#heavenly citizenship

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

by Jonathan Brentner | In grade school, I remember daily reciting the pledge of allegiance to the American flag. During my time at John Brown University in the early 1970’s, patriotism was a quality that the leaders of the college promoted. There was a sense of pride in being an American...

[unitedbyprayer]

(via Our Heavenly Citizenship)

[sorcerous-caress]

A rabbit braver than any wolf | Yurgir

[Heavy smut, big size difference, mortal x fiend, stomach bulging, cockwarming, praise and degradation, mortal fleshlight, bottom sub reader, nb!reader]

The hero of Baldur's Gate has been coming down to the hells consistently to visit their favourite orthon. After 100 years of solitude, Yurgir grows obsessed with the feeling of your pretty hole clenching around him.

“Until then, good luck to you, little rabbit. You're a finer hunter than any wolf.”

-

He's been talking again, about you.

All of the nine hells must know your name by now. News travelled fast since that day, when you've slain a devil in his own house.

And yet, it should've died down by now, that was years ago, after all.

But thanks to one orthon who has not stopped bringing you up to all and any of those willing to listen, your legacy is still being written to this day.

The proud hero of Baldur's Gate, the bravest warrior of Faerun, is bedding a whole fiend thrice their size during their spare time.

Oh, everyone knows by now. You might as well get your own fiendish citizenship from the number of times you've been summoned down below to the hells. And like any good little rabbit, you've come down dressed to the nines in each one of those times.

There is something very exhilarating about holding power over someone, about how no matter how many times Yurgir saw you, he still lost his breath each and every single time. You swore the man would forget his own name at the sight of you, doesn't matter if you were wearing the most modest of clothes or the most expensive of lingerie.

You've heard the words he has been spreading around, heard the gossip circling about you being his bed-warmer, his favourite mortal plaything, beloved fleshlight.

Did any of the devils he has been talking the ears off of imagine the two of you fucking? They're fiends, of course they have. They probably have discussions about what sexual positions the two of you prefer, whilst they're having lunch as if it was the weather they're talking about.

Oh if only they knew.

You wonder, how would Yurgir's own personal army of hounds and fiends react to their brave leader of a giant Orthon becaming so weak at the knees at the mere sight of your bare chest? You've seen the glaze of lust and hunger over his eyes whenever you'd slowly remove your underwear or push it to the side, how easy he was to rile up.

Suddenly, all his big talk outside about you being at his back and call whenever or wherever he pleased, is gone.

All his barking about you being addicted to the feeling of his large cock stretching you out, has vanished.

He's speechless around his little rabbit, stunned each and every time by the sheer heavenly feeling of your lips against his hardened red skin. The softness of your skin pressed against his large frame.

How his whole hand can easily fit around your waist, lift you up like a ragdoll. He's completely enamoured with how small you are in comparison to him, how fragile this mortal body of yours is, the same body that not only killed him before but took down a whole devil with him as a witness.

He has never been more turned on in his entire life by anyone else.

Fiends can only dream of heaven. It's beyond a fantasy.The one place they are not allowed to even exist in.

And to Yurgir, you're the closest he will ever get to touching the heavens, to experiencing utter bliss.

He can't describe it even if he tried. He has sworn off any incubus or succubus since he has tasted your lips. Because, how could any other flesh compare? How could any other tight hole compete with his little rabbit's.

This was another one of those days where he was lucky enough for you to answer his call, to accept his summoning invitation. Each time he sends one out, part of him still fears your rejection.

Or worse, you ignoring him.

He's become nothing but addicted to you, your smell, taste, and the sound of your moans. It's hard to imagine even reaching orgasm without your body pressed against him.

What have you reduced him to, little rabbit? He comes crawling back to you each time he even has the smallest urge to get off because he knows his hand would never satisfy him. He can't even touch himself anymore.

And just like always, in the span of an hour or two, a portal opens up in the middle of his home as you step out of it.

The sight of you has his cock twitching already, oh how stunning you look. Those eyes of yours that clearly know your effect on him, that meet his gaze with such fierce fire and confidence, the little warrior inside you has never died down no matter how many years has passed

“How I've missed you, little one, come to me.” His voice comes out in a low rumble, stepping forward to meet you halfway through as you throw yourself into his embrace.

He holds you in his arms, taking a deep breath of your scent. Stiff muscles relaxing at the feeling of your soft skin. A battle hardened body meant for fighting and endurance becomes akin to putty in your hands.

There's a low growl sounding from him. He's barely held you and is already at his limits.

It's a good thing that there is no night and day cycle deep in the hells, isn't it?

-

The sound of skin slapping against skin echoes through the room, mixed with his loud growling and groaning. The pretty little moans pouring out of your lips follow after.

Your feet are dangling below you, they can't reach the floor.

He's standing behind you as he has one hand completely wrapped around your stomach and waist, fingers pressing against the bulge on your stomach.

Feeling his own cock against his hand from your insides, completely having you speared on it as he keeps pushing deeper and deeper. You think if he let go of you right now, you'd stay up on his cock from the sheer size of it inside you.

It's unimaginably big much like the rest of him, bumps and blunt spikes littering the thing. The head rounded and mean, bullying your insides open and going out of you with a pop before plunging back in.

You can't do anything. You're helplessly hanging in the air as gravity pushes you down to meet his thrusts. He's doing all the work of lifting you up.

In and out, in and out, he is rearranging your insides. The pleasure is unbearable as you're fucked from one orgasm to another with no break to catch your breath.

A literal mortal fleshlight, that's what you feel like.

“Little rabbit.” His voice is deeper, rumbling through the room and making you tighten around him, “your hole won't be able to close after this, it won't be able to forget the shape of my cock.”

There's clear pride in his voice.

“My fucktoy, you're doing so well, little one.” Another deep thrust and your eyes almost roll back, “I can't get enough of you, no matter how much of my cum is inside you, I might never be satisfied.”

