#i will do a coven version of this tomorrow

[not-so-superheroine]

how did you come to join rlds/coc?

Sorry it took me so long to get to this question. I just knew it was a long answer.

I think my testimony gives a good idea, and i'll include . Because I felt the presence of God calling me to go join them is the overarching answer, but I can also give points that drew me in.

But in a few some points: 

I fell in love with the modern RLDS version of zion (and some of the old one too. nothing to do with israel.)

I saw they strived to be an inclusive place.

The Community of Christ's Enduring Principles are things I want to strive to live my life by.

The community made me feel very welcome and I saw people conduct themselves in a Christ-like manner

The community is very tight knit. society needs more of that.

Like, there is a certain behavioral affect (? cultural distinction?) that many members have that i thought was strange at first but it’s lovely. It’s kind, loving, and welcoming, and you adjust to it very quickly imo. Even to the lingo, which was a fun process. 

Continuing Revelation. Saw evidence of fulfilled prophecy in the Doctrine and Covenants and the spiritual growth in the church over the years

Continuing Revelation in general. I like that my faith is alive like that. We have prophets, God could reveal new truths for new scripture tomorrow. We are encouraged to be prophetic ourselves and discern the future together, i like that.

Also, no new scripture allowed in the mainstream? why not? does God still not talk in this way? great points in my head.

The communal aspect to everything is good. Just like how any sect of mormonism should imo The people i reached out to while seeking (investigating) were very kind to me and open to my questions. They were also there for me spiritually, and became friends. 

I could email leadership with questions and get responses. At one point, one of the church Presidents reached out to me. 

It’s academically welcoming. I was able to accept the book of Mormon as scripture when taught from a 19th century point of view. This, in turn, made me much more comfortable with the Bible. Community of Christ has an official statement on how to read scripture and there is scripture on how to think about and use scripture too.

I can even acknowledge when the history and the religious text don’t match. Because scripture doesn’t need to be historically correct to be sacred and hold an important message from the Lord.

Not really a reason but it is there: Joseph Smith III rocked and was intended to be next. It shouldn’t matter. But what does matter is that he set the church on a good path imo. Emma too. Out of all the early schisms of mormonism I would have to go RLDS belief wise, because Nauvoo era theology isn’t something I believe in. I think Smith got caught up in his own head and desires for much of it. No offense meant to post Nauvoo mormon sects.

This does not mean I haven’t picked some things up from Brighamites. For example, Trinity doesn’t work for me. And I pray to Heavenly Mother. I believe in one Divine source with many expressions. But that doesn’t mean “anything goes” and I accept it, just knowing that God speaks to people of many cultures all over, as the good book (of mormon) says.

But yes. This is why Community of Christ. Not that there are all common Community of Christ beliefs, but I thrive here spiritually and am encouraged to grow all the same.  Older testimony under cut that gives detail

I encourage y'all to watch this on video rather than just the text edited version i put here. not to be like "watch my talk on it" but please, watch my talk on the subject. I also talk about unity of the saints and what i have learned from other christians including other groups of latter day saints. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8w2M6PEKfg

I start giving my testimony and talk at 26:36

____________

I am Wednesday. Here I share a portion of myself and my testimony. At the time of this writing, I have lived 26 years. I am a Black woman of Gullah/Geechee ethnicity. I was raised in the African Methodist Episcopal church, which I am extremely grateful for. My nascent spirituality was nurtured here. I learned the meaning of community and was immersed in my culture. I was taught to love and respect my Black self, in a society that would not be inclined to show me the respect and love any human deserves. I may have converted, but I was meant to be nurtured here. I am a Lesbian, and have experienced discrimination in faith communities due attitudes towards LGBTQ+ persons. I despaired over thoughts that God didn’t love me, and wondered if I would be condemned to Hell. In part because of this and being scolded for my questioning nature regarding God and church doctrines, I fell away from faith. I grew a lot in this away time, but didn’t really deconstruct my faith until 2021. My isolation in the pandemic gave me time for introspection. I would watch content from mainly atheist ex-christians who discussed their deconstruction journey. They were usually ex-evangelical or ex-mormon, and were really helpful to me for unpacking the mess that was my faith. Then something peculiar happened that changed the path of my life. Through the ex-mormons, I encountered the Restoration. There was something intriguing about it, and I wanted to learn more, so I did. I learned history, and the doctrine of different Latter Day Saint sects. I loved how innovative and “of the people” the early church was and how alive the faith seemed to be. I listened to members and ex-members, past and present, talk about their experiences within their faith communities and how they experienced the Divine. These were some of the worst years of my life, but there was something here that gave me hope. 

I came across an interview featuring John Hamer, in which he talked about Community of Christ as a home for those in faith transition. Many of the concerns I had about Christian faith communities were addressed. I craved such a spiritual home and became a seeker.

I asked many questions of missionaries, and my inquisitiveness was welcomed. I got myself an Inspired Version of the Bible, Doctrine and Covenants, and Book of Mormon. I was very impressed by the Doctrine and Covenants and found the contents to be Inspired and even prophetic, so I started attending Beyond the Walls services online.

One Sunday, the service was centered on the Worth of all Persons, Christian acceptance of LGBTQ+ persons, and the church in Tahiti. I listened to the members talk about their acceptance, their being guided by faith in Christ in the process, and how those things were compatible and complementary. The speakers affirmed God’s love and mercy for all. Their faith was strong, and they spoke with authority. Their Christ-like compassion was palpable. I felt what I now recognize as the Holy Spirit, come over me. After the message, the choir sang “Spirit of God like a fire is Burning” and I felt that fire burning in my chest and cried and praised the Lord for hours after.

My faith in God is stronger than ever. And my passion and belief in the Restoration bloomed.

[ottopilot-wrote-this]

Coven, Part I

Coven is a work of erotic fiction, intended for adults 18+, written by Ottopilot. Images were AI-generated by Ottopilot using Stable Diffusion 1.5. Don't like AI? Text-only version here. Content warnings: sexual content, mature language, mind control, corruption, occult, sadism

This is: Part I, Continued in: Part II, Part III, Part IV, Part V

"I didn't have anywhere else to go," Sarah murmured, her voice scratchy and quivering. She brought the mug of hot tea up to her lips, feeling the warmth spread down her chest.

Lilith Solomon studied the wearied figure on her living room couch, her fiery hair and sharp features obscured by a damp black hoodie. After two years, Sarah appeared unexpectedly tonight like a ghost, here to haunt Lily for past misdeeds. Lily observed Sarah intently while she frantically told her story, flinching at the thunder as her eyes anxiously darted towards the window, looking for unseen boogiemen. Finally, those big brown eyes settled on Lily, and behind the weary facade, she recognized the Sarah Rodgers she knew so well.

Lily spoke, her voice calm and measured. "Sarah, I want you to know you'll be safe here." Strong and reassuring. Same old Lil, keeping up appearances, Sarah thought, taking a sip of tea while hiding a slight smile. She hasn't changed one bit. "Jamie set up a towel in the bathroom for you to get cleaned up, and I can lend you some clean clothes. I think it's best if you get some rest tonight."

Lily rose from her seat opposite Sarah. She towered over Sarah, her imposing presence a contradiction to her soft, friendly face. With her smooth mahogany skin and waves of raven black hair, she looked positively regal in the moonlight.

The words dried up in Sarah's throat, and she blushed as she realized she was staring. She wanted to tell her former lover she was a goddess. She wanted to ask her why she left. But all she could muster was a nod, and a thank you.

Lily closed the bedroom door softly behind her. She sauntered over to the open window, closing her eyes and removing her jewelry. She took in the smells of the unexpected autumn storm as she tried to process Sarah's frenzied arrival. She had made every effort to appear composed and dispassionate, but she could not deny being rattled by her former love's reinsertion into her life.

Emerging from the en suite on the other side of the room, Lily's boyfriend Jamie misread her conflict for incredulity. "Do you believe her?"

"How much did you hear?" a weary Lily asked.

"Enough," Jamie Mendoza shrugged. He leaned against the entryway, a blue t-shirt and athletic shorts hung nicely on his slim, toned frame. He rubbed his index finger against his five o'clock shadow pensively. "I can believe quite a bit. Hell, I'm Filipino, we still have exorcisms. But witches? Human sacrifice?"

"What concerns me is Sarah believes it," Lily said, frowning. "That woman is terrified. I hope it's okay if she crashes here for a couple of days while I check this out."

Jamie nodded. "Sure. I have classes, but I can swing by before lunch and check on her." He paused. "You're seriously going to look into this?"

Lily sighed and nodded. "It's not like Sarah to just make shit up. Anyway, I'll grab a coffee and do some digging at the stacks. They won't miss me at the paper tomorrow morning. Besides…"

"You just have to know," Jamie finished knowingly, with a chuckle. "The Blackthorn Ledger's intrepid bulldog reporter is a good friend to have."

"Yeah," Lily said, her voice trailing. She wondered what Jamie suspected about her past with Sarah.

Lily was still unsure about her future with Jamie. He was a kind and good-natured boyfriend - better than she deserved. She seemed drawn to the innocent ones like him. Even with her best intentions, she took too much pleasure in corrupting them, and they brought out her basest instincts.

No, she would break it off with Jamie before she got in too deep. That was the mistake she had made with Sarah. Even now, her need to help Sarah was less altruistic than driven by guilt that she failed in a domme's most important job: protecting their sub. Lily knew she wasn't as good and moral as the image she projected. That she was capable of darkness. And she hated that about herself.

"You see something you want?" Jamie said, playfully, a glint in his eye. Lily realized that, lost in her thoughts, she must have been staring.

It had been a long and strange night, but Lily was willing to take the bait. Besides, seeing Sarah again had stirred up a tempest in her mind and body, and she could use a release. "Bold of you to presume what I want," she snarled, her posture stiffening. Lily squared her body to face Jamie, hands on hips, her demeanor almost threatening. "Know your place, boy."

Silently, Jamie removed his shirt, then his shorts and briefs, revealing his smooth, hairless body. A flawless canvas, perfect for me to mark up, Lily thought, before dispelling that notion. He deliberately walked toward Lily, eyes cast downward, and kneeled directly in front of her. Finally, he looked up. "Yes, Mistress Lilith."

Lily playfully teased her fingers through Jamie's hair, then quickly grabbed it and pulled. Hard. Something between a gasp and a whimper escaped his mouth. "Make it up to me," she demanded. She guided his head under the hem of her dress, until she could feel his hot breath on her bare, glistening pussy.

Jamie panted, reveling in submission to his queen, his superior. Slowly, his hands traveled up her soft thighs, gripping her hips firmly but reverently. He inhaled deeply, her scent deepening his trancelike state, before his tongue dutifully lapped at her folds.

