#and let you exist here only as a way to test your faith

[solance-fics]

Holy devil {priest Sanji x alt/gothic fem reader}

Tw: religious themes, priest Sanji,



This is due to the fact that I am absolutely obsessed with @hunnismokah s priest Sanji art and I’m not sorry

This is also probably poorly written cuz I have written anything in like a year LMAO

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sanjis pov:

In all honesty today started completely normal, I woke up , did my morning routine , got ready for mass , welcomed everyone who attended in , held mass and now i was saying my goodbyes. Yet today one of the patrons decided to talk to me, Jane was her name. She was a sweet young woman about a two years younger than myself and her personality was as i could only describe as pure. She volunteered every week at the food drive i held for the local homeless community, she came to mass every week, not to mention she dressed in a modest way. A woman of faith is what she was and as of recently we have became friends. Though i wouldn’t ever voice this, i wanted to be with her yet unfortunately she revealed that she was think of joining the church as a sister.

Smiling softly and nodding to what she said , we walked outside. I respected her wishes and even encouraged her to do so, saying I’ll talk to one of the sisters i knew to help her out. Yet when the got outside is when this normal Sunday turned into what i felt was a test from the lord himself. Jane let out a small excited squeal as she ran towards a woman dressed in all black leaving against what was a hearse. Her hair was down , and her makeup was simple yet dark. Shadow and liner as black as coal and lips pained with a color of wine.

As I looked at her outfit I almost lost my composure, her top was a deep red with black swirls adoring it, her pants were tight and looked leather like, and on her feet were black combat boots. Yet what caught my attention was the necklace the rested at the top of her cleavage. Saint Peter’s cross rested in silver on her skin, that alone told me one of two things. One she was a woman of the devil or two she was a woman who was humble and I could decide which meaning I wished to be true.

“(Y/N) you’re here! You said you’d be coming on Tuesday!” Wrapping her arm around (y/n) Jane jumped up and down in excitement with a huge grin on her face. Letting out a small chuckle (y/n) hugged her friend back softly. “I may have told a small lie in order to surprise you, I figured if I came today I can get started on unpacking. Some of my stuff is in the back. Besides I figured I could treat you to lunch if you weren’t busy.” Jane pulled away from the hug and laughs”I’m not busy at all besides it was a lie that was meant for something good. Oh! That’s father Sanji , he’s the one I told you about!”

Y/n’s pov:

I looked where Jane pointed and my eyes widened for a second , when Jane mentioned a father Sanji I was expecting some middle aged man. Not some hot dude who looked our age, he had a goatee, and his blonde hair was pulled back into a lose ponytail yet he had this fringe that covers his right eye. In all honesty I only thought priests like him only existed in fanfics, but hey I wasn’t going to complain.

“Well in that case good afternoon father , I hope your sermon went well.” I give him a small grin. I observed how he stiffened up before shakily smiling back. “I-it did , thank you.” Fighting back a smirk I gave him a small nod. “I hope we can properly converse some other time, though it was nice to finally met you. Jane here wouldn’t stop rambling about her new friend father Sanji” I chuckle a bit. I take a few steps forward and open the passenger side door for Jane.

“Perhaps the next time Jane comes? “ Sanji spoke and i could faintly hear tiniest bit of hope in. Smirking to myself a shut the door once Jane got in the hearse. Taking my time walking to the divers side I give the priest a small teasing grin. “Maybe, but I’m not worthy of stepping into the lords house father. Yet I might just this once if that’s what you’d allow me father?” Letting out a cough Sanji nods and I take that as a sign to get into the drivers seat.

As I drive away I head Jane giggle “you gave the poor man a nose bleed! I had a feeling he struggled deeply with the sin of lust but still!” Letting out a snort and small chuckle i sake my head a bit “maybe I will join you the next time I go, he was hot. Maybe I should pray and thank god for making him?” I joke with a loud laugh earning me a small smack on my shoulder.

“I thought you weren’t very religious (n/n) ?” Jane teases. “If he’s the father around here I might just have a reason the attend church even if it’s for selfish reasons”

#one piece x reader #one piece sanji #priest sanji #vinsmoke sanji #reader insert #female reader

[bestworstcase]

Okay so about halfway down this post https://www.tumblr.com/bestworstcase/732581936677158912/what-do-you-make-of-ozmas-motivations-given-that?source=share I was struck with a sudden realization and I'm curious of your thoughts on it. Jaune as the Rusted Knight is a stand-in for Ozma. Driven by guilt over the people he couldn't save, and determined to save everyone else whether they want it or not. Like, holding the Paper Pleasers hostage is analogous to Ozma's laser focus on preparing humanity for the gods' return, or rather, on preventing humanity from becoming something that doesn't need the gods' return. Like maybe there's nothing here past the surface level? This is one of those things that just hit me and I'm writing it down before it leaves my brain forever yk

no yeah absolutely ->

“they don’t know what they want! […] afterans are all either too clever, too stupid, or too crazy to trust!”

“i feared that making you all aware would only add anxiety and negativity. [not telling them grimm are attracted to the relics] seemed like the safer option.” and “i believed the kingdom of mistral deserved better than the truth.”

and “do you really think leo was the first? […] i’m sorry, but you have to understand that my behaviors are backed by experience. i’m not saying i have reason to think you will betray me; i’m saying that i have reasons for the things i do, the secrets i keep, the reason i…”

so all those times you talked about having faith in humanity, that was just for everyone else?

same behavior. same condescension. same motive—to protect the vulnerable (ignorant, dependent) people of an unfamiliar world from annihilation. and just as ozma repeats the same cycle over and over again across every life, so does jaune do the same things every single day; both of them stagnating in circles of their own making.

two things interest me about this.

the first is that jaune is, prior to V9, salem’s heroic foil—the “lovable idiot stuck in the tree while his friends fight for their lives,” the girl in the tower watching her father slaughter everyone who tries to help her. both of them defined by grief; cinder is to jaune as the god of light is to salem. what sets jaune apart from salem is that she just wanted to be free—whereas he wanted to be the hero.

