#so like. first of all I’ve got 3 couples that I called evil wives which while fun is unfortunate Bc like. I wanna be able to text my friend

[toomuchdickfort]

.

[xellshun]

Feeding The Beast

I stand firm when supporting one of my favorite quotes: Evil is never born, it is created. All things were once good in the beginning, even Satan.

With the developement of my disorder and my descent into becoming a sociopath came many dark traits that I’ve used countless times to calm my urges and impulses. Most of them are fairly common among those with ASPD. But one quality has always stood above all the others.

My desire to victimize as many women as possible.

This post will focus on this trait rather than HOW it came to be but I will share a little bit of my past just to give you a general idea of it’s origins.

Over the course of the last 7 years I went through 3 very traumatic relationships. But before I did, I was a very kind hearted, ambitious, compassionate person with a huge dream of some day finding the love of my life, building a family, and living out the same fairy tale ending that my parents and their parents had before them. I had this perfect image of how my love life would work out and I based it off of what I watched my family build as I grew up. I grew up with a very close, caring, and loving family. So going into adulthood that’s just how I thought things were supposed to be.

I didn’t realize how fucking wrong I truly was and I was no where near prepared for the 7 year long nightmare I was about to go through...

The first of the three stages was when I lost my first true love - the mother of my beloved son. Not only did I loose her along with all my hopes and dreams of having that fairy tale ending. But I lost her while she was still pregnant with my son... So along with the initial pain, my first experience of pregnancy and my introduction to being a father were stripped from me and left me in a state of mind that pushed me into making my FIRST step down the dark I would eventually get lost in. She was what I would eventually call “The First Heartache”

The second stage happened with my next serious girlfriend. She would not only be my second love but would also end up being the girl who would eventually become extremely abusive. Physically, emotionally, mentally - she tortured me. She ultimately become what I called “The Abuser”

At this point, my disorder was born and rapidly growing. Coupled with emotional distress and a newly developed addiction to drugs and alcohol, my next relationship would only escalate the problems. She was a drinker, a drug user, and eventually a cheater. Her betrayal lead me down a path filled with an unending urge to stay intoxicated to cure the pain. And even though I should have left both her and the last girl, I didn’t. I was constantly trying to fill the void in my heart left by the first girl. But this third girl was no better than the last. She eventually became what I called “The Drunk Cheater”

By this point, my son was 5 years old. My relationship with him and my family was greatly damaged. I had come off my ADHD medication, struggled to stay employed, struggled with money, wrecked and totaled my vehicle, got into trouble with the law, did time in jail, struggled on and off with addiction to both drugs and alcohol, lost many of my friends... And above all else...

I lost myself...

And I forgot the feeling of remorse... Of empathy... And love...

The person I became and am now is the total opposite of who and what I was 7 years ago. Me then and me now wouldn’t even recognize each other if they met...

And thus, the sociopath was born... And within the dark pit of inhumane emotions, impulses, and urges.. The strongest one was my unending thirst for revenge...

And with that, the player mentality became supreme. And with it every aspect of my life would shift, change, and become centered around an unending cycle of chasing women. It started out as me just having fun and enjoying the single life and eventually evolved to what I do now.

So what do I do? For starters, I supress the monster underneath, I go out and I hunt women. I will often create several dating profiles, all of which with the same pictures, the same information about myself, and it has quickly turned into a game of seeing how many women I can sleep with in the shortest amount of time.

People would probably tell me “You sound like every other typical asshole player.” And it’s partially true, but in my mind I am a hunter. But I don’t hunt with the goal to kill (or hurt these women). I hunt with the goal of capturing and retaining them. I go out with my sociopathic mask, looking friendly, nice, and emotional. I play the part of a good honest man who just wants to settle down. For each individual girl I would learn her, everything about her, I would research her and read her like a book. I would figure out exactly what she wants and needs in a partner and I’d become that to the best of my ability. Once they are lured in I deceieve and manipulate every situation. Slowly and pateintly I shift the mood and create a large amount of sexual tension. I never come off as the creep, I never make them uncomfortable, and I always wait for THEM to make the first move. Why? Because it makes me feel powerful. And when we finally reach the point of having sex the sexual side of my sociopathic tendencies comes out. You see, I don’t care about finishing. It’s not what I look forward to and I don’t need to finish to be happy. The only thing that matters is HER pleasure. In those moments of intercourse I do everything in my physical ability to fuck them in every way they fantasize about. The porn star comes out and my one and only goal is to fuck them to the point where they are physically sore and trembling from orgasms. I want them to have issues walking the next day, I want to rearange their insides, and turn their intestines into soup. It almost never fails and this newly found dark skill has increased my body count from a pathetic 5 (my son’s mom) to a body count of 52 as of this last weekend.

But do I stop there and leave them in the dust? Hell no! I keep them around, I drag them around, and am constantly looking for new targets daily. I keep them around for many reasons - sex, money, drugs, alcohol, transportation, parties, new friends... And some times I’ll keep them around and create friendships with them so I always have someone to talk to or hang out with.

This way I am never bored and can always feed whatever hunger comes into my darkened heart...

I have done so many messed up things. Slept with more than one girl in a single day, slept with a new girl every day of the week, fucked a girl and then fucked her best friend. I’ve made women cheat on their boyfriends and then turned around and hung out with their boyfriends. I’ve made wives cheat on their poor unknowing husbands. Some would find out and their wives would leave them for me. Others would simply ask me to never mention it. Do I respect their wishes? Of course! Like I said. I never purposely treat any of these women poorly. I do this so that I can retain my image as a good and normal man. But more often than not, it’s the sex that makes them come back. I can’t tell you how many girls I’ve dicked down. I’ve been with all kinds of girls. Blondes, redheads, burnettes, thick girls, thin girls, small boobs, huge boobs, some who could be porn stars, some who were covered in tattoos and peircings, some were cam girls, some were strippers, some were partiers, drinkers, some were moms, some were church girls, some were younger, some were older... I think the only type of girl I have yet to be with is an Asian... Gunna have to change that...

I’ve been all over the place too. I can’t go to ANY surrounding town from where I live without knowing a girl I’ve fucked there. It’s hard enough when I’m out running errands too, can’t go fucking anywhere without the chance of seeing one of my victims.

All in all, it’s the thrill of the chase, it’s the thrill of knowing what lurks beneath the mask while they remain clueless, it’s the feeling of being so cold and heartless yet have the ability to bring them so many emotions I can’t feel, it’s about giving them the best sex of their lives, it’s about the satisfaction of leashing them along like pets, it’s about POWER and CONTROL. The two fucking things I had so little of when this all started during those 3 toxic and traumatizing relationships.

And in the deepest, darkest corners of my sick mind... In these many moments of deception and manipulation... I trick myself into believing that these poor girls I victimize are my exes.. In an attempt to feel some type or form of revenge to dowse the neverending burning fires of PURE HATRED that have turned my entire world into a place of devastation that is now just as dark as my heart...

For me, women as a whole, are my newly developed drug addiction. When I see them, I don’t see people, I see prey that I can use for whatever benefit I see fit. And if those benefits run out I simply take them to the slaughter house and use them one last time. Rejection doesn’t faze me either. If a single sheep manages to escape my fenced in prison it doesn’t bother me, the herde always consists of between 10-20 women at all times. It’s as easy as a simple hunting trip, which I honestly enjoy. After all, it’s always good to get out every once in a while.

This is what my life has turned into. A never ending sickening cycle of trying to fill in the void within my heart that they left behind those years ago. But in the end that ONE thing that can fill this whole is the one thing I avoid the most - Love...

Yes, my therapist knows about all of this. It’s great because my therapist is a female so it’s nice to be able to share my stories and brag to a girl who’s job is to help me. She probably thinks I’m a fucking piece of shit and I don’t blame her. But she’s a professional and has to help people like me.

We’ve discussed goals throughout therapy on ways for me to relearn the feelings of empathy, remorse, love, and so on... It’s one of many goals and this is the one I have the most trouble with... Part of me wants to change and go back to being normal. But the other part of me wants to keep doing what I do best because it’s just so much damn fun.

So will this part of me ever change? I think so. I hope so. The only other times I went from being a total man whore to a faithful loving man was every time a girl would come into my life who was strong enough to snap me out of dark ways... So far it’s only happened twice. My body count is at 52 and going up more quickly than ever. I’ve spoken to thousands of women, met hundreds, recieved thousands of numbers, thousands of X rated pictures and videos of these women, I’ve had sex thousands of times, and it’s getting to the point where these women just seem to blur together...

There’s little hope of finding a girl strong enough to pull me from the darkness this time. And honestly, I’m okay with it. I am at a point where the darkness is comforting and feels like home...

So this time around.. Not only does she need to be strong enough to pull me out... She needs to be brave enough to venture into a world of total darkness...

[imgaygremlin]

Left in disrepair

Chapter 1- The one where hearts are broken

A golden bunny- well- an anthropomorphic one, shoved a girl- no more than 4, into a small back room, with no witnesses and nothing to protect her. Freddy Fazbear's Pizzeria, the newest place kids loved to go to, had several back rooms not mapped on the robot's sensors, or the cameras, making the perfect place to hurt- or worse, kill- someone.

The small girl breathed heavily, scrambling against the wall as a first resort. She whimpered, and decided using her voice would be the best way to ensure her safety. “What are you doing?” Her voice was shaky, and cloaked in a thick lisp, making her almost inaudible. She heard her friends running around outside, looking for her. “Gabriel?” She called, but to no avail. Nobody heard her.

“Shush, Susie. Just give up, they’re not coming to help, and you’ll soon be dead, too" he laughed, it soon turning maniacal and evil, and pulled a knife out from somewhere inside his suit. There were no pockets that Susie could see, so it had to have been on the person inside it.

“You aren’t really a robot, are you?” Upon seeing his reaction, a nod, her eyes flashed between almost every single emotion- sad, that she was alone; happy, that the robots weren’t trying to kill her; anger, that she was letting herself die like this. Her eyes eventually settled on a emotion that was particularly hard to describe, but to put it simply, was betrayal. Betrayal of the adults she thought she could trust. Betrayal that she couldn’t put up a strong fight.

“Good job, kid, you aren’t completely useless.” He chuckled, putting on different voices. Even though they were already almost pitch black, the man- the human’s eyes- seemed to grow darker with bloodlust and he lunged towards the girl, knife swinging outward. It missed her, by a fraction of an inch, and while he was distracted by the recoil and pressure on his arm, his breathing getting heavier- a bad sign- she threw a punch towards his face, and hit him square in the nose. His head got pushed backwards, not by much though. He stood back upright, his smile showing through his gapped teeth.

“That’s the best you can do? You’re weak.” He rocked on the balls of his feet, and made a split second decision to get rid of the Bonnie head, leaving it discarded on the floor. He could no longer act like someone he wasn’t, or rather, something he wasn’t. He smiled, a sweet, sadistic smile which had no traces of regret, or remorse, or really any emotions.

“I’m not the weak one, you are. I might be young, but you’re the stupid one, for attacking me. Don’t get me wrong, I love a fight, but only if it’s fair.” She managed to distract him with her mini speech, and took her chance to duck out behind him, only to find the door locked. Tears growing in her eyes, she fumbled with the door handle, trying to force it open. Eventually, she gave up, sinking back to the ground, sobbing. “I’m sorry, Gabriel, I’ve failed you...” her voice trailed off.

All the while, the man was just staring, knowing she couldn’t escape, and if she could, he would take the defeat. He took his chance, stabbing her in the side while she was crying, her eyes widening in pain. “You can’t get out that easily, Susie. I won’t let you.”

She screamed in pain, one hand holding onto the door handle weakly. The other hand moved towards her side, and she curled in on herself. He simply laughed, watching her futile attempts to save herself. “Welcome to the Afton family, Susie" his smile widened.

“Y-you won’t get away with this, William” she got stabbed in the neck and could not ignore the pain. She collapsed on the floor and bled out.

William climbed out of The suit and stepped over Susie’s body. He dropped his knife, his purple ponytail bouncing behind him. Snapping back into character, he went over to Henry Emily, the person he’s worked with for several years, and faked some tears.

“Henry- I just went into the backroom for some storage and- there was a girl in there- she- she was dead-" he got cut off by Henry dragging him into a private room, alone. He looked almost impressed.

“You can’t lie to me William, you can’t.” That last phrase- you can’t- was one that Henry said a lot, in different tones, but it was always the same phrase. “I know you killed her. Tell me who it was and I’ll tell her parents she went missing.” He smiled, not meaning anything malicious by it, he was just a bit messed up after his daughter died. Henry got on his tiptoes and kissed William, quickly.

