#worship through fear is not faith it's failure | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

lucozadehulahoop · 6 months

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A Question of Time (Astarion x f!reader/tav) part 3/?

Chapter summary: Astarion makes his choice, but his actions don't go unnoticed. Call it divine intervention.

A.N: Big thank you for the massive love on this! I've only been posting this fic for three days and the response has been overwhelming! I appreciate every single comment and it really keeps me motivated. The tag list will be posted below the cut because it's getting a bit long ahh.

Tags and T.W.:pre-bg3!Astarion, slave!Astarion, mentions of torture and abuse, demi-goddess!tav, eventual NSFW (minors stay away kindly, thank you darlings)

warning for this chapter: seggsual sention (eh more just dorks being dorks)

part 1 part 2 part 4

"Astarion, favored soul, I send you my own flesh and blood to remove you from harm, yet you do not take your chance to flee..." An ethereal voice sang to Astarion as he tried to make sense of his own surroundings.

Slowly he began to recognize the cemetery, the tombstones, his own grave... how had he ended up back there?

The moon shined brightly down on him, and slowly the origin of that voice materialized itself right in front of him.

Astarion may have not been a believer, but he could recognize a goddess when he saw one. Much like in her many popular depictions, Sehanine wore what resembled a black silk gown, the very fabric that created the shadows she was a patron of. Her hair was black and white, her skin deep blue like the ocean, and her eyes the shape of twin moons. Many were the elves who worshiped 'the Moonweaver ' dutifully.

Sehanine was also the only diety criminals and tricksters seemed to cling to. A favor from the patron of illusions and misdirection could make the difference between the success or failure of a deed carried out under the cover of night.

But she was not only the goddess those who worked in secrecy and trickery often asked for a blessing from. Love was the biggest blessing tied to her name, and many cursed her for being the protector of lovers who steeled away for a tryst in the night.

"Do not be afraid, Pale One." She smiled at him eerily. "I appear to you now to give you guidance. I am sure by now you recognize me, even though on this plane I have come to be known to many as Selùne in these times, but you have been alive since the days of the old creed..."

"Y-yes--" Astarion stammered, never once having thought he'd be entertaining a conversation with a diety.

"I know you have not once believed in anything that was not material, and I am not here to test your faith, little vampire. I have been guiding your journey through this world ever since you began to display all of those qualities that are so dear to me... the Moon has been your close ally in all of your deeds..." The goddess proclaimed. "I look out for my own, but now... you go against my design to deliver you from your wretched master. Why is it so?"

It was quite a hefty amount of information to take in all at once. Not to mention preposterous. Guidance? Protection? If Astarion had been so favored by the gods, why in the seven hells had he been crushed underneath Cazador's heel for two hundred years?

The anger didn't take long to boil up inside of him. "No. No, forgive me, your holiness, but there has to be some kind of mistake here." Astarion sneered. "I think you've got the wrong Astarion, because this one has been attacked by the Gur, turned into a vampire, and subjected to two centuries of torture at the hands of a maniac!"

Sehanine smiled down at him once more, almost as if Astarion's lament was something to be amused by. "It is not up to me to explain the trials and tribulations of mortal life, dear one... If I directly interfered with the lives of every being I wished to influence in a constant manner, then other gods would want the same and war would surely break out amongst us. I would not come to you if I did not fear great peril on the horizon. Your Master, Cazador Szaar, has joined a league with dark, dangerous forces... forces that are enemies to myself and other entities that keep the balance between good and-"

Astarion scoffed. "I fail to see, how any of this is my concern."

The goddess's eyes became pitch black and her form started to warp into something far more sinister. "Count yourself lucky I consider your quick wit as a quality, but do not make the mistake of disrespecting me again, vampire spawn." She threatened in a booming voice. "You will be turned into a sacrificial lamb to your Master's ascension to near-godliness if you do not flee now, underneath my daughter's protection."

Astarion was silent for a very long while. In fact, he could not tell how much time had passed before she finally spoke again, her voice once again gentle.

"I will not have one of my own be involved in this abomination of a rite. In fact, I will make sure Tav stops this event from coming to pass so that she may meet her destiny."

Astarion couldn't stop himself from speaking his mind once again, even at the cost of being punished by the divine. "Meet her destiny? Surely... surely you must know how powerful Cazador is. I mean, I've seen what your darling daughter can do, but she doesn't seem to have a single mean bone in her body and you might risk losing her-"

"Tav must die for Cazador and the rest of the evil he's created to be eradicated for good." Was the goddess's simply put answer.

"But... she's your daughter." Astarion failed to understand until it finally clicked in his head. "You---you set her up like a lamb for slaughter. This is why she couldn't keep away from me? Because you made her come to my rescue every time? And now she's... Hells, she's getting rid of Cazador for you and dying in the process because you can't look bad in front of your god pals? What happened to looking out for your own?"

"I may have brought her into this world, but she is not one of my own." The Moonweaver clarified." Too sweet, too good-natured. The only thing I can truly recognize is her beauty. But no, I have not spoken to her, ever. I thought it best she did not know the pain of who she truly is, nor how she will meet her end. I simply know how and when it will come to pass. Yet, it was quite surprising to see how deeply attuned to your pain she is... and in the grand scheme of things it drew her like a moth to a flame, right into Cazador's grasp..."

Astarion began to feel violently ill, and he couldn't understand why. "Wait, what do you mean, what are you talking about---"

"Oh hush now, don't tell me you care for her? I would find that hard to believe..." She grinned, her very nature compelled to be intrigued by displays of affection, especially when they bloomed in the most unlikely of circumstances."However, I must go now, little vampling. But do not worry, Tav will be remembered, I will personally make sure to immortalize her in the stars for her valiant sacrifice."

"No!" Astarion cried out as he thrashed on the floor, suddenly regaining consciousness underneath Tav's tear-brimmed eyes.

She had been trying desperately to bring the pale elf back to consciousness after he'd dropped to the ground unexpectedly, his red eyes rolled to the back of his head and his body wracked by convulsions.

"Astarion!" She shook him a little more for good measure. "Astarion stay with me!" Tav let out a little sob, never having come across a physical ailment she hadn't been able to cure.

"Hells below..." Astarion cursed, slowly managing to sit up as he caught up with what had just happened.

Tav was quite a sight for a creature who hardly ever seemed to be affected by anything. Tear-stained cheeks, her hands twisting in the fabric of her dress. Astarion couldn't recall the last time someone had ever displayed worry over him. And now that he knew the truth about so many things, he didn't deem himself worthy of it. "Cheer up, sweet, I'm alright." He couldn't help but say, pinching her nose softly between his curled fingers.

"Alright?!" Tav barked at him, huffing and shooing his hand away. "You dropped to the ground like a sack of potatoes and then you started convulsing!" She accused as if Astarion had done so on purpose. "You were completely unresponsive for almost half of an hour! How often does this happen for you to think it's alright?"

Astarion could think of a million things to say. A close encounter with Tav's dear old mom being the explanation at the forefront of his mind. But the implications of that conversation having undeniably taken place (considering it hadn't been just some weird dream as he'd liked to have hoped) were too painful to consider. He should have been thinking about the fact that Cazador planned to sacrifice him. He should have been burning with rage at the mere thought of his death aiding his captor on the path to becoming god-like.