Holding his head still, Lily ground her pussy forcefully into his waiting mouth, as Jamie increased his fervor. "Such a good boy," she purred. And he was a good boy, so willing to obey. For a brief second, she let herself entertain the thought of how far she could push him. What would he let her do to him in the name of devotion? How wet would her pussy get to hear him squeal and see him grimace in pain? But Lily focused on the pleasure, and let the wave subside and recede from her mind. She always had - no, needed - to be in control.

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

At Mount Sinai

1 On the first day of the third month after the Israelites left Egypt – on that very day – they came to the Desert of Sinai. 2 After they set out from Rephidim, they entered the Desert of Sinai, and Israel camped there in the desert in front of the mountain.

3 Then Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain and said, ‘This is what you are to say to the descendants of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: 4 “You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. 5 Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, 6 you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.’

7 So Moses went back and summoned the elders of the people and set before them all the words the Lord had commanded him to speak. 8 The people all responded together, ‘We will do everything the Lord has said.’ So Moses brought their answer back to the Lord.

9 The Lord said to Moses, ‘I am going to come to you in a dense cloud, so that the people will hear me speaking with you and will always put their trust in you.’ Then Moses told the Lord what the people had said.

10 And the Lord said to Moses, ‘Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow. Make them wash their clothes 11 and be ready by the third day, because on that day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. 12 Put limits for the people around the mountain and tell them, “Be careful that you do not approach the mountain or touch the foot of it. Whoever touches the mountain is to be put to death. 13 They are to be stoned or shot with arrows; not a hand is to be laid on them. No person or animal shall be permitted to live.” Only when the ram’s horn sounds a long blast may they approach the mountain.’

14 After Moses had gone down the mountain to the people, he consecrated them, and they washed their clothes. 15 Then he said to the people, ‘Prepare yourselves for the third day. Abstain from sexual relations.’

16 On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast. Everyone in the camp trembled. 17 Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. 18 Mount Sinai was covered with smoke, because the Lord descended on it in fire. The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace, and the whole mountain trembled violently. 19 As the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and the voice of God answered him.

20 The Lord descended to the top of Mount Sinai and called Moses to the top of the mountain. So Moses went up 21 and the Lord said to him, ‘Go down and warn the people so they do not force their way through to see the Lord and many of them perish. 22 Even the priests, who approach the Lord, must consecrate themselves, or the Lord will break out against them.’

23 Moses said to the Lord, ‘The people cannot come up Mount Sinai, because you yourself warned us, “Put limits around the mountain and set it apart as holy.”’

24 The Lord replied, ‘Go down and bring Aaron up with you. But the priests and the people must not force their way through to come up to the Lord, or he will break out against them.’

25 So Moses went down to the people and told them. — Exodus 19 | New International Version - UK (NIVUK) Holy Bible, New International Version® Anglicized, NIV® Copyright © 1979, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide. Cross References: Genesis 11:5; Genesis 35:2; Exodus 3:1; Exodus 3:4-5; Exodus 3:12; Exodus 4:5; Exodus 4:29; Exodus 4:31; Exodus 24:1; Exodus 24:5; Exodus 20:1; Deuteronomy 4:36; Deuteronomy 33:2; Matthew 24:31; Acts 7;38; 1 Corinthians 7:5; 1 Corinthians 10:26; Hebrews 12:18; Hebrews 12:20; Hebrews 12:26; 1 Peter 2:5; Revelation 12:14; Revelation 15:8; Revelation 22:14

Exodus 19 Bible Commentary - Matthew Henry (concise)

Key Passages in Exodus 19

1. The people arrive at Sinai 3. God's message by Moses unto the people out of the mount 8. The people are prepared against the third day, for the giving of the law 12. The mountain must not be touched 16. The fearful presence of God upon the mount

[steveezekiel]

THE NEEDY

"FOR THE NEEDY SHALL NOT ALWAYS BE FORGOTTEN; the expectation of the poor shall not perish forever.”

Psalm 9:18 (NKJV)

• God hates poverty thus He has a soft spot for the poor: "BUT YOU, LORD, TELL THEM, “I will do something! THE POOR ARE MISTREATED AND HELPLESS PEOPLE MOAN. I'LL RESCUE ALL WHO SUFFER" (Psalm 12:5 Contemporary English Version).

- God does not want the poor to be oppressed or cheated. There are some couple of passages of the Bible where God said the poor should not be mistreated (Deuteronomy 24:10-13). That If the poor are mistreated and they cried to Him, He would fight for them (Exodus 23:6; Deuteronomy 15:7-10; 24:14,15)

- Note: God will not forget the Needy: "FOR THE NEEDY SHALL NOT ALWAYS BE FORGOTTEN; THE EXPECTATION OF THE POOR SHALL NOT PERISH FOREVER" (Psalm 9:18 NKJV).

- To be in need is not a crime, however, God does not want His own children, those who belong to Him, to remain in need.

- Poverty is a curse! It relegates and makes one unfulfilled in life, thus, God would not want it for whoever is His. He has delight and pleasures in the prosperity of those who serve Him (Psalm 35:27).

• The Solution.

- God has made provision in His Word through which every believer in Christ Jesus could live in abundance and chase lack and poverty away from their lives.

- God is able to meet all the need of those who belong to Him: "HE WHO DID NOT WITHHOLD OR SPARE [even] HIS OWN SON BUT GAVE HIM UP FOR US ALL, WILL HE NOT ALSO WITH HIM FREELY AND GRACIOUSLY GIVE US ALL ALL [other] THINGS?" (Romans 8:32)

- Jesus became poor that we might be rich (2 Corinthians 8:9). Thus, the deliverance from poverty comes through the obedience of believers to the principles of abundance written in the Bible—God’s Word.

- God also works based on covenants. And He is a principled God. Wealth is a result of the covenant which God made with Abraham: "YOU SHALL REMEMBER THE LORD YOUR GOD, FOR IT IS HE WHO GIVES YOU POWER TO GET WEALTH, THAT HE MAY CONFIRM HIS COVENANT THAT HE SWORE TO YOUR FATHERS, AS IT IS THIS DAY" (Deuteronomy 8:18 ESV).

- Emotional crying may not move God like being obedient to what He said to do in His Word that would lead to financial abundance. Covenant is higher and greater than any economic situations or circumstances of whatever the nation of the world.

- What makes a believer blessed is not the economic condition of his or her country, but his or her obedience to the terms of the covenant for prosperity which are stated in God's Word.

- When you walk in the principle of Giving:

a. Tithings.

b. Offerings: worship offerings, project offerings, offerings to the needy, prophet offerings, mission offerings, and others.

- Giving of your substance would not be enough, your commitment and being diligent, that is, being hardworking and smart, in whatever your assignment is; are very important also.

- Being prudent in spending is of utmost importance as well, because God is against any waste.

- God is moved by faith, when you believe His Word and act on It, that is faith. And faith is said to please God, but unbelief displeases Him (Hebrews 11:6).

- Thus, you had to obey the Word of God, practice it, and put it to work; then you see Him move on your behalf (James 1:25).

• You will not fail in Jesus' name.

- Should there be any ailment in your body, receive your healing now in Jesus' name.

- Hold of sicknesses is completely broken in your life in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.

Peace!

STEPS TO SALVATION

• Take notice of this: IF you are yet to take the step of salvation, that is, yet to be born-again, do it now, tomorrow might be too late (2 Corinthians 6:1,2; Hebrews 3:7,8,15).

a. Acknowledge that you are a sinner and confess your Sins (1 John 1:9); And ask Jesus Christ to come into your life (Revelation 3:20).

b. Confess that you believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is Lord, and that you confess it with your mouth, Thus, you accept Him As your Lord and Saviour (Romans 10:9,10).

c. Ask that He will write your name in the Book of Life (Philippians 4:3; Revelation 3:8).

- If you took the steps As highlighted above, It means you are saved—born-again. Join a Word based church in your area and Town or city, and be part of whatever they are doing there. Peace!

[dailyaudiobiblechronological]

1/3/2024 DAB Chronological Transcription

Genesis 8 - 11

Welcome to Daily Audio Bible Chronological I'm Jill. It's a joy and honor and what a privilege it is to be here with you on your journey through the word of God in chronological order. we're going to do it every day until we get through this year together, and get through the entire Bible in a year. You're on a roll you made it two days and you've shown up for the third and that is to be commended. if you are journaling as we talked about yesterday with your questions with your thoughts with maybe different themes that come up for the day or through an entire chapter. I want you to write these three words down right now, simply Begin Again. perfect timing with the music, simply Begin Again. and you can highlight it, you can darken it, you can put cute little asterisks by it this should be at the Forefront of your Journey Through the Bible, simply Begin Again. if you get lost, if you fall off, if life happens and you get just overwhelmed and you lose your way, don't throw it all away, simply begin again. no matter where you are and the journey of being in the word, and no matter where you are in the Journey of life, simply Begin Again. Now let me just expound on that a little bit further what that means. in the sense of reading the Bible is don't go back and try to make up 2 months, if you lose your way start with the day that it is when you come back to your journey, and the reason being, is it's so much easier to just get back in sync with where we are rather than trying to play makeup because makeup usually often doesn't work out. and it's just good intentions so simply Begin Again, under the terms of the Bible, begin with the day that it is today, but on a more far grander scale of life, it doesn't matter who you are where you've been what you've been through whose you are, you are welcome here no matter how lost you've been. no matter how lost you potentially get, you can always come back to this place and you can always simply begin Again. we're continuing in the Book of Genesis today reading chapters 8 through 11, and this week we're reading the New International Version, Genesis chapter 8. 

Commentary

I think it's worth noting today that we see the first established Covenant between God and Noah. as we moved through this story of Noah, the flood, the devastation of humanity, at the work of God, but the saving of a man and his family who God found righteous in his sight. We will see other covenants established pretty quickly here in the Old Testament. and again don't get lost on the genealogy, it all builds and it's all telling a story within a much bigger story. and then finally we are introduced to Abram and Sarai. and they're going to become quite prominent figures in our story as we move through the word. 

Prayer

Jesus thank you for this day. Thank you for this time. Thank you for being with us. thank you that whenever we lose our way, we can simply Begin Again. we can get back on track, we can turn from One Direction and go in another, if we need to. and so I thank you for that Grace and that Mercy that we'll see all throughout your word. I pray this now in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, amen. 

Announcements

Daily Audio Bible, That's home base. you can check us out if you haven't. take a look around. That's also the website. If you would like to partner with us, we thank you so much, each and every partnership furthers the mission of the word of God going forward, so thank you so much. if you are giving my mail DAB PO Box 1996 Spring Hill Tennessee 37174, or you can utilize the give icon on your mobile device. If you need prayer, if you'd like to pray for someone utilizing your mobile device, you may call 800-583-2164. That's going to do it for me today, I'm Jill. we’ll turn the page together tomorrow. and I look forward to it as we begin a brand new book of the Bible and pause in Genesis for a little bit. until then, love one another. 

