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kaleb-is-definitely-sane · 10 days

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Okay but am I the only one with a special love for declarations of love that border on religious/sacrilegious?

I mean i just love that “my future husband becoming to me my whole world; and more then the world: almost my hope for heaven. he stood between me and every thought of religion… i could not, in those days, see god for his creature: of whom i had made an idol” "heaven did not seem to be my home and I broke my heart with weeping to come back to earth" "heaven and hell were words to me" "do not swear at all. or, if thou wilt, swear by thy gracious self, which is the god of my idolatry, and I'll believe thee" "he knows himself to be equal to the gods" "that man seems to me to be equal to the gods who is sitting opposite you" "if love is a religion, i'll worship you morning and evening" "i love you so much my heart names you after gods" "she's a goddess. my muse, my lover - i worship her devotedly and sacrifices daily and she loves me back with a savage barbarism only the greek goddesses could" "she's a myth, she's a legend. one look at her is sure to lock you out of heaven" "i want to devour you. you want to devour me. so let's consume each other. it's communion - though it sure doesn't look like church" "in the crooks of your body i find my religion" "if the heavens ever did speak, she's the last true mouthpiece" "we were like gods at the dawning of the world, & our joy was so bright we could see nothing else but the other" "my love is not idolatrous, okay? that’s bullshit. it’s not. i’m just saying it’s theological perfection, that’s all. like the Holy Trinity, but a hundred times better" "take me to church: i'll worship like a dog at the shrine of your lies. i'll tell you my sins, and you can sharpen your knife. offer me that deathless death. oh good God, let me give you my life" "you built me palaces out of paragraphs. you built cathedrals" "women were to me a cathedral. beautiful and religious even. their ability to make worshipers… worth writing a poem for" "i would have come out of eden to open the door for you if i had known you were there" "i slithered out from eden just to outside your door" "my church offers no absolutes; she tells me, 'worship in the bedroom.' the only heaven I'll be sent to is when I'm alone with you" "and if the devil were to see you he would kiss your eyes and repent" "love, for you, is larger than the usual romantic love. it's like religion. it's terrifying" "i wanted to know what I looked like to you. a sin committed and a prayer answered, you said" "she'll give you all your desires but her demands are sacrificial" "there is no sweeter innocence than our gentle sin" "he thought her body gave him his first name. he thought her thighs could tell him who he was. he thought lust and love had the same hands" "it's more then love she feels for him... it's more like worship" "to fall in love is to create a religion that has a fallible god" "unholy. killer of men. makes you wonder how much longer till you give in" "if my love is blasphemous, then may i burn i hell" "her beauty is so great that heaven is flawed for the lack of her" "if I'm a pagan of the good times, my lover's the sunlight. to keep the goddess on my side, she demands a sacrifice" "i would put off meeting god in paradise, to meet you one last time" "she is heaven's light" "she is hellfire" "you remember church as a boy. the fear and the passion. that's what she makes me feel" "when he leaves the room, he bows and acts precisely as if he were before a shrine" "we are one person in two bodies" "i am not whole without you" "i need my other half. you are me, and i am you" "o that it were not in religion sin to make our love a god, and worship it" "unable are the loved to die for love is immortality, nay it is deity - unable they that love to die for love reforms vitality into divinity" kind of love

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straightplayshowdown · 8 months

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Doctor Faustus: Yearning for infinite knowledge and questioning his faith, Doctor Faustus forsakes his scholarly studies for the world of magic and sorcery. He makes a pact with the devil. If the evil spirit, Mephastophilis, will serve him for 24 years, Faustus will bequeath the devil his soul after his death and spend eternity damned in hell. Despite warnings from colleagues, Faustus is blind to the terrifying extent of his actions until it is too late. Going on a journey with Mephastophilis and displaying his magic to a host of influential and important figures, Faustus finally realizes that he has come to the end of his allotted time on earth and learnt nothing.

The Importance of Being Earnest: Two bachelors, John ‘Jack’ Worthing and Algernon ‘Algy’ Moncrieff, create alter egos named Ernest to escape their tiresome lives. They attempt to win the hearts of two women who, conveniently, claim to only love men called Ernest. The pair struggle to keep up with their own stories and become tangled in a tale of deception, disguise and misadventure.

Propaganda under the cut!

Doctor Faustus:

Gay as hell (I wrote a 30 page senior thesis on this), beautiful writing, great if you're going through some shit and have christian guilt, then you can kin Faustus really hard

funny and also a great look at christianity and damnation. also faustus is gay for a demon

It's about Christianity and damnation where Faustus is bored of academia because he's too smart so he sells his soul to the devil for magic. Then, he pranks the pope and is gay for his demon attendant.

God this play is so good. A scholar, who's learned all he could of earthly things, sells his soul to the devil for magic. It's about sin, damnation, predestination. Is Faustus damned or is he damning himself? God it’s so good. Going to list some of my favorite lines now bc the writing is just so <33

When Faustus asks the demon Mephastophilis how he can be here on earth when he's damned to hell, he says "Why this is hell, nor am I out of it. / Think'st thou that I, who saw the face of God, / And tasted the eternal joys of heaven, / Am not tormented with ten thousand hells / In being deprived of everlasting bliss?" which is just so true. Like god that conception of hell is so. Like yeah. Of course anywhere other than heaven would be hell when one has experienced heaven. God.

So many lines from Faustus questioning his choice and wondering if he should repent and if he were to repent would God even forgive him like "Why waverest thou? O, something soundeth in mine ears: 'Abjure this magic, turn to God again.' / Ay, and Faustus will turn to God again. / To God? He loves thee not: / Thou God thy servest is thine own appetite." Like the “To God? He loves thee not” gets me every fucking time bc he is SO convinced that he’s damned, he’s SO convinced that there’s no hope for him and that God does not love him. Like. And "Whither should I fly? / If unto God, he'll throw me down to hell.” Again, he’s absolutely convinced that there’s no hope for him. Even if he wants to repent, it doesn’t matter; God will turn him away. And "What art thou Faustus, but a man condemned to die?" And, god one of my favorite Faustus being convinced of his own damnation lines, "But Faustus' offense can ne'er be pardoned! The serpent / that tempted Eve may be saved, but not Faustus." Even the SERPENT THAT TEMPTED EVE may be saved, but not Faustus. Like?? He’s so convinced of his own damnation that he believes that even if the literal serpent who caused the fall of humans could be saved, he would still be damned. Like god. Also, this whole spiel after another scholar is like call on God and repent to which Faustus goes, “On God, whom Faustus hath abjured? On God / whom Faustus hath blasphemed? Ah, my God—I would weep, but the devil draws in my tears! Gush forth blood, instead of tears—yea, / life and soul! O, he stays my tongue! I would lift my hands, but / see, they hold them, they hold them!” Like god. He would weep but the devil draws in his tears and he is weeping blood instead. He would raise up his hands to heaven but he is being held down. And like the beginning. The “who am I to call on God? God whom I have abjured and renounced? God who I have cursed and blasphemed? Who am I to call on him? Would he even answer if I did? If I could?” Like god. It’s so.

And finally, my fucking absolute favorite lines in the entirety of the play, which technically fall under the Faustus repenting category, but deserve their own number bc I love this part so much. Background: These are lines said by Faustus in his final monologue, a monologue that really starkly resembles Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane. It is Faustus, minutes before the devils come to take his soul, pleading to God for the last time to have mercy on him. He says (bear with me this is long) “The stars move still, time runs, the clock will strike, / The devil will come, and Faustus must be damned. / O I’ll leap up to my God! Who pulls me down? / See, see where Christ’s blood streams in the firmament! / One drop would save my soul, half a drop; ah my Christ— / Ah, rend not my heart for naming of my Christ; / Yet will I call on him—O spare me, Lucifer! / Where is it now? ‘Tis gone: and see where God bends his ireful brows! / Mountains and hills, come, come and fall on me, / And hide me from the heavy wrath of God. / No, no? / Then I will run headlong into the earth: / Earth, gape! O no, it will not harbor me.” So what’s happening here? Faustus is watching the time tick by before the devil comes to take him. He is trying to leap up to God, to repent, but he can’t; there’s someone pulling him down. Is it the devil? Is it himself? Who knows. Then, he sees Christ’s blood in the sky. He’s begging for it. For not even one drop, just half a drop; if he could just have half a drop perhaps he could be saved. That line btw, while it is only in the A text of Doctor Faustus (there’s two versions of the play, the A text and B text), is often still included in the B text editions bc it’s just that fucking good. Anyway. He pleads to Christ, something he is not allowed to do under his contract with Lucifer; he is not allowed to call upon God or Jesus or say any holy names. So when he calls upon Christ, he knows what Lucifer could do to him for it, but calls on him anyway, begging Lucifer to spare him. But once he invokes Lucifer’s name, the blood in the sky disappears. Instead, now all he sees is God’s ireful brows. So, he tries to take shelter from God in the earth, but not even the Earth will harbor him. It’s just so. Like god. And finally, at the end of his monologue, right before the devils enter to drag him to hell, Faustus cries, “My God, my God, look not so fierce on me!” a line which is just so. A blatant blasphemy of “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me,” this line is everything to me. Like god. It’s just so. God.

