#samuel i understand you but i do not mourn you

[fran-kubelik]

I actually had a good bit of sympathy, just on a human level, for Sandra's French husband in Anatomy of a Fall riiiiiight up until the moment he complained about her being "linguistically selfish" or whatever the fuck he said because they had to speak English to communicate. Motherfucker, she is GERMAN.

#i understood his unhappiness with his lack of success and his aimlessness and his despair #don't take it out on other people obvi but like yeah relatable emotions #but THAT was so unbelievably stupid and bad faith #esp when SHE moved to HIS fucking homeland!!! #and she did speak decent french and we never get a hint that he tried to learn german lol #like the fucking audacity #samuel i understand you but i do not mourn you #anatomy of a fall #⭐ #anatomie d'une chute

[letters-adressed-to-the-fire]

So I ended up writing a short essay about the albatross (part 1)

There’s just something about the albatross that’s been scratching my brain since the first time I heard it. Initially, I thought “oh, it feels like it belongs in evermore” (I really love that album), but soon I realized it goes way deeper than that.

Well the song is about the albatross (duh), but to really understand it, there are a few things you need to know. First of all, this particular bird is widely known as a symbol of bad luck, burden and regret. Why? What could an innocent bird possibly have done to deserve such a reputation? Taylor tell us the answer throughout the song, but for a more in-depth understanding, one can turn to Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s poem, “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner”, which was the source of inspiration for this piece.

Gotta be honest, I haven’t read it, not entirely (it’s actually really long). But I did do my research soooo, let me summarize it for you in a few lines:

This is the tale of a sailor who, convinced that an albatross was a bad omen, tragically shoots the innocent bird. As a consequence, he and his crew face a curse. The sailor is compelled to wear the lifeless bird around his neck as a form of punishment. Yet, as time passes and years go by, it is the innocent albatross that becomes a mournful symbol, rather than the sailor who committed the deed.

Now, if you revisit Taylor's lyrics, she narrates this progression through the reprise of different verses:

“Cautions issued, he stood Shooting the messengers They tried to warn him about her”

“Locked me up in towers But I'd visit in your dreams And they tried to warn you about me”

“You were sleeping soundly When they dragged you from your bed And I tried to warn you about them”

Or:

“Cross your thoughtless heart Only liquor anoints you She's the albatross She is here to destroy you”

“So I crossed my thoughtless heart Spread my wings like a parachute I'm the albatross I swept in at the rescue”

Or my personal favorite:

“Devils that you know Raise worse hell than a stranger She's the death you chose You're in terrible danger”

“The devil that you know Looks now more like an angel I'm the life you chose And all this terrible danger”

What I found so fascinating about her decision behind the use of this technique, is that she not only embraces it to move the story forward in an organic way, but she plays with the point of view of the spectator (or in this case, listener) to lead them through all the characters of the story.

In the opening verse, you assume the role of the sailor on the verge of shooting the albatross. You don’t have proof but you know she’s here to destroy you. As the song progresses into the second verse, it becomes evident that you’re now talking with the albatross, or more accurate would be to say that the albatross is talking to you. Contrary to the poem, Taylor is giving the albatross a voice (which effectively serves as a metaphor for herself), and this standpoint will remain for the rest of the song, though with a slight change at the end. Taylor not only lets the albatross tell its story, but she let it be the hero. By the end, the spectator finds themselves in the crosshairs of "them”, the very group they once belonged to. This is the moment where the transformation of the figure of the albatross reaches its peak, as it transitions from a harbinger of misfortune to a beacon of hope, it is there to rescue you.

(obviously there's more to this! but I'll be posting part 2 in a few days just because i didn't want this post to be THAT long lol)

#the albatross #taylor swift #ttpd #the anthology #the tortured poets department #swifties #lyric analysis #in this essay i will #poetry

[officialyourdailyinspiration]

God's Charges Against Israel

1 Hear the word of יהוה, you children of Yisra’ĕl, for יהוה has a case against the inhabitants of the land: “For there is no truth or kindness or knowledge of Elohim in the land.

2 “Swearing, and lying, and murdering, and stealing, and committing adultery have increased. And bloodshed follows bloodshed.

3 “Therefore the land mourns, and everyone living there languishes, with the beasts of the field and the birds of the heavens. And the fish of the sea are taken away.

4 “However, let no one strive or reprove another, for your people are like those striving with a priest.

5 “And you shall stumble in the day, and the prophet shall also stumble with you in the night. And I shall make your mother perish.

6 “My people have perished for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being priest for Me. Since you have forgotten the Torah of your Elohim, I also forget your children.

7 “As they were increased, so they sinned against Me. My esteem they have changed into shame.

8 “They eat the sin of My people, and lift up their desire to their crookedness.

9 “And it shall be: like people, like priest. And I shall punish them for their ways, and reward them for their deeds.

10 “And they shall eat but not be satisfied, they shall whore but not increase, for they have stopped obeying יהוה.

11 “Whoring, and wine, and new wine enslave the heart.

12 “My people ask from their Wood, and their Staff declares to them. For a spirit of whorings has led them astray, and they went whoring from under their Elohim.

13 “They slaughter on the mountaintops, and burn incense on the hills, under oak and poplars and terebinth, because its shade is good. Therefore your daughters commit whoring, and your brides commit adultery.

14 “I would not punish your daughters when they commit whoring, nor your brides when they commit adultery, for the men themselves go aside with whores, and offer with cult prostitutes – a people that do not understand are thrust down!

15 “Though you are a whore, Yisra’ĕl, let not Yehuḏah become guilty. Do not come up to Gilgal, nor go up to Bĕyth Awen, nor swear an oath, saying, ‘As יהוה lives!’

16 “For Yisra’ĕl is stubborn, like a stubborn calf. Would יהוה now feed them like a lamb in a broad place?

17 “Ephrayim is joined to idols, let him alone.

18 “Their drink is sour, they have whored continually. Her rulers wildly loved shame.

19 “A wind has bound her up in its wings, and they are ashamed because of their slaughterings. — Hosea 4 | The Scriptures 1998 (ISR 1998) The Scriptures 1998 Copyright © 1998 Institute for Scripture Research. All Rights reserved. Cross References: Genesis 4:8; Genesis 38:24; Leviticus 10:9; Deuteronomy 5:11; Deuteronomy 17:12; Deuteronomy 23:17; 1 Samuel 25:36; Psalm 73:27; Psalm 78:8; Psalm 81:12; Psalm 106:39; Psalm 119:153; Proverbs 10:21; Proverbs 12:14; Isaiah 1:29; Isaiah 3:13; Isaiah 5:17; Isaiah 24:2; Isaiah 24:4; Isaiah 33:9; Isaiah 56:11; Isaiah 59:4; Jeremiah 2:20; Jeremiah 5:2; Jeremiah 8:12; Jeremiah 15:8; Jeremiah 44:26; Ezekiel 3:26; Hosea 5:4; Hosea 9:10-11; Hosea 10:1; Hosea 10:13; Hosea 11:6; Hosea 12:1; Hosea 13:5; Micah 3:11

#God #charges #Israel #Hosea 4 #Book of Hosea #Old Testament #ISR 1998 #The Scriptures 1998 #Holy Bible #Institute for Scripture Research

[animatorweirdo]

When the Dragons Fly (Book 3)

You comfort Aelon and Eweniel through their grief. You also decide to bring the younglings to the camp for the night, where one of them comforts Ramuel.

