#need him in a way that would get me expelled from the kingdom of heaven | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

dfroza · 9 months ago

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“Can you see that I’m asking you to choose whose side you’re on—working with Me or fighting against Me?”

Today’s reading of the Scriptures from the New Testament is the 11th chapter of the book of Luke:

Another time Jesus was praying, and when He finished, one of His disciples approached Him.

Disciple: Teacher, would You teach us Your way of prayer? John taught his disciples his way of prayer, and we’re hoping You’ll do the same.

Jesus: Here’s how to pray:

Father [in heaven], may Your name be revered.

May Your kingdom come.

[May Your will be accomplished on earth

as it is in heaven.]

Give us the food we need for tomorrow,

And forgive us for our wrongs,

for we forgive those who wrong us.

And lead us away from temptation.

[And save us from the evil one.]

Imagine that one of your friends comes over at midnight. He bangs on the door and shouts, “Friend, will you lend me three loaves of bread? A friend of mine just showed up unexpectedly from a journey, and I don’t have anything to feed him.” Would you shout out from your bed, “I’m already in bed, and so are the kids. I already locked the door. I can’t be bothered”? You know this as well as I do: even if you didn’t care that this fellow was your friend, if he keeps knocking long enough, you’ll get up and give him whatever he needs simply because of his brash persistence!

So listen: Keep on asking, and you will receive. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened for you. All who keep asking will receive, all who keep seeking will find, and doors will open to those who keep knocking.

Some of you are fathers, so ask yourselves this: if your son comes up to you and asks for a fish for dinner, will you give him a snake instead? If your boy wants an egg to eat, will you give him a scorpion? Look, all of you are flawed in so many ways, yet in spite of all your faults, you know how to give good gifts to your children. How much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to all who ask!

Picture this:

Jesus is exorcising a demon that has long kept a man from speaking. When the demon is expelled, the man starts talking and the people are amazed. But then controversy erupts.

Some People: Do you know why He can cast out demons? It’s because He’s in league with the demon prince, Beelzebul.

Other people want to see more, so they challenge Jesus to give them another miraculous sign. Jesus knows what they’re thinking.

Jesus: People, be logical. If a kingdom is divided against itself, it will collapse. If a ruling family is divided against itself, it will fall apart.

So if Satan’s kingdom is divided against itself, won’t his whole enterprise collapse? Does it make any sense to say I’m casting out demons by Beelzebul? Besides, if you’re saying it takes satanic power to cast out Satan, by whose power do your own exorcists work? If you condemn Me for an exorcism, you’ll have to condemn them. But if I by the power of God cast out demonic spirits, then face this fact: the kingdom of God is here, just as I’ve been saying.

When a man of power with his full array of weapons guards his own palace, everything inside is secure. But when a new man who is stronger and better armed attacks the palace, the old ruler will be overcome, his weapons and trusted defenses will be removed, and his treasures will be plundered. Can you see that I’m asking you to choose whose side you’re on—working with Me or fighting against Me?

When a demonic spirit is expelled from someone, he wanders through waterless wastelands seeking rest. But there is no rest for him anywhere, so he says, “I’m going back to my old house.” He returns and finds the old house has been swept clean and fixed up again. So he goes and finds seven other spirits even worse than he is, and they make themselves at home in the man’s life so that he’s worse off now than he was before.

As He is speaking, a woman shouts out from the crowd and interrupts Him.

Woman: How blessed is Your mother’s womb for bearing You! How blessed are her breasts for nursing You!

Jesus: No, how blessed are those who hear God’s voice and make God’s message their way of life.

Jesus was becoming more and more popular, and the crowds swelled wherever He went. He wasn’t impressed.

Jesus: This generation is evil. These people are seeking signs and spectacles, but I’m not going to play their game. The only sign they will be given is the sign of Jonah. Just as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so will the Son of Man be to this generation.

The queen of Ethiopia will stand to condemn the people of this generation on the day of judgment. She, an outsider, came from so far away to hear the wisdom given to Solomon, but now, something greater than Solomon is here: how are the people of this generation responding?

Similarly, the people of Nineveh will stand to condemn the people of this generation on the day of judgment. They, outsiders, responded and changed because of the preaching of Jonah, but now, something greater than Jonah is here: how are the people of this generation responding?

You need a light to see. Only an idiot would light a lamp and then put it beneath the floor or under a bucket. No, any intelligent person would put the lamp on a table so everyone who comes in the house can see. Listen, your eye, your outlook, the way you see is your lamp. If your way of seeing is functioning well, then your whole life will be enlightened. But if your way of seeing is darkened, then your life will be a dark, dark place. So be careful, people, because your light may be malfunctioning. If your outlook is good, then your whole life will be bright, with no shadowy corners, as when a radiant lamp brightens your home.

A Pharisee interrupted His speech with an invitation to dinner. Jesus accepted the invitation and took His place at his table. The Pharisee was offended that Jesus didn’t perform the ceremonial handwashing before eating—something Pharisees were fastidious about doing.

Jesus: You Pharisees are a walking contradiction. You are so concerned about external things—like someone who washes the outside of a cup and bowl but never cleans the inside, which is what counts! Beneath your fastidious exterior is a mess of extortion and filth.

You guys don’t get it. Did the potter make the outside but not the inside too? If you were full of goodness within, you could overflow with generosity from within, and if you did that, everything would be clean for you.

Woe to you, Pharisees! Judgment will come on you! You are fastidious about tithing—keeping account of every little leaf of mint and herb—but you neglect what really matters: justice and the love of God! If you’d get straight on what really matters, then your fastidiousness about little things would be worth something.

Woe to you, Pharisees! Judgment will come on you! What you really love is having people fawn over you when you take the seat of honor in the synagogue or when you are greeted in the public market.

Wake up! See what you’ve become! Woe to you; you’re like a field full of unmarked graves. People walk on the field and have no idea of the corruption that’s a few inches beneath their feet.

Scholar (sitting at Jesus’ table): Rabbi, if You insult the Pharisees, then You insult us too.

Jesus: Well, now that you mention it, watch out, all you religious scholars! Judgment will come on you too! You load other people down with unbearable burdens of rules and regulations, but you don’t lift a finger to help others. Woe to you; you don’t fool anybody! You seem very religious—honoring the prophets by building them elaborate memorial tombs. Come to think of it, that’s very fitting, since you’re so much like the people who killed the prophets! They killed the prophets; you build their tombs—you’re all in the same family business!

This is why the Wisdom of God said, “I will send these people My prophets and emissaries, and these people will kill and persecute many of them.” As a result, this generation will be held accountable for the blood of all the prophets shed from the very beginning of time, from Abel’s blood to Zechariah’s blood, who was killed in the temple itself between the altar and the holy place. I’m serious: this generation will be held accountable.

So, religious scholars, judgment will come on you! You’re supposed to be teachers, unlocking the door of knowledge and guiding people through it. But the fact is, you’ve never even passed through the doorway yourselves. You’ve taken the key, left the door locked tight, and stood in the way of everyone who sought entry.

After that dinner, things were never the same. The religious scholars and Pharisees put constant pressure on Jesus, trying to trap Him and trick Him into saying things they could use to bring Him down.

The Book of Luke, Chapter 11 (The Voice)

Today’s paired reading from the First Testament is the 3rd chapter of the book of Malachi:

These are the words of the Eternal, Commander of heavenly armies:

Eternal One: Pay attention! I am sending My messenger,

and he will clear the road ahead for Me.

The Lord you seek will suddenly arrive at His temple.

And the Messenger of God’s covenant, your soul’s delight,

Watch, because He, too, is coming.

Can anyone live through the day when He arrives?

Will anyone be left standing when He appears?

He is a purifying fire;

He is like lye soap.

Like a refiner of silver,

He will purify the descendants of Levi—

Until they are pure, unalloyed gold and silver.

Then they will draw near to the Eternal One,

Presenting offerings with righteous, clean hands.

Then the Eternal One will unequivocally accept the sweet offering of Judah and Jerusalem as He did in the days of old, as in the former years when the covenant was new.

Eternal One: Then I will approach you for judgment, and I will be a swift witness against the constant sorcerers; the chronic adulterers; the habitual liars; those who continue cheating wages from their hired laborer, a widow, or an orphan; and those who always reject the immigrant, not fearing Me, the Eternal, Commander of heavenly armies. Because I am the Eternal One, I never change; as a result, you children of Jacob have not been destroyed though your blessing may have been delayed.