“Susie Chirah. She’s strong" Afton laughed slightly, before going on to explain his reasoning. “ You know how Elizabeth, and Chris, and Michael- all either died or left me, right? And for you it’s Charlie? I was thinking-" His face shifted, his eyebrows going down and his smile fading. “We can make a new family, one that’ll never leave us.” He pushed his hair out of his face.

Henry stared up at the 6”2 man, his eyes wide. His oversized sweater had gotten even more oversized as he lost the weight, almost unhealthily, and his hands were covered in ink and oil. Despite this, William loved him. For Henry, William was his only comfort after everyone in his life had left him- not even his sister stayed in contact with him. “Does that mean- Charlie- could come back? In the same way these new children will?”

“In theory, yes.” He paused. “But it might not, as we don’t know what happened to Charlie.” When Charlie- and Sammy- were around, William saw them as his children, and he looked after them like he was their father, but then they started taking too much of his time, so they had to go.

“Oh, speaking of Charlie, come with me!” Henry grabbed William's hand, and dragged him into one of the other back rooms- the safe room, to be specific- and showed him the work-in-progress robot he made, which was almost indistinguishable from how Charlie looked when she was alive. “I haven’t made the ai yet, but it looks like Charlie, doesn’t it?”

“Yes-" he paused, “it looks just like her.” He seemed to rock on his feet, his usually confident facade broken down into- admiration? Love? Jealousy? All of William's emotions were a jumble right now, he couldn’t tell what was ‘William Afton, the businessman’ or ‘William Afton, the broken man’.

“Are you okay? You look upset.” Henry reached towards his hand, but he pulled away.

“I’m fine- I’m sorry- I just remembered something” William quickly looked around the room, before looking back towards Henry. “You’re really beautiful...”

“Should we go back outside?” Henry reached for his hand again, and this time, William didn’t pull away. He gently nodded, and began to leave the safe room. “So.. Susie Chirah?”

“Yeah, that’s her. Have you ever seen a 3 year old so strong? It’s unreal.” William chuckled, sounding more human than he ever had done.

“We’re getting a new night guard tonight, right?” Henry looked around. “’Cause we both have stuff to do, right?”

“I believe so. I think his name is Warlock...”

“Odd name" Henry got the phone he always used, the cheap one. “Wanna help me record a tutorial message for him? This place isn’t too easy to navigate on those cameras.”

“But that means we have to do 5 nights worth of tutorials for one person.”

“Not necessarily. What if something happened to ‘phone guy’ on night 4? Like, being attacked by the robots?” Henry began to chew his nail, out of anxiety, or a whole load of different emotions.

“Or, just let Warlock make them. We can give him extra pay.”

“You’re a genius, William.”

“No, I’m William.” He giggled slightly.

“You need sleep, sweetie.” Henry, being surprisingly strong, picked him up, and walked around the back way, avoiding Susie’s parents, and only put him down when they were in the office. “Go to sleep, and I’ll sort out Susie’s parents"

“I love you, Henry...” And like that, William was asleep.

“I love you too...” Henry left the room, a smile on his face.

He walked towards the main room, where he could see Mrs and Mrs Chirah “Uh- excuse me- you’re the mothers of Susie, right?”

“Yeah...?” One, with a short, half-shaved pixie cut spoke with a thick Japanese accent

“I-I’m so sorry, but... your daughter has gone missing... Me and William can’t find her anywhere... I’m sorry..”

The two wives almost burst into tears, and they left the pizzeria quickly.

Henry sat down, and zoned out.

Meanwhile, William soon woke up, and got to work on increasing the size of his new family. He found his trusty suit, and lured a couple kids into the backroom with their own drawings. “Come here, kids, I found your missing drawings, and I even made them better!”

The oldest child, Cassidy, being almost 6, was the hardest to get trust from, and so he relied on blackmail. Since William had known them all for basically their whole life, he knew what to say to get her to behave. “If you don’t come here, your brother won’t love you anymore.”

“G-Gabriel wouldn’t do that, I know... I think...” She began to question what she knew. Without knowing what she was doing, she began to walk towards William, where her brother, and the Styke siblings were- that is, Fritz and Jeremy.

“That’s right, I won’t hurt you..” He lied. As Cassidy approached him, he grabbed her by one of her short ponytails and dragged her backwards into the safe room with everyone else. William locked the door behind her.

“What are you doing? Why did you lie?” Cassidy started crying, but tried to stay strong.

By this time, Gabriel and Fritz were already dead, on the floor. Jeremy had blood running out of the back of his head, and appeared dead. “You’ll soon be my new children, poor Cassidy. But that’s not a bad thing, you’ll forever be, well, young.”

“I won’t let you hurt anyone else! You’re the reason Susie is missing, aren’t you?” Cassidy almost screamed, her voice sore in the back of her throat.

“Oh, stupid girl, Susie isn’t gone, she’s right here!” He waved his hand and the figure of Susie’s ghost formed next to him.

“That isn’t Susie! That’s just a trick you’re using to kill me!” Cassidy was in tears at this point, and sunk down to the floor, hugging her knees.

Afton took the chance, stabbing her in the chest. He missed, but swung again, and hit her head.

Her hands fell to her side, and her head lolled open, her mouth slightly open. William went to step over her.

Jeremy, unknown to everyone else, was still alive, and went to chase after William. Unfortunate for him, he collapsed over Cassidy's body, his spirit giving up.

William returned, with the suits from the stage. Susie in Chica, Gabriel in Freddy, Fritz in Foxy, and Jeremy in Bonnie.

“Dammit, I need another suit...” he thought for a second, before running off and returning. He then stuffed Cassidy's body into the Golden Freddy suit, more comfortably fitting than the others, as there was no endoskeleton in Golden Freddy.

William, satisfied, left the room.

[dailyaudiobible]

01/15/2019 DAB Transcript

Genesis 31:17-32:12, Matthew 10:24-11:6, Psalms 13:1-6, Proverbs 3:16-18

Today is the 15th day of January. Welcome to the Daily Audio Bible. I am Brian and, of course, every day is a joy and a pleasure to be here with you and in your presence and in the presence of our brothers and sisters all over the world. And we lovingly call this activity the global campfire. And I don't really know where that started, honestly, it just kind of stuck a few years ago, I guess I was just sitting here right in front of the mic just picturing us all coming in out of the cold, you know, because we begin the year, at least here in the northern hemisphere in the wintertime. So, we’re just coming out of the cold. And, you know, it can be like dark and cold out there and to be able to come in and warm yourself with friends and know that you not alone, know that this journey isn't a solitary endeavor, that we're in this together. I just…I guess…it just kind of caught on from there. So, just through another log on the global campfire, and off we go. And man, here we are halfway. This is like the halfway point of the first month of the year and it happens just like that because it was just Christmas, right? Like it just was Christmas but this is…time just kind of moves and before we know it we’ll be in another season and the year will move by and we’ll realize just how much God's word is speaking into our lives and just how profoundly it is affecting the way we make our decisions and that happens day by day, step-by-step around this global campfire. So, let’s dive in. We’re reading from the New Living Translation this week. Today, Genesis chapter 31 verse 17 through 32 verse 12, and reminding you we’re following the story of Jacob and his wives and their children, and they want to leave and head back to Jacob's homeland. And, so, there's some drama brewing. Genesis chapter 31.

Commentary:

Okay. So, in the Old Testament in the book of Genesis we’re following the story of Jacob who…well…we don't have to review every little detail of the story because we just read it in the last couple of days, but he's on his way back to his homeland and we need to remember that he had to flee from his homeland, right, because he's the one that stole his brothers birthright and then he and his mother kind of colluded to get this family blessing. So, when Esau, the older brother, finds out what has happened Jacob has to run for his life and Esau decides, like, after I'm done mourning my father I’m going to kill my brother, right? So, like, they have to separate each other, separate from each other. And, so, it's been a couple of decades now. So, that's, you know, some time for this to all cool off, but Jacob doesn't know, I mean the last thing he knew was that his brother wanted to kill him, but he doesn't really have a great scenario where he's at with his father-in-law Laban because Laban, I mean, Jacob and Laban, they both have been like tricking each other and we can't forget that Jacob's a bit of a trickster himself. I mean he did get the birthright from Esau, he did get the family blessing under trickery and he did have to run away for it. So, Laban’s given him a taste of his own medicine but there's no future there and God is calling him to go back to his Father. So, what we saw in today's reading was this man and his wives and his family and their whole entourage leaving secretly to try to do just that. And in a very, very short time we have Jacob and his family in the middle of a pretty nasty situation that could turn really volatile really fast and destroy them all because behind him he's got his father-in-law Laban and their family and surely, they're going to figure out that he's gone. So, they're going to come in pursuit, but out in front of him he's got his brother Esau also wanting to do him harm. So, he's kind of like in between two bad situations. And you may find yourself in a similar position in life. And we see Jacob responding in a very, very human way, in a way that we would understand. I mean Laban does arrive and there is a pretty big confrontation and then Jacob is able to kind of unload some of the things that he's been carrying around. And in the end, a monument is set up, a covenant is entered into, and they have agreed that they will not pass that boundary line with the intent of hurting each other. So, Jacob's able to navigate and find favor in that situation that was behind him, the one haunting image from his past as it were, but he’s still got his future out in front of him, which is a big circle from the very distant past, his brother. And, so, he sends word just the sort of test the temperature and the next thing he knows his brothers riding toward him with 400 mercenaries and that's kind of where were left today. So like, let's get it really clear that in biblical times these people didn’t just float around, you know, a foot off the ground with halos and, you know, like they actually had to face some pretty difficult things, and as we do. So, we can look into these stories and say, okay, yeah, I mean proverbially I got the same thing going on, I’ve got something going on behind me, I’ve got something going on before me, I feel like I’ve been caught in the middle, I’ve got to navigate this. Probably not to the extreme of Jacob. And we get to watch Jacob navigate and learn from it.

Then we get into the book of Matthew and Jesus is saying some pretty provocative stuff. Don't imagine that I came to bring peace to the earth. I came not to bring peace but a sword. I've come to set man against his father, daughter against her mother, daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law, your enemies will be right in your household. Okay. So, what happened to the loving baby Jesus in the manger and peace on earth and goodwill towards men? Like, Christmas hasn’t hardly worn off. What is this? What we have to begin to realize about Jesus message and Jesus way is that He is fundamentally reminding human beings what they were created to be and He is living a life as a full human being, certainly, the son of God as we believe, fully divine but also fully human as the Scriptures teach us. And, so, we’re looking at Jesus and we’re seeing a person like people are supposed to be, like what they were created to be without the black weight of sin involved. And light comes into the darkness, certainly the darkness flees, right, but the shadows are cast and it's like a cosmic battle because mankind had been spending its time trying to organize itself in such a way that it could be its own God, which is what we saw as we started this story back in the book of Genesis chapter 3 with the fall of man and betrayed. Like, eating that fruit gave mankind the knowledge of good and evil, but what mankind lost in the trade was an intimate fellowship with God. And, so, mankind became very evil but tried to use the knowledge of good and evil to become its own God. Well when God shows up in the middle of that story then we’re talking about the clash of kingdoms and people are notoriously famous for not wanting to give up their freedom of choice and will. And yet that is exactly what…that is exactly what Jesus message is. And maybe kind of taking this journey this year, first time through the Bible just kind of wanting understand what it is actually saying so you can determine whether you’re going to follow this path or not, this is fundamentally the Jesus way, is that there is a better way of being a human being, one that is restored to the way that human beings were supposed to live. And we get to watch that in the person of Jesus, but we also notice that those with power and influence only feel exposed by Jesus. Like, they can't cozy up to Jesus and get him to collude with them because He won't, because He's pure, because He's true and He can't be bought. We’re watching a person live in this world true and everywhere He goes it disrupts what is false even to the point of dividing family. So, the Scriptures tell us there’s a narrow path that leads to life and only a few find it and those who do disrupt things. And all you have to do is just think about it, think about, well okay, what if I were absolutely truth? Like, what if there were no falseness in me? When we start thinking about that we realize that all of the ways that we relate to each other has a falseness to it. We are presenting an image so that we can all find a way to get along, but we have an inner monologue of things that are really going on that we wouldn't let out. Some of that’s because we wouldn’t let out the embarrassing dark thoughts that we have, but what if we didn't have any darkness either, right? So, what if we weren’t hiding anything because there wasn't anything to hide and everything that we did, everything about us was true, everyone knew exactly who we really are and that was good, that was true and good. Well then, we would be Christ like, right, then we would be like Christ. Then we think, well, that kind of person could really lead people into the truth, that kind of person…that kind of a leader would really, really pull us forward, but that's not how it worked out for Jesus, right? Those in power and authority killed Him. The darkness does not want the light because you can't hide in the light. And, so, understand that as we take this journey and truly give ourselves over to allowing a relationship with God, an intertwining of spirits, a transformation from within us, so that we are experiencing actual life, not a fabricated version full of stuff that we have to maintain, but actual life, then that is not going to just disrupt us, that is going to disrupt everything around us

Prayer:

Father, we pray for wisdom as we continue to take these steps forward. Its intriguing to understand that the life that we want, the truth that we want, the way that we want to walk into life with You, our hearts cry for this, but as the layers begin to get peeled back we begin to understand, following this way on the narrow path that leads to life will be costly and will cost us everything that we think we are because everything that we have been is changing and everything that we are in You. So, we invite Your Holy Spirit to come. We’re here at the beginning of the year and Your testing our motivations, You're revealing our hearts to ourselves, You are allowing us to see things as they really are and we are swept into this, we have pulled forward. So, Holy Spirit show us how to navigate. With Your wisdom we pray. In Jesus name we ask. Amen.