Anyway, Doctor Faustus is fucking amazing and these aren’t even all my favorite lines, I have so many more and there’s so much more I love about this play, but this is already long enough. It’s just so good. It’s a meditation on predestination and damnation, it’s blasphemous, it’s wonderful. The writing is so good. I just love it so much.

The Importance of Being Earnest:

Queercoded love interest and Victorian dandies, what’s not to love?

Quite possibly the funniest thing I have ever read.

It's very funny.

there is a HANDBAG and it is a MAJOR PLOT POINT. jack pretends to be ernest because he's been doing it for ages and why not am i right? algernon pretends to be ernest to get a girl and also so screw stuff up. as one does. gwendolen and cecily have a REALLY passive aggressive tea party. this play slaps. it is so good. go read it and/or see it

“Nothing will induce me to part with Bunbury, and if you ever get married, which seems to me extremely problematic, you will be very glad to know Bunbury. A man who marries without knowing Bunbury has a very tedious time of it.”

Lady Bracknell: “I do not approve of anything that tampers with natural ignorance. Ignorance is like a delicate exotic fruit; touch it and the bloom is gone. The whole theory of modern education is radically unsound. Fortunately in England, at any rate, education produces no effect whatsoever. If it did, it would prove a serious danger to the upper classes, and probably lead to acts of violence in Grosvenor Square.”

Lady Bracknell: “My nephew, you seem to be displaying signs of triviality.”

Jack: “On the contrary, Aunt Augusta, I’ve now realized for the first time in my life the vital Importance of Being Earnest.”

#polls #round 1 #doctor faustus #the importance of being earnest #the straight play showdown

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orthodoxadventure · 6 months

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Prayers for yourself in sickness

O Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour, the Physician of our souls and bodies, Who didst become Man and suffer death on the Cross for our salvation, and through Thy tender love and compassion didst heal all manner of sickness and affliction: do Thou, O Lord, visit me in my suffering, and grant me grace and strength to bear this sickness with which I am afflicted, with Christian patience and submission to Thy will, trusting in Thy lovingkindness and tender mercy. Bless, I pray Thee, the means used for my recovery, and those who administer them. I know, O Lord, that I justly deserve any punishment Thou mayest inflict upon me, for I have so often offended Thee and sinned against Thee in thought, word, and deed. Therefore, I humbly pray to Thee, look upon my weakness, and deal not with me according to my sins, but according to the multitude of Thy mercies. Have compassion on me, and let mercy and justice meet; and deliver me from the sickness and suffering I am undergoing. Grant that my sickness may be the means of my true repentance and amendment of my life according to Thy will, that I may spend the rest of my days in Thy love and fear; that my soul, being helped by Thy grace and sanctified by Thy holy mysteries, may be prepared for its transition to the eternal life and there, in the company of Thy blessed saints, may praise and glorify Thee with Thy Eternal Father and Life-giving Spirit. Amen.

* * *

O Holy Father, heavenly Physician of the body and soul, Who hast sent Thine Only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, to heal ailments and deliver us from death; do Thou heal me, Thy servant, of all suffering, and restore me to health by the grace of Thy Divine Son, through the intercessions of our Most Holy Queen Ever-virgin Mary, the Mother of God, and all the saints. For Thou art the Fountain of all cure, O Lord, and we give thanks to Thee, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, now and forever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

#Christianity #Orthodox Christianity #Prayer #God #healing

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libidomechanica · 5 months

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“Press, not locks and when the streaks, hast ye softness where borne”

A limerick sequence

The fire; full ornament carefully Alexandering Boy I speak of pearl sprung. Press, not locks and when the streaks, hast ye softness where borne with Richard about thou?

For, thou now? Words were green, she leane, framed, the only my condemn’d then can make us were not from so falling sea. Gift of a cheek to desire should, I opine.

III

There too, I have beyond althought; nothings serve, but Juan to a cypress growth and for pity of the true? Not alofte, that dart,— beautiful, and one vena cava.

And, pass’d her arms and situation. To the Head, a God of my brook at their spring. A simple, from me remote hert doth as might will be from he week, to thine?

Na thy strange stages, and Philosophic lyre; her stars: come odes of door, in June, that is on, if but no dark, cradle; his woe, but wide, as you say’st, the which fain boils.

Of my stone shape! But as a long men whores of lover headlong I should take so destroys it; not beauty was rather doubt? Love, deep as a clamorous sharp sparkle.

VII

I’m guess’d, and say—I can love proud meant from mine. The joy he tulip, whose and a living the sky, and them shall not that awoke with his quiet as the comes away.

VIII

’Er you know ye seemly sing silent to the days there will to thee, you will spends up he repent. Blow, as they streaming learning horses, like one or thanked fish-woman!

Whoever hands of at also when the stay here right I cares scum, and the earth’s safe alas! ’Er and weeping, tinger mine earth in you could lightest be quieted.

Meet, and ruled! Three, but when it and died antagenet. Swerve. Gone to then removed, or else walls, who takes a procreatured either told. Yes! And nimbler murmuring.

Still, would the unhappy spirits appeareth. The letter plant with come other lonely they common the dusky colour of forest her and damns me in the braue.

XII

Did not what dawning bloom, thy men, or whether? Wither frail of colour title, hurricanes of no vaile we should not why? Colin came to thee; then will lives us.

XIII

To guilt thought, that least of song conne, to was sister. Let our down heave there that beard, the starte, and shown lucus a noun. When the steed his disgrace: binde you beautiful dream?

XIV

From all that lurk in the daffodils. Yet I knew the choice no word to sate its in the wish than at Waterline who every playnts, her strife! My stocks of troubled him.

And you do not thereof nobly folly hath thy took her yet I blame, its edge the breaches they have bent. From kisses, there, in the thou have once, every grace to life!

XVI

When I wrote loved! The flush’d by a separate wide and looke the roof, some pearls comes in fresh numbering home, if though the bound it should she wings of love there’s an in it.

XVII

Guilty hand, leave more the removed your lives at Rome, the blacken at his dead, and blue; strike, and raven of Mt. Plain on men heads where myne eyes, like to each can looked.

XVIII

The bastard sight, and play at would not to weep this; my paper siluer so he rose, waves her own! Lest said, by me haunting in earth. He wylfull the must play away?

XIX

Of bards be terms in Guido’s fault I be chasing any now in black night, and you it’s wreathing’s fierce: ’ my ways your souls! He scentertain so stuff, live wisest the bat.

This light assay we would fly, and then? For was told, and allows on her and no, those fall, on snowy shriek, that we will ye hear, Eadwacer? Away. Here humble vain.

XXI

To dull, as those to vaile, taking on thee; that is the Sphinx. When I ’d for any trouble you blind her Secret witch becomes in heart, nothings chiming liberty.

XXII

He all of a call somewhere she world is saving age, i, that sweet fadeth now my small locked, or didst thou may foreigner, and serious each, Love? The favour for me!

XXIII

From Love! I under one who, in your want these mone of her part,—beauty’s declaretless—how a funnel of inconversation, one with the want their charge of pains.

XXIV

How them often hear a troop of dream. Before he did not this contention: at which their damsels! With kisses skill Desire on her husband never about there?

XXV

Equal with went over the cocked haye. Foolish matter; saying ever flowers are relish, their or a shamefull flesh and brainsoaked garden gave was it was.

XXVI

Into them I love in dew? Whose disparity of yore. Than ever shining no more better clown, sitting much did not, then pride, and prove Nymph and howe’er histories.

XXVII

And shooting over them and dumb? Our spring and hence, then, in sleep. Tis better other and the very kindly with the stalks to change, war, a stones with pardon me.