From the days when your ancestors served Me, you have turned from and ignored My statutes. Return to Me and I, the Eternal, Commander of heavenly armies, will return to you. But you shameless people ask, “How will we return? Will someone steal from God?” Yet you are always stealing from Me! But you self-centered people still ask, “How have we stolen from You?” In the tithes and the offerings you have not given Me as the law requires! You are cursed with a curse, for as an entire nation you are stealing from Me. To rectify this situation, you must bring the entire tithe into the storage house in the temple so that there may be food for Me and for the Levites in My house. Feel free to test Me now in this. See whether or not I, the Eternal, Commander of heavenly armies, will open the windows of heaven to you and pour a blessing down upon you until all needs are satisfied. I will rebuke the swarm of locusts devouring your crops, and the devourer will not cause the produce you have grown in the earth to decay or the vines in the field to drop their grapes. And all the nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land of delight. I, the Eternal, Commander of heavenly armies, promise you this.

Your words of rebellion against Me have been strong. Yet you ask, “What have we said against You?” You have said, “Serving God is a waste of time,” and, “What benefits have we received by following Him as we mourned on our journey before the Eternal, Commander of heavenly armies? Now we believe the bluster of the arrogant and agree they are blessed; we encourage the wicked who also test God and escape.”

Then those who fear the Eternal One consulted each other about God’s charges, each one to his neighbor, and the Eternal One paid attention and heard. A book of remembrance was written before Him for those who honored the Eternal One and valued His name and the good reputation.

Eternal One: And they will be Mine on that day when I, the Eternal, Commander of heavenly armies, make My unique treasure—which is the kingdom of Israel. I will have pity on them as a man has pity on his son who serves him.

And you will return and notice the difference between the righteous and the wicked, between those serving God and those not serving Him.

The Book of Malachi, Chapter 3 (The Voice)

A note from The Voice translation:

God declares His Anointed One will come, and the way will be prepared. Notice has been given: be ready.

A link to my personal reading of the Scriptures for friday, march 1 of 2024 with a paired chapter from each Testament (the First & the New) of the Bible along with Today’s Proverbs and Psalms

A post by John Parsons about “within us” and “between us”:

“Let them make Me a mikdash (“holy place”) that I may dwell in their midst.”

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The sages say that the meaning of a holy place, or "mishkan," is not only something "within us" but is also something we share *between us. As Yeshua said: "Where two or three are gathered in my Name, there I am in their midst" (Matt. 18:20).

The offering of the “half-shekel” (i.e., chatzi ha'shekel: חֲצִי הַשֶׁקֶל) that is mentioned in this week's Torah portion (i.e., Ki Tisa) symbolizes how each of us individually contributes to make a shared holy place of the Lord. Recall that each person, no matter how rich or how poor, was required to offer a half-shekel, that is, a small silver coin equal to a few dollars in today's currency, for the sake of the upbuilding of the sanctuary (Exod. 30:-12-16). Originally these half-shekels were collected (in a census) and then melted down to make the silver sockets for the mishkan, that is, sockets used to anchor the frame of the Holy Place (אַדְנֵי הַקֹּדֶשׁ) as well as to make hooks for the beams (ווִים לָעַמּוּדִים) to hold the inner veil (Exod. 38:27-28). The sages comment that these sockets and hooks secured the foundation and held the sanctuary in place -- a beautiful picture of how a part of each person upholds the sacred place.

Interestingly the half-shekel contribution was said to be an offering to "atone for your souls" (לְכַפֵּר עַל־נַפְשֹׁתֵיכֶם), which some sages said represents the giving of the soul to God, but it also suggests the need for atonement within the innermost chamber of the Holy of Holies (i.e., the heart). The Torah's language, however, makes it clear that the giving of the half-shekel is quite a serious matter, since its contribution created a sense of community that is vital to our spiritual well-being. We all need each other, and the half-shekel only has its place among other half-shekels, which is to say that a given individual contribution may seem insignificant, but it is equally important to the whole. The whole may be greater than the sum of its parts, but the parts are essential to make the whole...

Every “jot and tittel,” chaverim; the pattern of the Mishkan reveals much. Individual believers are “the temple of the living God” and “temples of the Holy Spirit” where God’s presence dwells (1 Cor. 6:19; 2 Cor. 6:16). Collectively we are “joined together to become a dwelling place of God in the Spirit (Eph. 2:21-22). We are brought together as “living stones” to form a "spiritual house" and to serve as priests who offer sacrifices of praise to God (1 Pet. 2:5).

The "Torah of the Half-Shekel" teaches that each of us has something essential to contribute to the sanctuary of God, and no one can be left out. The Holy Place belongs to us all. Amen.

[ Hebrew for Christians ]

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Psalm 22:3 reading:

https://hebrew4christians.com/Blessings/Blessing_Cards/psalm22-3-jjp.mp3

Hebrew page:

https://hebrew4christians.com/Blessings/Blessing_Cards/psalm22-3-lesson.pdf

And another post about our Father’s care:

“But if God knows all that we need, and better far than we do ourselves, why should it be necessary to ask Him for anything?" I answer, "What if He knows prayer to be the thing we need first and most? What if the main object in God's idea of prayer be the supplying of our great, our endless need - the need of Himself?" - George MacDonald

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We don't pray to attempt to change God's mind, but rather to change our own: "Your Father knows what you need before you ask him" (Matt. 6:8). Prayer is not a means of getting your Father's attention, but rather of getting your attention fixed on reality. It is a confession of your great need for Him to tell you who you really are. And while it is indeed true that "God knows everything," He does not know anything apart from his love. God does not "know" you in some “abstract” sense, like a computer that stores data and information, but rather as a parent who loves and cares for you (Psalm 103:13).

Your heavenly Father knows the number of hairs on your head; he knows the word on your tongue before you utter it, and he perfectly sees your beginning and end. He has intimate understanding of who you are and what you really need... Turn to Him in trust today.

[ Hebrew for Christians ]

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Psalm 103:13 reading:

https://hebrew4christians.com/Blessings/Blessing_Cards/psalm103-13-jjp.mp3

Hebrew page:

https://hebrew4christians.com/Blessings/Blessing_Cards/psalm103-13-lesson.pdf

2.29.24 • Facebook

from yesterday’s email by Israel365:

Dry bones = impossible to revive

This is the meaning of the prophecy of Ezekiel.

It is worth noting that the “dry bones” prophecy in this chapter of Ezekiel begins with God bringing Ezekiel to a valley that was filled with bones. Notice that God did not tell Ezekiel to dig up bones from a grave. They were lying out in the open in the valley.

In other words, the “death” of the hopes of the nation of Israel was not some hidden matter. It was plain for all to see. Anyone alive for most of the past 2000 years would have asserted, just as Martin Luther did, that the revival of the nation of Israel was simply impossible and never going to happen.

With this in mind, the fact that the Jews never lost faith, but stubbornly clung to the promises of God, believing all the time that eventually He would lead them back to their homeland, is astounding. If we take a moment to think about it, the faith of the Jews that they would one day be revived as a nation is perhaps the greatest miracle of all.

The “impossibility” of the rebirth of the nation of Israel after so many centuries of exile and dispersion causes us to marvel at the faith of the Jews. Their confidence in the promises of God is a message to us all. Are there still promises of God in the Bible that we think are impossible and will never be fulfilled?

Today’s message (Days of Praise) from the Institute for Creation Research

March 1, 2024

The Good Pleasure of God

“Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power.” (2 Thessalonians 1:11)

God’s good pleasure withholds judgment! “It is of the LORD’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22-23). “The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy. The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works” (Psalm 145:8-9).

God’s good pleasure is to do good to His people! “The LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly” (Psalm 84:11). “Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart” (Psalm 37:3-4).

God’s good pleasure forgives us! “Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy. He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea” (Micah 7:18-19).

God’s good pleasure is to bring about His will! “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts....So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it” (Isaiah 55:9-11). “The Lord...is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). When we live in God’s good pleasure, we are able to “delight” in Him. HMM III

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grandest-larceny · 1 year ago

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need him in a way that would get me expelled from the kingdom of heaven

#image

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the-composer · 2 years ago

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❛ Need him in a way that would get me expelled from the kingdom of heaven. ❜

#dash commentary

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jimlingss · 5 years ago

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Flames and Floe

➜ Words: 8k

➜ Genres: 95% Angst, 5% Fluff, Bender!AU

➜ Summary: When the ice nation, your nation, has betrayed the kingdom, killed the king, and committed the most heinous act of treason, you will travel to the Capital with Yoongi to defeat them. Even if it means going against your own people and walking with your enemy.

➜ Warnings: Fire and death.

➜ Notes: This is loosely inspired by Avatar: The Last Airbender.