Community Prayer Line

DAB family business, Just got to work, week I'm just praying that you are doing well. I know your family is doing well and their health is doing well and that your spiritual life is doing well because that's the big thing that can affect everything. It's okay with everything else, but spiritual life can affect everything and I'm not here to preach. I'm just here to talk and what I want to talk about is I'm a little bit sad today December 31st and I had a tough year and 2023. I had a tough year I lost a I lost somebody and it hurt me a lot so I come here today to ask for prayer, not that I might get I actually know what let's do it I pray for Joy bomb of mine light up my own personal sky that may make me be able to light up other people's life and other people's perspectives and other people's situations. that I may be a joy to be around not just a happiness but enjoy to be around. I also have a podcast that I would like that to grow speaking about growing that's sort of my word for the year personally and I'm excited to grow hopefully not in the Weight Wise unless it's like good weight. but anyways I need it as much as always do so just left me up with my family up with my girlfriend They might not have too much of a mess to pick up after the end of the year all right bye love you prayer for Jennifer you called regarding Jacob we'll continue to pray for him LOL it's the best place to be even God when we most need your help Father I come before you to this top Jennifer the god that cancer has spread the name of Jesus please give her a long life please start to me healing her life give your Victory father visit her right now it doesn't mean why I pray alongside others there would be anything wrong father because you are a god miracles you are a God who cares and who loves us you are a God who heals us yes yes you are father and we believe that with all our hearts and we trust your word can you say when we trust you you will keep us safe father I ask you that you keep her safe father and that you please guide the doctors specialist for peace your garden in their lives and Vicky oh God and continue to touch Jacob father God thank you Jesus in the name of Jesus all my prayers go to you I love you my sister hello everyone happy New Year this is Catherine calling from Maryland and I just wanted to thank you Jill and China for the reading of the chronological this year of really enjoyed it and especially Jill I just wanted to say thank you for your year-end message enough about just the benefits of of going deep and God doing doing a work in you big milestone I think you turned 50 this year congratulations and and that's was a lovely vulnerability on your part without invading your privacy or that of your family so well done Jill and thank you for being a great example for us all I'm wishing you all the best in 2024 as well as every listener of the DABC love you guys 

[reallove-truelove]

Disney's The Little Mermaid Review

By Faith Ferguson

"When i was watching, "The Little Mermaid" i noticed that in the new live action film they had cut the wedding scene from the movie and at first it seemed pretty obvious that it was a "woke feministic" take on the movie like in the 2021 Primes "Cinderella" featuring  Camila Cabello's with the end scene screening her at the end being asked about whether her and prince were getting wedded or not and her replying that she didn't want to put a title on it and that she wasn't thinking about marriage... just her future in designing and travelling. In the end of the live action flim of "The Little Mermaid," it had the same vibe to it and cut the whole scene out of it. By them doing this it still had me in deep thought about why? It had to be deeper than them just pushing a woke feministic vibe... There had to be something else i wasn't seeing. And so i decided to watch the "The Little Mermaid Live!" 2019 and also the animated version of " The Little Mermaid, and what i picked up on is in the end scene there was something that really stood out and made sense to me. In the end scene of the movie it was written that after Prince Eric and Princess Ariel get married the father in the end of the movie paints the sky with a rainbow and that rainbow in that scene is a promise of peace between the father and humanity. This rainbow being displayed and connected to a man and a women coming together in a blood covenant aka a covenant between a man and wife through marriage that is designed by God. I realized as to why they cut this scene from the movie, it is a representation of God's promise, his covenant between him and humanity and the covenant between a man and a wife that is connected to his promise. God rainbow promise has nothing to do with a movement created by man to walk away from God but the rainbow is a promise of Gods word and promise for humanity... God's mercy and love over humanity. The rainbow is Gods promise and that is why they cut the scene. If they thought they could twist this scene they would have but they cant because Gods promise with the rainbow has nothing to do with causes endoring a sinful act against Gods plan for marriage and true love. The rainbow is connected to the covenant of marriage between a man and a women, bride and her groom. It is said, in the last days God is returning for the bride of the church. God: the groom is coming back for his bride. Gods word and promises like in the times of Noahs Ark; are strong and firm and his promises are true. God is coming back for his bride and his mercy and love is the same today as it is tomorrow. The rainbow belongs to Jesus Christ and it belongs to tradional marriage between a man and a women as God created it and spoke it. We need to recognize this spiritual battle going on all around us. Everyday the satan is trying to steal the hearts of humanity and of our children, cutting out the bible, the biblical truth and Gods word even the moral examples and symbolism in movies and tv shows. As Christians we cannot be Nieve in these last day: they are cutting God out little by little everyday, out of everything and it is not okay. We need to see the truth, to speak the truth, to bring life into the darkness and expose the lies of satan. We need to be a light in these dark times and not dim our light to fit in. We need to step up and speak out. Walk in love, speak the truth and seek for the light... Gods light in these times."

-Faith Ferguson

[jdgo51]

DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR APRIL 18, 2023

Great Plans

By Bob LaForge (New Jersey, USA)

READ 1 KINGS 19:1-15

"Elijah was a human being like us."

JAMES 5:17 (NRSV)

"Years ago, I ran a large community outreach event for our church. Thousands of people came, and it went well. But at the end, one person made a critical remark, and I went home thinking only about what they had said. Because of that one complaint, I felt like the entire event had failed.

In 1 Kings 19, we read how Elijah experienced something similar. He had recently performed two of his greatest miracles: defeating the prophets of Baal and ending the drought with his prayer. Elijah was doing great things with God: helping vulnerable people, destroying false gods, and saving a region from disaster. But then Jezebel threatened him. After all his great work, Elijah lost his confidence, went off by himself, and wanted to die. For Elijah, that one negative experience seemed to outweigh everything else.

Elijah’s loss of confidence is all too familiar. After all, James 5:17 tells us that Elijah was just like us. But when God brought Elijah food for strength and gave him a task, he realized that God still had good plans for him. And he accomplished more great things through God’s power and grace. Just as God still had great plans for Elijah, God also has great plans for us." God has wonderful plans for you. Allow Him to work through you and accomplish all of those plans. It's a team effort that you cannot surpass. Moving ahead to victory for life.

TODAY'S PRAYER

"Dear God, show us opportunities to grow through criticism and accomplish even more for you." Amen.

1 Kings 19:1-15

New International Version

Elijah Flees to Horeb

"'19 Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2 So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.”

3 Elijah was afraid[a] and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, 4 while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” 5 Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep.

All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” 6 He looked around, and there by his head was some bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again.

7 The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” 8 So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. 9 There he went into a cave and spent the night.

The Lord Appears to Elijah And the word of the Lord came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

10 He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”

11 The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.”

Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.

Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

14 He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”

15 The Lord said to him, “Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram."' Elijah ran away from where he was. We cannot run from God within our own life structure. God's plan is for you and living up to that is key.

We can be blessed from God every day! Take your blessing and share it. Joe

[spoopy-cactus]

Other design I made for the outfit challenge:

Damien as Ms. Frizzle

[lexwritess]

incorrect quotes anon, i have a super angsty idea that i think you’ll LOVE. so basically michael x reader but she died at on of the outpost, and were basically the only good part about michael and him not caring about anything anymore (even more than usual lmao). and it’s just grief and sadness and anger. it’s fine if not, if you do i’d love to make incorrect quote for it also! have a great day/night!!!! ❤️❤️

broken promises [m.l.]

pairing: michael langdon x fem!reader

warnings: angst, death, swearing, blood, i don’t think this is accurate i tried to research on lilith but it was difficult but i liked the idea so this version of lilith is mostly based off the one from caos

a/n: i got a little carried away lmao

words: 1.6k

slightly au! i’m going to pretend michael can’t bring dead people back ✌️

y/n is a witch. but she’s a different kind of witch. she was born for a very specific purpose, one that she didn’t even understand yet. she knew she was different though.

she really knew she was different when her supreme, cordilia, tried to kill her.

she ran away from her sisters that night. she didn’t need cordilia to kill her. she already felt dead. defeated. the only real family she’s had wanted her dead.

that’s when she met michael.

michael despised all witches, but there was something about y/n that dragged him to her. the two of them were like magnets and they both felt it. the world always pulling them towards each other.

she met michael when he was at a loss. y/n wasn’t the only one cordilia hurt that day.

y/n found michael in the woods, he looked ill and lost.

y/n brought him to a dark church she saw a couple days prior. they found a woman there that was eager to help them back on their feet and get them well and nourished.

that was a big step for michael. after that visit michael finally got sense of himself. unfortunately, y/n still didn’t understand her purpose.

“i want to help michael, i really do but i don’t know what i’m suppose to do. you’re the antichrist! i’m just a rejected witch.” y/n tells michael gloomily.

tomorrow was a big day for him, he was getting back his ms. mead. of course y/n was happy for him, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that he wouldn’t need her anymore.

“you are so much more than that. you are more powerful than you think and you are a big help to me. and even if you don’t serve a purpose for the apocalypse i care about you and want you by my side.” michael looks into your eyes and grabs your hands.

that’s where y/n and michael shared their first kiss.

“can you help him or not.” you interrupt the two idiotic coke heads.

“oh. who’s this?” mutt said cockily.

“she’s a witch on my side. her coven tried to kill her. don’t get any ideas though she’s mine.” michael said protectively.

you can’t help but smirk to yourself.

“alright, sorry. please don’t light me on fire.” mutt says defensively.

this is the second time michaels been here. this time he decided to bring you along so maybe you could get an idea what to do next if jeff and mutt didn’t.

“do you have some special marking on you, or have demonic fire powers?” jeff asks you while mutt looks for something to help michael.

y/n shows him the upside down triangle that appeared on her wrist about a month ago.

“not going to lie, that’s kinda lame.” jeff says disappointed.

y/n gives the man a glare and with the wave of her hand the glass bowl of cocaine was now broken across the floor.

“WHAT THE FU-.” jeff yelled before mutt stepped in.

“we can worry about it later. look at the book of revelations. have you read it?” mutt asks.

michael looks at them before opening the book with his magic.

y/n flips through the book when michael is done looking for anything else.

“who is lilith?” y/n ask monotone.

“lilith is technically a witch. she was the wife of adam but refused to sleep with him. eventually she went and sided with the devil. the devil turned on her. lots of variations and stories of her. no ones quite totally sure.” jeff explains.

y/n looks at michael with a skeptical look on her face and he gives one back.

“holy shit, you’re totally lilith! but for the new world!” mutt exclaims.

y/n stands up and look down upon the two.