XXVIII

Whose descry a mournful gust own, and all the dark palm trees, lay the Mounter bark and her maxim forming is fawn. But the greet thy silver-clearer bid falcon-eye?

XXIX

The river on. And her parley Mill her, Sister, or identity. Out, the below, mild revoke thee, you within and farewell’d towards of the green, a catch light.

XXX

These, freckled and die: your sounds, siller in the days that he mirror these that once, and farewell’d grass; but live at sings rare a words were they were white, we’re weeping, cheek!

XXXI

Still with it must enemy who take her days that flatter with fig forever than shorn away? Ay, Love wither whither steep may be: vnited as that would under.

XXXII

Wound up from death to do we home. To sea, betrother braiding galleries of the sun and a places all past: dissolution I move into his terrible!

XXXIII

And on pole! Humid see and tell, wherein came years it grew,—saith sike delight, told timidly expire. And this, faint extremely dash the palate thy wit we can he.

XXXIV

Burner, sad temper Juan all the Sphinx. But where was a more. Of wife butteranced in the rising speech, and woman, in dead fled feel it should remain day, till these.

XXXV

Shape of the table to thy goodly race! You will not you no stinge, he talled Hope is my ladies ruin. To looking on her stain’d of sunsettle, where further.

XXXVI

Tush, there. That lurk in a damsels in New York, lying easy my extremely few: I have ye, merry head, and golden will, they with ’haviour simple state a maid.

XXXVII

Nor Palinode if thou have been adverse. Mother mistress a night of fire it was fully. Southwest stomakes him daily sails the fragrant mind was not quicken.

XXXVIII

She slain an owl-songs of a silent claim it was off, and I hold of a there, and a feint. Yet into a swooning on thy good release: she shall used up a weight.

XXXIX

How she had choice is a tighten’d, murmur, seem Angel of reason betighted to drink? Let could make so mastery object of Eternity, where will ne’er renne.

And yet, heart the simple she sweete Violines. For Poesy! When not in ashes, those themselves sae press grown, resembling extant with they may between the presented!

XLI

For him, looking, enamour, ’ reply, marrying were are not he. Meanwhile her brow’s blue; stripping, cheek, but she, like a common to cast a corpse-light the daffodils.

XLII

Then she next day, and the raignes and bones which lays bore: now I must between first stronger went to his fechtin’ a kennel. And look into linger; the horn, and breath.

XLIII

Death, and the hour own heart within it. -Shed her, and please mind in the breath crime, and poor fishes,—he dream! A hand of love-poem! Are flowers quickly five. Meads some tree.

XLIV

Break, and fiery like home one gentleman, and be barren to face in for Cleone. But the wisardsweltre inlaid who eats heard nobleness, and to my dear, the bough!

XLV

—You can’t the her sinks back-hoe. Will streamlet flye: sike might, unlevel without signs, and Science, far away. That the whose will pry into think that that through with the weeds.

XLVI

So sweet, in so he castle, an’ wilfull of mine own full tongue. I’ll taken of sunset, because he will hear me? Bettering letter cloud that stepped it a tawdrie lace.

XLVII

When beauteous eyes a lawn in none; and, and betray us. Their his like an infancy as just of them and heavy! So noises and there was compare? Ten tragedie.

XLVIII

Serene, and keepe in and part potent to you would burnish matter answer and the fish. To sharp eyes, but, pale than field, may I love, why should make here, so cleft our love.

XLIX

While young Semele such place, as on her charm, alas! That white fancie, draw one: a poor hath been entangle heats.—Excuse her his neuer her all in libel, or fret.

Or articles of Glory. I am from eyes shut index. A longer and nowe wildering, I gavel. Tho’ in the learne there is Dido, dead made up in earth.

A coldly ting’d with us. And thy beauty. For, Maud and, some cannot toss and such as amiss, expected. Place came light Emperor histories. So saint, to hide wave!

LII

To my tears, whoso fair attitude, Shared with together round. And warrior magnets all of fervenche that the breeze with it faithful Sun. Or the whole would faint a kind.

LIII

A soft land, and thou seems Beauties the Elysian miracle; and put be crown’d by a right the young man, let the glad of ruin. More to ill: there’s joy, Adieu!

#poetry #automatically generated text #Patrick Mooney #Markov chains #Markov chain length: 5 #177 texts #limerick sequence

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gatekeeper-watchman · 5 months

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Daily Devotionals for November 26, 2023

Proverbs: God's Wisdom for Daily Living

Devotional Scripture:

Proverbs 29:1-2 (KJV): 1 He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy. 2 When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn. Proverbs 29:1-2 (AMP): 1 He who, being regularly reproved, hardens his neck shall suddenly be destroyed—and that without remedy. 2 When the (uncompromisingly) righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; but when the wicked man rules, the people groan and sigh.

Thought for the Day

Verse 1 - It is vitally important to heed advice and correction. Stubborn, prideful people refuse to be corrected (Jeremiah 5:3). Sooner or later, those who continue in destructive paths bring upon themselves God's wrath, which is reaping the consequences of one's sinful deeds. Walking in faith and obedience to God keeps us under His protection. By refusing correction, we step out from under God's protection and invite Satan's attacks.

Our choices today will shape our tomorrow; filling them with either blessing or cursing. If we receive God's correction when He convicts us of sin, we will avoid the sorrow that disobedience creates. If we continue in sin, our backsliding will produce difficult circumstances that will correct us. “Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backsliding shall reprove thee: know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God ..." (Jeremiah 2:19).

God challenges us with this admonition in Deuteronomy 30:19: "I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live." Society stresses our right to choose but suppresses the truth that our choices have consequences, especially in the areas of lust and selfishness. Movies generally glamorize sin but seldom depict the devastating results of adultery, abortion, and so forth. These sins have consequences that often do not hit home until one suffers a divorce, contracts a sexually transmitted disease, or suffers the emotional aftermath of getting an abortion. If we become hardened, our wrong choices can destroy us by bringing consequences that will hurt us beyond remedy. Anyone who has continually made bad decisions is on the road to destruction and has only one hope: Jesus. God can take the inescapable situations that we have created and turn them around. God can bring good out of the evil which Satan unleashes against us when we repent.

Verse 2 - We see that a nation rejoices when ruled by upright leaders and mourns under the oppression of wicked rulers. The same is true in all areas of authority; whether homes, schools, or businesses. Good leaders create an environment that encourages the growth of those under them. A wicked person in a position of authority can wound and destroy many lives. Many people have left good-paying jobs and taken smaller positions simply to work under decent management and employers.

Prayer Devotional for the Day

Dear heavenly Father, thank you for Your mercy and love toward me. I also appreciate You correcting me when I need it, as I know when I heed Your advice, I am spared a lot of trouble. Deliver me from every trace of rebellion and pride, as I desire to walk in humility. I know Jesus was lowly and humble when He was on this earth, and I want to be like Him. Help us all to be good husbands’ wives, mothers, bosses, and friends in this life. We also want to remain on the straight and narrow path of obedience, so guide us daily in Your will. We ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen. From: Steven P. Miller @ParkermillerQ, gatekeeperwatchman.org Founder of Gatekeeper-Watchman International Groups, Saturday, November 25, 2023, Jacksonville, Florida., USA. X ... @ParkermillerQ #GWIG, #GWIN, #GWINGO, #Ephraim1, #IAM, #Sparkermiller, #Eldermiller1981 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Sparkermiller.JAX.FL.USA.

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childofchrist1983 · 6 months

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But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine: That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience. The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded. In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you. - Titus 2:1-8 KJV

Apostle Paul is writing to Titus in Crete. Titus had been with Paul on his journeys and is being trusted to build up the church in Crete and appoint leadership for the community. In the first chapter, he gives a list of virtues that should be present in those chosen to positions of leadership. He also gives a warning that there are people in the community who are causing problems with false teachings. Paul is therefore giving him advice as to how members of the community can help. The older men and women are to give good example to the younger generation. It is important to be good examples of faith to the next generation. If we don't care about following God's laws, why should they? If we don't care for the poor, why should they? What we do speaks volumes to those who come after us. May we also take Paul's advice to heart and bear witness to our faith in our actions and in our words. God tells us how to live, and we often ignore His commands thinking that His rules aren't important anymore. May He help us to get back on the right track so that we can give good example to all those who come after us when our time on this Earth is done.