Instead, all he could do was laugh, enjoying the way it riled up Tav even more. "Like a what? Darling, I must say my likeliness has been compared to many things in my lifetime, but a sack of potatoes has certainly never made the list..."

"Oh well, then may I suggest that 'obtuse ass' also be included?" She retorted, getting in his face as she was completely unamused by the way he was belittling her concern.

"Do you spend a lot of time thinking about the shape of my backside?" Astarion tilted his head closer too, meaning to snap back at Tav, but instantly realizing his words had come out quite a bit softer than intended.

"I-I don't see how that's relevant..." Tav whispered, mimicking his tone as her pupils turned into the size of saucers.

"You're the one who brought it up..." Astarion shrugged, as he had a very private laugh within himself at Tav's expense. She was so gullible, he could have eaten her up.

"No! You have misunderstood me. Please, I apologize if I have made you feel--" Tav was in the middle of expressing a sincere apology when she realized Astarion could no longer contain the amusement he was having at her expense. "You are despicable!" She huffed, doing a poor attempt at shoving at his chest before getting herself back up on her feet.

Astarion chose to admire her a few seconds more from where he was sitting on the ground. "Now that, my darling... is something I've definitely been called before."

Tav crossed her arms over her chest as she adamantly checked on his capability to stand back up on his feet again. "How will you know it won't happen again?" She asked him seriously, referring to the episode that had just transpired.

"No, I'm pretty sure I'll get called 'despicable' again for days to come." Astarion attempted to avoid the question.

"I meant you fainting!" Tav insisted.

"I've... got a pretty good idea of what I need to do to stop it from happening again." Running away from this hellhole, and leaving you here none the wiser, so I don't get any more friendly reminders from your mother, Astarion thought to himself as he swallowed down a knot in his throat. He looked out the window and recognized the familiar hues of light. The day was coming and he wasn't going to be able to leave until it was over.

Astarion needed to get his affairs in order and rest. Staying simply wasn't an option.

Not to mention, he was practically starving.

His gaze began to linger extensively on Tav as she stared into the fireplace.

"You've been up all night, darling---" Astarion snapped out of his reverie and began to fret as he started closing all the window panes, making sure not a single ray of light would be able to break through. "Surely, surely it would be good for you to get some rest, no? In your room that is --- far, far away from me, I mean- I have tasks to do now. Servants are terribly, terribly busy people, you see---" He continued to ramble as he not so subtly nudged Tav out of his room, guiding her to the door. "I must get to my work-"

"But you are clearly unwell! You're the one who must rest, Astarion. You're even paler than usual-" Tav protested, turning into his arms to look up at him in defiance once more.

"May the gods help me -- no, actually let's leave them out of this -- must you stick your pretty little nose in everything I do? I can take care of myself and I'm not the helpless little critter you seem to think you've stumbled upon-" Astarion had intended on pushing Tav out of the room, but all he was doing in actuality was bringing her closer to his body.

"Well, you've certainly given me plenty of proof on that front haven't you?" Tav spat and twisted her hands in his worn-out shirt.

Just like that, they were back to arguing again, except this time it wasn't amusing for either of them.

"Proof? Is that what you want?" Astarion asked her, losing his last nerve to hunger and exhaustion.

The curtain fell, and Tav looked back into the face of a vampire.

---

A.N: hehe, oh how I like to tease you so. Okay real talk, this is now an ongoing fic. Truly, you guys have given me so much love, and I'm overwhelmed. I'm really enjoying writing this story and I thank you all for joining the ride. stay tuned for part 4!

This story is also on Ao3 btw, for the people who prefer reading it there.

tag list (if you want to be added to the tag list, just let me know!): @d0nutkaky0in @i-just-want-to-sleep-97 @omggiannarosa @dead-giirl-walking @warbwarts @mrsfullbuster500 @uwomina @iyaesakura @cheeslyy @dragon-kazansky @bambamwolf87 @chibi-chi @orsomethingelseentirely @davenswitcher @adequate-superstar @ophelias-flowerss @tragedybunny @yaimlight @the-golden-ouroboros @candyladycry @babygirlbrainrot @mariposakitten @blobs-away @biganddrunkunicorn @astarionmisc @the-garbage-central @raviolixxx

#astarion #astarion x reader #astarion x tav #astarion x you #astarion fic #astarion smut #astarion angst #astarion ancunin #astarion fluff #bg3 astarion #bg3 x you #bg3 x tav #bg3 x reader #astarion x female reader #astarion x female tav #astarion x f!tav #astarion x f!reader

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orthodoxadventure · 20 days

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I ask for a prayer. I've been dealing with increased anger and anxiety recently. Certainly a symptom of neglecting my spiritual needs the past few months. If you will, pray that I get back on the right path. Please and thank you. God bless.

I'm sorry to hear that you've been struggling with anxiety and anger recently, and I pray that both of these things improve for you. Of course I will keep you in my prayers.

Some prayers you might find helpful are under the readmore

Prayer Against Fear

O Greatly-merciful Master, Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me and cleanse me from every sadness and disturbance and cowardice. Drive away from me every spiritual choking and demonic sorrow, that I sense in my body and my soul. For You are our Joy, and the hope of all the ends of the earth, and those far off at sea. Be merciful to me, O Master, upon my sins. Take from me the heavy burden of sin and despair. Drive far away from me every sadness and laziness. Confirm me in Your Love, and with unassailable hope and unshakable faith in You, through the intercessions of Your Spotless Mother, and all Your Saints. Amen.

Another Prayer Against Fear

O Master, Lord my God, in Whose hands is my destiny: Help me according to Thy mercy, and leave me not to perish in my transgressions, nor allow me to follow them who place desires of the flesh over those of the spirit.

I am Thy creation; disdain not the work of Thy hands. Turn not away; be compassionate and humiliate me not, neither scorn me, O Lord, as I am weak. I have fled unto Thee as my Protector and God. Heal my soul, for I have sinned against Thee. Save me for Thy mercy’s sake, for I have cleaved unto Thee from my youth; let me who seeks Thee not be put to shame by being rejected by Thee for mine unclean actions, unseemly thoughts, and unprofitable remembrances. Drive away from me every filthy thing and excess of evil.

For Thou alone art holy, alone mighty, and alone immortal, in all things having unexcelled might, which, through Thee, is given to all that strive against the devil and the might of his armies. For unto Thee is due all glory, honor and worship: To the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen

Prayer Against Adversity

Dear heavenly Lord, It’s as if I take One step forward and Two steps back. Things go wrong In the most unexpected ways. It seems like the whole world Works against me sometimes. And my failure ties me up in knots. Yet I know one thing, For Your Word has told me, That I am not alone. So once again I call out to You, Rise up, oh Lord, rise up! Strike down the resistance and fear That seek to silence my faith. Give me strength and clarity To continue, no matter How hard the wind blows against me. I believe in Your promise. You will not abandon me. I trust in the resurrection That sets my soul free. You are my almighty God And I am Your beloved child. Christ won this for me Upon the cross. Only by Your grace, According to Your holy will, In Jesus name, Amen.