so once jaune is forced into a position where he can’t save somebody [mercy-killing penny = killing ozma + the girls dying in the crossfire] that breaks him in the opposite direction it broke salem; she gives up and withdraws to live in isolation among grimm, he rots in this scenario he created where he gets to be the heroic protector. and in doing so he becomes ozma.

the interesting piece here is that the resolution to this arc, his restoration, comes by way of jaune letting go of his paranoid fear of the tree and accepting what the afterans told him: the tree doesn’t kill, it resurrects and rebuilds. it destroys in order to create.

in… other words, jaune-as-ozma doesn’t understand the importance of life and death. jaune-as-ozma cannot break his curse until he learns that the tree’s endless wheel of life-death-rebirth isn’t evil or cruel.

the second is that jaune as the rusted knight acts out of irrational fear: the certain threat of annihilation he imagines isn’t real. ozma, of course, heard “your world will be wiped from existence” directly from the god of light himself, so he has much greater reason to believe in it. but…

where is the god of darkness? if he still exists as he was then, does he know? did he agree to put humanity up to this test? if he ascended and became something new, he cannot return to remnant with his brother at all and his choice to ascend amounts to a permanent decision to leave remnant as it is and let humanity do as it will. is the divine contract even enforceable? can the brothers take back the power they abdicated when they left the planet in flames behind them?

the paper pleasers ascended and returned in a new form that could not be threatened by the force that wiped them out. the brothers revoked their blessings and wiped humankind off the face of the planet; salem remade herself in the pool of grimm, and humanity rose from the ashes.

for it is in passing we achieve immortality: through this we become a paragon of virtue and glory, infinite in distance and unbound by death. i release your soul, and by my shoulder protect thee.

our souls transcend death, says salem, who lived to see the mass grave the brothers left behind heave itself back to life again.

this force of pure destruction could not destroy a being of infinite life, so it created a being of infinite life with a desire for pure destruction. (humans are both destruction and creation, dark and light in one.)

when alyx’s life ended, she chose to leave a part of herself behind: a wish to fix what she had broken…

…as salem fixed the broken moon.

remnant isn’t the brothers’ world; it is the world that became after the old world died. the tree does not kill; it resurrects and rebuilds. what power do the brothers actually have in this world they did not create?

#v9 is sooo juicy. also #the cat is to jaune as jinn is to ozma #alyx broke her promise to the cat #salem lied to darkness by omission #jinn tells them of dark’s loneliness #she tells them salem understood him #& the heart very rarely forgets. #at every level the math checks out.

[nenilein]

I've started archiving (and translating) the field conversations from Puyo Puyo Fever 2!

Unlike most other Puyo Puyo games, Fever 2 doesn’t only tell its story through the regular story mode (RunRun, WakuWaku, HaraHara). In between each part of the story mode, the player is given the option to explore Primp Town, talk to the characters in the various locations there, receive gifts from them and even listen in on private conversations between the characters. These “field conversations” can only be viewed once per save file and and are missable, making them a bit of a pain to archive. So, for purposes of posterity, I decided to go through the entire game, record every single field conversation and translate them all.

Here's the doc with the translations for the conversations archived in the video above: LINK

Here are some of my personal highlights:

Rei: (The sign he is holding reads:) Yu is my twin sister. Rei: I wish I could say that we’re always together, but… Rei: …she’s almost never here.

Sig: “... The “Memory of Chuu”, huh…” Akuma:  “Ah, the legendary Memory of Chuu. I see you are hard at your studies, ma.” Sig: “....................” Akuma: “...ma?” Sig: “... zzzzz … zzzzz…” Akuma: “He’s sleeping, ma!?”

Klug: “Don’t make the mistake of underestimating me. The Klug who stands before you is not the Klug of yesterday, oh no! Are you ready for my true potential?” Raffina:  “Oh please, how much could you possibly have improved in one day? It is steady, daily practice that makes perfect. Ms. Accord herself said so.” Klug: “Heh heh, I suppose we should put that claim to the test in a match then! Now, should we use custom handicaps? I will set mine to “Spicy” and yours to “Mild”. That only seems fair.” Raffina:  “If you are trying to prove something to me, then have it your way! You will see where it gets you!”

Yu: “Whoopsie! Sometimes I totally forget you exist, Rei!” Rei: (The sign he is holding reads:) I’m used to it. Yu: “Sorries~!”

Klug: “Eheheheh… You see, this book I carry on my person… I actually borrowed it from the Library department here.” Klug:  “Who would’ve thought that a volume with such grand, dark power was hiding here all along!” Klug: “Of course, it takes true greatness to control its might. I am most likely the only one capable of this feat!” Klug: “Now, please excuse me. I have to go and extend my lease on the tome again…”

Klug: “Professor, I have a question regarding an item.” Accord:  “Which item is it about?” Klug: “The ‘Memory of Chuu’. It has been the talk of the town as of late.” Accord: “Ah, the ‘Memory of Chuu’. It is said that it tempts your opponent with their sweetest memories, causing them to lose the will to battle.” Accord: “There is an old poem that describes the effect in lyric, but I must admit I have never seen this item myself. I must wonder if it even exists.” Klug: “The fact that you, with your tendency to keep secrets from us, say this makes me even more sure that it does exist. …The ‘Memory of Chuu’... I should investigate the matter…” Accord:  “Dear, oh dear… That is not nice, Klug. You should really have a little more faith in your teacher.” Klug: “Excuse me, but you do have a history!”

Klug: “Have you ever seen a ‘Memory of Chuu’ with your own eyes?” Dapper: “Of course I have. I may not look it, but even I was in love once and had a partner.” Klug:  “Do you need a romantic partner to be allowed to carry a Memory of Chuu?” Dapper: “...You’re still a little too young to be talking about this, I’m afraid. Let’s stop this right here.” Klug:  “I… I read the monthly Darkmaque!!”