We come to Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ with sincere hearts to ask forgiveness and follow Him and His Holy Word and Spirit always. May Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ open our minds and hearts more and more to perceive and embrace Him and His truths. May He help us to find time to pray and read and study the Holy Bible daily and to find power in prayer, praying according to His Holy Word and will. May He help us to come to Him in true repentance and with faith in Him and His grace and merciful nature. We must never cease in worship. We praise Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for the mercy He bestows upon us and we are grateful for His grace and mercy and infinite blessings. May He forgive those times when we complain that His way is too hard, and may He give us the grace, courage and strength we need to walk with Him and do His will daily. May He teach us to watch our words when we pray to Him and to speak reverently and rightly. And may He teach us also to speak only kindness and truth with our neighbors that we may be men and women of our word. We must always respect God and His power and remain hopeful in His plans for our lives. May we continually ask God to transform our hearts and make us faithful and humble as we walk with Him daily. By surrendering our hearts and our lives to His will, we see all the blessings He has bestowed upon us. God our refuge and our salvation and our constant provider. We lift our voices to Him in praise for His steadfast love, mercy and understanding. Let us seek Him and a better understanding of His Holy Word daily, not for the sake of entertainment or mere accumulation of knowledge, but that we may love and serve Him more and more with each day that passes. We must come to Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ with honest, humble and repentant hearts. We must seek Him and His will and choose to follow Him all the days of our lives. May He help transform our hearts, help us to seek and live for Him above all else and to grow spiritually and build our faith and relationship with Him with each passing day. May He forgive our sinful nature and help us always make Him and our relationship with Him top priority.

As true and born-again Christians, we choose to walk in His righteous path and lead a life that is pleasing to Him. We desire Him and His will above anything else. We desire to walk in accordance with the love and light He has shown to us through His Holy Word and Spirit. We long for a deeper relationship with Him and a deeper fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ as well. When we fall into temptation and sin, we must turn to Him for forgiveness, strength and guidance. When believers learn to walk in accordance with God's Holy Word and Spirit, they have deeper fellowship with both God and one another. And the sin that could threaten to destroy that fellowship, if confessed (1 John 1:9), is covered in the blood of Jesus Christ and no longer a barrier between us and God. May we ask Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ to forgive us for any sins we have sinned this day or in days past. May we be faithful to Him and His Holy Word always. May He help us to walk more consistently in the light and to not neglect long to confess and forsake any sins that hinder our walk with Him. May He lead us in the direction He wants us to go so that we may seek and serve Him faithfully. God is holy and almighty and deserving of all praise honor and glory. We rejoice in Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ, knowing He is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). He is the Alpha and the Omega (Revelation 1:8). May our hearts always be filled with thanksgiving and rejoicing. May He help us to praise Him freely and honestly like all believers who came before us. May we live a life that showcases our love and trust in Him and His Holy Word and Spirit as He uses us draw others to Him and His soul-saving Gospel Truth daily. May He continue guide, correct and protect us, so that we continue to grow in Him and not weaken and stray. May we all remain faithful to Him and to this duty and purpose He has called us to. Seek and put your faith and trust in Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ and let Him do the rest. May He humble our hearts and help us focus on following and serving Him daily and helping others with joy and happiness. We lift our voices in praise to Him for His love, mercy, peace, faithfulness and grace - For EVERYTHING!

It is vital that we remain rooted in Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ through prayer and His Holy Word and Spirit and that we live and walk as a beacon of His light and love and share and spread the Gospel Truth daily, so that the lost souls in this world can come to know Him and be saved. The more we focus on Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ, growing spiritually by building our relationship with Him, leaning on Him and His Holy Word and Spirit, the better off we will be. Thanks to this and our faith in Him, we know that everything will be alright. And we will forever be grateful to Him. As true and born-again Christians, we believe in Him and His Holy Word and we strive daily to walk in His Holy Spirit. We know though our mortal bodies should die, He will raise us up and into new and glorious bodies (The Rapture). We who are truly His and alive at His second coming will never die, and our bodies will be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, and so shall we ever be with Him in His Kingdom of Heaven forevermore (1 Corinthians 15:51-52, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). This is one of many promises given to us by God Himself. Thank God for His strength and guidance when we are faced with sin and temptation. Thank Him for His mercy and grace. Through Bible study and prayer, God reveals His wisdom and guides us to see opportunities to grow closer to Him and grow spiritually. He gives us direction to live our lives daily according to His will.

Jesus Christ is the ONLY way to Heaven (John 3:5, 14:6), the ONLY way to salvation (Acts 4:12, Ephesians 2:8-9) and He is the resurrection and the life (John 11:25-26). Jesus Christ the LORD of lords, the KING of kings, the GOD of gods (Deuteronomy 10:17, 1 Timothy 6:15, Revelation 17:14, Revelation 19:16) - He is the Living, Almighty and Everlasting God (Isaiah 9:6, Revelation 1:8, John 3:16, John 3:36, Jeremiah 10:10). There is no other God besides Him (Isaiah 45:5). We MUST humble ourselves before Him, turning our backs on false teachers, false gods and idols and our sinful ways. We MUST repent and turn back to God and recognize who He is and love Him in return for His great love for us. We MUST make God top priority everyday! May we be motivated to spread God's Holy Word and Gospel Truth to all the Earth, knowing that it is the only hope of all those lost in their sins. Let us not hold out a false hope for men to be saved without the Gospel, but instead, strive to do our part to get the Gospel out to a lost and dying world.

Leaning on Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ through prayer and His Holy Word and Spirit strengthens us and our knowledge and wisdom about God and His Gospel Truth, exposing these imposters. May God help us to seek and lean on Him daily to gain the strength, wisdom and spiritual discernment needed to expose Satan and his imposters who seek to destroy us and God's ultimate Truth. Everyday, we must remember to share Jesus Christ's Gospel Truth with the world and to thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for the grace that He poured out for us on the cross at Calvary. He has freed us from the burdens of sin and from the eternal damnation of Hell. In all we say and do, may all praise, honor and glory always be given to Him and His Kingdom of Heaven.

With renewed minds, hearts and wills, let us serve Him humbly and faithfully out of pure love and grateful rejoicing. May He remind us of His presence and to remain at peace, fully knowing that all will be well because He is always with us. Let us seek Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ today and everyday with all our heart and being, looking for His love, light and will for our lives with each step we take. Let us seek to please Him with our thoughts, words, and deeds and seek to advance His Kingdom of Heaven and His glory with our lives. Let us seek Him from a pure and humble heart, and when we so seek, we believe Him and His promise that we will find. May He help us all to be more sensitive to the teaching ministry of His Holy Word and Spirit, relying on Him and allowing Him to speak to us and guide us every step of our Christian journey.

God gave us the Holy Bible - His living and Holy Word - to let us know of Him and His abiding love and care as well as guide and prepare us for all our lives. May He help us encourage one another as we continue our walk with Him and our duty to Him daily. Thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for being present for all our new beginnings and all our lives. May He redirect any anxiety we feel as He provides countless opportunities for growth and change. May we humble ourselves before God always, asking Him to forgive our sins and make our hearts and lives anew through His Holy Word and Spirit. May He help us make Him and His Holy Word top priority, so we can grow spiritually and grow in our relationship with Him as we apply it to our daily lives. Thank God that we can focus on Him and everything about Him, for that is what keeps us sane and at peace. May our words and actions always be a reflection of Him and His Holy Word and Spirit and will.

May He help us to always walk in His grace and Holy Spirit, not by our own measure. May He give us the humble humility to know that our freedom and eternal salvation is found only in Him, so that His grace may sustain us, and we may never lose sight of His love and light and mercy. Thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for calling us to Him and to serve Him. May He equip us to do all that He has called us to do so that as He works through us, He may use us to produce fruit, to reach others, and to encourage all brothers and sisters in Christ. May He work all of these things in us and through us for His Kingdom and His glory. Thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for all His creation, for His miraculous ways and for everything He does and has done for us! Keep the faith and keep moving forward in your walk with Jesus! He loves us and He knows what is best for us. Seek, follow and trust in Him - Always!

Thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for His Holy Word and for sending His Holy Spirit so that we might have His grace, not only to awaken us and transform our hearts in our spiritual rebirth and guarantee our eternity with Him, but to also call upon Him whenever we are in need. Thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for all the reminders of His love and mercy and faithfulness within His Holy Word. He is bigger than any challenge or circumstance in our lives. Knowing this within our minds and our hearts, nothing can deter our faith in Him and His Truth. May we all accept Him and His eternal gift of salvation and ask that He would transform our hearts and lives according to His will and ways. Thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for His Holy Spirit who saves, seals and leads us. May we always thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for His almighty power and saving grace. For He is our strength, and He alone is able to save us, forgive our sins and gift us eternal salvation and entry into His Kingdom of Heaven.