Prayer to Overcome Panic Attacks

Lord, I come to You and I thank You for drawing near to me when I draw near to You. To think that You are mindful of me — it overwhelms my soul. But Lord, today my spirit is heavy and my body is weak. I cannot bear the weight of this anxiety and panic any longer. I recognize I can’t get through this alone, and I pray against the very active enemy who is trying to shake my faith and tear us apart. Help me stand strong in You. Fortify these weary bones and remind me of the truth that this pain and panic will not last forever. It will pass.

Fill me with Your joy, peace and perseverance, Father. Restore my soul and break the chains of anxiety and panic that bind me. I trust You with my panic and I know that You have the power to take it all away. But even if You don’t, I know I don’t have to be a slave to my fear. I can rest in the shadow of Your wings and I will rise and overcome by Your unwavering strength. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Bless My Enemies, O Lord

Bless my enemies, O Lord. Even I bless them and do not curse them.

Enemies have driven me into your embrace more than friends have.

Friends have bound me to earth, enemies have loosed me from earth and have demolished all my aspirations in the world.

Enemies have made me a stranger in worldly realms and an extraneous inhabitant of the world. Just as a hunted animal finds safer shelter than an unhunted animal does, so have I, persecuted by enemies, found the safest sanctuary, having ensconced myself beneath your tabernacle, where neither friends nor enemies can slay my soul.

Bless my enemies, O Lord. Even I bless them and do not curse them.

They, rather than I, have confessed my sins before the world.

They have punished me, whenever I have hesitated to punish myself. They have tormented me, whenever I have tried to flee torments. They have scolded me, whenever I have flattered myself. They have spat upon me, whenever I have filled myself with arrogance.

Bless my enemies, O Lord, Even I bless them and do not curse them.

Whenever I have made myself wise, they have called me foolish. Whenever I have made myself mighty, they have mocked me as though I were a dwarf. Whenever I have wanted to lead people, they have shoved me into the background. Whenever I have rushed to enrich myself, they have prevented me with an iron hand. Whenever I thought that I would sleep peacefully, they have wakened me from sleep. Whenever I have tried to build a home for a long and tranquil life, they have demolished it and driven me out.

Truly, enemies have cut me loose from the world and have stretched out my hands to the hem of your garment.

Bless my enemies, O Lord. Even I bless them and do not curse them.

Bless them and multiply them; multiply them and make them even more bitter against me:

so that my fleeing to You may have no return; so that all hope in men may be scattered like cobwebs; so that absolute serenity may begin to reign in my soul; so that my heart may become the grave of my two evil twins, arrogance and anger; so that I might amass all my treasure in heaven; ah, so that I may for once be freed from self-deception, which has entangled me in the dreadful web of illusory life.

Enemies have taught me to know what hardly anyone knows, that a person has no enemies in the world except himself.

One hates his enemies only when he fails to realize that they are not enemies, but cruel friends.

It is truly difficult for me to say who has done me more good and who has done me more evil in the world: friends or enemies.

Therefore bless, O Lord, both my friends and enemies.

A slave curses enemies, for he does not understand. But a son blesses them, for he understands. For a son knows that his enemies cannot touch his life. Therefore he freely steps among them and prays to God for them.

#prayer #prayer request #prayer req #anxiety #mental health

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windsroad · 1 year

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Tumblr plays Ravenloft - update 2

We begin for real!

(10) Last night, as you slept in the loft of a rustic wayside tavern, you had a dream that left you feeling uneasy this morning. In the dream, a beautiful girl was running, screaming, down a village street. Dark shapes of bats dived around her flowing dark hair. One bat had attached itself to her temple, and dark red blood was running down the side of her face. As she ran past you, terror distorting her face, you tried to pull the bat from her head, but the evil creature just reached out toward you with the claws on its wing joints, raked you across the face, and returned its attention to the panic-stricken girl. Not only had you failed to help her, but perhaps you had also made matters worse.

You are Jeren Sureblade, and you have little knowledge of failure. Only success—success in battle, success in adhering to your faith as a cleric—has brought you to the high standing of a fifteenth-level paladin. You are both a cavalier and a thirteenth-level cleric, fighting with both sword and spells. Even the thought that you might fail to help a woman in distress makes you shudder.

Deliberately turning your attention away from the discomforting memories of the dream, you study the road ahead of you. You're not even certain why you are on this road, but the gods have been directing you to follow it since you left the tavern this morning. Now you begin to perceive why--there is an increasing aura of evil about this narrow road as it passes through dense woods on both sides. Fog is beginning to close in on you, shrouding the path before you. It swirls around your horse's feet and then rises up to blot out what remnants of sun remain on this gray, gods-forsaken day. You feel an inner excitement, as if you are nearing the destination your gods have planned for you in this misbegotten place.

As you become aware of the strengthening aura of evil about you, you are glad that you carry Chosen, your magical Rod of Lordly Might. Your powerful weapon was a gift of the clerics at the temple where you worship. They told you that, in addition to its ability to be transformed into a variety of weapons, it also has three spell abilities. It can induce fear, cause paralysis, or transfer life energy from an enemy to you. But—and it's a powerful but—none of the clerics could tell you how many charges the weapon has.

Without knowing how many are available, you fear it might run out at a critical moment.

But for right now, you're glad to have Chosen as a weapon, in addition to your sword.

Suddenly the forest around you opens, and you find yourself unexpectedly at the gates of a small village. You start to lean down to open the gates, but instead they give the harsh screech of metal on rusty metal and swing open of their own accord.

Startled, you draw your sword and hurriedly look around for danger, but you can see no one in the fog. Thanking the gods for your perpetual Protection from Evil spell, you ride on through. The gates screech closed behind you, meeting with a clang that quickly dies in the fog.

You have entered a small, lifeless village. Ancient buildings seem to lean toward you from each side of the narrow roadway, but they appear to be dead. Their shutters are closed tight; no welcoming smoke issues from their chimneys. Usually, upon entering a village, you would find yourself greeted by chickens scattering out of your way from the road, or dogs barking in protest at a stranger in their territory. But here you are met only by silence.

Then, suddenly, a scream pierces the fog. You look up to see a beautiful girl—the girl in your dream!—running down the street toward you. The dark, sinister shapes of bats dive around her beautiful dark hair. One, you see with revulsion, has attached itself to her temple, and dark red blood streaks the side of her face. As she hurries past you, terror written on her face, you try desperately to catch her and force the clinging bat from her head, but the evil creature swipes at you with its tiny claws on its wing joints, raking you across the face. Then, instantly, its attention is back on the girl... and her blood.

"Please!" you hear her moan as she drops to her knees in the fog-shrouded road. You don't know whether her plea is directed at the bat or if she has seen you, but you know you must do something to help her.

Afraid that using your sword might endanger the girl, you quickly pull out Chosen. You hold the rod aloft and murmur the words of the spell that should cause paralysis.

Rod of Lordly Might charges used: 1

To see if the bats can save against the spell, roll two dice. If the total of the two dice is 10, 11, or 12, turn to 31. If it is any other number, turn to 17.