#puyo puyo #Puyo Pop #Puyo #Puyo Pop fever #puyo puyo fever 2 #neni translates #Youtube

[mishwanders]

Mish the beloved I have come bearing a request. I would like to humbly ask for a chain x reader where some of them (it doesn’t matter who) starts catching feelings only to find out reader was working for dink and feeding him info about the chain. I would also like to request that it be angsty as humanly possible

(Also could i possibly be 🐰anon if it’s not taken 👀)

-Possible 🐰 anon

You, 🐰 Nonnie - I like the way your brain thinks and honestly this is perfect for this month. I went with Time because, well, easy target lol

Characters: LU Time x GN!Reader

A/N+Warnings: violence, minor amount of body horror (I held myself back), ANGST, safe for everyone who wants to have their hearts ripped out and stomped on before I shove it back into your chest cavity. Written by Mishwanders - pls do not repost.

This isn’t how it was supposed to go. How could they all have been so blind?

You were one of them, you had been a part of their group since the beginning. They cared for you, laughed with you, stood by you when it felt like the world was crashing down around you, and this is how you repay them? By stabbing them in the back?

Time could feel the ache of a wound in his back where the blade once laid, crumpling to the ground as he tried to turn to face you. He was horrified at the visage of you that now stood before him. You were no longer the sweet, kind, and caring person he’d known, no longer a person he’d recognized - but something else, something much sinister.

You smiled as you watched all of the pieces begin to fall into place for him, how his world began to crumble around him at the realization that the person he’d grown to trust most would be his downfall.

And there was nothing the others could do about.

You had worked alongside the Shadow on creating a plan on how to lure them into their own little dark corners of the forest, where their own trials would begin, their faith and strengths tested. But Times was not a trial, no, it was different. It was the reason you were all here in the first place.

Time felt his heart pounding against the cage of his chest, the anguish running through him, the rage of the fierce deity inside him begging to be set free to put an end to this at once. But Time couldn’t bring himself to do it, to let the beast free. You meant everything to him and he knew you felt the same, so why this? Why now?

Before he even dared to speak the question into existence, his answer came clearly to him through the fog that curled around your feet, the heavy presence that hung over him, waiting like a guillotine to be dropped on his outstretched neck. Before he could even make a move to defend himself, the black fog around him pulled him down against the ground, taking hold of the wound on his back and rooted into his body.

The pain was excruciating and he bellowed in agony, but it was only heard by you and the trees. You knelt down beside him, caressing his face in your hands as you forced him to look at you. An all knowing smile played on your lips, one that Time would have likened to a snake. Your voice came out as a hiss of a whisper as you spoke.

“Don’t think of this as the end, darling. Think of it as coming home.”

Then he heard another voice, or rather, two he’d defeated so long ago. One a shadow of himself, the other a deity who once tried to bring down the moon.

“Missed me?”

#lu time #time x reader #lu time x reader #linked universe x reader #linked universe #sfe #writing: time

[lexa-griffins]

hey :) i just wanted to ask for any random things you may have about nun lexa nsfw or not she’s just one of my favorite lexa’s of yours

Why yes I do!

One of Lexa's favorite places is the convent gardens. The extend beyond what the eye can see, always is bloom, so well kept by the nuns who find in it a quiet place for prayer and reflection. Although Lexa is rarely assigned garden duty as she is much more important in her teaching position, ever so often she'll be asked to watch over the novices as they tend to the garden, all still so young they tend to lose themselves in chatter.

Clarke is often seen here now, a clear addition to the view. She carries sacks of seeds and harvest produce, sweating under the hot sun as she pushes the small wheelbarrow around. Lexa rather enjoys watching her work, much stronger than the smaller novices that walk around, some of which seem to enjoy looking at the older woman as much as Lexa does before Lexa chastises them for it with only a glance.

The sun is high and hot when Lexa decides to excuse herself for a drink at the small well further down, nicely tuck in the shade wall and a tree, hidden from anyone who doesn't know it exists.

The coldness of the water is a miracle and Lexa thanks God for providing this little slice of shade that seems untouched by the flaming sun. The water drips down her chin freely and Lexa lets it, enjoying the coldness on her skin.

"Rather refreshing isn't it?"

Lexa opens her eyes immediately at the sound of Clarke's voice. That constant raspiness that never leaves it, the one that haunts her dreams and makes her ask for forgiveness as she lets it guide her hand between her legs.

"Have you come to quench you thirst as well?" Lexa asks rather innocently.

She tries to hide the way Clarke just standing next to her affects her but she has found herself rather unlucky at that. The linen fabric of her tunic clings to her body with sweat, showing in a rather scandalous fashion the curves of her upper body that make Lexa heart beat faster.

The smirk she wears only makes Lexa's breathing quicken along with her heart, "Oh, you have no idea."

It enrages her how she always finds herself like this, no matter how much she promises the lord that she will not sin like this again, will not let the devil tempt her heart like this no more.

But she is human, weak of flesh and blood. Commanded by a heart full of sin and a lust sent to test her faith over and over again.

"Clarke! Please!" She manages to half whisper to the woman hidden underneath the skirt of her habit, tongue devilishly lapping at her cunt as if it has not seen anything that resembles water in a millennia.

With a leg over Clarke's shoulder as the girl holds her hips in place, Lexa finds herself unable to push her fully away or so she pretends. It's easier like that. It is Clarke, the devilish witch that came to seduce her and strain her away from her path, she is the one who makes her, who forces her into such acts and try as she might Lexa cannot fight her, she can only pray her sins will be forgiven but it's all a farce after all, Lexa is the one who looks for the hidden places she knows Clarke will find her in, as long since been the one to deepen the kisses, to beg her for more.

And Clarke obeys her request, quickening the movements of her tongue, evolving Lexa's clit with her lips and sucking, leaving Lexa to wonder if the stars she sees behind her eyelids are a sign of God or the devil.