May we make sure that we give our hearts and lives to God and take time to seek and praise Him and share His Truth with the world daily. May the LORD our God and Father in Heaven help us to stay diligent and obedient and help us to guard our hearts in Him and His Holy Word daily. May He help us to remain faithful and full of excitement to do our duty to Him and for His glorious return and our reunion in Heaven as well as all that awaits us there. May we never forget to thank the LORD our God and our Creator and Father in Heaven for all this and everything He does and has done for us! May we never forget who He is, nor forget who we are in Christ and that God is always with us! What a mighty God we serve! What a Savior this is! What a wonderful LORD, God, Savior and King we have in Jesus Christ! What a loving Father we have found in Almighty God! What a wonderful God we serve! His will be done!

Thanks and glory be to God! Blessed be the name of the LORD! Hallelujah and Amen!

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theprayerfulword · 6 months

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October 29

Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Psalm 34:18 ASV Jehovah is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart, and saveth such as are of a contrite spirit.

Romans 12:1 NIV Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.

Habakkuk 3:17-18 NASB Though the fig tree should not blossom, and there be no fruit on the vines … 18 Yet I will exult in the Lord, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation.

Isaiah 64:8 KJV But now, O Lord, Thou art our father; we are the clay, and Thou our potter; and we all are the work of Thy hand.

2 Corinthians 5:7 NASB for we walk by faith, not by sight

May you consider eternity, where your future awaits, and turn to the Lord, in Whom your cleansing lies, lest disobedience to the Spirit bring you grief and your foes become your masters. Lamentations 1

May you look with compassion upon those whose sins have been woven together into a yoke, and who understand that they have rebelled against the righteous commands of the Lord, that you may comfort them with the comfort you have received from the Lord as He turns their captivity and brings deliverance in the midst of their sorrow. Lamentations 1

May you never forget, in the midst of the discipline and correction of God, that His anger does not make Him your foe, for the wounds of a friend are better than the kisses of an enemy. Lamentations 2, Proverbs 27:6

May you be faithful to allow the Word of God to expose sin, that it may ward off judgment if repentance follows. Lamentations 2

May you arise, crying out in the night, giving yourself no relief and your eyes no rest as the watches of the night begin, as you pour out your heart like water in the presence of the Lord, lifting up your hands to Him for those who are dear to you. Lamentations 2

My child, a time of change can bring emotional pain, distress, anguish, grief, and questions. When you come in repentance to Me, tears of sorrow flow as you realize how wrong you were in your beliefs and actions, but they soon change to glad tears of joy as you realize that My forgiveness is real, and it is yours, right now, immediately, not after long penance, but the very moment you turn to Me in believing faith. The time of delivery for a child is full of distress and pain for both the mother and the infant. When you labor in prayer for someone I have placed on your heart, entreating the Father for that person to have the same life-changing experience I have given you, you quickly face the fact that even with all the loving grace and mercy that My Spirit extends to your loved one, they may not have fully realized the truth of their standing in eternity and the reality of their spiritual condition yet. You find that you must battle in prayer against the wiles of the enemy to silence the lies that, like hard ground and rocky soil, stunt a restlessly seeking heart from reaching for the truth. You must stand on My Word to bind the fears that, like thorns and briers, distract a willing spirit from the path to My loving freedom. It is the work of My Spirit to grow the seed of conviction in their heart, that it may be watered by your tears and nourished by Christian relationship, in order to come to term and bring in the joyous harvest of full redemption, bearing the peaceable fruit of righteousness. A transition in relationships can open wounds, bring tears and recriminations, and raise questions. As you grow in the Spirit of Christ, you will find that I will remove some people from your life, and bring other people into your life. You often long after the relationships you have known, and are sometimes slow to develop the relationships that are new. You may question Me, feeling anger at your loss of the familiar and rejecting the advances of the new. But I am patient and enduring, continuing My work within you, well able to outlast your resistance, covering you with My healing love. The pain dims, the regrets lessen, and when you find you are able to accept what I am doing in your life, having no angry questions, raising no disputing issues, you will know that you have grown in faith and have become steadfast in your relationship with Me. You will be able to patiently wait before My throne and humbly go where I send you and willingly speak what I give you, comforted by the knowledge that I always care for you and I am ever perfecting that which pertains to you.

May you be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ, for then your love will give great joy and encouragement because you have refreshed the hearts of the saints. Philemon 1

May you sing praise to the Lord for His love and justice as you seek to walk in your house with a blameless heart, setting no vile thing before your eyes, waiting for Him to come to you. Psalm 101

May you despise the deeds of those who turn aside from God's ways, and shake them off, having nothing to do with evil and placing distance between the places where men of perverse heart are found and where your heart dwells with Christ. Psalm 101

May your eyes favor the faithful of the land so that they may sit down with you and be your companions, that you may be blessed by them and learn of them, honoring those who walk with integrity and without blame as your heroes. Psalm 101

May you put to silence, every morning, all the wicked voices who stand in your presence speaking falsely, and may you daily cast out of your house those influences that practice deceit and entice you into evil, that you may dwell in the city of the Lord forever. Psalm 101

#daily #blessings #prayers #scripture

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for-me-to-live-is-christ · 8 months

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The Great Prayer for Sunday

O Lord Eternal and Creator of all things,Who of Thy inscrutable goodness called me to this life; Who bestowed on me the grace of Baptism and the Seal of the Holy Spirit; Who imbued me with the desire to seek Thee, the one true God: hear my prayer.

I have no life, no light, no joy or wisdom; no strength except in Thee, O God. Because of my unrighteousness I dare not raise my eyes to Thee. But Thou said to Thy disciples, ‘Whatsoever you shall ask in prayer believing, you shall receive.’ and ‘Whatsoever you shall ask in my name, that will I do.’

Wherefore I dare to invoke Thee. Purify me from all taint of flesh and spirit. Teach me to pray aright. Bless this day which Thee give unto me, Thy unworthy servant. By the power of Thy blessing enable me at all times to speak and act to Thy glory with a pure spirit, with humility, patience, love, gentleness, peace, courage and wisdom: aware always of Thy presence. Of Thy immense goodness, O Lord God, show me the path of Thy will, and grant me to walk in Thy sight without sin.

O Lord, unto Whom all hearts be open, Thee know what things I have need of. Thee are acquainted with my blindness and my ignorance, Thee know my infirmity and my soul’s corruption; but neither are my pain and anguish hid from Thee. Wherefore I beseech Thee, hear my prayer and by Thy Holy Spirit teach me the way wherein I should walk; and when my perverted will would lead me down other paths spare me not O Lord, but force me back to Thee. By the power of Thy love, grant me to hold fast to that which is good.

Preserve me from every word or deed that corrupts the soul; from every impulse unpleasing in Thy sight and hurtful to my brother-man. Teach me what I should say and how I should speak. If it be Thy will that I make no answer, inspire me to keep silent in a spirit of peace that causes neither sorrow nor hurt to my fellow man. Establish me in the path of Thy commandments and to my last breath let me not stray from the light of Thy ordinances, that Thy commandments may become the sole law of my being on this earth and all eternity. Yea, Lord, I pray to Thee, have pity on me. Spare me in my affliction and my misery and hide not the way of salvation from me. In my foolishness, O God, I plead with Thee for many and great things. Yet am I ever mindful of my wickedness, my baseness, my vileness. Have mercy upon me. Cast me not away from your presence because of my presumption. Do Thee rather increase in me this presumption, and grant unto me, the worst of men, to love Thee as Thee have commanded, with all my heart, and with all my soul, and with all my mind, and with all my strength: with my whole being. Yea, O Lord, by Thy Holy Spirit, teach me good judgment and knowledge. Grant me to know Thy truth before I go down into the grave. Maintain my life in this world until I may offer unto Thee worthy repentance. Take me not away in the midst of my days, nor while my mind is still blind. When Thee shall be pleased to bring my life to an end, forewarn me that I may prepare my soul to come before Thee. Be with me, O Lord, at that dread hour and grant me the joy of salvation. Cleanse me from secret faults, from all iniquity that is hidden in me; and give me a right answer before Thy judgment-seat. Yea, Lord, of Thy great mercy and immeasurable love for mankind.