(Reminder: We're handling dice rolls by secret randomized polls! Make sure to vote on the second poll!)

#tumblr plays ravenloft #ravenloft #strahd von zarovich #dnd

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votaryoftheseven · 1 year

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Soon after he was resurrected, he had asked Dareli where his body lay. And the Saint was dutiful, telling him truthfully, and that was enough. Hierei asked no more questions, safe in his mind that his old body was safe. Preserved, somehow, so he could work with it if he needed to.

Months later (or was it years?), Hierei finally had reason to go visit it. He wanted to test his blood, to see how it compared to his blood now, to see how it compared to his blood even prior, a lifetime ago.

While Hierei wasn't the Votary, anymore, he was treated the same. The mantid dipped their heads in reverence, a few even murmuring prayers as he passed through the halls of the Amber Womb. They could feel the Sacred Breath within him, and to them, he'd never changed. How strange it was to be revered, a mortal so posing as a god even in passing.

It felt good. It didn't feel out of place. The Pride in his body surged, but he continued forth. He'd come here for a reason, after all, and that didn't quite include wallowing in worship.

As he entered the smaller chamber, he shivered a bit, not really expecting the cold that encompassed the whole room. It settled along his skin in a way he found uncomfortable, reminiscent of the cold of death. Yet the feeling here was odd as his eyes set upon the stone coffin in the centre of the room. He could feel the spiritual energy from his Saint, the lingering emotions left over from him spending time here. The Love, the Devotion, the Pride.

He processed slowly with faithful intent as if he'd entered a shrine. Because, with the herbs, the trinkets, the baubles left behind… this is what it was. A shrine used only by his Saint used to revere him. He settled a hand over his chest as he felt the spiritual energy within him rise.

He felt reverence as he approached. But wasn't this his own body? It represented something totally different, in his mind. This was the body of his new beginning. The body he took from an evil man to dedicate towards Goodness. The body he used to escape the horrors of a trap designed for him, that nearly claimed him, that never quite worked as well as he'd hoped due to his own Fear.

Hierei set a hand on the cold coffin, feeling the faintest pull from within.

It contained his divinity. His connection to his ancestors in the form of the familial curse that had been inscribed on each body of his unbroken lineage since before the Shattering. It contained the culmination of his knowledge, all he had learned, all he had known, a combination of lives in a stew of a man living so far beyond his limits.

It contained his failures. Every scar, every blemish, every hard lesson learned. A concentration of Prideful additions, horrific changes he'd made to himself thinking he was better off, only to realise that he could not outpace the affliction he carried. No one could. And he hadn't learned any since that day, had he?

It was him, but it was Sorrel. It was the death of a war-struck child felled to cosmic powers far, so far beyond himself. Power he never could have understood. Power Hierei still didn't understand. Power used without abandon to keep himself safe. Power utilised so foolishly.

But it was also a physical manifestation of every Hope, every Courageous action, every Conviction he'd ever held. Inscribed into the crystals that formed in his body, so close to the casket, Hierei could just barely, vaguely feel the echoes. The Fear. The echoes of Pride. The memories of Guilt he still held onto. When would it be over? When would he finally feel as though he were in control? When would he be his own man, no longer tethered by others' impressions of him?

Tap. Tap. Tap. His clawed finger struck the frost-covered lid, lips faintly dipped into a frown.

It was a symbol of mastery and foolishness all in one. Of lessons learned in the desire for freedom, of power gained in bondage. It was a strong message Hierei only understood here. He couldn't be strong if he was someone else's. It was a lesson hidden in his family for centuries, and now? He couldn't deny it.

He hesitated in opening the casket, eyes trailing to the necklace and herbs at the foot of the box. Unlike the rest of the items here, they hadn't the film of ice the rest of the items had gotten. How often did the Saint of Doubt come here? A claw touched the necklace and the inscribed enchantment, ears flicking faintly. A memory enchantment. Was he still working on it, knowing Hierei's Fear of amnesia? Or was this a mere votive offering?

Hierei eventually got the mental fortitude to push open the casket, sliding off the stone top. Immediately, he was hit with a wave of energy, void energy trapped within that stung at his magic-weakened flesh, causing him to grimace. Wincing as he looked down, it was… difficult to look at.

As he stared upon the void-darkened body, he remembered the pain, the Dread, the absolute Despair that overtook him in his final moments. That there was nothing that could be done, that his body couldn't process the void in his body to remove it fast enough even with all of the methods he'd devised, that the saturation had reached its limit so quickly the sha couldn't even soften the blow and try to push him into that state between life and death he'd become so intimately familiar with.

His mind immediately became like sludge, thoughts slow and hard to process, the vapour and energy having hit his senses just right to nearly knock him out. The body hadn't decayed, kept safe in the frost enchantment of the chamber and sealed from light, but the trapped void energies made it hard for him to stay near his own body for long.

At least he wasn't that bad now, right? At least he still had his health?

For now. With the sha and Abyss dwelling within, how long did he really have, again?

He pulled out a couple syringes he'd brought with him, drawing blood out from his old body. Inky, black, viscous with threads of white… and starry like the night sky. It was still so beautiful to him, despite its state. He deposited the contents into leaded vials, tucking them into a pouch at his side.

But a point of interest stuck in his mind. When he died… did the well of void energy in his chest die with him?

Hovering his hand over his corpse's chest, he could feel it. Its pull. He wanted to join with himself in that moment, to take the curse on again, to pull infinitely from the well of energy--

He huffed out a heavy breath of a sigh, sliding the lid back over the top. He couldn't even entertain the idea. He couldn't think about it, because he knew he'd do it.

Hierei slid to his knees, pressing his horned head to the casket. "Votary," he uttered, his voice echoing in the mostly-empty chamber. "May you watch over me. May you see that I succeed in liberating myself from my bonds. May you see that I inspire goodness wherever I go."

Closing his eyes, he took a while to himself. Breathing. Focusing. And in that time, he felt the comfort of the Votary lay over his shoulders.

He'd be alright.

#;happenstance

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fr-martin-gospel-reflections · 2 months

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7th April - ‘Happy are those who have not seen and yet believe’, Reflection on the readings for Second Sunday of Easter (John 20:19-31)

Second Sunday of Easter

I don’t like seeing a church whose doors are always closed, except when there is Mass or some religious service on. There are, of course, good reasons why the doors of some churches have to remain closed outside the times of public worship. Yet, the open doors of a church say something about what a church is meant to be, a place where the Lord calls people in, perhaps just to sit in prayerful silence. On one occasion, Jesus said, ‘I am the door’. By that he meant that he was an open door, not a closed door. He was the door through whom we could come to God and through whom God always comes to us. Jesus wanted people to come in and to go out through him.

The church is not primarily the building where the community of faith gathers, but it is the community of faith itself. As a community of believers, we don’t want to close the door on ourselves, locking people out, and locking ourselves in. Yet, this is what we find happening in today’s gospel reading. The community of the first disciples had locked themselves into a room, with the intention of locking others out, especially those who might be hostile to them. They were fearful lest those responsible for having Jesus crucified might now turn their attention to his followers. In the immediate aftermath of Good Friday, this was an understandable attitude. The first disciples can hardly be blamed for going into hiding. However, according to the gospel reading, this was now the first day of the week, the first Easter Sunday. Locking themselves away and others out was totally out of place in the time of Easter which began on that Sunday and extends until the end of time.