The small puddle of cum below him that's been dripping our of your hole between each thrust is clear evidence of that, he has filled your guts time after time. You can almost taste him at the back of your throat.

Yurgir isn't at any better state than you. He feels like he is losing his mind at your velvety insides. Each clench and spasm chipping at his sanity slowly.

How can one mortal feel so good? Why do your moans sound better than any music he has ever heard?

If a fiend can feel love, then this must be it. It's beyond love it's pure obsession how much he feels like he can never live without you taking his cock every single day. He fears he might really go crazy if he can't get his relief inside you, if he can't flood your hole with his cum and watch it drip before forcing another load into you.

The pleasure never goes away, only intensifies.

He's suddenly pulling out with a loud groan, manhandling your body around and flipping you over into the bed.

Your back crashes into the soft matteress. Facing him in this new position, you witness the hungry look in his eyes, as if he wouldn't even let the gods stand between him and you at this moment.

Yurgir folds you in half, knees pushed back next to your head as he plunges himself back inside you. He's burning up, hellfire blood running through his veins and clouding his brain with lust.

All of his intelligence, self-control, and commanding charm is thrown out the window as he is reduced to an animal of pure desire.

The same brutal pace starts again, this new position allowing him to see your face clearly. The way your eyes flutter closed whenever he hits that sensitive spot inside you, the way he fucks the breath out of your lungs.

Your hands reach towards his face. He lowers himself, so you may touch him. Letting you cradle his large head between your small hands, thumbs brushing against his cheeks and guiding him even lower.

Pressing your lips against his, a single kiss is all it takes to snap his thread as he finds himself spilling over the edge again. Filling you with his cum as a loud cry breaks out of his lips, as his hold on your skin bruises your flesh.

To make him come undone with a simple kiss.

He's slowly crumbling inside, melting against you. His soul is begging to leap out of his body and weave itself with yours.

“You're…beyond anything of this world.” Breathless words are forced out of his mouth.

Hit fragile mortal, his little rabbit. His. Taking his cock so well, letting him breed you so willingly.

The urge to litter you with kisses is too strong. He leans down, and as delicately as he could, he trails a kiss after another down your neck.

You could feel how hard he is trying not to scratch you with his sharp teeth. “I would fight a hundred more blood wars just for another night of this.”

The bulge in your stomach, his cock bulging your insides just from being too big for your mortal hole, is a sight he can never get enough of.

Never slowing his thrusts down, he reaches his hand between your legs to aid you in reaching your climax faster. Overstimulating the heat between your legs, rubbing and stroking with a matching fast pace as he watches you unravel below him.

It doesn't take long for your back to arch off of the bed, thighs trembling as he completely buries his cock deep inside you to the hilt, staying still and keeping you filled to the brim while you ride out your orgasm.

He wants you to associate your pleasure with his cock, in hopes you too end up addicted to him.

You're crying out in pleasure when he picks up the pace again, not giving you a moment of rest. Shushing your cries and telling his little rabbit how this is their true purpose, how good they're being for him.

Be good for him, be a good fuckdoll of a mortal for this fiend you've corrupted. As a being born out of pure sin, he didn't think anyone could make him sink any lower into the pits of lava.

Until you came.

-

Your whole body is aching, legs, knees, shoulders, and insides. His face is cradled against your chest as your fingers slide up and down his large horns, toying with the pointy ends.

Soft kisses and licks against your chest, enveloping your nipples in his lips, his hot tongue swiping against them, and sending small waves of pleasure down your spine.

Yurgir is still inside you as you both laid on your sides. But the pace slowed down. He's only lazily thrusting in and out of you.

Even now, as he has been drained and milked dry, he still can't get enough, still can't get himself to pull out of you.

Is it a spell you've casted upon him? A curse you bestowed? He wants to spend an eternity with you warming his cock, with your hole always stretched to the limit around him so it may never close.

So it may never forget his shape.

“That was…you were truly magnificent, little rabbit.” He cups your face with two of his fingers.

Oh, that tired sleepy look on you tugs on his heartstrings, yet he can't bring himself to feel guilty over his overindulgence of your body.

An arm wraps around you, pulling you closer to him until you can feel his heartbeat. “Rest now, I will watch over you.”

He would tear down the heavens and split the hells for your safety, you have no doubt of that.

Eyes fluttering closed, you dose off with the comfortable feeling of him inside you. The knowledge that his cock will stay there all night, feeling every twitch or squirm around it.

[dozing-marshmallow]

could i maybe request some yandere!chris mclean headcanons if thats alright with you? (bonus points if its with a reader that lowkey fears him)

ps love ur work, you're one of the very small amount of people that write for my man chris

Helloo, and of course it’s alright!! Thank you for the request, I hope these headcanons below are good enough, and aw thank you, I appreciate that! 💗 (Don’t worry, I plan on posting Chris McLean content for a long time ;).) YANDERE!CHRIS MCLEAN HEADCANONS 

Chris didn’t know what to do. He had never cared so much about another living person before.

But here he was, hiring a private investigator to find out everything he could about you.

For someone who was meant to be his personal assistant, you noticed he was way too proud to showcase you to the public and showered you with more gifts than you had received your entire childhood.

Because of this uncontrollable hearts for eyes he had for you, he had an internal conflict pulling him from both sides of his head. Should he use you as a punching bag for laughs or should he reserve your body as its natural state?

Nahh he already had those moronic teenagers to feed his sadism- Alright, but imagine how good it’ll feel to see you cry...and hear your pleads...for him to stop...

Such that human life was too cheap for him.

Don’t worry, Chris isn’t the type of yandere to tie you down in a dark basement whenever he has to leave for extended periods: instead, he was more than happy to still have you on the show, as long as you played along for the cameras. Now that you knew the full truth behind his continuous gift showering and sweeter treatment, hearing him hide the lovesickness in his voice everyday to the others made you nauseous.

Another day of agony led you to his same heavenly bed.

Nothing was as enjoyable as it used to be.

At least the guy was loyal- he gave up on attending parties and social events, unless he arranged his own with you, and was immune to alternative admiration.

