#his faith in Jesus was rewarded

[indianahal]

My new video looks at Jesus' second recorded miracle, the healing of a Royal Official's son who was dying 20 miles away in Capernaum. The Nobleman had traveled and found Jesus, and pleaded with him to come visit his son so that he could be healed.  The man's faith in Jesus was rewarded when eventually Jesus told him to depart, that his son would live.  The Royal Official took Jesus for his word, and returned home to find out that his ill son was totally healed.  The Nobleman was told that his son was healed at the seventh hour, the exact time Jesus had spoken to him that his son would live. 

[markmcole]

Knowing God

Knowing God is not merely an intellectual pursuit but a deeply personal and transformative journey. It’s about experiencing His presence, understanding His character, and aligning our lives with His will. The Bible, God’s Word, serves as our guide on this journey, revealing who He is and how we can draw closer to Him. Below are some key points to help you grow in your journey to knowing Him. 1.…

[yeslordmyking]

Psalm 8:1 — Today's Verse for Thursday, August 1, 2024

[all-pacas]

Okay need to make a post entirely about chase being insane about religion. Chase's endless religious cycling. how badly and desperately and clearly he wants to believe, how much he wants faith and god, and how he can never quite - make it. Never quite get there. How he openly admires and defends the faith of others, faith and prayer as concepts, how he turns to confession in a crisis, how he still has large parts of the bible committed to memory, how he never answers any questions about his faith, if he believes in God, if anything.

In Damned If You Do, he shares his favorite bible verse with the nun. The episode itself paraphrases it a little, but the verse he mentions reads:

In this you rejoice, though now for a little while you may have to suffer various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold which though perishable is tested by fire, may redound to praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

(you will suffer. it will be so hard. you will be tested. gold can be melted and your faith is more valuable, and if you keep trying, you will be rewarded, you will.)

(AUGUSTINE: Why did you leave the seminary? CHASE: That test. You passed, I failed.)

Here Kitty:

PATIENT: Do you want to tell me what an idiot I'm being? CHASE: No. I really believe that there are things that science can't understand. That there is a role for faith and prayer. But it's in the waiting room. Not the O.R. PATIENT: There's a reason I got sick. There's a reason for all the bad things that have happened to me. I don't know what that reason is. But I know that if there isn't one… If there's no greater purpose in the world. Then it's not a world I want to live in. CHASE: I'll schedule an operating room.

House Training:

CHASE: You want to go get drunk? FOREMAN: No thanks. I’ve got paperwork. CHASE: Listen, I don’t… I don’t know what I believe, but sometimes I need to think there’s something out there paying attention. So when I can’t talk to anybody, I talk to God, and pretend somebody’s listening. We were all wrong, Foreman. Even House was wrong. FOREMAN: I know.

He leaves the chapel in Damned if You Do. He prays for the baby in Forever. He gives the woman in Here Kitty her risky surgery; he defends the faith healer and Wilson's girlfriend's faith in House vs. God.

House vs. God:

HOUSE: When you were in seminary, did God ever talk to you? CHASE: …No.

Chase:

I always wanted to believe. It would have made my life a lot easier. It never took.

(AUGUSTINE: You told me your favorite passage. Would you like to hear mine? “Celebrate and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again.” CHASE: …The prodigal son.)

[cassatine]

my conclave review i guess! i was going to gush in chat but then. too many words.

so literally all i knew about it going in was (1) a cardinal vapes in it (2) probably it's about a conclave?? (3) good vibes according to dashboard osmosis. the cinematography was a+, which i always appreciate. i liked that on one level it's a perfect comedy, really fucking funny in a sort of understated way. the beginning kinda reminded me of the death of stalin, what with the inciting event being the guy at the top of the hierarchy dying… somehow excellent comedy setup. at the very beginning, when lawrence & co struggle a bit to take the ring off the pope's corpse and it's all so ritualized, that's when i knew it was going to be Funny.