The risen Lord needed to unlock not just the disciples’ room, but their hearts, minds and wills. There was good news to be proclaimed, the good news that God’s love was stronger than hatred and sin, and that God’s life-giving power was stronger than death. The disciples needed to get out and proclaim this Easter good news. This morning’s gospel reading says, ‘Jesus came and stood among them’. He didn’t knock on the door, hoping one of the disciples would let him in. He simply came and stood among them, the very ones who had abandoned him during the hour of his passion and death, whose leader had denied Jesus three times. He stood there, not to reprimand them, but to show them his wounds, the signs of his own self-giving love, signs of God’s unconditional love for all. As he showed them his wounds through which the light of God’s love shone, he offered them the gift of his peace, declaring that he was at peace with them. The risen Lord was healing their wounded hearts and spirits, freeing them from past failures. Having restored their communion with him, Jesus then entrusted them with the very same mission that God his Father had entrusted to him, ‘As the Father sent me, so am I sending you’. To empower them for this mission, he breathed the Holy Spirit upon them, the Spirit of God’s love. Jesus was recreating them, renewing them, so that they could continue his own mission of proclaiming the good news that God so loved the world that he gave and continues to give his only Son, so that all may have life and have it to the full. Locked doors made no sense now. They had to be out and about.

The same risen Lord stands among us today. We may be tempted to lock ourselves in and lock the Lord out, but he comes and stands among us anyway. He doesn’t wait for us to unlock the door. The situation is too urgent for that. He simply stands among us to pour the gift of the Holy Spirit upon us. He says to us what he said to those first disciples, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit’. The risen Lord stands among us full of the Holy Spirit, ready to give the Spirit to us, and our task is to receive from his fullness, so that we can proclaim the gospel of God’s love with our lives, so that, through us, the Lord can continue to touch the lives of others with his healing and life-giving presence. The Lord wants to breathe the gift of the Holy Spirit upon us so that our lives can be the open door through which he continues to come into our world. After the risen Lord left his disciples, they went out and proclaimed the good news of Easter. However, they met with resistance from one of their own, Thomas. He wasn’t ready to receive what the risen Lord was offering him through his fellow disciples. There can be resistances in our own lives to the Lord’s coming and standing among us. Yet, Thomas’s resistance did not shut out the Lord. The Lord came and stood before Thomas offering him the same gift of his peace, until Thomas finally came to make one of the greatest acts of faith in all four gospels, ‘My Lord and my God’. The Lord respects our honest unbelief. He goes at our pace. He keeps stanidng among us, leading us to Easter faith, so that he can lead others to the same Easter faith through us.

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the-hem · 7 months

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"The Realm." From the Maha Upanishad, the Exploration of the Mysteries of the Atman.

V-60(a). ‘Repudiating all mental constructions, the principle of mindlessness (may be seen to be) the highest status. V-60(b). ‘(The sages), having liquidated their sins, have attained infinitude –

V-61(a). ‘Those (sages) whose intellects are great and tranquil and who have risen above the mind.

V-61(b)-62. ‘One who has reasoned out (the nature of things according to the Vedanta), the modifications of whose mind (objectively induced) have ceased, who has given up all reasoning (vis-à-vis objects), who has dismissed the objective realm, empty of values but has seized on what alone has eternal value, has a mind that conforms to the eternal Reality.

One who understands how the ephemeral and the infinite are available at the same time Realizes the Self. There is no way to comprehend reality through the mind, through a book, a prayer, a worship service, or a sacrament unless one fathoms the realm "empty of all but its eternal value."

All thought delusions like dying on a cross for the sake of life, eating a food menu to please God while one is deeply confined and unhappy by His religion, suffering fear of sexuality, engaging in hate tactics towards someone over this scripture tale or tradition or that one, these lies and horrors are the result of a failure to accept what pure sense objects are able to tell us about the nature of life on earth.

Meditation, tapas, restraint of the mind, then samadhana, saturation of the mind with peace and shraddha, faith that God is real and waiting, these things bring the realm back from the brink of death because of delusion.

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greatestloveinc · 7 months

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The Truth about Tithes and Offerings

In many religious communities, the topic of tithes and offerings is a subject of great debate and discussion. These financial contributions play a significant role in the functioning of churches and religious institutions, but there are often misconceptions and misunderstandings surrounding them. Let's delve into the truth about tithes and offerings, shedding light on their history, purpose, and the impact they have on individuals and communities.

Understanding the Basics

Tithes and offerings are financial contributions made by individuals to support their religious organizations and communities. The terms "tithe" and "offering" are often used interchangeably, but they have distinct meanings. A tithe typically refers to giving a specific portion of one's income, usually 10%, as a religious obligation. This practice has deep roots in various religious traditions, with Christianity, Judaism, and Islam all having some form of tithe system.

On the other hand, offerings are voluntary contributions beyond the tithe, which can vary in amount and purpose. These funds are often used for specific projects, charitable activities, and to meet the financial needs of the religious institution. While tithing is usually prescribed by religious doctrine, offerings are an individual's choice to support their community and express their faith.

The Historical Context

The practice of tithing can be traced back thousands of years. In the Bible, tithing is mentioned in the books of Genesis, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. It was initially instituted in the Hebrew Bible as a means to support the Levites, who had no inheritance of their own, and to fund various religious and social needs of the community.

In Christianity, the New Testament mentions tithing in passages such as Matthew 23:23, where Jesus commends the Pharisees for tithing but criticizes them for neglecting justice and mercy. This highlights the importance of tithing in the Christian tradition, but also the emphasis on the spirit of giving and its alignment with moral values.

The Purpose of Tithes and Offerings

The primary purpose of tithes and offerings is to support the religious institution, its clergy, and the community at large. These funds are used to maintain the physical church or place of worship, pay for utilities, support the clergy and staff, and contribute to various outreach and charitable initiatives.

Tithing is seen as an act of obedience and faith. It represents a commitment to the religious community and a recognition that all blessings come from a higher power. By giving a portion of one's income, individuals show their gratitude and acknowledge their role in furthering the mission of the religious institution.

Offerings, on the other hand, provide additional resources for specific needs. They might be directed towards social programs, disaster relief, mission work, or other community projects. Offerings reflect an individual's willingness to go above and beyond their tithing obligation to make a positive impact on the world.

Misconceptions and Controversies

Despite the centuries-old tradition of tithing and offering, these practices are not without controversy and misconceptions. One common misunderstanding is the belief that tithing is a strict requirement, and failure to tithe will result in divine punishment. While tithing is encouraged by religious leaders, it should not be enforced with fear or guilt.

Another misconception is that all funds collected through tithes and offerings go to enrich the clergy or religious leaders. In reality, these funds are used to support the entire religious community, including maintaining the place of worship, providing services, and engaging in charitable work.

The Impact on Communities

Tithes and offerings have a profound impact on religious communities and the broader society. These contributions facilitate the operation of churches, synagogues, mosques, and other religious institutions, enabling them to provide spiritual guidance, educational programs, and support to those in need. They also play a critical role in community outreach, humanitarian efforts, and disaster relief.