[] = High Valyrian

Chapter 2

Warnings: mentions of dead characters, mentions of poison, ambush, cold for the night, burns, blisters, angst, mourning characters, slight fear, and comfort.

-----------------------------------------------

The night had fallen. Those whom you managed to convince to join you, with the help of Baelen, gathered on the east side of the town, while those who preferred Horren’s plan gathered with him and the other chiefs. It was challenging since the people still felt certain fear toward you and Aelon’s dragon, especially when they heard you also had a dragon. The chiefs sharing everything you told them in the meeting didn’t make things easier. However, you were lucky to convince Dwenn, Eda, Helena, and her family to join you, so you managed to persuade those you knew.

The people had started fires for the night. Luckily, Eru had blessed you with less snow falling from the sky, but it was still important to stay warm in the cold.

After setting lookouts for the night and preparing for possible attacks with Baelen, you began walking toward the campsite to look for Aelon. You had heard that Samuel did not survive the poison. You had no doubt your brother was devastated by the news, but it was still best for you to check on him and Eweniel. 

As you passed the people warming up for the night, you felt a stinging sensation on your right hand. You took off your glove and gazed at the red blisters that covered your palm. Your burns had been aching since the night you got them, and now they were throbbing even more from the bruising caused by wielding your sword. It would definitely take a while for them to heal.

You heard footsteps and saw Helena running up to you. You pulled your glove back over your hand before giving your attention to her. 

“Hey, (Name). I just heard a few things. Is it really true that you and Aelon are from a noble house?” Helena asked as she walked with you. 

“Yeah. It’s true. It might sound unbelievable, but that one is not a lie,” you answered while you walked through the camp. 

“Well… your brother has a flying dragon. So, I guess that’s possible,” Helena replied, thinking to herself. 

“Which reminds me that I heard that you also have a dragon. If I can ask, where’s your beast?” she asked. “Sorry, If that sounded rude,” she quickly added. 

“It’s fine. I ordered Baleria to watch over us at a safe distance. Dragons have better eyesight in the dark,” you answered. 

“Baleria? Is that your dragon’s name,” Helena asked. 

“Yes. Baleria is a she-dragon with black scales and blue eyes. She’s also bigger than my brother’s dragon,” you explained. 

“How much bigger?” Helena asked. 

“Let’s just say… bigger than a house with two floors,” you answered, and she looked at you with surprise. 

“Oh, well, she is big,” Helena remarked. 

“Helena, listen,” You stopped to look at her. She stopped and gave you her attention. 

"I’m sorry that I hid this kind of secret from you, and I completely understand if you do not trust me and my plan to cross the mountains. I am more than willing to find you and your family a new safe route. The plan to pass Himring and cross through Maglot’s Gap is not safe at all," you explained.

“Nah. I trust you,” she answered, causing you to look at her with surprise. 

“Really?” You questioned. 

“I admit. Me and my family were shocked and scared to find out that you and your brother have creatures like flying dragons,” Helena stated. “But… after thinking about it and all the other things you have done for us. We decided that we could trust you and that you would bring us to safety,” she smiled. 

You were quiet for a moment but felt joy from her answer. 

“Thank you, Helena. You have no idea how glad I am to hear that,” you smiled. 

“Well, if you were that stone-faced girl I met all those years ago, then maybe me and my family would have been weary of you,” Helena grinned, making you chuckle. You then remembered Aelon and Eweniel. 

“Helena. I would love to chat more with you, but I need to check on Aelon and Eweniel. I heard that Samuel did not survive the poison,” you said. 

“Oh yes. I heard about that too,” Helena said with a sad tone as you two glanced toward the twin’s parents, seeing them still mourning the death of their son. “Poor Samuel. If only Eda had the right herbs and medicine, then maybe he would had more time to live,” she uttered. 

“Unfortunately, orcs are cruel, even going as far as to poison their arrows to ensure their victims die a painful death,” you stated. “The only positive thing in this is that Samuel did not die alone or in pain,” you said, then glanced at Helena.

“I need to get going. Baelen ensured that we have protection for the night so you can rest easy,” you said. 

“Thanks, (Name). Also, give Aelon and Ewe a hug from me,” she said as she turned around to return to her mother and brother. 

“I will. Goodnight,” you said. 

“Goodnight,” she said as you both went on separate ways. 

You traveled to the campsite near the cliffs, where you saw Falconer resting on the rocks, looking down on Aelon and Eweniel as the two sat around the bonfire with tired and grim expressions. Eweniel was poking the fire while Aelon only stared at the flames with an empty look. His eyes were still red from crying. 

Falconer looked toward you with distressed eyes. He did not understand what was happening thus he did not know how to comfort his rider. 

You walked up to them with a heavy heart and sat beside Aelon. 

“How are you two faring?” you stared at the two. 

“Awfully…” Aelon mumbled quietly while Eweniel continued poking the fire with a stick in her hand. 

You remained quiet, unsure how to begin comforting them. In your time as a war commander, you were accustomed to people dying, as war and battles always brought heavy losses. However, this time it was your brother and Eweniel who had lost a close friend.

“I’m sorry, (Name).” Aelon suddenly said before you could say anything.

“What for?” you asked with a raised brow. 

“Maybe I should have not revealed myself, then maybe things would have turned out differently,” he explained. 

“No, Aelon. You do not need to apologize. You did the right thing,” you laid your hand on his shoulder. “It was too hopeless of a situation. I was going to call upon Baleria myself,” you said, rubbing his shoulder gently. 

“Yeah, but I did not think the people would be so afraid of us,” he said. “And maybe Samuel would have…” he said but did not continue.  

“Hey. We are in a difficult predicament. The people are just scared. We are stuck in a land that’s flooding with orcs. I don’t blame them if they feel too scared to trust something that has mostly been known to serve the dark lord,” you explained. 

“And don’t blame yourself for Samuel’s death. Some things are just beyond our control, and unfortunately, this was a misfortune that couldn’t be avoided,” you continued. “It was a miracle he lasted this long with the poison,” you said. 

“How are you so calm about this?” Eweniel asked. “How are you not bothered by all these deaths?” she added. 

You looked at her. “I have seen a lot more death than you. And trust me, this does bother me. Samuel was a good kid,” you answered. 

Aelon sniffed and Falconer cooed, unable to comfort or understand the sudden rise of sadness in his rider. 