That doesn’t mean it got better. Occasionally, Chris appears to have let his darker conscience win, seeing how he would stick his saliva into your wounds with his tongue where your warm blood cried, or caught it to use as an ingredient for his coffee.

One day, he must have wondered what it’d look like for the roles to be reversed, openly admitting it as you drank your hot chocolate that he had mixed some of his blood in it so that “you could always have a piece of me inside of you.”

“How...can you give me something with your blood in it to drink!?” You spluttered horrified, wiping your mouth.

For a second, it’s like he gained a realising glimpse at what he’s done, but then happily turns it into a milestone,“Haha okay, I’m gonna be honest, I didn’t think about how messed up that was until I heard you say it. Soooo, I might be a bit of a masochist? Whoo! Love really does teach you things you never knew about yourself, doesn’t it, my love, (Y/N)? I love that name, by the way. (Y/N). It suits you reaaaaaaally well!”

Yeah and thanks to him, you grew to hate it.

It spirals to the sickening point where Chris didn’t even want anyone else to look at you, whether it was from the screen or in person. How did he ensure this? Simple. You were going to make one final appearance on Total Drama to bid your departure from show business so nobody would suspect your absence in future episodes.

Well, it worked. So authentic that no one thought of anything more when you started sobbing right there and then or how Chris came to escort you away.

Albeit your friends and family weren’t deceived for long when they never heard from you again.

And it’s going to stay that way, for Chris paid the police department situated in Ontario to ignore, close, reject all reports filed in your name. He may as well have removed your citizenship.

The frightening power of the bourgeoisie.

Now you were truly prohibited from leaving his grounds.

“Why the long face, (Y/N)? Aren’t you happy?”

“No...” You tremble,“I... I want to go home...so badly.”

“Home?” He twirls you around, hands gripped on your shoulders in true puzzlement,“This is your home.”

“No, it’s...not. I...don’t belong here... You scare me.”

“Huh? Me? Scare you? (Y/N), whatever do you mean? Everything I’ve been doing so far...is for you! Now that we don’t have to worry about the police, it’s way easier for us to be together in peace! See how thoughtful I am, (Y/N)? No need to thank me.”

“Chris I’m sorry, but...” you wince, knowing such bold answer may trigger a dangerous reaction,“I can’t...reciprocate. See, I didn’t know th...there was something else you wanted from me other than me working for you... I...think you’d be better off spending your time and love on someone else.”

“Oh (Y/N),” he chuckles darkly, sprinkling your disbelieved face with kisses,“It’s all these well meaning, pure hearted things you say that has me falling more and more in love with you... I’m not worried you don’t feel the same. In fact, I honestly couldn’t care less. As long as I can hear you breathe...”

He could hear it alright. Just the same in his sleep... Perfect.

[ackerifle]

Okay but what about those AU’s with Levi being a Marleyan Warrior? I’m curious what your take on that kind of yan Levi would be like. Especially if like maybe he has a s/o who was kinda like in a situation like Annie (being used by a parental figure for status but like unlike Annie she wasn’t good enough to become a Warrior so maybe marrying her off to one would be the next best thing?)

homecoming!

yan. honorary marleyan levi ackerman x fem warrior candidate. reader

+ CW. — au: canon reversal & arranged marriage, abuse of power & authority, coercion, darling lowk has an inferiority complex, implied: past parental abuse, extortion, statutory rape & non-con; i apologize this req has been completed so late, but i do love this concept; not proof-read.

it was rare for the intermittent zone to be busy, and even rarer for its streets to be overcrowded with civilians. the bustling sound of lively cheers, applause, and other such joyous ovations could be heard throughout the city of otherwise gloomy vacant side streets and industrial buildings. men and women gathered in large for the occasion, with their hands reaching towards the heavenly sky, and their hats and coats being tossed into the air. some children could be seen sitting on the back of their father’s neck to gain a better view, and some children could be seen holding onto their mother’s hands as they pointed towards the center of attention, innocently claiming how they wanted to ‘grow up to be like them!’ one day.

the open horse-drawn carriage eased its way down the road, in no particular hurry, as the citizens of the liberio intermittent zone celebrated in the soldier’s stead. there were four of them sitting on the carriage, four honorary marleyan’s who waved cordially and offered charming smiles to their grand audience. each of them; erwin, hange, mike, and levi, were undeniably brilliant, talented and exceptional— even during their grueling training years, gifted even. their graduation was well-deserved, and perhaps they were owed even more for their sheer importance to such a crucial advancement for the populace of marley’s eldian’s. they were great, but none of them were you.

you had made the cut for warrior candidate, but not for honorary marleyan. it was devastating, really, but not as devastating as it was for your parents. even if you had truly given it your all, it wasn’t good enough, much to their dismay and disappointment. when the first official advertisement from the marleyan government had been released, entailing a recruitment that would reward honorary marleyan citizenship (at the cost of eldian youths being indentured into the military), your parents were quick to enlist you.

hard work was nearly never paid off, the more you pushed, the more they expected; and you could only ever recall them feeling an ounce of satisfaction when you had informed them you had become a warrior candidate. training was not solely done under the marleyan government’s surveillance, your parents had played quite an involved role in your betterment. and honestly, the feeling of being hit by one of them was much worse than any marleyan commandant could ever hope to achieve.