Announcements:

dailyaudiobible.com is the website, its home base, its where you find out what’s going on around here. So, be sure to stay connected and check it out.

Check out the Daily Audio Bible resources that are in the Daily Audio Bible shop, visit the Prayer Wall at dailyaudiobible.com or in the app, pray for your brothers and sisters around the world or maybe you need your brothers and sisters to pray for you. This is a community that prays for each other and shoulders one another's burdens. And, so, the Prayer Wall is a certainly one of the places to do that.

If you want to partner with the Daily Audio Bible, you can do that at dailyaudiobible.com. There is a link on the homepage and it just lives there. If you’re using the Daily Audio Bible app, you can press the Give button in the upper right-hand corner or, if you prefer, the mailing address is PO Box 1996 Spring Hill Tennessee 37174.

And, as always, if you have a prayer request or comment, 877-942-4253 is the number to dial.

And that's it for today. I'm Brian I love you and I'll be waiting for you here tomorrow.

Community Prayer and Praise:

Hi, this is Sherry Running to God. I just listened to the January 9th reading and I believe it just has stirred my heart, my soul. I think I’m starting to question if I really know God. Brian said, there’s a difference between knowing someone and actually knowing them. And I wonder now if I really know God in a relationship. So, now because I’ve listened more to and taken more time to sit and listen to the Daily Audio Bible, questions are starting to arise. Please pray for me that my faith grows strong and that I don’t have to question anymore because I am in a relationship with God and I do know him. Thanks.

Hey family, this is Linda from New Hampshire. Stuff is really hittin’ the fan air right now as I call in. My son and daughter-in-law are really, really, really fighting. I live with them. My daughter-in-law has had lot to drink. There was a previous betrayal on my son’s part and she’s just having a really bad time right now. And, I mean, I’m actually concerned for the safety of my grandson’s Owen and Oliver. And I just need to know that there’s somebody out there praying, and I know God doesn’t look at time, isn’t restricted by time. I’ve got to go to work tomorrow and is 11:24 and the fighting’s been going on for about 25 minutes. I don’t even know what to say right now. It’s beyond sad, it’s beyond tragic, and I don’t know what to do. She’s really, really, really hurt just from her family origin issues and the betrayal and oh my God, please just, please keep them in your prayer. I know you all do. I keep thinking I’m gonna call in and fill you guys all in on where I’m at in life and I keep wanting to say it’s better and stuff like this happens. I love you all. Thank you.

Hey, good morning Daily Audio Bible family, this is Debbie in Des Moines, heading to work for my last few days before I start my new journey. But I actually called for a couple of things. Number one, as I call you’re gonna find that I’m not eloquent, I’m not one of those people who speak well, I stumble over my words, I sound like a dork, you know. But you know what, God loves me anyway and so does the family. So, I want to encourage those who don’t call because…because you’re like me [laughing]. Call in any way, we love you. Call in, call in, call in. But the second thing is I wanted to let you…ask for prayer for my grandson. Those who know me know that I’ve been raising him since he was an infant. He is now nine years old. He is court ordered. He has to go do overnights at his dad’s every other weekend and his dad’s household is not just atheist, their anti-God. I mean, they are anti-God. It’s not like they ignore God or anything, they’re verbally anti-God and my grandson is God hearted, prays for people and he has been having nightmares because his dad plays really bad movies, like scary movies and it gives him nightmares and there’s nothing I can do really about it, but I ask for your prayers for my grandson Trent. I love him so much and I want his little mind to be at peace and I just thank God that he is a little warrior and we pray for things together, but I covet your prayers for his peace of mind. I love you family. Bye.

Hi, yeah, it’s Michael calling from London, UK. Today is Friday, the 11th of January 2019. Yeah, I’ve been listening to the Daily Audio Bible for about a couple years now. Yeah, and I’m really enjoying listening to it, like, I think it’s an amazing blessing that Brian and Jill have brought for us. The fact that you’ve been doing it 14 years, you know, that’s even more incredible. Yes, I‘d like to say hi to everyone at Daily Audio Bible and all the listeners that I believe I’m now a part of. Yeah, and, yeah so basically a little bit about me, I’m an actor but I’m also a qualified occupational therapist. I work with those with, you know, mental health issues but I am also part of…part of an amazing church, Hillsong London. So, yeah, hopefully I can maybe pray for you guys and it’d be great if you could pray for me, you know, anxiety issues, yeah and anything around, yeah, trying to juggle kind of acting and OT because I’ve got pressure from my agent as well as hopefully, you know, trying to be the best that I can be in that as well. Apologies about any background noise. I am driving at the moment, driving to work. Yeah, so, hopefully I hear from you guys soon and, yeah, I’ll try to make this a bit more of a regular occurrence, you know, we’re I’m just kind of praying when…as when I need because, you know, there’s some really great guys and girls on here. You know, I love the encouraging words that different people say over each other. It’s amazing you can have this online community of people that probably haven’t necessarily met each other person but at least online, you know, you can, as Brian says drop off a load on the things that we’re all going through. Okay, all right. Thank you for now. And I’ll speak to you later. Bye.

[violetfaust]

Hey, what are your top 3 (or 5, if you’re up for it) plots/character dynamics that would’ve made OUAT more interesting but that the writers either didn’t do/tried to do but screwed up royally

Wow, Nonny, I think this might be the best ask I’ve ever gotten (or tied with the one about Regina sending all the random guests at the Captain Swine wedding home with their hearts in favor baggies) and I’ve had some great ones.

And I was going to mull it over as usual and give it the respect it deserves but if I do that it’s going in my drafts and won’t be answered for weeks if ever and will be six thousand words long. So I’m just gonna half-ass it. [Editorial note: it has now been more than a week since I wrote those words and I have been half-assing it in draft all that time. And it STILL got long as hell. This is why no one sends me asks. :-( Sorry, Anon.]

Top 5 characters/character dynamic missed opportunities:

-- First and foremost forever, everything having to do with Neal. Papafire, Fire Believer, Floof Family, Swanfire, Neal/Regina coparenting...every plot since would have been improved, more organic and more interesting by adding Neal. Neal and Emma going back in time and BOTH meeting their parents? Rumple’s Rampage with Neal around--and Neal being the one to banish him? The Dark Two costarring the Dark One’s son? Which wouldn’t have ended with Emma being upstaged in her own story by her Stu boyfriend, but given her the sacrificial moment she deserved.

-- Regina’s love life: With all due respect to OQ, that should have ended the moment Marian was brought back, and Regina’s next and permanent love interest should have been a villain for her to bring back to the light. Hook, if he was kept around after Neverland (the both of them rebounding after Swanfire and Robin/Marian reunited, but growing into something more); Maleficent (written to be a little more bitter/less reformed); Jafar coming off OUATIW (bringing in Aladdin and Jasmine a few seasons earlier, perhaps in place of the Frozen nonsense); even Facilier with the same backstory (which seems to be a fling while she was the Evil Queen, with possibly much stronger feelings on his part that she didn’t return because revenge). 

...OR. If the decision was made to ditch the original story of Swanfire, the only organic alternative would have been to go forward with a full-on love story for Swan Queen. (Which to be honest is one of the few things that I think would have prevented the show’s ratings decline and failure.)

-- Ruby should have stayed a main character, and her romance should have been onscreen. I enjoyed the setup for Frankenwolf in S2, but Kitsowitz have been promising a LGBT couple since S3, when all we got was sad, lonely Mulan in love with her straight best friend. (Cutting-edge wlw content, circa 1925.) Ruby and Mulan coulda/shoulda had a long-term, medium-burn romance like Alice and Robin are getting now. Ruby’s friendships with Snow and Belle could also have been respected (and poor Belle wouldn’t have been used to prop her and her family’s abusers). Even after the show had gone down the Stu hole, there was a period when they could have gotten Meghan back (before she became the queen of the Hallmark Channel) and could have gone on from there.

-- The Sheep Boys BroTP should never have been abandoned--especially so that Charming could play sidekick and patsy to a toxic misogynist pirate who never learned from him. Charming and Hook together were basically two frat boys glorifying traditional masculinity (with Hook being the darker, toxic side and again, never changing through learning anything from David). Rumple and Charming were incredibly different, but they had the commonality of putting their wives and families above everything else in the world. Exploring the different worldviews they came even with that common goal could have been fascinating, and expanded both characters.

-- And, of course, probably most of all: Rumbelle, and Belle’s other relationships. Like, I can’t even begin...there are SO many missed opportunities and lost chances with them--beginning even back in S2. What if they’d kept Lacey for more than two episodes and let her play a part in the main story? (I’ll never get over the hilarious visual of Lacey in Neverland.) But overall...just...not piling on stupid, needless, often OOC conflict without any payoff for three or four seasons. Not to say have them always be in perfect accord like Snowing, or a codependent mess like CY, in which Belle kept brushing off any of Rumple’s wrongdoings. But let them work out issues onscreen, let them fight together against outside threats like Hades, let them address their conflicts in ways that made sense in character rather than being excuses to prop a Stu or Sue. (Let’s not even discuss the constant teasing of the BatB TLK and the  ultimate utter pathetic anticlimax when it didn’t happen.) While I do think that canon Swan Queen is the only thing that could have definitely saved the ratings in later seasons, IMO a strong Rumbelle story that respected their characters and their story as Beauty and the Beast had a good chance of doing it as well. (Especially if Kitsowitz had had the brains to cash on on the live-action BatB hullablaoo.) But Kitsowitz were too small-minded and spiteful (and ABC too prejudiced and cowardly, I guess) to focus on their best romance.

(Honorary mentions to the Rumple/Regina frenemyship, which I cover below, and to poor Will Scarlet, who should have never been on the show if he wasn’t going to be more than a “soul-destroying” unneeded glitch in Rumbelle.)

Top 5 plot missed opportunities:

[OMG, Violet, you’re not done YET???]

-- The Anti-Magic Organization that Greg/Tamara supposedly worked for would have made a brilliant arc. Kitsowitz should have played that out before heading off to Neverland (it was obviously the plan because they didn’t expect the NL/PP perms situation to resolve so quickly).

-- My best crack theory: Hook found the author in Season 3B and had been using him to manipulate everyone ever since. Explaining Once Upon a Stu--and more important, getting out of it at the end of S4. https://violetfaust.tumblr.com/post/114245381966/what-if-someone-already-got-to-the-author

-- A S5b based on my second-best crack theory: https://violetfaust.tumblr.com/post/143427662086/things-that-absolutely-wont-happen-but-should Rumple and Belle try to get out of Hades’s clutches by working with Regina--who claims to be Rumple’s second-born child via Cora. We could have had so much juicy stuff exploring their past, what Rumple did to Regina, Rumple and Cora (it’s a travesty that they didn’t even have a passing encounter in the UW). It could have led into Emilie’s maternity leave when Hades discovered the truth and kidnapped Belle--which would have led to a 6A in which Rumple rescued Belle from some other dimension but found their child gone. And one of the plot points of 6A would have been Rumple working with the EQ not in some idiotic parody of a romance, but because she called in a favor.

-- BIG BAD FUCKING BLUE FAIRY. Enough said.

-- And then there’s the most destructive missed plot opportunity in the history of the show: Giving Rumple’s and Belle’s POVs in seasons 4 through 6. Given the reveals about the Dark Squad in S5, the most dramatic story this show ever had was Rumple’s battle against the Dark One (and his near-loss) in S4. A S4 that showed his POV of what was happening would have been epic--especially if it did not sideline Belle but allowed her to play a part in trying to save him at the end, culminating in their TLK that freed Rumple but unfortunately also let loose the Dark One, leading to it taking over Emma. Then S5 would have played out as it was advertised: the current Dark One vs. the only surviving former Dark One. Similarly, Belle’s actions in 6A caused nearly all the drama of 6B--and she wasn’t allowed to participate in it at all. 

Honorable mention to not including Belle in the Mulan/Ruby/Merida adventure in S5--a one-off that included three of her friends versus her enemy and could have really benefited from having, you know, a MEMBER OF THE MAIN CAST involved in the episode. 