“What about Smoke?” Aelon looked up to you. “He doesn’t know that Samuel is…” he sniffed as a tear fell from his eye. 

“Come here,” you said, opening your arm to him. 

Aelon leaned in and you pulled him into a hug. You looked toward Eweniel as she looked like she was about to break down too. You opened your arm to her too and she quickly came over to you, falling in your arm. You embraced both the children as they began crying. 

“Everything will be alright,” you assured them while holding them close. They sobbed and held onto you. 

You carefully thought about your next word while allowing them to cry out their pain and tears. It took some minutes before the two calmed down. 

“We will depart tomorrow morning. Despite everything that had happened, we have to keep going,” you said as Aelon pulled out of your embrace. 

“Aelon. I will need your help bringing Aegar, Viserya, and Smoke here. It will be safer for them to travel with us,” you explained. “Is that alright with you?” you asked. 

“Okay…” Aelon nodded while drying his tears. 

“Who?” Eweniel questioned as you freed her as well. 

“Our three young dragons. We have two adult dragons, but we also have three younglings we took in three years ago,” you explained. “Samuel knew about them as he helped us to take care of them,” you said. 

“Will you be alright on your own for a while? I’m afraid they might become nervous if you come with us,” you looked at her. “You can stay with Dwenn and Helena if you want,”

“No. I think I will be fine,” she answered. 

“That’s good we won’t be gone for long,” you said as you and Aelon stood up. 

“Falconer,” Aelon looked up to his dragon. Falconer crumbled curiously, giving his attention to Aelon. 

“[Protect]” Aelon pointed toward Eweniel. Falconer glanced toward Eweniel and then croaked obediently. 

“What did you say to him?” Eweniel curiously asked. 

“I told him to protect you, so he will watch over you while we’re gone,” Aelon explained. 

“Okay…” Eweniel nodded, slightly uncertain but trusting his word. 

Aelon then started walking with you toward the mountains. 

You made sure to inform Baelen and his people of your intentions first. Though they initially responded with uncertainty, they agreed to inform the other people and allow you and Aelon to fetch Aegar, Viserya, and Smoke.

It took some minutes, but you two returned with the three young dragons. 

Aegar, Viserya, and Smoke croaked curiously as they looked at the people. Baelen and most of the people looked back at them nervously but with equal curiosity. 

You encouraged the three to move forward. Most people at the camp only watched, hesitant to come close. Helena then dared to make the first approach and with Aelon’s help, interact with the dragons. The dragons reacted curiously toward her and even allowed her to pet them. Watching the friendly interaction encouraged more people to come and take a closer look. 

Their nervousness soon vanished and some even reacted positively toward them. 

Baelen approached you as you watched the people get comfortable with the youngling. “So, these are the three you spoke about?” he questioned, pointing at the young dragons. 

“Yes. Their names are Aegar, Viserya, and Smoke. I adopted them a few years back after finding them in an abandoned nest,” you explained. 

“They don’t seem to possess wings,” Baelen remarked. 

“No, they don’t. These three are the only ones that originated from Morgoth’s dragons. But, since they were abandoned and are not capable of breathing flames. You do not have to worry about them,” you said. 

“I trust your word in that. They do seem a lot more friendly than Morgoth’s dragons,” Baelen remarked as you watched Aelon and his friends interact with Aegar and Viserya. Eweniel and Rodrick looked nervous but excited to interact with them. Aegar was the most eager to receive food from them.

You frowned when you noticed one of the dragons missing. 

You then noticed Smoke slowly approaching Ramuel, who was sitting alone and still mourning the death of his brother. 

You walked over to them. 

Smoke cooed when he saw Ramuel sobbing. Startled, Ramuel jolted and then met the gaze of the wingless dragon in front of him. Ramuel felt hesitant, but not threatened by the creature, since he had seen them come to the camp and interact with people.

He then saw you walk over to them. 

“This is Smoke. He was close friends with Samuel,” you explained, as Smoke watched Ramuel, wanting to come closer.  

“So, Samuel really knew about the dragons? ” Ramuel questioned. 

“He did. He helped us take care of him” You replied. 

Smoke then whined and took a step closer. Ramuel slightly flinched, causing the dragon to jolt and step back in confusion. 

“You do not have to fear him. It seems he senses your sadness and wants to comfort you,” you said. “Or that he might think you are Samuel. The two were very close,” you uttered sorrowfully. 

Ramuel then glanced toward the dragon and slowly extended his hand toward it. The young dragon did not hesitate to lean into the touch. Ramuel felt his breath catch as he felt the small scales beneath his hand and the dragon rubbing its head against him like an affectionate cat. Ramuel then embraced the dragon, tears streaming down his face. Smoke was startled at first but then gently curled around the boy, laying down and allowing the boy to hug him for comfort.

You watched them with sorrow in your heart. You are not even certain if Smoke knew the boy in front of him was not Samuel but for the sake of it. You left them be.

Taglist: @natchayaphorn@kimnamnu@thatrandomidiot182 @springfountain @maedhrosiseverything2me

#silmarillion x reader #silmarillion #tolkien #silm fic #middle earth x reader #when the dragons fly #hotd x reader #hotd #middle earth #silmarillion imagines #various x reader #targaryen reader #silmarillion x targaryen reader #maedhros x reader

[misshallery]

a list of literary references in aitsf: nirvana initiative chapter titles

tidied up this ol' twitter thread. basically: every single chapter title in aini is a reference to a work of literature, i figured out most of them. here's an explanation of where they came from and what they mean. let us begin.

edit: some gaps filled in by the discord user aaabatteries! thank you!

"a strange tale"/"dispossessed"/"alone" (chapter 0) reference 'the turn of the screw' by henry james.

the framing device of this novella is a group of friends reading a manuscript written by someone else. ryuki being interrogated by mizuki is something of a framing device for what we perceive as his 'side' of the story, six years ago. this is also a quintessential piece of gothic fiction, which is famously concerned with the subconscious and repression- two themes aitsf is very interested in!

"anyone imagines"/"ought to know" (ryuki chapter 1) reference the bible verse corinthians 8:2

"If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know"

naix is an ideology that has the power of religion over its believers. this quotation reflects that people who don't believe in the ideology who think they understand the nature of the world (and believe it's real) are ignorant to the fact it's a simulation.

"nothing to be done"/"go" (ryuki chapter 2) reference 'waiting for godot' by samuel beckett

"nothing to be done" is something of a reoccurring joke in the play. much time is spent watching characters act aimlessly, accomplish little, and lack purpose. these chapters in the game have a lot to do with ryuki feeling frustrated by tokiko's indecipherable philosophical ramblings.

"farewell"/"joy for anguish"/"smile for tears" (ryuki chapter 3) reference 'farewell' by anne bronte.