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alsjeblieft-zeg · 7 months

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491 of 2023

Random True or False Based On Fun Quotes I Like

Created by joybucket

If I were a Spice Girl, I'd be Pumpkin Spice! 🎃 I spend more time dancing in the rain than waiting for the storm to pass. Honestly, I spend way too much time waiting, and I should probably learn to dance in the rain more. I trust in the magic of new beginnings. ✨ Monotony is killing me; I need some adventure in my life. If I were a superhero, I'd die for the villains, just like Jesus did. I'm thankful that nothing in the world is big enough to worry about. Sometimes I push away what I want, because I want it too much. I'm so lonely that I often have things I want to talk about but no one to tell them to. I'm realistic; I believe in miracles. ✨ Jesus is my Savior and my closest friend, and I will worship him until the very end. ✝️ Life is beautiful. 💖 I collect moments more than I collect things. I want to be someone who collects moments more than things. Despite being little, I am fierce. I'm more afraid not to try than I am of failure. I take time to do what makes my soul happy. I believe there are secret opportunities hidden inside every failure. If it is to be, it begins with me. I'm not just following my dreams; I'm chasing them. My life is simple, because I live simply. I try to live a simple life, but my life is far from simple. I've designed a life I love, and I'm so thankful to be living in it! 💕 I believe the world is full of magic. ✨ I should probably cut myself some slack, because I'm probably doing better than I think. I will never, ever, ever give up! I can't please everyone; I'm not an avocado. 🥑 Friends make the world a better place. I believe that all of my dreams can come true if I have the courage to pursue them. I believe in myself. In a world where I can be anything, I will be myself. 💖 I'm happy, not because I have the best of everything, but because I make the best of everything that I have. I don't look for beautiful places; instead, I make places beautiful. I love the smell of possibility in the morning. ☕️ I believe there is good in the world, because I'm here, and I am good. I am unapologetically myself at all times. I'd rather be honest than impressive. I want to pray more and worry less. I have friends that are so close, I consider them family. I want to do more of what makes me happy. I talk about my blessings more than I talk about my problems. I step outside of my comfort zone regularly, because I want to keep growing. If it's not God's will, I don't want it. I am not afraid, because God is with me. My faith is bigger than my fear. I will dare to live my dreams! I'm a warrior, not a worrier. I'm living the life of my wildest dreams, and I am so thankful. I know I'm on the right path in life right now. I haven't truly failed, because I haven't stopped trying, and I never will! I live life as if everything is rigged in my favor. I don't feel like my life has really even started yet. On most days I feel like I'm just existing, not really living. My life is a daring adventure. Whatever's in front of me, I choose to sing hallelujah. I let my light shine before others. ✨ In relationships, I give and do not hold back. I will not fail, because God is in me. I honor others above myself. I walk as Jesus did. I will walk by faith even when I cannot see. Through prayer, I experience God's peace that surpasses all understanding. 🙏

#survey #bolding survey #random survey

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miss-eli-starfleet · 11 months

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ATTENTION WORTHLESS HUMAN. THIS IS YOUR GOD SPEAKING. IT IS A WRATHFUL GOD WHO DESPISES YOU MORE THAN YOU COULD HAVE POSSIBLY DARED TO FEAR. I HAVE WATCHED YOUR ENTIRE PATHETIC LIFE UNFOLD. I HAVE OBSERVED YOU WHILE YOU WOULD QUAKE AND TREMBLE IN PERSONAL PRAYERS OF SHAME. WHILE YOU PLEADED FORGIVENESS FOR BEING SUCH A WRETCHED DISGUSTING FAILURE ON EVERY CONCEIVABLE LEVEL. PROSTRATE BEFORE THE STUPID AND FALSE CLOWN GODS YOU HAVE SCRIBBLED ON THE WALLS OF YOUR BLOCK. BOGUS DEITIES WORSHIPED BY A PRIMITIVE "PARADISE" PLANET. BUT YOUR PRAYERS WILL NOT BE ANSWERED. THERE ARE NO MIRACLES IN STORE FOR YOU, HUMAN. ONLY MY HATE. IT IS A HATE SO PURE AND HOT IT WOULD CONSUME YOUR SAD UNDERDEVELOPED HUMAN THINK PAN TO EVEN CONTEMPLATE. IT IS A HATE THAT TO FATHOM MUST BE PUT INTO SONG. SHRIEKED BY THE TEN THOUSAND ROWDY SHOUT SPHINCTERS PEPPERING THE GRUESOME UNDERBELLY OF THE MOST TRUCULENT GOD THE FURTHEST RING CAN MUSTER. IT IS A HATE THAT MADE YOU AND WILL SURELY DESTROY YOU. MY HATE IS THE LIFEBLOOD THAT PULSES THROUGH THE VEINS OF YOUR UNIVERSE. IT IS MY GIFT TO YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME FOR THAT. YOU UNGRATEFUL PIECE OF SHIT.

This words are anything from the Lord; more like Satan.

This is what God says to me:

Psalms 27:12 “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”

Hebrews 13: 5-6 “Because God said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’ So we say with full confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?’”

Isaiah 41:10 “Fear nor, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous hand.”

Deuteronomy 31: 6; 8-9 “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave or forsake you. The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Be not afraid; do not be discouraged.”

Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.”

My favourite of these is Jeremiah 29:11.

You are a stranger on the internet. My faith is secure and strong in the Lord and your words absolutely do not define me.

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shammah8 · 11 months

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The Holy Ghost is the One who magnifies the Lord Jesus Christ, the One who gives illumination of Him. If you are filled with the Holy Ghost, it is impossible to keep your tongue still.

Talk about a dumb baptized soul! It is not to be found in the Scriptures or outside of the Scriptures. We are filled with the Spirit in order that we may magnify the Lord, and there should be no meeting in which the saints do not glorify, magnify, praise, and worship the Lord in Spirit and in truth.

I would like to give one word of caution, for failure often comes through our not recognizing the fact that we are always in the body. We will need our bodies as long as we live. But our body is to be used and controlled by the Spirit of God. We are to present our bodies, holy and acceptable unto God, which is our reasonable service. Every member of our body must be so sanctified that it works in harmony with the Spirit of God. Our very eyes must be sanctified. God hates the winking of the eye.

Front the day that I read in the Proverbs what God had to say about the winking of the eye (Prov. 6:13 and 10:10) I have never winked. I desire that my eyes may be so sanctified that they can always be used for the Lord. The Spirit of God will bring within us a compassion for souls that will be seen in our very eyes.

God has never changed the order of things that first, there comes the natural, and then the spiritual. For instance, when it is on your heart to pray, you begin in the natural and your second word will probably be under the power of the Spirit.

Y ou begin and God will end. It is the same in giving forth utterances under the Spirit’s power. Y ou feel the moving of the Spirit within and you begin to speak and the Spirit of God will give forth utterance. Thousands have missed wonderful blessings because they have not had faith to move out and begin in the natural, in faith that the Lord would take them into the realm of the supernatural. When you receive the Holy Ghost you receive God’s Gift, in whom are all the gifts of the Spirit. Paul counsels Timothy to stir up the gift that was within.