but beyond the fact that it was funnier than i expected... i liked the layers. most of all i think i liked the earnestness. ralph fiennes mid-crisis of faith, hating his job, trying to be a moral man in a system that is broken?? chef's kiss. the other cardinals of note were also nicely layered, like adeyemi? it would have been so easy to just stop at his being homophobic and treat his having had a kid being revealed as comeuppance but the way he cries and asks lawrence to pray with him… he sucks and it's a good thing he's taken off the race but it also happens for the wrong reason. bellini who's lying to himself and everyone else over not wanting to be the pope when he so clearly does and still letting himself be bought by the promise of a nice post… and yet he is not just an hypocrite. he sees he failed. he apologizes. he is only human. tedesco could have been a one note villain but he's the coolest dude around, and on a fundamental level that's part of what makes him dangerous: he's a reactionary and a bigot but he makes it kinda sexy. you want to like him; he's fun to watch and he has style, something the other cardinals probably wouldn't recognize if it hit them in the face. benitez. well. benitez is jesus. sister agnes was neat, it's a bit sad we don't really get to know her but she's indispensable and i love that for her. like. here's a bunch of dudes with all the decisional power who expect her to just exist in the background doing the menial work and then her printer expertise ends up being vital, and in general lawrence wouldn't have managed as well without her support… noice.

the end feels a bit easy, like lbr benitez being elected pope because he made a nice speech is ludicrous, but also… it works for me?

(1) on some level the film is about the difficulties of trying to be a moral person in a system that does not reward being moral. sure it's about faith and doubt and the limitations of organized religion. it's about catty bitches vying for power in a ritualized way that, on some level, speaks of an institution that ossified, that resists change (and on that note: benitez, obviously-the-best candidate only gets elected because people skirt the isolation rules, because the outside world intrudes. also because he is jesus.) it's stated near the beginning that the pope hadn't lost faith in god but in the church, and through the movie we can see why, all the machinations and the thirst for power and the fallibility of the men within the institution. through lawrence we see how much easier it would be to just… stop trying, to do the convenient thing, the easy thing, rather than the right thing, and to find justifications for that: better not make waves and better not make a scandal, for the sake of electing a blandly liberal pope rather than tedesco. and who would disagree? sure, better a bland liberal than reactionary tedesco. but then comes the ethical quandary: should the goal of avoiding one evil mean closing your eyes to another? should you forsake your sense of right and wrong for the greater good? too often i think we are told to prioritize the greater good, and maybe sometimes we should. but maybe sometimes we shouldn't. maybe sometimes we should hold to our principles. in the end, benitez being elected pope isn't going to miraculously make the catholic church and its agents unproblematic. but it is a win, and it happens because lawrence kept choosing to do (what he believes is) the right thing, the moral thing, even when it's not easy, even when it's inconvenient, even when he's told he's being naive and hurting the greater cause. and i appreciate that message.

(2) as i said: benitez is jesus. the film is a parable… it's a story about how jesus showed up, completedly unexpected, in the middle of the church his disciples built, and because the church is made up of people and people are flawed and faillible and too busy with things like power, they did not notice jesus walking among them. at least not until god (metaphorically) shone a light on him. like yes sure the way benitez ends up the one elected is ludicrous but!! it took an act of god. not the bombs per se. but the tragedy of it intruding into the isolated conclave? the windows exploding, the light coming in, this is what allows the true stakes to become clear again, and for benitez's love thy neighbour speech to take place at all - a speech contrasted with tedesco's own, all the style stripped from him, making it clear he is a man who reaches for hate and not compassion. it's a parable!! it takes a tragedy. it takes an act of god.

[gabebrodudeman]

Psalm 37 is a great chapter, it's all about patience and trust.

Being persecuted by some people who want to see you hurt? You look around and see all the 'evil' people "succeeding" and being rewarded with all the "nice" things life has to offer? Meanwhile, you're there and have practically "nothing"?

God says that's not your problem, you have your focus and it's as simple as being patient and trusting that in the end, somehow, it'll work out. That's why his yoke is easy (Matthew 11:28-30).

Psalms 37:13, 34-36 NLT

[13] But the Lord just laughs, for he sees their day of judgment coming.

[34] Put your hope in the Lord. Travel steadily along his path. He will honor you by giving you the land. You will see the wicked destroyed. [35] I have seen wicked and ruthless people flourishing like a tree in its native soil. [36] But when I looked again, they were gone! Though I searched for them, I could not find them!

The word steadily really stood out to me here, it's definition is this:

in a regular and even manner, without change; continuously.

in a controlled or unwavering manner.