“hey— hello, hey!” the familiar voice struck you out of your bitterly reminiscent trance, eyes set on the sight before you. the carriage had come down far enough to fill the space in the street in front of your section. even though you stood behind quite a few people, lined up like a sardine as you were shoulder to shoulder with those around you, hange still managed to spot you. you wonder if they were looking for you, “hi~!”

their voice was obnoxiously loud as they drew out the high-pitched greeting. the brunet grabbed a hold of erwin’s shoulder, who sat to the right of them, and aggressively shook him to the point you feared his brain may have hit contact with his skull, and he would fall unconscious. when he steadied himself, they pointed in your direction, and the commotion caused the other two honorary marleyan’s to look your way as well. raising their hands, both out of respect and peer pressure from their enthusiastic peer, they offer polite waves. and upon doing so, the people standing around you clamored with much more ferocity than beforehand, followed by more tumultuous hollers, even waving back to them, but you knew they were all waving at you.

hesitantly and undecidedly, you lift a shy hand to wave back, ultimately determining it would be rude to ignore them, especially after hange had gone out of their way to scout you out. an enviously curt smile creeps it’s way onto your lips, eyes first landing on erwin, the apple of the marleyan government’s eye, and moving onto hange who was still energetically waving their hands, then to mike who acknowledged you with a faint salute, and lastly to levi. he sat at the left end of the carriage, closest to the road where you stood. he made no effort to wave to you, to smile like the other honorary marleyan’s — even if they were evidently fake — but he simply stared. you felt small under his scrutinizing gaze, that is until you observed that he wasn’t making eye contact with you at all. it was your hand, or rather, the ring that sat prettily on it.

and in an instant, you covered your fingers with your other hand, grabbing the ringed hand and lowering it with a resentful leer. the corners of levi’s lips pulled into the start of a grin, but he had enough self control to not showcase such a foolish smile to such an enormous crowd. tersely turning your heel, dropping your head with a raging combination of shame, embarrassment, and jealousy, you stormed through the mass of liberio’s residents.

“don’t take it to heart surname, it’s nothing personal.” as the ship awaited the honorary marleyan’s arrival down to the docks, you found yourself in conversation with commander shadis. there is a part of you that hates him for not promoting you, it is humiliating to be the only warrior candidate of a crew of five that wasn’t selected. even if you know you’re responsible for your own shortcomings, including the ones that can’t be helped, “i don’t.” you lie.

shadis looks down upon you, discerning whether or not you mean what you say. he watches only briefly, your focus is elsewhere. eyebrows knitted and lips pursed, you study the ship floating peacefully atop the relaxed waves. this would be the vessel that delivers marley’s finest eldian warriors to heaven, and you could only have the privilege to see it depart. turning towards shadis, you open your mouth to speak, but his eyes just barely look past you, and he raises a palm. the commander promptly steps beside you, avoiding you like you’re a nuisance, and you follow his direction, turning around before your eyes fall onto the blond honorary marleyan standing only a few steps away with his arms courteously folded behind his back. eyeing shadis as he places a welcoming hand on erwin’s shoulder and leads him down the docks without so much as a goodbye, you sneer with green eyes.

“hey, name! name!” you stumble forward as the sudden force of someone’s body engulfing yours from behind overwhelms your sense of stability. an arm slithers around your own shoulder, lodging an arm in the forefront of your neck, dangerously close to your throat. their other arm makes its way around your torso, squeezing playfully before shaking you violently. it makes for an awkward hug, and there is only one person who does this, “hange, you’ll kill her.”

turning your head to the left and being met with hange’s face concerningly close to yours, you lightly push them back by the bridge of their glasses. they cry out something about how you’re too cruel to reject their sappy farewell, pulling you closer every time you push them further away, holding you like a rag doll. peering down at you, to your right is mike, and you only truly pay him mind when he roughly pats you on the back once hange detaches themselves from your body, likely with more force than he initially intended, “don’t you two have a mission to go on?” you mutter under your breath, sucking your teeth and looking up at mike with a raised brow.

“that we do.” he nods in agreement, closing his eyes with a sigh, and prying hange’s limbs from yours. they exaggeratedly whine and complain about how the operation won’t be the same without you there, ruffling your hair until it’s unfixably messy, to which you stare blankly at them, “we’ll miss you.” hange speaks seriously, holding their head in their palm with their other hand secured to their hips. mike, once again, bobs his head in agreement, but gives you a knowing look. you think they pity you, but you pity them more.

“i’ll miss you guys too.” wincing at how your voice wavered with uncertainty, you avert your gaze, and avoid looking them both in the eye. when the silence lingers for two seconds too long, your eyes curiously sweeps towards them, and they’re both already looking at you. hange’s grin grows wider, and you’re lucky enough to dodge their arms this time, reaching out to pull you into one more embrace. you swivel them around by the shoulders, retracting your hands for only a moment before placing them on hange’s back and shoving them into mike, “ugh, go! go! before i seriously start crying or some shit.” the latter part of your sentence turns into a whisper, but it does not go unnoticed by hange, nor mike.

howling and cackling all the way down the incline from the pavement to the docks, hange yells out a— “he’s really rubbing off on you!” over their shoulder. pinching the bridge of your nose and despondently shaking your head, you avoid dwelling on the mention and focus on hange and mike’s figures that fade as they board the ship. once you’re content enough to take your eyes off of them (and allow your poor heart to stop beating), you make your leave.

“and to think you wouldn’t say so much as a ‘goodbye’ to your husband.” blinking owlishly, you’re torn on how to greet levi. you may have seen him throughout the day, but you hadn’t properly spoken to him since the two of you had been wed. and quite frankly, you don’t believe he deserves a farewell, not after what he had done during your wedding night. dissociative memories and unsavory imagery flashes in your mind, causing you to frown; and you are still unsure how you will civilly converse with him now. you’re indecisive, but that’s okay, because levi is not.

draping his arms over your shoulders and wrapping them behind your neck, his left hand drops to your upper back while his right hand supports the crown of your head until you’ve been angled perfectly for him. and he kisses you, hard. you go limp in his arms, refusing to reciprocate the kiss with your eyes wide, and painfully self aware of the people ogling and gawking at you two. levi nips and bites at your bottom lip, like a needy cat, and you press your lips together, sealing them shut, and instinctively, your eyes follow, screwing shut as well. he is displeased with how stiff you are, drawing back entirely, only for him to harshly place a hand on either side of your face and yank you towards him. and despite how brutish and difficult he is being this time around, levi kisses you softly. he’s being gentle, he’s being sweet.

and you are weak to this kind of love, and he knows. so inevitably, you give in, you give him what he wants, momentarily leaning in to return the kiss before pulling away. levi allows his hands to rest on your cheeks for a while longer, studying you intensely. his eyes make you nervous, always had, and continue to, and you nervously bring one hand to sit atop his own, slightly leaning into his touch. levi’s eyes follow your movement, and he is no longer cupping your face, but rather, holding onto your hand and bringing it to his lips. he places a chaste kiss to the ring on your finger, before lifting his head and kissing you one last time, but he does not let go of your hand.