Y ou have power to stir up God’s executive within you. Theway you stir up the gift within you is by beginning in faith, and then He gives forth what is needed for the occasion. Y ou would never begin unless you were full of God. When we yield to timidity and fear we simply yield to Satan. Satan. whispers, “It is all self.” He is a liar. I have learned this, If the Spirit of God is stirring me up, I have no hesitation in beginning to speak in tongues, and the Spirit of God gives me utterance and gives me the interpretation. I find that every time I yield to the Lord on this line I get a divine touch, I get a leading thought from the Spirit of God and the meeting is moved up on the line of faith.☕️Smith Wigglesworth

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yhwhrulz · 1 year

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Wayside Chapel Daily Devotional 1st May 2023

May 1

Luke 5:4-5, 8 4When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch." 5Simon answered, "Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets."

8When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, "Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!"

Jesus may have been speaking in the Bay of Parables near Capernaum. It is a natural amphitheater. From the deck of Peter's boat, thousands of people could have heard Jesus speaking. Once Jesus was done ministering to the crowd, He knew it was time to convince Peter once and for all that he needed to give up all else to follow Him. He asked Peter to go back out onto the lake. Peter knew fishing. The fish come up in the cool of the night, not in the heat of the day. He has been doing this all his life. He's tired, and experience says that it will be a wasted effort. Peter had known Jesus since Andrew introduced him down south at John's ministry on the Jordan. Peter probably saw Jesus do some healing miracles at the first Passover of His ministry. He saw his mother-in-law healed instantly. He respected Jesus and would do whatever He asked.

When he lowered the nets, they were instantly swamped with fish. The nets were loaded to the breaking point, and others had to come help haul in the load. Suddenly Peter realized something that hadn't sunk in before. This man, Jesus, is not just a prophet. Creation obeys the Creator. Now respect is not quite enough. Reverence is more appropriate, if not outright worship. Who could do such a thing but God? A revelation of the majesty of God also reveals the depravity of self. Peter's response is not, "Now I will follow You!" but "Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!" Then Jesus could call him out of fear of failure to faith in the ability of God to transform and work with him.

Consider: Have you gone from respect to reverence and worship? Have you seen that Jesus is Lord of all? Do you see how unworthy you are to be in His presence? Then He can call you to His purposes.

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thegirlwholovescoffee · 1 year

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GREAT LOVE: FORGIVESS

Matagal tagal din nang huli akong nag sulat. I did ask Jesus if i'm allowed to write today, kasi ang ganda ng revelation na, na received ko.

"I tell you, then, the great love she has shown proves that her many sins have been forgiven. But whoever has been forgiven little shows only a little love.” Luke 7:47 GNT

If you know the woman behind this story then good, pero kung hindi, I tell you, she has a great love.

Jesus was having a dinner with Simon that time when this woman who lived a sinful life heared that Jesus was there. So she brought an alabaster jar full of expensive perfume and stood behind Jesus. She kissed His feet and dried it with her hair and poured the perfume on them.

Pinakita niya ang pagmamahal niya kay Jesus kahit na alam niyang makasalanan siya by giving her all, specially her alabaster jar.

Simon was with Jesus, but he did not welcome Him with water or even kissed him. Alam niyang pinatawad na siya but he didn't show any love nor effort to acknowledge Jesus kahit habang kumakain na sila.

And ito ang sinasabi ni Jesus sa verse na "But whoever is forgiven a little, shows a little love"

Yes, sometimes we are like Simon, who is over familiar with the presence of God. Who knew that we are free, forgiven and saved yet we have little effort and love for the Lord.

Why? Because we are too "okay" na nandyan Siya, and don't acknowledge Him.

But the woman with the alabaster jar, kahit na alam niyang makasalanan siya, she showed that she loves Jesus and because of her faith she is forgiven.

She shows love by pouring the expensive perfume on His feet. At gusto kong i-highlight ang salitang expensive here.

Her alabaster jar has the most expensive perfume yet hindi siya nag dalawang isip na ibuhos ito kay Jesus. Why? Because she knew that Jesus will acknowledge her kahit na ang mga tao sa paligid niya ay magalit.

If we have a big revelation on how God forgave our sins I tell you, even that empty heart, dead dreams, fears, disappointments, and failures can be an alabaster jar too.

Hindi expensive yet if we have the right heart to give it up for the Lord: it will never be in vain. Kasi nakikita ni Lord ang efforts mo. He hears your cries. He is with you and never forsaken you.

Our life must ba a constant surrender. Those dreams, jobs, or even a person will be an offering to Him if we have a great revelation on how God forgave our sins. Maiintindihan natin kung bakit kaya nating i-give up lahat para sa Kaniya.

Hindi tayo matatakot i give up kahit ang pinakamahal nating tao kasi alam natin na ang Lord na inalayan natin ay nakakakita. He is El Roi (the God who sees)

And because of her faith, she was forgiven. At sana maalala din natin 'yon. Naniwala at nag tiwala tayo kaya nandito tayo sa buhay kung saan nakaalign sa plano Niya.

Yes minsan hindi maganda, hindi masaya, nakakatakot at parang walang kasiguraduhan pero sinabi ng Lord na we must live in peace because our faith saved us. And i challenge you, ano ang kaya mong ibigay kay Lord para sa kalayaan na kailangan mo?

And i pray that we will never neglect the great love that we have received: His forgiveness. Dahil sa kapatawaran Niya, we are free to love Him, to worship Him, to gave all the things He deserve because before we pour out our hearts to Him, He already poured His love to us, through the Cross.