No matter what we're facing in this life, any trial or tribulation, any period of persecution, even if we're in a period of life where we're very much like Job who was stripped of everything, we are called to walk with him through it all steadily.

We are called to walk with him on a regular basis, continuously, without change in our faith based on our circumstances we are to walk with him in a controlled unwavering manner.

My dear brothers and sisters, no matter what we're facing in this life always remember to walk with him with a steadfast kind of love.

I love you my brothers and sisters, but always remember, there is no love like the love of Jesus Christ, Amen 🤍

[faithfullyfound]

In Order To Live You Must Die

My faith often fluctuates. Sometimes I'm on fire for Jesus while other times I don't read my Bible and forget the Spirit's presence. When things are going good in my life I tend to be more likely to read my Word, pray, listen to worship music, and spend time with God. However, when I face trials in my life I tend to not read my Bible, not pray with faithfulness, and forget to include Jesus in my life.

This year/month has been hard for me. I have struggled with many things that were often my fault, but sometimes the result of others' failures. As I felt more pain being added into my life the more I left God last on my To Do list. I began to make myself the front of my life, listening to my own voice instead of the Holy Spirit's.

But I was looking at these "trials" all wrong.

Matthew 16:25-28 states, "25 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. 26 What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? 27 For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done. 28 'Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.'”

The only way to save our lives and truly live is to give up our desires, wants, and control to allow God to control our lives. Anyone who wants to live according to the world will lose their life chasing after things that will never fulfill them. And anyone who is trying to control their own life will fail. What good would it be to have everything yet gain nothing? When you live for the world your soul lacks, you lack. What is better than gaining God's love and experiencing the Son of Man's glory.

James 1:2-4 showcases the joy that we should have in the midst of our suffering because it results in endurance/perseverance that strengthens our faith. "2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."

When we are in the midst of suffering and we allow Christ in and make Jesus the center of our lives, we are creating something good out of our suffering. When we are acting according to our flesh we lack everything but when we act with the Spirit we lack nothing.

In order to truly live and experience Christ our vices and our wants must perish so that we can allow the Spirit of the Lord to increase.

I pray this week that you and I can strengthen our faith, as we go through hardships I pray that we put God at the center of it all. We go to Him for answers to our questions, not society, not parents, partners, friends, books, the internet, but God. I pray that through our sufferings we embrace God that we do not look to Him as a genie but a God that can grant wisdom and loves us more than we love ourselves. Amen.

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

The Pharisees and Sadducees Demand Signs

1 The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven.

2 He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red.

3 And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowering. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?

4 A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed.

5 And when his disciples were come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread.

6 Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.

7 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have taken no bread.

8 Which when Jesus perceived, he said unto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread?

9 Do ye not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?

10 Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?

11 How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees?

12 Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.

13 When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?

14 And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.

15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?

16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

20 Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.

21 From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.

22 Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.

23 But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.

24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.

28 Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom. — Matthew 16 | King James Version (KJV) The King James Version Bible is in the public domain Cross References: Job 34:11; Psalm 42:2; Psalm 49:8; Psalm 129:2; Proverbs 26:5; isaiah 22:22; Isaiah 57:3; Jeremiah 1:1; Matthew 1:16; Matthew 3:7; Matthew 4:10; Matthew 5:20; Matthew 6:30; Matthew 8:20; Matthew 10:38-39; Matthew 12:40; Matthew 14:17; Matthew 14:20; Matthew 21:25; Mark 8:15; Luke 9:18; Luke 12:54; Luke 12:56; John 1:42; John 12;25; Revelation 3:7

Some Standing Here Will Not Taste Death

Key Events in Matthew 16

1. The Pharisees require a sign. 5. Jesus warns his disciples of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees. 13. The people's opinion of Jesus, 16. and Peter's confession of him. 21. Jesus foretells his death; 23. reproves Peter for dissuading him from it; 24. and admonishes those who will follow him, to bear the cross.

[nerdygaymormon]

Matthew 25:14-30 - Parable of the Talents

Jesus tells a parable that says the Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by a man going on a long trip. He calls together his servants and entrusts his money to them while he is gone. He gave five talents of silver to one servant, two talents of silver to another, and one talent of silver to the final servant—dividing it in proportion to their abilities. He then left on his trip.

The servant who received the five talents of silver began to trade the money and earned five more talents. The servant with two bags of silver also went and earned two more. But the servant who received the one talent of silver dug a hole in the ground and hid the master’s money.