"Clarke! Oh Clarke!" It leaves her mouth like a forbidden hymn, the only name she wishes to say when euphoria travels through her, back against the wall, the delightful feeling that runs through her something only Clarke, not a God, ever managed to rip from her.

Clarke emerges from under the habit a disheveled mess, short hair climbing to her face as Lexa's released dripping from her chin freely and Clarke let's it.

She kisses her gently. Her lips taste like sweat and the sweet taste Lexa has come to recognize has her own. It's addicting to both. The kiss, the taste, the feeling that grows stronger between them. Lexa questions what will happen it becomes too much for them for these quick moments to no longer be enough.

#letter opened #au: nun lexa #! ah i missed writing them! #🥰 so happy to hear you love this Lexa!!! i adore her too!

[032517]

sleep token lyric starters (pt 2)

feel free to change pronouns or adjust sentences to fit situations .

"give in to your love."

"drag me under again."

"i made loving you a blood sport."

"i'm still your favorite regret."

"you're still my weapon of choosing."

"i want to be forgiven."

"i want to choke up chunks of my own sins."

"let me pay for my arrogance."

"won't you show me your weakness?"

"call me when they bury bodies under water."

"they talk me through the damage, consequence, and how it's a pain they know they don't understand."

"weather me to notion, wash away the blood on my hands."

"did you not say we were made for each other?"

"i'll find a different harbor to lay my anchor in."

"you'll find a different way to keep from setting sail again."

"i'm still full of the love you want."

"i reach for you on faith alone."

"seems your heart is locked up and i still get the combination wrong."

"are you simply waiting to save your love for someone i am not?"

"too many swallowed keys will make you bleed someday."

"maybe you believe that in the end, you will be better off that way?"

"won't you fall for me?"

"my insecurities surround me like lions in the den."

"i feel like i'm losing touch with what i am again."

"i remember why i cannot pretend."

"you guide me in to safety and silence."

"as you breathe me out, i drink you in."

"we go beyond the furthest reaches, where the light bends and wraps beneath us."

"i know as you collapse into me, this is the start of something."

"i still avoid my own questions."

"we both bury that history deep."

"you know i can hold my breath forever."

"you are still a perfect reminder."

"it seems my hell is your high water."

"i'll smile through the agony for you."

"i know you still bear the weight of your own existence."

"i'd give anything to borrow your indifference."

"the stories you never told to me…"

"you keep me sharp and test my worth in blood."

"you got me in a chokehold."

"i'll turn my walls to gold to bring you home again."

"take me past the edge."

"won't you show me what it's like?"

"did i mistake you for a sign from god?"

"i would be lying if i told you that i didn't wish i could be your man."

"you won't ever want to talk about it."

"i was more than a body in your passenger seat."

"you were more than just somebody i was destined to meet."

"you gave me nothing whatsoever but a reason to leave."

"you say you want me but you know i'm not what you need."

"we'd rather be six feet under than be lonely."

"putting down the roses picking up the sword."

"my past is a holy book."

"these days i'm a picture frame."

"are you in pain like i am?"

"there is always something in the way."

"i wanna have you to myself for once."

"i wanna go where nobody else will ever go."

"i'm not here to be the savior you long for, only the one you don't."

"show me what wounds you've got."

"we were not young enough to know."

"and you think i don't notice."

"standing between collapsing walls, wearing a smile like you can't bear it anymore."

"will you show me the damage?"

"how much did they hurt you?"

"how much did they break you?"

"how far did they take you?"

"you will never be the same."

#( memes. ) #starter meme #rp ask meme #lyric meme

[smallnico]

11, 12, and 13 for esper on the dark urge past life asks!

under the cut! (rubs hands together)

11. The other cultists. How did your Durge view them? Did they enjoy their following or did they dread being idolised?

esper was pretty numb to everything back in the day. as far as they were concerned, their feelings were ultimately irrelevant, since their divinity came less from who they were and more from What they were, as the scion, chosen, and demi-mortal avatar of bhaal. the way they feel about it is sort of how one could expect a cup to feel about its role -- firmly neutral and unthinking, only concerned with carrying the liquid inside, since that's the part fhat matters, not the vessel. it's not them being idolized -- it's the divinity inside of them. so they lead the congregation, offer up their blood to drink, do the best they can to lead a cult that is as good at honouring bhaal as it can be, and then spending any and all free time they have as far away from the unearned adullation as possible.

it never mattered to esper what they thought about being a living holy relic, and they were more than happy to repeat the dogma verbally to anyone who asked. but real talk they're functionally two different people when they're in charge of the cult; there's the Scion of Bhaal, and then there's esper/the dark urge, who is a deathstalker who did all the trials to become one fairly, who is more concerned with the temple's finances and security and sustainability of sacrifices than they are with being an object of worship. both parts are their job and they take both parts seriously. (they do find the latter a lot more enjoyable than the former, though, since it requires more skill and personality.)

as for the other cultists, esper went back and forth on regarding them as family and regarding them as a nuisance. they felt responsible for the bhaalists in the capacity of a leader and employed the bare minimum of care it took to keep them happy, but ultimately as long as the temple was orderly and the faithful did what they needed to with competence when called upon to do so, esper mostly let them do their own thing and didn't form personal attachments, seeing as family murder perpetrator trauma etc etc, bhaal taught them everyone is disposable etc etc. that said, the bhaalists generally knew esper's discipline was the discipline of bhaal, and testing esper's patience is a mistake nobody ever got away with making twice. they grew up in a menzoberranzan noble house and a lot of their formative baby memories are of people trying to kill them before giving up and sending them to the oubliette for existing, followed by a lifetime of sharing a body with the urge. esper didn't live in a world that allowed for forgiveness or unpunished fuckery, much less fondness or nurturing.

