#she DELIVERED HANNAH from the WOMB

[the-random-factor]

I continue to be so normal about lex foster

[gnomeantics]

for those unable to attend the livestream i present:

NOTES FROM THE HATCHETFIELD HALLOWEEN PARTY 14th October 2023, 01:00 BST (my time!) / 13th October 2023, 17:00 PDT (their time!)

Note: These notes are at times a little nonsensical and useless and just quotes. This is because it lasted from 01:00-04:00 for me meaning I was incredibly tired. Please bear with <3

Section 1: Nerdy Prudes Must Die talkback

Started with chiptune of Feast or Famine and then chiptune of Jane’s A Car

Steph’s dad may be dead but at least she has a boyfriend <3

Joey was eating beef and potato stew for most of the first segment

When Jeff was asked for the inspiration for The Summoning: “[…] I don’t know. That just popped in my head. It could be true.”  (His answer was Wizard of Oz.)

Section 2: Hatchet Town Trivia Challenge

I tried to keep track of “chat vs cast” points but lost count and failed rather miserably

Nora’s last name is Beanie. Nora Beanie

Jeff is “an avid lover of baby-water” (water pure enough for babies to drink) and “widely known as Doctor Spreadsheets” (my notes just say “baseball game”)

Every time the world destroys, Ted dies twice: once as Ted, once as homeless guy

Lex helped deliver Hannah by teleporting her out of the womb through the Black and White

Greenpeace Girl’s name is Harmony Jones!

Wilbur Cross murdered Duke Senior (Duke Keane’s dad) this may be explored in future.

Section 3: Workin’ Boys

All of my “notes” here are just gushing about the characters. I have written nothing useful enough to be put here

Section 4: Workin’ Boys talkback

Chad was not included in WB because it was deemed that nobody could live up to the legend. This spawned the “Darren 4 Chad” movement in chat

The Workin’ Boys album will be out around next week if all goes to plan. It is 5 tracks and would include Mariah’s version of the Show Stoppin’ Number monologue as well as at least some of her singing it (as seen in the show; hoping for a full version!!)

Mariah’s character in the audience was called Woman.

Lauren’s character in the audience was Courtney, Thrash’s girlfriend from Killer Track

Paul Gabriel’s character was Paul Gabriel

Linda Monroe auditioned for Workin’ Girls and was the only one who didn’t get a part (Ruth was chosen over her). This is why she was happy to see it crash and burn

The programmes made for Workin’ Girls had very detailed bios, which hopefully when in full quality will be readable when paused. This may set up the potential for the Workin’ Girls actresses to be in future HF projects where this can be explored

Jaime will hopefully be in the next Starkid musical!!!!

The Black Book was originally supposed to debut in Workin’ Boys, in its original form in 2020

The 2020 version was planned as a feature-length film but eventually it was decided that it was confusing and remodelled.

The Summoning was supposed to be in Workin’ Boys – the producer would have tricked Hidgens into making the girls perform a ritual; it was realised that this didn’t make much sense so the song was transferred to NPMD

Section 5: The Future Of Hatchetfield

Hatchetfield was supposed to be finished by 2020

Starkid is not going to be exclusively Hatchetfield in the future; their next full-length musical will not be Hatchetfield

NMT3 is hopefully going to happen provided there is enough interest! It was supposed to happen in the same year as NMT2 but they take a long time to write (much longer than a full musical) so that couldn’t happen

NMT3 would conclude Lex and Hannah’s story after Yellow Jacket

It would be produced more face to face like a TV show – Nick said “less Zoom call-y”

It would include stories withheld from NMT1 and NMT2

It would entirely depend on how much interest, particularly views on NMT2.

It would be Halloween themed.

“More things akin to Workin’ Boys would be nice” - Nick

The episodes would be:

Bottle Imps

“Bill Woodward has been chosen to test CCRP’s latest and greatest product: Bottle Imps. These reality-bending buddies will bring their owner the one thing they desire most. When his new imp, Lovely, leads him to his soulmate, Bill decides to use his magical companion to play matchmaker. But to help Charlotte find the man of her dreams, Bill will have to bend the Imp’s rules. Rules he’s been warned, must never be broken…”

Frankenruth

“Desperate to see a naked body, Ruth Fleming and Richie Lipschitz volunteer at the morgue of St. Damian’s Hospital. Their terrible plan becomes exponentially more terrible, when they become unwitting subjects in the experiments of the body-snatching madman, Doctor Lazlo, who claims to have conquered death itself. If Hatchetfield thought Ruth was bad before, then they will cower before the unspeakable horror of… Frankenruth!”

Becky Barnes Climbed A Tree

“Becky Barnes is on top of the world! Not in a literal sense, of course. She’s deathly afraid of heights. After years of struggle, Becky’s life is finally everything she dreamed it would be. She’s engaged to her High School sweetheart, Tom Houston, and the two have a surprise baby on the way! But as the couple prepared for the arrival of Baby Marie, a shadow from Becky’s past returns to haunt them.”

Devil’s Night

“Tim Houston has a crush. Unfortunately, it’s on his older, mature, and totally cool babysitter, Grace Chasity, who he fears will never see him as anything but a snot-nosed little kid. But when a devilish maniac with murderous designs on Grace attacks Hatchetfield the night before Halloween, Tim must protect his beloved, or join the killer’s growing body count. It’s another slashing adventure on the night HE came home… Devil’s Night.”

Miss Holloween

“It’s Halloween in Hatchetfield once again, and Miss Holloway is celebrating the same way she’s done for decades, staving off the horrors that go bump in the night. But when Duke gives her an invitation to his wedding, the dejected Miss Holloway begins to chafe under the terms of a contract forged many years ago. She strikes a new bargain, but unfortunately her creditors are known for their tricks, not treats. Just as Miss Holloway gives up her powers in exchange for a mortal life, a monstrous new threat rears its ugly head. As All Hallows Eve descends, and all Hell breaks loose, Miss Holloway must save the town or die trying… for real this time.”

Orbweaver

“Lex Foster had a life once. A home. A boyfriend. Now there is only the road, and her sister, and the fear of the men who are hunting them. As Hannah Foster watches Lex sink deeper into despair, she is certain of only three things: Webby is gone. She cannot help them. They are alone. Elsewhere, an old soldier awakens from a catatonic state. Returned from some unimaginable Hell with a mission. He knows that somewhere two magical girls require immediate evac… then maybe some coffee.”

As NPMD was conceived of first, it was supposed to be a Nerdy Prudes series: Nerdy Prudes Must Die, Horny Campers Must Die… (this was turned into NMT2’s Abstinence Camp)

The next Hatchetfield full-length musical would probably be about Miss Holloway if there was enough interest.

There is the possibility of a full movie set in Hatchetfield if there is enough interest. (Workin’ Boys was like a trial for how Hatchetfield works in film)

It would be called Cast Party Massacre

“The Hatchetfield Community Players. You will never find a cattier troupe of two-faced thespians. But when the blood begins to flow at their latest show’s cast party, they must consider: is there a secret murderer in their midst? And more importantly, who amongst them is a good enough actor to pull off such a performance? Can they set aside their petty squabbles and tangled romances, or is it curtains for this ensemble? Who will survive… the Cast Party Massacre!”

It would possibly feature the girls from Workin’ Boys.

The licencing rights to TGWDLM will be available soon!

[scribeforchrist-blog]

My Goal Is To Have A Pure Heart

MEMORY VERSE OF THE WEEK

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+ Psalm 91:14 Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name.

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VERSE OF THE DAY

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+ 1 Timothy 1:5 The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and, a good conscience, and a sincere faith.

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** SAY THIS BEFORE YOU READ; HERE’S SOME CHRISTIAN TRUTHS **

I HAVE A PURE HEART

I HAVE A GOOD CONSCIENCE

I AM SINCERE IN FAITH

I AM FOCUSED ON MY GOAL

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THOUGHTS:

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Today, the Holy Spirit wants us to know In ordered us to love the way Christ told us to love. It must come from a pure heart and good conscience and sincere faith, so let’s look at this: how do we obtain a PURE HEART well, the word of God tells us we get this by obeying the word of God, “John 15:3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.” When we read the word of God and we apply it, we have a pure heart by conducting ourselves according to how the word tells us to.

A lot of times, we think it’s us and what we do to obtain purity and righteousness, but we must be led, and God must give us the strength to do it; our flesh is full of sin, and we won’t naturally want to do that because we are flesh led originally, but when we give our selves to God. We allow him to lead us, and we are then made PURE IN HEART.

The second part of this verse tells us we must have GOOD CONSCIENCES. Hebrew 10:22 tells us this: “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.”

See, we are sprinkled clean when we draw near to God; he will turn our evil conscience into something pure and with pure water; only he can do that, not any man, or detox or sage nothing but God can do this, we have to be ready to draw near to him so he can truly change us! If God can change Paul, who was a murderer, Peter, who was a coward, and Lui, who was drunk, he can change anyone, but we have to be ready to draw near to him with our dirty hands !!

The last part we will look at in this verse is SINCERE FAITH, which is what Samuel's mom had. Hannah believed that God would bless her womb; she cried out and prayed over and over for her womb to be blessed; she didn’t care how many times she went and how much she prayed; she believed in God to do a miracle for her

1 Samuel 1:9 Once, after a sacrificial meal at Shiloh, Hannah got up and went to pray. Eli, the priest, was sitting at his customary place beside the entrance of the Tabernacle.

1 Samuel 1:10 Hannah was in deep anguish, crying bitterly as she prayed to the Lord.

1 Samuel 1:12-13 As she was praying to the Lord, Eli watched her. 13 Seeing her lips moving but hearing no sound, he thought she had been drinking

See, she exercised her faith through prayer and great anguish that the lord would give her what she needed and wanted; she cried out to God because she knew he would hear her cry. A lot of times, we give up and we think oh, he won’t bless me, but we must have faith in him. Jesus tells us to have faith as the size of a mustard seed, but we won’t even have that much faith because we have little faith in God. But God is a big God that can do so much when we BELIEVE.

So how do we love the way he tells us to we must have a pure heart by drawing near to God; we must allow the power of God to sprinkle over us and cleanse us and have faith that when we cry out, he hears us when we have those three things we can love like Jesus and love genuinely and not because we are commanded too.

***Today allow the Holy Spirit to give you a pure heart we can’t achieve this without the Holy Spirit guiding us , a lot of time , we don’t pursue the things of the spirit because we don’t know but God is giving us a clear direction on how to have this , we don’t know how until we yield ourselves to God , we have to want to climb higher in the spirit , we must want more of a deeper connection with him and we can not have this until our heart is pure ! Allow God to transform your heart and mind. ©Seer~ Prophetess Lee

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PRAYER

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Heavenly Father , forgive us of our sins we have done , lord today we learned about having a pure heart , we ask you now to help us get there , help us to obtain a heart that pleases you each and every day it gets harder because of the things of this world lord we want to not walk in the flesh but in the spirit , help us to walk in you ! Lord if our heart isn’t pure show us how through this devotional to obtain a pure heart ! Show us how to contend with the things here on earth , show us how to connect with you to obtain a deeper level of understanding in Jesus Mighty Name Amen

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REFERENCES

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+ John 12:47 If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world.

+ 1 Timothy 1:13 though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief,

+ Luke 19:10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

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FURTHER READINGS

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1 Kings 20:1-21:29

Acts 12:24-13:15

Psalm 137:1-9

Proverbs 17:16

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https://linktr.ee/surrenderministry

[rev-tfsoens-teachings]

Our greatest strategy as believers must be to contend on our knees through praying and fasting for our legacies not to be hijacked by strangers.

But to Hannah he would give a double portion, for he loved Hannah, although the Lord had closed her womb.

Then she made a vow and said, “O Lord of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head.”

So it came to pass in the process of time that Hannah conceived and bore a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, “Because I have asked for him from the Lord.”

Now the man Elkanah and all his house went up to offer to the Lord the yearly sacrifice and his vow.

But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, “Not until the child is weaned; then I will take him, that he may appear before the Lord and remain there forever.”

and she said to him, “Pardon me, my lord. As surely as you live, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the Lord.

I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him.

And the Lord visited Hannah, so that she conceived and bore three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile the child Samuel grew before the Lord.

1 Samuel l:5,11,20-22,26-27, 2:21.

We serve a God who closes and opens wombs, when He closes no one can open and when He opens no one can shut. The above scripture portion tells us that Hannah was childless whereas her competitor Peninnah was bringing forth many children, because of which she used to make fun of her. God is always close to and heals the broken hearted, He healed Hannah's brokenness and barrenness and gave her five children. In your delay time God prepares you to get closer to Him and to handle the future blessing, Hannah got delayed in becoming a mother, but in the delay time she got closer to God and she gave birth to Samuel one of the greatest prophets in Israel ( none of his words fell to the ground, everything that he spoke came to pass). The doctors, nurses and the hospital staff at the hospital were fed up of seeing Hannah's face every year to deliver her children, Hannah was asking God for one child God gave her five, when God gives, He gives richly and bountifully.

Nothing is impossible to our God, the Bible is full of real life examples where men and women who were childless became parents with the help of God. Abraham and Sarah were childless, God turned them to be the father and mother of many nations by giving them the promised child Isaac. Abraham was hundred years old and Sarah was ninety when they became parents of Isaac ( impossible by human and medical standards). Rebecca was childless for a long time Isaac prayed and she gave birth to twins Jacob and Esau, God turned Jacob into the great nation of Israel. Rachel was childless for a long time she gave birth to a son Joseph who fed the whole world during the time of famine. Manoah and his wife were childless, God gave them Samson and he ruled over the children of Israel for twenty years. In the new testament Zacharias and Elizabeth were old and childless, God gave them a prophet John the Baptist ( one of the greatest prophets the world has ever seen ). Your delay is for a purpose, in your delay time God will prepare you to give birth to greatness.

The reason and secret why Hannah gave birth to children after Samuel was, because she gave her first son for God's service, she handed over the young Samuel for temple work and never looked back and God added children to her family. Many christians ask, fast, pray and receive children from God's hands, but they fear to give and dedicate them for God's service, they will trust and put their confidence in the earthly and perishing multinational corporations, government, state government, public and private sector companies for their childrens well being and future, but they will never trust and put their confidence in the creator of the universe, in the God that gave them anything and everything including their children.

The reason why the Gospel has not spread fast is, because there are very few parents who encourage and allow their children to do God's work. The harvest is plenty but the laborers are few, parents have read this verse in the bible several thousand times, but they will not stand with God and give their children for the spreading of the Gospel. Parents know that the things of this world are perishing, and serving God will attract earthly and heavenly rewards, yet they will put their trust and confidence in the perishing things of the world.