"And who can tell but Heaven, at last, May answer all my thousand prayers, And bid the future pay the past With joy for anguish, smiles for tears?"

this poem is about the pain of saying goodbye to a loved one. of course, "saying goodbye" is a classic euphemism for death. these titles likely reference shoma reckoning with komeji's death. the joy/anguish duo are strange parallel chapters where komeji lives or dies.

"well known"/"mind of god" (ryuki c4 r1) reference 'a brief history of time' by stephen hawking

"If we do discover a theory of everything…it would be the ultimate triumph of human reason—for then we would truly know the mind of God."

these chapters introduce us to tearer as a character, who is, of course, closely linked to naix and their ideology. naix believe they understood the nature of human existence, and accomplished the goal of knowing 'the mind of god'.

"i found me"/"past its ken" (ryuki c4 r2) reference "the masked face" by thomas hardy

"I found me in a great surging space, I" At either end a door" ... "There once complained a goosequill pen To the scribe of the Infinite Of the words it had to write Because they were past its ken."

this poem is about people with a negative outlook who struggle to comprehend that there is more to the world than they know. shoma only believed in shallow simulation theory to justify his depression. "past its ken" means beyond one's established knowledge.

"not all a dream"/"she was the universe" (ryuki chapter 5 r1) reference "darkness" by lord byron

"I had a dream, which was not all a dream. The bright sun was extinguish'd" ... "Darkness had no need Of aid from them—She was the Universe."

this poem describes an apocalypse that resembles a natural disaster. fitting that this route leads to the explosion ending, involving the collapse of the underground cave. darkness becomes "the universe"- ryuki is traumatised.

"pass mildly away"/"end where i begun" (mizuki c1) reference "a valediction: forbidding mourning" by john donne

"As virtuous men pass mildly away, And whisper to their souls to go" … "Thy firmness makes my circle just, And makes me end where I begun."

this poem is about two lovers parting, but i think the game uses it to reflect platonic relationships. kizuna has lost bibi. bibi lost mizuki. mizuki lost date. family members who love each other deeply have been apart for a long time.

"the expense of spirit"/"hell" (mizuki chapter 3) reference sonnet 129 by william shakespeare.

"The expense of spirit in a waste of shame Is lust in action..."

this poem theorises that after people satisfy their lust (their desires), they're left with shame. this could be a metaphor for chikara's experiments, but he doesn't seem to feel shame. i think it's about mizuki wanting answers about the institute until she gets them and they're painful.

"all living things"/"of arms and of man" (mizuki chapter 4 m2) references virgil's "the aenid".

"I sing of arms and of the man, fated to be an exile, who long since left the land of Troy and came to Italy to the shores of Lavinium"

i think a parallel is drawn between lien and the protag of the aenid, aeneas. he flees the fall of troy and travels to rome, becoming the original descendant of the ancient romans. lien escapes the 'tragedy' of his life of crime and becomes something of a hero to kizuna.

"who's there"/"bid the soldiers shoot" (mizuki chapter 4 m2/m3) reference the first and final lines of william shakespeare's "hamlet".

the first line is spoken by a guard who hears the ghost of hamlet sr. in this route, jin's corpse is found in the freezer... not quite a ghost. the final line is spoken by fortinbras, an invading prince, upon storming the palace and finding the corpses of the whole cast. he commands the shots to commemorate the deaths of the royalty. lien and kizuna escape among the gunfire of chieda's armed goons... some commemoration.

"all that we are" (mizuki c5 m2) is a buddha quote.

“All that we are is the result of what we have thought: it is founded on our thoughts and made up of our thoughts. If a man speak or act with an evil thought, suffering follows him as the wheel follows the hoof of the beast that draws the wagon…. If a man speak or act with a good thought, happiness follows him like a shadow that never leaves him.”

this chapter precedes gen and amame's end. gen highlights that he considers amame to be a naturally kind and loving person in a way that others haven't been towards him. this quotation implies that good things follow kind people, which doesn't follow considering the tragic end amame gets here.

"sweet silent thought" (mizuki chapter 5 m3) references shakespeare's sonnet 30

When to the sessions of sweet silent thought I summon up remembrance of things past, I sigh the lack of many a thing I sought, And with old woes new wail my dear time's waste

this poem is about regrets. when you think "sweet silent thoughts" (contemplate your life), you feel unhappy and consumed by what-ifs. interesting that this chapter is the direct opposite of the poem- lien and kizuna take their chance and run away together. no regrets!

"births"/"the end of craving" (mizuki c5 m1) is a buddha quote once more.

simply put, to reach the end of craving is to achieve the titular nirvana and a higher state of being.

"braver than all flowers" (epilogue) references "proof of immortality "by william carlos williams

"for there is one thing braver than all flowers; richer than clear gems; wider than the sky"

this is a sort of humorous poem about how the one thing that humans throughout history have in common is ignorance. maybe it's a ref to how the mizukis used their wit and investigation skills to overcome that ignorance and win the day?

"all this happened, more or less" (ryuki diverge) references the opening line of slaughterhouse-five by kurt vonnegut.

this is regarded as a crazy opening line for a crazy novel. it's the literary equivalent of "well, that happened" for better or worse, much like this ending.

the only currently missing reference is 'traveler'/'left behind'.

#aitsf #aini #ai the somnium files #aini spoilers #aitsf nirvana initiative #there are so many tags for this game man #literature #misspost

[vivit-s]

Why Not Me? | Written Piece

Content Warnings: Parentification/emotional neglect, exploration of mourning/grief, referenced suicide, unhealthy (& possibly sanist) views towards suicide/depression,

Author's Note: Since this is the first of these I'll be posting, let it be known that none of these writing pieces are necessary to grasp Vivit, but are simply bonus material that give a better look into the characters the way that my animatics may not.

This piece may contain spoilers. I don't think I'll have the time to explore this facet of Samuel and Vida's relationship in depth, hence why I've decided to post it, but this does contain material that hasn't been explored in my youtube content. If you want to avoid potentially risking a surprise for later content, then do not read.

Also as an obvious, what is written does not reflect my own views, only that of our characters. Vivit has never been a light story, and none of these characters are fully good people. If it makes you uncomfortable, good, that's the point. Please read at your own discretion.

---

“She meant… so much to me.”

“I know.”

Vida had heard as much millions of times by then. It was routine—down to their father crying in their arms on his bed as they just sat there, unmoving, uncertain; the icon of stoicism that they needed to be for the both of them, because if it wasn’t them, who else would it be?

“I could’ve—I could’ve saved her. She didn’t—”

“Dad, no,” they hushed, as quiet and sweet as they could manage despite their increasing annoyance, “It’s not your fault.”

It truly wasn’t. They hated the self loathing he held, the insistence he was capable of doing more, and all the more hated their mother for leaving the two of them alone, because it wasn’t fair. They shouldn’t have to be taking their father’s shaking hands in theirs, to be whispering soothing words as he slurred over his declarations of blame. They did it anyway, because they loved him, more than heaven and earth and certainly more than she ever did if they were still standing while she was dead. 