After a long time, their master returned and he wants an accounting of the funds he left with them. The servant who was entrusted with five talents came forward to say he used it to gain an additional five talents. The master replied, "Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Let's celebrate together."

The servant who had the two talents came forward to say he had used it to earn two more talents. The master also congratulates him and invites him to celebrate together.

Then the servant with the one talent of silver said, "Master, I knew you were a harsh man as evidenced by you harvesting crops you didn’t plant and gathering straw you didn't set out to dry. I was afraid I would lose your money, so I hid it in the earth to keep it safe. Here is your money back." The master calls this servant wicked and lazy and asks if you knew that I'm such a harsh man because I take profits I didn't work for, why didn't you deposit my money and at least earn some interest on it?" Then the master ordered the one talent of silver taken away from this servant and given to the servant with the ten talents.

The master goes on to say that those who use well what they are given, will be given even more, and they will have an abundance. But for those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away. Now throw this useless servant into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. The Kingdom of Heaven is like this.

————————————————————

First thing we need to make clear in this story is that a talent of silver is a LARGE amount of money. Some scholars estimate a talent was worth 20 years of wages for the common worker. Let's imagine someone who earns $25,000/year today doing work like cleaning houses or doing yard work, using that comparison would make a single talent worth $500,000.

Right from the beginning, this story is not what we would expect, the master leaving huge amounts of money with his servants for them to manage on their own with no instructions or supervision.

It makes sense to us in a capitalist system that people use money to make money. An investor uses money to buy shares of a corporation and expects it to work to earn a profit and pay the investor a dividend. If the corporation doesn't make more wealth, then the investor will take their funds elsewhere. This is greed-driven, not a charity. This is how the master in the story operates, he uses his money to reap profits from others who do the work.

The servant who buried the money blames his master's ruthless craving for profits as the reason he didn't want to possibly lose the money and so he buried it. However, the master is not pleased because he has no profit and points out that depositing the funds at a bank and earning a low interest rate is low risk and at least earns some profit.

If this is what heaven is like, then God wants profitable servants, not excuses. There's many ways to use what God has given us. Success isn't rewarded with carefree living on the beach, instead you're given more responsibility.

————————————————————

I've heard this parable used in two ways. One is to say we are each to work as hard as we can because we know God is harsh and demanding. The word "talent" in the story means an amount of money but in English the word "talent" means an ability or aptitude, and thus many say that whatever natural talents we have, we must develop and use them for Jesus (like he's the investor and we're the corporation that has to earn a profit), or else!

Another interpretation is that this isn't about working as hard as you can and only then are you valuable to the Lord, instead this is actually about grace. The Lord gave them huge sums of money and no rules about how to use it, they are enabled to act. The one who gets called lazy and wicked is the one who didn't try new things, who doesn't take risks, who does nothing but hide what he was given. Even if we have a fear of risk, there's low-risk options for us, but we must do something, even if not everything works out.

Let's take our body as an example of something given to us. We only have the use of it during this mortal life, then God takes it back.

In the first interpretation, we must exercise hard and eat right and care for our body, make it into the best, most-healthy version of itself so that we can use on doing good works for the Lord. In the second interpretation, we are given a body and it's up to us to experiment with it in different ways and in that way grow, like trying different sports, training our hands to play a musical instrument, experiencing the pleasures of sex and the pain of injury, we are to take risks, even if some of those risks don't pay off, because that's how we grow.

————————————————————

What would be a queer interpretation of this story?

Telling queer people not to “act” on their queerness is akin to telling us to bury our talent and to go back to the Lord without doing anything with it.

Queer people are told to hide who they are. Gay, bi, and pan people have the capacity to love, but too often we're told we shouldn't, to bury that desire and instead return it unused to the Lord. Trans people are told not to explore their bodies and ways to change it to fit who they are on the inside, that God would rather we return our bodies unaltered and unexplored. This feels like the opposite of what this parable is teaching.

Also, we know Jesus uses the money in the story as a metaphor, elsewhere in the scriptures we're told accumulating riches is problematic, we're to use what money we have to help others. What would be examples of "investing talents" that God would view as profitable? How about helping queer people to overcome the shame they were taught? What about fighting for equity and justice for groups, like queer people, who are not treated fairly in our power structures?