[agustminsuga]

Sihyuk Academy Ch. 7

Genre: BTS x Reader Supernatural AU

Word Count: 1.8K

Warnings: Mentions of murder (very briefly though)

A/N: Next chapter is where it all starts to go down. I wonder how many of you picked up on the clues as to what may happen. Also I hope to update again very very soon. I’m sorry I had put this off so long and I hope y’all can forgive me!

Over the next couple of weeks you grew more and more comfortable with your abilities. You all but mastered water and ice, and you got very good with light, fire and wind. But there were 3 that you hadn’t even begun to think about; healing, time control, and teleportation.

But, even with the struggles of class and training, one big thing improved. Yoongi and yourself had slowly grown closer and closer. You also finally got to know the rest of the boys better, making classes much easier to deal with. Which brought you to today, in your current events class.

Yoongi, Namjoon, and Jin all welcomed you, asking how you were feeling before Charles came in.

“Class, today we are going to begin to cover an event that may be considered sensitive. Be warned, I will be showing some graphic images.” He states.

You were never bothered by blood or guts, so you didn’t feel too worried by what may be shown. You got out your notebook and pen, ready to take note of whatever event was about to be brought up.

“We are going to be looking at a serial killer that has been targeting the mythical community for years. The attacks started almost 20 years ago, and while they dropped off for some time, they have recently returned.” Charles said, bringing up images of the first murder.

“How do we know it’s the same people?” Namjoon asks.

“They follow the same pattern. A vampire and a demon drain the body. They are unsure if it’s an incubus or a succubus right now though.”

Namjoon nods as Charles shows the trend, where the murders had been committed over the years. Class seemed to fly by and soon it was time to leave.

“Class, the next time we meet in here we will be going over the names of victims, so please be ready” Charles calls out.

You walk back to the dorm with the three men.

“Anyone want to come hang out with me until dinner?” You ask.

“Sure. We’ll put our stuff away and then head down” Jin says with a smile.

You had enough time to put your school stuff away and set up the TV for a movie before they had shown up at your door. The other four boys must have heard the plan because Hoseok and Taehyung were the first ones through the door.

“You sunshine has arrived.” Hoseok shouted as he pulled you into a hug.

Taehyung soon joing the two of you, causing you to fall to the floor. Jimin, Jin, and Jungkook flopped down on top, forcing you to the bottom of the pile. You all proceeded to laugh, until someone cleared their throat. You all look up to see Namjoon and Yoongi standing at the door.

“Why aren’t you guys coming in?” You ask.

“You haven’t invited us in yet.” Namjoon responded.

“What, is it a vampire thing? Can’t enter a home without an invitation?” You ask with a snicker.

“No, just being polite.” He answers with a smile.

“I on the other hand physically can’t enter without an invite.” Yoongi says in a quiet voice.

“Well both of you, please, come in.” You say, fighting your way out from under the boys.

Namjoon and Yoongi join the other boys on your floor as you finish setting up the movie.

“Now, I am curious, why does Yoongi need permission to enter a room?” You ask, turning off the lights.

“Long story, but most just say it’s because we’re not really human.” Yoongi mumbles.

“Yoongi, none of us are human if you hadn’t noticed.” Jimin chimed in.

“I just don’t know how to explain it. Like you hear that vampires don’t have souls but, like, we are even lower than them.”

“How do you guys even come to be? Not asking to be rude, I am very curious. Especially considering how difficult it is for vampires to have kids.” Jin says.

“It’s a vampire and a demon. But not everyone comes out this way, only a small percentage. They call it an oddity, but I say it’s like comparing people who are right or left handed.” Yoongi says.

“So something just happens by chance? Namjoon asks.

“Yes… But the other thing that makes my kind so rare is that only 25% of males can reproduce, and none of the females can. So you just have to get extremely lucky.” Yoongi shrugs.

“Such an interesting species.” You mutter, not fully aware that you were speaking out loud.

“Says the girl who has 12 different powers and a tattoo for each of them” Taehyung laughs.

“Hey, not my fault I didn’t only get one like my brothers.” You counter with a giggle.

“Speaking of your brothers, hwo do you have 12?” Jungkook asks.

“8 of them share the same mom and dad with myself. 4 of them have a Chinese mother, but the same father. Hence why 5 of them are the same age.” You say with a shrug.

“He was seeing two women at once? For several years?” Hoseok questioned.

“Where my father comes from, it was common practice to have more than 1 wife.” You state.

“Did they know about each other?” Jin asks.

“Oh yes, they were very good friends and would spend several months out of a year together.”

“And you think I’m the interesting species.” Yoongi mumbles.

“You are though, compared to what I’ve seen anyways. I only really ever interacted with my kind.” You say.

“What exactly is your species?” Namjoon questions.

“I don’t know if we have a set name for what I am. But I know we aren’t from here, I was always told that we exist on a separate planet, still part of this dimension or something.”

“Wait, you come from a different planet?” Jimin asks.

“Well, my dad does. I was born on earth like the rest of my siblings. We lived with our mothers growing up, we only saw dad every so often.” You shrug.

“But why?” The boys all ask at once.

“He’s king of our species, so he can’t be away for very long.”

“So that makes you royalty as well.” Namjoon ponders.

“Yes, though I choose to ignore that title. Seeing as there are 13 of us, it is more likely to go to one of my brothers than myself. Though I know there is a ‘prophecy’ of sorts that explains who the rightful heir to the throne is. But we have some time anyways, my father wants us to settle and live our lives before we get thrown into the life of a royal. Which is exactly why we are all living on earth instead of our home planet.” You say.

“So that’s why only your brothers came to family weekend.” Jin says.

“Yeah. We are all very close, so we try to see each other whenever possible.”

“You mentioned a prophecy. Do you know anything about it?” Hoseok asked.

“It’s a very long and confusing story. I don’t even know much about it myself.”

“Can you explain what you do know?” Namjoon asked.

You think for a second before shifting to get more comfortable, the movie happily forgotten at this point. The boys all moved closer so they could hear every word you would speak. Yoongi moving the closest, so close you were essentially leaning back against him. Taehyung took this as an invitation to lay his head in your lap, and Jungkook leaned into your shoulder.

“I can’t say too much, but what I can say is going to be very confusing. All I know for certain is that my father had to have a bunch of children in order to have a successful blood line or something. Like I said it’s common to have multiple wives, but normally only a child or two to each one. My father has a total of 13 kids to two different women.”

“That still gets me, having so many siblings and two moms essentially.” Hoseok says.

“I don’t mind it, we all get along and love each other. Anyways, the heir to the throne has to overcome some evil or something, which if you ask me is super vague and what not. But they never specify what the evil is. Just that the ‘chosen one’ will fully master their power in order to overcome this evil.”

“Why are prophecies always so confusing” Taehyung shakes his head.

“You’re asking the wrong person there Tae, if I knew anything I honestly would tell you.”

“So can you tell us what it was like to grow up with such an interesting family?” Jungkook asks.

“Well, we spent a lot of time together that’s for sure. Especially when we all first came to America, that was when we would see our dad the most. He was in charge of us when we first started growing up in America so he could teach us a bit about our home. But our moms took good care of us when we were in Korea and China.”

“Did you live in China as well?” Namjoon wonders.

“For a brief period of time. A lot happened when we were growing up so I moved around a bit.”

“What happened?” Yoongi asks.

“Someone tried to kill my father. So we kept moving, until eventually he just stayed in our home planet. I think he believes that by not being around us, it’s keeping us safe. We haven’t had any issues since then, but we know that things aren’t always as they seem. My brothers and I are honestly just waiting for it to blow up in our faces.” You shrug.

“That’s beyond crazy. Makes sense as to why you guys are all spread out now.” Namjoon says with wonder.

“Not to break up this amazing development. But not only did we miss dinner, but half the boys are now asleep.” Jin says, pointing to the younger three now asleep on the floor.

“Well, you all can crash in here tonight. It can be a sleepover. I have a ton of blankets in my closet and my bed is large enough to fit another person or two.” You say, pushing yourself up off the ground

The boys nod in response, following you to the closet to help get everyone settled for the night. Namjoon and Jin took to covering the younger boys with a few blankets, taking care not to step on Taehyung’s wings that were sticking out from the pile. Hoseok set up a place for himself, Namjoon and Jin while Yoongi made it clear he would be staying with you. You all whispered your goodnights, settling into a peaceful sleep soon after.

[one-soul-two-brothers]

one-soul-two-brothers’ ultimate fic recs: j2 non au edition (part IV)

why I chose these: J2 non au are my absolute favorite fics to read Happy endings are a requirement A fic doesn’t have to have sex to be good (but it doesn’t hurt) They have all been thoroughly vetted (aka I’ve read them all at least twice, and will definitely be reading them all again) (Also, someone sent me a message a month or two about preferring first time fics, so I thought I’d start indicating on these recs the type of relationship they boys are in)

ENJOY!

best FLASH FORWARD

title: It’s Never Too Late rating: explicit word count: 55k relationship: first time summary: It's 2018 and Supernatural has just ended. Jared and Jensen find a new life post-show. They experience many joys, and sorrow, too. And despite it all, they manage to help a couple of friends find love along the way. anna’s notes: I fucking squealed when I found this fic. It’s really really lovely. Basically the end of Supernatural and the idea of not being such a huge part of each other’s day-to-day lives force Jared and Jensen to finally acknowledge the feelings they’ve had for each other for 13 years. This is a first-time fic and what I love about it is that it’s not a slow burn. It’s a story about how they got together, yes, but mostly about what happens after that. I love it. (This also has a couple of timestamps to go with it.)

title: After the Tone rating: explicit word count: 24k relationship: first time summary: Years and years on the same show can spoil a guy, so it's no wonder that Jensen finds himself at loose ends after Supernatural's over. With Jared's schedule already filled up and no desire to play the Hollywood game anymore, Jensen takes a role in an Off-Broadway production in New York City, and starts himself on a journey to find out just who he is and exactly what - or who - he wants from life. anna’s notes: This has some minor angst and some will-they-won’t-they, but I think you all know the answer to that because I accept nothing less than a happy ending. Anyways, this is great and sweet and yeah go read it.

title: Bottles on the Beach rating: explicit word count: 72k relationship: first time summary: Supernatural has been over for six years. Jensen's moved on & is close to starting back on daytime TV but no one's seen or heard from Jared in nearly five years. At a press event Jensen is approached by a reporter with a photo of his friend living on a beach. Confused & alarmed, he goes to find Jared to learn what happened. When he does, Jensen must also face the very reason he pulled away from Jared to begin in. As he does, and he learns that Jared's kept his own secret feelings hidden the truth behind Jared's disappearance comes out and Jensen finds out just what someone close to him was willing to do to keep him and Jared apart.

title: My Name Is Trouble rating: explicit word count: 22k relationship: first time summary: Six years after Supernatural ends, Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki find themselves in completely separate lives after a falling out. It's possible neither of them has ever really recovered from the other. But an unexpected turn in Jensen's life brings them back together to sort themselves out again. anna’s notes: In which Jared is a physics teacher in New York, Jensen begins to get stalked, and both of them might have slept with Danneel (but no hard feelings, right?) I was actually surprised, I thought there would be quite a lot more angst but it was pretty mild. Mostly it’s just a sweet story about the boys reconnecting and (re)discovering their feelings for each other.

title: When the Levee Breaks rating: explicit word count: 55k relationship: established summary: Season 14 is the last season of Supernatural. The show is ending at 300 episodes, and Jared and Jensen have big plans for their future...plans that don't involve wives or bearding or lying to everyone. But even the best-laid plans go awry... It all comes to a head at the series wrap party, and Jensen has to figure out a way to help Jared pick up the pieces, making sure he himself doesn't fall apart in the process. anna’s notes: Another shameless self-promo (are you sick of seeing me rec this yet? Yeah? Does that mean you’re gonna break down and go read it now?? Mwahaha my evil plan has worked). When I wrote this, I tried to keep all the facts and references to events that have already taken place as accurate as possible (so like, I guess you could kind of call it a tinhat-adjacent fic? Except that it’s set in the future). Anyways, if you do decide to read it I really hope you like it. (And just so you now, this is going to be a part of a series; I already have a companion piece and a sequel in the works.)