“It is,” he insisted, voice straining as he spoke, “I should’ve… should’ve done more to stop her, fuck, I—”

He broke into sobs again, and all they could do was hold him. They held back their own tears—from feeling powerless, hopeless, frustrated that all they could do was offer sympathetic stock phrases and offer what physical comfort they could. They were supposed to make him feel better, they were supposed to be the one to fix things, but they never could. Not with this.

And the yearned nothing more to say the truth—that their mother must’ve been heartless to subject him to something so cruel. Because how selfish could someone be to take their own life when they had a goddamn family—a husband who’d done nothing wrong and a child who would never even get to know her. She wasn’t someone worth his tears because if she loved him, really, truly, she would’ve stayed.

But they don’t. Because that’s not what the narrative is. She’s the saint, the woman that was too good for this cruel world. The definition of purity, the love of his life, the special someone that had never, in her life, done anything wrong and was somehow deserving of over a decade’s worth of pity. They don’t get it. They don’t understand why he’s not angry. But they’re not supposed to. They did as always, frowned, offered empty reassurances, because nothing else could be done. She was 10 feet under and no misplaced sympathy was bringing her back.

“Please—promise, promise you won’t leave me.”

He looked at them with the kind of desperation they were only granted in moments such as that night. They despised having to go through the motions as though they hadn’t so many times before—as if between the last time and that moment (4 entire days, if one could believe it), their mind had miraculously changed. 

But it’s not about them. It’s never about them. So they play along.

“I’m not going anywhere, I promise.”

They know their father needs reassurance more than ever because he’s afraid, but it doesn’t make it sting any less—that he still can’t trust them, that he still fears that they’d be gone in an instant. They wouldn’t—couldn’t put him through that same heartache again. They were better than that. They loved him more than that.

#vivit #writing #original writing #tw suicide #tw parentification #ask to tag further if needed #I'm really nervous about posting this if you can believe it #since vivit's darker aspects have been something that have remained mostly visual #and something about the written word really makes it all the more prominent #but nonetheless I thought it would be interesting to share #so I hope this gives everyone a better look into what I've been doing with my time lately

[mrose1903]

Along with my praying of the Daily Office, I try to go back and read through and study the Daily Office readings every night before I go to sleep. I've come to appreciate the Daily Office Lectionary (DOL) and the opportunity this twice-a-day reading presents for reading, marking, and inwardly digesting Scripture. Because I use the American '79 BCP, the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible reading has been in the two books of Samuel for the past few weeks, particularly the stories of King David. Coming to the text with a VBS-level understanding of most Davidic stories (other than David & Jonathan and David & Bathsheba- an essay to itself), I was struck by Scriptures portrayal of the relationship between David and Saul.

Saul sees David as a threat- even an enemy- from the moment David enters his household. He attempts multiple times to violently murder David, and is thwarted by God every time. Saul tries stabbing, war, undermining, etc., to get rid of his enemy David. And David, despite being literally hunted by Saul, presents himself over and over as the king's servant. Even as David's future role as God's Anointed King of Israel becomes clear to him, David still accepts and submits to Saul's authority, treating him as his authority, and not as his enemy. After Saul's death, David fully mourns for him, and slays his killer, as the man who killed Saul has "slain the Lord's anointed." David even elevates a survivor of the House of Saul to be restored to his grandfathers land and sit with the King at meals.

David's treatment of Saul exemplifies why the Bible calls him a "man after God's own heart." David remarkably follows what will become one of Christianity's most radical and difficult to follow commandments- that one ought to love one's enemy as oneself. While this comparison is itself meaningful, it became moreso as I realized that David's ability to do this is found in a refusal to see Saul as his enemy at all. Where I, and likely you, and certainly many others, would see an enemy out to get me/us/them, David sees a man to serve and submit to until he comes into his own. David trusts God to deliver Saul to justice ("vengeance belongs to the Lord"), and commits to his role (and our role) of service to those around us. I pray that I have the disposition and courage to do the same.

#jesus #christianity #prayer #bible #daily office #book of common prayer #old testament #daily prayer #orthodox #devotions #anglican #anglo catholic #love your enemies

[thereformedprincess]

TULIP understanding reformed faith

💔DID YOU JUST LOSE YOUR SALVATION?💔. ❤️ IT ISNT YOURS TO KEEP!❤️.

❤️🙌🙇‍♀️🙏. Many professing Christians will post scripture out of context to ignorantly support a prideful view of keeping their own salvation. They will think they have saved themselves (Armenians) and they keep themselves. This is just not true.

❤️🙌🙏🙇‍♀️. This is the second post in a series defending unconditional election and perseverance of the saints..

💯 Sadly many professing Christians will use Matthew 7:21-23 to establish a works based salvation

✨ Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.

💯 Little do these people know that their own scripture refutes their claims.

💯If we look at this verse and read it carefully it clearly states that Jesus is referring to people he NEVER knew. As well. I see many that are in works based salvation claiming the gifts and this verse is aimed at a specific set of people. Namely people that seek after the gifts, signs and wonders over a true relationship with Jesus.

❤️🙏🙌🙇‍♀️. What is the will of the Father after all? If we let scripture interpret scripture we can find out.

✨James 4:7-10 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.

10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

✨Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

✨Romans 12:1-2 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

👆👆👆👆. These verses tell us clearly that the will of God is a humble repentance. A genuine belief in Jesus!

❤️🙏🙌🙇‍♀️. But there is more to this passage that is completely ignored in the next verses by those that claim they can lose salvation. Let's take a look

✨ Matthew 7:24-26 24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.

💯. This passage clearly states that our foundation in the belief in the Rock of salvation is what will keep us. And beautifully we can look to other scriptures that tell us whom the rock is. I would also note that when scripture uses the word "who" and not "that' it signifies a lack of works but is a foundation of true belief. Unconditional election

✨psalm 18:2 The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

✨1 Samuel 2:2 “There is none holy like the Lord: for there is none besides you; there is no rock like our God.

💯 Again a genuine saving belief in Jesus.

❤️🙏🙌🙇‍♀️. But who does the works of sanctification and why does that matter? Well ofcourse it is all him! The Lord! And so if it the Lord who saves us and sanctifies us what BOASTING do we have?! Absolutely none. Let's see the scripture here:

✨1 thesselonians 5:23 Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

✨John 17:17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.