The second coming of Jesus is indirectly placed in our hands, Jesus said this Gospel shall be preached till the far ends of the earth, and then the end shall come. If Jesus has to come early we should preach the Gospel, if every parent dedicates and gives their one child for God's service, then the Gospel will spread speedily and Jesus will come soon and take us to be with Him forever and ever.

Today make a decision to serve God fulltime or part-time as per God's leading, and give one child of yours for His service and see Him using them mightily for the extension of His kingdom. What God did for Hannah and Samuel, He will do it for you.

Tell yourself I and my children are born for greatness.

Tell the devil - All my children shall be taught of the Lord and great shall be their peace, As for me and my house we will serve the Lord.

As for Me,” says the Lord, “this is My covenant with them: My Spirit who is upon you, and My words which I have put in your mouth, shall not depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your descendants, nor from the mouth of your descendants’ descendants,” says the Lord, “from this time and forevermore.” - Isaiah 59:21.

Father we thank You for the word, Lord we thank You for our children, give us the grace to encourage them to work for kingdom expansion. Lord we uphold all those who are married and childless open their wombs and make them a father and a mother. Thank You for all the miracles in Jesus matchless name we ask and pray.

Amen and Amen.

ಅಪರಿಚಿತರಿಂದ ನಮ್ಮ ಪರಂಪರೆಗಳನ್ನು ಅಪಹರಿಸದಿರಲು ಪ್ರಾರ್ಥನೆ ಮತ್ತು ಉಪವಾಸದ ಮೂಲಕ ನಮ್ಮ ಮೊಣಕಾಲುಗಳ ಮೇಲೆ ಹೋರಾಡುವುದು ನಂಬಿಕೆಯುಳ್ಳ ನಮ್ಮ ದೊಡ್ಡ ತಂತ್ರವಾಗಿದೆ.

ಆದರೆ ಹನ್ನಳಿಗೆ ಅವನು ಎರಡು ಪಾಲು ಕೊಟ್ಟನು, ಏಕೆಂದರೆ ಅವನು ಹನ್ನಾಳನ್ನು ಪ್ರೀತಿಸಿದನು, ಆದರೂ ಕರ್ತನು ಅವಳ ಗರ್ಭವನ್ನು ಮುಚ್ಚಿದನು.

ಆಗ ಅವಳು ಪ್ರತಿಜ್ಞೆ ಮಾಡಿ, “ಸೇನೆಗಳ ಕರ್ತನೇ, ನೀನು ನಿಜವಾಗಿಯೂ ನಿನ್ನ ದಾಸಿಗನ ಸಂಕಟವನ್ನು ನೋಡಿ ನನ್ನನ್ನು ಸ್ಮರಿಸಿದರೆ ಮತ್ತು ನಿನ್ನ ದಾಸಿಯನ್ನು ಮರೆಯದೆ ನಿನ್ನ ದಾಸಿಗೆ ಗಂಡು ಮಗುವನ್ನು ಕೊಟ್ಟರೆ ನಾನು ಅವನಿಗೆ ಕೊಡುತ್ತೇನೆ. ಕರ್ತನು ತನ್ನ ಜೀವಮಾನದ ಎಲ್ಲಾ ದಿನಗಳಲ್ಲಿ, ಮತ್ತು ಅವನ ತಲೆಯ ಮೇಲೆ ರೇಜರ್ ಬರುವುದಿಲ್ಲ.

ಹೀಗೆ ಕಾಲಕ್ರಮೇಣ ಹನ್ನಳು ಗರ್ಭಧರಿಸಿ ಮಗನನ್ನು ಹೆರಿದಳು ಮತ್ತು ಅವನಿಗೆ ಸಮುವೇಲನೆಂದು ಹೆಸರಿಟ್ಟು, “ನಾನು ಅವನನ್ನು ಕರ್ತನಿಂದ ಕೇಳಿಕೊಂಡಿದ್ದೇನೆ” ಎಂದು ಹೇಳಿದಳು.

ಈಗ ಎಲ್ಕಾನ ಮನುಷ್ಯನು ಮತ್ತು ಅವನ ಮನೆಯವರೆಲ್ಲರೂ ಕರ್ತನಿಗೆ ವಾರ್ಷಿಕ ಯಜ್ಞವನ್ನು ಮತ್ತು ಅವನ ಪ್ರತಿಜ್ಞೆಯನ್ನು ಅರ್ಪಿಸಲು ಹೋದರು.

ಆದರೆ ಹನ್ನಾ ಮೇಲಕ್ಕೆ ಹೋಗಲಿಲ್ಲ, ಏಕೆಂದರೆ ಅವಳು ತನ್ನ ಗಂಡನಿಗೆ, “ಮಗುವಿಗೆ ಹಾಲುಣಿಸುವ ತನಕ ಅಲ್ಲ; ನಂತರ ನಾನು ಅವನನ್ನು ತೆಗೆದುಕೊಳ್ಳುತ್ತೇನೆ, ಅವನು ಕರ್ತನ ಮುಂದೆ ಕಾಣಿಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳುತ್ತಾನೆ ಮತ್ತು ಅಲ್ಲಿ ಶಾಶ್ವತವಾಗಿ ಉಳಿಯುತ್ತಾನೆ.

ಮತ್ತು ಅವಳು ಅವನಿಗೆ, “ನನ್ನ ಸ್ವಾಮಿ, ನನ್ನನ್ನು ಕ್ಷಮಿಸು. ನೀವು ಜೀವಿಸಿರುವಂತೆ, ಇಲ್ಲಿ ನಿಮ್ಮ ಪಕ್ಕದಲ್ಲಿ ಭಗವಂತನನ್ನು ಪ್ರಾರ್ಥಿಸುವ ಮಹಿಳೆ ನಾನು.

ನಾನು ಈ ಮಗುವಿಗಾಗಿ ಪ್ರಾರ್ಥಿಸಿದೆ, ಮತ್ತು ನಾನು ಅವನಿಂದ ಕೇಳಿದ್ದನ್ನು ಭಗವಂತ ನನಗೆ ಕೊಟ್ಟಿದ್ದಾನೆ.

ಮತ್ತು ಕರ್ತನು ಹನ್ನಾಳನ್ನು ಭೇಟಿಮಾಡಿದನು, ಆದ್ದರಿಂದ ಅವಳು ಗರ್ಭಿಣಿಯಾಗಿ ಮೂರು ಗಂಡು ಮತ್ತು ಇಬ್ಬರು ಹೆಣ್ಣುಮಕ್ಕಳನ್ನು ಹೆತ್ತಳು. ಅಷ್ಟರಲ್ಲಿ ಮಗು ಸಮುವೇಲನು ಕರ್ತನ ಮುಂದೆ ಬೆಳೆದನು.

1 ಸ್ಯಾಮ್ಯುಯೆಲ್ ಎಲ್:5,11,20-22,26-27, 2:21.

ಗರ್ಭಗಳನ್ನು ಮುಚ್ಚುವ ಮತ್ತು ತೆರೆಯುವ ದೇವರನ್ನು ನಾವು ಸೇವಿಸುತ್ತೇವೆ, ಅವನು ಮುಚ್ಚಿದಾಗ ಯಾರೂ ತೆರೆಯಲು ಸಾಧ್ಯವಿಲ್ಲ ಮತ್ತು ಅವನು ತೆರೆದಾಗ ಯಾರೂ ಮುಚ್ಚಲು ಸಾಧ್ಯವಿಲ್ಲ. ಮೇಲಿನ ಗ್ರಂಥದ ಭಾಗವು ಹನ್ನಾಗೆ ಮಕ್ಕಳಿಲ್ಲ ಎಂದು ಹೇಳುತ್ತದೆ ಆದರೆ ಅವಳ ಪ್ರತಿಸ್ಪರ್ಧಿ ಪೆನಿನ್ನಾ ಅನೇಕ ಮಕ್ಕಳನ್ನು ಹೆರುತ್ತಿದ್ದಳು, ಅದಕ್ಕಾಗಿಯೇ ಅವಳು ಅವಳನ್ನು ಗೇಲಿ ಮಾಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದಳು. ದೇವರು ಯಾವಾಗಲೂ ಹತ್ತಿರದಲ್ಲಿರುತ್ತಾನೆ ಮತ್ತು ಮುರಿದ ಹೃದಯವನ್ನು ಗುಣಪಡಿಸುತ್ತಾನೆ, ಅವನು ಹನ್ನಾಳ ಮುರಿದುಹೋಗುವಿಕೆ ಮತ್ತು ಬಂಜೆತನವನ್ನು ಗುಣಪಡಿಸಿದನು ಮತ್ತು ಅವಳಿಗೆ ಐದು ಮಕ್ಕಳನ್ನು ಕೊಟ್ಟನು. ನಿಮ್ಮ ವಿಳಂಬದ ಸಮಯದಲ್ಲಿ ದೇವರು ನಿಮ್ಮನ್ನು ಆತನ��ಗೆ ಹತ್ತಿರವಾಗಲು ಮತ್ತು ಭವಿಷ್ಯದ ಆಶೀರ್ವಾದವನ್ನು ನಿಭಾಯಿಸಲು ಸಿದ್ಧಪಡಿಸುತ್ತಾನೆ, ಹನ್ನಾ ತಾಯಿಯಾಗಲು ವಿಳಂಬವಾಯಿತು, ಆದರೆ ತಡವಾದ ಸಮಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಅವಳು ದೇವರಿಗೆ ಹತ್ತಿರವಾದಳು ಮತ್ತು ಅವಳು ಇಸ್ರೇಲ್ನ ಶ್ರೇಷ್ಠ ಪ್ರವಾದಿಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಒಬ್ಬನಾದ ಸ್ಯಾಮ್ಯುಯೆಲ್ಗೆ ಜನ್ಮ ನೀಡಿದಳು. (ಅವನ ಯಾವುದೇ ಮಾತುಗಳು ನೆಲಕ್ಕೆ ಬೀಳಲಿಲ್ಲ, ಅವನು ಹೇಳಿದ ಎಲ್ಲವೂ ಜಾರಿಗೆ ಬಂದವು). ಆಸ್ಪತ್ರೆಯ ವೈದ್ಯರು, ನರ್ಸ್‌ಗಳು ಮತ್ತು ಆಸ್ಪತ್ರೆಯ ಸಿಬ್ಬಂದಿ ಪ್ರತಿ ವರ್ಷ ಹನ್ನಾಳ ಮುಖವನ್ನು ನೋಡಿ ತನ್ನ ಮಕ್ಕಳನ್ನು ಹೆರಿಗೆ ಮಾಡಬೇಕೆಂದು ಬೇಸತ್ತಿದ್ದಳು, ಹನ್ನಾ ದೇವರನ್ನು ಕೇಳುತ್ತಿದ್ದಳು ಒಂದು ಮಗು ದೇವರು ತನಗೆ ಐದು ಕೊಟ್ಟನು, ದೇವರು ಕೊಟ್ಟಾಗ, ಅವನು ಸಮೃದ್ಧವಾಗಿ ಮತ್ತು ಉದಾರವಾಗಿ ನೀಡುತ್ತಾನೆ.

ನಮ್ಮ ದೇವರಿಗೆ ಅಸಾಧ್ಯವಾದುದು ಯಾವುದೂ ಇಲ್ಲ, ಮಕ್ಕಳಿಲ್ಲದ ಪುರುಷರು ಮತ್ತು ಮಹಿಳೆಯರು ದೇವರ ಸಹಾಯದಿಂದ ಪೋಷಕರಾದ ನಿಜ ಜೀವನದ ಉದಾಹರಣೆಗಳಿಂದ ತುಂಬಿದೆ. ಅಬ್ರಹಾಂ ಮತ್ತು ಸಾರಾ ಮಕ್ಕಳಿಲ್ಲದಿದ್ದರು, ದೇವರು ಅವರಿಗೆ ವಾಗ್ದಾನ ಮಾಡಿದ ಮಗು ಐಸಾಕ್ ಅನ್ನು ನೀಡುವ ಮೂಲಕ ಅವರನ್ನು ಅನೇಕ ರಾಷ್ಟ್ರಗಳ ತಂದೆ ಮತ್

விசுவாசிகளாகிய நமது மிகப் பெரிய உத்தி, நமது மரபுகள் அந்நியர்களால் கடத்தப்படக் கூடாது என்பதற்காக, பிரார்த்தனை மற்றும் உண்ணாவிரதத்தின் மூலம் முழங்காலில் நின்று போராட வேண்டும்.

ஆனால் ஹன்னாவுக்கு அவர் இரட்டைப் பங்கைக் கொடுப்பார், ஏனென்றால் அவர் ஹன்னாவை நேசித்தார், இருப்பினும் கர்த்தர் அவளுடைய கர்ப்பத்தை மூடினார்.

பிறகு அவள் சபதம் செய்து, “சேனைகளின் ஆண்டவரே, நீர் உம் பணிப்பெண்ணின் துன்பத்தைப் பார்த்து, என்னை நினைவுகூர்ந்து, உம் பணிப்பெண்ணை மறக்காமல், உம் பணிப்பெண்ணுக்கு ஒரு ஆண் குழந்தையைக் கொடுத்தால், நான் அவனுக்குக் கொடுப்பேன். கர்த்தர் தம்முடைய ஜீவனுள்ள நாளெல்லாம், அவருடைய தலையின்மேல் சவரக் கத்தி ஏறாது."

காலப்போக்கில், அன்னாள் கருவுற்று ஒரு மகனைப் பெற்று, "நான் ஆண்டவரிடமிருந்து அவனைக் கேட்டதால்" என்று சொல்லி, அவனுக்கு சாமுவேல் என்று பெயரிட்டாள்.

எல்க்கானா என்ற மனிதனும் அவனுடைய வீட்டார் அனைவரும் ஆண்டவருக்கு ஆண்டுதோறும் பலியும், நேர்ச்சையும் செலுத்தப் போனார்கள்.

ஆனால் ஹன்னா மேலே செல்லவில்லை, ஏனென்றால் அவள் தன் கணவனிடம், “குழந்தைக்குப் பாலூட்டும் வரை இல்லை; அவன் கர்த்தருடைய சந்நிதியில் தோன்றி, அங்கே என்றென்றும் இருக்கும்படி, நான் அவனைக் கூட்டிக்கொண்டு போவேன்."

அவள் அவனிடம், “என்னை மன்னியுங்கள், என் ஆண்டவரே. நீங்கள் உயிருடன் இருப்பது போல், இங்கே உங்கள் அருகில் நின்று இறைவனிடம் பிரார்த்தனை செய்த பெண் நான்தான்.

இந்தக் குழந்தைக்காக நான் பிரார்த்தனை செ���்தேன், நான் அவரிடம் கேட்டதை இறைவன் எனக்கு அருளினான்.