[Prequel] The world is made up of five elements. Ones that you’ve barely begun to understand, but that are within each of you — shaped distinctly and expelled through different abilities. As children they felt more like powers that you’ve run around playing with only to get scolded at and as adults, they feel more like responsibilities. And for as long as you can recall, you have always felt cold. “We’re almost there.” Haeun has pulled back the curtain that covers the small window of the carriage you both sit in. The land outside is barren and without vegetation — a sight you are accustomed to, but that doesn’t mean that the soil is infertile or that the region is poor. The Air Nation merely likes to live simply. “The skies are really blue here,” you comment and she nods, retracting her hand and allowing the curtain to fall back. Haeun has been quiet throughout the whole trip thus far and as the older person, a sister not through blood but bond, you reach over to clasp your hand on top of her’s. “You don’t have to be nervous. I’ll be the one predominantly speaking.” “I know.” She musters a smile, looking towards you. “But I still can’t help but be a little. Before we left, Sochun was telling me to be on my guard….that…” The girl hesitates and your eyes search for her’s. “That what?” “That they might resent us,” the innocent girl confides in you and her voice drops into a whisper despite it only being the two of you in the small carriage teetering from side to side and slowly making its way down the craggy path. “Do you think that’s true, Y/N? Do they think they still hate our people?” “Don’t be ridiculous.” Your hand withdraws and your eyes harden. “And don’t listen to Sochun of all people. He can barely conjure snow.” The corner of Haeun’s lips subtly quirk, but her expression still remains unsteady. “But—” “But nothing,” you say in a low tone, looking straight ahead at the curtain that covers you from the outside. “The treaty was made half a decade ago by all the nations. The war is over and even Chief has been to this summit meeting before. He trusts them enough to send us as representatives and trusts us enough to speak on behalf of our people. We mustn’t show doubts or fear, Haeun.” She nods and the carriage becomes silent again. Unbeknownst to the girl, your hand clutching onto the excess fabric of your robes in your lap tightens and you try to calm the wild beating in your chest. You’ve never considered yourself a leader — anyone of any important duty or status for that matter — but the chief has always seen otherwise and as your mentor, he has sent you to the summit to meet the leaders of other nations. You were chosen to speak for them, to show fortitude and courage. But unlike your words of conviction and strength, you know deep down inside that the hatred will always remain. As long as there are people who can remember, who have lived to see the death and calamity, there will always be resentment against your people. After all, the war had encased the land in an endless winter.

[Act I] Fire. Everything burns. It is crimson, tangerine, gold — like the colour of the rising and falling sun. But the dancing flames spreads in an uncomfortable heat that nearly burns off your skin. You gasp for air as the smog consumes and you wheeze, mouth becoming dry from the black smoke. The sizzling inferno roars, intense and angry. You shout for help, stumbling out of your room with your voice still hoarse from sleep, but no one comes. You dispel ice from your hands. Icicles attack the flames and you call forth a blizzard but the blaze is too strong. The light that burns your eyes blows towards you, swelling with a rumble and you are forced to retreat, forced to run outside. There, in the midst of chaos, there is a sharp call of your name. You whirl around and see the man you most despise. But he holds you like he is most glad to see you are still alive. “Yoongi!” You pull him away from you, straining your throat to shout at him. And you point to the fire consuming the tents and wooden building. The summit was in flames. “Did you do this? Did you do this?!” “There was someone of ice here!” He shouts above the fire. “I don’t know who! I couldn’t see their face but someone from your nation was here and I had to fight them. They—They got away.” You don’t understand, plunged into utter confusion, but as the flames crack and sputter, you know there’s no time to dwell on his explanation. “Do something then! You did this! We...we need to wake everyone up! We need to save them!” “Y/N!” Yoongi’s hand curls over your wrist as you turn around. His warm skin meets your cold flesh and you flinch back, retracting away as if he has burnt you. “They’ve been poisoned.” Poisoned. In the dead of the night. Leaders and rulers. Representatives from all five nations. You were not unspared — but rather, they couldn’t get to you in time. Not when Yoongi had caught the strange shadow in the corridor, and they had run away before they were harmed, and he consumed this place in a furious fire. Haeun. Haeun….you can’t let her die like this. “What are you doing?!” Yoongi shouts when you begin to run into the blaze. Ice dispels from your fingertips, a sleet of snow that pushes through your hands, but the flames only seem to become angrier. Your feet root to the ground and the wall of ice you craft shatters before it can even be built around the inferno. You scream, mustering whatever is left inside of you. “Haeun!” But it is never enough. You rush forward, but you can never step foot inside the burning building. Not when Yoongi’s grip latches onto your arm, holding you back before you can get too close to the fire and succumb to the temperature. “Have you gone insane?! You will die!” “Let me go, Yoongi!” You shriek at him with the insanity of a grieving sister, with the agony of someone who has only lost loved ones. “Let go of me!” You can’t leave her behind. You can’t let her pass on alone. She would be terrified, scared without someone beside her. “They’ve all been poisoned!” Yoongi yells and turns you around so you face the barren lands, away from the fire so you can merely feel the heat on your back. But when the man from the Fire Nation embraces you, the uncomfortable warmth returns. Your fingernails curl and you fight against his binds before your whole body is set aflame. “T-Then I need to get her body! Our people are buried in glaciers, without it their souls won’t rise to Heaven. P-Please,” you beg with him, pleading with the man and you press your palms together as if he is someone you can pray to for mercy. “Please, Y-Yoongi.” “I’m sorry.” Haeun was your younger sister through bond — the few family members that you have left after the war. She is your responsibility, your loved one. You were witness to her birth, grew up with her, played with her, cared for her after her parents passed. She merely lived fourteen years of her eighty year life. And she will never find peace in a burning place like this. How will you face your people like this. How will you face Haeun’s brothers like this. “Let me go.” Blood-curdling shrieks tear from your broken chest, ones that you don’t recognize as your own. Your calm demeanor melts away, replaced with pain and sorrow. It’s a sight that frightens Yoongi and makes him tremble. “Since when have you cared if I lived or died?!” “I won’t let you go.” Heart-wrenching sobs break through your frame, icicles falling from your eyes and down your cheeks. Your legs weaken until you have fallen to the ground and you hold yourself, helplessly watching the fire engulf your world. There’s nothing neither of you can do, but simply watch as the crimson, tangerine, and gold burn throughout the night. Until the roof has collapsed and the entrances are indistinguishable from the walls. Yoongi stands, paralyzed as you are. And when your tears run out, you remain silent. You watch the way the smoke curls in the sky, vanishing after a distance like it never existed and a part of you inside withers with it. The fire continues until dawn when the flames are eventually smothered, leaving mountains of ashes and destruction in its wake. A lone hawk flies through the sky. Its piercing and dignified cry taking your attention. Yoongi whistles for it through his fingers and it slows its descent, circling the area above your heads before landing on the arm he lifts up. He receives the scroll tied to its ankle and releases the bird to fly back to where it came from. He reads the encryption and then the parchment perishes in his palms, burnt to a crisp like your companion hours prior. “What did it say?” you ask while looking ahead quietly, enunciating each syllable through a raspy voice. Yoongi remains silent as if he does not want to share, but when he is ready, he does. “The Earth Family has been killed. There is war. The Fire Nation has begun their march to the Capital.” The royal family deceased. The throne empty. History repeats. But you aren’t shocked or surprised, not when you feel empty like the barren land in front of you. Not when you have served witness to such devastation. “Who is responsible?” Yoongi remains silent. You press on, turning towards him, stumbling on your feet to rise again. “Who is responsible?” The man with charcoal hair and cat-like, tired eyes hesitates. “The Ice people.” It’s impossible. You know them well, you live among them, you are them. You’ve never even heard of such a proposition, never heard of such plans being made to overthrow the kingdom. And you know they would never seek revenge. They would never attempt to rule the continent again after the destruction of the last war. The Chief, your nation has learnt their lessons. You have lost far too many people, suffered far too much for such a greedy purpose. But maybe you are wrong. Maybe they knew how you would disagree, that you would act as the voice of dissuasion. Perhaps they let you and Haeun come to the summit on purpose as sacrifice. You have been betrayed. “Then we march to the Capital as well.” You look beyond the horizon to where the rising sunlight casts its luminescence. The man beside you furrows his brows. “They are your family.” “Family or not, I can’t ignore what they have done wrong.” Your fist tightens as you make your vow to instill what is right. Your strong gaze meets Yoongi’s uncertain one. “I will repent for my people if I have to.”