✨Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

✨1 Corinthians 6:11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

❤️🙏🙌🙇‍♀️. In conclusion to this post if we are looking at boasting we are on dangerous ground! The only one allowed to boast is Jesus himself. We are children born of sin! We cannot be divorced from it. We boast in our weaknesses because Jesus does his best work through them. We have unmerited Grace not as a lisence to sin but to be set free from it! We are grateful to be free of sin as we recognize it is bondage. A grateful heart to see what THE LORD has done. Pride shall not avail against the kingdom of heaven. Nor in God's children. Let us always remain humble for salvation and cleansing ❤️❤️🙏🙏

[axolotlbottle]

❝Sadly enough, the most painful goodbyes are the ones that are left unsaid and never explained❞ - Jonathan Harnisch

Samuel "Junior" Sunglint

This is Junior! He's my oc that is the son of BenxSally, but in my universe ✨️ In this version, Ben & Sally knew each other since middle school, (maybe became more aquainted in highschool, and then went in to be college sweethearts) grew up, got married & had 3 children 💕 Junior being the youngest of the bunch. I absolutely love Ben x sally, so it was fun to design one of their children! (My friend designed the older two) Also, I imagine that if Sally grew up, she would be a sweet elementary school teacher & ben would have been some sort of early-internet wiz & programmer! ༉‧₊˚✧

ⓘ NOTE: BEN/SALLY do not belong to us, obviously. Therefore, our children for them are not canon to ben/sally's original lore (canon in me & my besties universe though) nor should be taken as such. Sally belongs to @la-mishi-mish & Ben belongs to Alex Hall. We will not in any shape or form claim their parents to be our own characters. 💚💖.

He looks identical to his mother, Sally & loved her dearly (he especially loved it when she made cute outfits for his stuffed frog walter) . Though he is a HUGE daddy's boy, hence being very clingy onto his father, Ben. ( Ben spoils him in return.) He didn't get along with his older siblings. His older brother Benji was stuck up indoors playing videogames & his older sister preferred staying indoors with her dolls & such. Junior is the only child who despised being stuck inside 24/7 and loved the outdoors as his second home. He often got ganged up on by them, but he had his parents to back him up lol.

Yes, unfortunately, Junior is deceased. His other family members' whereabouts are unknown to him. Unbeknownst to him & the outside world, all of them are deceased except his older brother, Benji, who has been missing since [REDACTED].

I would NOT call nor refer to him as a ghost-child. He isn't vengeful, nor does he "haunt" the location he died at. He rarely appears in a ghostly/undead form. Being trapped as a "spirit" is depressing & he has mourned greatly. But luckily he found comfort in being able to "live" in an environment he loves. He resides in a cabin at an undisclosed location, where all his trinkets & belongings mysteriously appeared there. He continues to collect trinkets & his hobbies, having hope the spirits of his parents will find him one day. If other alive hikers / travelers come by, he typically ignores them or "dissappears." He's still very much new to being a "spirit" after all, he can barely understand the quirks of it being a child and all :P. He doesn't like to interact with others like him either. The most he can do is levitate, but that freaks him out so he rarely does it!!

I associate the crowcore aesthetic with him very much. And also the song "Ends of the earth" by lord Huron.

I found a cute art style on Pinterest and wanted to recreate it with Junior , and I think I did a decent job.

I also posted this on Instagram but had to limit it because instagram has too many limits on their posts. However I did add some vids there that I associated with Junior!! Regardless, this is all I have for now. I just wanted to share it here to get a lot of info out there. Thank you if you have read this far :).

#myoc #kiddiepasta #sally williams #ben drowned #sally x ben #ben x sally #crowcore #orginal character #creepypasta #creepypasta oc #bookofophion #bookofophionref

[infinitelytheheartexpands]

Saul (Glyndebourne, 2015): Reactions, Part III

let’s finish this up!

agony and desolation

do not completely blame yourself

fucked up emotional standards clap clap clap clap clap

he’s desperate

okay I WAS NOT EXPECTING THAT

this is real spooky 

um what

okay why is he also singing the part for the ghost of samuel

also HOW DID THEY DO THE BREAST MILK

also 10/10 this is really good spooky music

“well guess i’m fucked then”

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

saul was suicidal 😭

agh buddy

just…the dead

aggggggggggggh

voice out of the silence

CAN I JUST HUG HER PLEASE 😭😭😭

i know what that sobbing, that utter devastation feels like, and i would not wish it on the worst person in the world 

THANK YOU FOR MENTIONING JONATHAN

*screams internally in AGONY*

poor michal, poor everybody

this is SUBLIME

together in mourning 😭

TOO FUCKING SOON

they’re trying to force themselves into moving on…

because they have to, what will happen to them if they don’t?

but david is still (understandably) broken, as they all surely are

anyway, i am sitting here at a loss as to how i have been utterly DEVASTATED by this

#opera #opera tag #oratorio #opera liveblog #saul #handel #george frideric handel #georg friedrich händel #händel #this was AMAZING and DEVASTATING #okay okay i get it now

[g-suite2001]

My Pledge

Below is a spoken word I wrote on Friday, June 24th, 2022, the morning Roe v. Wade was overturned, eventually delivered at a protest in my hometown and later at a Planned Parenthood event titled "Rise Up for Repro Rights" on Tuesday, January 10th, 2023.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I pledge Allegiance to the Flag, of the United States of America 

The land of the free and opportunity, built by pillage, violence, and slavery  

Where those who can solve poverty will go to space instead and those who can help homelessness, leave millions unfed 

Where politicians right and left will sit idly and watch you die 

So long as their pockets are full they won’t hesitate to turn a blind eye

Your race, gender, wealth, sexuality, religion, and how able-bodied you are say a lot about how much you have to fear, it truly is a privilege to get to be happy here

For the rest, who live less privileged lives, a war is waged against you 

They will spray you with tear gas, lock you in cages, and strip you of your rights, they will take one step forward and fifty steps back, but villainize you for the revolution that you incite 

I pledge Allegiance to the Flag, of the United States of America

Where the rapists run free, abusers fail upwardly, some even become a Supreme Court Nominee 

Where you can start a family and live out your dreams but you won’t nearly have as many rights as an AR-15

Where students and teachers will be murdered at school but congress will do nothing, because gun control won’t make them billionaires, but do not worry they’ll send you their thoughts and prayers

Some will say “don’t be afraid, look at the progress that we’ve made!” today they overturned Roe v wade 

So, John, Samuel, Clarence, Neil, Brett, and Amy,

you don’t want to fund the baby formula shortage, 

you don’t want stricter gun laws, 

and you don’t want to make living more affordable, 

so forgive us as we try to discern why you are forcing us to carry babies to term

Don’t you understand that as you aim to keep babies alive, anyone with an unwanted pregnancy will still try? And in the process, they will die? With these abortion bands, the blood is on your hands 

You talk about freedom and independence but for anyone with a uterus you just signed their death sentence, so while on June 24th you prioritized religion and the economy, millions of people lost their bodily autonomy, 

When will this end? 

When will it stop being a debate? 

Whatever happened to the separation of church and state? 

 We gathered here today to mourn the loss of the right to choose but I believe our calling is bigger than just this. Assaults on our rights will continue to prevail, this injustice falls on a much larger scale

I pledge Allegiance to the Flag, of the United States of America

Where if you’re Black, you are robbed of your culture and your credit, where you will be the trendsetter but all of a sudden it’s “who said it?” 