கர்த்தர் ஹன்னாவைச் சந்தித்தார், அவள் கர்ப்பவதியாகி மூன்று மகன்களையும் இரண்டு மகள்களையும் பெற்றெடுத்தாள். இதற்கிடையில் குழந்தை சாமுவேல் கர்த்தருக்கு முன்பாக வளர்ந்தான்.

1 சாமுவேல் எல்:5,11,20-22,26-27, 2:21.

கருப்பைகளை மூடி திறக்கும் கடவுளை நாங்கள் சேவிக்கிறோம், அவர் மூடும்போது யாராலும் திறக்க முடியாது, அவர் திறக்கும்போது யாராலும் மூட முடியாது. ஹன்னாவுக்கு குழந்தை இல்லை என்று மேலே உள்ள வசனங்கள் கூறுகின்றன, அதே சமயம் அவளுடைய போட்டியாளரான பெனின்னா பல குழந்தைகளைப் பெற்றெடுத்தாள், அதன் காரணமாக அவள் அவளை கேலி செய்தாள். கடவுள் எப்போதும் நெருக்கமாக இருக்கிறார் மற்றும் உடைந்த இதயங்களை குணப்படுத்துகிறார், அவர் ஹன்னாவின் முறிவு மற்றும் மலட்டுத்தன்மையை குணப்படுத்தினார் மற்றும் அவளுக்கு ஐந்து குழந்தைகளைக் கொடுத்தார். உங்கள் தாமத நேரத்தில் கடவுள் உங்களை அவருடன் நெருங்கி வரவும் எதிர்கால ஆசீர்வாதத்தை கையாளவும் தயார்படுத்துகிறார், ஹன்னா தாயாக மாறுவதில் தாமதம் ஏற்பட்டது, ஆனால் தாமத நேரத்தில் அவள் கடவுளுடன் நெருங்கி வந்தாள், அவள் இஸ்ரவேலின் மிகப்பெரிய தீர்க்கதரிசிகளில் ஒருவரான சாமுவேலைப் பெற்றெடுத்தாள். (அவருடைய வார்த்தைகள் எதுவும் தரையில் விழவில்லை, அவர் பேசியது அனைத்தும் நிறைவேறியது). மருத்துவமனையிலுள்ள மருத்துவர்கள், செவிலியர்கள் மற்றும் மருத்துவமனை ஊழியர்கள் ஒவ்வொரு வருடமும் ஹன்னாவின் முகத்தைப் பார்த்து அவளது குழந்தைகளைப் பெற்றெடுத்தனர், ஹன்னா கடவுளிடம் ஒரு குழந்தைக்காகக் கேட்கிறார், கடவுள் தனக்கு ஐந்து குழந்தைகளைக் கொடுத்தார், கடவுள் கொடுக்கும்போது, ​​​​அவர் ஐசுவரியமாகவும் தாராளமாகவும் கொடுக்கிறார்.

நம் கடவுளால் முடியாதது எதுவும் இல்லை, குழந்தை இல்லாத ஆண்களும் பெண்களும் கடவுளின் உதவியால் பெற்றோரானார்கள் என்பதற்கு பைபிள் நிஜ வாழ்க்கை எடுத்துக்காட்டுகளால் நிரம்பியுள்ளது. ஆபிரகாமும் சாராவும் குழந்தை இல்லாதவர்களாக இருந்தனர், கடவுள் அவர்களுக்கு வாக்களிக்கப்பட்ட குழந்தை ஈசாக்கைக் கொடுத்து பல நாடுகளின் தந்தையாகவும் தாயாகவும் மாற்றினார். அவர்கள் ஐசக்கின் பெற்றோரானபோது ஆபிரகாமுக்கு நூறு வயது மற்றும் சாராவுக்கு தொண்ணூறு வயது (மனித மற்றும் மருத்துவ தரங்களால் சாத்தியமற்றது). ரெபேக்கா நீண்ட காலமாக ஐசக் ஜெபித்து குழந்தை இல்லாமல் இருந்தார், அவர் ஜேக்கப் மற்றும் ஏசா என்ற இரட்டையர்களைப் பெற்றெடுத்தார், கடவுள் ஜேக்கப்பை இஸ்ரேல் என்ற பெரிய தேசமாக மாற்றினார். ராகேல் நீண்ட காலமாக குழந்தை இல்லாமல் இருந்தாள், அவள் ஒரு மகன் ஜோசப்பைப் பெற்றெடுத்தாள், அவர் பஞ்சத்தின் போது உலகம் முழுவதும் உணவளித்தார். மனோவாவும் அவன் மனைவியும் குழந்தை இல்லாதவர்கள், கடவுள் அவர்களுக்கு சிம்சோனைக் கொடுத்தார், அவர் இருபது ஆண்டுகள் இஸ்ரவேல் புத்திரரை ஆட்சி செய்தார். ��ுதிய ஏற்பாட்டில் சகரியாவும் எலிசபெத்தும் வயதானவர்களாகவும் குழந்தை இல்லாதவர்களாகவும் இருந்தனர், கடவுள் அவர்களுக்கு ஒரு தீர்க்கதரிசி ஜான் பாப்டிஸ்ட் (உலகம் கண்டிராத மாபெரும் தீர்க்கதரிசிகளில் ஒருவர்) கொடுத்தார். உங்கள் தாமதம் ஒரு நோக்கத்திற்காக, உங்கள் தாமத நேரத்தில் கடவுள் உங்களை மகத்துவத்தைப் பெற்றெடுக்க தயார்படுத்துவார்.

சாமுவேலுக்குப் பிறகு ஹன்னா குழந்தைகளைப் பெற்றெடுத்ததற்கான காரணமும் ரகசியமும் என்னவென்றால், அவள் தனது முதல் மகனைக் கடவுளின் சேவைக்காகக் கொடுத்ததால், அவள் இளம் சாமுவேலை கோயில் வேலைக்காக ஒப்படைத்தாள், திரும்பிப் பார்க்கவில்லை, கடவுள் அவளுடைய குடும்பத்தில் குழந்தைகளைச் சேர்த்தார். பல கிறிஸ்தவர்கள் கடவுளின் கைகளில் இருந்து குழந்தைகளைக் கேட்கிறார்கள், உபவாசித்து, ஜெபிக்கிறார்கள், பெறுகிறார்கள், ஆனால் கடவுளுடைய சேவைக்காக அவர்களைக் கொடுக்கவும் அர்ப்பணிக்கவும் பயப்படுகிறார்கள், அவர்கள் பூமிக்குரிய மற்றும் அழிந்து வரும் பன்னாட்டு நிறுவனங்கள், அரசு, மாநில அரசு, பொது மற்றும் தனியார் துறைகளில் நம்பிக்கை வைத்து நம்பிக்கை வைப்பார்கள். நிறுவனங்கள் தங்கள் குழந்தைகளின் நல்வாழ்வு மற்றும் எதிர்காலத்திற்காக, ஆனால் அவர்கள் ஒருபோதும் பிரபஞ்சத்தை உருவாக்கியவர் மீது, தங்கள் குழந்தைகள் உட்பட எதையும் மற்றும் எல்லாவற்றையும் கொடுத்த கடவுள் மீது நம்பிக்கை வைக்க மாட்டார்கள்.

சுவிசேஷம் வேகமாகப் பரவாததற்குக் காரணம், தங்கள் பிள்ளைகளை கடவுளுடைய வேலையைச் செய்ய ஊக்குவித்து அனுமதிக்கும் பெற்றோர்கள் மிகக் குறைவு. அறுவடை ஏராளமாக உள்ளது, ஆனால் உழைப்பாளிகள் குறைவு, பெற்றோர்கள் பைபிளில் உள்ள இந்த வசனத்தை பல ஆயிரம் முறை படித்திருக்கிறார்கள், ஆனால் அவர்கள் கடவுளுடன் நின்று தங்கள் குழந்தைகளை நற்செய்தியைப் பரப்ப மாட்டார்கள். இவ்வுலகின் பொருள்கள் அழிந்து கொண்டிருக்கின்றன என்பதையும், கடவுளைச் சேவிப்பது பூமிக்குரிய மற்றும் பரலோக வெகுமதிகளை ஈர்க்கும் என்பதையும் பெற்றோர்கள் அறிந்திருக்கிறார்கள், இருப்பினும் அவர்கள் உலகின் அழிந்துபோகும் விஷயங்களில் தங்கள் நம்பிக்கையையும் நம்பிக்கையையும் வைப்பார்கள்.

இயேசுவின் இரண்டாம் வருகை மறைமுகமாக நம் கைகளில் வைக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது, இந்த நற்செய்தி பூமியின் கடைசி வரை பிரசங்கிக்கப்படும், பின்னர் முடிவு வரும் என்று இயேசு கூறினார். இயேசு சீக்கிரம் வர வேண்டும் என்றால் நாம் நற்செய்தியை பிரசங்கிக்க வேண்டும், ஒவ்வொரு பெற்றோரும் தங்கள் ஒரு குழந்தையை கடவுளின் சேவைக்காக அர்ப்பணித்து கொடுத்தால், சுவிசேஷம் வேகமாக பரவும், இயேசு விரைவில் வந்து நம்மை என்றென்றும் அவருடன் இருக்க அழைத்துச் செல்வார்.

இன்று கடவுளின் வழிகாட்டுதலின்படி கடவுளுக்கு முழு நேரமாகவோ அல்லது பகுதி நேரமாகவோ சேவை செய்ய முடிவெடுத்து, உங்களில் ஒரு குழந்தையை அவருடைய சேவைக்காகக் கொடுங்கள், மேலும் அவர் தனது ராஜ்யத்தின் விரிவாக்கத்திற்காக அவர்களை வல்லமையுடன் பயன்படுத்துவதைப் பாருங்கள். ஹன்னாவுக்கும் சாமுவேலுக்கும் கடவுள் என்ன செய்தாரோ, அதை உங்களுக்காகவும் செய்வார்.

நானும் என் குழந்தைகளும் மகத்துவத்திற்காக பிறந்தவர்கள் என்று நீங்களே சொல்லுங்கள்.

பிசாசிடம் சொல்லுங்கள் - என் பிள்ளைகள் எல்லாரும் கர்த்தரால் கற்பிக்கப்படுவார்கள், அவர்களுடைய சமாதானம் பெரியதாக இருக்கும், நானும் என் வீட்டாரும் கர்த்தருக்குச் சேவை செய்வோம்.

என்னைப் பொறுத்தவரை, அவர்களோடு நான் செய்த உடன்படிக்கை இதுவே: உன்மேல் இருக்கிற என் ஆவியும், நான் உன் வாயில் வைத்த என் வார்த்தைகளும் உன் வாயிலிருந்தும், உன் சந்ததியின் வாயிலிருந்தும் விலகுவதில்லை. உங்கள் வழித்தோன்றல்களின் வாயிலிருந்தும் வரவில்லை” என்று கர்த்தர் கூறுகிறார், “இக்காலம் முதல் என்றென்றும்.” - ஏசாயா 59:21.

தந்தையே, வார்த்தைக்காக உமக்கு நன்றி செலுத்துகிறோம், ஆண்டவரே எங்கள் பிள்ளைகளுக்காக உமக்கு நன்றி செலுத்துகிறோம், ராஜ்ய விரிவாக்கத்திற்காக உழைக்க அவர்களை ஊக்குவிக்க எங்களுக்கு கிருபை கொடுங்கள். இறைவா, திருமணமாகி குழந்தை இல்லாத அனைவரையும் நிலைநிறுத்தி அவர்களின் கருவறைகளைத் திறந்து அவர்களைத் தந்தையாகவும் தாயாகவும் ஆக்குவோம். நாங்கள் கேட்கும் மற்றும் ஜெபிக்கும் இயேசுவின் நிகரற்ற நாமத்தில் உள்ள அனைத்து அற்புதங்களுக்கும் நன்றி. ஆமென் மற்றும் ஆமென்.

[thetudorslovers]

Women of the Bible:

1.Mary of Nazareth:“Six months after Elizabeth knew she was to become a mother, Gabriel was sent from God to Nazareth. He went to a woman who had never had a man.Her name was Mary."(Luke 1:26-33)

2.Ruth the Moabite:“But Ruth replied, ‘Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God’” (Ruth 1:16).

3.Mary Magdalene: “After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb” (Matt. 28:1)

4.Rachel: “And God remembered Rachel, and God hearkened to her, and opened her womb.” (Genesis 30:22)

5.Hannah:“It is not by strength that one prevails; those who oppose the Lord will be broken. The Most High will thunder from heaven; the Lord will judge the ends of the earth” (1 Sam. 2:10).

6.Eve:“The man called his wife's name Eve, because she was the mother of all living” (Gen. 3:20).

7.Deborah: “Certainly I will go with you,” said Deborah. “But because of the course you are taking, the honor will not be yours, for the Lord will deliver Sisera into the hands of a woman” (Judg. 4:9).

8.Sarah: “And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, with his seed after him” (Gen. 17:19).

9.Queen Esther: “So Queen Esther, daughter of Abihail, along with Mordecai the Jew, wrote with full authority to confirm this second letter concerning Purim. Queen Esther had decreed for them, and as they had established for themselves and their descendants in regard to their times of fasting and lamentation” (Esther 9:29–31).

10.Salome: “What shall I ask?” And she said, “The head of John the Baptist!” Immediately she came in with haste to the king and asked, saying, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.”(Mark 6:17-27)

11.Herodias:"For Herod had laid hold of John and bound him, and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife. Because John had said to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.”(Matthew 14:3-4)

12.Rebecca:"And it came to pass, before he had done speaking, that, behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother, with her pitcher upon her shoulder."(Genesis 24:15)

13.Batsheba: "And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king's house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon."(Samuel 11:2 Meaning)

14.Zara: "The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it (or in Luke: with the men of this generation and condemn them), for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here."( Kings 10:1-13)

[basicsofislam]

JESUS (peace be upon Him) in ISLAM: The birth of Jesus (pbuh) & The family of Imran (Joachim): Part 1

Due to their pure devotion to Allah, the family of Imran, [linked back to Prophet Dawud ( David) peace be upon him], was granted a special status on earth. His daughter, Maryam (Mary) peace be upon her had been mentioned 31 times in the Noble Quran , and has even an entire surah (chapter) named after her, as well as her parents, the best of people of their time.

Not only that , but in the sight of Allah, Maryam’s status was so high ranked , her son had never been mentioned in the Noble Quran without the mention of his mother’s name right after his. Historically and socially , this was a very uncommon event as children are attributed to the father or main male figure in their family. Through this, Allah pointed towards the miraculous birth of Isa ibn Maryam ( Jesus son of Mary ) peace be upon him but also to his mother’s importance.

Surat Al-Imran in particular ,reveals important aspects of the story of Maryam peace be upon her, specifically her upbringing , her elevated rank and relates the taintless conception and birth of her beloved son, soon to be one of the greatest prophets of Islam.