[wormsngods]

The Gospels tell us that a rich young man who observed the Laws of Moses came to Jesus. Jesus told him to "You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me." [Mk 10:21] This passage always seemed to be to be extremely burdensome. However today I was thinking about the volumes upon volumes of medical textbooks I have memorised and how the people calling all the shots in our country or those living in the exorbitantly wealthy mansions that line the roads seem to have done little else besides being born to rich parents, denied their sisters inheritance, evaded taxes and taken advantage of exploitative systems. I know this seems like a "grapes are sour" type excuse and a cope for not working as hard as them but I am still looking for the self made man who did not lie, cheat and steal his way to the top. I look at my professors and the doctors in our hospital and at the end of the day they have to grovel before uneducated men who simply inherited their positions of power from their dad and grew their business by scamming and underhanded tactics.

Back to my point, It seems as if in this passage, Jesus was not burdening the young man but asking him to pick a side. You can either take up your cross and follow the path of Jesus or you can run after worldly riches.

Anyone you tries to run after both will gain neither.

And there are some who worship Allah on the verge ˹of faith˺: if they are blessed with something good, they are content with it; but if they are afflicted with a trial, they relapse ˹into disbelief˺,1 losing this world and the Hereafter. That is ˹truly˺ the clearest loss. [Q22:11]

The only cure to me viewing my (very cozy) circumstances as detestable and resenting the corrupt and powerful for having what they have is to pick a side. I do not have to sympathise with the rich nor do I have to resent them. It is easy for rich and famous people like Jim Carrey to turn around and say that money and fame are not the answer but it is significantly harder to not pursue or desire these two in the first place. To live a life where I am doing what I do, not to gain wealth or power, but because it is what God has decreed for me and is my means to earn a livelihood enough to put a roof over my head, food on the plate and clothes on my back.

If this is cause enough for people to deny me their company, love and good regard then that too is God's decree and we must accept that with patience and maybe he will reward us with something better than the worldly mansions and cars and fame that we so value. Would it not be better to be loved by your Creator than to be loved by humans? I accept His decree and place my hope in His mercy.

[bloodsappho]

These crosses all over my body

Remind me of who I used to be

And Christ forgive these bones I’m hiding

From noone successfully

Wrestling with God, secrets that can’t be hidden, flesh and bone. Themes established from the very outset. Of course we wonder what are these crosses, these secrets. As we will hear, violence haunts the protagonist. She is abused, she fights back, she kills. So are the crosses decorative sigils, testaments of faith worn around the neck and fingers? Are they cuts and bruises and batterings? Are they deep, inner wounds, bleeding out silently? Are they self inflicted cuts, scored with a razor into her wrists and thighs?

Self-inflicted razor wounds go much deeper than the pop-psych logic of “self-harm”. Particularly prevalent amongst young women, they attest to a body-mind that wants to open, to bleed, to have its own limits annihilated in a rush of pleasure and pain. Mortification of the flesh is particularly common in Christian culture, self-inflicted punishment for sinful thought and deed, attributed especially to women.

Camille Paglia:

“The artist makes art not to save mankind but to save himself. Every benevolent comment by an artist is a fog to cover his tracks, the bloody trail of his assault against reality and others.”

Later

“Art advances by self-mutilation of the artist.”

Hemingway claims “to write is easy, you just sit down and bleed”. Bowie claims “to be an artist is a ridiculous thing. It makes much more sense to earn money, look after your family. I don’t know why anyone would do it.” Self experience attests to artists sitting in frozen cold apartments, unable to eat properly, following a voice that nobody else can here. Addicts and artists often go hand in hand.

“These crosses all over our bodies”, the stacked wounds and traumas of war against the everyday. The great mistake of Amero-boomerist art criticism to assume that such wounds and traumas are the fault of oppressive power structures themselves. Such power structures exist to keep violent nature in a straightjacket, a state of affairs that the artist simply cannot abide by. The only advice that can ever be given to someone who is thinking about becoming an artist is “Give up now”, because the path of crucifixion is not something that can be chosen or rationally debated.

