brother. Draco feared he’d be next to know what it felt like to lose someone of such importance.

A group had now been gathered outside, silence ringing across the broken and beaten students as the Dark Lord’s previous words hung in the air.

Harry Potter is dead!

Draco, in years to come, would swear that he could feel the color drain from his face. He still hadn’t found his sister and it had been hours, Harry was dead, his sister lost, and faith diminished. No one knew what to do next, how could they move on from this? And Draco kept his eyes down, hoping not to be found by his parents and the Dark Lord just on the other side of the courtyard.

“Draco!” He had been found.

The hatred was clear in Draco’s eyes as he looked at his father calling to him. His feet were firmly planted on the ground, he couldn’t just leave. At least, not until he found Y/n. Not until he found her alive.

“Draco… come.”

It was his mother now. Her voice had an underlying tone of desperation that made him consider walking over to them. Joining them.

Surely someone would stop him, someone had to care enough to show him a sliver of forgiveness. His sister was presumably dead, because why else would he be the only one called to join, and Draco had no use in fighting for any side. He had no use in fighting at all because he had lost the person he was fighting for, his baby sister.

His steps were slow, his feet stuttering as if asking if he really wanted to do this. Draco had taken a total of five steps before he heard her voice.

“Draco, don’t go!”

His head snapped almost too fast for comfort in the direction of the voice, her voice. There she was, her cheekbones high and looking more prominent than ever, she was gaunt and tired and dirty. Her hand was hanging in a makeshift sling, bent at an unnatural angle, but she was alive. Y/n was standing behind George Weasley and Molly Weasley, George’s hand coming out to push her further behind his body at the sight of her father’s angered glare. Not only had his daughter been alive, but alive and with blood-traitors.

Draco would forever be in debt to the Weasley’s, his little Y/n was alive because of them no doubt.

He walked toward Y/n, her breaking out from behind George and Molly to meet her brother half way and grabbed his hand.

“No.” Draco was finally sure he was on the right side. His hand grasping his sisters firmly, they both refused to move.

---

“Are you nervous?”

“Just a little.”

Draco offered a soft smile, “Don't be.”

The music started to play and Draco watched the doors open, both he and Y/n taking a breath before proceeding down the aisle. The day had come and Draco was more than apprehensive about giving away his baby sister's hand, sure that no one was deserving of her. He had blubbered like a right fool the night she had asked him to walk her down the aisle and give her away.

Suddenly they had reached the end of the aisle and Draco was not ready to pass on Y/n’s hand that was holding his own so tightly. He had always been the one to protect her and now he was just supposed to pass that privilege on to someone else?

Y/n turned to face Draco, her heart racing as she met his eyes pooling with tears. His hands came up, a gentle tremble accompanying them, and he moved the veil from over her face. Her eyes were bright and smile wide, Draco wondered when she had grown so much.

He moved his hands to cradle her cheeks, tilting her head down allowing him to place a kiss to her forehead.

“I love you, Darling.”

“I love you too, Brother.” Her words were quiet but strong and Draco nearly pulled her back when she was brought to stand with the person she was to marry.

“...To the family that has taken my dear sister in as their own, I promise you not only my respect, but my love. Thank you for looking past our name to see the beautiful woman my baby sister has grown into.” Not a single guest had remained dry eyed as Draco continued his speech, turning to his sister.

“And to my little Y/n, you are the reason I have become the man I am today. I made a promise to you, all those years ago when days were dark and war building, that as your brother there was nothing I wouldn’t do to protect you. Now, as I pass on the privilege of being your guardian to whom you are now wed, I make you a new promise. One ensuring that I will always be just a swish of your wand away.”

[mahvericks]

hide and seek // wanda maximoff

For anon

Prompt; “What do you mean they’re not there, I thought they were with you!?” with our lord and savior Wanda Maximoff? Maybe hide and seek with the twins?

Warnings; the twins missing, reader having a panic attack ( not detailed ) and a bit of angst!

I don’t know why I can’t add a title from safari anymore so I’ll add a title when I’ll open my laptop 😭

____

Ever since they were babies, you and Wanda always played with the twins and as they got older, you would still play with them whenever they would ask. Which happened quite often- you didn’t mind at all, and you always had a great time playing with them.

While it was the same for Wanda, there’s was a game that she wasn’t very fond of: hide and seek. It was a mostly harmless game and fun to play, but with one of your two sons having super-speed it could easily and quickly become not so fun anymore.

Especially since you could spend hours looking for them, since Tommy would always take his twin brother, Billy with him. As he said “ it was more fun”.

Today the weather as extremely nice, it wasn’t cold nor warm, spring was coming and it was enjoyable to go outside again, which made the twins want to go play outside.

Wanda was out in town doing groceries shopping while you were looking after the kids, also wanting to enjoy the nice weather you agreed on going in the garden so they could play- and they did for around an hour.

As they started to get tired of the game they were currently playing, the twins came to you and asked you to play hide and seek. Considering there wasn’t much time left before Wanda would come home, you agreed thinking they would stop hiding when she’d come back home.