“how would you know?” y/n raised her eyebrows at them.

“you’re coven tried to kill you, you just so happen to be with the antichrist, the triangle on your arm...makes sense.” jeff says.

y/n stays still staring at them. they gulp under her gaze before she walks out of the room.

michael hurries after the girl, needing to know what’s on her mind.

“y/n, what is the matter dear?” michael asks, linking his pinky with hers.

“i do not want to be lilith.” y/n says strongly.

“if being lilith means i will lose you in the end i don’t want it!” she lets go of michaels pinky and storms off to the car.

“darling you will never lose me! i may have to follow my fathers plans to end this world, but i’m still in charge!” michael yells to y/n.

“promise me!” y/n yells back, finally walking towards micheal.

“promise me.” y/n repeats, this time her tone barley above a whisper.

“i promise.”

-

2 years later

present time

the apocalypse is here. the world is gone. hell is on earth.

and you’ve been by michaels side the whole time.

he kept his promise

and now you were standing in front of your ex-coven.

they were back to kill you, again.

“come back to finish the job?” you bitterly ask cordilia.

“i had no choice! you were made for evil, i was never going to be able to peel you away from him and you would always choose him over your sisters!” cordilia yells.

“well michael never tried to kill me like you did! you were the only family i had!” you yell back, tears brimming your eyes.

you furrow your brows trying to hear what cordilia was mumbling but before you realized it’s too late.

“ms mead!” michael cried.

cordilia had killed his ms mead again.

“fuck you!” you say angerly stepping closer to cordilia.

as you walk closer cordilia is pushed back by your magic, a trail of fire leading behind you.

“how are you doing that?” madison asks in shock.

“because i’m the new supreme.” you smirk.

cordilia laughs bitterly and you look back at her.

“you can never be the supreme. you are a demoness! you are and never will be a real witch!” cordilias words burn in your brain as the realization hits you.

“mallory.” you whisper to yourself.

“precisely.” cordilia smiles.

while michael was having his last moments with ms mead, in the corner of your eye you saw madison grab the machine gun and go to point it at michael.

“repellendum malum minitar, ut nobis!” you quickly shout the protection spell.

you repeat the spell and step closer to michael.

“tutela eorum vinculum!” cordilia starts chanting against your spell.

you repeat the spell but as she gets closer the sheild starts breaking.

“et defendat mea!” you shout louder. the shield starts breaking as the other witches join in on cordilias chants.

“amans vitae meae praesidium.” you say quietly before the shield breaks.

bullets shoot throughout the room before your bloody body slumps against the wall. you feel awful, they shot you enough to make you weak so you can’t heal, but strong enough to let you bleed out.

“y/n?” michael says quietly, before he is shot as well.

myrtle cuts a piece of michaels hair and walks back to mallory.

“hurry mallory, before he heals.” cordilia rushes, and the witches leave the room.

michael wakes and looks over to see y/n’s bloody body.

“y/n! no, no, no!” michael lifts you up so he can hold you.

“michael you have to listen to me.” you cough, as the metallic taste fills your mouth.

“i can save you, i know father can. just stay with me a little longer.” michael pleads.

you smile at him and shake your head.

“listen, don’t kill cordilia. i’m not the supreme it’s mallory. she will go back and kill you in a past timeline, so none of this will never happen.”

“i have to! look what they did to you!” tears fall from his face.

“michael baby, i’ll be okay. i’ll be okay, but you got to make sure you don’t kill cordilia. it’ll bring mallory’s powers to full strength.” you assure him.

michael shakes his head as more tears fall from his crystal blue eyes.

“i love you, i love you so much. i’ll be with you soon.” michael squeezes your hand.

“i love you too michael, so much.” you let out a shaky sigh and squeeze his hand back.

“goodbye michael.” you smile as your eyes start to close.

“no, don’t say goodbye! baby please open your eyes again.” michael weeps.

“fuck! i wasn’t suppose to lose you. i wasn’t suppose to leave you, i fucking promised!” michael screams, while his sobs continue.

“it’s too late langdon.” cordilias chill voice fills michaels ears.

michaels sadness quickly turns to anger as he turns around to see the bitches smug face.

“you killed the love of my life!” michael shrieks.

cordilia hums and stares back at michael before waving the knife out of his hand into hers.

before michael can do or say anything cordilia rams the knife into her chest.

michael is at a loss for words.

he have lost

“no!” he screamed as cordilia fell to her death.

“no.” he repeated while falling to his knees.

he puts his face in his hands and starts sobbing.

he has lost everyone and now he lost the war.

he lost everything because of a job he never asked to have.

“poor michael.” myrtal said quietly while walking over to him.

“please! please just kill me.” michael says defeated.

“you’re the antichrist at his full form. i’m afraid killing you is impossible. you’ll have to live knowing you’ll never have her again.” myrtal says while waking away.

michaels cries continue.

he’ll never see you again.

you’ll never see him again.

in the new timeline he doesn’t exist to you and never will.

that’s what truly killed him.

[mirasmirages]

Haunt Me for any OC (From the ask game) Also, I looked at your OCs, and I love how you have many different versions of the one for diffrent things because I do that too! I feel so un-organized with it though, and it's nice to see someone else do that to. :D

Making AU versions is so fun! And it's such a good way to figure out things about your OCs that you otherwise wouldn't learn!

I wrote eight pages for this prompt and then ended the story before I got to the actual prompted part, so here's a little epilogue to a story I haven't posted:

“Haunt Me”: one character watching over another [as a ghost, watching from a distance, or otherwise, feel free to specify.]

Once, Chareth had waited in the forest every night, hoping the father would bring her daughter back. Years and years, she waited, until finally he did, and she had her child with her for four wonderful years. And then, Hanae left her.

Now, every night, she goes to the house the father lives in, to see her daughter through a window, if she's lucky. Hanae doesn't know. Chareth doesn't know if Hanae wants her there, and the thought of being asked to leave hurts too much to bear. She won't risk it.

She is standing under a tree when the door opens and the father comes out.

"Hey," he says.

Chareth says nothing.

"I saw you standing out here. Is everything okay?" He waits for a response. "Hanae went to bed already. Do you need to see her? I can go wake her up."

"No," Chareth says. "Don't tell her I was here."

The father frowns. "Are you sure?"

She nods, a strange movement Hanae had told her humans use to say yes. "I wanted to... see her," she tries to explain.

The father nods too, and it looks as natural as when Hanae does it. "You miss her?"

"She left me," Chareth says. It's not what he asked, but it's the only thing she can think of.

"She left your coven," the father says. "I'm sure she won't mind if you come visit her."

Chareth doesn't answer. Visits. She doesn't know if Hanae would want that.

"You don't have to decide now," the father says. "But if you want to come back, you're welcome here. Do you want me to ask her about it tomorrow?"

She imagines Hanae saying no. Imagines the father saying she's not welcome.

"No," she says.

The father nods. "I won't tell her, then. But the invitation is still open, if you change your mind."

She stares at him, and then turns away. Humans are strange creatures. She can hear him close the door when she flies away.

[everlarkficexchange]

the song of my heart (plays in you)

Written by: @thelettersfromnoone

Prompt 108: Everlark fall for one another over a blood transfusion. It happens not once, but twice. His blood runs through her veins, and now hers runs through his. What are the odds they would save each other’s lives? [submitted by @mandelion82]

Rated: Teen and up; mentions of: car wrecks, physical and mental trauma, amputation.

Tags: One-shot, Soulmates, Time Jump(s), Blood-Oaths.

Word count: 2342.

Notes: Unbetaed. All mistakes are my own. Thanks to @javistg and @xerxia31 for being amazing hosts for this exchange ❤️

“The blood [of the covenant] is thicker than [the] water [of the womb].”

“Mama, tell the story again?” Grey eyes peek up shyly through dark eyelashes, fingers curling the folds of her mother’s nightgown. “ ‘bout the dream-people?”

“It’s late, darlin’,” Mama murmurs with a soft smile. She presses a kiss to her daughter’s brow. “Papa will tell the long version tomorrow, hm?”

The girl’s lower lip pops out in a pout- papa is the better storyteller, but she wants to hear the story tonight. She snuggles against her mama’s belly, whispering a ‘night-night’ to the baby they say is growing in there.

“There once was a boy who was called to war, to fight for a king in a land far from home. Though he survived many times in battle, one day, an enemy struck him, and he was hurt, something terrible. At death’s door, his friends brought him to a healer’s house, who saved his life. As he recovered, he grew to love the healer’s daughter, and she grew to love him. In time, when he was recovered, his king came calling on him again. Before he left, the boy and the healer’s daughter made a blood-oath. They drew their own blood, and held their wounds against one another. They vowed that, from that moment until they met again, the song of their blood would call out for one another, no matter how far.”

Her little hand reaches over to mama’s, pressing their palms flush. “Like this?”

“Mhm,” Mama interlaces their fingers, kissing her daughter’s knuckles. “Just like this. Every night, while he was away, all they needed to do was close their eyes, and they could feel one another’s feelings, and see through one another’s eyes.”

“Till forever?” The little girl’s eyes are growing heavy, a yawn coming in spite of her best efforts. “Mama, it’s til’ forever, right?”

Mama doesn’t answer straight away. When she does, it’s soft as a butterfly’s flight; “Till forever, until they found each other again.”

The little girl’s breathing evens out, eyes slipping shut. 

(She’s always wanting a happy ending.)

She’s twelve and using the computer unsupervised the first time she looks it up on a whim. She is meant to be researching poetry, but that quickly becomes dull. 

Instead, the rabbit hole of the web sucks her in.

According to the internet page that comes up, a Blood-Oath Soulmate is defined as a myth, steeped in legend: a couple who, when faced with separation, make a blood-oath that allows them to see, hear, and feel one another across the thousands of miles. 

The origin, exactly, is unclear. It’s a myth with several cultural variants- in her own region, Twelve, and in the northern regions of Åtta, Tio, and Tretton, the war is won, and the boy returns to the healer’s daughter. By contrast, in the southwest, they say the boy earned a glorious warrior’s death, and the girl grieves but honors his memory. In almost all the other regions, the myth is drawn out, many side-adventures and evils hinder the boy’s path home, and by the time the boy finds his way back to his love, amidst a continent of misery, they both are old and grey. It’s not clear where the myth started, some say it’s a retelling of an old Sumerian tale; others, that it comes from Viking oral lore. Some, still, argue that they all are true, that the same fate spreads itself throughout time, throughout the world, in different ways. 

All modern experts, essentially, concur on the matter of the story’s implausibility. The human body replenishes its blood count within weeks, one discussion board points out.

It was just a myth to make humans feel their love could be impermeable, or withstand the tests of distance and challenges, claims another. Or, one user with a profane avatar states, the modern meaning is just guess-work and the cultural context and any kernels of truth will forever be lost.