12. Durge gave a gold coin to a beggar once; why did they do it? Did this occur regularly?

i'll be completely real here, doing this would be pretty out of character for even post-tadpole esper. :,) they're a big fan of having money and stealing money and tricking people into giving them money (especially people who annoy or offend them) and they don't let go of it if they don't have something to gain. old habits die hard and the temple doesn't fund itself. esper was either paying the beggar for a service, giving away spare change, or attempting to appear normal in front of a crowd or the guard. they could also be impelled to do a kindness to someone just to spite sceleritas if he'd been particularly annoying lately.

i think this particular instance would have shocked sceleritas so much if esper was paying the beggar to look the other way after he noticed Suspicious Activity, as opposed to just killing him. but especially later in their tenure as durge, esper became numb and disillusioned with their lack of control, generally only bothering to kill for their tenday sacrifice.

13. Orin has her faithful group of changelings. Did your Durge have a similar 'personal guard' or task force at their beck and call?

not really. the bhaalists in general were theirs to command, but esper preferred to work alone except on big projects. they'd been known to lash out at people who got in their way instead of doing something more useful. they don't like having to direct people. the only bhaalists they kept as an inner circle were particularly competent or "trustworthy" ones like orin, sarevok, sceleritas, whoever did the temple treasury, a couple of deathstalkers they made go through the classical exams, plus a smattering of heads of other bhaalist temples along the sword coast. a lot of the time those people would do the people-managing for them. they're more comfortable with receiving orders than giving them.

#chronurgy #the askbox #ask game #thank!!!!!! #durgeposting #cw durge? plus a bit of child abuse. not more than necessary to tell the tale

[sisterssafespace]

Assalamu alaykum

[I don’t know if you post or reply anymore but I’m just gonna do it]

Lately I haven’t been on deen. I haven’t been praying properly or reading my Quran like it should be read. So I started feeling paranoid. Allah put this fear in me and I felt like someone was watching me all the time. I spoke to my mum about this last night and she told me she felt the same almost 20 years ago and that she also wasn’t praying or reading the Quran. So before I went to bed last night, I read surah al fatihah, ayat ul kursi, and the last three surahs three times. I made a dua asking for forgiveness and mercy for me and my family.

Subhanallah something amazing happened. I felt like a saw a fraction of Allah’s power and greatness. It suddenly brought me to tears. I realised I was less than nothing compared to Allah and I hated that it took me 15 years to realise that.

My problem is that I have tried to be a good Muslim before and I have. For two days. Then I went back to my old ways. Last night felt like what I saw was genuine and real rather than what I’ve been doing the past few years. So how can I keep myself from tempting myself to do things that are against the deen? I genuinely want to change and become a better Muslim. But how can I do that with all of the distractions in this world? Any tips or advice?

و عليكم السلام و رحمة اللّٰه و بركاته 🍃

First of all, please accept my apology for the delay, I was traveling and didn't have a stable network..

Secondly, let us appreciate this ask and your story for a moment, Allahuma barik, I love these inspiring stories that can always prove to anyone in need that Allah swt is always there, only one prayer away, one duaa away, no matter how far or astray we think of ourselves to be, Allah swt is always near! You see, when you felt that there is something wrong or scary around you, you knew exactly what to do, you immediately turned to Allah swt because that's our fitrah, that's how we are built and programmed, He swt designed us that way, Alhamdullillah. And immediately He swt answered and provided for you safety, security, protection, and calmness. Allah swt doesn't need much from us, He is always waiting for us to call upon Him, so please do not forget that, even if one happens to sometimes forget that strong bond we have with Allah swt, it never disappears or stops existing.

Now here is the thing, one of the devil's favorite things to do is to try and distract the believers the moment they find their way back to Allah swt -He said, “For leaving me to stray I will lie in ambush for them on Your Straight Path. [7:16] - Shaytan has promised Allah swt that he will try and make sure to distract the believers when they're walking on Allah's straight path, when they are finding their way back or making their steps toward Allah swt. It has been also known that the stronger your faith or your desire to walk toward Allah swt, the harder Shaytan will try and distract you. And that will not make the believer weak or ' a bad Muslim ' , that's just how things are, that's the system, that's the test. All we have to do is try to stay firm and try to fight off the distractions, try to keep our eyes on the goal, that is getting closer to Allah swt and pleasing Him swt.

And remember, we are human beings, we are supposed to slip, we are supposed to make mistakes, we are supposed to sin, but the challenge is not to dispair, not to lose hope in Allah's mercy and to keep going back and keep asking for forgiveness every single time. Remember that Allah swt said that Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said "By the One in Whose Hand my soul is! If you do not commit sins, Allah would replace you with a people who would commit sins and seek forgiveness from Allah; and Allah will certainly forgive them."

And He ﷺ also said “All of the children of Adam are sinners, and the best sinners are those who repent.”

So do not let the human tendency we have toward sinning discourage you or make you lose hope, and do not let Shaytan get into your head and let you believe that you are a bad Muslim or that you don't deserve Allah swt's mercy and forgiveness.

I know the world is very distracting and very destructive, especially if you live in the western world, may Allah swt help our brothers and sisters living in non-Muslim countries and strengthen their faith, and keep their hearts firm on the deen ya rab! But you are going to go with babysteps because the most beloved deeds to Allah swt are the smallest but the most permanent, the ones we don't quit them.. I say build a routine where you prioritize your daily five prayers, and if you can insert a few sunnah prayers like the sunnah of Fajr or Dhuha prayer that would be amazing! Make sure you stick to morning and evening adhkar because they are your way to remember Allah swt abundantly in your day, and through them He swt will protect you from all evil, all distractions, and help you stay focused. To remind yourself to do you can use apps, there are great Islam related apps that you can have on your phone either for deen in general or for duaas and adhkar, some apps offer to set a reminder on your phone and alarm you at the right time to read your adhkar, to pray, to read your daily Quran, etc..

Also, whatever it is that is causing you distraction ( for e.g. social media, series, movies, music) you can limit your consumption of that, you can uninstall certain apps or lock them, only use them a limited time in your day, I have recently replied to an ask about that you can also check in and In shaa Allah it will be beneficial for you.