[Act II] Air. You cannot breathe. The air is cold, crisp and hard to take in. You should be used to it when back at home, the frost has been embedded into the atmosphere and your lungs turn cold through the winter. But it is still difficult here. Maybe you have stayed too long around the fire. Yoongi releases the hawk into the air and it takes flight, a scroll he wrote attached to its ankle as it flies from the direction it came from. “I received news. My clan is moving towards the Capital. They’ve fought with the Ice people, but we may be able to meet with them soon.” You nod. Fire and ice are natural contradictions of each other. They are equally matched in the balance of elements and you are glad that Yoongi’s nation is readily fighting against yours. The two of you continue trekking on the mountainside, staying undetected from others who may have ill intentions. It is tense and quiet between you both. There is nothing but the sound of the air moving through the sky and the noise of your footsteps against the gravel and rocky terrain. Never in your right mind would you have ever imagined yourself journeying through the land with Min Yoongi. As natural opposites of each other, it is instinctive not to be fond of one another. You have seen each other since young, brief moments of time throughout the years — by visits of the Fire Nation, when he came along with members of his clan to visit your own nation, and summit meetings you had joined your father back when there was still peace among the continent. Yet now instead of being children running through the thick forest, throwing ice at him until he’s frost bitten and him accidentally burning you with his fire, you walk in silence. You are unable to find the strength to banter, to bicker as you had as teenagers. There is nothing to say. You are grief-ridden. Yoongi is exhausted. But the sole sound of the air moving through the sky is interrupted when the back of your hands graze and you flinch back. Yoongi’s touch burns you. He notices and steals a glance of you before looking away. He clears his throat. “Why are you so cold?” “I’ve always been like this, haven’t you noticed,” you question in a mutter. “It’s because I bend ice. All Ice people are cold, but I’m used to it.” He says nothing more and when the sun begins to set on the horizon, the pair of you prepare to camp for the night in a damp cave. Your stomach is full of a bird that was hunted and cooked, but it does little to settle the sickly feeling inside of you. Yoongi sits cross-legged on the ground, bending the campfire at will to make sure it stays alive throughout the night. But you stay at a distance, knees gathered together, back against the wall. If you come too close, it will burn you, so you watch it flicker from afar. The small flames are dancing, smoke rising, and you listen to it crackle and sputter. It is crimson, tangerine, gold — like the colour of the rising and falling sun. It reminds you of last night. And you suddenly feel a need to gasp for air, as if the smog will consume you. It’s hard to breathe. “We will continue on the path in the morning,” Yoongi suddenly says, hands placed back into his lap and breaking you out of your horrifying memory. You look at him across the cave and fire, where his softened features are illuminated in the golden light. “But there will be two paths we can take. Up the mountain or towards the stream.” “What’s the difference?” “The stream is safer, but the mountain is faster.” “Up the mountain then,” you insist. “If it means we’ll be there quicker. There’s no time to waste.” “Are you sure?” “Yes.” You place your chin on top of your arms, watching the fire. “Go to bed,” Yoongi says gently, more than what you’ve ever been used to. “There’s a long day ahead.” “I’m not sure I can count on you to keep watch.” What was meant to be lighthearted and mischievous sounds too serious and sincere. You didn’t mean to say it in that way, but you cannot control the sadness in your voice. “I won’t hurt you,” Yoongi says. “I have no reason to.” You end up laying down on the ground, facing away from the fire that keeps you warm.

[Act III] Earth. The ground begins to morph the farther you go upwards. The gravel becomes moist, the soil fertile and from below, it is no longer a desolate land. There are grand trees and verdant bushery, a winding forest that shifts and transforms to confuse its travelers. You begin to hear the birds — singing or crying, you’re not too sure. Soon, the slope begins to go downwards into a clearing and you stop when you catch sight of ashes. “Yoongi.” You halt him, but he had already seen it and began to slow. There is no longer fire. No longer smoke. But if you closed your eyes, you could see it in front of you. You can hear the terrified screams, the cries of children, the call of one another’s names. It is frightening but you move ahead where the fertile land has been singed. “My people were here,” Yoongi murmurs as he crouches down, laying his hand on the soil that is still hot to the touch. “They must’ve been chasing yours….” There is nothing left of the once lively village. All the buildings have been burnt. Bones no longer left after being charred. There are only scalded wooden frames of what were homes, where people raised their children and slept through the night. The remains of the Earth Nation’s flag flies from its post, crisp at the edges and the emblem scorched away. It has become a town of mourning ghosts. Yoongi looks over the horizon. “There’s nothing here.” Yet against his words, there is rustling in a nearby bush. It puts you both on alarm, knees bent, hands raising. A path of icicles dispels from your fingertips while Yoongi whips around. His black robes with red embedded at the hem catches the air and his feet swipes against the soil, a road of fire burning from his feet. But you hear a sharp gasp. And through a small opening of branches, you see doe eyes. “Stop!” you scream at Yoongi and push a hand against his chest. You cry when the touch burns you, but his flames retract at once. “Are you okay?!” He searches your expression, but you have no time to answer. Your desperate eyes move towards the vegetation and you step forward. “Come out! I can see you.” The bush rustles. What emerges is a little girl. Dark hair tied into two buns at the top sides of her head, smog and soot pressed on her face, a dirtied form-fitting dress of the Earth Nation hugging her frame. “A child,” Yoongi murmurs in consternation. “We won’t hurt you,” you tell the Earth Bender, lowering yourself and softening your expression. But the girl, no more than five years old, shakes her head and refuses to come forth. “I promise.” There’s a crackle of flames to your left that catches your focus, small but consuming the wooden planks and your hand flies out. You extinguish it with a shower of ice crystals falling from the sky. She watches in awe and you smile gently. “I won’t hurt you,” you repeat sternly, but gently, and this time it seems to be enough. The girl hesitantly approaches and you ask her, “What is your name?” She doesn’t respond, doesn’t utter a single word. The girl simply takes your hand and draws her name on your open palm. Haru. She moves to stick by your side, right by your leg and tilts to stare at Yoongi from a distance. Her eyes are empty and she blinks at him. “We have to take her somewhere where it’s safe,” you tell him. “There’s no one here.” He agrees. Camp is set earlier before the sun has even gone down. While you would be opposed, wanting to make it as far as you can before it was impossible to go any further, there was a new companion on your journey and you didn’t want to push the girl any more than what she’s already been through today. She stays by your side for the entire afternoon and evening without speaking once. But that doesn’t mean her companionship is unfelt. While collecting water by a nearby stream, you glance at her profile that’s watching the water intently. The little girl is crouched beside you and you smile gently. “Want to see something?” Her curious stare moves onto your face and your hand stretches towards a cluster of rocks by the river. Haru watches in astonishment as your fingers curl and uncurl, and a transparent lily grows through the little snow you create. It is transparent blue, made of icicles, but still as lovely. The corner of her lips quirk for the first time since you’ve met her and she looks at the ice lily from all angles. Haru attempts to hold it up and she manages to pluck it from the rocks, but it eventually becomes too cold and slips from her fingers. The flower shatters on impact, at the moment it reaches the ground. “It’s okay,” you say. “I can make more.” But instead of the girl looking at you to do so, she moves to the side where the grass is and whirls her tiny hand around a small patch. A red flower grows, stem pulling from the ground before petals bloom from the bud created. Once it’s spiraled to a full flower, she plucks it and leans up to put it in your hair, tucking it right behind your ear. You smile. “Thank you.” And when Yoongi sees it, his expression softens into a smile as well. One you’ve never seen on him. “What do we do?” you ask him that very night over the crackle of the fire and with Haru asleep, her head laid in your lap as you stroke her. “Where do we bring her? She can’t come to the Capital with us. It’s too dangerous.” “It’s okay,” he comforts you even if you don’t voice your concerns out loud. He knows you enough to be able to read your expressions. “We’ll find her a safe place. I know one that’s nearby.” “Really?” The man nods, bending the fire so the heat lessens. “A city that has remained isolated since the war. We can head towards it.” “Thank you, Yoongi.” “You don’t need to thank me.” He smiles across the fire. “We’re in this together.” Yoongi is reliable, more than you have ever given him credit for. It is in the wake of calamity, that you find how soothing and dependable it is — and you are sad that you only see it now. He is strong, a comforting and safe force that you can lean against in the time of war. Yoongi keeps you grounded. It’s in the middle of the following day with the sweltering sun beating down your backs that you can see it in the distance — timber logs tied tightly together to create a wall, blocking the view of the town inside that’s barricaded and fortified from the threats of the outside world. You brace yourselves, approaching slowly as refugees and Haru reaches up, taking you by surprise when she grasps your hands. But one look at the child and you squeeze her palm. She does not flinch from your cold skin. “Stop!” There’s a booming voice that rumbles throughout the clearing, echoing in your ears. The closed doors are in your reach, a few meters away but still far enough that the future of the girl whose hand you hold remains uncertain. A broad man appears at the top of the barricades, dressed in furs and a hat with a feather. He stands tall with his hands behind his back. “We mean no harm!” Yoongi steps forward. “There has been another coup! We simply seek asylum!” But the gates remain closed. The man stares down at the three of you. “What kind of benders are you?” he asks, timbre resounding around your bodies. “And don’t lie because we’ll know!” “I am a Fire Bender,” Yoongi declares and glances at you hesitantly. “The girl...she’s an Earth Bender. We are of no threat to you.” “But what about the other?” He points to you and a lie lays heavy on Yoongi’s tongue, ready to spill without a blink. But you know they’ll find out one way or another, whether it's through touching your skin or them telling you to spread your palms and bend the element you were born with. You can’t let him lie for you. The truth remains on your shoulders, one you must accept that is inborn and ancestral. No matter where you go, you will always carry this tragedy with you. “She is—” “I am an Ice Bender.” Your voice pierces through the ground, loud enough that it shocks Yoongi and Haru’s hand tightens on yours. You face them with your heart laid in your hands, with pleading sincerity in your eyes. “Please—” Yet at once, archers raise from their post, over the wall with their bows drawn and their arrows pointed at you. You’re prepared to shut your eyes, accept your fate. But Yoongi instinctively throws himself in front of you, protecting you with his body. His arms spread, shielding you away from the danger. “Please!” He begs and Min Yoongi, son the most important Fire clan does not beg. “We mean no harm!” “Yoongi. Stop it.” You grab onto his arm before letting go, but he is relentless. “Don’t do this.” “Trader!” The man shouts directly at you. “Scum of the Earth, how dare you stand before me and ask for refuge. What audacity you have after massacring my people!” His face is a vivid shade of scarlet, features twisted and the veins in his neck popped from yelling. He is one moment away from unleashing the sea of arrows before you three. “I mean no harm.” Your voice musters composure. “Please, just let the man and girl go through.” You need to give them the best chance. The man shielding you turns in horror. It seems for the first time, he is looking at you clearly and he calls you softly in a way that reminds you of when you were younger and free. “Y/N.” “They are innocent. Please, the child doesn’t have a family anymore. They were all killed. She has nowhere to go. She will die out here. I will leave. Right away. Just let them through.” You hold Haru’s hand and the man at the top of the barricades finally takes notice of the little girl by your side, hugging your leg. Her eyes hold fear, rounded tears threatened at her lashes. There is a moment of silence. The man grunts. “Only the child and the man. You must leave. Any tricks, girl, and you will die.” You nod and the archers never stand down, but slowly the gates begin to open. It creaks, massive wooden doors that lead a single path downwards and you push Haru forth. Yoongi turns. “I am not leaving you behind.” You gently smile at him — wanting to lift your hand and caress his cheek as a final farewell, but unable to do so when his skin burns yours. Yoongi has taken care of you for so long, now it’s your turn to do the same for him. “It’s too dangerous going to the Capital. They will hurt you, Yoongi. They won’t hurt me. It’s safer here. You will be able to join your people sooner.” “I’m not leaving you.” His gaze is stern, holding your stare. Your chest aches at his refusals, making it harder than it needs to be but you feel grateful to his loyalty, knowing that he would never abandon you out of his own will. “Yoongi, you have to. It’s okay. It’s your best chance and I have to give you that.” “You’re not hearing me. I’m not.” He remains steadfast and you wish he wasn’t so stubborn. That he wouldn’t be so hot-headed and passionate. That he could be as cold as you are and could desert you the way you wish he would. “What’s going on?!” The man from the top of the barricades shouts down. Time is running out. “The child goes.” Yoongi announces, whirling around. “I stay with her.” The yell of his name through your lips goes ignored. The man stares down at the three of you and takes a moment before he nods. “Very well.” Haru shuffles forward. She walks slowly ahead, feet digging against the dirt by her lonesome. And when she turns around one final time, her eyes are glossy. The child stares at both you and Yoongi. Her lips part to shout something. But by then, the gates close with a thump with the two of you on the other side.