And everyone knows there’s no such thing as a soulmate.

Kat feels her stomach clench as she quickly exits the browser, lonely in the wake of her father’s death, and her mother’s subsequent depressive episode, and still clinging to her mother’s hushed telling of a love that is palpable down to the bone.

(She can’t decide if knowing it’s ‘just a story’ hurts or helps more. The veneer of childhood is always treasured for a reason.)

She is seventeen when it happens. 

A flash of a medical room. Harsh fluorescent lights. Thick, strong hands trying to block the light out. Starched sheets, scratching skin. A pinch of a needle and stifled shout- 

She wakes covered in sweat. 

Something is wrong, niggles at the back of her mind. Her pounding heart beats out wrong, wrong, wrong. She pushes it away, presses the thought down. She manages to lull herself back to sleep, a deep, imageless thing, but the wrongness sticks with her. 

The next night is nearly identical, except the stranger’s hands are tearing off the bedsheets. A stump of a knee rests where a leg should extend. A panicking voice, a nurse, shouts for help as the struggling and screaming begins-

“Where’s my fucking leg?!”

Kat wakes with a jolt, strangled gasps as she pushes her own blankets off, hands grasping at her limbs, the phantom terror and horror bringing bile up her throat. 

What was that?

A dreamless sleep doesn’t find her again, her eyes bruising with nights of nightmares and days of exhaustion. The hospital, the scratchy sheets, the nurses and medications and injections. 

One week, then another.

She’s in Civics class when it occurs to her. 

The blood drive, at the beginning of May. She’d turned seventeen, and finally weighed enough to donate blood.

Could it be…?

She sleeps in, one Saturday morning, when they are fitting a prosthetic on her stranger; crutches and halting steps as those beefy hands grip support bars.

“Just a step further,” a voice encourages. 

Shame and frustration, and a deep, croaking voice lashes out of the throat-

“I can’t!”

You can, you can, you can, she tries to will the stranger her confidence.

The figure stills, and for a moment, she thinks they can hear her. 

“I’m done,” they say, and in spite of the disappointment on the nurse’s face, a man in a white lab coat agrees, and helps them back into a wheelchair.

Kat feels the sinking failure, the desperate yearning to help this person, this stranger. There are only nurses and doctors, in her dreams. She knows what it means to be lonely, even when there are people around; what it means when you wake up in emotional pain, but have no one to share it with.

She wants to tell her stranger it will all be all right, but the weeks pass and she can only confide her secret to herself. They wouldn’t believe her, even if she could say it in person.

Where is your family? she tries to ask.

They never seem to hear her.

(Waking becomes harder, but she can’t confide in anyone that she wakes wishing she could live in her dreams without them thinking she’s gone mad.)

They are kneading dough, seated at a wood table in a cluttered kitchen. The prosthetic is fitting to the leg, tender today but not sore, exactly. She can smell the flour and feel the silky-smooth texture between her fingers. Smoothe jazz music is playing, from a radio over on the counter. She feels a hand squeezing her stranger’s shoulder.

“Looks good, Pete.” It’s a gruff voice, but not unkind.

“Needs to rise,” her stranger- ‘Pete’!- retorts. They don’t look up, but she can feel a flush on her ‘Pete’s’ cheeks.

“We got some coursework from the school, then.”

(She doesn’t realize this is the last she will dream of her stranger.)

The dreams evaporate, after eight weeks, as abruptly as they had begun.

In the aftermath of her first dreamless night in over a month, she wakes to the dawn breaking with no images from her stranger. 

‘Pete’. 

She tries to will herself back to sleep, compel visions back from the brink. It’s the first night she thinks to try and remember the names of the doctors and nurses, or the location of the hospital. The nametags are foggy in her memories, a nurse Jackie or Jenny and a last name they had abbreviated to, ‘A.’ 

The internet doesn’t help her any more than her own mind can. ‘An amputee named ‘Pete’ who likes to knead dough and is doing high school coursework at home’ doesn’t do much in a White Pages search. 

She writes it all down, then, each snippet and sound she can recall. She keeps the journal under her mattress, knowing her mother won’t bother, and her baby sister wouldn’t dare to look. 

Like a madwoman, she rereads her own accounts, adds notes to it every morning, hoping the dreams will start again. But every morning, the dreams seem more as if they were fantasies, and her journal reads like fiction.

A year passes. 

Her dreams now are either blank, or memories of ‘Pete’.

She could blame it on her family friend, and his stupid insistance that she attend Prom; or maybe the girlfriends she eats lunch with, who guilt her by saying that everyone needs a life outside of school, and after-school jobs.

Kat had only driven into town because she needed a damn dress. Two weeks later, and she would have been exhausted from Prom as she crossed the school stage, collecting her high school diploma.

Nothing pans out the way she imagines it will, though.

She’s alone in the car when a truck in the oncoming lane overturns at a curve in the road.

Pain bursts on her head. Flames against her skin. Crushed metal, and broken glass. In the distant fog of wailing sirens, she can hear first responders attempting to call out to her. 

The only thing she remembers seeing clearly, between the accident and the hospital, is smoke rising into a blue, cloudless sky, through a shattered windshield.

“You lost a lot of blood, Kat,” the doctor says, tone not unsympathetic. “We had to do a transfusion.”

“Oh.”

She blinks, a haze of morphling in her preventing her from fully comprehending. Some broken bones. A neck brace. Burns on her face and arms, but not as bad as they first had thought- she won’t need skin grafts.

All small mercies.

Her sister and mama are there, balloons and flowers and hugs a-plenty. Get-well-soon cards from several classmates and family friends.

“You’re lucky to be alive,” her mama murmurs, as the doctor leaves.

“Okay.”

Mama runs her fingers through Kat’s knotted hair, while her sister clings and tells her how much she loves her.

She’s not numb, not beneath the morphling. But she’s so damn tired and her skin itches under the bandages. 

(She can’t comfort her family while they try their hand at comforting her.)

She is washing her hands in the hospital room sink, when she feels a jolt, a compulsion; a chill down her spine and gooseflesh down her arms. She looks in the mirror, and feels in awe, feels a foreign elation. A burst of affection, a warmth. 

She can’t reckon with it, can’t justify it. 

It’s just… her own face. Sloppily braided dark hair. Healing stitches on her cheek, and forehead. Silver eyes, surrounded by a bruise, set in a narrow face. She gulps, leaning in closer, and trying to grasp the sensation. Out-of-body, might be the right term- dissociative, she’d read about once, for Health and Wellness. 

There’s a knock on her door, the nurse doing a check, and as Kat turns, the warmth dissipates.

The nurse comes in not long after, checks her vitals and asks a series of questions.

“My name is Katniss Everdeen.”

That warmth in her chest is back, the hair at the base of her neck stands straight.

She scrubs her hands over her face, focusing on the simple questions the nurse is asking.

“I’m eighteen years old. I’m graduating from PPH12 in Sommen in one week. I’m at Merchant Memorial Hospital.”

In the bathroom that night, she stares at her own reflection, and wonders if maybe that feeling of someone looking over her shoulder- more like looking through her eyes- if maybe….

She fogs up the mirror, and writes her room number. She stares at it, for a time, before scoffing at own ridiculousness, and wiping it away with her towel.

She only has one day left before being discharged, though she’ll miss graduation and the parties that would entail. She can’t say she is particularly disappointed; she’s never been a party person.

She’s awake when the door to her shared hospital room opens. She pays it little mind. The curtain around her bed is pulled taught, her roommate jabbering away on their phone about the food service as if this were fine dining, rather than a hospital. Kat is reading a get well card, this one signed by the whole senior class and class advisors.

There’s a thrumming in her veins, but that might be them weaning her off of the morphling.

Curtain rings scrape against metal, and she barely glances up, the nurse rounds due any minute now. Normally, though, the bubbly nurse who does the day-shift is already bustling with an overwhelming enthusiasm that makes Kat question how exhausted the nurse is at the end of the day.

Maybe it’s a different nurse or a doctor or mama, or- 

The blue eyes that are boring into hers are ones she has only seen in her dreams; she can finally see blonde curls framing them, familiar thick, strong hands brushing through the curls. 

“Pete?” she croaks, certain she’s finally lost her damn mind.

His eyes widen at the sound of his name, lips parting. 

“I found you.” 

A tone of surprise, as if he’d driven all this way, but in expectation of disappointment.

“Peeta,” he introduces himself, edging closer. His hand carefully takes hold of her own. “And… I’ve waited a long time to meet you, Katniss.”

(Her name has never been spoken as sweetly, and her heart has never felt so full.)

[vampiric-daydreams]

Revelation

Jasper x Reader

This is Part 5 of the Jasper miniseries. Here is Part 1.

Summary: Somewhere between the exhaustion of having your emotions literally toyed with and receiving some shocking news from Alice, you try to develop a deeper understanding of your situation. This leads to a shocking revelation about Jasper.

Word Count: 2,936

*

Something was definitely going on now, if it wasn’t already.

They sat at their table in the cafeteria, together but not interacting. Alice was looking anywhere but at Jasper, and Jasper seemed starved for her attention. He glanced at you, darting his eyes away when you noticed, almost as if he was ashamed. Alice’s gaze locked with your own mere seconds after, her gorgeous golden eyes pierced with pain. Even after spilling their secrets to you last night, they were still keeping something for themselves. You reflected on what Jasper told you before he left last night.

It’s important that you seek her when you’re ready to listen… You’ll like what she saw for you.

Jasper’s words, the distance between them both… Could it have something to do with that vision? Frowning at Alice, who was still staring back at you, you stood up and walked out of the cafeteria; knowing that she would follow behind you.

Minutes later, Alice met you by the drinking fountains outside a block of classrooms. Her hair, always styled to perfection, was slightly messy; but that in itself was enough to tell you that whatever had been going on last night had gotten worse. As she walked towards you, it was like she suffered more with every step.

“I’m sorry for freaking out last night, I-”

“Don’t apologise for that. It’s a lot to take in at once for anybody.” She forced a smile. You didn’t trust her.

“Well, I’m sorry. I’ve upset you and Jasper with my actions.” You paused. Was now the right time to ask for the rest of her vision? You took the plunge, anyway. “I hope it’s not an inconsiderate time to ask, but Jasper told me I needed to find out more of what you had to say? I shouldn’t have stormed off like that, and he made it sound like I missed something important back there.”

“(Y/N), only if you’re ready to listen, can we get away from here and go someplace a little more private?” For the first time, you noticed, Alice Cullen seemed human. No longer the paradigm of devastating perfection, Alice’s straight brows furrowed, and she toyed with her fingers. Giving her a nod in response, Alice led you away from the school and into the forest you had refused to follow Jasper into only yesterday. But this time, it was different. You knew the Cullens would not kill you, as much as they may want to. Something about Edward struck him as the hypocritical type who would campaign for your death to protect their secret, yet protect Bella at all costs in the same breath.