best A/B/O

title: New Life series rating: explicit word count: 32k (4 works total) relationship: first time summary: [work #1] Jensen really shouldn't have walked home alone on Halloween night. He is attacked and bitten by a werewolf, but come morning he has only the vaguest memories of the attack - and a bite scar that wasn't there before. Soon the curse starts showing its effects: his senses are going haywire, he has to control instincts that are definitely not human and, worst of all, he's feeling increasingly protective and possessive of his best friend and co-star Jared. Every day is a battlefield. The best thing to do would be to keep away from him, unfortunately, his inner wolf violently disagrees and Jared seems troubled by something, even though he won't tell Jensen who or what it is - which really doesn't help with the whole protective issues. [work #2] Jared and Jensen have settled into being mates. An emergency call from home sends them back to Texas to face Jared's parents and the consequences of Jared's actions. [work #3] Supernatural ends and it's time for Jared and Jensen to move on with life. Problem is, Jared doesn't know what to do now and it takes a toll not only on him but his relationship with Jensen. [work #4] Jared is struggling with everything to do with being pregnant, from sickness, to the strain on his relationship with Jensen, to feeling like his body isn't his own. Then his body betrays him.

title: Rising Heat rating: explicit word count: 45k relationship: first time summary: Season 4 has just come to an end and so has Jensen’s long-time relationship with his beta Danneel. When his best friend comes up with the insane idea to head out to the jungles of Peru, Jared assumes it’s Jensen’s way of dealing with his heartbreak. Jared couldn’t have been more wrong. anna’s notes: THIS IS SO GOOD.  

title: Meant to Be series rating: explicit word count: 6200 (2 works total) relationship: first time summary: Jensen and Jared mate during filming of the Pilot episode of Supernatural. anna’s notes: This is short and sweet and I love it so much. I dunno why, it’s just...it just makes me feel all fluffy and happy inside. Really well done, A+++.

best THE PLOT DEVICE MADE US DO IT

title: Win-Win Situation rating: explicit word count: 12k relationship: first time summary: The boys have to make out on camera. anna’s notes: While being interviewed about the show’s PCA nomination, the boys make a spur-of-the-moment bet that obviously comes back to bite them in ass: if they win, they’ll kiss on camera during their acceptance speech. Three guesses on what happens next...

title: The Discovery of Jensen Padalecki rating: general word count: 3750 relationship: first time summary: Jensen Ackles was a prankster extraordinaire. Nay, he was the king of all pranksters. So when Eric Kripke decided it was time for payback, Jensen had to resort to desperate measures to come out on top. He was just a little clueless as to how this suddenly involved misusing what he's learnt from the Discovery Channel and kissing Jared Padalecki. anna’s notes: This is hilarious because I could 100% see it happening.

For all my other ultimate fics recs (j2 non-au, j2 au, and wincest), go here.

[artificialqueens]

In Sickness and In Health - shalaska - pureCAMP

A/N - hi everyone! i’m gonna put a disclaimer here - this will be a multichapter, but because i’m focusing on party, jttou and MQ, this won’t be updated for quite a long time. my apologies if you like it, lmao <3 

tw - blood, illness

The Princess is sick.

It was the first thing Alaska heard when she stepped from her door into the town centre, the hushed whispers of the townspeople spreading the gossip instantly. A small boy held up a newspaper, with an old picture of the princess printed on the front and presumably the proclamation of the princess’s sickness. Of course, Alaska couldn’t read. But the mumbles and mutterings of the people around her suggested that the headlines read as such, bearing the news that the princess was sick.

Alaska followed the townspeople into the town hall, taking her seat next to Willam, who was a bartender at the local inn, and his wife Courtney. The two had gotten married six years ago, when all three friends were eighteen, but they still included Alaska in their lives. She couldn’t express how grateful she was to have them – most couples would settle down and start having children immediately, forgetting their childhood friends, but Courtney and Willam didn’t. Nobody wanted Alaska’s hand, and she didn’t want to be anybody’s faithful babymaker, so the loneliness in her romantic life worked out well for her.

Willam squeezed her shoulder as she sat down, staring at the raised platform in which the King or Queen would soon be stood. Town meetings like these were rare but not unusual; constituting anything important from celebrations to war efforts to political advances. However, an aura of tension hung thickly around the room. Everyone spoke in low tones, unsure of why the King had called a meeting with such short notice.

“You think it’s something to do with the princess?” Courtney leaned in to whisper her suspicions. Willam screwed up his face and nodded.

“It must be.” He said decisively. “Which princess is it, anyway? Adore, Laila or Sharon?”

The King and Queen had three daughters. The youngest was Adore, who was eleven years old and notorious for her mischievous smile and round doe eyes. She had a habit of wandering out of the palace into the town, charming strangers, and getting herself into trouble. The unfortunate middle child was Laila, aged sixteen, who was slightly chubby, complained a lot, and yet still ended up strangely endearing to the public. Much like her mother and both of her sisters, she shared their thick, black hair and bright eyes. The oldest was Sharon, who was two years older than Alaska at twenty four, and the heir to the throne upon her parent’s demise. Plenty of suitors were lining up for her hand, wanting a taste of the throne and enchanted by her striking looks, but many said she was cold and unfriendly. To the public she seemed fair and personable, but inside sources always reported her to be aloof.

Alaska thought about it. “I’d guess it’s Adore. She’s always running around the streets, I bet she’s caught something off some homeless person. I bet it’s not even that much of a big deal.”

Willam laughed. “You’re probably right there. Hopefully this fucking meeting won’t last too long anyway, I’ve got a bunch of pissed-off alcoholic husbands I need to serve so they can go home and beat their wives.”

Courtney shoved him, but she was giggling. Her titter set Alaska off too, the three of them silently shaking through their laughter. Thankfully, their fit of laughing subsided just in time for the King to enter onto the platform with the Queen and their three daughters, prompting everyone to rise from their seats. Once he’d reached the centre of the platform, his wife beside him and the princesses making their way across the platform, everyone sat down again.

“Good people of our town, I’m sure you’ve all heard that my daughter is sick.” The King began, gesturing rather needlessly towards Sharon.

From the second the princesses had entered, it had been made starkly clear that it was Princess Sharon who was sick. She was stood on her own, at the back of the platform, with her sisters huddled together at the complete opposite side from her, as if they didn’t want to get close. Judging by the ill-fitting dress she wore and the gaunt, skeletal quality of her exposed arms and face, she’d lost a great deal of weight and had weakened considerably. Beneath her eyes were dark, heavy bags, the skin of her face hanging loosely from her hollowed cheekbones. Her gaze was cast downwards, and both of her emaciated hands covered her mouth, like she needed to cough.

Alaska couldn’t help but gasp in horror at the sight of her, but to her relief, nearly everybody in the crowd did. At their less-than sweet reaction, Sharon tensed slightly and seemed to shrink into herself. Laila pulled Adore closer to her and shifted further away from their older sister.

“We have tried consulting the palace doctor, but no treatments have prevailed. We as a family and a monarchy are falling on desperate times.” The Queen added, tearful. The King wrapped an arm around her waist to comfort her.

“We-” The King’s words were cut short by Sharon coughing. It was violent and loud, her face growing crimson as she hacked and choked in what seemed to be an endless coughing fit. After a few prolonged seconds of her coughing into her hands, the entire town noiseless as they watched her, she turned her back to hide herself. She heaved and retched further, her whole body racking as she coughed, until Alaska spotted it. Everyone else had seen it too.

Spots of what appeared to be black, but was actually deep red, flying from her mouth and the gaps in her fingers. Thick, dark blood spilled from her mouth, her fit of coughing only growing more intense as the blood sprayed outwards, splattering the white walls behind the platform and covering the floor. Laila slapped her hand over Adore’s eyes, tilting the young girl away and averting her own gaze, nauseated by the gruesome spectacle. The Queen let out a loud sob and buried her face in her husband’s shoulder, who was attempting to quiet the disgusted and concerned shouts of the crowd.

 "SILENCE!“ He bellowed, and everyone instantly obeyed. Nobody dared to challenge the fierce expression he wore on his face. Capturing their attention once more, he waited until Sharon was finished coughing before he tried to speak again, but it was no use. Sharon turned around once more, her eyes streaming, and everybody gasped again. Blood dripped from her lips, down her chin and onto the bodice of her dress, staining it scarlet.

Courtney sniffed. “She looks awful. She’s inches from death!”

“Not so loud, Court. Shit, she won’t make it to the end of this month. Coughing up blood is never a good thing.” Willam mumbled.

Alaska felt sickened. Sharon had once been beautiful, confident, filled with the grace and poise and perfection that the future queen of the kingdom needed. Seeing her reduced to a trembling, frail wisp of a figure that was coughing up blood was terrifying.

“S-She needs help!” The King yelled. “Someone must help her, somebody must save my daughter!”

His voice cracked halfway through the word ‘daughter’, as he fought to hold back his rising tears. Alaska wasn’t a parent, nor did she ever plan to be one, but she could sympathize with how heartbreaking it must have been to see your own child in such a state. Courtney was right – she really did look as if she could keel over and die at any moment.

Despite his plea, nobody responded. All eyes were fixed on the King, the sobbing queen, and the princess who was attempting to clean the blood from her face with her bloodstained handkerchief. This must have been the first time her illness had gotten visibly worse, and the King grew more and more enraged and distressed at the lack of response.

“NO ONE WILL HELP HER?! NO ONE WILL ENDEAVOUR TO SAVE YOUR PRINCESS?!” He demanded.

The Queen gently pushed him aside, taking the centre of the platform for herself and surveying the crowd with a heart-wrenchingly miserable stare.

“I know of a witch who lives in a cottage, and she has the power to heal our daughter. She cannot be summoned, she must be found, and anyone who can locate her and cure our daughter will be rewarded with a great sum of money.”

That piqued the interest of the gathered townspeople. Some began to whisper, a few brave lads even volunteering their hands. The Queen raised her hand to silence them, indicating that there was more she needed to say.

“It won’t be easy.” She stated. “In fact, the journey is treacherous. The witch is known for being callous and evil at the best of times, and she dwells in a forest beyond our neighbouring kingdom. You see now this quest won’t be so easy.”

 Every hand that was stuck firmly in the air shot down instantly, and Alaska wasn’t surprised. The neighbouring kingdom and their own had been at war for centuries, conflict after conflict tearing each other apart. Although the two kingdoms were in a sort of stalemate, neither one actively attacking the other, both places would kill visitors from the enemy kingdom. A once flourishing trade system had dwindled into nothing, and if you were seen in the wrong kingdom, you would be brutally attacked and executed, or if you were lucky, stabbed or shot on the very spot you were found. Travelling through the neighbouring kingdom was veritable suicide, and the prospect of confronting a dangerous and unpredictable witch didn’t sound all too enjoyable.

Still, the reward of money was gloriously tempting. Alaska lived on her own and had nothing to her name except the clothes on her back. She survived on stale bread and grisly soup, though she was lucky having Willam to supply her with safe, drinkable ale. It was a struggle for her to find work – who wanted to employ a woman? – so Alaska could really use the money. Without a husband, she had no income. That money could change her life.

“I will remind you all that the life of your princess, your future queen, is in your hands. Should nobody step up, there will be consequences.” The King warned.

Tension in the room mounted. Willam shifted uncomfortably in his seat, his hand resting protectively on Courtney’s knee. Alaska knew the moral side in him itched to try and help Sharon, despite the way he always pretended he was heartless, but he didn’t want to leave Courtney alone. That must have been part of the commitment that came with love and marriage, Alaska thought bitterly. But no. Courtney and Willam were happy. Alaska had no right to get jealous when she had no interest in finding a husband and had turned down the few who had asked her.

It was almost unbearable, the deafening quietness that filled the town hall. No one moved. No one spoke. No one even breathed. Not a sound was heard until Sharon turned her back to begin coughing harshly once again, doubled over. Just like before, even though she tried to cover her mouth, dark blood spilled outwards onto her fingers.

Alaska’s vision tunnelled, and all she could see were colours.

Crimson blood. Ashen grey skin. Ink black hair. Silver coins. Green money. Purple gowns. Golden banquets. Orange flames. A life of enough clothes, enough food, enough shelter. Money to buy beautiful dresses, to eat well, to live comfortably. Suddenly a witch and a sick princess didn’t sound so daunting anymore.

“I’ll do it!” Alaska found herself standing up, her skin flushing as she realized how much attention had been drawn to her. “I’ll find the witch.”

Already she regretted her decision. Not to volunteer to find the witch – the prize was greater than any worry she had – but to cause everyone to stare. With her tousled blonde hair piled on top of her head, her less-than clean blue dress, and the inevitable dirty smudges on her cheeks, she knew she looked an absolute state. No way would the King and Queen allow a…a filthy tramp like her anywhere near their precious daughter. Despite how sickly looking she was, Sharon was still a princess. She was ranks above Alaska, and had once been much more beautiful.

The Queen studied her. “Very well. Speak your name, girl.”

Alaska swallowed, all too aware of the sound of her own voice. “A-Alaska.”

“Alaska!” The King repeated, and the crowd around them burst into applause. Next to her, Courtney stared at her with round, frightful eyes, and Willam tugged on her arm.