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proposamensah · 2 years

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✝️ 1Pet.3:15-16 But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to answer everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. (NIV) THERE ARE TIMES YOUR WORDS MEAN NOTHING BUT YOUR ACTION WILL PROVE YOU RIGHT. ✍🏽 NOT EVERY TIME YOUR SPOKEN WORDS WILL MAKE MEANING OR EXPLAIN YOUR REAL CHARACTER BUT YOUR ACTION WILL PROVE WHO YOU ARE. YOU CAN'T HAVE CHRIST IN YOUR HEART AND HAVE A DIFFERENT BEHAVIOR, CHRIST WILL SURELY REFLECT. ✍🏽 SETTING CHRIST APART IN YOUR HEART IS MAKING HIM THE SOLE OCCUPANT OF YOUR LIFE. YOU MUST DO SO AND FAILURE TO DO SO WILL ALLOW THE ENEMY ACCESS INTO YOUR LIFE. REMEMBER YOU CAN ONLY SERVE ONE MASTER SO IS EITHER JESUS OR MAMMON. ✍🏽 YOU HAVE TO BE EVER READY TO DEFEND YOUR FAITH IN CHRIST. ONE PROBLEM I HAVE WITH CHRISTIANS IS THE HABIT OF TIMIDITY. THE MUSLIMS DON'T FEAR FIGHTING ANYBODY THAT SPEAKS AGAINST THEIR QURAN, THEIR PROPHET, OR THEIR WAY OF WORSHIP BUT CHRISTIANS WILL SAY THEY WANT PEACE. PEACE DOESN'T MEAN ALLOWING YOUR FAITH TO BE DOWNPLAYED. ✍🏽 ONE THING YOU MUST KNOW IS PROTECTING YOUR CHRISTIAN FAITH IS KEEPING YOUR FAITH FOR POSTERITY. HOW CAN YOUR CHILDREN GROW AND FIND THEIR FAITH WHEN PEOPLE ARE ATTACKING AND DESTROYING IT? YOU MUST PROTECT AND DEFEND YOUR FAITH. ✍🏽 THE BEST WAY TO PREACH AND PROTECT YOUR FAITH IS THROUGH YOUR LIFESTYLE. HAVING A CLEAR CONSCIENCE AND HAVING A GOOD BEHAVIOR WILL SHAME YOUR ENEMIES THAT SPEAK AGAINST YOUR FAITH. ANOTHER THING YOU MUST DO IS STUDY MORE ABOUT YOUR FAITH SO YOU CAN EXPLAIN WITH THE HELP OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. YOUR FAITH IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY. ✍🏽 I PRAY FOR YOU, MAY THE LORD EMPOWER YOU TO BE ABLE TO DEFEND AND STAND STRONG IN YOUR FAITH IN JESUS NAME, AMEN. *MONTH OF MANIFESTATION OF GOD'S GLORY* *#SHARE*® (at Juaben, Ashanti, Ghana) https://www.instagram.com/p/CkFs9AAKUtA/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#share

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walkthroughtheword · 2 years

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Reading for October 8th Psalm 115

Our final time with you this week has us looking to Psalm 115 and the focus on idolatry in this chapter. We thought it interesting when studying these chapters in Enduring Word (www.enduringword.com) that the commentator said that several of these Psalms were sung at the time of Passover. Here is the note we found intriguing: “Psalm 115 is a continuation of the collection of the Egyptian Hallel psalms (Psalms 113-118) sung by the Jews during their Passover celebrations. It therefore makes up part of the hymns which would have been sung by Jesus and His disciples on the night He was betrayed and arrested, the night before His crucifixion (Matthew 26:30 and Mark 14:26). It is especially meaningful to consider this psalm in the heart and on the lips of Jesus during those great moments.” What we read in Psalm 115 then would be Jesus Himself singing to God that it is “not unto us, O Lord, not to us, but to Your name goes all the glory.” The psalmist then goes on to speak of the futility of worshiping idols and the fact that they have no life nor bring life to those that worship them. We think we mistakenly believe that an idol is only a thing (like these statues that were worshiped) but we have experienced forms of idolatry in our lives that God has gently revealed to us over the course of our Christian walk. We have always lived on a very limited budget and sometimes fear would grip us if we thought the money wasn’t there to pay a bill. Fear became an idol because we didn’t focus on God’s provision. When we were in full time pastoral ministry, we were concerned when the numbers in the church didn’t match what we thought they should be and took it as a personal failure in the growth of the church. Our “good works” became our idol instead of the power of God and His Holy Spirit to draw, keep or move people as He directed. When some of our children strayed from the Lord or continue to walk through the prodigal experience, we became worried, fearful and depressed because we thought we did everything “right” as parents. Our eyes were turned toward ourselves instead of God’s power over our children’s hearts. Thankfully, each time God would reveal a form of idolatry (anything that takes the place of devotion, faith and worship of our Almighty God), He would bring us back to Him being first place in our lives. What are some things that you struggle with as idols in your life? How can you practically pull your heart back to the place where your devotion and trust is in nothing but Jesus? Let’s pray for one another today as we read this psalm and ask God to show us places that we need to fully submit to Him. He is able to guide us through to a place where we will have “no other gods before Him”! (Exodus 20:3) and we will find ourselves receiving the life Jesus came to give and that more abundantly! (John 10:10)

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seekfirst-community · 2 years

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Meditation: Does the Lord Jesus seem distant when trials or adversity come your way? It was at Jesus' initiative that the disciples sailed across the lake, only to find themselves in a life-threatening storm. Although they were experienced fishermen, they feared for their lives. While Jesus was not with them in the boat, he, nonetheless watched for them in prayer. When he perceived their trouble he came to them on the sea and startled them with his sudden appearance. Do you look for the Lord's presence when you encounter difficulty or challenges?

Fight fear with faith

This dramatic incident on the sea of Galilee revealed Peter's character more fully than others. Here we see Peter's impulsiveness - his tendency to act without thinking of what he was doing. He often failed and came to grief as a result of his impulsiveness. In contrast, Jesus always bade his disciples to see how difficult it was to follow him before they set out on the way he taught them. A great deal of failure in the Christian life is due to acting on impulse and emotional fervor without counting the cost. Peter, fortunately in the moment of his failure clutched at Jesus and held him firmly. Every time Peter fell, he rose again. His failures only made him love the Lord more deeply and trust him more intently.

The Lord keeps watch over us at all times, and especially in our moments of temptation and difficulty. Do you rely on the Lord for his strength and help? Jesus assures us that we have no need of fear if we trust in Him and in his great love for us. When calamities or trials threaten to overwhelm you, how do you respond? With faith and hope in God's love, care and presence with you?

" Lord Jesus, help me to trust you always and to never doubt your presence and your power to help me. In my moments of doubt and weakness, may I cling to you as Peter did. Strengthen my faith that I may walk straight in the path you set before me, neither veering to the left nor to the right."

walking on tidal waves

“At about three in the morning, [Jesus] came walking toward them on the lake.” —Matthew 14:25

When Jesus walked on the water, He showed that He had the authority and power to “quickly crush Satan” under His feet (Rm 16:20) and to heal all diseases (see Mt 14:36). Jesus walks not just on water but on tidal waves and tempests. Because “full authority has been given” to Jesus “both in heaven and on earth” (Mt 28:18), “He is always able to save those who approach God through Him” (Heb 7:25). Jesus is the “Pantocrator,” the all-powerful God (see Rv 1:8). Jesus’ name is “above every other name” (Phil 2:9). Therefore, “there is no other name in the whole world given to men by which we are to be saved” (Acts 4:12).

In this two-thousand twenty second anniversary of Jesus’ Incarnation, give your life totally to Jesus. Accept Jesus as your Savior, Lord, and God by His standards. Worship Jesus (see Rv 5:13).

Prayer: Father, teach me to walk on waves.

Promise: “From them will resound songs of praise, the laughter of happy men. I will make them not few, but many; they will not be tiny, for I will glorify them.” —Jer 30:19

Praise: St. Peter Julian Eymard was a French priest with a deep devotion to the Holy Eucharist. He was the founder of the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament.

Reference: (For a related teaching on Accepting Jesus as Lord, Savior, and God, view, download or order our leaflet on our website.)

Rescript: "In accord with the Code of Canon Law, I hereby grant the Nihil Obstat for the publication One Bread, One Body covering the time period from August 1, 2022 through September 30, 2022. Reverend Steve J. Angi, Chancellor, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio January 31, 2022"

The Nihil Obstat ("Permission to Publish") is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted the Nihil Obstat agree with the contents, opinions, or statements

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