You turned your back to face one of the wall of the house and started to count until you’d get to 30. You didn’t had to count more as you knew for sure that Tommy would use his super-speed to hide farther while Billy being incredibly smart for his young age would easily find a great hiding spot quickly.

“ Ready or not, here I come!” you said loudly enough so that wherever the twins were hiding they would hear you.

You started by looking around in the garden to see if one of the twins was hiding here, you weren’t surprised to find no one- it would’ve been to easy for them.

You, then, went inside to look around in the house. You started to look around the living room as it was the closest room to you, you still found neither of them. You went on by looking in the kitchen- there weren’t many places to hide here but just in case you wanted to give it a quick look, still no one.

You were a bit disappointed to find no one as you thought they would make it easier this time, knowing Wanda would be home at any minute now but you were wrong.

You sighed and went up the stairs as they could only be in one of the remaining rooms. You directly went in your and Wanda’s bedroom as they usually loved to hide there for some odd reasons.

You looked inside the closet first and then under the bed, still no sign of the twins. You arched a brow surprised to not find neither of them- and especially without hearing any noises, it was like you were all alone in the house.

You gave a second look in the bedroom just to be sure and finally headed to the bathroom. They were either there or in their bedroom. You hoped to find Billy or Tommy hiding in the bathtub but just like all the previous rooms, the bathroom was empty.

Just as you were about to get out of the bathroom you heard the front door gets unlocked. You directly got down knowing it was most likely Wanda- which it was but you were surprised to not see the kids with her.

“ Hey honey!” smiled Wanda as she put the groceries bags on the table.

“ Where are the twins?” you directly asked, thinking it was some kind of joke that Wanda agreed to play along.

“ What?” she replied, tilting her head on the side visibly confused by your question.

“ They’re not there.” you explained, worry starting to get to you.

“ What do you mean they’re not there, I thought they were with you?! ” frowned Wanda, getting just as worried as you were.

“ I thought they’d come to greet you, like they usually do.” you replied, biting your bottom lip because of the sudden anxiety.

“ I didn’t see them since I left to go groceries shopping.” said Wanda, you nodded knowing she was telling you the truth- she wouldn’t go this far for a prank.

“ I know you don’t like this game so you can be mad at me if you want but we were playing hide and seek and now I can’t find them.” you lowered your head, now realizing you shouldn’t have agreed especially since Wanda wasn’t home.

“ I’m not going to be mad at you because the twins wanted to play one of their favorites games. Have you checked everywhere?” she asked, you negatively shook your head before answering.

“ I haven’t checked their bedroom yet, you just got home when I was about to do so.”

“ Alright, then let’s check together.” she gave you a small smile and gently squeezed your shoulder to reassure you before you both headed to the twins room.

And just as you feared, neither of them were in it. You checked everywhere- under the beds, in the closets, under their desks. They were nowhere to be found.

And now, anxiety was getting the best of you- you felt so guilty, after all if you didn’t agree to play this stupid game you wouldn’t be freaking out because you couldn’t find neither of your sons.

“ Honey, we’re going to find them okay? Don’t kick yourself because of this, it’s not the first time they do this.” said Wanda as she gently held your hand.

You nodded, tears starting to form in your eyes. How could you be so careless? You knew they would come up with something like that, they always did.

“ Maybe they went back in the garden when you went to check in our bedroom?” suggested Wanda, you nodded agreeing with your wife.

Wanda and you went back outside and looked around the whole garden, even in and under the car and garage- still no sign of them.

You couldn’t help but break down right where you were standing, the anxiety, guilt and despair had been building up since Wanda came back and you couldn’t keep it for yourself anymore.

“ Oh no honey, don’t cry,” said Wanda as she hugged you tightly, “ it’s going to be okay, we’re going to find them, okay sweetheart?” Wanda kissed the top of your head and softly wiped the tears away.

You nodded again before saying a broken “okay”. Wanda suggested to go look on the street. The neighborhood was incredibly calm and nice so there wasn’t any danger for the twins but you never knew what could happen so it still worried you that they went away without saying or asking.

After looking for them for awhile, you finally found the both of them hiding in one of the neighbors’ garden.

Wanda gave them a disapproving look while you were just relieved that you found the twins safe and sound.

“ You can’t just leave the garden or the house like that boys.” scolded Wanda, as the four of you headed back home.

“ I’m sorry moms, we just wanted to win the game.” apologized Billy, lowering his head.

“ I’m sorry too, it was my idea.” added Tommy.

“ You know you made your mom cry? Y/N was so worried when she couldn’t find you anywhere.” explained Wanda to make the twins understand what they did was bad.

“ But it’s okay because we found you and nothing happened to neither of you. Let’s just hug and forget that this happened as long as you promise to never do it again.” you added, a relieved smile appearing on your lips.

The twins hugged you and Wanda and apologized again before promising they wouldn’t do it again.