Many cultures and esoteric paths offer Gods of ecstasy and vision who undergo violent metamorphoses and stand at the crossroads of life and death: Jesus, Dionysus, Shiva and Osiris just a few. Of course the Christ myth is an evolution of the Dionysus myth, but the Christian Universalist reading comes out of Jewish linguistic totalitarianism which wants to banish the erotics of masks, idols and personas. The multiplicity and polymorphism, not to mention the perversity, of the various robes of the dying God is anathema to the priest line that wants to establish strict loyalty and sexual submission.

Judaism today has evolved to be a champion of the erotics of the eye, with many of the great figures of Hollywood Jewish artists trained in Romanticism and Expressionism who fled central Europe when the Nazis came to power in the 1930s. It is in fundamentalist Islam where we see the nightmare of Abrahamic totalitarianism most clearly, with women wrapped in rags and virgin girls offered as the heavenly reward for total submission to God.

Michael Jackson, one of the most influential and biggest selling artists of all time. One hardly ever hears his name mentioned save in scorn, and yet his traces are everywhere — the songs and dances of every popstar of the last 20 years are unmistakenly scorred by his influence. Jackson is frightening because he is, we might say, trans-everything. Massively androgynous, morphing from black to white, physically and musically, adult and child, his career is a violent and unceasing metamorphosis. He was under the knife as much as under the camera, a vanguard of celebrity plastic surgery taken to extremes, to many an angel and to many others a satanic freakshow.

The artist, condemned to create beauty at the monstrous intersections of life.

[izzieheart]

BIBLE STUDY: #1

─ ✩ “In the following study, we will reflect on seeking God's wisdom, protection, peace, and justice. Most importantly, we will learn to trust in God's hands, knowing that He always knows what is best for us. In the end, His plans are greater than ours!”

Books used on the following study: Psalms

STRENGTH AND OBEDIENCE

Psalm 19:11 "Therefore, by them, Your servant is warned; In keeping them there is great reward." By following God's commands, we are warned, and there is great reward in obeying Him.

Psalm 19:13 "Moreover, keep Your servant from willful sins; do not let them rule over me. Then I will be innocent and cleansed from blatant rebellion." This verse highlights the importance of humility and obedience to God’s commandments and warns against the arrogance and self-righteousness that can lead to sin.

1. Why is self-righteousness wrong? The concept of self-righteousness implies a belief that one's salvation is based on their own actions or works, rather than the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross for our sins. We don't deserve Heaven on our own merits, but it's only through the love and grace of God, through our faith and acceptance of Jesus' sacrifice, that we can be made righteous.

2.  In modern times, how can we replace the offerings made back then? While modern times may not include traditional burnt offerings like in the Old Testament, we can still offer our sacrifices to God through our actions and our daily lives. This could mean giving up harmful habits and behaviors, volunteering our time and resources to help others, or even simply doing our best to obey God's commandments in everyday situations. Let us also make time daily to strengthen our relationship with God.

TRUST AND LOVE

Psalm 21:2  "You have given him his heart's desire and have not denied the request of his lips." This verse speaks about trust and gratitude to God, expressing the speaker's faith in God's love and sovereignty.

Psalm 21:7 "For the King relies on the Lord; through the faithful love of the Most High he is not shaken." The king encounters difficulties and threats, the love and support of God will ensure that he remains strong and protected, and he will never be broken or overcome by misfortune.

Psalm 46:4-5  "There is a river its steams delight the day of God, the holy dwelling the place of the *Most High. God is within her; she will not be toppled. God will help her when the morning dawns." These verses convey the assurance of God's presence, protection, and timely help for His people, offering hope and security amidst any adversity.

Psalm 57:3 "He reaches down from heaven and saves me, challenging the one who tramples me. God sends His faithful love and truth." This phrase portrays a vivid image of God actively intervening in our life. It emphasizes God’s willingness to descend from His heavenly throne to rescue those in distress.

Psalm 118:18 "The Lord disciplined me severely, but He did not hand me over to death." God discipline us not to ultimately punish us but to shape us into better people. We must recognized that the severity of the discipline is a reflection of God's concern for our growth and righteousness. Despite the severity of the discipline, we are thankful that God has not allowed us to face ultimate destruction or death.

GOD'S PROTECTION

Psalm 23:4 "Even if I go to the darkest valley, I fear no danger, For you are with me; You anoint on my head with oil; my cup overflows."  This is a declaration of trust and faith in God, emphasizing that even in darkness, we are comforted by the presence of God, who promises to protect and guide us.