The most important thing is that you don't despair, you don't guilt-trap yourself and you keep your hope in Allah swt's mercy because He swt said " قُلْ يَا عِبَادِيَ الَّذِينَ أَسْرَفُوا عَلَىٰ أَنْفُسِهِمْ لَا تَقْنَطُوا مِنْ رَحْمَةِ اللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًا ۚ إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ

Say, `O My servants who have committed excesses against their own souls, do not despair of the mercy of Allâh. Surely, Allâh forgives all sins. Verily, He is the Great Protector, the Ever Merciful.'

Allahu al mustaān 🤍

- A. Z. 🍃

#sisterssafespace

[source-of-support]

Follow your own path or follow mine, there is no other way.

My path has a goal. to keep us going. To glorify the humanity in us, to foster the humanity in us, to have compassion for those in need but to allow for the freedom to choose what that compassion looks like.

I see your path. It has paved the earth in celebration of convenience.

and once I am able to walk, you will tell me to work to walk. All I want is to walk. A free range human caged and then recaged and let out after sunset.

Are you a person of principle?

I refrain from being caught.

Do you think that a person should work for you if they’re compensated?

Does the person have free will? Are they under threat of coercion?

They struggle but became happier within the confines of their fellow’s will.

I am no such man.

what is writing but the private conversation between oneself and oneself recorded for another’s perusal.

Novels are as such but not notes.

Do I write notes?

What I hypothesize about my questioner is that I am an object of observation. That it is not my response which is noteworthy. Nor is it my humanity. What my questioner, I hypothesize, wants, is my obedience. my will being a controlled variable. my resistance a known quantity.

Do you know the proper way to test hypotheses? a humane way? an ethical way? how do you propose to test this hypothesis.

I don’t. I simply observe and wait. If I see something questionable, I assume it’s my mind seeing a disparity between what I believe and what I see. I believe you’re similar. You don’t quite know what you’re questioning when you ask me what my method is if you don’t know I’m not testing.

I suppose after the fact, I’d know. Which begs the question. If you know that I am observing you as you do me, but you also know I believe you to be duplicitous, you must avoid this outcome. The obvious way to do this is to gaslight. So I and you now know that gaslighting is the object of our investigation. If, and yes I said object, if you gaslight me, I am free to leave our psycho fuck relationship without worry of reprisal or repercussion.

If you gaslight me and are caught in a lie, a slip of the tongue, a loss of neutral optimism for my recovery and entrance into a profession that I, mayhap, would like, then what?

What I dislike about my situation is my positive responsibility to posit a mode of human experience that can result from my desire to walk without overthrowing some core tenet of current modes of human experience. Am I a coward for this? yes. Disliking human realities and responsibilities is a coward’s way. it leads to the dark side. Do I follow your path or my path? My own obviously. You and those around you failed to show me a means of experiencing my life as it is or could be under your methods without my pain and anguish.

My own path I forge here and now, in times of tribulation. Do you understand my position? I am attempting to posit, as a knight of faith, one who sees the only thing holding me back is me and my desire to avoid consequences, to abstain from positing a role a person can play in their own life.

I do not have an adequate understanding of knights of faith to say what it is. I know that to me, those who are knights of faith are those to whom Robin Williams is Captain O Captain. To Posit by example to no one but themselves that mode which is theirs alone.

A book passed down to those who are important to the author.

A mode such as the ninja. to float in and out of maya and throw a fog clearing book into maya to earn enough maya coins to rise above the need to enter maya.

A single sentence is enough, too many more and the fog may be lifted permanantly.

This is my dilemma to live in maya and not be able to tell others around me that it’s there. I get a yes and as if I am a rube intruding on my fellow’s drinking. Yes, and? you gonna piss your sentence away on cranberry juice?

Is generational wealth written into existence? For some yes. Who’d whore out a page of the sacred book. It may not even be theirs to whore out. Stolen, pilfered, plundered and pillaged. Would you lay with the book? I’d think twice about buying my own book if I could erase memory of writing it.

[empress-of-hugs]

Priests and Conjurors are of the same trade

Click the title to read on AO3

House strides into the impressive building without so much as a glance at the intricate stained glass windows or the ornate pillars. He ignores the way his cane taps on the marble floors and how every step he takes echoes in perpetuity. He draws up to the stately figure dressed in solemn black with only a flash of the purest white at the collar. “Father,” House says, his voice bellowing through the cavernous space. “I know I remember I told you to rest. Is your god so almighty that a little walking pneumonia isn’t going to slow you down? Because if that’s the case, you might wanna phone him up and tell him he’s slacking.” 

The large man smiles just barely. “God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength but with your testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it. One Corinthians, verses ten to thirteen.” 

House rolls his eyes. “Let it not be said that he who is stubborn and without proper rest could possibly blame his doctor. Me, just now. Verse something or other.” 

Father Moren’s smile widens just a little. “I will rest soon, Doctor House. After I take care of a few more things.” He turns, carefully dusting a ledge behind him. 

“You’re infecting other people, you know!” House says as he leans in, supporting his weight with his cane. “You should be lying down, you know, since you have walking pneumonia.” 

Father Moren does not turn around, quoting what House is certain is yet another phrase from his holy book; it seems to be the only way the old man is capable of communicating, something House finds utterly detestable. “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might, for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going.” 

“Yeah, whatever.” House shakes his head and turns around, he doesn’t want to deal with it anymore. The only reason he even came to check in on the priest is that Wilson bet him fifty bucks that the guy would’ve taken House’s advice; obviously, he had to prove Wilson wrong. “If you don’t go and lie down soon, your body is most likely going to do it for you. Should I stick around to call the ambulance or does your god have that covered too?” 

The priest doesn’t respond, instead focusing on his task; wiping away dust from yet another ledge. Every now and then, a ghastly cough escapes him. House watches him for a few moments before turning and walking back down the aisle. There is no point in trying to convince a man that stubborn. He should know, he’s even more stubborn. 