“He said I’d like what you saw for me. What does that mean?”

Alice halted in front of you, dwarfed by her surroundings of wide trunks and thick, mossy roots. The moist earth squelched beneath your shoes as you took your final steps before stopping behind her. She didn’t turn to face you. “I know about your arrangement with him last night—about how he’s using his gift to suppress your feelings—and (Y/N), it’s wrong.”

“It’s the only thing we can do. I can’t get over him. Even now that he’s out of range, I can feel the love seeping back into my heart.”

“It won’t work,” she spat. She turned around and glared at you. “Nothing either of you do will work and the rest of us have no choice but to accept it. Including me.”

“Alice, I-”

“I didn’t tell you about the rest of the vision I had—the one we’re living in right now.” You didn’t speak again, knowing it was probably easier for her to shoot everything at you at once. “I’ll skip how we were concerned about our secret being safe with you—I can’t afford for you to run off again. This is important. I saw you and Jasper together. I’ve done what I can to see if there’s a way around it, but it seems right. It’s like the universe keeps pushing you together in every alternate scenario,” her voice broke, “and he looked so happy with you.”

“I’m so sor-”

“I need you to hear this. It’s difficult for me to admit that Jasper and I might not be as perfect for each other as I hoped. When I first met him, I had already known we would be married and in love and with our coven. I had that vision twenty-eight years before I met him, and I shaped my entire life as a vampire around it. I practised vegetarianism long before I met him, I–” She cut herself off, almost sounding breathless. “I have to give you my blessing, because the Jasper I saw in that vision with you was a better version of himself, a happier version of himself. I thought I was meant to be with him, but I guess I was wrong.”

“It’s not like Jasper even wants to-”

“I’ve been distancing myself from him; trying to see if I might move on from him.  I had a vision and saw myself, perfectly content, with the two of you as a couple. He assumed the woman who changed him was his mate, but he was wrong. Perhaps I was wrong about him?”

“Alice! That can’t be right! He told me how long you’ve been married, there’s no way you wouldn’t have noticed sooner if that were the case!”

She gave you one last defeated expression before she left, and you were alone; your heavy heart threatening to drown you.

 *

 Two days had passed, and already your love for Jasper rising and falling like a Yo-Yo was exhausting. All of your energy had drained away. You flopped on your bed and laid there lifelessly; staring up at the ceiling you wondered why it had to be you. Why couldn’t you be a normal person with a normal crush on another normal person? You wondered if Bella ever felt that way.

We need to talk. You didn’t want your first text exchange with Jasper to be so blunt and cold, but you both needed to reassess the mood-control strategy; your body just wasn’t coping.

You went over Alice’s visions in your mind, playing them like a movie. Even through the guilt, your heart fluttered at the thought of a romance being a possibility. Had she seen you kissing?

A powerful sense of nausea hit you as your body threatened to vomit. You still wanted Jasper, and you were sure you always would—but what it was costing both of you was too much to bear. Stuck between the man you loved, who continued to discard you, and his wife who despite her own feelings was determined for you to take him from her. You were a mere human treading water in what felt like a vampire soap opera.

Lulling your head back against the soft pillows supporting you; you allowed yourself to drown, falling deeper and deeper into the sleep that consumed you. Tomorrow, you would get better answers—and you knew just where to get them. 

 *

 Bella Swan sat awkwardly beside you on the bleachers. She had gym class, but rolled her ankle; and you had a free period. Her chestnut hair was pulled back into a loose ponytail, and she held an ice pack to her right foot.

You watched her as she lowered her chocolate gaze. “Can Edward read your mind, too? Is it weird dating someone who can do that?”

She still didn’t look at you. “No, I’m an exception… For some reason.”

“Bella, c-can—I mean—do you think Edward would speak with me? I know he hates me, but-”

Her eyes met yours. “He doesn’t hate you, he’s just concerned for Alice. But I’ll talk to him and see if I can get him to meet you if you don’t mind telling me what this is about?”

Had Edward even bothered to mention it? “Do you know about the Jasper and Alice thing?” The face she gave you said she did, and then her eyes hardened. “After what Alice told me earlier, and what Jasper said to me last night, I need better context. Edward can read minds so maybe he could tell me what Alice and Jasper both think about everything to help me decide what to do with myself?”

Bella fumbled with the ice pack as she readjusted it on her swollen ankle. “I don’t know…”

“Please, Bella. Jasper was so hot and cold with me the other night, and the way Alice keeps looking at me… I just feel awful. I’ve wanted to be with Jasper for so long, but I never thought it would be like this. I never knew I was wishing for decades-long marriage to end just so I could get what I wanted. Please, Bella. This is insane. All I did was have a crush on a cute boy at school and suddenly I’m the catalyst for vampire divorce.” She tensed at your use of the v-word in such a public place, but you ignored her. “I’m not asking to pry into their entire lives—just the stuff that’s related to me. How truthful was Alice being about giving me her blessing—even if that blessing gave me the right to swoop in on her husband? How is Alice seeing us being together, if Jasper is so worked up and telling me he’ll never love me? I don’t want to embarrass anybody or cause any more harm than I already have. I just want clarity. That’s all. Is that too much to ask?”

Bella hesitated, her top teeth sinking slightly into her plump bottom lip. She clenched the towel wrapped around the ice pack. “It’s reasonable. Look, I’ll talk to Edward later and see what I can do. It’s no fun for the rest of us either, right now.”

You reached over and pulled her into a tight hug. “Thank you so much, Bella.” She pushed away from you, clutching her ankle and wincing in pain. “Sorry…”

 *

 The Cullens hadn’t been at school that day, meaning a full day without Jasper’s interventions. It was the first time since the moment you struck your deal with him that you had energy to spare. You could catch up on homework and pay attention to a movie and simply be without wanting to pass out from exhaustion. But being the glutton for punishment this whole scenario was turning you into, you called Jasper. He didn’t pick up. You tried again.

“(Y/N), I told you-” he started, but you cut through his deep voice with your own.

“I want to alter our arrangement. Can you come over?”

“What’s wrong with it?”

“I’ll see you soon.” You hung up. The house was empty and silent, save for the sound of a leaky tap that still needed fixing. To distract yourself as you waited, you tidied up a bit. You washed the pile of dishes in the sink and wiped down the kitchen counters. You picked up the piles of clothes on the floor in your bedroom and actually put them away, folding each garment and telling yourself; he’ll be here after I fold this one. But you remained alone. You pulled your phone out from your pocket and dialled his number again, only to hear a message tone.

Tears pricked in your eyes as you understood he wasn’t coming—that he didn’t care about you or how his gift was affecting you. Surely Alice had been teasing you; dangling your hopes and dreams right in front of your face as payback for all the trouble you had caused her. She and Edward were probably laughing about it right now; laughing at the pathetic human who thought they had a chance. You took a shaky breath and grabbed your coat.

 *

 The inside of Bella’s house was cosy. You sat together in her lounge room with a cup of hot chocolate. Chief Swan wouldn’t be home for a few hours, and you couldn’t wait any longer.

“He said no, didn’t he?”

“Edward is… old-fashioned-”

You scoffed. “He thinks I’m immoral, then. I get it.” Your grip on the warm mug tightened. Bella’s sleeves were crunched up in her palms, and her inner debate about whether to continue speaking was clear on her face.

“But we’ve talked about what’s happening with you and he mentioned some things he heard.” She gave you a knowing look.

“Words… or thoughts?” Her lack of response gave you your answer. You put the mug on the coffee table and glanced around, your voice lowering into a whisper. “Is it safe to talk here? I appreciate what you’re doing, but I don’t want to ruin another relationship by involving myself.”

“They’re out hunting today. They’ll find out eventually, but nothing will happen. The Cullens are good, they don’t hurt people.” It wasn’t as though you thought Jasper was planning on killing you to protect his marriage. But you let her go on, dying to receive the intel you desperately needed. “We were driving home in my truck on the first day I transferred to your English class. I knew nothing at first, but when you started asking specific questions, I told Edward. He explained the situation to me—that by that point, you were on the path to discovery no matter what they did about it. I asked him if I could do anything to help, but he said it was useless. All of their energy had to be focused on making sure you accepted the truth instead of exposing them for what they are. Right as you figured it out, he told me Alice had a new vision that was split into two parts. While they were happy you wouldn’t do anything rash, the sight of you kissing Jasper-”

“Kissing-”

“-got them a little riled up at first.” She misread the look of astonishment on your face for one of fear. “Not at you, at him.”

“Jasper won’t have anything to do with me, though. How did we even get to that point?”

“Edward didn’t mention that, but said in passing how they both feel about it. Alice is devastated. Her entire world is crumbling, but she has enough grace and trust in her gift to let it be. She’s been thinking about leaving. There’s a ‘cousin coven’ in Alaska that she’s been contemplating staying with until things blow over. Jasper won’t let her go. No matter what she says to him, he refuses to leave her. He’s hell-bent on rejecting you -… sorry. But Edward said that when he suffocates your affection for him like you agreed, he isn’t happy. Jasper doesn’t enjoy doing it. Edward said that a part of Jasper likes that you like him.”

You couldn’t speak and only stared at Bella with an open mouth. Nothing he had done had showed that he liked your attention—even a tiny shred of it. Your blood boiled within your veins as you hardened your jaw and asked Bella through clenched teeth, “In what way?”

She looked at you, the alabaster skin on her forehead creasing with concern. “Edward didn’t elaborate. It could be reciprocation, but it could also be him just missing the attention? If I ask about it now, he’ll know what I’m doing so that’s all I can tell you at the moment.” She took a sip from her own hot chocolate, her long sleeves now wrinkled, and added, “It sounds like he’s conflicted.”

Your guilty heart skipped a beat as the words left Bella’s mouth. Images of Jasper Hale dipping you into a passionate kiss took over your mind, and you started feeling warmer. Perhaps you shouldn’t have doubted Alice’s gift right off the bat. What if it was going to happen? What if Jasper was only being harsh with you to stop himself from being too tender? You sculled your hot chocolate and slammed the mug back on the coffee table a little too hard; causing Bella to jump at your sudden action. You had to see Jasper again; and no matter how hard he tried to avoid you, you would make another meeting happen. You would ask him to tell you precisely what he was feeling, even if you needed to humiliate yourself once more to do it. 