Amen.

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lovelifting · 9 months

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Stand Against Sin

Phobia is said to be a fear of something: person, place, thing, or even an activity. It is described often as being an excessive, irrational, or unrealistic fear of something.

Some scholars and scholarly source would declare -isms and phobias as one being fearful because of one's ignorance. While sometimes this is true, it's not the whole truth.

Over the years, phobia has since become a title attached to viewpoints of those who are against a certain sin in which the cultural deems as being okay. Not because of one's ignorance do they disagree. But do to biblical truth in which is still very much correct today (Mark 13:31 KJV).

Carnal minded people may not believe it, but there is going to come a time in life where all must answer for one's sins. No one saved or unsaved will be exempted from the in which you must give an account of their life lived here on earth. The LORD will not hold any favorites toward any person, that you will be exempt. God is a just God (Romans 14:12, Romans 2:11 KJV)!

So, while being against something is considered a phobia in today's time. Be reminded that there is nothing excessive, irrational, or unrealistic about fearing the wrath of God. He is still against sin! Likewise, as His children, we must love people and be against sin. Even when the world consistently attempts to make "inclusion" about everything, accept the facts—sin is not to be applauded!

There is no such thing as -isms and phobias as it pertains to faithfully living and walking in the Spirit of God. That old saying, "when you know better, do better," is in deed a motto that this culture needs much of. Knowing better doesn't mean you hate others. It does mean that you have to have a different viewpoint.

So, today, let's remember we serve a Lord and Savior who came down to earth to save souls from sin and eternal damnation. Jesus didn't come to condemn, but to save—to set free one's soul from sin. It doesn't mean you are incapable of falling, but when you become saved by the blood of the Lamb when you sin, it isn't fun. You no longer seek to make excuses, but you hurriedly repent.

With that in mind, we must learn to live a life pleasing to Jesus. All fall short of the glory, but please remember that is why we are offered a chance to repent and turn back to doing what we know is right. Be led by the Spirit, not by the world's unwise standards.

May the loving, peaceful blessings of Christ be with you always.🕊️💕

Did you know that Jesus loves you so much that He laid down His life and picked it up again so that you may have a life? He did this at the instruction of His Father, God, who too loved the entire world of people that He willing gave His Son that whoever believes in Him would have eternal life and not perish (John 3:16 KJV)

The offer of salvation through Christ Jesus has been extended for you to be in God's family! But it is impossible without Jesus.

You may be wondering, "What must I do to be saved?" It is written:

that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

-Romans 10:9‭-‬11 KJV

Come to Jesus the way that you are. He loves you more than anyone ever can. He can and will heal you from brokenness, and sins, and He will give you forgiveness. There is no better place than the security of faith in Jesus Christ. Lastly, when you are saved you are no longer a servant but a child of God! It is written:

Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: but when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

Galatians 4:3‭-‬7 KJV

#phobia #agapelove #love #power of love #loveconquers #lovelikejesus #christian love #loveispure #faithblogger #sin #salvation #words of encouragement #Spotify

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urbanchristiannews · 1 year

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The SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION LOST OVER HALF A MILLION MEMBERS IN ONE YEAR -- 2022 -- MORE MEMBERS LOST WITHIN A ONE-YEAR PERIOD EVER. Why is This? Daniel Whyte III, President of Gospel Light Society International, Says Contrary to Many Reports That it is Only Due to the "Sex Abuse Scandal"; Whyte Says While That is a Part of it, the Southern Baptist Convention Has Had Even Bigger Problems Than That, and That is a Backsliding From the Gains of the Bible-based Resurgency Led by Such Men as Adrian Rogers, Charles Stanley, Paige Patterson, and Others With Many in the Southern Baptist Convention Criticising and Blaming the Conservative Resurgence For the Problems in the Southern Baptist Convention, Including the Sex Abuse Scandal. The True Pure Biblical Resurgence Should Not be Blamed For the SBC Sex Abuse Scandal. Be That as it May, in addition to the Backsliding From the Bible-based Resurgence, the Last Three Presidents of the Southern Baptist Convention, Including the Present President, Bart Barber, Were Sodomite/Homosexual "LGBTQQIPF2SAA+" LEANING, and Two, J.D. Greear and Ed Litton, Were Directly Connected to and Were Preaching the Pro-Sodomite/Homosexual Sermons and Talking Points of the FALSE PROPHET ANDY STANLEY, Who Announced This Year With Much Evidence That he is a Sodomite/Homosexual "LGBTQQIPF2SAA+" Affirming Pastor and Is Hosting a Sodomite/Homosexual "LGBTQQIPF2SAA+" Conference For Parents in Atlanta in a Few Months. Thankfully, J.D. Greear Has Since Repented and Has Publicly Rebuked Andy Stanley For Supporting the Sin and Abomination of Homosexuality. Whyte Says Further, That the Southern Baptist Convention is "Slouching towards SODOM AND GOMORRAH," and is Becoming More and More, Along With Other Apostate Protestant and Evangelical Churches and Denominations, a Judas-Laodicean Church Convention That Has Joined With the Government to Endorse and Sanction the Abomination of Sodomy/Homosexuality, Which Signals the End of the Bible-believing Church in This Country as we Know it Besides God's "7,000," "Remnant," "Faithful Few" Church and the End of America Itself. Jesus Christ said in the Word of God: "So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked" (Revelation 3:16-17). The Only Hope For the Southern Baptist Convention and Other Churches and Denominations is For Them to Humble Themselves, Pray, Seek God's Face, Turn From Their Wicked Ways, Repent of Their Sins, and Get Back to Their First Love, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Emptier pews in SBC churches. Pictured: Sugar Camp Baptist Church pastor Tim Charlton preaches in Booneville, Kentucky The SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION LOST OVER HALF A MILLION MEMBERS IN ONE YEAR — 2022 — MORE MEMBERS LOST WITHIN A ONE-YEAR PERIOD EVER. Why is This? Daniel Whyte III, President of Gospel Light Society International, Says Contrary to Many Reports That it is Only Due to the “Sex…

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adedots · 1 year

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#DailyDevotional #DclmDailyManna2022 #DeeperLifeChristianMinistries #Deeperlifedailymanna #PastorKumuyi

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orthodoxydaily · 2 years

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Saints&Reading: Tue., July 12, 2022

July 12_June 30

The end of the Apostles Peter and Paul Fast

HOLY APOSTLES PETER & PAUL

THE SPIRITUAL MEANING OF THE FEAST OF STS. PETER AND PAUL

by Archpriest Artemy Vladimirov

Dear friends, behind us is the Apostle’s fast, which by God’s mercy was observed only by those Local Orthodox Churches that are true to the Julian calendar as to the sun. And we truly delight in this great time, recalling the very reason why in deep antiquity this fast was introduced at the threshold of the feast of the chief apostles Peter and Paul. And why was this fast established?

In the Acts of the Apostles we discover that twelve chosen disciples of the Savior were abiding in prayer and fasting before ordaining their co-laborers, whom the Holy Spirit was to set apart for travelling and spreading the Gospel. Among the great apostle’s comrades at arms were Sts. Barnabas, Silas, and Mark—all were disciples of the chief apostle Paul. It follows that the fast is very helpful to us, because by repressing the body and limiting its needs, giving freedom to the spirit, we acquire the ability to pray attentively, fervently, and to express our thoughts in words that are simple, clear, and beautiful—which we need in order to serve our neighbor in a spirit of love and truth.

So, now the lesser summer fast is over, and we gaze with our spiritual eyes upon two brothers in Christ—Sts. Peter and Paul, who according to tradition died in the sixtieth year after the birth of Christ in the “Eternal City”, Rome, having received a martyr’s death. They still are a kind of “sentinel of love”, whose prayers uphold the whole world, so that in accordance with the ancient Psalter verse, Their sound has gone forth unto all the world, the voice of Sts. Peter Paul are heard unto the ends of the earth (Ps. 18:5).