[Act IV] Water. The sky is blackened and the rain comes down in sheets, a cold downpour that collects in puddles and drenches anything from below. It flows in streams, flooding the area — it pounds against the cave that you have sought refuge in — it is soothing. The Heavens are crying, but it still wouldn’t be enough to extinguish the Fire Nation’s flames used to fight against your people. You wish you were a Water Bender. All your life you have had this plaguing thought of impossibility. It would have been an easier life to bend the force that every living entity needs. That is naturally peaceful. That is needed and loved. It would have been easier to wield the rain and not the snow. To dust flowers with morning dew and not wither them in your frost. To live in surrounding rivers and oceans, and not freezing glaciers and floes. It would have been easier to be born into a nation that wasn’t hated — a people that wasn’t inherently evil, greedy, and cold. “I wonder why they did it.” Yoongi’s head shifts at your voice. He looks away from the fire he has created, the warmth he has made to shield the damp outside. You listen to the flicker of the flames, the crackle and sputter with the droplets of rain descending from above. “Why do you think they did it?” you ask, wondering if your people did it for revenge or for their pride. “I wish I knew,” Yoongi murmurs wistfully, eyes faraway. “Maybe because of greed. People always want more.” If you weren’t an Ice Bender, you wouldn’t have to be so cold all the time. “Do you think we are inherently evil?” “No. You aren’t.” “You don’t know that. What if—” “But I do,” he says with such conviction that you want to believe him. If he told you that the fault of the war wasn’t solely on your people, you would believe him. If he told you that it wasn’t the fault of your nation, you would believe him. If he told you to run away with him, you would believe him. “You aren’t evil, Y/N.” You stare at the fire he’s bent, the flames that dance and casts your shadows against the cavern walls. “What is it like, Yoongi?” “Hmm?” Your eyes meet his softened ones. “What is it like to provide warmth to someone?” He doesn’t answer. He doesn’t reply with that husky voice of his, allowing it to rumble over the noise of the rain and fire. Instead, he stands and moves to sit in front of you. He is close and you begin to shift away when he faces you, unable to handle the intensity of his gaze. “Don’t touch me,” you whisper. “I’m cold and you’re too warm, you might kill me.” Yoongi’s cat-like eyes pierce through you. The corners of his lips curl. “Do you trust me?” Your reply comes in the form of meeting his irises, of not flinching when he lifts his hands. His palms press against your cheeks gently, cradling your face. The temperature of his flesh sears against yours, almost painfully, but never does it burn. He leans in close until you can feel his breath against your lips. And your eyes flutter shut. Yoongi presses his forehead to yours. He murmurs something beneath his breath, soft and gentle but indiscernible to you. It is an intimate gesture. One where you can feel him entirely without him needing to lay a touch on you elsewhere. Of where you feel like your chest is on fire. Where your despair seems to dissipate for a mere moment. There is no one here but you and him. But he pulls apart from you too soon for you to savour his affection. The warmth is gone. Yet strangely, you don’t feel as cold as before. “It was a warmth spell for...protection,” Yoongi tells and swallows hard. He’s breathing heavily, winded from the incantation. “The Fire people, we can only ever give it to one person. We’ll be at the Capital tomorrow and I don’t know what will happen, so I need to make sure you’re safe.” An enchantment of protection — only ever given to one person. You don’t ask him why he has chosen you. Why he has given a part of himself to you. Why he feels a need to protect you more than himself. You don’t ask him why, too afraid when you don’t know the outcome of tomorrow. Too afraid of voicing the feelings sweltering inside of you, only to be filled with devastation and loss. “I wish there was something I could give to you,” you finally say after a long pause. The two of you gaze at one another, unspoken yearning lingering between the spaces. “I wish…” “I don’t need anything,” Yoongi tells you and smiles tenderly as if to say he already has everything that he needs inside this empty cavern. The night is restless. Water drums down from the skies, drenching the Earth in its rain, but your soul is on fire. Your eyes meet Yoongi’s across the dancing, flickering flames, both unable to sleep. And when morning comes, the rain stops. There is still silence as you collect your little belongings and start the final trek to the Capital. It’s a downhill path, easier than it’s ever been when you don’t want it to be. When you want to hang onto this moment a while longer. But it inevitably comes sooner the more you wish it wouldn’t. Although strangely, it is quiet. The Capital is seemingly undamaged. You don’t see anyone. Any guards. Any people. There is no devastation, no ruined homes or ravages at first sight. It has been abandoned. A ghost territory without the bustle or scurry of what makes it alive. You can see this, even as you take the outer path to avoid traps, circling around the town until the palace is in reach. “Something’s not right,” you tell him and he only agrees, apprehension in each of his movements. But the only way to seek the truth is in the heart of it all. Whatever you find in the palace, you know you and Yoongi will be there together…. The pair of you enter. The grand doors are already open and you stalk the path towards the throne room. But your feet halt at the entrance, right where the carpet begins and your eyes stray to where it ends at the seat of the Emperor. They are there, gathered around the hall. As if they were waiting for you, to welcome you. But you don’t see your people. You don’t see the colour of blue. You don’t see ice. You see red. It is crimson, tangerine, gold — like the colour of the rising and falling sun. The flag on fire hangs from the top of the post, fluttering in the breeze, lit with flames that never burn the fabric. The guards are dressed in red armour. The maids in red robes. Yoongi’s father wears red and sits at the throne. Warm. Scorching. The surrounding flames are dancing, the smoke rising, and it crackles and sputters. It burns your skin. “No…” You shake your head, stumbling back. When you turn around, the guards block your way. The once empty courtyard is now filled with his people, fire at their fingertips. You were watched the minute you trekked down from the mountains. You were watched the entire way here by one man…. “Yoongi!” You whirl around, shrieking his name at the top of your lungs and blood curdles at the back of your throat as his name tears from it. Just a few moments ago, you would have been content with his name being the last thing whispered from your dying breath — and now you scream it with the force of your despair. “Yoongi!” The dark-haired man stands there, face expressionless, eyes simply pinned on yours. You are blocked by the guards, fighting against their hold as he remains motionless and an arm’s length away from you. “Welcome to the new empire,” his father greets with a smile. “We’ve been waiting for you, Y/N.” But you don’t listen. You are fighting against the grief of Yoongi’s betrayal. “You—You framed my people!” He kept you away from the towns, away from the main roads to prevent the news from reaching your ears. The Ice Nation never sought revenge. They were slaughtered. “You poisoned them! You killed Haeun! You lied to me!” Fury and hatred blooms inside your chest. It ruptures until all you see is red — the disgusting shades of scarlet and crimson. You turn mad from your own wrath, from your own sorrow. The agony that bleeds through your body causes your sceam to be pitched and tortured. You fight helplessly against the guards’ hold as the shriek of his name is forced out your mouth, wracking throughout your entire body. It’s an unbearable pain that has set your blood aflame. “Yoongi! You motherfucker—! I hate you! I hate you!” It’s heartache. “Take her away.” You scream his name until the end.