(They refuse belief in you and some of the Prophets because you did not appear among them, but God favors whomever He wishes with Messengership, and) God made pure Adam and Noah and the House of Abraham and the House of Imraan, choosing them above all humankind,

As descendants of one another (and they were following the same way. Therefore, do not, in respect of believing in them as Prophets, make any distinction between the Prophets and do not think or speak ill of God’s preference). God is All-Hearing, All-Knowing. ( Holy Quran , Al-‘Imran 33-34 )

Imran was a very virtuous man whose devotion , morality and righteousness exceeded those of the rest of the pious Children of Israel. Only due to the piety of this family , Allah saved their generation from grief and misfortune.

Hannah bint Fakood, Imran’s wife , was unable to give birth to children.

It is said that one day while she was watching a songbird feeding its own baby birds, she started to desire children for herself. Sadly, due to her old age, this was quite impossible to acomplish.

Hannah, as a true worshipper of Allah, turned to Him and asked for offspring . Her prayer had been answered right-away.

Right after sensing her pregnancy and feeling the movements of a baby in her womb, she made a vow to lead her child on a path of sincerity, piety and devotion to the Creator . This promise was made out of gratefulness and her own loyalty to Allah Himself.

(Remember) when the woman (from the House) of Imran entreated: “My Lord, I have dedicated that which is in my womb to Your exclusive service. Accept it, then, from me. Surely You are the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing. ” ( Holy Quran , Al-'Imran 35 )

Back in those days, Beit Al Maqdis was one of the most important places of worship in Jerusalem . Regarding its charge, maintenance and preservation , male worshippers were favoured due to the social traditions of the society along with the care and protection that should be granted to a woman. Such a position, since it required a potential female worshipper to live inside or in the imediate proximity of the Temple, could have easily put her in danger.

Due to all these factors, Imran’s wife hoped to give birth to a son.

When she was delivered of it, she said: “My Lord, I have given birth to a female. ” God knew best of what she was delivered, (so she did not need to be sorry, because) the male child (she expected) could not be the same as (the) female child (whom We bestowed on her and would honor with a great favor). I have named her Mary, and commend her and her offspring to You for protection from Satan eternally rejected from God’s Mercy. “( Holy Quran , Al-'Imran 36)

Regardless of Hannah’s disappointment and fear that ultimately she wouldn’t be able to keep her promise, Allah had the perfect plan. Maryam peace be upon her was going to become the first female caretaker of the Temple , an amazing role model for the muslims , and the mother of one of the most important figures in Islam - our beloved Prophet Isa (Jesus) peace be upon him.

[illusivexemissary]

? [send a ? for a random headcanon]

1) Recycling an old one for people who followed recently: Gabe is the champion of CONSENT, and believes it’s sacred.  His most famous act as an Archangel was to deliver news to Mary of Nazareth that she would immaculately conceive Jesus, the incarnation of God.  Many people, for humor’s sake, or for more nefarious misogynistic reasons, interpret this moment as a moment in which the impregnation has already occurred...but if you read the Gospel of Luke, widely considered the most detailed historical account, you’ll note Gabriel specifically says “You WILL conceive in your womb...”  Nothing happens until Mary says “here I am, let it be done according to your will.”  Mary is a fully participant, active partner in the conception of God incarnate. Gabriel is proud of this moment. He becomes a defender of women and young mothers for the remainder of human existence, and delivers swift and harsh justice to sexual abusers, r*pists, and men who batter women and children.  If you think what he did in Tall Tales was harsh, you ain’t seen nothin’ yet. The freedom to choose is everything to Gabe. 

2) Gabriel quickly became the favorite of the First Four Archangels to babysit, teach, and nourish the fledglings who followed.  At any time in Heaven, his true form, which is incomprehensibly immense, would sit stationary, patiently crawled all over by tiny Seraphim, Ophanim, Cherubim, Principalities, Dominions, etc etc, playing in his safe shadow, and learning from his stories and thoughts.  He became their trusted teacher and the main reason he “skipped out of heaven” was because of the institution of reprogramming, often effected upon them as leverage to get Gabriel to “obey orders” or “take sides” (see Michael vs Lucifer) by targeting favorite pupils (like Castiel or Balthazar, Anna, Samandriel, Hannah, etc).  

[johnnymundano]

Slasher Season 1: The Executioner (2016)

Directed by Craig David Wallace

Written by Aaron Martin

Music by Shawn Pierce

Country: Canada

Language: English

8 Episodes of around 46 – 53 minutes each

CAST

Katie McGrath as Sarah Bennett

Brandon Jay McLaren as Dylan Bennett

Steve Byers as Cam Henry

Patrick Garrow as Tom Winston

Dean McDermott as Iain Vaughn

Christopher Jacot as Robin Turner

Wendy Crewson as Brenda Merrit

Jessica Sipos as June Henry

Mary Walsh as Verna McBride

Enuka Okuma as Lisa Ann Follows

Erin Karpluk as Heather Peterson

Mayko Nguyen as Alison Sutherland

Rob Stewart as Alan Henry

Jefferson Brown as Trent McBride

Mark Ghanimé as Justin Faysal

Dylan Taylor as Bryan Ingram

Alysa King as Rachel Ingram

Victoria Snow as Sonja Edwards

Hannah Endicott-Douglas as Ariel Peterson

Shawn Ahmed as Sharma

Booth Savage as Ronald Edwards

Susannah Hoffman as Marjorie Travers

(Guilty Party: I took the images from IMDB because I can’t screengrab over 8 hours and besides, my dog told me to.)

Slasher: The Executioner is a Canadian TV series about, um, slashers and all that slasher stuff. Bogling about The Internet I discovered that the creator, one Aaron Martin by name, has wisely opted for an anthology format, whereby each season (two at present) is a complete storyline. Apparently there is connective tissue between each season  to engender a feel of them taking place in the same Slasher Universe; which is like the Marvel®©™ Universe but with less quips and more mom porn and severed hands. I say “apparently” because I haven’t seen the second season (Slasher: Guilty Party (2017)) I have seen the first season though and that definitely has more mom porn and severed hands than the Marvel®©™ Cinematic Universe.

Now, if you’re reading this thing which is about a TV show called Slasher, then you might think you like slasher movies, but do you like slasher movies enough to watch what is effectively a 7 hour and change slasher movie? Do you? Huh? Huh? That’s a normal working day right there. You are right to be hesitant, as that doesn’t sound like it would work, at least not as entertainment, maybe as a kind of torture. The usual slasher movie is a timidly formulaic creature, so we can characterise the average slasher movie as starting with a brief kill, then some flopping bonelessly about with a solid hour of “meet the characters”, then 40 minutes or so of mayhem, climaxing with a one on one slobberknocker. Stick to that formula for 8 episodes and you’d end up (NB: the maths is a bit loose here) with an exciting first episode, 5.5 episodes of dishwater dull soap-operatics and then an insanely violent final 1.5 episodes. That would of course be stupid, which is one of roughly a billion reasons why they didn’t ask me to make it. No, they asked Aaron Martin and the Slasher gods should be thankful that Aaron Martin knew what to do.

A nagging sense of fairness demands I should pause to note that hundreds of people were involved in the making of Slasher: The Executioner, but it’s accepted shorthand to say “Aaron Martin…” So, “Aaron Martin” made a long-ass slasher movie, but realising this was a marathon and not a sprint, structured each episode so that it worked within the larger narrative framework. It’s an approach familiar to anyone who read mainstream comics back when they had actual stories (rather than today’s unending conversations punctuated by punching; Calm down, Cochise, I’m not saying they were better back then (most of anything is shit after all), I’m just saying they were different). In effect then, for all the none old timey comics fans: in Slasher: The Executioner the uberplot chugs along while various subplots intertwine beneath it breeding red herrings, developing character and basically raising the stakes until uber and under finally intertwine in a climactic crescendo. Oh, and there is at least one kill every episode to keep your unhealthy interest piqued. Got to have those sweet, sweet kills. It is called Slasher after all, not Magic Picnic Time With The Dancing Rainbow Babies. Those dismissive of the slasher movie (Hi, mom!) often underestimate the variety of slasher movies; they aren’t all set in a holiday camp for randy morons on Prom Night one Halloween which is coincidentally, and impossibly, also Friday the 13th. No, there is also Cherry Falls (2000) and, oh, My Bloody Valentine (2009) and, er, anyway, probably some others. This type being The Small Town Terrorised by Its Past slasher, as it is more commonly known. This is the template which Slasher: The Executioner favours most. (The Internet Elves tell me Slasher: Guilty Party riffs on The Holiday Death Camp template).

Events kick off with the present day return of pleasant, newlywed young artist Sarah Bennett (née Ingram) to Waterbury, where she was born on Halloween night in 1988, when a masked killer cut her from the womb of her mother, Rachel. Rachel’s husband, Bryan, had died about ten seconds earlier from a frenzied knife-torso interaction, leaving nobody to hand out candy to the trick or treaters except the killer, The Executioner, who docilely awaited the police cradling the bloody new-born in his arms. It’s fair to say Sarah has issues with Waterbury, and as her arrival coincides with  the start of a spate of copycat Executioner killings, Waterbury has issues with Sarah. And it’s this business that occupies your eyes and ears for the bulk of the 8 episodes. I mean, that was some spoilertastic stuff back there, yeah? But get this…that was only the opening 10 minutes; there’s plenty of unspoiled stuff and, hey, maybe those first 10 minutes I just got spoil all over aren’t all as they initially appear? That is a distinct possibility. Yes it is.

What then unfolds over the televisually paced course of Slasher: The Executioner’s 8 episodes is slashtastically fun stuff. Pretty much everything you expect in a slasher movie happens, because that predictability is part of the fun of a slasher movie. Crucially, however, some stuff you don’t expect to happen in a slasher movie also happens, which is part of the fun of a good slasher movie. A good slasher movie has to both cater to and exceed expectations, and Slasher: the Executioner is a pretty good slasher movie despite its arse-numbing running time.  But then only a glutton would gulp it down one go; Slasher: The Executioner is most rewarding when taken episodically; which is kind of why they made it like that, I guess. With a gap between each episode you can ruminate and ratiocinate in an attempt to understand the motivations, unearth the clues and unmask the killer. Although, good luck with that; the identity of the killer may be easy to guess (it’s [Redacted]!) but it’s a lot less easy to back it up with clues and evidence. It’s more a case of “It’s [Redacted]” because it has to be, rather than you have been perceptive enough to amass an evidence trail suitable for a Court of Law. But then slasher maniacs rarely see the inside of a Court of Law, so going with your gut is okay in this context.

The cast though? I mean, you’re going to be spending a lot of time with these people and given the nature of the beast some of them are going to have to surprise you with who they really turn out to be. Happily, everyone in Slasher: The Executioner is far better at this acting lark than the usual cast of a slasher movie. It probably helps that unlike most slasher movies the cast is portraying adults rather than the more usual teenagers. Feeelingzzzz aside, adult life is a lot more complex than teenage life, so there’s a lot more scope for surprise behaviour wise. And adults by definition have lived longer than teenagers so they have an actual past which could, maybe, be full of misdeeds and tragedy. That kind of thing would be pretty helpful were you trying to fill about 8 hours of screentime, yeah? Yeah, it totally would. As Sarah, Katie McGrath is maybe a bit of a milksop but this, to be fair, pays off later with a major change in attitude, and also in her defence she is mostly on the backfoot as surprises and violence tend to single her out. And she certainly rallies herself with an impressively sad ferocity come the bloody climax. Brandon Jay McLaren as her life partner convinces as a man too nice to be true, but who just might come through. The killer is great and clearly having a fun time, but their performance becomes a real humdinger once the reveal hits and the pretence can be dropped (in front of the viewer at least). Lots of actors, lots of performances and all of them are lots of fun. Some are more fun than others, but saying more would splash spoil all over the place. In a town this big there might be more than one mystery, is all i’m saying.

Slasher: The Executioner is overwrought, it’s daft, it’s violent, it’s rarely dull and it successfully stretches your suspension of disbelief like so much Silly Putty. Pretty much a dreamy slasher experience all in all. Of course many a long form TV show comes a cropper when it has to deliver a definite ending. But rest easy, the end of Slasher: The Executioner doesn’t reveal everyone is dead, and, no, it wasn’t all a dream. The stakes are high ending wise; after nearly 8 hours Slasher needed to deliver a faceslap of an ending, and while the mechanics of what happen are hardly brain meltingly original, the psychological darkness of it was a bleak delight. In short the ending to Slasher: The Executioner is a TV win: it doesn’t make you wish you hadn’t bothered. As long as you came expecting a slasher, that is. The clue’s in the title after all.

[dailychapel]

A prayer of Mother Teresa Lord, increase my faith, bless my efforts and work, now and for evermore. Amen. 

[Psa 93:1-5 ESV] 1 The LORD reigns; he is robed in majesty; the LORD is robed; he has put on strength as his belt. Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved. 2 Your throne is established from of old; you are from everlasting. 3 The floods have lifted up, O LORD, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their roaring. 4 Mightier than the thunders of many waters, mightier than the waves of the sea, the LORD on high is mighty! 5 Your decrees are very trustworthy; holiness befits your house, O LORD, forevermore.

[1Sa 1:1-2, 5-7, 9-10 ESV] 1 There was a certain man of Ramathaim-zophim of the hill country of Ephraim whose name was Elkanah the son of Jeroham, son of Elihu, son of Tohu, son of Zuph, an Ephrathite. 2 He had two wives. The name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other, Peninnah. And Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children. ... 5 But to Hannah he gave a double portion, because he loved her, though the LORD had closed her womb. 6 And her rival used to provoke her grievously to irritate her, because the LORD had closed her womb. 7 So it went on year by year. As often as she went up to the house of the LORD, she used to provoke her. Therefore Hannah wept and would not eat. ... 9 After they had eaten and drunk in Shiloh, Hannah rose. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat beside the doorpost of the temple of the LORD. 10 She was deeply distressed and prayed to the LORD and wept bitterly.

[Act 16:16-18 ESV] 16 As we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by fortune-telling. 17 She followed Paul and us, crying out, "These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation." 18 And this she kept doing for many days. Paul, having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, "I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her." And it came out that very hour.

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

[mrlnsfrt]

Parenting and Potential

Samson has always grabbed my attention. I remember as a child imagining in my head what it would have been like to be as strong as Samson. Samson is a well-known hero of the Bible, one that children are often familiar with. However, if we think of the story of Samson as simply a superhero story for kids, we will miss the many lessons this story has for people of all ages and in all walks of life. After all, the story of Samson is considered an ancient masterpiece. (Block, Daniel Isaac. Judges, Ruth. Broadman & Holman, 1999. p 391)

In this post, I will be looking at this story just like I look at all stories in the Bible, as a true story, inspired by God that we can learn eternal truths from.