Psalm 34:7 "The Angel of the Lord encamps around those who *fear Him, and rescues them."  This verse highlights the protective presence of God and His angels, specifically for those who fear and worship Him.

Psalm 27:2"When evildoers came against me to devour my flesh, my foes and enemies stumbled and fell." The expression “to devour my flesh” uses vivid imagery to describe the intensity of our enemie's intentions—it's as if they are determined to utterly destroy us. But in the end, God caused our enemies to falter and be defeated.

THE WICKED AND JUSTICE

Psalm 73:6 "Therefore, pride is their necklace and violence covers them like a garment." This phrase implies that the wicked wear their pride openly and with arrogance as if it were an accessory like a necklace. Just as clothing envelops a person, violence is said to cover the wicked. This means that their lives are characterized by cruelty and aggression. Violence defines their actions, and they engage in harmful and unjust lifestyles.

Psalm 73:7 "Their eyes bulge out from fatness; the imaginations of their hearts run wild." Fatness in the Bible often symbolizes wealth and abundance. The imagery of eyes bulging out suggests that the wicked are so well-fed and prosperous that their wealth is excessive. And untimely the desires and thoughts of their hearts are uncontrolled, ambitious, and often wicked.

Psalm 73:8 "They mock, and they speak maliciously; they arrogantly threaten oppression." They are known for their mockery and malicious speech, meaning they ridicule others and speak in harmful or spiteful ways. The wicked not only speak maliciously, but they also use their power or influence to threaten and oppress others.

Psalm 73:16 "When I tried to understand all this, it seemed hopeless until I entered God’s sanctuary. Then I understood their destiny." The psalmist on this, Asaph, is struggling to make sense of why the wicked seem to prosper endlessly while the righteous suffer. He observed the arrogance and success of the wicked, and it deeply troubled him, making him confused and frustrated. But when Asaph enters the sanctuary, he gains a spiritual perspective, a new perspective. Asaph gains clarity about the ultimate fate of the wicked. While they may seem to prosper, their success will come to an end. Their end will be one of judgment and destruction.

─ ✩ “This is all for today! Thanks for joining me in this Bible study, remember to ask for guidance to the Lord before reading. And reflect his word in our daily lives. Remember God love us, we aren’t too far from him. See you all next study!”

[yeslordmyking]

John 4:23-24 — Today's Verse for Tuesday, April 23, 2024

[scribeforchrist-blog]

Bringing Intimacy Back

 MEMORY VERSE OF THE WEEK
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 + Galatians 3:26 For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.
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VERSE OF THE DAY
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+Psalm 62:5 For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him.”
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SUBJECT: Bringing Intimacy Back
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** SAY THIS BEFORE YOU READ; HERE’S SOME CHRISTIAN TRUTHS **
I AM INTIMATE WITH GOD 
I AM SEEKING GOD 
I AM PRAYING ALWAYS 
I AM LOVING  
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THOUGHTS:
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  Ever since I could remember, I have heard people say you don’t pray to feel God's presence, but you pray to hear his voice and communicate with him. But his presence can be felt if we focus just on him; he allows us to have glimpse or moments of his presence being there, but the most important thing we should focus on is communicating with him; we have to be intimate when we pray to him we must pray, a lot of times we get so focused on whether we will feel his presence that we lose the point of what we should be doing which is communicating.
    Where do you communicate with him,, only at church, in your car, in a closet? These things matter because if we are constantly around people, how will we ever have those moments to hear Him? God likes to speak; like I always say, when we communicate with someone, it's one person talking and the other listening, but how can we ever hear him speak if we are always talking? We have to learn to let God speak so we can know what he has to say. 
    Sometimes, we don’t know how to pray in silence because our mind is racing, and we have 1000 or more thoughts coming through our heads.
    Mathew 6:6 says, But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father, who sees you in secret, will reward you.
    We must go into a room, shut the door, and pray, and a lot of us don’t do that. Some of us will do everything in our power not to pray, but how do we expect to feel his presence if we are never alone? If we never go away, it says to go into a room, shut the door, and secretly do it away from EVERYTHING & EVERYONE so no one can hear or see us. Sometimes, when we pray, we are loud because when someone prays in tongues, they will feel the presence of God, and when they do, it is such a powerful moment, and it’s uncontrollable, but for the most part, we must remain silent so that we may hear God.
    To feel the presence of God, we must “Pray without ceasing,” I try to pray all the time; I set an alarm every every half hour, and when the alarm goes off, I pray, and it's not a long prayer. It may be for 5 to ten minutes. Whatever I can give God, I do it right then. We must understand that the more time we spend in his presence, the more likely we will encounter him. Don’t expect it to; don’t look for it, just relax and pray. 
    Acts 2:3-4 Suddenly, a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
     See, the disciples knew they had to wait on the Holy Spirit, and when they did, they were filled with him, but it was only when they waited. Look at this: it says they were sitting; we will feel his presence when we sit and dwell. A lot of times, we don’t feel his presence because we are messing with our phone or we are talking, but when we WAIT and SIT and wait on God, we can have encounters and opportunities to feel
We must confess our sins and wait for God to show us what he wants us to see.
  Lamentations 3:25 The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him.
 