So, you thanked Bella and rushed to your car. The sound of the roaring engine gave you a rush of adrenaline as you followed the roads of Forks—from memory—to the Cullens’ house. A thousand things were going through your mind, but you pushed them aside and pressed harder on the accelerator. As the lights and buildings morphed into a thick wall of trees, you could see the bright colours of the Cullens’ house peeking through the cedars. And waiting by the front of the property, arms crossed and fists clenched, was Jasper; whose eyes were burning holes through your skin.

*

Tags: @awesome-badass-cafeteria-sauce @eggmettcullen @scuzmunkie @xcharlottemikaelsonx @oi-itsemily @cacti-succulents-andlesbians @aw0kenangel @jelly-fishy-babie @kawaiikpoplover268 @awkwardnesshabitat @salsameter @dillybuggg @awesomebooklover17 @badgirlsdeaddreams @raindancer2004 @camillapad @champagnejoker @tweedlydumbtweedlydoo @starrybumbles @bubblegumcat229 @boywivlove @mauvette268 @pleasantlycrazyworld @dissatisfactionbuthuman 

[dailycharacteroption]

Base Class Review: Witch part 4

 Unique Patrons

 Witch patrons as a whole can represent any manner of otherworldly, power-granting entity, everything from powerful outsiders, fey, bodiless spirits, and even psychic entities formed by or attracted to the subconscious desires of the would-be witch.

Their morality and goals can also vary a lot. Some are goodly, most are high-minded and desire to spread knowledge, while wicked ones may be petty tyrants that threaten to remove their influence or torment the witch in other ways if they are not obeyed. Regardless of alignment, however, most patrons likely have an agenda of some kind, which likely is related to the theme they are associated with.

Beyond that, however, the witch patrons… don’t really have that much going for them mechanics-wise, just a list of bonus spells. According to former Paizo employee and editor in chief F. Wesley Schneider (In his brief stint of doing youtube videos, I believe), the witch patrons were originally going to be more in depth with greater mechanics tied to the true nature of the patron, but those were scrapped.

Today, however, we’ll take a look at a subsystem from Blood of the Coven which promises to provide a way for witch characters to be influenced by the exact nature of their patron (and also throwing a bone to GMs who wish they had more to work with when trying to tie the patron into the plot or subplot of a campaign.)

 These so-called “unique patrons” are a bit stronger and more influential than the standard patron. Picking one of them means you must pick a certain hex at first level, you have a list of only four themes to pick from, and some of your theme spells are swapped out by those associated with that type of unique patron. What’s more, taking a unique patron means abiding by their rules, which can include a restriction, or a penalty of some kind.

In this way, unique patrons offer access to certain spells that are harder for most witches to get in return for some restrictions or difficulties in terms of build and roleplay. This makes sense from a fluff level as well, as these patrons would naturally not possess themes that run counter to their goals (no celestial patrons of rot and death, naturally)

The unique patron types are as follows:

First is the Celestial Agenda, meaning the patron is some manner of good outsider that seeks to guide the witch to some goodly act or destiny. As such, such witches must be good and find it difficult to deceive others, but they gain the ward hex, are associated with themes of endurance, healing, light, and portents, and grant access to spells that punish the wicked and call upon celestial allies.

Next is the Empath, suggesting your patron is a collective unconscious or other entity associated with emotion and social connection. Such witches are sensitive to strong emotions, making them very vulnerable to magic that imposes them on others. Still, they learn the tongues hex to speak all languages, are associated with ancestors, mind, spirits, and wisdom, and are granted spells that bolster their awareness of events and energies both present and past.

Fey Gifts suggests that your patron is a powerful fey, perhaps even one of the Eldest. Such patrons have few restrictions, but they also view the witch as a source of entertainment, and might remotely jinx them at random for their amusement. Still, the fey does grant the witch the charm hex, access to the agility, enchantment, trickery, or winter themes, and access to magic to deceive and enchant their foes with fairy madness.

Green Whispers is what you want if you want you patron to be a nature spirit of some description, or perhaps a powerful natural being such as a treant. Such beings forbid the touch of iron or steel, which are associated with civilization, and actually cause harm and inhibit the magic of the witch. In exchange, they can speak to animals with the feral speech hex, access animals, endurance, moon, or transformation as patron themes, and access various plant-related spells.

When a hag gets involved, usually with their changeling child, they sometimes act as a patron, providing the Hag’s Calling, perhaps to tempt them, or reward them. Regardless of their relationship, the hag seeks to isolate the witch, preventing them from helping others or accepting the help of others. In return, these witches gain the coven hex, can choose from moon, plague, shadow, and vengeance for themes, and spells to disguise themselves or contact the hag from afar.

The classic witch patron, at least when viewed through the perspective of fearful religious folk, the Infernal Contract suggests a patron that is fiendish in nature, though not necessarily diabolic. Regardless of what fiend is holding the leash, such witches can only rarely be resurrected, their souls bound to their master, and they must provide regular sacrifices of blood to maintain their power. Those that dare this bond are promised the misfortune hex, access to enchantment, strength, trickery, and vengeance as options, and spells to call on fiendish allies for aid.

Calling upon a patron from the plane of shadow, Shadowbound refers to those patrons that dwell in darkness, such as kytons, owbs, shae, nightshades, and more. Such a patron makes the light inimical to the witch, though, making their eyes sensitive to light. In exchange, they gain the disguise hex, the death, deception, ethereal, and shadow patron themes, and spells that bend shadow to the will of the witch for attacking and transport.

The Condition of All is an interesting unique patron, as such witches are guided by the mysterious and contradictory aeons. As servants of the balance, each witch has a role to play, and so their morality cannot waver from the role they are meant to fulfil, lest they lose their powers until their part in the balance is restored. In exchange, they gain the scar hex, access to the elements, time, transformation, and wisdom themes, and magic for compelling actions and banishing unwanted outsiders.

Finally, those who are Touched by the Outer Gods are exactly what you’d expect, witches whose patrons are none other than an Outer God or Great Old One, leaving their minds scarred, making them vulnerable to various mental effects. Those who follow such beings, if that word can even be used, gain the unnerve beasts hex, a theme from the list of insanity, occult, stars, or transformation, and spells that spread fear and madness.

 With such an array of unique patrons, you certainly have plenty of interesting choices for making a witch character where the exact nature of their patron matters. However, you may have noticed that the list of various themes that go with these unique patrons is a bit… limited, with many themes not having any representation at all, so if you really want a particular theme and a unique patron, you may be forced to turn to homebrew or GM fiat in order to make it work.

The Pathfinder 2nd edition version of the witch features much more involved patrons from the get-go, which we’ll cover sometime in the future, but it’s interesting to see how this optional subsystem might have inspired it.

In any case, that does it for today! We’ll wrap up the witch class tomorrow with some final thoughts!

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

The Golden Calf

1 When the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, the people gathered around Aaron and said to him, “Come, make gods for us, who shall go before us; as for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.” 2 Aaron said to them, “Take off the gold rings that are on the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters and bring them to me.” 3 So all the people took off the gold rings from their ears and brought them to Aaron. 4 He took these from them, formed them in a mold, and cast an image of a calf, and they said, “These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!” 5 When Aaron saw this, he built an altar before it, and Aaron made a proclamation and said, “Tomorrow shall be a festival to the Lord.” 6 They rose early the next day and offered burnt offerings and brought sacrifices of well-being, and the people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to revel.

7 The Lord said to Moses, “Go down at once! Your people, whom you brought up out of the land of Egypt, have acted perversely; 8 they have been quick to turn aside from the way that I commanded them; they have cast for themselves an image of a calf and have worshiped it and sacrificed to it and said, ‘These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!’ ” 9 The Lord said to Moses, “I have seen this people, how stiff-necked they are. 10 Now let me alone so that my wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them, and of you I will make a great nation.”

11 But Moses implored the Lord his God and said, “O Lord, why does your wrath burn hot against your people, whom you brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? 12 Why should the Egyptians say, ‘It was with evil intent that he brought them out to kill them in the mountains and to consume them from the face of the earth’? Turn from your fierce wrath; change your mind and do not bring disaster on your people. 13 Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, your servants, how you swore to them by your own self, saying to them, ‘I will multiply your descendants like the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have promised I will give to your descendants, and they shall inherit it forever.’ ” 14 And the Lord changed his mind about the disaster that he planned to bring on his people.

15 Then Moses turned and went down from the mountain, carrying the two tablets of the covenant in his hands, tablets that were written on both sides, written on the front and on the back. 16 The tablets were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, engraved upon the tablets. 17 When Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said to Moses, “There is a noise of war in the camp.” 18 But he said,

“It is not the sound made by victors or the sound made by losers; it is the sound of singing that I hear.”

19 As soon as he came near the camp and saw the calf and the dancing, Moses’s anger burned hot, and he threw the tablets from his hands and broke them at the foot of the mountain. 20 He took the calf that they had made, burned it with fire, ground it to powder, scattered it on the water, and made the Israelites drink it. — Exodus 32:1-20 | New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition (NRSVUE) New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. All rights reserved worldwide. Cross References: Genesis 6:11; Genesis 12:7; Genesis 24:22; Genesis 35:4; Exodus 14:11; Exodus 20:3-4; Exodus 20:23; Exodus 31:18; Exodus 33:3; Exodus 33:13; Exodus 34:1; Numbers 14:12-13; Numbers 14:15; Numbers 16:21; Numbers 25:2; Deuteronomy 7:25; Deuteronomy 9:8; Deuteronomy 9:16-17; Deuteronomy 9:26; 1 Samuel 15:11; 2 Samuel 24:16; 1 Kings 15:13; 2 Chronicles 34:4; Acts 7:40-41; Acts 7:51; 1 Corinthians 10:7; 2 Corinthians 3:3; 2 Corinthians 3:7; Hebrews 6:13

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What should we learn from the golden calf incident in Exodus 32?

[darkpoisonouslove]

Can I give you a lot of work and ask you to answer all the questions in the otp question meme for Griffin x Faragonda, please? (I like them too much, and there's a lack of content about them...)

I love them, too, and I totally get the disappointment of having so little content about them. I feel it myself.

These are all set after season 1 in what is decidedly not an AU but canon keeps refusing to confirm.

1. Who is the most affectionate?

Faragonda has always been more touchy-feely but Griffin is completely on board with it. They’ve been apart long enough. She can more than use all of the clinginess.

2. Big spoon/Little spoon?

They switch but Faragonda is the big spoon more often. She loves giving Griffin all the affection. And Griffin melts in her arms.

3. Most common argument?

Where the line lies for witch pranks at official events. They really do not share the same view on that and the dissonance arises quite often. Not their most heated argument by a far cry but certainly the most common one.

4. Favorite non-sexual activity?

Having a tea party and just getting to talk to each other while they’re relaxing. It is the best stress relief to just sit together and chat about anything and everything.