So let us dive in!

Again?

Again the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, and the Lord delivered them into the hand of the Philistines for forty years. Judges 13:1 NKJV (bold mine)

The Bible Knowledge Commentary points out that this is the 7th mention of Israel’s apostasy in the Book of Judges ( Judges 3:5–7, 12–14; 4:1–3; 6:1–2; 8:33–35; 10:6–9) (Lindsey, F. D. (1985). Judges. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 403). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.) This is considered the climax of Israel’s rebellion against God and His will.

When you read through the book of Judges you notice a clear pattern of apostasy, oppression, appeals for relief, and deliverance. (Block, Daniel Isaac. Judges, Ruth. Broadman & Holman, 1999. p391) This pattern is easily seen in the stories of Othniel (Judges 3:7-11), Ehud (Judges 3:12-29), and Barak (Judges 4:1-5:31), and even in the story of Gideon (Judges 6:1-9:57). You would also notice that with each story the storyteller becomes more interested in the personality of the judge/deliverer and sticks less to just the cycle. In the story of Jephthah, the structure begins to miss some of the parts of the cycle and this trend only intensifies in the story of Samson.

In the story of Samson, the cycle of apostasy —> oppression —> cry —> deliverance is severely disturbed. Most noticeable is the lack of response of Israel, there is no crying out to the LORD. Could it be that Israel slowly became used to being oppressed by its enemies? Perhaps they figured life would be easier with a little bit of compromise, after all, nobody is perfect right? They knew they could cry out to God, but then they would also have to re-commit their lives to God, they would have to confess their sins and repent. Could they be trying to simply manage their sin instead of allowing God to remove it from their lives?

Do we ever settle for less than what life could be because we are hesitant to give up our sins and fully surrender our hearts to Jesus?

40 years!?

Again the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, and the Lord delivered them into the hand of the Philistines for forty years. Judges 13:1 NKJV (bold mine)

Dates are tricky in the book of Judges. There are questions as to whether this period was before, or included, the days of Samson and perhaps extended beyond to the battle of Ebenezer in the days of Samuel (1 Sam. 7:13). Samson was likely born in the early years of the Philistine oppression and according to some authorities, this oppression was contemporaneous with the Ammonite oppression and judgeship of Jephthah. (Nichol, F. D. (Ed.). (1976). The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary (Vol. 2, p. 382). Review and Herald Publishing Association.)

This chapter is by no means in direct chronological sequence to the preceding one. What we know is that the scene has shifted to the tribe of Dan, and the Philistines on the west, but there is nothing to guide us as to the exact time when the things narrated occurred. But the end of the forty years probably coincided with the judgeship of Samuel; for there was no complete deliverance in the time of Samson, only occasional checks to the Philistine domination (see ver. 5). It was not till the days of Samuel that the Philistines were really smitten (see 1 Sam. 7:3–14). The birth of Samson probably took place somewhere in the first decade of the Philistine oppression. (Spence-Jones, H. D. M. (Ed.). (1909). Judges (pp. 137–138). London; New York: Funk & Wagnalls Company.)

We need a Hero!

This is the portion of the story where usually we would have a description of how Israel cried out to the Lord (Judges 3:9, 15; 6:6; 10:10) and the Lord raised a deliverer. Except, as we mentioned earlier, the Samson narrative is different. In this story, the Israelites display little discomfort and there is barely any evidence that they want to be delivered. There is also no formal announcement that the Lord raised up a deliverer. (Judges 2:16-18; 3:9,15) (Block, Daniel Isaac. p396)

Barren

Now there was a certain man from Zorah, of the family of the Danites, whose name was Manoah; and his wife was barren and had no children. - Judges 13:2 NKJV (bold mine)

Reading the Bible we realize that barrenness, to a Hebrew woman, was the greatest of calamities. Sarah, Rebekah, and Rachel were likewise barren. So was Hannah, the mother of Samuel, and Elisabeth, the mother of John the Baptist. (Nichol, F. D. (Ed.). (1976). The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary (Vol. 2, p. 383). Review and Herald Publishing Association.)

What follows in the story is a call narrative, kinda… It is not explicit and direct, and the call does not come directly to the person called but rather to his mother.

And the Angel of the Lord appeared to the woman and said to her, “Indeed now, you are barren and have borne no children, but you shall conceive and bear a son. - Judges 13:3 NKJV (bold mine)

Some of the greatest men of the Hebrew nation were born of women who had previously been barren. Children like these were in a special sense the gift of God, and the parents had the great responsibility of being fully devoted to the Lord and to rear their children in such a way as to enable them to be special instruments of the Lord on behalf of His people. (Nichol, F. D. p. 383).

The Mission

Now therefore, please be careful not to drink wine or similar drink, and not to eat anything unclean. For behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. And no razor shall come upon his head, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb; and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.” - Judges 13:4-5 NKJV

The word Nazarite means “separated,” or, “devoted.” It is probably a shortened form of the full title, “devoted to God.” The Nazirite vow was a voluntary and temporary vow, carried out only for a specified period of time (see Numbers 6:2). Its significance consisted in the consecration of life to God. The outward manifestation of the vow consisted of three things:

(1) abstaining from all products of the grape, including the wine or the fruit, fresh or dried (Num. 6:3, 4);

(2) allowing the hair of the head to grow, untouched by a razor or cutting instrument (Num. 6:5);

(3) refraining from approaching a dead body under any circumstances lest defilement be incurred (Num. 6:6).

The Nazirite vow was highly regarded among the Hebrews (Amos 2:11; Lam. 4:7). Samuel was a Nazirite (1 Sam. 1:11), as was also John the Baptist (Luke 1:15). Some have thought that perhaps Joseph (see Gen. 49:26, where the word translated “separate” is the same word used of Samson here in this verse and of all the Nazirites) was a Nazirite. ( Nichol, F. D. p383)

The law of the Nazarites is contained in Numbers 6, and it is worth noting that it describes only Nazarites of days, in other words, Nazarites for a definite time. Whereas Samson, Samuel, and John the Baptist were perpetual Nazarites, Nazarites of forever, as the Mishna classifies them. Paul took the vow of a Nazarite of days, and offered the prescribed sacrifices, together with “the hair of the head of his separation,” as we read in Acts 18:18; 21:23–26. (Spence-Jones, H. D. M. (Ed.). (1909). Judges (p. 138). London; New York: Funk & Wagnalls Company.)

Parenting and Potential

Talk to mom

So the woman came and told her husband, saying, “A Man of God came to me, and His countenance was like the countenance of the Angel of God, very awesome; but I did not ask Him where He was from, and He did not tell me His name. And He said to me, ‘Behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. Now drink no wine or similar drink, nor eat anything unclean, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb to the day of his death.’ ” - Judges 13:6-7 NKJV

There is an interesting debate that tends to take place at this point in the story. Is the mother a marginalized character?

The mother is never named, she is simply the woman. However, she is the one the angel talks to. I feel like it might be a bit early to have this discussion. Let’s read a bit more.

Then Manoah prayed to the Lord, and said, “O my Lord, please let the Man of God whom You sent come to us again and teach us what we shall do for the child who will be born.”

And God listened to the voice of Manoah, and the Angel of God came to the woman again as she was sitting in the field; but Manoah her husband was not with her. Then the woman ran in haste and told her husband, and said to him, “Look, the Man who came to me the other day has just now appeared to me!” - Judges 13:8-10 NKJV

Manoah, the husband, wants to talk to this “man” and asks God to send “the man” again to teach them what they shall do. I admire Manoah for not doubting, he believes the child will be born, if anything he wants to make sure he knows how to raise the child. This is a great question and all parents should inquire of God in this manner.

As you continue reading the story you realize that in reality, the nameless mother is portrayed as wise and capable. The angel talks to her, and she understands what is going on. Manoah, the husband, on the other hand, seems confused and unsure and blunders along. So it could be argued that although only Manoah is the only named parent of Samson, it is the nameless mother is the one who is depicted as being competent.

Parenting

You don’t have to be a mother to appreciate the importance of parenting. The parents/caregivers of children have incredible influence over the life of a child and this should not be taken lightly. The Angel of the Lord shows up to talk to the mother because God understands that the involvement of the parents, and especially the mother, is crucial to the success of the child.

It is worth noting that the Angel of the Lord gives guidance that involves the diet of the child. According to this portion of the story, what we eat impacts our spiritual health. Samson has an important mission, “he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.” And to accomplish this, he is to avoid certain foods and drinks.

I love what the book Patriarchs and Prophets has to say regarding this.

True temperance teaches us to dispense entirely with everything hurtful and to use judiciously that which is healthful. There are few who realize as they should how much their habits of diet have to do with their health, their character, their usefulness in this world, and their eternal destiny. The appetite should ever be in subjection to the moral and intellectual powers. The body should be servant to the mind, and not the mind to the body. - Patriarchs and Prophets p562

What I take away from this is that the discipline it takes to eat a healthy diet and avoid unhealthy food and drink is beneficial since it develops character. From childhood, the person learns to control their appetite and cravings and this is also helpful in spiritual pursuits. God is interested in the whole person, mind, body, and soul. When one aspect suffers, the whole person suffers.

As a father of a boy and a girl, I do my very best to help my kids develop healthy habits. I want them to go to bed early, drink water, exercise, pray often, do their personal devotion, be kind and honest, etc. I believe it is important for me to model this behavior and to encourage my children to live their lives similarly. My kids are free to have their personal preferences, to a certain degree. They can choose what kind of exercise, so long as they exercise. They can choose how they want to eat their vegetables, as long as they eat them. They can even choose their desert, but not how much desert they can have.

I still have much to learn, but I strongly believe that actively removing things that I know to be harmful from my life and finding a balance among helpful things is a good way to go about figuring out not only life but also parenthood.

Children naturally have less power to resist temptation than their parents/guardians. If the adults in their life, especially their parents, do not set a good example, the next generation tends to fall even lower, and the cycle repeats itself with society continuing to decline generation after generation. All parents should echo the prayer of Manoah:

So Manoah asked him, “When your words come true, what kind of rules should govern the boy’s life and work?” Judges 13:12 NLT

We ought to start teaching children about self-control and right and wrong from the time they are babies. That is the best time to help them develop healthy habits, eating fruits and vegetables, eating at the appropriate times, putting away their toys, telling the truth, sharing, etc. A child should not get to do whatever they want just because they’re a child.

Practical Application

God has a plan for our lives, and being in good physical health is conducive to God’s plan. Avoiding alcoholic drinks is not only beneficial to those undertaking the Nazirite vow in ancient Israel but also beneficial today. When we are careless about our physical health we miss out on blessings that God has in store for us. He can still bless us, but we limit our blessings when we disregard our health.

God has a plan for the children in our lives, our kids, nieces, nephews, grandkids, and students, need good role models, good mentors who will help direct them on the right path. Let us not take lightly our influence over the lives of the younger ones. Parents especially should pray often asking God for guidance in this matter. God has a plan, maybe He is calling you simply to start something that someone else will continue, but God has a plan for you. You just need to ask Him what it is and He will guide you in your steps.

[dfroza]

spiritual truth is documented in the written Word of God

and the eternal tapestry is Heaven’s True story that we can only truly see through baptism eyes as children of our Creator.

and we see our Creator in the True nature of garden earth, but we also find our True nature (our True identity) through reborn hearts in the True illumination of the Son. and we’ve been given a mandate that this message be conserved and shared as a seed that will spread throughout the world.

but some stand in opposition to its spiritual truth, such as Saul before God changed his heart and name to Paul. and this is seen in Today’s reading from the book of Acts:

[Chapter 8]

Now, Saul agreed to be an accomplice to Stephen’s stoning and participated in his execution. From that day on, a great persecution of the church in Jerusalem began. All the believers scattered into the countryside of Judea and among the Samaritans, except the apostles who remained behind in Jerusalem. God-fearing men gave Stephen a proper burial and mourned greatly over his death.

Then Saul mercilessly persecuted the church of God, going from house to house into the homes of believers to arrest both men and women and drag them off to prison.

Although the believers were scattered by persecution, they preached the wonderful news of the word of God wherever they went. Philip traveled to a Samaritan city and preached to them the wonderful news of the Anointed One. The crowds were eager to receivd Philip’s message and were persuaded by the many miracles and wonders he performed. Many demon-possessed people were set free and delivered as evil spirits came out of them with loud screams and shrieks, and many who were lame and paralyzed were also healed. This resulted in an uncontainable joy filling the city!

Now, there was a man who lived there who was steeped in sorcery. For some time he had astounded the people of Samaria with his magic, boasting to be someone great. Everyone, from the least to the greatest among them, was dazzled by his sorcery, saying, “This man is the greatest wizard of all! The divine power of God walks among us!” For many years everyone was in awe of him because of his astonishing displays of the magic arts.

But as Philip preached the wonderful news of God’s kingdom realm, and the name of Jesus the Anointed One, many believed his message and were baptized, both men and women. Even Simon believed and was baptized! Wherever Philip went, Simon was right by his side, astounded by all the miracles, signs, and enormous displays of power that he witnessed.

When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that the Samaritans had accepted God’s message of life, they sent Peter and John to pray over them so that they would receive the Holy Spirit. For they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus and were yet to have the Holy Spirit fall upon them. As soon as Peter and John arrived, they laid their hands on the Samaritan believers, one after another, and the Holy Spirit fell and filled each one of them!

When Simon saw how the Holy Spirit was released through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he approached them and offered them money, saying, “I want this power too. I’m willing to pay you for the anointing that you have, so that I also can lay my hands on everyone to receive the Holy Spirit.”

Peter rebuked him and said, “Your money will go with you to destruction! How could you even think that you could purchase God’s supernatural gift with money? You will never have this gift or take part in this ministry, for your heart is not right with God. Repent this moment for allowing such wickedness to fill you. Plead with the Lord that perhaps he would forgive you the treachery of your heart. For I discern that jealous envy has poisoned you and binds you as a captive to sin.”

Simon begged, “Peter, please pray to God for me. Plead with him so that nothing you just said over me may come to pass!”

After Peter and John had testified and taught the word of God in that city, they returned to Jerusalem, stopping at many Samaritan villages along the way to preach the hope of the gospel.

Then the Lord’s angel said to Philip, “Now go south from Jerusalem on the desert road to Gaza.” He left immediately on his assignment.

Along the way he encountered an Ethiopian who believed in the God of the Jews, who was the minister of finance for Candace, queen of Ethiopia. He was on his way home from worshiping God in Jerusalem. As he rode along in his chariot, he was reading from the scroll of Isaiah.

The Holy Spirit said to Philip, “Go and walk alongside the chariot.”