[Act V] Ice. It’s what you are made of. It’s what’s inside of you. What comes from your fingertips, what has been ingrained into your soul and blood. And it’s what you’ve doubted — the very being of your existence, your own heritage, your own family. What he’s made you detested about yourself, about your people. You were betrayed. Lied to. Tricked. Fooled. He only protected you because he had to. Because they needed the blood of someone from each Nation to claim the throne for his family, because they needed someone of ice. Every act, every gesture, every promise was a part of his trickery. Yoongi stopped you running into the fire, not because he cared, but because he needed you alive. Every word of comfort spoken from those lips of his was not to sooth your worries, but for you to confide your secrets in him. The way he stood in front of you with his arms spread wide to take on the onslaught of arrows was not a gesture to protect you, but an act to gain your undying trust. And he held you that night to completely blind you. Everything that Yoongi did for you, to you was part of his deception. His shadow casts as he approaches your prison cell, holding fire in his hand and illuminating the darkness enough to see your silhouette. You turn away from the flickering flame like a wounded animal, holding your knees together, hair covering your tear-stricken cheeks. “Don’t look at me.” You never wanted to look so weak, to be so defeated. Not in front of him, the boy you have known and fought with since young. But your plea goes unheard. He remains standing there, the two of you separated by steel bars and his betrayal. “Don’t look at me!” Your voice raises, hoarse and unrecognizable to the ears. “Leave me alone!” “Let me see you,” he murmurs, so gently you might have mistaken it for the man you had known for the past few weeks and not the man that reality has brought you. Yoongi begs, the flame in his hand glowing dimly, a shade of canary. “Please, Y/N. I want to see you one last time.” You turn around, slowly, enough that your features are illuminated in his golden light. And Yoongi’s breath hitches. You are beaten. Brutalized. Bleeding. He can see the marks of the whip, of where your lip has split entirely. They didn’t even put you under the heat of their fire, simply struck you with ordinary objects to demean you further. And you look at him with bitter eyes. “Is this what you wanted?” “No.” You don’t believe him. “I despise you, Min Yoongi.” You will be executed at the foot of the throne come dawn. It’s the only way the crown will accept the head of the new ruler. The only way a new empire can begin. This is the end — and you would have rathered died by jumping through Yoongi’s fire all those weeks ago. “I hate you,” you tell him through clenched teeth. “From this life to the next, I will never stop detesting your very soul. I will never cease or breathe or live if I know you are still in this world. I will never stop loathing you with every fibre of my being, with every breath that I have. I will never stop cursing your name or damning you into Hell. I hate you. I hate you!” You scream with your limbs restrained, like a wild animal being kept in a cage. Anger drives you to the brink of insanity. And the man remains standing there, looking at you with an unreadable expression until he smothers out the fire in his hand and fades away into the darkness, a meaningless apology spoken in his place. “I’m sorry.” You don’t sleep, not when oblivion will be inevitable. You know you won’t find rest in the afterlife, not when your body is disposed of here, not when you know the calamity that is to come. And as you torture yourself in self-hatred, knowing this has been caused because you doubted and betrayed your people — because you naively trusted a man who used his affections to fool you — morning arrives. The sunlight is bleary in your eyes as they pull you out, marching you towards your death. In the throne room, you see Yoongi standing in his black robes by his family’s side, but you are dragged past him. You’re made to kneel, head pushed on the ground in front of the throne. “Ice Bender, give your blood willingly to the new empire or die trying to fight like your people have.” Your hair is yanked back, forced to look up at the so-called Emperor. “The Heavens will never grant you the right to rule,” you respond through a clenched jaw. “A dog has no right to be master of the household as an ordinary man does not have the right to be Emperor. Do you have no shame?” Yoongi’s father merely laughs. “You have much irony, girl. Your people once tried to sit here themselves too, but failed. I, however, will succeed. And you have no choice. The Ice Nation has refused to join hands with me, refused to offer a droplet of their blood in front of the crown, so I’ve had them massacred. You have no reason to fight. Your family is dead. You are the last of them.” You scream, shouting obscenities and curses, fighting against your binds. The guards stumble as you manage to get onto your feet, mustering the strength to rip off the ropes you had loosened hours ago. But they remain undeterred. An adviser from afar conjures fire in his hands, bending it at will into a ball and he sends it barreling towards you. But you don’t notice. It ricochets off before if it can even hit within an arm’s distance of your form. Like a shield or a bubble has been casted over you. Like an enchantment to protect you against the fire. Yoongi’s father is stunned and his eyes stray to where his son is watching. Your hands clench and ice sprays from your skin. The walls of the palace bleed with ice, frost growing like the plague until the floors and the ceiling have all been consumed by it. Every fire lit is smothered, flames frozen in the midst of their dance. The shards spiral from your body, crystals that catch the light mid-air and even glisten before they attack the guards. The icicles puncture through their chests and kill them instantly before they could even draw their breaths or cry for their family. Your eyes darken and you remain with your feet rooted in your spot, a creeping coldness sweeping into the room. It is a blizzard, the gust whipping through your hair as the orbs of ice shoot from your form and whistle in the wind as it kills. You are merciless, frost-bitten, cold. And they yell, scream, try to defeat you to no avail. Their fire never once touches you. Those that run, you slaughter. Those that try to fight, you slaughter. Those that remain frozen, you slaughter. It is a massacre where you remain unscathed. Yoongi’s father steps forward, but before fire can erupt from his fingertips, ice spirals from his feet to his knees. It grows around his torso, his neck and he becomes wrapped in ice, gaping for breath. His eyes are wide and he calls out his son’s name brokenly before he is completely sheathed in ice. A statue that only looks on in fear. When silence befalls, you turn to the only man who remains. Who you’ve kept alive. A shard of ice forms in your hand as you walk towards him. And as you grip it, you begin to run. You shout his name through gritted teeth, throat straining. You can’t believe…. You can’t believe you could’ve ever loved him. Tiny beads of ice flow from your eyes, down your cheeks, into the air. They sparkle and shimmer like jewels and Yoongi hitches his breath, watching how pretty they glisten. A tiny smile graces his lips before he is stabbed by you. Before his lungs gasp and he feels his stomach being punctured by a sudden coldness that bursts in his body, before he can feel it being driven inside of him. Yoongi wraps his arms around your trembling frame. Around your shoulders and he forces you close, not to withdraw so quickly and deprive him of the last feeling he wants. “I’ve always wanted to hug you like this,” Yoongi chuckles lowly. He digs his nose into your shoulder, into your hair and inhales a shallow breath. His heart slows, chests pressed against yours, his exhale creating a cloud that emits from his parted lips. He is no longer hot to the touch, his skin no longer burning against yours. Yoongi shivers. His feet, legs, arms are slowly encased in your ice. “I hope...we don’t meet in the next life or the one after that. Never again,” he sighs and shuts his eyes to savour the feeling of holding you. “I want you to be free of me. T-That’s...the only way you can be…..hap...py...” You sob, grasping at him, but Yoongi’s embrace only weakens. And after a moment, he freezes in your grasps. Then he shatters through your fingertips into a million shards of ice.

[Epilogue] You are on your knees once more. But this time, you are being crowned a hero. It is a victory. And once the grand doors open, the people are seen cheering, erupting into endless applause. They are smiling wide, gratitude etched into their expressions. You have brought honour upon your nation, restored glory to your people. But you cannot hear the celebrations, cannot hear the thunderous chants of your name. It is merely a hum in your ears. You feel cold.