About halfway down the aisle, he realizes he needs to sit down. His leg is hurting; a throbbing, stabbing pain that takes over his entire world. He looks back for a moment, not really wanting to sit down in the pews. There are few people in the church, some praying, others doing menial chores or simply existing in the space. House wants to be no part of this crowd. 

He spots a curtain, from which a small breeze comes through. It parts the deep-purple fabric, revealing a simple but comfortable-looking chair in the relative peace of a small, closed-off space. Without thought, House sets out for it. 

He sits, closing the curtain behind him. A small wooden booth surrounds him, a lattice-covered window to his left. A confessional, House suddenly understands. It doesn’t matter. No one will be here this time of day, he’s sure. After taking two Vicodin, he leans his head on the grip of his cane. For a few, blissful seconds he finds some manner of peace, but then the window is suddenly pulled open further and the shadow of another person blocks most of the light that once spilled through. Through a haze of pain, House mutters something unintelligible. 

The person on the other side hesitates for only a moment before a quiet but familiar voice rolls over House. “Forgive me Father, for I have sinned. I have committed the sin of fornication with my colleague. I went over to her house with the intention to see how she was doing after an accident at work. I… I have no real recollection of how it happened, but… we, we fornicated. Also, I have committed the sin of masturbation and pornography. I searched out pornographic images that resemble a man I have strong but confusing feelings for. Possibly I committed the sin of homosexuality, though I might have to get back to you on that…” The voice trails off into nothingness and House sits frozen in his chair. 

“My son,” he says gravely, deepening his voice as best he can. “Who have you fornicated with?” 

“Her name is Cameron, Father. Allison is her first name, but I never call her that. I called her that when we – err, using her last name felt strange in that moment. Also, we used a condom, which, I mean, given the circumstances…”

House waits for a moment, but no words follow. “Tell me,” he says simply, “of these ‘circumstances’.” 

“She… at the time we thought she might’ve contracted HIV.”

“And you still did her?” House couldn’t stop the words from coming out. He wondered if Chase recognized his voice, but as the younger man muttered some useless explanation he realized he hadn’t. House raised his eyebrows. “And this man you have all these confusing feelings for, what’s his name?” 

Chase hesitated. “Father? You’ve never asked these kinds of questions before.” 

“That’s because I didn’t really care before. But your immortal soul is at stake here, pay attention. What’s his name?” 

“Forman,” Chase said quickly. “Eric Foreman. He… he also works with Cameron and myself.” 

“And you wanna do him, too?” 

“I’m… not certain. Parts of me do want to, I believe. Otherwise I’d have no reason to seek out images of men that resemble him.” 

“You have no reason to seek out those images anyway,” House says confidently. “You see him every day.” 

“I see him… clothed,” Chase murmurs. “The images I seek out… are different.” 

House smiles. “You could always ask him to pose in the nude. Maybe he could use the extra money? After all, you’re rich.”

“Father,” Chase sighs, “I’ve told you this. My father is rich; I may be a doctor but that doesn’t automatically make me rich. I can’t afford to pay any more than I already am.” 

House deepens his voice. "Well, that's a shame, my son. God's forgiveness relies on your contribution to His church." 

"God's forgiveness isn't for sale!" Chase protests. 

House raises his eyebrows. "It is if you aren't actually sorry. If you'd honestly feel bad about what you did you wouldn't have to bribe the Almighty."

Chase sighs. "Alright, I'll pay for the children’s summer camp."

"Just so we're clear, you aren't sorry?"

Another sigh escapes the younger man. "I'll consider being sorry. But for now… I just wish Foreman would look at me." 

House smiles to himself. "You pay for the summer camp and I'll ask God to make that happen."

After Chase has left,  House toys with his cane. "Foreman," he mutters. "Chase and Foreman… this could be fun."

#domaystic2023 #domaystic day 9 #Prompt: mistaken identity #sfw #house md #greg house #gregory house #robert chase #confessions #humor #fanfiction #fanfic #house md fanfiction

[garak-pussy-indulgence]

i would read your candyman dissertation ms garak-pussy-indulgence

There's so much I want to say I cannot get it all out into one post like how do I organize that shit.

Ok number one. the fuck. Jesus okay wait there are so many takes I have about this movie

First off I love that it's an elaboration on a typical horror movie. They lay out the "there's a scary guy who appears in the mirror when you say his name and kills you with his hook" premise in the first FIVE MINUTES and the rest of the movie is spent going BEYOND THAT. You could definitely just make a movie about Candyman killing a dwindling party of teens or whatever the whole time or and have yourself a slasher film. But no. No!!!?! The movie decides to keep going further and explore What That Means. What is an urban legend? Is an urban legend itself a phantom? Can enough people manifest these things simply by believing in them? Is Candyman real? It's uncertain for the whole film if he was a real entity, or if Helen just invented him and she was the actual person doing the killings like everyone assumed. Was it both? Can you lose control to a character you create in your own head? Let me tell you about what happened when I was 15. I'm not gonna do that but listen it's about the belief. He needs the faith of his congregation. The swarm of bees in his chest and the constant pervasive choir in the film's score represents the masses who believe in the Candyman, who are afraid of him, who tell each other stories and warn others about him. That gives him life. He exists and lives as rumor and thrives in other people's words. Fuck. Fuck. ALSO. Love the takes on gentrification and minority communities in urban areas. When Helen's taking her lil pictures of the apartments for her college project and Anne-Marie comes out of her door like "Hi I fucking live here and I am a person actually." The whole story of the white woman involving herself in shit that she doesn't need to be part of just because she won't take any of it seriously and just wants to do her creepypasta research on the scary ghetto location where a real person actually died. This is the only shit I'm going to talk on Helen no disrespect to her I love her and that's probably not the biggest thing you're supposed to take away from the film but it's a take I formed in my brain. Another take I formed is that Helen and Bernadette are in love. Also when people say horror is about love they mean Candyman only because nobody else is doing it like this fucking film from 1992 alright. Bitches love the romantic murder men. Tony Todd has it nailed. Weirdo men wanting to kill me is not okay that happens all the time. Gentlemen wanting to kill me and being very polite and gentle about it? I love u I trust you I'm absolutely on board. Straight up I want to be killed romantically if I die in any way at all. Phillip Glass wrote the most lovely killer gorgeous breathtaking bounce-off-the-fucking-walls-and-burrow-into-the-earth-with-my-hands score for this film and this movie would NOT be what it is if not for the music. Absolutely fucking not. Just listen to the soundtrack or I will fucking find you do not test me. It's so much. You're gonna play absolutely celestial divine music that sounds like purest form of love while the scary guy is coming to stab you? Nobody is fUCKING doing it like this movie. It's the bliss of it all. Man door hand hook car door is gonna get ya but for some reason you're absolutely floating on a cloud made of pure light and he's also your boyfriend. Everything is on fire including you and you could not be more at peace. This movie gives me emotions I require to survive. Love, acceptance, bliss, predestination. It's meant to be this way and everything will be alright. Also Ted Raimi is in it.