So Philip ran to catch up. As he drew closer he overheard the man reading from the scroll of Isaiah the prophet. Philip asked him, “Sir, do you understand what you’re reading?”

The man answered, “How can I possibly make sense of this without someone explaining it to me?” So he invited Philip up into his chariot to sit with him.

The portion from Isaiah he was reading was this:

He was led away to the slaughter

like a lamb to be offered.

He was like a lamb that is silent

before those who sheared him—

he never even opened his mouth.

In his lowliness justice was stripped away from him.

And who could fully express his struggles?

For his life was taken from the earth.

The Ethiopian asked Philip, “Please, can you tell me who the prophet is speaking of? Is it himself or another man?”

Philip started with this passage and shared with him the wonderful message of Jesus.

As they were traveling down the road, the man said, “Look, here’s a pool of water. Why don’t I get baptized right now?”

Philip replied, “If you believe with all your heart, I’ll baptize you.”

The man answered, “I believe that Jesus is the Anointed One, the Son of God.”

The Ethiopian stopped his chariot, and they went down into the water and Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water, Philip was suddenly snatched up by the Spirit of the Lord and instantly carried away to the city of Ashdod, where he reappeared, preaching the gospel in that city.

The man never saw Philip again. He returned to Ethiopia full of great joy. Philip, however, traveled on to all of the towns of that region, bringing them the good news, until he arrived at Caesarea.

The Book of Acts, Chapter 8 (The Passion Translation)

Today’s paired chapter of the Testaments is the first chapter in the book of 1st Samuel that documents Hebraic History and the conception of Samuel after Hannah prays for a child. the genesis spark of conception is the moment life begins in the womb:

[Hannah Pours Out Her Heart to God]

There once was a man who lived in Ramathaim. He was descended from the old Zuph family in the Ephraim hills. His name was Elkanah. (He was connected with the Zuphs from Ephraim through his father Jeroham, his grandfather Elihu, and his great-grandfather Tohu.) He had two wives. The first was Hannah; the second was Peninnah. Peninnah had children; Hannah did not.

Every year this man went from his hometown up to Shiloh to worship and offer a sacrifice to God-of-the-Angel-Armies. Eli and his two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, served as the priests of God there. When Elkanah sacrificed, he passed helpings from the sacrificial meal around to his wife Peninnah and all her children, but he always gave an especially generous helping to Hannah because he loved her so much, and because God had not given her children. But her rival wife taunted her cruelly, rubbing it in and never letting her forget that God had not given her children. This went on year after year. Every time she went to the sanctuary of God she could expect to be taunted. Hannah was reduced to tears and had no appetite.

Her husband Elkanah said, “Oh, Hannah, why are you crying? Why aren’t you eating? And why are you so upset? Am I not of more worth to you than ten sons?”

So Hannah ate. Then she pulled herself together, slipped away quietly, and entered the sanctuary. The priest Eli was on duty at the entrance to God’s Temple in the customary seat. Crushed in soul, Hannah prayed to God and cried and cried—inconsolably. Then she made a vow:

Oh, God-of-the-Angel-Armies,

If you’ll take a good, hard look at my pain,

If you’ll quit neglecting me and go into action for me

By giving me a son,

I’ll give him completely, unreservedly to you.

I’ll set him apart for a life of holy discipline.

It so happened that as she continued in prayer before God, Eli was watching her closely. Hannah was praying in her heart, silently. Her lips moved, but no sound was heard. Eli jumped to the conclusion that she was drunk. He approached her and said, “You’re drunk! How long do you plan to keep this up? Sober up, woman!”

Hannah said, “Oh no, sir—please! I’m a woman hard used. I haven’t been drinking. Not a drop of wine or beer. The only thing I’ve been pouring out is my heart, pouring it out to God. Don’t for a minute think I’m a bad woman. It’s because I’m so desperately unhappy and in such pain that I’ve stayed here so long.”

Eli answered her, “Go in peace. And may the God of Israel give you what you have asked of him.”

“Think well of me—and pray for me!” she said, and went her way. Then she ate heartily, her face radiant.

Up before dawn, they worshiped God and returned home to Ramah. Elkanah slept with Hannah his wife, and God began making the necessary arrangements in response to what she had asked.

[Dedicating the Child to God]

Before the year was out, Hannah had conceived and given birth to a son. She named him Samuel, explaining, “I asked God for him.”

When Elkanah next took his family on their annual trip to Shiloh to worship God, offering sacrifices and keeping his vow, Hannah didn’t go. She told her husband, “After the child is weaned, I’ll bring him myself and present him before God—and that’s where he’ll stay, for good.”

Elkanah said to his wife, “Do what you think is best. Stay home until you have weaned him. Yes! Let God complete what he has begun!”

So she did. She stayed home and nursed her son until she had weaned him. Then she took him up to Shiloh, bringing also the makings of a generous sacrificial meal—a prize bull, flour, and wine. The child was so young to be sent off!

They first butchered the bull, then brought the child to Eli. Hannah said, “Excuse me, sir. Would you believe that I’m the very woman who was standing before you at this very spot, praying to God? I prayed for this child, and God gave me what I asked for. And now I have dedicated him to God. He’s dedicated to God for life.”

Then and there, they worshiped God.

The Book of 1st Samuel, Chapter 1 (The Message)

my personal reading of the Scriptures for Sunday, September 20 of 2020 with a paired chapter from each Testament along with Today’s Psalms and Proverbs

Today’s message from the Institute for Creation Research:

September 20, 2020

The Comfortable Church

“Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.” (Revelation 3:17)

This is the heart of Christ’s rebuke of the church at Laodicea, the “lukewarm” church (v. 16) of the last days. This is an evangelical church for its candlestick is still in place (note Revelation 1:20; 2:5), but it has become a neutral church, “neither cold nor hot” (3:15). The reason for its tepid witness is because it has become “rich, and increased with goods,” comfortable in a culture that tends to equate material prosperity with success and God’s favor. It may have acquired large and beautiful facilities, developed special programs of many kinds, featured a variety of musicians and other artists, and even gained a measure of political power. Yet, Christ calls it poor and blind and naked!

Not all large churches become like this, of course, but it is always a real danger. The desire for large congregations can easily lead to compromising biblical standards of doctrine and practice. “Woe to them that are at ease in Zion,” the prophet warned (Amos 6:1).

Note that the Lord began His letter to the Laodicean church by identifying Himself as “the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God” (Revelation 3:14). This strongly suggests that a major reason for the development of such complacency in a large church (or a small church, for that matter) is neglect of these three doctrines—the sufficiency of Christ, the inerrant authority of God’s Word, and the special creation of all things by God.

The letter to this church ends with the sad picture of Christ standing at its door, seeking admission (v. 20). “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches” (v. 22). HMM

[conveyoneverse]

Sura Maryam/Mary - Chapter 19 https://youtu.be/OwUZ6nN2gv4 (English Sub) Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala said: "[Mention, O Muhammad], when the wife of 'Imran said, My Lord, indeed I have pledged to You what is in my womb, consecrated [for Your service], so accept this from me. Indeed, You are the Hearing, the Knowing. But when she delivered her, she said, My Lord, I have delivered a female. And Allah was most knowing of what she delivered, And the male is not like the female. And I have named her Mary, and I seek refuge for her in You and [for] her descendants from Satan, the expelled [from the mercy of Allah]. So her Lord accepted her with good acceptance and caused her to grow in a good manner and put her in the care of Zechariah. Every time Zechariah entered upon her in the prayer chamber, he found with her provision. He said, O Mary, from where is this [coming] to you? She said, It is from Allah. Indeed, Allah provides for whom He wills without account." (QS. Aal-i-Imraan 3: Verse 35-37) The Story of Mary/Maryam's Birth Allah tells; (Remember) when the wife of Imran said: The wife of Imran mentioned here is the mother of Maryam, and her name is Hannah bint Faqudh. Muhammad bin Ishaq mentioned that Hannah could not have children and that one day, she saw a bird feeding its chick. She wished she could have children and supplicated to Allah to grant her offspring. Allah accepted her supplication, she became pregnant. She vowed to make her child concentrate on worship and serving Bayt Al-Maqdis(the Masjid in Jerusalem), when she became aware that she was pregnant. She said, O my Lord! I have vowed to You what is in my womb to be dedicated for Your services, so accept this from me. Verily, You are the All-Hearer, the All-Knowing. meaning, You hear my supplication and You know my intention. She did not know then what she would give birth to, a male or a female. Then when she gave birth to her, she said: "O my Lord! I have given birth to a female child, ـ and Allah knew better what she bore. And the male is not like the female, in strength and the commitment to..... https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10218602440668605&id=1124661704 https://www.instagram.com/p/CECsFp4BlP9/?igshid=whygk96w878q

[elysiumrp]

Jacob Andrew Newton || Anti-Supernatural Human || Pro-Humanity Portrayed by Chris Wood

Biography /

Jacob was born to a long line of family hunters, so his profession was determined for him before he was even in the womb. He was brought up with the knowledge of supernaturals and being taught the same ideas that all hunters hold dear. His life and his outlook were decided for him from the beginning. The Newton family resided in England, but there were many out spurts of the line that lived in other countries. Still, the Newtons with the surname Newton were still the ones that called the shots, and Jacob grew up knowing that he would not only be a hunter, but that he would also be a leader for his generation. He was the eldest Newton of his generation which meant that he was the most important heir they had. Jacob would lead his siblings, he would lead his cousins, and he would lead all of those other hunters that followed their family as well. Jacob made the decision to come to New York after it was revealed just how bad things were in the city. New York had always been a bit of a hot spot, but the majority of hunters were always reassured that it was under control. With everything that has happened, Jacob sees that that is far from the truth. They have been lied to, the supernatural populations have gotten out of control, and now it’s going to take twice as much work to fix things as it would have to just keep them under control in the first place. Jacob has learned from this experience that if you want something done right, you have to do it yourself, so right after the initial supernatural reveal, he caught a flight to JFK and hasn’t looked back since. Jacob has successfully integrated not only into the hunter population, but also into the life of one hunter in particular that seems to have quite the supernatural connection. He knows that he won’t be able to go home to England until he has taken care of the city, and he knows that one of the best ways to get supernaturals chased out is to kill some of their society’s most prominent members, so that has what he has set out to do. He doesn’t see them as people, they’re monsters and they do nothing but kill, so he has nothing holding him back when it comes to making sure New York City gets returned to the place it should be as opposed to the underground supernatural haven that it is now.

Important Points /

--Death is something that Jacob is all too used to and dying young is something that is almost expected in his family’s line of work. Sure, there are some hunters that make it out and live full lives, but whenever one simple mistake can mean you’re dead, there are so many more that die very, very young. Jacob actually lost a cousin to a werewolf on their first hunt out together, and it’s something that fully cemented his hatred towards the supernaturals. They were young kids, no more than seventeen, and just like that, one of their lives was extinguished. Now, of course one could argue that they were trying to do the same to the werewolf, but Jacob doesn’t see it like that. Supernaturals aren’t humans, they don’t have souls, and there’s no reason why they deserve to live. They’re killers, all of them, and they kill innocent humans for fun each and every day. If Jacob had his way, all supernaturals would be eliminated so that humans could live in safety once and for all, but hunters have been trying to achieve that for years, and it has never worked. His life will be an ongoing battle against the supernatural until the end of his days, but Jacob is okay with that. He’s proud to carry on the family legacy, especially now that people know hunters and supernaturals actually exist, and his main concern is making sure that he is able to make New York City and the entire world just a little bit safer every single day.

--Most hunters are brought up to just kill, kill, kill, but Jacob has started to try to bring more strategy into how he does things. New York City now is a completely different environment than there has ever been in the world, and Jacob is planning to use that to his advantage. Supernaturals are registering what they are, and after a person finds one supernatural, it is so much easier to find the other supernaturals that they know. Instead of just having to hang out at a bar and wait for some vampire to bit an unsuspecting human, instead Jacob has found it to be much more efficient to actually try and attack and kill supernaturals through their social groups. If he can find one vampire and make it through not killing them right away, it is so much easier to find the other supernaturals that that creature knows as well. With every new supernatural he finds, he is able to find a handful more that are exposed because of their social connections, and mapping supernaturals means that it is so much easier to eventually eliminate them all at once. Killing more than one supernatural at the same time is difficult, but not if there is pre-planning involved. He's willing to go to whatever lengths it takes to keep working on helping out New York City, and the more supernaturals that die, the better. It means that eventually they'll get scared and run out of the city, or eventually try to come after him. If the second happens, he's sure that he'll be able to put them down before they even get near.

--New regulations have passed that state that supernaturals that register will once again have the same rights as humans when it comes to being able to walk down the street without being attacked, but Jacob knows that that kind of rule is all too difficult to enforce. It’s all a matter of he said, she said, and if the supernatural is dead, there is nobody to argue against him if Jacob were to claim that they attacked him first. Not only that, but a database of supernaturals with where they live and everything else is all too convenient, and Jacob is working diligently to get his hands on it. If the hunters were able to find out where all registered supernaturals lived, it would be all too easy to work towards their cause. Jacob has even heard rumors that the government will release it eventually as well so that the hunters can do the jobs that the government technically can’t do to make the city safer overall. Jacob can’t wait for that day. The absence of supernaturals would make the city such a better, and safer, place to live than it is now.

Connections /

TARRYN DAVIDSON ; Jacob and Tarryn have been official for months now, and Jacob himself is surprised that he has been able to keep her unaware for as long as he has. Tarryn knows that he's a hunter, that's how they met, but she is still fully under the impression that he believes the same that she does--that only bad supernaturals should be killed. Technically, it's not lying when Jacob says he believes the same, he just leaves out the part about how he sees all supernaturals as bad. Truthfully, Jacob is using Tarryn more than anything else. To kill the alpha of New York City's biggest and only pack would be something that gained him a reputation for the rest of his days, and he's not going to just let such a perfect opportunity pass him up.

EMILY VILLANOVA ; Emily is the main bargaining chip that he has in his agreement with Marcus, and he's willing to use Emily if necessary to get what he wants. He knows that Marcus will do anything to protect his sister, and that just makes Marcus all the more vulnerable because he has a weakness. Emily technically no longer has magic, but Jacob doesn't see her as human. She is still a witch, albeit a broken one, and a former witch is still not welcome in what he wants to become a sanctuary city for humans.

MARCUS HENSTRIDGE ; Marcus was desperate, and desperation is all too easy to exploit. He's a former warlock with no magic, and one that wants his magic back more than anything else. It was simple, Jacob made a deal with Marcus that he could help him get his powers back if he just sold out some high value target supernatural kills, but secretly Jacob has no plans to deliver on his side of their agreement. After he feels that he's used Marcus as much as he can, he'll most likely dispose of the former warlock. It's safer than letting him live when he has no idea what Marcus could try to do, or what he might say to others, in retaliation.