Where if you’re an immigrant you’re told to return to where you came from, ask our VP Kamala who said “do not come”

Where if you’re in the LGBTQ community, people will still deny you their acceptance, where some even believe you are in dire need of repentance 

The list goes on for all of the marginalized communities. From 400 years ago to today. Imperialism, colonialism, racism, sexism, colorism, capitalism; these are the codes for this country’s DNA. This is the picture I am trying to portray

I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, that one day we have a fighting chance, no matter how small, that there will truly be liberty and justice for all

[wolint]

REGRET!

REGRET

2 Corinthians 7:10

 

Regret is the feeling of sadness, repentance, or disappointment over something that has happened, done or undone, and experienced with a wish that it had been different. It’s looking back with dissatisfaction, longing, grief, and sorrow that leads to mourning because of the loss of joy and peace.

Surely, regret is possibly the heaviest load we all carry in life.

David committed adultery with Bathsheba and decided to kill her husband so that he could cover his sin in 2 Samuel 11:1-15. He was doing what we are all tempted to do when we sin, making excuses and justifying our actions.

We may not all commit adultery, but sin is sin, and it has a similar effect on us until we admit, confess, and repent of it, we won’t not be able to worship God with a pure heart or a clean conscience.

How many times have we done or said something we regretted immediately? Oftentimes, our impulses lead us to do or say things without thinking them through, and only when such things are done, do we realise we shouldn’t have said or done them in the first place.

Regrets usually comes from the pursuit of other things besides God. Nothing brings lasting happiness, especially when gained at the cost of relationships with God and the people in your life.

Impulse control is never easy. All of us struggle with overcoming sinful impulses. James 1:14 says part of the human condition is to feel impulses, and part of the Christian life is to control them, but these impulses lead into actions and speeches that we sometimes regret.

One of the most tragic events in the bible is the despair of Judas in Matthew 27:3-10. When Judas discovered that the consequences of his actions to betray Jesus could not be changed, he allowed his regret to push him to self-destruct instead of repentance.

As believers, we must always remember that there is forgiveness and a second chance in Christ, and therefore should not wallow in regret that may lead us to misery that leads to destruction.

Regret is a state of the heart that can ruin our lives, it can derail our faith, and cause us to miss out on some powerful Christian experience.

Have your regrets in life caused you to give up because you couldn’t get past those things that you feel regret over?

It may be hard to get over an issue, but we must learn to emulate the prodigal son in Luke 15:18, in saying, “I will go home to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you.” The Lord forgives us when we come to Him in faith. Our past is forgotten to him, and He gives us a fresh start, but we may still have to live with the consequences of some of our actions because they cannot be retracted.

God can restore us to healing brought on by regret, regret caused by sin can only be cleansed from a heartfelt confession and repentance says Psalm 51:1-15.

God uses our repentance, brokenness, and remorse to bring true repentance and change in us as seen in Ezekiel 6:8-11.

Godly regrets produce repentance that leads to salvation and brings no regret in the end, but worldly grief produces only death.

We have an enemy who loves to remind us of our sins and failures and to keep the regret fresh on our minds, see Revelation 20:10. He would have us dwell on our sins or wallow in regret and self-pity rather than letting them go.

David confessed his sin against the Lord in 2 Samuel 12:13, as we should and know that God wants us to understand that the consequences of sin always include deep regret.

Regrets are exercises in futility and counter-productive to joy and peace. Don't allow regret to stand you up!

PRAYER: Oh, Lord, let my regrets always draw me closer to you. Take my burdens from me and restore me no matter what I’ve done, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Shalom

WOMEN OF LIGHT INT. PRAYER MIN.

#spotify #devotional #christianpost #women's ministry #biblestudy #biblestudy christianpost women's ministry #biblestudy christianpost 'women's ministry #conference #family #prayer meeting

[bookoformon]

Mormon Chapter 2, Part 3. "The Understanding."

Every term in Hebrew has an up and a down. Earlier in the Book of Mormon we met a King Noah who was not a good man like the Noah named in the Torah. Noah's positive definition is "respite", the negative form is "downpour, falling down."

Now we encounter a Lamanite King named Aaron. Aaron means "Who exalts God." The negative form means "like a wild mountain goat."

The cheerful verb רנן (ranan) means to produce a ringing cry, either out of joyous cheer, distress or to introduce a declaration of some sort. Nouns רן (ron), רנה (rinna) and רננה (renana) all describe ringing cries. Plural noun רננים (renanim) refers to birds that deliver piercing cries.

The unused verb ארן ('aran) appears to have meant to be nimble, agile, or even high up or aroused, and in cognate languages it yields a noun for a kind of wild mountain goat. 

The Scripture states an Evil Aaron comes against the people and there is a lament, "no one could keep what was their own." Keeping to one's own legal way of life is the greatest gift of God a man can obtain. It opens the world up to him and he in turn forges a path others need to learn how to recognize on their own.

This path is becoming blurrier in today's world. Too many corrupt politicians like the Republicans and their rabid followers are trying to wipe it away, and too few noble politicians are wielding the laws that protect it appropriately.

Evil men like the Republicans do not repent of the diabolical things they do. This is not even an option for them at this point in time, their crimes are too deep and too long. The repentence has to come from persons like President Biden and Steny Hoyer and the rest who are not enforcing the law, allowing the Republicans to gather and meet, to promote Pro-Life and anti-human rights measures that are forbidden by law. Their names are not legally permitted on ballots as a result, but still they are.

We shall never be free, not a single human being, plant, or animal until the Republican Party is burnt to ash. So this repentence by its opponents is one of the most important acts that will take place in human history.

If this is not done, o how we shall all be sorry.

9 And now, the Lamanites had a king, and his name was Aaron; and he came against us with an army of forty and four thousand. And behold, I withstood him with forty and two thousand.

And it came to pass that I beat him with my army that he fled before me. And behold, all this was done, and three hundred and thirty years had passed away.

10 And it came to pass that the Nephites began to repent of their iniquity, and began to cry even as had been prophesied by Samuel the prophet [see Helaman 13]; for behold no man could keep that which was his own, for the thieves, and the robbers, and the murderers, and the magic art, and the witchcraft which was in the land.

11 Thus there began to be a mourning and a lamentation in all the land because of these things, and more especially among the people of Nephi.

The Values in Gematria are:

v. 9a: An army consists of students of the Torah who feel compelled to obey its Instructions and stamp out evil in the world. An evil army Numbered 44,000 promotes it, and the verse features one, Numbered 42,000 that opposes it.

The Value in Gematria is 11427, יא‎דבז‎‎, yadavz, "The hand and the eye of reproach."

v. 9b: Three hundred and thirty years passed away. The Value in Gematria is 8294, חב‎טד‎ "Indebted to the hit, he batted."