“i love you.” your gut wrenches and heart tightens, constricts even, “i know.” perhaps if you had met levi under a different pretense, one where you and him were not deployed as soldiers before the two of you had even turned ten, and you were not in the midst of a war that threatened your family and nation, you would have found his love romantic. would have liked it, even. because you believe he wouldn’t behave like this, in a way that you don’t like.

“i will come back for you, so take care of yourself and don’t do anything stupid.” he glares at you almost accusingly, like you had done something wrong, like whatever levi had been thinking of at that moment had come true. you only nod, and levi sets his hands on your shoulders and reels you in until his mouth hovers beside your ear, “and don’t you dare think of cheating on me, i’ll do unspeakable things to you.” intimidation, levi’s personal favorite way to remind you of your tight leash. but unlike many fraudulent men who attempt to keep their wives from leaving them, levi has the strength to back up his claims. and you would prefer a marriage without broken bones.

swallowing thickly, you let out a shaky exhale, “of course not, i would never.”

and you don’t, not for the five years that levi had been away were you involved with another man, not once. although you admit, you would have been unfaithful had it not been for his psychotic uncle breathing down your neck all the time (you still wonder what levi desperate measures and what leverage he persuaded him with considering what low regards levi held kenny to), and his absolute godsend of a mother who you had been insistent on taking care of. the latter of the two was the ackerman who you found yourself interacting with the most, kenny wanted little to do with you, lest he suspected you of cheating— which led you to believe he was keeping frequent tabs on you with how often he would abruptly appear on your doorstep to confront you once kuchel had gone to bed. but kuchel, kuchel was an angel.

her circumstances were unfortunate, often bedridden due to her illness and age, but she was so caring. you had known her for a long time, prior to becoming a warrior candidate, when you had first enlisted. you felt envious even back then, when you watched your fellow trainee’s go home with their families. but kuchel was memorable, when she noticed you had been walking down the streets of liberio’s intermittent zone by yourself, she approached you with her hand in younger levi’s, and asked where your parents were. naïve as you were, as any child was, you were honest, and she was mortified.

thus, kuchel would walk you to your home every evening when she came to pick up levi, and she was surprised that levi not once opposed your presence. if she didn’t know any better, she would have presumed he actually looked forward to it. and over the years you had stopped seeing her, she had fallen more ill, and it had turned into only levi walking you home.

it was blatantly obvious what was going on, and kuchel has a difficult time looking you in the eyes these days. you speculate that maybe she feels guilty for letting her son have his way with you, for allowing it to go on for so long and ignoring the telltale signs (giving you half-withered flowers he found, following you when you told him not to, darkly confessing his pre-planned future with you to her). but in reality, sometimes, she doesn’t believe she deserves your care. but you’ve forgiven her, she knows because you stay, and she is forever grateful for you.

that is why she doesn’t stop you when you badmouth her brother in her presence, why she doesn’t stop you when you throw out every item that reminds you of her son, why she doesn’t stop you when you cry and scream about how you hate to be here, how you’ll find a way to legally unbind yourself from this unwanted marriage. but that is also why she doesn’t tell you that the ship has docked at the moor five years later. the honorary marleyan’s had returned, or rather, he returned. only him. you come to find out that levi had been the sole survivor of the four warriors, that erwin, hange, and mike had all passed along the way. and you don’t know who you feel more sorry for, for yourself, or for him.

“i missed you.” you know, you know levi’s missed you with the way he marks you. and you think you’re going to pass out. it’s hot, and you think he’s trying to kill you, suffocating you under his weight as he slams his body down onto yours when you try to crawl away. like he’s attempting to become one with you, levi’s hand holds yours, and he pushes onto your palm with such force, it feels like your wrist will snap. but the worst part is when he leaves marks all over. your lips are swollen and bloody, but so is your neck, and your breasts, your stomach, and your thighs. they aren’t sweet, they blemishes are full of teeth indents and blood, they’re red and sore, and they’re certain to bruise.

levi sighs quietly, “won’t you say something?” gasping for air, you weakly shake your head. but through the delirium and euphoria, levi notices. he takes his hand from yours, and cups your face, lightly grazing his thumb — that was hazardously close to your eye — across your cheek. and although his lips have ravaged and conquered every bit of your exposed skin, he continues to kiss you. but this time, he’s nicer, he’s merciful. first it’s your cheek, then your nose, your jaw, your forehead, your cheekbones, your other cheek; “please, i want you.”

you squirm beneath him when he persists. you place your palm flat against his bare chest, and his heart drums against your touch, “you do— hah, you have me.” levi collapses onto you but doesn’t stop, and you catch your breath, panting in hopes your chest will stop aching. you know you can’t give him anything more, not when he’s already relentlessly taken from you, “i know, i just… i needed you to say it.”

[gritsandbrits]

"By the way you can have him. I see the way you look at him, sneer at every woman who talks to I im, i know all about the petty, cruel things you've done to try to get with him. You don't have to worry about me anymore. Besides you seem to be a better match for him than lilith or I were. A wretched match but perfect nonetheless." - Eve to Lute after the former rejects her heavenly citizenship in favor of permanent residency at the HH.