HANNAH ROWE ; Jacob met Hannah by chance through one of his friends, and it's nice to be introduced to other humans that actually appreciate what the hunters are doing for the world. He knows that they are all living in a time of terror and distrust, but he takes pride in the fact that he's trying to make it a little bit better for them all each and every single day. Not everyone can be a hunter, but that just means that those that are need to step up and actually do their jobs for the benefit of their entire species.

GABRIEL MORENO ; Gabriel is more known as Antonia Moreno's brother than anything else, but that doesn't mean that he is any less of a target. Antonia might have been the one that came out to the public as a vampire, but that also means that she has fled and is most likely seriously on guard. Gabriel, on the other hand, isn't recognized by as many, and Jacob can't help but assume that that would make him an easier target. Taking out a Moreno would be great, especially since it might drive Antonia to insanity. If that was the case and she acted out... Well, it would be all too perfect for one of the main outspoken supernaturals to go on a killing spree on camera. There would be no coming back from that for anyone in the community at all.

SAMANTHA DEANE ; Deane is a last name that he has heard before when researching the history of New York City, mainly the council itself. Samantha wasn't mentioned anywhere close to as many times as her father, but Jacob isn't an idiot, and he knows that magic continues down the family line all the same. Samantha is a witch, but not only that, she's one of the last few surviving members of New York City's supernatural reigning body, and for that reason alone, she's better dead than alive. Even considering the possibility that she doesn't have a single leadership bone in her body, the existence of a Deane still reminds others of better times, and that is something that needs to be taken away.

BETHANY HEATON ; Jacob doesn't know who Bethany Heaton is, but she knows him, and he also knows her ex-boyfriend. Ryan is his second cousin, one of the few American cousins that he actually knows since Ryan's family flew to England to visit them a few years back. They've been keeping the northeast in control for quite a while now, but Jacob can't help but think that perhaps they need to head down to New York City to help out down here too. He has full confidence in his family, more than he does other hunters, and he knows that working alongside his cousin would increase their abilities and what they were capable of even more.

JACOB NEWTON IS CURRENTLY OPEN

[beacomer]

Prayer Devotional - Remember Me 1/20/2017

Calvary Chapel Newport News Jan 20 - 21, 2017

========== Prayer Devotional - Remember Me 1/20/2017 This week’s devotionals are on the topic of Prayer. Today’s devotional is from Michael Fiala, a core staff leader in the Children’s Ministry at Calvary Chapel Newport News. ==========

Calvary Chapel Newport News Jan 20 - 21, 2017

========== Prayer Devotional - Remember Me 1/20/2017 This week’s devotionals are on the topic of Prayer. Today’s devotional is from Michael Fiala, a core staff leader in the Children’s Ministry at Calvary Chapel Newport News. ==========

Reach UpReach Up

Pray and worship to I Will Run” by Misty Edwards

“I Will Run” by Misty Edwards https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1ytWr7pEB0

Pray and worship to I Will Run” by Misty Edwards

"I Will Run” by Misty Edwards https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1ytWr7pEB0

Reach InReach In- Read 1 Samuel 1

I Samuel 1:1-28 Now there was a certain man of Ramathaim Zophim, of the mountains of Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. And he had two wives: the name of one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children. This man went up from his city yearly to worship and sacrifice to the LORD of hosts in Shiloh. Also the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the LORD, were there. And whenever the time came for Elkanah to make an offering, he would give portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and daughters. But to Hannah he would give a double portion, for he loved Hannah, although the LORD had closed her womb. And her rival also provoked her severely, to make her miserable, because the LORD had closed her womb. So it was, year by year, when she went up to the house of the LORD, that she provoked her; therefore she wept and did not eat. Then Elkanah her husband said to her, “Hannah, why do you weep? Why do you not eat? And why is your heart grieved? Am I not better to you than ten sons?” So Hannah arose after they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat by the doorpost of the tabernacle of the LORD. And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the LORD and wept in anguish. Then she made a vow and said, “O LORD of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head.” And it happened, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli watched her mouth. Now Hannah spoke in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli thought she was drunk. So Eli said to her, “How long will you be drunk? Put your wine away from you!” But Hannah answered and said, “No, my lord, I am a woman of sorrowful spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor intoxicating drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD. “Do not consider your maidservant a wicked woman, for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief I have spoken until now.” Then Eli answered and said, “Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition which you have asked of Him.” And she said, “Let your maidservant find favor in your sight.” So the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad. Then they rose early in the morning and worshiped before the LORD, and returned and came to their house at Ramah. And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the LORD remembered her. So it came to pass in the process of time that Hannah conceived and bore a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, “Because I have asked for him from the LORD.” Now the man Elkanah and all his house went up to offer to the LORD the yearly sacrifice and his vow. But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, “ Not until the child is weaned; then I will take him, that he may appear before the LORD and remain there forever.” So Elkanah her husband said to her, “Do what seems best to you; wait until you have weaned him. Only let the LORD establish His word.” Then the woman stayed and nursed her son until she had weaned him. Now when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bulls, one ephah of flour, and a skin of wine, and brought him to the house of the LORD in Shiloh. And the child was young. Then they slaughtered a bull, and brought the child to Eli. And she said, “O my lord! As your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman who stood by you here, praying to the LORD. For this child I prayed, and the LORD has granted me my petition which I asked of Him. Therefore I also have lent him to the LORD; as long as he lives he shall be lent to the LORD.” So they worshiped the LORD there.

- Read 1 Samuel 1

I Samuel 1:1-28 Now there was a certain man of Ramathaim Zophim, of the mountains of Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. And he had two wives: the name of one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children. This man went up from his city yearly to worship and sacrifice to the LORD of hosts in Shiloh. Also the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the LORD, were there. And whenever the time came for Elkanah to make an offering, he would give portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and daughters. But to Hannah he would give a double portion, for he loved Hannah, although the LORD had closed her womb. And her rival also provoked her severely, to make her miserable, because the LORD had closed her womb. So it was, year by year, when she went up to the house of the LORD, that she provoked her; therefore she wept and did not eat. Then Elkanah her husband said to her, “Hannah, why do you weep? Why do you not eat? And why is your heart grieved? Am I not better to you than ten sons?” So Hannah arose after they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat by the doorpost of the tabernacle of the LORD. And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the LORD and wept in anguish. Then she made a vow and said, “O LORD of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head.” And it happened, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli watched her mouth. Now Hannah spoke in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli thought she was drunk. So Eli said to her, “How long will you be drunk? Put your wine away from you!” But Hannah answered and said, “No, my lord, I am a woman of sorrowful spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor intoxicating drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD. “Do not consider your maidservant a wicked woman, for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief I have spoken until now.” Then Eli answered and said, “Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition which you have asked of Him.” And she said, “Let your maidservant find favor in your sight.” So the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad. Then they rose early in the morning and worshiped before the LORD, and returned and came to their house at Ramah. And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the LORD remembered her. So it came to pass in the process of time that Hannah conceived and bore a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, “Because I have asked for him from the LORD.” Now the man Elkanah and all his house went up to offer to the LORD the yearly sacrifice and his vow. But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, “ Not until the child is weaned; then I will take him, that he may appear before the LORD and remain there forever.” So Elkanah her husband said to her, “Do what seems best to you; wait until you have weaned him. Only let the LORD establish His word.” Then the woman stayed and nursed her son until she had weaned him. Now when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bulls, one ephah of flour, and a skin of wine, and brought him to the house of the LORD in Shiloh. And the child was young. Then they slaughtered a bull, and brought the child to Eli. And she said, “O my lord! As your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman who stood by you here, praying to the LORD. For this child I prayed, and the LORD has granted me my petition which I asked of Him. Therefore I also have lent him to the LORD; as long as he lives he shall be lent to the LORD.” So they worshiped the LORD there.

Reach AroundReach Around

In this chapter, Hannah, a religiously devout and humble woman, has the oddities of life stacked against her. Here is a woman of promise (Genesis 12:1-3) who finds herself without child, without respect, and without rest of soul. Yet, Hannah sets her heart on seeking the Lord.

Let us learn from her example:

1. Devout in Prayer: Year after year, her family came to Shiloh to meet with the Lord because her husband was a priest. The Scripture implies she made it her practice to meet with the Lord in prayer, despite personal agitation from another.

2. Respectful of God’s Presence: Hannah understood she must meet the Lord on His terms by going to the Temple. She could not meet with God out in the wilderness; she was to present herself to Him at the Temple only.

3. Transparent in Seeking God: Hannah chose to come clean with God and share her heart’s distress. She hid nothing from the Lord.

4. Faithfully Awaited the Lord’s Answer: Hannah trusted that the Lord would render an answer in reminding the Lord to “Remember me and not forget your servant.” She believed God would deliver an answer.

5. Heart of Gratitude: Upon hearing Eli’s blessing, she went away from the presence of the Lord without a sad heart. Thus, when God answered her prayer, she thanked the Lord in a song of praise and the dedication of her son to the Lord.

Upon hearing Eli’s blessing, she went away from the presence of the Lord without a sad heart. Thus, when God answered her prayer, she thanked the Lord in a song of praise and the dedication of her son to the Lord.

Reach OutReach Out

The Lord’s faithfulness to His people came by way of a barren woman who prayed. And just like Hannah, we must also seek the face of God, despite circumstances. God is looking for people like Hannah who will dedicate their lives to prayer, so He can birth heaven’s plans for humanity. Will you seek God’s face with the same dedication, respect, and transparency?

[myfaithverses]