You can’t! He mouthed, Courtney frantically nodding along. There’s no way she’ll survive! You’ll be killed!

Die of execution upon failure, die along the way due to difficulties, or survive and return as a hero to great wealth and satisfaction. No matter what happened, Alaska had it pretty good. Either outcome was preferable than her current one.

-0-

Soon afterwards, the meeting was adjourned. Alaska bade Courtney and Willam goodbye with a kiss to their cheeks and a tight hug as the royal family waited for her. From here, Alaska wasn’t sure what was about to happen, but it was strangely exciting nevertheless.

Princess Sharon had already left, driven away in a separate carriage to the rest of the family. Alaska couldn’t help but feel bad for how isolated and alienated she must have felt, bundled away without any of her family beside her. Now empty, the town hall seemed much more imposing – especially with the King, Queen and two princesses watching her say farewell. In public they appeared friendly and likeable, but something about their royal status in such tight proximity made Alaska nervous. She could feel their eyes watching her as she turned awkwardly to face them. Part of her expected sneers and turned-up noses, so the warm embrace she received from the Queen was nothing short of a shock to her system.

“Oh, thank you! Thank you so much! Please, please bring my daughter back safe and well! Oh, I cannot thank you enough!” She wept, clutching Alaska tight. The King placed his hand on his wife’s shoulder, prompting her to release Alaska from her suffocation and offering his hand to shake.

They shook hands. “I apologise if my wife was a little forward, we’ve all been taking this very hard. Haven’t we, girls?”

Laila and Adore nodded forlornly. Alaska was struck by how similar they looked, the same meek and worried expressions marring their youthful faces. The Queen busied herself with shepherding them into the awaiting carriage as the King spoke to her.

“Sharon has been steadily sick for months now, until things started taking a rapid turn for the worse recently.” The King sighed, his warm brown eyes welling up. “I fear that she’s close to death. You’ve seen how thin she is, how sickly she is.”

Unwittingly, Alaska glanced over at the corner of the platform where Sharon had earlier been stood. The now-brown stains of her coughed-up blood made Alaska’s stomach churn. She managed a feeble nod in response to the King.

“Things are desperate.” The King continued. “Her mood is deteriorating, her mother is beside herself with worry, and her poor sisters don’t know what to do. Our palace doctor has tried everything he knows, and nothing has helped her. Our only hope relies on you.”

“I-I’ll do my best, your Majesty. I can only imagine the pain you’re in right now.” Alaska responded.

The King nodded appreciatively. “You have parents you wish to say goodbye too?”

 Alaska shook her head. “None, your Majesty. Both died in the Great Battle.”

Like most people her age, Alaska didn’t remember the Great Battle. It had occurred two decades ago, when Alaska was only two years old. Armies from the neighbouring kingdom had launched a fully fledged attack on the kingdom, pilfering their supplies, slaughtering the women and children, and killing as many men as they could. Everyone who was eligible had gathered to fight, and it was described as a bloody and unforgiving fight. This was the battle that had ended in the current stalemate that the two kingdoms were stuck in now, crippled by their devastating losses. Amongst those losses was Alaska’s father, a merchant by trade, and her mother who was kidnapped and later killed. Alaska didn’t remember her parents either, and she was one of many orphans in the kingdom aged twenty one to thirty.

“My condolences. They died heroically, I’m sure. Are you ready to accompany us to the palace?” The King asked her. Dazed, Alaska nodded and followed him outside to wear the carriage was waiting.

Of course, she didn’t miss how the horsemen laid out a cloth for her to sit on, as if her peasant ass would soil the rich satin, but she was too busy admiring the craftsmanship to care. Inside the carriage was a beautifully deep purple, the edges lined with ornately carved silver designs. It was intimidating, getting stared down by Adore and Laila, but Alaska stared determinedly back. She needed the princesses to see that she was strong, and not to doubt her.

“Are you gonna make my sister better?” Adore piped up, blinking her wide eyes owlishly. She looked innocent enough, but there was something underpinning her expression. It was the same slyness that her older sister Laila shared, a facade of innocence that gave way to something deeper.

“I’m going to try my best to get her home to you, healthy and happy.” Alaska promised, deciding to ignore the challenge in the young princess’s eyes. Laila seemed surprisingly impressed by her choice, eyeing her appraisingly.

“Shaz is almost never happy, so good luck with that one. Adore and I sometimes call her Nasty Needles. I hope that you can find this witch, though.” Laila told her, extending an arm outwards as Adore leaned in to her.

The Queen scolded them both. “Don’t refer to your sister as Nasty Needles! She’s a wonderful sister to you both, you’re very lucky to have her. You should appreciate her whilst…”

She trailed off, her eyes widening as she realized what she had implied, but luckily Adore didn’t seem to notice. Laila lowered her gaze, pursing her lips.

“She’s my big sister. I need her.”

Only seven words left Laila’s lips, but it was enough to break Alaska’s heart. This was a family like any other – even if they were royalty – who just wanted their daughter and sister to be safe. Money was still Alaska’s biggest incentive, but she wanted to help.

They lapsed into silence as the carriage rode out of the town centre and up the hill in which the palace stood, bright white and gleaming in all of its grandeur. A sense of adventure started to settle into Alaska’s body, though she felt bad. There was no denying that this would be difficult, harder than anything else she’d ever done, and the entire royal family were on her back now. They were relying on her, entrusting their daughter to her and her alone.

A smartly-dressed butler greeted them on the steps to the palace, shooting a look of disdain in Alaska’s direction. The King pulled the young man aside to explain the situation to him, and he nodded apologetically at her as she passed. It wasn’t like Alaska didn’t expect to be treated as a lesser being due to her status, but that didn’t mean that it didn’t sting. In fact, it made her burn with shame. Performing a righteous deed, a service to the family, wasn’t that enough? Alaska guessed not. Most likely it was because she was an unmarried woman, and not a possible suitor who could save Sharon and win her heart. That was the fairytale everyone had clearly expected. Truth be told, men weren’t always so kind or brave.

“Wait here whilst Miss Michaels finishes up, she should only be a moment.” The Queen told her, leading her family away and leaving Alaska alone in the palace.

Alaska took the opportunity to marvel in awe at the inner workings of the palace. The floor beneath her feet was smooth, dappled marble, polished so bright she could practically see her face in the reflection. Intricate gold carvings lined the curved staircase and the pillars on the edge of the court, every minute detail perfected. Slowly walking in circles, Alaska made her way over to one of the far walls next to the staircase, where a large landscape portrait filled the space. She was instantly fascinated.

It depicted the royal family – the King and Queen as they appeared normally, regal and posed, and Laila and Adore looking younger. Alaska guessed they were maybe eight and thirteen at the time of the painting, their age shown in the telltale fresh, round faces. It was uncanny how similar the family looked, something that Alaska kept noticing. Perhaps it was because nobody that Alaska knew had parents or siblings; her only friends were Courtney and Willam, both of which had grown up in the same orphanage as her due to the Great Battle.

What really caught Alaska’s eye was the princess Sharon, who must have been around twenty one at the time. A complete contrast to the shell of a woman she had seen earlier, Sharon was clearly in perfect health. She had thick lips painted rouge, a style that she always wore despite nearly everybody in the kingdom actively discouraging it, and bright eyes fringed with dark eyelashes. Her hair was curled over one shoulder, the same rich black as her mother and sisters’, and she was at a much healthier weight. Alaska was almost entranced by the image.

It was no secret that Sharon was in the eye of every suitor in kingdoms across the land – even the enemy kingdom’s prince had expressed an interest in her. From what Alaska heard, men came from all places to try and win her hand, enraptured with her captivating beauty, but to no avail. Perhaps that was where the rumour of her coldness came from, but Sharon had rejected the proposal of every single prince. The King and Queen wouldn’t ever force her into a marriage, but word on the street was that they were a little irritated at her blatant refusal of so many willing men. Somebody alluring like her could get any man she wanted; Alaska understood why she had been choosy, if that was the case.

Only now, whilst the offers of marriage hadn’t stopped flooding in, Sharon really wasn’t in a place to marry. Willam had been wondering why the eldest princess hadn’t appeared in public for so long, and so had Courtney and Alaska herself, and finding out why had been a horrific shock.

“Hello?”

A kind voice pulled Alaska from her reverie about Sharon. Quickly descending from the staircase came an older lady, her maid uniform spotless and her lined face offering a welcoming smile. Miss Michaels had an almost matronly, mothering air about her, gently hugging Alaska before leading her towards the staircase.

“You’re a very sweet girl for offering to help the princess, Miss Alaska.” Miss Michaels told her. “Even I’ve been affected by her sickness. I used to care for Sharon when she was just a baby, I’ve watched her blossom into a wonderful young woman. It’s been heartbreaking to watch her deteriorate so quickly.”

Alaska blinked. “T-Thank you. I hope I can help her.”

“I’m sure you will.” Miss Michaels reassured her. “We’re on our last bit of hope, anyway. We’ll try anything. Are you okay to get acquainted with her before you leave?”

Woah. Alaska had forgotten that oh yeah, she was going to be spending however long it took for them to find this witch with a fucking princess. Not just any princess, the princess who would one day be her Queen. They would have to know each other a little for the journey not to be completely agonising. She wasn’t sure why, but the idea of socializing with Sharon was absolutely terrifying. Maybe it was because she was closer in age to Alaska than her royal sisters, but Alaska could think of a thousand things she wanted to do before making friends with Sharon.

“That’s fine.” She mumbled.

Miss Michaels threaded her way through endless corridors like she knew the place by heart – and she probably did. Soon enough, they came to a stop outside a large white door, which was firmly shut. With a firm hand, Miss Michaels knocked three times in quick succession.

“F-Fuck off, whoever th-that is!” A husky voice yelled, the sentence punctuated with a loud, chesty cough. Alaska recoiled, shocked at the princess’s language. What kind of princess swore like that? She turned to Miss Michaels, her eyebrows raised, and saw that the maid didn’t look fazed at all.

“She’s always like this.” She explained, smiling affectionately. “Miss Sharon, it’s me, your favourite maid. Are you decent?”

There was a silence. “What do you mean by decent?”

Miss Michaels laughed. “Are you naked?”

“No.”

“Well then, you’re decent. Do you mind if I come in?”

A hacking cough, and then, “Fine.”

Gently, Miss Michaels inched the door open and ushered Alaska inside after her. Much like the rest of the palace, Sharon’s room was expensive-looking and grand, but unlike the palace, it was a state. Her dress from earlier was thrown in a careless pile on the floor, the bloodstains still visible on the smooth fabric, and various wardrobe objects were strewn across her four-poster bed and floor. Sharon herself was perched on her bed, her back to the door, a little grey pot clutched in her hands just beneath her chin.

“Hello, little Shazzy.” Miss Michaels said softly. “Alaska’s here to meet you, she’s the lovely lady who’s going to try and find this witch and make you better.”

Sharon said nothing for a moment. Alaska thought that maybe she was ignoring Miss Michaels, cementing the rude image that some tried to paint of her. After a few seconds, she coughed, spat into the pot, and set it down on her bedside table. Alaska saw that the pot held a mixture of saliva and blood and winced. Clearly, she was only getting worse.

“Such an old nickname, mother dust.” Sharon turned to face them. Alaska had seen Sharon that day already, but nevertheless it was still beyond shocking to see how ghastly she looked. If the princess had been lying down, perhaps asleep, just from her appearance Alaska would have presumed her to be dead. A little of her old beauty remained, but the ghost stood before her could have easily been a different person.

“I’ll leave you and Miss Alaska to speak, okay? Your mother has requested that you leave after dinner, so you have a little while to talk before then.” Miss Michaels finished. Without another word, the door behind them closed.

Sharon took a deep breath in. “Alaska, right? I’ll lay this out for you now that no one I care about is around. Don’t stress yourself out with trying to find that fucking witch.”

Alaska recoiled for a second time at her brass attitude. “Your Highness, I’m going to do my best to-”

Sharon cut her off. “You can stop with the ‘Your Highness’ crap, there’s no one else here. Just call me Sharon. And that-” She paused to cough. “-is the answer you give to my parents, not me. Don’t bother stressing about finding that witch. I’ll die before we get there.”

“Your – I mean, Sharon,” Alaska stuttered, flustered. “How can you just…?”

She didn’t even know how to finish her sentence. If there was one thing she hadn’t expected, it was such a dark, almost  bitter outlook on life from the princess.

Sharon coughed. “What, be so lax about dying? I don’t care. It’s pretty fucking clear from this,” She kicked her discarded dress, her eyes falling onto the blood. “And everything else that’s wrong with me that I’m going to die, and soon. I’d give myself a week, two weeks at most. Death will be a goddamn blessing when it finally arrives.”