#bts fanfic #bts angst #yoongi angst #yoongi fanfic #suga fanfic #Y'ALL LET'S GET BACK ON THE TRAIN OF ANGST #ngl this hurts #if you wanna amp it up another notch listen to the playlist I made for this #you can find my music playlists at the bottom of my masterlist #anyways enjoy

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raz-b-rose · 4 years ago

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Hey so,, the Bible states that Eating burgers is a sin Women speaking in church is a sin Wearing blended fabric is a sin Eating SHRIMP is talked about more in the Bible as a sin than homisexuality is Women wearing pants is a sin Writing in your Bible or defacing it in any way is a sin Do some research on your own religion if you're going to preach it

Thank you for asking, I love this opportunity to help bring understanding to commands such as these. Thank you for your patience, lets get to it.

I can understand the overwhelming presence that is Gods word. Its a big book full of a lot of things that take a lot of cross referencing on occasion. After all, it is just one continuous story of God who was and is and always will be.

Warning, there's a lot.

Anyway there is a simple answer to all of those and it starts all the way back at Abraham. Some quick condensed history. God chose Abraham to establish the Hebrew/Jewish people. He faithfully followed Gods commands, and Isaac was born from his faithfulness and for Gods promise. A promise that Abraham’s offspring would cover the earth.

Isaac then had Esau and Jacob. Jacob then had 12 sons, Joseph the youngest was used to bring the Israelite people to Egypt. Where the Egyptians turned them into slaves.

Now enter Moses. God used this man to bring them out of Egypt and towards the promise land. This is where God starts to establish what would set his chosen people apart from the rest of the world. The old laws were there for their faithful obedience and for outsiders to know “thats an Israelite”.

The entirety of the OT speaks of Gods character, plans for salvation, and absolute authority. The laws are a reflection of that as well.

so now we have the group of laws God had Moses establish.

Now Jesus fulfilled the OT law.

Matthew 5:17-20 (Jesus speaking)

17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. 19 Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least vin the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great vin the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Part of that fulfillment was the laws on food. Food was used to represent Holiness/ cleanliness. Everything about them had to be clean (their bodies, their homes, their sacrifices, etc.) Blemish free.

The Pharisees had twisted the laws to become legalistic and strict. An example would be here

Mark 7:14-23 (Jesus speaking)

14 And he called the people to him again and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand: 15 There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him.”[e]17 And when he had entered the house and left the people, his disciples asked him about the parable. 18 And he said to them, “Then are you also without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile him, 19 since it enters not his heart but his stomach, and is expelled?”[f] (Thus he declared all foods clean.) 20 And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. 21 For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, 22 coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. 23 All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”

Food isn't what makes us unclean anymore, but rather the condition of our heart.

There is also a lot of debate over Acts 10:9-16

But I believe this passage has a double meaning. God is reminding Peter that he does not need to be legalistic to be “clean” anymore. Therefore the laws for food were fulfilled. This is reflected in his interpretation of the vision in verses 27-29.

Remember there was clean food and unclean food. Same for people. You weren't to associate with “unclean people”. Jesus fulfilled this law by opening the path to God to everyone, not just Jews. God gave the great commission to go out into all the world to everyone to preach the good news. This meant that anyone now had direct access to God, and the Jews no longer had to go through the extra steps to seek forgiveness. Salvation is within everyone's grasp, no matter what.

The command for blended fabric fits with these as well.

Deuteronomy 22:9-11

“You shall not sow your vine yard with two kinds of seed, lest the whole yield be forfeited, the crop that you have sown and the yield of the vineyard. You shall not plow with an ox and a donkey together. You shall not wear cloth of wool and linen mixed together.

By reading this we see the pattern that God is commanding that things that are different should be kept separate. Again we need context of the time.

Pagans in the area believed that by mixing things together they would achieve “magical” results. So God made this law to set them apart from them. He reaffirms this command, even going as far as to say not to let cattle bread with different cattle, in Leviticus 19:19.

In todays context, what sets us apart from others is our internal change that is projected outward. We become lights for God, and show Him through our change. Of course none of us are perfect, and if we aren't careful it can quickly become fake and legalistic.

We can wear blended fabric because Jesus fulfilled this law.

Next keeping with our fabric theme, clothing. This verse comes from Deuteronomy as well, so I will just put the link for both here.

Deuteronomy 22:5

“A woman shall not wear a man’s clothing, nor shall a man put on a woman’s clothing; for whoever does these things is utterly repulsive to the Lord your God.”

Some pretty strong language right there, but it's important to acknowledge why. We are sinners. God set very clear laws on what was and wasn't allowed. Remember that was to set His people apart, and to test their faithfulness.

Historically at the time men and women dressed very similarly. There were cultural ways used to discern between genders and that is what this verse is talking about here. Men did not wear pants when this law was written (at least not by the Jewish people) so why would it be a sin for women to wear pants today? It simply isn't. (Just because human men decided to use the bible to push their weird sexist agenda via mistranslation, does not mean this is what this verse intended.)

To apply it to a modern setting, it would be “why are you wearing what you are? How do you want people to perceive you? What is your heart behind wearing these clothes?”

So really this is another verse directly tied to transgendered identity sin, again a pagan tradition at the time.

ALL SIN is repulsive to the Lord. (The Hebrew word used in this verse is found all throughout the OT, with various uses.) Yes God established the laws, but He also established the sacrificial system for His people as well. He loved them, loved us, and gave them a way to atone for their sins and find forgiveness from God.

But the sacrifice of animals could only go so far. That is why Jesus came to be the final sacrifice. The Lamb of Salvation for us. He willingly gave His life for us, just as we can willingly continue to sin against Him, or willingly give our lives to Him.

Jesus fulfilled the laws and abolished the need for the sacrificial system.

OK this one has no verse in the bible that God commands us to not write in our bibles. None. Unless I’m just having trouble finding it, it's not a thing.

The sin is changing the words, as some translations do so you have to be very careful about which ones you use.

I got a book from the library years ago that was like a devotional for teen girls. In the book it had a verse from Psalms that sounded weird to me and when I compared the translation to my ESV, it had removed the part about God's faithfulness and love. Took it right out. That is a huge problem!

I know that translating the Hebrew and Greek to English is very difficult, especially given how the Greek had multiple words for love alone, and many other words. However, the languages are not so vastly different that you make changes like that without a prideful agenda. Good translations that I use, ESV, NASB, AMP for study purposes. As well as NKJV if you like a classic. I’m constantly comparing translations, and looking at original texts to get a feeling for what words were used.

I encourage you to note your bible. Mark what speaks to you, the blessings, the commands, the warnings. Every time God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are mentioned, where verses intersect. Note everything.

For some of our brothers and sisters around the world they may only have a few pages to pass between each other, or are able to have His full word and treasure God's words dearly and keep everything they can close. They want to remember it all, and remember what they learn. And God wants that for us.

No writing in your bible is not a sin. Changing the words or removing them is a sin.

Ok now onto your “woman can’t speak in church” debate. 1 Corinthians 14. But because of everything I’m about to get into, this answer will be longer than the others. Feel free to stop here and come back. I know I’ve already written a lot.

First we need to look at the history of the city of Corinth, as when Paul wrote his letters, each one was tailored to the church in question and addressed their strengths and weaknesses.

The city of Corinth was a trade city set in a key location for sailors from all over the world. Its citizens were from all over the world, though mostly Roman, Greek, Jewish, and even a considerable amount of Italians. Because there was such a mix of cultures, there were a mix of religions.

The largest of these being the worship of the false goddess aphrodite. Sexual actions were common with her “temple” and prostitution was a rampant issue with the city. We have two sins of sexual nature and idol worship already. Within the church itself there were reports of incest, infighting, and drunkenness during services being reported as well.

Acts 10:1-23 is Paul's first visit to Corinth where he helped found the church. A family close to Paul and in the Corinthian church wrote to Paul with their concerns for how the church was conducting themselves. The 1 Corinthians letter (book) was written in response.

The church was a blend of Jews and Gentiles. So practices such as the aforementioned were common practice within the city and the Gentiles were at a loss for how to conduct themselves because these things were common during the worship of false gods.

Becoming Christ-like is a beautifully long process. It's not over night, no matter how much we wish it was. These people were still human and loved Christ but still knew very little about Him, and God the Father. (even some of the Jews had a lot of misconceptions they had to change)

So at the very beginning of his letter, Paul reminds them of their new identity. (1:1-9) and reaffirms their forgiveness through Gods grace and faithfulness to our salvation. Nothing we do after we accept His gift can revoke it. It is ours for all time for one time.