📖 Bible Verses for Love and Relationships 💗👫 A collection of many Love and Relationships scripture verses. Colossians 3:18-19 Wives, be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and do not be embittered against them. Genesis 2:24 Verse Concepts For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh. Deuteronomy 24:5 Verse Concepts "When a man takes a new wife, he shall not go out with the army nor be charged with any duty; he shall be free at home one year and shall give happiness to his wife whom he has taken. Proverbs 5:18-20 Let your fountain be blessed, And rejoice in the wife of your youth. As a loving hind and a graceful doe, Let her breasts satisfy you at all times; Be exhilarated always with her love. For why should you, my son, be exhilarated with an adulteress And embrace the bosom of a foreigner? Ephesians 5:22 Verse Concepts Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 1 Peter 3:7 Verse Concepts You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with someone weaker, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered. Isaiah 54:5 Verse Concepts "For your husband is your Maker, Whose name is the LORD of hosts; And your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel, Who is called the God of all the earth. Ephesians 5:25-27 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless. Isaiah 62:5 Verse Concepts For as a young man marries a virgin, So your sons will marry you; And as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, So your God will rejoice over you. Jeremiah 3:14 Verse Concepts 'Return, O faithless sons,' declares the LORD; 'For I am a master to you, And I will take you one from a city and two from a family, And I will bring you to Zion.' Ezekiel 16:8 Verse Concepts "Then I passed by you and saw you, and behold, you were at the time for love; so I spread My skirt over you and covered your nakedness I also swore to you and entered into a covenant with you so that you became Mine," declares the Lord GOD. Hosea 2:19 Verse Concepts "I will betroth you to Me forever; Yes, I will betroth you to Me in righteousness and in justice, In lovingkindness and in compassion, 2 Corinthians 11:2 Verse Concepts For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, so that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin. Revelation 19:7 "Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready." Genesis 29:20 So Jacob served seven years for Rachel and they seemed to him but a few days because of his love for her. Proverbs 6:34-35 For jealousy enrages a man, And he will not spare in the day of vengeance. He will not accept any ransom, Nor will he be satisfied though you give many gifts. Genesis 24:67 Then Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent, and he took Rebekah, and she became his wife, and he loved her; thus Isaac was comforted after his mother's death. Genesis 29:18 Now Jacob loved Rachel, so he said, "I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel." Judges 16:4 After this it came about that he loved a woman in the valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah. 1 Samuel 1:5 but to Hannah he would give a double portion, for he loved Hannah, but the LORD had closed her womb. Hosea 3:1 Then the LORD said to me, "Go again, love a woman who is loved by her husband, yet an adulteress, even as the LORD loves the sons of Israel, though they turn to other gods and love raisin cakes." Matthew 1:19 And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly. 1 Corinthians 7:2 But because of immoralities, each man is to have his own wife, and each woman is to have her own husband. Leviticus 18:22 'You shall not lie with a male as one lies with a female; it is an abomination. Leviticus 19:29 'Do not profane your daughter by making her a harlot, so that the land will not fall to harlotry and the land become full of lewdness. Deuteronomy 23:17-18 "None of the daughters of Israel shall be a cult prostitute, nor shall any of the sons of Israel be a cult prostitute. "You shall not bring the hire of a harlot or the wages of a dog into the house of the LORD your God for any votive offering, for both of these are an abomination to the LORD your God. Matthew 5:32 but I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except for the reason of unchastity, makes her commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery. Acts 15:29 that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols and from blood and from things strangled and from fornication; if you keep yourselves free from such things, you will do well. Farewell." Romans 1:26-27 For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error. 1 Corinthians 5:1 It is actually reported that there is immorality among you, and immorality of such a kind as does not exist even among the Gentiles, that someone has his father's wife. 1 Corinthians 6:18 Flee immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body. 1 Corinthians 10:8 Nor let us act immorally, as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in one day. Ephesians 5:3 But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints; Colossians 3:5 Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. 1 Thessalonians 4:3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality; Exodus 20:14 "You shall not commit adultery. Leviticus 20:10 'If there is a man who commits adultery with another man's wife, one who commits adultery with his friend's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death. Deuteronomy 5:18 'You shall not commit adultery. Proverbs 6:24 To keep you from the evil woman, From the smooth tongue of the adulteress. 1 Corinthians 6:9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, Hebrews 13:4 Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge. Matthew 19:9 "And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery." Malachi 2:16 "For I hate divorce," says the LORD, the God of Israel, "and him who covers his garment with wrong," says the LORD of hosts. "So take heed to your spirit, that you do not deal treacherously." Mark 10:11-12 And He said to them, "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her; and if she herself divorces her husband and marries another man, she is committing adultery." Luke 16:18 "Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery, and he who marries one who is divorced from a husband commits adultery. 1 Corinthians 7:10-11 But to the married I give instructions, not I, but the Lord, that the wife should not leave her husband (but if she does leave, she must remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband), and that the husband should not divorce his wife. Matthew 5:28 but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. Job 31:1 "I have made a covenant with my eyes; How then could I gaze at a virgin? Proverbs 6:25 Do not desire her beauty in your heart, Nor let her capture you with her eyelids. 1 Corinthians 7:9 But if they do not have self-control, let them marry; for it is better to marry than to burn with passion. Ephesians 4:19 and they, having become callous, have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness. 1 Thessalonians 4:5 not in lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God; 1 Timothy 3:2 An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, Deuteronomy 17:17 "He shall not multiply wives for himself, or else his heart will turn away; nor shall he greatly increase silver and gold for himself. Malachi 2:15 "But not one has done so who has a remnant of the Spirit And what did that one do while he was seeking a godly offspring? Take heed then to your spirit, and let no one deal treacherously against the wife of your youth. 1 Timothy 3:12 Deacons must be husbands of only one wife, and good managers of their children and their own households. Titus 1:6 namely, if any man is above reproach, the husband of one wife, having children who believe, not accused of dissipation or rebellion. 57 Bible Verses about Love, In Relationships was first published on bible.knowing-jesus.com. 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 ESV If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; ... Jeremiah 29:11 ESV For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Romans 12:2 ESV Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. 1 John 4:16 ESV So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. John 13:34-35 ESV A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” Galatians 5:22-23 ESV But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 ESV Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. Matthew 22:37-40 ESV And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” Romans 12:1-2 ESV I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Mark 12:31 ESV The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” Galatians 6:9 ESV And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. Romans 13:8-10 ESV Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. Matthew 5:43-48 ESV “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? ... Romans 13:1 ESV Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Psalm 1:1-6 ESV Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; ... Ephesians 5:25 ESV Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, Romans 12:9-21 ESV Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. ... Genesis 2:24 ESV Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. Hebrews 10:24 ESV And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 1 Peter 4:8 ESV Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Proverbs 17:17 ESV A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. Matthew 22:1-46 ESV / And again Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son, and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding feast, but they would not come. Again he sent other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, See, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast.’ But they paid no attention and went off, one to his farm, another to his business, ... Ephesians 5:33 ESV However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband. Ephesians 4:2 ESV With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 ESV Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. James 1:19 ESV Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; 1 Peter 3:7 ESV Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered. Ephesians 6:1 ESV Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 1 Corinthians 13:13 ESV So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love. John 3:16 ESV “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. Genesis 2:18 ESV Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” 1 John 3:1 ESV See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Colossians 3:14 ESV And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 1 Corinthians 16:14 ESV Let all that you do be done in love. 1 Corinthians 6:18 ESV Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. John 15:13 ESV Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. Proverbs 18:22 ESV He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord. Exodus 20:12 ESV “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you. Ephesians 4:2-3 ESV With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Romans 13:8 ESV Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. Romans 12:9-10 ESV Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Proverbs 31:10 ESV An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. Proverbs 31:10-11 ESV An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. Proverbs 19:14 ESV House and wealth are inherited from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the Lord. Proverbs 3:3-4 ESV Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man. Genesis 2:18-25 ESV Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” Now out of the ground the Lord God had formed every beast of the field and every bird of the heavens and brought them to the man to see what he would call them. And whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name. The man gave names to all livestock and to the birds of the heavens and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper fit for him. So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. ... 1 John 4:19 ESV We love because he first loved us. 1 Timothy 5:1-2 ESV Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity. Ephesians 6:1-3 ESV Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” 1 Corinthians 15:33 ESV Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-5 ESV Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; Romans 12:9 ESV Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Mark 10:9 ESV What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.” Matthew 19:5 ESV And said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? Matthew 7:12 ESV “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. Song of Solomon 8:6-7 ESV Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm, for love is strong as death, jealousy is fierce as the grave. Its flashes are flashes of fire, the very flame of the Lord. Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it. If a man offered for love all the wealth of his house, he would be utterly despised. Song of Solomon 4:9 ESV You have captivated my heart, my sister, my bride; you have captivated my heart with one glance of your eyes, with one jewel of your necklace. Ecclesiastes 4:12 ESV And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken. Ecclesiastes 4:9 ESV Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 ESV Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken. Proverbs 31:30 ESV Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Proverbs 30:18-19 ESV Three things are too wonderful for me; four I do not understand: the way of an eagle in the sky, the way of a serpent on a rock, the way of a ship on the high seas, and the way of a man with a virgin. Proverbs 27:9 ESV Oil and perfume make the heart glad, and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel. Proverbs 27:6 ESV Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy. Proverbs 18:24 ESV A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. Proverbs 10:12 ESV Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses. Psalm 143:8 ESV Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul. Psalm 127:3 ESV Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. John 14:15 ESV “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 1 John 4:12 ESV No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us. 1 John 4:8 ESV Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 1 John 4:7 ESV Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 1 Peter 5:6-7 ESV Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Hebrews 13:4 ESV Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous. Hebrews 10:24-25 ESV And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 ESV Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. Colossians 3:18-19 ESV Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them. Ephesians 5:28 ESV In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. Ephesians 5:25-26 ESV Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, Ephesians 4:29 ESV Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. 2 Corinthians 6:14 ESV Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? 2 Corinthians 6:14-15 ESV Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? 1 Corinthians 13:2 ESV And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. Romans 12:10 ESV Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Romans 8:28 ESV And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. Romans 5:8 ESV But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. John 15:12 ESV “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. John 3:3 ESV Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Luke 6:35 ESV But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Luke 6:31 ESV And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them. Matthew 6:33 ESV But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Amos 3:3 ESV “Do two walk together, unless they have agreed to meet? Song of Solomon 2:7 ESV I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, by the gazelles or the does of the field, that you not stir up or awaken love until it pleases. Proverbs 15:1 ESV A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. Proverbs 13:20 ESV Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm. Proverbs 5:18-19 ESV / Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice in the wife of your youth, a lovely deer, a graceful doe. Let her breasts fill you at all times with delight; be intoxicated always in her love. Proverbs 4:23 ESV Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. Genesis 1:4 ESV And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. 1 Thessalonians 3:12-13 ESV And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints. Leviticus 18:22 ESV You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination. 100 Bible Verses about Love Relationships first published on openbible.info. 📖 Bible Verses for Love and Relationships 💗👫

http://myfaithverses.blogspot.com/2020/01/bible-verses-for-love-and-relationships.html

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12 people and things that ruined British politics

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12 people and things that ruined British politics

Tunku Varadarajan is executive editor at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution. He is a contributing editor at POLITICO Europe.

On December 12, the United Kingdom will conclude the tawdriest election in memory — which is saying a lot, given how inglorious the last one was in 2017.

That election confirmed Theresa May as prime minister — arguably Britain’s second-worst leader since Lord North, the man who lost America in the 18th century. (The worst PM since North is agreed to be David Cameron, for his decision to have a Brexit referendum in 2016, the results of which have poisoned British politics ever since.)

Looking at Boris Johnson, the prime minister, and at Jeremy Corbyn, leader of the opposition, one is hard-pressed to find in history a less edifying pair of party leaders in competition for No. 10 Downing Street.

How did we get here? What follows is a list of a dozen people, institutions or ideas that have turned British politics into an emetic farce.

1. Winston Churchill & Charles de Gaulle

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The toxic twins on whose bygone fumes Britain chokes today. Churchill’s cherished myth — of a people standing alone in the face of peril from the Continent — entrenched the view that Britain is at its best when on its own.

That imperious ingrate De Gaulle played his part by confirming to Britons that a European compact was a French project. Twice he vetoed Britain’s application to join the European Economic Community, in 1963 and 1967, delivering a resoundingnonto Harold Macmillan and his successor, Ted Heath.

“The French always betray you in the end,” Macmillan wrote in his diary after the first betrayal. Brexit is the much-delayed fruit of those inauspicious beginnings.

2. The National Health Service

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Created in 1948 by Aneurin “Nye” Bevan, minister of health in the postwar government of Clement Attlee, the NHS is as much a political shibboleth as it is an institution cherished for giving Britain a veneer of socioeconomic equality.

The NHS has not only distorted rational debate about health and social care, it has become the institution by which a delusional Britain sees itself as a cut above the United States, its free-market fellow traveler. Not surprisingly, politics in recent days has been dominated by fears that the NHS will unravel in any future trade deal with the U.S., as Donald Trump’s barbarians arrive to carve up this sacred cow.

3. Oxford University

William Edwards/AFP via Getty Images

Britain’s oldest — and most worldly — university is the womb of conservative anti-Europeanism.

The Oxford Campaign for an Independent Britain was hatched in 1990 in a High Street coffee shop — in opposition to the Maastricht Treaty, which turned the European Community into the European Union in 1992. Founder members included Tories (or ex-Tories) Jacob Rees-Mogg, Mark Reckless and Daniel Hannan, the primordial ideologues of Brexit long before the likes of Nigel Farage erupted on the scene.

Modern British politics might, in fact, be seen as an extended spat between Oxford adversaries. These include George Osborne (Cameron’s former No. 2 and would-be successor, now a newspaper editor, who encouraged the demented plan for a referendum); Rory Stewart (a prominent Remainer who ran against Boris, himself an Oxford man and former president of the Oxford Union Society); and Nicky Morgan (a Remainer and Cabinet minister). All of them were members of the Oxford Union and the Oxford University Conservative Association, whose diaper politics in the early 1990s foreshadowed national politics two decades later.

4. The U.K. Supreme Court

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Had the Brexit referendum not bagged first place, the abolition of the Judicial Committee of the House of Lords and its replacement by a U.K. Supreme Court would be regarded as the worst political misjudgment by a modern British prime minister.

Created by Tony Blair and his former flatmate-cum-lord chancellor, Charles Falconer, in 2009, the court has an implicit mandate to wade into constitutional questions from which the House of Lords, by demure but wise convention, had always shied away.

Blair shredded centuries of legal and constitutional history with his curial “reform.” The consequences were evident in the court’s recent ruling, in which it found that Johnson’s decision to suspend parliament was unlawful because he didn’t provide adequate reasons for prorogation. This was a ruling without precedent on a matter that the old House of Lords would have regarded as beyond the scope of a court of law.

The court’s chief justice, Baroness Hale, is an unapologetic progressive in the Ruth Bader Ginsburg mold, and it will not be long before the U.K. court is beset by the same problems of partisanship that ail the Supreme Court in the U.S.

5. John Bercow

Hollie Adams/Getty Images

Among the institutional actors that abdicated their responsibility to remain neutral is John Bercow, the former speaker of the House of Commons. Bercow bears a good deal of the responsibility for a poisoned atmosphere in the House of Commons by abandoning his role as referee and, instead, choosing to become a partisan goal-scorer for the Remain side in the Brexit debate.

As speaker, he (with the help of some others in the House) twisted parliamentary conventions to block “no deal” as a position the prime minister could take, thus robbing the government of leverage in its negotiations with the EU. Immodest to a fault, his actions have enraged many voters and corroded popular trust in parliament.

6. ‘The Stalinists’

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A dark trio of Stalinists steers a course for Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. In 1976, Andrew Murray, a privately educated young Englishman, joined the British Communist Party. He associated himself with Straight Left, a monthly run by Seamus Milne, above, another posh young Englishman. Fellow Communists knew them as “super tankies” — not just pro-Soviet but Stalinist. Four decades later, they are two of the three people thought to be the inner sanctum around Corbyn, the other being the dauntingly leftist trade union leader Len McCluskey.

Together, they’ve brought Stalinist sectarianism to the running of the Labour Party, once a social-democratic Big Tent but now a body where power is hoarded in closed meetings and loyalty to the leader is all.

7. Anti-Semitism

Oli Scarff/AFP via Getty Images

Transparent anti-Semitism in the Labour Party has contributed to the ugliness of British politics since Corbyn became leader in 2015, when hard-left extremists joined the party in droves. “The vast majority of British Jews,” wrote the Jewish Chronicle in a recent front-page editorial, “consider Jeremy Corbyn to be an anti-Semite.” (The newspaper conducted a poll which found this majority to be 87 percent of all British Jews.)

Corbyn has not only refused to address the problem adequately, he has contributed to it by failing to dispel the belief that he is anti-Semitic himself. The Labour Party is also under investigation for anti-Semitism by the Equality and Human Rights Commission. Only one other party has been investigated by the EHRC for racism: the nakedly nativist British National Party.

8. Priti Patel

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One of the more incongruous — her critics would say distasteful — sights in British politics this year has been that of Patel, Britain’s first home secretary of Indian origin, telling the Conservative Party conference that she will “end the free movement of people once and for all.”

Patel’s parents are Gujarati immigrants from Uganda who left a few years before Idi Amin stripped all Ugandan Asians of citizenship and expelled them from the country in 1972. Almost all of these refugees were taken in by Britain. Under the strict immigration rules Patel favors, her kith and kin would not have been able to resettle in the U.K. That irony notwithstanding, this Gujarati version of Norman Tebbit says that she, a “daughter of immigrants, needs no lectures from the north London metropolitan, liberal elite.”

9. Bien-Pensant Bubbles

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It is a truth universally acknowledged that the British media and educational elites reside in a bubble — or, better put, in a fortress that excludes the entry of inconvenient opinions.

The BBC has displayed a notably monolithic Remain bias, as has Channel 4. And if the print media offers a more varied ideological menu, it is counterbalanced by an enormous anti-Brexit prejudice in the academy — compounded by the modern tendency to favor senior editors with plum jobs as heads of colleges and universities (Will Hutton as principal of Hertford College, Oxford, is one example; Alan Rusbridger at Oxford’s Lady Margaret Hall another).

The bias in universities ranges from individual cases — such as that of A.C. Grayling, a philosopher driven mad by Brexit, who embodies the refusal of extremist Remainers to compromise with the will of the electorate — to entire faculties of EU law at universities. This last group of scholars is a bastion of inflexible Remainer resistance, making Brexit much harder than it otherwise would have been.

10. The Democratic Unionist Party

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This cohort need not detain us, for there is no subtlety or nuance to be explained. Adamant in their adherence to the Orange credo of No Surrender to the Irish backstop, these Ulster loyalists have exploited to the limit the “mathematics of the Commons” — to use the phrase of columnist Daniel Finkelstein.

“We have all been trying to find something in Brexit that can unite us,” Finkelstein wrote recently in the London Times. “I’m excited to say that I think I’ve found a contender: we can all agree that we have had enough of the Democratic Unionist Party.”

11. Ed Miliband

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This is the man — only the second-best politician in his own family — who in 2015 led the Labour Party to its worst general election defeat since 1987. He had shifted the party well to the left, making it sweetly unnecessary for Corbyn, his successor, to have to make a case against centrism and compromise.

More helpful to Corbyn than Labour’s prevailing ideological current were its rules to elect the party leader, which Miliband had changed in 2014 to one-member-one-vote. Members of the public could vote for Corbyn on payment of a mere £3.

This led to a wave of what Trotskyists called “entryism” on the left — with new hardline Corbyn voters flooding the zone — and the rest is history. Labour became unelectable.

12. Michel Barnier & Sabine Weyand

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This is the EU’s Brexit negotiating team, a Frenchman and a German woman whom the Brits just could not budge. They’re on this list not because they are malign, but because theirs was a job superbly done. And if the result of their labors was great pain in Britain, it might be said that much of that pain resulted from the Brits shooting not merely their own foot, but also at each other.

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