[hiswordsarekisses]

“But whatever was gain to me I count as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things as loss compared to the surpassing excellence of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God on the basis of faith. I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to Him in His death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize of God’s heavenly calling in Christ Jesus. All of us who are mature should embrace this point of view. And if you think differently about some issue, God will reveal this to you as well. Nevertheless, we must live up to what we have already attained. Join one another in following my example, brothers, and carefully observe those who walk according to the pattern we set for you. For as I have often told you before, and now say again even with tears: Many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and their glory is in their shame. Their minds are set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables Him to subject all things to Himself, will transform our lowly bodies to be like His glorious body.” Philippians‬ ‭3‬:‭7‬-‭21‬

[sealmonger]

Ephesians 2

Made Alive in Christ

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh[a] and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Jew and Gentile Reconciled Through Christ

Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands)— remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.

Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

Footnotes

a. Ephesians 2:3 In contexts like this, the Greek word for flesh (sarx) refers to the sinful state of human beings, often presented as a power in opposition to the Spirit.

[holycityoflove]

The Holy City of God

The Kingdom of His Sovereignty which my Father is establishing in the hearts of his earth children will become an eternal and everlasting dominion throughout the Earth.

Once set up, His rule in each and every heart will raise all the humanity into His perfect harmony and order.

All kingdoms shall bow down unto this Universal Spirit and Creative Source.

There shall be this never-ending and continuous dominion of my Father in the hearts of only those who desire to do his divine will.

And as this is the fact that I share with thee, only the meek, the humble and receptive, the contrite and thirsty shall inherit the Earth and all therein; for the Earth shall become raised into Her rightful place and position within this solar and galactic setting.

I say unto thee, my beloved children, that my Paradise Father is not confined by human organization, nor is He limited by dogmatic concepts in the minds of human beings. He is not the God only of this religion or that sect.

All are welcomed into His Kingdom of Light, insofar as ye make thine decision to enter therein, and ye are willing and cooperative .. eager and athirst to attain the living of His Will and Plan.

All those receptive of my Father God shall come to sit down with us in the Father’s Kingdom, and yet, many shall refuse to enter this next two thousand year cycle wherein the omnipotence of His Love and Life shall reign supreme.

Humanity shall experience interacting with the living network of His Supremacy…the Host of Heaven…and the Order of the Immortal Ones.

My Father shall rule within all; for His spirit shall take up fuller residence in the hearts and minds, and bodies of the children of men.

The power of His Sovereign Kingdom shall be comprised of the establishing of His glory…the living glory of His spirit which presides directly with each living soul and personality.

This living spirit shall teach those receptive minds and will overtake rule within the hearts of the populace of this heavenly kingdom.

The newly-found sons of God shall find themselves walking in a brotherhood of mercy wherein righteousness reigns over all supremely.

Thine civilization shall become righteous and knowledgeable regarding the gift of free will. Peace and acceptance for any differences shall be reinstituted first in the soul of each personality, and then, it will be externalized in all the systems of this world.

Thine race shall be made to evolve and mature in a more unlimited fashion. His Kingdom and Sovereignty is the fulfillment of all good men and women throughout all time and space within this planetary sphere.

It is the everpresent hope of all and every Kingdom within this Earth. It will be the completion of a certain octave or frequency wherein all will have a greater ease and chance to graduate and complete their rounds of expression by preparing themselves for the Second Birth into Universal Citizenship and God Immortality.

Christ Michael Of Nebadon

University Of Salvington

Absolutum Charitas Ab Origine

[sovereignhumanity]

The Kingdom of His Sovereignty which my Father is establishing in the hearts of his earth children will become an eternal and everlasting dominion throughout the Earth.

Once set up, His rule in each and every heart will raise all the humanity into His perfect harmony and order.

All kingdoms shall bow down unto this Universal Spirit and Creative Source.

There shall be this never-ending and continuous dominion of my Father in the hearts of only those who desire to do his divine will.

And as this is the fact that I share with thee, only the meek, the humble and receptive, the contrite and thirsty shall inherit the Earth and all therein; for the Earth shall become raised into Her rightful place and position within this solar and galactic setting.

I say unto thee, my beloved children, that my Paradise Father is not confined by human organization, nor is He limited by dogmatic concepts in the minds of human beings. He is not the God only of this religion or that sect.

All are welcomed into His Kingdom of Light, insofar as ye make thine decision to enter therein, and ye are willing and cooperative .. eager and athirst to attain the living of His Will and Plan.

All those receptive of my Father God shall come to sit down with us in the Father’s Kingdom, and yet, many shall refuse to enter this next two thousand year cycle wherein the omnipotence of His Love and Life shall reign supreme.

Humanity shall experience interacting with the living network of His Supremacy…the Host of Heaven…and the Order of the Immortal Ones.

My Father shall rule within all; for His spirit shall take up fuller residence in the hearts and minds, and bodies of the children of men.

The power of His Sovereign Kingdom shall be comprised of the establishing of His glory…the living glory of His spirit which presides directly with each living soul and personality.

This living spirit shall teach those receptive minds and will overtake rule within the hearts of the populace of this heavenly kingdom.

The newly-found sons of God shall find themselves walking in a brotherhood of mercy wherein righteousness reigns over all supremely.

Thine civilization shall become righteous and knowledgeable regarding the gift of free will. Peace and acceptance for any differences shall be reinstituted first in the soul of each personality, and then, it will be externalized in all the systems of this world.

Thine race shall be made to evolve and mature in a more unlimited fashion. His Kingdom and Sovereignty is the fulfillment of all good men and women throughout all time and space within this planetary sphere.

It is the everpresent hope of all and every Kingdom within this Earth. It will be the completion of a certain octave or frequency wherein all will have a greater ease and chance to graduate and complete their rounds of expression by preparing themselves for the Second Birth into Universal Citizenship and God Immortality.