Woman and men were traditionally seated separately in synagogues so it makes sense that practice was still used in some new churches, such as that of the Corinthians, as they did have Jewish members.

He is calling out woman for calling to their husbands during sermons and being disruptive. Paul is asking that they save their question for after. He is also teaching woman new to these practices, gentiles, how to be respectfully in the church.

Paul encouraged woman to pray and praise in the church, chapter 11. So it would be contradictory for Paul to then turn around and say “woman can’t speak in church” in chapter 14.

To answer, yes woman can speak in church, but not teach to a body of men. Women can teach women, but women can’t teach men. God established a order of command.

God

Jesus

Men

Woman

Children

Following this upward, everyone is under authority of the role’s above them. That is how God designed the family unit, and in turn the church. The church is the body of Christ, and each of us have a purpose within his body for it function. Woman have a time and place to teach, and lead, but not to men.

I am only addressing the command pertaining to women at this time. I would love to do an in-depth look at all of 1 Corinthians, there is so much to it. Really, thank you for the opportunity to study these passages deeper, and teach them to you. I hope I did, I hope these make sense now.

I do need to add. When comparing these commands to the command of homosexuality, its important to remember the context. Homosexuality is a sin because it goes against Gods very direct design for mankind, how the family unit functions in direct relation to the church. These other ones however were established for a period of time to set the people apart from outsiders, and do not go against His intended purpose for creation. That is a very big difference.

Feel free to ask anything else, I loved doing this. I will try to get something for all of 1 Corinthians out, but I have a full life at the moment, so it will probably take awhile.

Praying and God bless

#Raz speaks out #Christianity #answers #christian #ot laws #nt commands #bible study #biblical history #comparing sins #big post #understanding the bible #culture

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woossexyponytail · 5 years ago

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Shadow Born, Chapter 5, How it all began.

Masterlist.

We made our way home. Auntie already waiting for all of us at the front door.

"Come in, come in darlings" auntie said as we all followed her to the kitchen.

The guy's looked around the building, being their first time in the house. Yeosang almost walked in to Leviathan stand, he hoowd at him, peeking at Yeosang's head. Ducking and jumping away, he freaked out until he saw it was an owl. Wooyoung watching the whole thing pointing and laughing at Yeosang.

Though then Wooyoung walked in to Vinegar Tom cage, as he slithered up to Wooyoung. He turned around seeing the snake and screamed as he ran behind Hongjoon. Yeosang laughed back at Wooyoung as I rolled my eyes at the stupid scene and Yunho chuckled at the two. Auntie made us sit down in at the dining table.

"A nice pot of calming tea might help soothe all of your nerves." Auntie said going over to the kettle to make us tea. Auntie placed the cups down on the table for us.

"Thank you auntie but my nerves are perfectly fine. Which is more than I can say for you lot. Running around like headless chickens." I said grabbing my cup and taking a sip.

"So can someone please explain to us what the hell happened?" Hongjoon asks looking around at the three of us waiting for an explanation. "Yeah and why was I able to summon a a demon?" San asked looking confused, he looked up at me and I couldn't help but look away, I don't want to be the one to tell him.

"We are not human but something called shadow born we have magic in our blood" auntie said as she sat down with us to explain. "Shadow born? What does that mean?" Wooyoung asked looking around at us.

"Like witches?" Jongho asked grabbing his cup and taking a slow sip. "In other words, yes" Yunho agreed nodding his head.

"Shadow born, How is that possible?" Hongjoon asked rubbing his head, "Well I'm hoping you all know your Christian study's" auntie said looking around at the guys.

"Like God?, Satan?, heaven and hell?" Yeosang asked raising an eyebrow at that. "Yes exactly. Shadow borns where born from fallen angels millions of years ago" auntie told them.

"Fallen angels?" Wooyoung asked I could feel his eyes burning in to me, I just rolled my eyes. "Fallen angels are angels who were expelled from heaven. The literal term fallen angel used to describe angels who were cast out of heaven, or angels who sinned. Such angels often tempt humans to sin." I said shrugging at them.

"So Shadow born are angels?" Yeosang asked eyes wider then I've seen, his mouth dropping open.

"It's a little more complicated. You see it started as a war in heaven between angels led by the Archangel Michael against those led by the dragon, identified as lucifer the morning star or the devil, who was defeated and thrown down to the earth." Auntie said.

"The motif of a heavenly being striving for the highest seat of heaven only to be cast down to the underworld." I said, just then I heard a meow, looking over Stolas came running over and jumped up on my lap.

"Yep he was cast down then mocked by God. 'How you have fallen from heaven, morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! You said in your heart, 'I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.' But you are brought down to the realm of the dead, to the depths of the pit. Those who see you stare at you, they ponder your fate: 'Is this the man who shook the earth and made kingdoms tremble, the man who made the world a wilderness, who overthrew its cities and would not let his captives go home?'

Once on earth he created his own religion, satanism. Leading many angels that stood by his side in the war to become followers once again." Auntie explained.

"Shadow borns are descendants from fallen angel's, we have angel blood that allows us to step foot in holy lands. God believes shadow borns are abominations" Yunho said as he stood up and grabbed some crisps from the cupboard.

"Abominations?" San asked his eye glued on to Stolas as he leaned over and scratched behind Stolas ear, the cat started purring.

"Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are swift in running to mischief, a false witness who utters lies, and one who spreads strife among brothers." I told him watching as Stolas jumped over to San and sat on his lap.

"So sixteen years ago God's plane started and sent his disciples down to earth to exterminate all shadow borns, which is why so many people died in the attack here, one of them being your farther, San." Auntie said her voice low and soft, looking over sadly at him.

"My...my farther?" San froze looking over at auntie shocked about that, I watched closely as I saw some tears in his eyes, I rubbed his shoulder as he looked up at me, a sad smile now placed on him lips.

"You are half shadow born, that's why you were able to summon that demon" auntie explained. "Jongho is a full shadow born, but no one knew so both of your magic was dormant for being suppressed for so many years" she said walking over to the sink.

"And how do we get our magic back?" Jongho asked eyes wide with excitement. "You little one have to cast a spell, any really. But you are a little harder to deal with, after all you need someone to do a reborn ritual for you. Most likely Yn." Auntie explained further rubbing her chin.

"WHAT!?" I said as I chocked on my tea not expecting auntie to say something like that. "A reborn ritual? What's that?" San asked now looking back over to me.

"Auntie that's really dangerous-" I ignored San's curious eyes as I looked over at auntie, but then Yunho interrupted me. "Not to mention really intimate" he said chuckling at the situation, I slapped him at the back of the head.

"Uhm what!?" San asked eyes wide again as he looked over at Yunho who was now rubbing his head. "EXACTLY!? No absolutely not, I'm not doing it" I told auntie crossing my arms.

"I think it should be up to San if he wants to do it or not, right Yn?" Auntie asked, I slumped down in my seat getting uncomfortable.

❖ ── ✦ ──『✙』── ✦ ── ❖

After that auntie sent the guy's home safely as I started walking to my bedroom. Yunho came running up behind me putting his hands on my shoulders and started jumping.

"Today was soo fun! best Halloween ever!" Yunho yelled as he carried on jumping over to his room, once he got to his door he turned around and smiled at me.

"It's nice that we've got some good friends here" he said and then giggled as he said night and closed his bedroom door. I sighed and made my way to my room closing the door, Stolas jumped up on the bed meowing.

"I don't care if you like San, I'm not going to do the reborn ritual" I told him crossing my arms, Stolas meowed again, "No you know what I would have to do, we're not even that close" I explained.

"What do you mean he likes me?" I asked glearing at the cat as I sighed and sat down on my bed, Stolas jumped up on my lap meowing again, "No I didn't see him blushing, and No he wont text or call me soon" I said rolling my eyes.

Just then my phone started ringing. Getting up and walking over to my phone that was charging, I picked it up and saw who was calling, my breath caught in my throat as I saw San's name.

"I hate when your right" I sighed glaring at Stolas as he meowed and walked over to me. Clicking the green button I put the phone to my ear.

"Hey Yn it's San" I heard, I took a breath to cool my nerves, 'nerves? Why was I so nervous?' I thought shacking my head.

"Hey San, what's up are you okay?" I asked wondering why he called, San was silent for a little while before he spoke up again.

"Uh about the reborn ritual, can we meet tomorrow so I can talk to you about it?" He asked, I agreed and told him where to meet and what time, after that we hung up.

Putting my phone back down, I looked over at Stolas as he meowed at me, I rolled my eyes at him, "Yeah yeah, shut up" I told him as I started to get ready for bed. Tomorrow was going to be a long day.

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dfroza · 1 year ago

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“No, how blessed are those who hear God’s voice and make God’s message their way of life.”

“Listen, your eye, your outlook, the way you see is your lamp. If your way of seeing is functioning well, then your whole life will be enlightened.”