The Lord will always. Be good to us; he will always see us through, but we must wait on him even in our daily lives and our big decisions; we must wait on him to show us the way because without knowing his way, we will always go wrong that’s why we sit that’s why we wait, if you noticed the prophets in the bible the always go to the mountain top, they always go into caves to get away from everything else just to hear the whispers of God.

If you're not hearing him check on these things, have you sinned, have you ignored is instructions, have I waited, we are so gain to go but where are we going, people are so ready to start their callings but where are you going? What will you do once you are there??  If you can’t answer these questions, seek God with everything. That means the time we have in our life; we must take it into account and understand every second and every minute matters when we are seeking him,
  ***Today, the Holy Spirit wants us to know to get alone in our closet, to get alone with him and connect with him; he wants us to love doing this and not feel like it’s a chore; this isn’t a chore this is intimacy, when we are in relationships you’ll hear people say they want time with the person their dating because they are seeking those intimate moments to talk and to get to know them so how do we do this with Him, how do we take the time to love him and to be near him, we must strip away the distractions and strip away other things and seek him. Put on worship music, praise him, and give him praise, set the atmosphere, and allow him to move through your room. After doing this, sit, wait, and focus on him, and he will speak to you. 
   This week, we talked about committing adultery in the heart; this happens when someone seeks something from someone else, they aren’t getting in their marriage, and we do this with God because we feel he’s not giving us the peace we deserve or the love we deserve or the attention. Still, God can give us everything we need, but we must seek him, put him first, stop looking for other things, be content , and start loving God more. ©Seer~ Prophetess Lee
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PRAYER
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Heavenly Father, thank you for everything you have done for us ,lord; continue to be our guide; help us to love you more to be connected with you, lord; we acknowledge we aren’t doing enough, lord. I ask you to be with each of us, lord, and continue to show us the way we love you so much; show us how to wait on you, remove the distractions, and help us be willing to let go of it. Lord, we ask you to forgive us for our sins. Lord, create in us a pure heart; help us to be closer to you more and more each day; help us to be intimate with you and not just seek you for this or that but to seek more time to have with you while it's still day in Jesus’ Name Amen 
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REFERENCES
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+ Psalm 46:10 Be still and know that I am God.

+ Psalm 130:5 I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope;” 

+ Genesis 49:18: “I wait for your salvation, O Lord.”
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FURTHER READINGS
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Proverbs 15
Nehemiah 3
Psalm 118
Luke 18
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[lilgreeneyes71]

Above all taking the shield of faith

Ephesians 6:16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

What is faith

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Without faith it is impossible to please God

Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

James 1:6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.1:7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. 1:8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

Whatsoever is not of faith is sin

Romans 14:23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: (for whatsoever is not of faith is sin).

If you have faith of a mustard seed you can move mountains

Matthew 17:20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

[walkswithmyfather]

Mark 6:45-46 (TPT). “After everyone had their meal, Jesus instructed his disciples to get back into the boat and go on ahead of him and sail to the other side to Bethsaida. So he dispersed the crowd, said good-bye to his disciples, then slipped away to pray on the mountain.”

Luke 5:16 (CEV). “But Jesus would often go to some place where he could be alone and pray.”

Matthew 6:6 (NIV). “But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV). “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

James 5:13-16 (ESV). “Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.”