Christ Michael Of Nebadon

University Of Salvington

Absolutum Charitas Ab Origine

[schooloftheprince]

The Kingdom of Love

The Kingdom of His Sovereignty which my Father is establishing in the hearts of his earth children will become an eternal and everlasting dominion throughout the Earth. Once set up, His rule in each and every heart will raise all the humanity into His perfect harmony and order. All kingdoms shall bow down unto this Universal Spirit and Creative Source. There shall be this never-ending and continuous dominion of my Father in the hearts of only those who desire to do his divine will. And as this is the fact that I share with thee, only the meek, the humble and receptive, the contrite and thirsty shall inherit the Earth and all therein; for the Earth shall become raised into Her rightful place and position within this solar and galactic setting. I say unto thee, my beloved children, that my Paradise Father is not confined by human organization, nor is He limited by dogmatic concepts in the minds of human beings. He is not the God only of this religion or that sect. All are welcomed into His Kingdom of Light, insofar as ye make thine decision to enter therein, and ye are willing and cooperative .. eager and athirst to attain the living of His Will and Plan. All those receptive of my Father God shall come to sit down with us in the Father’s Kingdom, and yet, many shall refuse to enter this next two thousand year cycle wherein the omnipotence of His Love and Life shall reign supreme. Humanity shall experience interacting with the living network of His Supremacy…the Host of Heaven…and the Order of the Immortal Ones. My Father shall rule within all; for His spirit shall take up fuller residence in the hearts and minds, and bodies of the children of men. The power of His Sovereign Kingdom shall be comprised of the establishing of His glory…the living glory of His spirit which presides directly with each living soul and personality. This living spirit shall teach those receptive minds and will overtake rule within the hearts of the populace of this heavenly kingdom. The newly-found sons of God shall find themselves walking in a brotherhood of mercy wherein righteousness reigns over all supremely. Thine civilization shall become righteous and knowledgeable regarding the gift of free will. Peace and acceptance for any differences shall be reinstituted first in the soul of each personality, and then, it will be externalized in all the systems of this world. Thine race shall be made to evolve and mature in a more unlimited fashion. His Kingdom and Sovereignty is the fulfillment of all good men and women throughout all time and space within this planetary sphere. It is the everpresent hope of all and every Kingdom within this Earth. It will be the completion of a certain octave or frequency wherein all will have a greater ease and chance to graduate and complete their rounds of expression by preparing themselves for the Second Birth into Universal Citizenship and God Immortality. Christ Michael Of Nebadon University Of Salvington Absolutum Charitas Ab Origine

[mariacallous]

President of Moldova Maia Sandu has urged the world to help Kyiv in fighting off the Russian aggression because the military plans of its leader Vladimir Putin go beyond Ukraine, as per point.md.

“Everyone must understand that Putin will not stop unless he is halted, and if Putin is not stopped, the cost for everyone will be much higher. Of course, Ukraine is paying the highest price. Although, if the Kremlin is not stopped, then all of us will have to incur much greater costs. It is in the interest of everyone, not only in the interest of Ukraine and Moldova, for Ukraine to win this war,” Sandu said in an interview with Romanian media.

She added that she relies on and believes in the unity of the democratic world and hopes that Ukraine will continue to receive all the support it needs.

“Moldova is trying to help in any way it can, including providing training for Ukrainian sappers and support to refugees who have decided to stay in Moldova, and offering humanitarian aid. Whenever I have the opportunity, I speak about the need to support Ukraine,” noted Sandu.

She also commented on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s decision to simplify the process of granting Russian citizenship to Moldovans, Kazakhs, and Belarusians.

“It is clear that the Kremlin needs cannon fodder to continue this war, but Moldovans do not want to be sacrificed in an unjust war. I have this conviction, and I know that many Moldovans decided to leave Russia when the aggression began,” added the president.

Earlier, Sandu arrived in Kyiv to accompany Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and First Lady Olena Zelenska in paying tribute to activists killed during Ukraine’s 2014 Revolution of Dignity.

Ukraine’s Presidential Office said the leaders placed memorial lamps at the Heavenly Hundred Heroes Cross in Kyiv’s Alley of Heavenly Hundred Heroes. They also honored the memories of fallen protesters in front of their portraits.

According to Moldova’s officials, Russia has repeatedly attempted to intervene in the country’s politics.

Moldova’s intelligence chief Alexandru Musteață said that Russia spent nearly $55.5 million to overthrow the democratic government and destabilize the situation in Moldova. 

The official added that Russia had tried to use a criminal group led by fugitive oligarch Ilan Shor to influence the outcome of local elections in Moldova.

On 15 December 2023, the Parliament of Moldova approved the draft of Moldova’s National Security Strategy. According to the document, Moldova’s defense spending increased by almost 70%. Additional funds were directed mainly to the purchase of air defense systems.

The European Union has also provided medical and protective equipment, mine detectors, all-terrain vehicles, drones, and generators to the National Army of Moldova.

This year, Moldova also organized military exercises near the Russian-controlled proxy “republic” of Transnistria, 22 kilometers from the Ukrainian border. 

[albertfinch]

HIS ULTIMATE PRIZE

"Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself  likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil. and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives." - Hebrews 2:14,15

At the Cross, Jesus broke the power of sin. When He was resurrected, He destroyed the power of death.

"Having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.  When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him." - Colossians 2:14,15

He is currently not in either location (the cross or the tomb). Without those two victories we would not have our salvation, but there was something more God was revealing to me. Everything Jesus did in His life, death and resurrection were steps in a journey toward making us available to advance His Kingdom by forgiving all our sins so we would always be in right standing with God,

After His redemptive work was complete, Jesus sat down on His Throne and the Father put all things in submission under His feet. Paul wrote about this position of Christ's authority in his magnificent letter to the Ephesians:

"I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God's power for us who believe Him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated Him in the place of honor at God's right hand in the heavenly realms. Now He is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come. God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made Him head over all things for the benefit of the Church." -  Ephesians 1:19-22 NLT

WE ARE POSITIONED WITH JESUS

There is another reality we need to understand about Christ's Throne. We are positioned with Jesus on His Throne at this very moment.  This position in Christ on His Throne is our present-tense heavenly reality.

"Even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus." - Ephesians 2:5,6

DUAL-CITIZENSHIP ROLE

Paul described our dual-citizenship role to the Philippians when he wrote, "But we are citizens of Heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives" (Philippians 3:20).