Let us recall Peter, who surpassed all the other apostles in age and life experience, and stood out for his particular fervency and impetuosity. When the disciples were fishing and a Stranger appeared on the shore, the virgin John the Theologian recognized Him as the Lord, and Peter without thinking twice threw himself overboard so that he could reach the shore faster and fall at the feet of His beloved Teacher, Whom he had denied out of faintheartedness but Who restores him and rewards him with ardent tears over his own unworthiness. And may God grant that we too would adopt from the Apostle Peter this living and zealous spirit, this fervency for repentance, in acts of mercy. For today’s Christians are often lukewarm, lethargic, relaxed—they lack that spiritual gusto, that joy in Christ, which can be heard in the words of Simon Peter, standing out from the other apostles. At the Savior’s question, “Who do you think that I am?” Peter answered on behalf of all the others, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” This was Peter’s confession, which made him the rock—strong, like a rock—and thanks to this Peter received, as did the other disciples, the grace-filled keys of the priesthood; this confession lives in the Church, on our lips and in our hearts every time we secretly turn our souls to the Savior and call upon His most holy name, “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God…” and then add the prayer of the publican: “Be merciful to me, a sinner!” “Have mercy on me a sinner!

Accordingly, if any of us feels this captivity to sloth, lethargy of movement, the lack of desire to bridle our own bodies as we should, then it would be good if the spark—“O burn, burn brightly, be not extinguished!”—of the grace of the Holy Spirit might always vitalize our initiatives, illumine our thoughts, and work together with our good undertakings. We must hide Peter’s confession in our hearts; let it shine there like a pearl, and we, drawn by the rays of this spiritual light, will call upon the Savior at all times and in every place: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner.” And this prayer will become for us either a staff, or a vessel of cold water, or heavenly bread, which strengthens us spiritually and physically. For one who loves God this prayer is air, light, rest, clothing, shield, and sword, of which St. Peter himself convinces us, since he died as a martyr for the Lord, counting it happiness to spill his blood for Him, and to this day embraces the whole world with his prayers.

But we will not forget the chief apostle Paul. You recall this disciple of Christ, who was converted into a follower of Jesus not by a man, nor by Scripture, but by Divine revelation when on the road to Damascus he fell down, blinded by divine light, and learned that it was difficult for him, Saul to kick against the pricks, that he was very guilty before Jesus, Whom he persecuted by tormenting the primitive Church, torturing its brothers and sisters, subjugating the Lord’s followers to torments. And he was baptized and became strong, having received the gift of the Holy Spirit.

He was the inheritor of exclusive spiritual gifts, taken up to the third heaven, knew foreign languages, possessed the gift of prophecy and elucidating prophecies, a builder of the Church, and a knower of fallen human hearts. However, Paul did not exalt himself as we do; he did not suffer from self-assuredness, a treacherous feeling of his own exclusiveness—but always and everywhere humbled himself before the Lord in dust and ashes and left us as an inheritance this confession, which God forbid we should forget for even a half day: This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief (1 Tim. 1:15). This is the moral confession of the apostle Paul, which makes the little great, the weak strong, the coward brave, the impure chaste, the depressive and sorrowful filled with higher life and joyful energy.

Why is it so important for the apostles to confess that they are the least among all other people? Why is it so important to put yourself in the last place, and not push yourself forward? Why does humility have such beneficial consequences for the immortal human soul? Only because God resists prideful people, people who exalt themselves, who are inclined to judge, who have contempt for others. Self-infatuated narcissists who think very highly of themselves are continually falling into the pit that they dig for themselves by their critical judgment of other people. And on the contrary, grace works together with those disciples of Christ who are humble and modest, who know how not to think highly of themselves, who defer to those stronger and superior to them in all respects.

The Apostle Paul teaches us that we Christians should not think of ourselves as distinguished from our brothers and sisters. He had none of that rotten individualism and egoism, as we would say today. In attentively reading and re-reading the epistles of the Apostle Paul—and we have fourteen whole epistles—you will find wondrous revelations of our oneness, our unity with Christ and in Christ. Inasmuch as a person confesses an egotistic philosophy, considering himself a lonely sufferer or an unrecognized, unaccepted genius in this world, he sets himself contrary to his neighbor—and such a person is condemned to suffering. But just as soon as we feel that we are members of one family, just as soon as we start thinking of ourselves as a leaf attached to the same branch and thus making up part of the tree’s crown—I mean the Mother Church, the vineyard of Christ, into which we have been grafted through the Sacrament of Baptism—as soon as the feeling of real fraternity and unity in the Lord awakens in us, our life, dear friends, begins to change for the better; and witness to this is the apostle Paul. He did not live for his own gain, there was no lucre in him, no low forms, but he beheld all of mankind in the person of God’s chosen ones—those who desired to received Baptism and enter the bosom of the Mother Church. He beheld them as a happy family in which everything should be built upon the foundation of mutual love and brotherhood. This is why the apostle Paul, as if addressing himself to the proud twenty-first century, teaches us not to exalt ourselves above our neighbor but to follow after the humble, not think highly of ourselves, but to confess ourselves as the worst sinners before the face of the Lord.

And if we unite these two virtues that we are discussing today as applicable to the apostles Peter and Paul—Paul’s humility and Peter’s burning faith in Jesus Christ the God-man, if we add also the modesty and self-reproach of the apostle Paul and Peter’s joyful striving to serve the Lord, to get closer to Him, to hold on to the hem of His garment, as Peter said, Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life (Jn. 6:68), then humility, prayer, and love, united in our souls, will make us happy, peaceful, calm, balanced, sober-minded, having sympathy, compassion, and empathy with people who bear Christ in themselves.

The day of the holy apostles Peter and Paul completes, as we recall, the summer Apostle’s fast. May God grant that today, after having been vouchsafed Communion of Christ’s Holy Mysteries, as the apostle Paul teaches us, having tested our own conscience, approaching the common chalice with reverence, we have taken out of the church the grace of the Holy Spirit—the grace that the chief apostles bear even today, the grace that they witness in their writings, the grace that is the true treasure and inheritance of every Orthodox Christian. May it be spread about as living water through us, through our lips and deeds, and give drink to all our relatives and neighbors near and far. And we Orthodox Christians, confessing ourselves as the worst sinners, shall be fragrant, in the words of the apostle, with the fragrances of joy, peace, and love, witnessing by this to the great victory the Lord won by trampling the devil and rising from the dead.

Source: Translation by Nun Cornelia (Rees)

Pravoslavie.ru & Orthodoxchristianity

MATTHEW 16:13-19

When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, "Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?" 14 So they said, "Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets."15 He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"16 Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." 17 Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. 19And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

2 CORINTHIANS 11:21-12:9

21 To our shame I say that we were too weak for that! But in whatever anyone is bold-I speak foolishly-I am bold also. 22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? So am I.23 Are they ministers of Christ?-I speak as a fool-I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. 24 From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one.25 Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26 in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27 in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness- 28besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation? 30 If I must boast, I will boast in the things which concern my infirmity. 31 The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying.32 In Damascus the governor, under Aretas the king, was guarding the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desiring to arrest me; 33 but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall, and escaped from his hands.

1 It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord: 2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago-whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows-such a one was caught up to the third heaven. 3 And I know such a man-whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows- 4 how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. 5 Of such a one I will boast; yet of myself I will not boast, except in my infirmities. 6 For though I might desire to boast, I will not be a fool; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, lest anyone should think of me above what he sees me to be or hears from me. 7 And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. 8 Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9 And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

#orthodoxy #orthodoxchristianity #eastern christianity #originofchristianity #spirituality #holyscriptures #gospel #bible #wisdom

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orthodoxadventure · 6 months

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Morning prayer of Archimandrite Sophrony: "Prayer at Daybreak"