“W-What about your subjects? Becoming Queen? You’re not upset you’ll miss that if we’re too late?” Alaska tried.

The princess snorted. “My subjects. You’re fucking people. I couldn’t give less of a shit about them. If you don’t care about the random homeless person outside your house, why am I supposed to care about him?”

No wonder rumours had it that she was cold. Maybe it was just the illness, a side effect of knowing your demise was near, but Sharon was, frankly, a bit of a bitch. Alaska was appalled.

“What about your sisters?”

Her last-ditch attempt to pull some kind of warmth from the princess caused her to freeze rigid. Sharon’s eyes hit the floor, her body stiffening, before she launched into another violent fit of coughing and had to turn away. Bent over as before, she stumbled helplessly to her bedside table where her grey pot stood, reaching for it with claw-like fingers. Her body shuddered and jolted as she coughed, unable to stand. When the fit subsided, she pitched and wobbled, too weak to stand. Any previous animosity that Alaska held towards Sharon disappeared immediately.

“Sharon!” Alaska yelped, and dashed forward to catch her. The princess was uneasily light in her arms, her entire weight leaning on Alaska, and she frowned at how feeble she was. With some manoeuvring, she managed to get Sharon onto her bed to lie down, her eyes brimming as they had been during the meeting. She’d been coughing so hard it brought tears to her eyes.

“I-I should fetch someone, I should-” Alaska gabbled, freaked. Sharon tried to raise her head, but settled for a miniscule movement of her bloody fingers when she found herself too

“T-This happens a l-lot,” She choked out, her voice nearly gone. “I u-usually just wait u-until someone f-finds me or I g-get the strength t-to st-stand again.”

Almost instinctively, Alaska stroked her sweaty forehead, trying to soothe her. “That’s awful, I’m so sorry. Do you need anything?”

“W-Water,” Sharon rasped, attempting to point. Saving her the effort, Alaska quickly scanned the room and spotted the glass of water on one of the tables. Knowing Sharon would be too weak to hold the glass herself, she ignored the princess’s protests and gently held the glass to Sharon’s lips. Once the whole glass was drained, she set it down and resumed stroking Sharon’s pale forehead. The princess tried once more to prop herself up, and was a little more successful.

“Sorry about that. T-That’s not pretty. I prefer to meet people when I’m n-not inches from death’s door and coughing up blood. Doesn’t make the best first impression on a lady.” Sharon attempted a joke, and Alaska smiled.

“I’m no lady, you’ve got nothing to worry about. Ladies are the sweet little things who are married.” Alaska joked back.

Sharon raised her eyebrows. “No husband either? Amen, Lasky. You don’t mind if I call you that, do you?”

“You’re a princess, I can’t really protest,” Alaska commented, and then grinned. “I’m kidding. It’s fine with me. What can I call you? Shazzy is clearly taken.

Sharon laughed. It didn’t sound particularly healthy – Alaska tried to ignore the death rattle in her chest – but it was happy, and that was reassuring. At the very least, if she was unable to save Sharon, she could put a smile on her face just once.

“I h-hate the name Shazzy. I only let mother dust call me that because she’s k-known me forever.” Sharon told her. “Be more inventive.”

Alaska hummed in thought. “What about Noodles? You know, Needles, Noodles? I like that one.”

Sharon laughed again, louder this time. Eventually it became half-laughing, half-coughing, but even so, the twinkle never left the princess’s eye.

“Noodles. You’re crazy.” Sharon managed, mustering a smile.

Lasky and Noodles. This was going to be a strange trip.

[dailyaudiobible]

04/13/2017 DAB Transcript

Joshua 7:16-9:2 ~ Luke 16:1-18 ~ Psalm 82:1-8 ~ Proverbs 13:2-3

Today is April 13th.  Welcome to the Daily Audio Bible.  I am Brian. It’s great to be here with you today and we’ll take the next step forward.  That is what we do here and that is what we do every day, another step forward as we move our way through the scriptures, completing the Bible from front to back, every word spoken out loud in a year.  

So we have crossed the Jordan River, we have found ourselves in the promised land, we have seen the first battle, which was the taking of Jericho, we have seen the second battle, which was a defeat to a small town named Ai, which is not too far from Jericho and has an active archeological dig happening now in the land.  That was quite confusing.  A great city, the city of Jericho, one of the oldest settlements on the planet was defeated, so a powerful city, only to find defeat to a small city and the people are confused.  That is where we pick up the story.  Reading from the Contemporary English Version this week, Joshua chapter 7, verse 16 through 9, verse 2 today.  

Commentary

Let's think about something.  How many words do you say every day?  I mean, I know there are studies on this, but how many do you think?  10,000?  20,000? 50,000?  How many of those words would you say are ill-tempered?  How many of those words would you say have a little bit of a sting to them, some sarcasm, some meanness in them for whatever reason?  And how many of them would you say are intentionally kind?  We kind of weigh that in the balance and which way do you think the scale is tipping?  

And then how many of those words spoken in any day are about someone else, maybe a juicy story, a nice bit of information that is just waiting to be passed along?  Maybe you’re grabbing coffee with a girlfriend or maybe a couple guys are getting together, a few guys are getting together for coffee, another person that is not there comes up in conversation.  How many words in a day do we spend saying things that we’ve heard and we’re passing along about someone else?  Then we kind of weigh that in the balance.  

The book of Proverbs, what we just read, speaks directly to that:  You will be well rewarded for saying something kind, but all some people think about is how to be cruel and mean.  Keep what you know to yourself and you will be safe.  Talk too much and you are done for.  

This isn’t metaphoric language.  This is just direct, straight up talk.  Sometimes we have to weigh these things in the balance because the way that the scales tip shows us the trajectory of our lives and I'm not saying that as a metaphor.  I mean, our tongues kind of are the rudder for steering the ship of our lives and the things that we say, they do matter.  Sometimes if we’re thinking ‘why doesn’t anybody like me?’ it's because we don’t like anybody really.  It's because we’re not truly really in relationship with anybody.  We can backstab anybody at any moment to the next person that comes along that is also our kind of, sort of fake friend, our sort of acquaintance, but we would betray them if we had to.  That's not good though because it's not true.  That's the real problem here.  It's not true.  Our words and deeds and thoughts are not in alignment with each other.  So may we take the counsel of wisdom and may we remember this.  When we began the book of Proverbs, it was a female voice speaking as wisdom, calling, pleading, begging, but then she goes on to say later that she was there when God created people.  She was there when God created the earth and she rejoiced in what he had made and she is here to help us.  So may we listen to the voice of wisdom when it comes to what will come out of our mouths today because we certainly can choose to be cruel and mean and snappy and biting and that may be our normal course of action, but we will be well rewarded if we say something kind.  

Prayer

Father, we say things before we think about them a lot.  We find ourselves reacting to things a lot.  We don’t pause before we speak.  We just speak.  Yeah, we’ve scorched the earth before with things that should have never been said into this world ever, and so we ask your forgiveness for that and we thank you for your counsel from the lips of the beautiful wisdom today that we should think about what we’re saying.  We should weigh those things in the balance and see which way the scales are tipping because that is informing the direction of our lives.  So we invite your Holy Spirit into this moment and we’re choosing to listen to wisdom's voice and speak kindness even in the face of someone being cruel and mean to us.  Come Jesus, because we need your help.  We ask this in your name.  Amen.  

Announcements

Www.DailyAudioBible.com is the website.  It's home base.  It's where you find out what's going on around here.  The thing that I’ve been mentioning here for a little bit is the fact that we’ll be going back to this promised land, the land where the majority of the Bible takes place for another pilgrimage.  We’ve been doing this for years.  My story is I didn’t care to go, but then once I went, I got it and I never looked at the Bible the same ever.  I can’t.  I couldn’t because just kind of understanding how far things are from each other and the dramatic change in such a small area, the dramatic change in geography and climate, it is very striking.  But just to have these things in context as we move through the stories of the Bible is life-changing because you don’t approach the Bible the same anymore.  You know what is being talked about.  You know what it looks like.  You know what it smells like.  You know what it sounds like and you can put yourself in the story in a much more deep and meaningful way.  So we do this because it really is a pilgrimage.  Every part of our lives gets touched in some way and it's remarkable.

So we’ll be going back February, February 19th through March 4th of 2018.  You can get the details at www.DailyAudioBible.com in the Initiatives section.  You’ll find Israel 2018.  It's easy to find.  Click that link and you’ll get the information that you need and, yeah, if this is something that has been on your list of things that you would really like to see, then you are invited.  Check it out.

If you want to partner with the Daily Audio Bible, you can do that www.DailyAudioBible.com.  There is a link.  It's on the home page.  Thank you profoundly for being a life-giving source to this community so that we can continue forward into the future.  If you're using the Daily Audio Bible App, press the More button in the lower right-hand corner and if you prefer the mail, the mailing address is P.O. Box 1996, Spring Hill, TN 37174.

And, of course, as always, if you have a prayer request or comment, (877) 942-4253 is the number to dial.  

And that's it for today.  I'm Brian. I love you and I’ll be waiting for you here tomorrow.

Community Prayer Requests and Praise Reports

[Singing] I am the resurrection and the life.  He who believes in me will never die.  I am the resurrection and the life.  He who believes in me will never die.  I am the resurrection and the life.  He who believes in me will never die.  [Singing ends]  The Spirit and the Bride say come and let those who hear say come. Whoever is thirsty, let him come and whoever wishes, let him drink the free gift of the water of life.  O Dear Jesus, I, Candace from Oregon, am one of a great cloud of witnesses who brings you praises.  We thank you, Lord, with all our hearts for saving us from sin and death.  We claim all the power of what you have done for us and we rise now to walk in the newness of life.  Thank you, Lord.  

This is Truth Speaker 5, 2, calling in to read a collaboration of scripture prepared by Jonathan Baxter, 1813-1872.  I am black but comely.  Behold, I was shapen in inequity and in sin did my mother conceive me.  Thy renown went forth among the heathen for thy beauty for it was perfect through my comeliness which I had put upon me, saith the Lord God.  I am a sinful man, O Lord.  Behold, thou art fair, my love.  Behold, thou art fair.  I abhor myself and repent in dust and ashes.  Thou art all fair, my love.  There is no spot in thee.  When I would do good, evil is present with me.  Be of good cheer.  Thy sins be forgiven thee.  I know that in me, that is in my flesh dwelleth no good thing.  Ye are complete in him, perfect in Christ Jesus.  Ye are washed.  Ye are sanctified.  Ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the spirit of our God that ye should show forth the praises of him who has called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.  Song of Solomon 1:5, Psalm 51:5, Ezekiel 16:14, Luke 5:8, Song of Solomon 4:1, Job 42:6, Song of Solomon 4:7, Romans 7:21, Matthew 9:2, Romans 7:18, Colossians 2:10, Colossians 1:28, 1 Corinthians 6:11, 1 Peter 2:9.  Be blessed even now, in Jesus’ name.  Amen.  

Hello my friends and family out there in Daily Audio Bible land.  Hey, this is Annette from Oklahoma City.  Oh my goodness, what an amazing conference, huh? Oh!  I tell you what, every one of you people touched my life.  I cannot believe it.  What a great time that we had learning how to overcome things and break bondage and rewrite truths in our life.  And I tell you what, Biola, my sister, I love you so very much.  Thank you, thank you, thank you.  I had such an amazing time with you and everyone else that I met.  Hey, we had a lady from Norway, way at the top, and she is next to people from Russia at the top of her country.  I would like to pray for her and I hope that she gets to spread the message not only in her country, but to the people of Russia up there and help spread the word around there.  It's amazing. I wanted to thank the gentleman from Northern California for praying not only for us, but mainly for the people who had stayed behind and when I told that to my husband that you had prayed, it was like he almost started crying because I know that it is difficult for people to let their wives go to places that are outside of their comfort zone where they can’t protect them and watch out for them.  And they got their __________, eh, Lisa?  So anyways, I really thank you for praying for that because the reason we want to turn our phones off is because I know like three of us got hit with sick animals and kids and had we actually looked at our phones, that would have been a bad distraction.  So I thought that was kind of interesting.  

Good morning DAB family.  Today is Monday, the 10th of April.  This is Yvonne from California.  I haven’t called in a little while.  I just wanted to call in to say hello to all my DAB family, to ask for prayer for this week for me.  Yesterday, Sunday I started a fast for seven days, Sunday to Sunday, for 7 days this week. A fast for everything, for my __________, my sons, the obsession with the alcohol that, thanks to the Lord, is diminishing day by day.  I just wanted to offer these seven days to God, to my Father, my Heavenly Father, and to praise Him and just to have these seven days to contemplate all the suffering and the leading to his death of this week and then, of course, the resurrection on Sunday.  I haven’t been to a church, a physical church in a long time and I'm already making plans to go to the church where I was baptized, at Berkeley Mount Zion.  I'm going to go to church after a long time this coming Sunday, Resurrection Day, and complete my fast and just worship and honor God.  That is what I'm doing this week, just being very present with God and just every day and every moment trying to just ask him to be with me and to strengthen my faith, strengthen everything that needs to be strengthened in me.  I'm asking for your prayers.  Thank you.