This finished work of Jesus gave us the authority to conduct His Kingdom business from two realms. We can accomplish Kingdom business on earth because we are able to release the authority of Heaven back to earth from our position in Christ on His Throne.

This understanding can change everything we do, especially how we pray. We can only conduct Heaven's business on earth if we know the heavenly context from which we release our authority in Christ.

This Easter, line up the Cross and Tomb with the target of God's Throne. Like a spiritual sighting system, these two sights will align your faith with the place from which your authority to live a resurrected life on earth originates.

Early Church Believers would greet each other with the phrase, "He is Risen! He is risen, indeed!" Many still use this greeting on Easter morning. That greeting carries a profound message. It is a message that speaks of a greater purpose—a risen reality—that came about because of an empty Cross, an empty Tomb and an occupied Throne.

The reality of our position in Christ seated with Him on His Throne is another reason to celebrate on this special day.

ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY

[cscclibrary]

Some of the world's most beloved and influential authors were born in August! Click their names to find their work in our collection or via OhioLINK.

Herman Melville (August 1, 1819), fiction writer and poet. Notable works: Moby-Dick; or, The Whale, "Bartleby, the Scrivener," Billy Budd, Sailor (An Inside Narrative).

James Baldwin (August 2, 1924), writer and activist. Notable works: Go Tell It on the Mountain, "Sonny's Blues," Notes of a Native Son.

Percy Bysshe Shelley (August 4, 1792), poet, novelist, playwright, and husband of Mary Shelley. Notable works: "Ozymandias," "A Defense of Poetry," The Cenci.

Guy de Maupassant (August 5, 1850), author of the Naturalist school. Notable works: "The Necklace," "The Horla," Pierre and Jean.

Wendell Berry (August 5, 1934), farmer, environmental activist, writer, and winner of the National Humanities Medal. Notable works: The Unsettling of America, Citizenship Papers, "The Vacation."

Walter Dean Myers (August 12, 1937), author of children's and young adult literature. Notable works: Hoops, Monster, Fallen Angels.

William Maxwell (August 16, 1908), writer and long-time fiction editor at The New Yorker. Notable works: So Long, See You Tomorrow, The Heavenly Tenants.

Ray Bradbury (August 22, 1920), influential author of innumerable science-fiction short stories and novels, many adapted into other media. Notable works: Fahrenheit 451, Something Wicked This Way Comes, "The Veldt."

Dorothy Parker (August 22, 1893), poet, fiction writer, and satirist; member of the Algonquin Round Table. Notable works: Enough Rope, Death and Taxes, Laments for the Living.

Jorge Luis Borges (August 24, 1899), author and translator. Notable works: The Aleph and Other Stories, The Book of Imaginary Beings, "The Library of Babel."

Theodore Dreiser (August 27, 1871), journalist and author of Naturalist fiction. Notable works: Sister Carrie, An American Tragedy.

Mary Shelley (August 30, 1797), novelist and early author of science fiction. Notable works: Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus, Mathilda.

Current Columbus State students and employees can check out items with their photo ID, or view ebooks using their Columbus State login and password. For help with research or finding items, contact our Reference department.

[orthodoxadventure]

A prayer for Children, by Saint Nikolai Velimirovich

O All-plenteous Lord Jesus Christ, who wast once even Thyself a child and who loved and blessed children, have mercy upon the children of our time and save them — so that unbaptized children may be baptized, and so that baptized children may be strengthened in their faith in Thee, who art Truth eternal, and in their love for Thee, who art Love ineffable.

Save, O Lord, those children whom unbelieving parents corrupt with atheism and turn away from Thee, their only Savior and salvation.

Save, O All-meek Lord, also those children whom evil teachers, without God or soul, alienate from Thee, their Creator, and turn into packs of dogs.

Save, O Lord, also those children whose pure soul is defiled by all the immorality in the streets, in the theaters, and on television — save them from the impurity of the streets and theaters, and from every other impurity.

Save, O All-merciful Lord, also those children who are orphans and have fallen into the hands of cruel guardians, or bad stepfathers or stepmothers, or those who are supposed to rear them but do not — save them from hearing blasphemous words and from seeing malicious deeds.

Save, O Son of God, the sons of men, whom the world tugs here and there into many physical trainings and occupations, without giving them any training in Thine holy law, training in proper thoughts, in truth and mercy, and in all deeds of goodness and righteousness.

Help the children of this age, O Almighty One, so they may grow up and mature to Divine sonship and heavenly citizenship, for their eternal salvation and for Thy glory and praise. Amen.

[alwaysrememberjesus]

Citizens of Heaven

Philippians 3:20–21. Our citizenship is in heaven. (v. 20)

Those who become naturalized citizens in the U.S. are not required to give up their citizenship in their country of origin. They enjoy the privilege and corresponding responsibilities of dual citizenship. Christians also possess a kind of dual citizenship. We may have a national identity based on our country of origin or an ethnic heritage that gives us a sense of who we are. But because we have been united to Christ by faith, our primary identity is now heavenly. We are citizens of heaven because we have a heavenly expectation. We “eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,” who will return one day to establish His kingdom on earth (v. 20). Whatever other labels we may claim, our primary allegiance is to Him. What is more, Scripture tells us that we have already begun to enjoy the benefits of our citizenship in that kingdom and will one day experience it in its fullness (Col. 1v12–13).

We experience Christ’s kingdom through the power it has to “bring everything under his control” (Phil. 3v21). God demonstrates His rule by transforming us through His Spirit. As Romans 14:17 says, the kingdom is a matter of “righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” The experience of God’s transforming power in the present time anticipates a more significant change that will take place in the age to come. Christ “will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body” (v. 21). Not only is the gospel a message of forgiveness, but it is also one of transformation. The great hope of the Christian life is that one day “we shall be like Him, for we shall see him as He is” (1 John 3:2).

What does it mean to live as a citizen of the kingdom? According to 1 John 3:3, “All who have this hope in Him purify themselves, just as He is pure.”