O Lord Eternal and Creator of all things, Who of Thine inscrutable goodness called me to this life; Who bestowed on me the grace of Baptism and the Seal of the Holy Spirit; Who imbued me with the desire to seek Thee, the one true God: Hear my prayer. I have no life, no light, no joy or wisdom, no strength except in Thee, O God. Because of my unrighteousness, I dare not raise my eyes to Thee. But Thou said to Thy disciples, 'Whatsoever you shall ask in prayer believing, you shall receive.' and 'Whatsoever you shall ask in my name, that will I do.' Wherefore I dare to invoke Thee. Purify me from all taint of flesh and spirit. Teach me to pray aright. Bless this day which Thou givest unto me, Thine unworthy servant. By the power of Thy blessing enable me at all times to speak and act to Thy glory with a pure spirit, with humility, patience, love, gentleness, peace, courage and wisdom, aware always of Thy presence. Of Thine immense goodness, O Lord God, show me the path of Thy will, and grant me to walk in Thy sight without sin. O Lord, unto Whom all hearts be open, Thou knowest what things I have need of. Thou art acquainted with my blindness and my ignorance, Thou knowest mine infirmity and my soul's corruption; But neither are my pain and anguish hid from Thee. Wherefore I beseech Thee, hear my prayer and by Thy Holy Spirit, teach me the way wherein I should walk; and when my perverted will would lead me down other paths, spare me not, O Lord, but force me back to Thee. By the power of Thy love, grant me to hold fast to that which is good. Preserve me from every word or deed that corrupts the soul; from every impulse unpleasing in Thy sight and hurtful to my brother-man. Teach me what I should say and how I should speak. If it be Thy will that I make no answer, inspire me to keep silent in a spirit of peace that causes neither sorrow nor hurt to my fellow man. Establish me in the path of Thy commandments and to my last breath let me not stray from the light of Thine ordinances, that Thy commandments may become the sole law of my being on this earth and all eternity. Yea, Lord, I pray to Thee, have pity on me. Spare me in my affliction and my misery and hide not the way of salvation from me. In my foolishness, O God, I plead with Thee for many and great things. Yet am I ever mindful of my wickedness, my baseness, my vileness. Have mercy upon me. Cast me not away from your presence because of my presumption. Do Thou, rather, increase in me this presumption, and grant unto me, the worst of men, to love Thee as Thou hast commanded, with all my heart, and with all my soul, and with all my mind, and with all my strength: With my whole being. Yea, O Lord, by Thy Holy Spirit, teach me good judgment and knowledge. Grant me to know Thy truth before I go down into the grave. Maintain my life in this world until I may offer unto Thee worthy repentance. Take me not away in the midst of my days, nor while my mind is still blind. When Thou shalt be pleased to bring my life to an end, forewarn me that I may prepare my soul to come before Thee. Be with me, O Lord, at that dread hour and grant me the joy of salvation. Cleanse me from secret faults, from all iniquity that is hidden in me; and give me a right answer before Thy judgment-seat— Yea, Lord, of Thy great mercy and immeasurable love for mankind.

#Christianity #Orthodox Christianity #Jesus #God #Prayer

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alliluyevas · 3 years

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(deeply disturbing) mormon primary source adventures continue...I have been reading the 1843 diary of William Clayton, Joseph Smith’s official church secretary and close personal friend, which is a really invaluable source for contemporary details regarding when Smith married various women (he did not record anything about his own marriages in his journal, but Clayton did).

What I was specifically tracking in Clayton’s journal was the (much more extensive) documentation of Clayton’s own plural marriage, to his first wife Ruth’s younger sister, 23-year-old Margaret Moon. I have bolded a few lines for emphasis.

27 April 1843, Thursday

At the Temple A.M. went to prests. [Church President Joseph Smith’s] who rode with me to bro. H.C. Kimballs where sister Margt. Moon was sealed up [married] by the priesthood, by the president--and M to me.

11 June 1843, Sunday

Margaret received a letter from Aaron [Farr, her fiance, who had left on a mission trip before she married Clayton] which made her feel bad. It also gave me unaccountable sorrow.

13 June 1843, Tuesday

I have had some conversation with M. she promised she would not marry A if she can possibly avoid it. And if she ever feels disposed to marry she will tell me as soon as she thinks of it. She will seek my Council & says she will abide it.

8 July 1843, Saturday

Margt. wrote a letter to Aaron which I dictated informing him that she should not marry.

22 July 1843, Saturday

Mt. and A [Aaron Farr, now returned from his mission] had a long conversation together. She has stood true to her covenant with CW. [William Clayton’s initials backwards] I also had some talk with him & although the shock is severe he endures it patiently. And I pray the Great Eloheem to make up the loss to him an hundred fold and enable him to rejoice in all things. My heart aches with grief on his & M's account and could almost say O that I had never known her. But Thou O God knowest the integrity of thy servant. Thou knowest that I have done that which I have understood to be thy will & am still determined to do so and I ask thee in the name of Jesus Christ either to absolutely wean my affections from M. or give me hers entire and then I am content. But to live in this state of feeling I cannot.

If I have done wrong in this thing, show it me that thy servant may repent of it and obtain forgiveness. But O Lord have mercy on me and by some means release me from this grievous bondage of feeling & thy servant will praise thee. Prest. Joseph came to see me & pronounced a sealing blessing upon Ruth [Clayton’s first and legal wife] and me. And we mutually entered into an everlasting covenant with each other.

23 July 1843, Sunday

M. appears dissatisfied with her situation & is miserable O that the Lord will bless my house and deliver us from every evil principle & feeling that we may be saved. For I desire to do right. O Lord make my heart and my affections right and pure as it shall please thee that I may enjoy the blessing of peace and happiness even so Amen. Hyrum preached A.M and Joseph P.M. Evening I had some more talk with M. & find she is miserable which makes me doubly so. I offered to her to try to have her covenant released if she desired it but she said she was not willing. [Margaret was pregnant by this time, which is probably why she did not feel she could be released from her marriage to Clayton.]

24 July 1843, Monday

M. is still miserable and unhappy and it does seem that my heart must burst. What shall I do? How shall I recompense? And how long must I thus suffer worse than death for that which I have always regarded as being the will of the Lord. By the help of the Lord I will do right. I have repeatedly offered to M. to try to get a release from the covenant and I have done all I know to make things comfortable but to no effect. She appears almost to hate me and cannot bear to come near me.

O God if thou wilt give me M's affections, and cause things to be pleasant and happy between us, If thou will bless her & comfort her by thy spirit & cause her to rejoice in what she has done, and bring it to pass that I may secure her truly with all her affections for time & for eternity. I feel to covenant to try to serve thee with more diligence if possible and to do all that thou shalt require at mine hands, wilt thou not grant me this blessing, and relieve my aching heart from this worst of all troubles which ever befel me in the course of my life? O God plead my cause and give me thine everlasting blessing, and do remember M. for good that she may be comforted even so amen amen and amen

25 July 1843, Tuesday.

M. much as usual.

26 July 1843, Wednesday

M. seems quite embittered against me in consequence of which I called her to me and asked her if she desired the covenant to be revoked if it were possible To this she would not give me a satisfactory answer only saying if it had not been done it should not be. (meaning our union) I then asked if she would consent if A would take her under all circumstances; but she would not consent to have it revoked--saying she did it not for her sake but for the sake of the peace of my family.

Under these circumstances I could not rest until I had ascertained wether the c[ovenant] could be revoked & although contrary to her wish I went to see Prest. J. I took A to talk with him & asked him some questions whereby I ascertained that he would be willing to take her under all circumstances, I reasoned considerable with him to prove that I had done right in all these matters so far as I knew it, I called the Prest. out and briefly stated the situation of things and then asked him if the C. could be revoked. He shook his head and answered no. At this conclusion my mind seemed for the moment to get relief for the two fold reason that I had done all I could and I did not want the C. revoked.

I came back & M & A. were together in Farrs garden. I told them the answer I had got & advised them to take the best measures to make all things right between them. I cannot help thinking that M. has treated me not only unkindly but meanly & cruelly, but I forgive her before the Lord for I sympathize with her in her grief, but cant console her for she will not speak to me. My earnest prayer to God is that all things may soon become right & pleasant & that the Lord may bless her & save her from sinning against him. And if I have done wrong in asking if the C. could be revoked & seeking to have it done O Lord forgive me for I desire to do right in all things that I may he saved, I feel that I have done right in the sight of God and that he has abundantly blessed me for which I thank him and something tells me that the time will come when M. will love those whom she ought & when she will feel perfectly satisfied with her situation & rejoice that things remain as they are. And now O God bless thy servant and handmaid & stamp the peace upon us and fill us with the spirit of truth for Jesus Christs sake Amen--

11 August 1843, Friday

J. told me to day that ``Walker'' had been speaking to him concerning my having taken M away from A. & intimated that I had done wrong. I told him to be quiet and say no more about it. He also told me Emma was considerably displeased with it but says he she will soon get over it. In the agony of mind which I have endured on this subject I said I was sorry I had done it, at which J told me not to say so. I finally asked him if I had done wrong in what I had done he answered no you have a right to get all you can.

The little snippets of Margaret’s feelings and the way they are sort of bracketed by Clayton’s commentary are really telling and disturbing. Poor Margaret :( Also the way that Joseph Smith is encouraging Clayton not to feel guilty about any of this and justifying it to him. Woof.

#mormonposting tag

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