Persons who are grateful to God for the chance to be alive will fight evil persons for the chance to live it their own way.

v. 10: The Nephites repented. The Value in Gematria is 9033, טאֶפֶסג‎ג, tapesgg, "you will understand."

v. 11: Thus began a lamentation. The Value in Gematria is 4241, דבדא‎‎, dabda, "David understood."

If we presume there is more data appearing on the contents of the Nephite Plates, then the former frame says "prosecute the wicked" and this one "reproach with the hand and the eye." The hand is the law, the eye is the Witness, the conscience.

King David was a brutal killer but he gave the Israelites, who nothing, no one, and no home a place to live. He was an imperfect man in many ways, but he was the perfect king.

[officialyourdailyinspiration]

The Bent-Knee Time

by Samuel Dickey Gordon

School Time

"This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come. “Therefore when you see the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains. Whoever is on the housetop must not go down to get the things out that are in his house. Whoever is in the field must not turn back to get his cloak. But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! But pray that your flight will not be in the winter, or on a Sabbath. For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will. Unless those days had been cut short, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. Then if anyone says to you, ‘Behold, here is the Christ,’ or ‘There He is,’ do not believe him. For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect. Behold, I have told you in advance. So if they say to you, ‘Behold, He is in the wilderness,’ do not go out, or, ‘Behold, He is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe them. For just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes even to the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be. Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather. “But immediately after the tribulation of those days THE SUN WILL BE DARKENED, AND THE MOON WILL NOT GIVE ITS LIGHT, AND THE STARS WILL FALL from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the SON OF MAN COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF THE SKY with power and great glory." – Matthew 24:14-30

This is schooltime. We’re in training. There’s a new order of things coming to the earth some day. God carries an ideal in his heart. Some day he will carry it out on this old earth. In that ideal time coming he will need men and women whom he has trained, and whose experience and judgment he can trust. Let’s be good scholars in school, patient, steady, quick to learn, with unfailing trust in the Teacher.

[carolap53]

Seeing Through God's Eyes TGIF Today God Is First Volume 1 by Os Hillman

02/20/2024

"They mourned and wept and fasted till evening for Saul and his son Jonathan, and for the army of the Lord and the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword." - 2 Samuel 1:12 How would you respond if you heard something bad happened to someone who had been trying to cut off your head for several years? King Saul had been seeking to kill David for many years before Saul was thrust into battle against the Amalekites. In this final battle, a sword killed Saul. When the news reached David, instead of rejoicing that his enemy was no longer a problem for him, he responded in a totally different manner. He mourned. Imagine that; he mourned for the one who sought to kill him. This is a sign of one who can look past an individual who is the source of pain and consider how God views him. God looks on that individual and sees his needs and knows why he responds the way he does. When we begin to see people as God does, we'll no longer look at them as enemies, but as souls in need of grace. This is how Jesus could give of His life for us. He saw our great need, not what we did to Him. When someone wrongs you, do you seek to retaliate, or do you pray to understand the need behind the offender's actions? For several years a person was a source of constant pain and retaliation toward me. There was nothing I could do to change it. God allowed me to go beyond the person's actions to understand what was the source of his need. When I gained that understanding, God gave me a picture of this person inside a prison cell and in bondage. This bondage made him respond to life in this way. I was able to pray for him and genuinely love him in spite of the fact that he persecuted me. This is the kind of love Jesus wants us to have when He tells us to love our enemies and pray for those who spitefully use us. I believe God does a special work of grace in those who go beyond the realm of normal response to persecution. He brings us to a level of grace we never thought possible. Describing how God worked in Joseph's life, Francis Frangipane reveals what happens when we tap into this grace: God made him fruitful in the very things that afflicted him. In the land of your affliction, in your battle, is the place where God will make you fruitful. Consider, even now, the area of greatest affliction in your life. In that area, God will make you fruitful in such a way that your heart will be fully satisfied, and God's heart fully glorified. God has not promised to keep us from valleys and sufferings, but to make us fruitful in them.

[theprayerfulword]

December 9

Luke 1:78-79 Zechariah prayed, “By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, 79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

John 3:20-21 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.

Colossians 2:6-7 Just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in Him, 7 rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

Philippians 1:6 being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

2 Samuel 22:29 You, Lord, are my lamp; the Lord turns my darkness into light.

Psalm 119:10 With all my heart I try to serve You; keep me from disobeying Your commandments.

May you return to the Lord with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning, rending your heart and not your garments, for the Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and He relents from sending calamity. Joel 1

May the Lord be jealous for His land and take pity on His people. Joel 2

May you not be afraid, but be glad and rejoice for surely the Lord has done great things. Joel 2

May you be glad and rejoice in the Lord your God for He has given you the autumn rains in righteousness, sending you abundant showers, both autumn and spring rains and the harvest will be great. Joel 2

May the Lord repay you for the years the locusts have eaten so that you will have plenty to eat until you are full, and you will praise the name of the Lord your God who has worked wonders for you; never again will you be shamed. Joel 2

May you know that the Lord is in His chosen land, the land of His inheritance, and that He is your God and there is no other; never again will you be shamed. Joel 2

May the Lord pour out His Spirit upon you to give gifts of ministry even as He shows wonders in the heavens and the earth so that everyone will hear of the Lord and each one who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Joel 2

May you find the Lord to be a refuge and a stronghold in the day of trouble, so that you will know that the Lord your God is near, and dwells within you. Joel 3

Turn your eyes toward Me and focus your attention on My Word. Seek the riches of My eternal wisdom and understanding mingled with the treasures of My boundless mercy and grace. Those who depend on the diversions of the world for satisfaction and seek out the riches of the nations for strength and security will fall as the nations fall and be devoured by fire as the world is burned in My purging and My cleansing. But as you fall at My feet willingly, you will not be broken as the arrogant. As you humble yourself in response to My majesty, you will know My compassion and lovingkindness rather than My anger and wrath. Be not of the earth as the pot of clay that receives the rod of iron to shatter it, but learn to live in the heavenlies as My servants do, gathering My harvest and withstanding My enemies, binding the wounds of My flock while overcoming the lion and bear that would attack them. I have much that needs to be done, and I will ensure that it is accomplished – walk with Me and see what I will accomplish through you.

May grace and peace be to you from Him Who is, and Who was, and Who is to come, and from the seven spirits before His throne, and from Jesus Christ, Who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. Revelation 1

May you give glory and honor and praise forever and ever to Him who loves you and has freed you from your sins by His blood and has made you to be part of His kingdom, and a priest to serve His God and Father. Revelation 1

May you fear the Lord and walk in His ways for you will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours. Psalm 128

May you see the prosperity of Jerusalem and live to see your children's children as the Lord blesses you from Zion all the days of your life. Psalm 128

May you gain the understanding and receive the revelation from the Lord to accept and embrace God's restraint, that you may be blessed as you walk in the law of God and follow after the ways of the Lord. Proverbs 29:18

#daily #blessings #prayers #scripture