This is The Greatest Trucker from Way Out West.  Got a prayer request for you.  A lady called in, well I'm hearing it on the 10th.  Sherry from La Estancia, CA called in for her sister's great-grandson.  His name is Lester and she has been listening for two years, but this is the first time she's called in.  Lester I guess is a very, very young boy that has leukemia, he's been in the hospital for six months and I am begging you people to pray for Lester, that he comes home well and whole.  Please pray for Lester, little Lester out there in California.  

Hi family.  It's Shannon from Texas and I need for you to please continue to pray with me for my friend Sonya.  I’ve called in before several times regarding her and her situation with her children. Her son Conrad, the one that was shot and was actually robbing someone when he was shot and was in the hospital and he fled and she went to go pick him up from another state and had him with her here, which wasn't a brilliant idea, but she __________ about that situation and I was at her house one day and __________ felt like I needed to go in and talk to him.  She didn’t go __________ her life goes on, but he had been abusing her and was using drugs.  Anyway, I just started praying about it and wanted him to go to church with us, but of course he wouldn’t go.  But anyway, he ended up beating her up, nearly beating her mother up.  I think he did hit her mother, so, of course, she called the police.  This was after I had been praying and I know she had been praying too.  Of course, this is her baby and he had been sexually abused by his father and I think after she found this out she had so much guilt that it is why she does some of these crazy things.  Anyway, please pray for him.  He's back in jail which is probably where he belongs.  Really, it's not where he belongs.  He needs to be healed, is what he needs, so please help me pray.  Help me pray for her, this whole family, her daughters, her other son. Only God can do this.  Only God can heal this woman's heart after he has beaten his mother and his…

[dailyaudiobible]

02/18/2017 DAB Transcript

Leviticus 6:1-7:27 ~ Mark 3:7-30 ~ Psalm 37:1-11 ~ Proverbs 10:3-4

Today is February 18th.  Welcome to the Daily Audio Bible.  I'm Brian. It's great to be here with you today from the rolling hills of Tennessee, and wherever you are, I hope it's a lovely morning or afternoon or evening and that you’ve come here to just unplug from everything else that is going on and center yourself in the rhythm that we have as a community based on a step a day in the word of God.  

So we’re in the book of Leviticus.  We were talking about the different sacrifices yesterday and how to embrace this, so we move back into the things that God is telling his chosen people that form and create the culture that they live in.  We’re reading from the Holman Christian Standard Bible this week.  We’ve been doing that all this week.  Here we are at the end of another week already and we’ll move on to another translation tomorrow, but for today, Leviticus chapter 6, verse 1 through 7:27.

Commentary

A couple things.  Jesus, in the book of Mark, appoints his apostles, his disciples, the 12 and then he is healing people and throwing out evil spirits and the religious leaders come and essentially say he is possessed himself, he is possessed by the devil himself. He drives out demons by the ruler of demons.  This is where Jesus says, “look, listen, that doesn’t make any sense.  Right?  How can a kingdom divided against itself go forward forcefully?  That is civil war.  If a house is divided against itself, that house can’t stand.  So if I'm throwing out demons because I'm demon-possessed, how does that make any sense?”

Then Jesus talks about what, as a kid, I was told was the unpardonable sin, blaspheming against the Holy Spirit.  Man, all of my childhood I always was worried that I had somehow done that and I was doomed.  But I didn’t know what it was.  It was just this esoteric thing out there.  What is that?  What is the one thing you can do that you cannot be forgiven for?  Jesus was telling the religious leaders who were making these accusations against him that this is what they were doing.  They were blaspheming against the Holy Spirit by calling the Holy Spirit within Jesus Beelzebul, an unclean spirit.  They were declaring the Holy Spirit an unclean spirit.  That is blasphemy.  Once I realized that, it was like, okay, well I would never call the Holy Spirit an unclean spirit.  But I can tell you something that Jesus said is unforgiveable.  That is when we withhold forgiveness ourselves.  

Jesus said if we won't forgive, then we won't be forgiven.  That is a big deal, because this good Holy Spirit of the living God is within us and we have been forgiven much, but when we are withholding forgiveness, then we are bringing that spirit of God and essentially saying ‘you do not have the final authority in my life.’  Friends, the sobering reality is that is blasphemy. Anytime we are operating out of our own strength and will in rebellion to God, we are denying with our very actions the Holy Spirit within.  

May we contemplate that as I re-read a bit of the psalm today, because David lays out the posture of heart we must have:  

Do not be agitated by evil-doers.  Do not envy those who do wrong.  They will wither quickly like grass and wilt like tender green plants. Trust in the Lord and do what is good. Dwell in the land and live securely. Take delight in the Lord and he will give you your heart's desires.  Commit your way to the Lord.  Trust in him and he will act, making your righteousness shine like the dawn, your justice like the noonday.  Be silent before the Lord and wait expectantly for him.  Do not be agitated by one who prospers in his way, by the man who carries out evil plans.  Refrain from anger and give up your rage.  Do not be agitated.  It can only bring harm.  For evildoers will be destroyed, but those who put their hope in the Lord will inherit the land.  A little while and the wicked person will be no more.  Though you look for him, he will not be there.  But the humble will inherit the land and will enjoy abundant prosperity.  

Prayer

Father, this is sobering.  This is sobering because it really does touch every thought, word, and deed of our lives. It very clearly shows us that this faith journey that we’re taking, it's not a little stroll.  It's an all or nothing proposition.  It consumes us entirely.  It binds us to you in ways that there is no way to find where you begin and we end.  We are intertwined and we are on a mission in this world to reclaim what has been lost for thousands of years, to bring your kingdom, to be your kingdom.  We didn’t sign up to get a free pass from hell. You have invited us to offer our lives as a living sacrifice.  We no longer have to offer you sacrifices.  We are the sacrifice, our lives poured out for you, to you, because of you, in hope of you, in faith of you.  And in return you have given us your Holy Spirit that animates the trajectory of our days.  So we give you this day and offer it to you as a living sacrifice.  Come Holy Spirit.  Well up within us, we ask in the powerful and strong name of Jesus. Amen.  

Announcements

Www.DailyAudioBible.com is home base.  It's the website and it's where you find out what is going on around here. Mostly we’re talking about the More Gathering that is coming up.  I encourage you, ladies, if you can get there, you will not regret it.  So all of the details that you would want to know you can find at www.DailyAudioBible.com and we will all look forward to seeing you in early April in the mountains of Georgia.  So check that out.  

If you are willing to partner with the Daily Audio Bible, if Daily Audio Bible and the community that we are is life-giving to you, then thank you for helping us keep it going.  This has always been a community affair, a family affair.  Things that we’ve done, we’ve done together.  Thank you for your partnership.  There is a link on the home page of www.DailyAudioBible.com.  If you're using the app, you can push the More button in the lower right-hand corner. Or if you prefer, the mailing address is P.O. Box 1996, Spring Hill, TN 37174.

And, as always, if you have a prayer request or comment, (877) 942-4253 is the number to dial.

And that's it for today.  I'm Brian. I love you.  I’ll be waiting for you here tomorrow.

Community Prayer Requests and Praise Reports

Hi, this is Kelly from Pennsylvania.  I have not called in over a year and I listen to all the prayers and I pray in quiet in my own car on my long commute to work every single morning, so I just felt like I really needed to call in and pray for a couple people. Patricia in New Orleans, I’ve been praying for you for a very long time and I'm so sorry that the oppression against you has not ceased.  I am so sorry that you are still suffering and I will continue to pray for you, Patricia. I will pray for you against the oppression and I just wish I could give you a hug, Patricia.  I'm also praying for Rebecca in Michigan.  Rebecca, I pray for you a lot.  I think about you a lot and I pray that God will just lead you to where he wants you to be, where you can minister to him and to his people.  I pray that he will give you ways in which you use the gifts that you have and, whatever he does, I pray that he will give you a feeling of being content in whatever job you may get, whatever change may be coming, that you will thrive and that you will be full of joy. Finally, Jacqueline, Salvation is Mine, I hope that you’re recent surgery went well.  I know it has got to be terrifying coming up to your new surgery. I really pray that God will surround you with real physical people who can help you through your next recovery. Again, I love you all.  I pray for you all even though I never call, so if you don’t hear your name, I'm sitting here in my car praying.  

Hi family.  Drew from the Bay Area.  I want to first say thank you for all your prayers, Abba, Father of the Most High, with the Father of the Most High.   Thank you so much for your prayer and I am going through the smoke and I’ve been through this smoke before.  This smoke is, yes, to protect us, but more importantly, it is show us that we have nothing to fear, that beyond the smoke there is no fire.  Having gone through so many things, I should know this, but I don’t.  I still try to go on my own strength and I'm so happy for your prayers, Salvation is Mine.  It brought tears to me.  I’ve got to go into work now and the Lord showed me I'm just to wait.  Wait on him and not wait patiently, but wait as the best wait you’ve ever had in your life is to do the right things.  I just love you guys.  One of my managers told me I have no friends and not to trust anybody where I work.  That hurt. And I think that was directly from the enemy.  I don’t believe that.  But you are my friends, you are my family and I love you and I pray for all of you and I pray without ceasing.  Sometimes I just want to rest and then something comes to my mind and I'm praying for one of you.  I love you. I love you.  You are loved.  

Lord of heaven and earth, I pray for men.  I pray especially for men today.  We struggle with anger, with fear, with self-esteem issues and any other defect or sin that sends them into a tirade, that sends them into tantrums, that sends them into anger, to sin.  Lord of heaven and earth, I pray that you put in them the spirit of humility and meekness and understanding that they, that we men are powerless over our anger and our rage, save you, O God of heaven, for only you can bring us into the peace and the stillness that you want us to be in.  So I pray for men today.  Men out there, seek God first.  Seek God first for wisdom.  Seek God first for peace.  Seek God first for love and all things will be added to that, that you, men, we men will walk this earth with peace and humility, kindness and love for their fellow brothers, men, and towards our sisters and wives and the women of this world. I ask all this in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.  Amen.  

Howdy DAB family.  This is Darin from College Station, TX.  Calling asking for some urgent prayer for myself.  I'm going through a pretty strong bout of depression that leads to insomnia and where I can’t sleep, so I'm in this cycle of can’t sleep, can’t eat and no motivation to improve or get things done.  It's a cycle that I’ve been in for about four months right now and previously in the past two years I’ve gone through bouts of depression as well.  I just need help.  I need prayer that I hear God's word and that I follow it, because right now I'm not following anything.  I appreciate you all's prayers.  Thank you.

Hi, my name is Patrick S. and I'm from San Clemente, CA and I’ve been listening to the Daily Audio Bible for probably seven years now.  And this is only the second time that I’ve called in.  Forgive me if I don’t make it through this.  I'm having a tough day today.  I was injured in a spinal cord injury accident 20 years ago and because of that, I have just really terrible neuropathic pain, to the point that a lot of days it is difficult to get out of bed and because of that, I had to take a lot of pain medication over the years and I'm going off that medication now because it's messed up my stomach in a pretty bad way.  I’ve lost a lot of weight and I could really use your prayers not only for me, but for my wife and my 9-year-old son.  It's just been really difficult as we don’t know what the solution is and need some guidance from God to know where to turn next.  I don’t want to run out of time.  I thank you for your prayers and love you guys.  I think you're an amazing community.

Hi Dabbers.  This is He has Shown Me Mercy in Colorado.  I wanted to reach out and pray on behalf of those who are experiencing despair, depression or just the numbness that Salvation is Mine spoke of recently.  So let's pray.  Sovereign Lord, you are a loving Father.  You are a good Father and it is not your will for your children to be in despair or to feel disconnected from you in any way.  You want us to experience joy, not just happiness which is temporary, but the joy that only comes from knowing you.  Your word says that when the righteous call out to you for help, that you hear us and deliver us from our troubles.  And that you are near to the broken-hearted and you save the crushed in spirit.  Father, we just pray for all of those who are experiencing this hopelessness and despair and just ask that you just send your Holy Spirit to give them your comfort and hope.  We pray especially for those who are feeling disconnected from you because of sin in their lives, either past or present.  Lord, we just want you to remind them that you forgive and you save. Again, your word tells us that we may draw near to the throne of grace boldly with confidence that we may receive mercy and find grace in times of need.  Lord, help us all to find daily renewed life in you.  We ask this with the precious blood of your son, Jesus. Amen.