5. Who is most likely to carry the other?

Faragonda. She totally sees it as yet another opportunity to be affectionate. Griffin is more surprised than Faragonda thought she’d be and she also seems more touched. That might have made Faragonda repeat it. Griffin is starting to feel spoiled.

6. What is their favorite feature of their partner’s?

Griffin’s is Faragonda’s eyes. She loves the contrast of their dark color that reminds a lot of a cloudy sky and how soothing they are to her. Just a look in Faragonda’s eyes lets her know that she’s home.

Faragonda loves all of Griffin but she especially loves running her fingers through Griffin’s hair. Or brushing it. Or braiding it. It’s super soft and just the lightest touch can send Griffin shivering which is Faragonda’s favorite part. She loves how responsive Griffin is to touches of her hair.

7. What’s the first thing that changes when they realize they have feelings for the other?

Griffin starts getting jealous which is definitely new at least in a romantic context. She’s seen Faragonda date before and even encouraged it but now it is unbearable to even think about it.

Faragonda is more subtle about it. It’s her body language that changes - lingering gazes and touches. Maybe a couple remarks that are more suggestive. She’s careful not to push them back into not talking to each other, though.

8. Nicknames? & if so, how did they originate?

They don’t have nicknames for the other. They might just love saying the other’s name too much for that.

9. Who worries the most?

Both of them worry enough about each other’s well-being and the general state of things with the world at large - considering what they’ve lived to see - but Griffin actually worries a little more. Since she was the one who sort of initiated the rifts between them the previous times, she is worried about what might happen next and whether she won’t be stupid enough to let them get torn apart again. Faragonda has to reassure her that they will be fine and they will come out of anything together just like they always have.

10. Who remembers what the other one always orders at a restaurant?

Faragonda. She thinks it’s the least she can do when she drags Griffin out to a restaurant when Griffin would prefer to stay home even if she will be the one to cook in that case. Griffin also remembers what Faragonda orders, however, and then makes it for her at home.

11. Who tops?

They switch but Faragonda tops more often. Griffin totally loves leaving her in charge, especially since Faragonda makes her feel like the most loved person in the world.

12. Who initiates kisses?

Griffin does. Faragonda is not shy at all, especially with Griffin but she actually likes it when Griffin initiates the kiss and directs it.

13. Who reaches for the other’s hand first?

Faragonda. Again, she is more about touching but once they’re holding hands, Griffin won’t let go of her.

14. Who kisses the hardest?

Griffin. She kisses like there’s no tomorrow and leaves Faragonda totally breathless but she’s not complaining.

15. Who wakes up first?

Griffin does most of the time. It is hard even for Faragonda to beat her to it when Griffin seems to have endless energy even if Faragonda is the one with the sunshine personality. Griffin claims that is exactly why Faragonda needs more time to recharge - she is spreading too much of her positivity around and it uses up her energy.

16. Who wants to stay in bed just a little longer?

Both of them. They have actually been late for work because they didn’t want to leave the bed and each other’s company.

17. Who says I love you first?

Griffin. Faragonda actually wants to take things at Griffin’s pace and not rush them into something they’re not ready for that could tear them apart.

18. Who leaves little notes in the other’s one lunch? (Bonus: what does it usually say?)

Faragonda does. Griffin is a little surprised by how Faragonda managed to sneak them in there without her noticing since she was the one who prepared the food. She knows the fairy has her ways, though, especially since Griffin is often distracted by her presence. And it makes her day so who is she to complain, really?

19. Who tells their family/friends about their relationship first?

They don’t really say anything but Griselda figures it out a couple months before Ediltrude and Zarathustra do. Saladin, on the other hands, only learns from the twins a long way down the line and is pretty salty that they didn’t tell him sooner.

20. What do their family/friends think of their relationship?

They are all ecstatic that it is finally happening because they all know how much Griffin and Faragonda have always meant to each other and how much not speaking had affected them. Seeing them finally taking the chance and making each other happy makes their friends happy, too.

21. Who is more likely to start dancing with the other?

Faragonda totally drags Griffin into dancing whenever she feels like it. Griffin only complains about it a little. Just for the sake of it. She actually loves slow dancing with Faragonda but she has to be dramatic. It’s good for the soul.

22. Who cooks more/who is better at cooking?

Griffin is the better cook and she cooks almost always unless she is dead tired in which case Faragonda might take the risk and try her hand at making dinner. She isn’t actually that bad at cooking but she feels her meals can never live up to Griffin’s even if Griffin claims they’re really good.

23. Who comes up with cheesy pick up lines?

Griffin. Faragonda has expressed profound shock over her never ending arsenal of those but Griffin keeps delivering.

24. Who whispers inappropriate things in the other’s ear during inappropriate times?

Griffin, most of the time. She is a witch; she has a reputation to uphold. And it is pretty fun (and hot) to see Faragonda get flustered. Except, Faragonda retaliates sometimes and it is Griffin that ends up flustered. But she has to face the consequences for her actions and Faragonda makes up for it anyway. ;)

25. Who needs more assurance?

Griffin. She has some guilt in storage both in regards to her relationship with Faragonda and just in general and is relieved when Faragonda reassures her that everything is okay, especially between the two of them.

26. What would be their theme song?

Find Me by Sigma ft Birdy (acoustic version)

27. Who would sing their child back to sleep?

Griffin. Faragonda might join her but she’s also quite content just listening and watching. She also gets pretty lulled by Griffin’s singing.

28. What do they do when they’re away from each other?

Griffin is impossible when Faragonda can’t be with her for whatever reason. She gets irritable and starts making everyone miserable by turning even more pedantic than usual. Zarathustra and Ediltrude do their best to keep her occupied which sometimes involves lots of wine and chess.

Faragonda definitely handles separation better by doing things that will make her feel closer to Griffin like reading Griffin’s favorite book or tending to the plants. It doesn’t mean that she doesn’t miss her super much, though.

29. One headcanon about this OTP that breaks your heart

They’ve ended up seriously hurting each other - both physically and emotionally - while Faragonda was with the Company and Griffin was with the Coven. They didn’t necessarily want to fight each other but were forced by the circumstances. There was also a decent amount of anger and despair on either side and the possibility that they might have actually hurt each other on purpose freaks them both out.

30. One headcanon about this OTP that mends it

They retire together on Domino and help raise Daphne and Bloom’s kids. Also, they have a peaceful life because they have been through so much and deserve some rest.

[dailyaudiobiblechronological]

11/18/2023 DAB Chronological Transcription

Acts 7-8

Welcome to The Daily Audio Bible Chronological. I'm Jill. It's November 18th. I'm so glad that you're here and that you have found your way to the scriptures and are making them a part of your daily rhythm and for those of you with daily rhythms that you know that one day without it kind of throws your day off I guess the equivalent would be if you're fasting, or not eating, you are acutely aware of how hungry you are and I have found that a daily rhythm, a daily practice in the word, makes us acutely aware of when we get hungry. So hunger no more, here we are continuing today in the book of Acts reading Acts chapters 7 and 8 and just a couple days left this week in the English Standard version. Chapter 7.

Prayer:

Father we thank you for your word and thank you for this reminder today of looking back, remembering. We remember the good and we remember the not so good and it's so much easier to just linger on the good and bypass the pain, the heartache, our mistakes. That it's necessary to sit with the good and the bad so that we do not repeat the bad, so that we count the cost we learn from our mistakes. We remember the pain we feel, the pain so that we do not repeat the pain and so many times even God we fail to remember the things that you have done for us, the things that you have brought us through. We just move on so quickly and so I pray today that these reminders of looking back to the people that paved paths and roads for these men we read about in the New Testament and as they reflect back on the heroes of faith in the Old Testament- the covenant that you made with these men generation to generation, to generation that ultimately leads up to the lineage of Jesus. May we pause, reflect, consider those that have paved a way for us to be where we are and we consider the things that you have brought us from out of out of darkness into your marvelous light. We love you. Thank you for this time together today and may this word be sealed on our hearts. I pray this in the name of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Announcements: 

This wraps up our time together for this week- look forward to turning the page and starting a new one with you tomorrow. I'm Jill, until then love one another.

Community Prayer Line:

...November is National Caregivers month and I was thinking about the time when I witnessed Brad do such an incredible job caring for her mom when she came to live with us about a year and a half before she passed in 2019. So I just want to pray for all of you outstanding caregivers- want you to know God sees you, cares deeply about the challenges that you're facing. So father I come on behalf of all of the caregivers around the global campfire and I lift all of them up, more you see the challenges that they're all facing. You see the hardship, you see the difficulties, you see the physical challenges that they're experiencing, you see the psychological and the emotional challenges. God will you supernaturally give them the strength that they need and the ability and the wherewithal to care for their loved ones? I pray that you would send help, that you would send assistance, that you would give them the break that they need that they can get a break and get away for time to just be able to recalibrate. God but I pray that you would bless them in a supernatural way and I thank you for their labor of love in Jesus name. 

Good morning family this is Dawn from Ohio and I'm calling in this morning because I heard the prayer request of the sweet woman who is a new DABC listener on the 15th of November in regards to her son and the homosexual lifestyle he's living and I just want to encourage her and tell her that you know I too I have a daughter who's lived a lesbian lifestyle for about I'd say since high school so probably over 15 years but today I just want to pray for you dear. Dear Lord I pray for the sweet sister- I pray for her Lord Jesus and I just want to encourage her to press into you God and to believe in your promises and to know that you're close to all of us who struggle with children who are living a lifestyle that is outside of your will for them. And God through this experience I've had with my daughter I've grown closer to you. The devil would want to make it for our destruction, but God you want to make it for our good. So we lift our children to you today God with this.

Good morning family, this is Pamela Resting in the Lord from Pennsylvania. I'm listening to November 14th and agreeing in prayer with everyone who called. Wendy from Michigan called to pray for Simone and encourage her to not live with regret and she also shared that 3 months ago her dad committed suicide and she is learning to live the abundant and free life and I'm agreeing with you that that will be true for Simone and for all of us to come to that place. Also agreeing with you in prayers for Tanya- for healing for her back. Tanya thank you so much for your faithfulness to the Lord and to all of us. May he bless you with healing and answer besides his divine healing. Agreeing in prayer with Cynthia from upstate New York who called in for Mindy and Protected by his angels and Joy from Mexico and Kingdom Seeker Daniel agreeing with you in prayer Cynthia that Mindy said even though he's in stage four lung cancer will and the whole family will celebrate and cherish every single moment that is left to his earthly life including the 56th wedding anniversary that he and his wife have to celebrate soon. Also agreeing with you about Protected by his angels that she will stand strong. First Timothy 1:7 God does not giving us the spirit of fear but of power, love, a sound mind and self-control two different versions say sound mind and self-control. Agreeing in prayer for Joy from Mexico that she will find new friends and that Kingdom Seeker Daniel's trip will be blessed.