#liz says things #asks #candyman #FUCK!!!!? #candyman 1992 #tony todd #bernard rose #Philip Glass

[myrfing]

DE really is like...even if you are entirely truthful about the portrayal of your characters, your audience will still love them in some way. the truth sucks. it's also not that bad. most people are just trying. it never pulls its punches and it's still like Are you fond of this old petanque playing old-glory loyalist, vestigial remain of the old fascists, and his centrist, gutless friend; why don't you ask them about their old photos, and the flowers? he'll tell you he "loved that old cunt" after he passes away out of the blue. do you like this pretentious, irony-poisoned, naive young communist who lectures you from his dilapidated couch like he's the next kraz mazov; well, the young man cares more deeply than most in this worn-out world, he feels like he owes it to the people he loves. how about this trio of useless drunks, do you want to hear their stories, including how they granted you asylum from your troubles and let you have a new name for a while. you can ask the washerwoman to clean a jacket for him, he'll not appreciate it and tell you to fuck off, but you can. the same washerwoman asks you to spare the woman who nearly blasts your molecules straight off your shit, and you can, and you can also tell her she didn't sell her out, and it grants her some relief when she feels the most cornered. you gain nothing from this, she never shows up again, it makes things harder for you, but you can still choose it, because the devs thought maybe you would. this girl who screams pig at you from the balconies with mocking hyena laughter, did you know she's sleeping in the boiler room of these tenements, and she'll laugh if you joke with her about curfews, and she does insane street art, coloring the very ground you walk on in the final chapter, covering your mistakes, changing a desolate landscape you thought would never change. this deceptively gorgeous woman has lied to you, she uses everyone around her, she's a spy, a cunning professional; but no, she's just like you, another scared, sad person trying to drown themselves to death in the same hostel without ever being able to just give up, and even though she doesn't have to, even though she runs, she leaves you a note with a clue and an apology, for whatever it's worth. this "cafeteria manager", what a miserable, sad smarmy little creep, he's throwing you out on the street! but he really cares about the little place he made here, and he actually does want to look out for his workers. it's only the racists and those who have collapsed so hard into their own selves & only exist to protect themselves through ideology that you can't really connect to, and even they show vulnerability, though it makes them look pathetic...something about having enough faith in your characters to be completely and utterly honest about them, that their good parts will reach you moreso than the bad even when stripped bare. are you seeing this shit gonny test....*grips your shoulders*

#sorry. goes insane

[xxcharixardxx]

Prophet Dan Quotes pt 5

"May the divine light watch over ya, lad."

"Keep yer wits about ya. Or the darkness will consume yer soul."

"Lord of Light, let my soul be one with yours in this moment, let my fists be yours as I purge evil wherever it festers."

"If I was yer kid, mom, I'd call child services on ya!"

"Come on! Shit or get off the pot!"

"Give thanks to the light! For all obstacles are put forth by him!"

"Hm? What's that Father? *laughs* You're right! It is like a carnival ride ! I f*ckin love it! WOO!"

"I'm gonna drown these bastards in their own blood!"

"You probably deserved it! REPENT!"

"See! This is what happens when you don't follow the light!"

"This must be their sacred worshippin' hole... We should shit in it *laughs*"

"Through this holy annointin' at the light and his mercy, helped you with the grace of the holy spirit. May the lord who frees you from sin, save you and raise you up. This is the light who takes away the sins of the world; Happy are those who are called to his supper."

"As wax melts before the fire, the wicked perish before the light!"

"The light can only prepare you for so much; The rest is up to you."

"My torment is relentless, my torment is a test. My torment is a testament of my strength, my strength is a reflection of my devotion, and my devotion is purely to the light."

"Ah? Yes, father, I'll sing it for ya. *clears throat* 🎶We are one with infinity, we are one with eternity, we are one with the stars in the sky, we are one with the birds that fly, but we are not one with those 🎶*stops singing* F*CKIN' FOUL CREATURES! "

"Another follower for me flock!"

"We can't get in from this side-- Oi! I'm tellin em, Father! He says we gotta go around :/"

"Orders from above!" "Don't waste the lights gift!"

"I'm not here to take over yer dirty prison. *thinks* Then again... Nah... Too dirty. Just show me the exit and I'll be on my way."

"Why do I exist? It is a question that many ask-- Well, I says 'Because I f*ckin' allow it! That's why."

"This is what happens when darkness consumes the light..."

"I thank thee, Light, for granting me yer sight. I may be blind in one eye, but not third eye blind. For I see all! Nothing and everything. All at once."

"I'll never forget the night those f*ckin' devils slaughtered me people, and hauled off the rest. It's tattooed on my brain. Have faith knowing I won't rest until I put all those F*CKIN bastards in the F*CKIN ground! I swears it!"

"Maybe we should say a little prayer-- Dear father, please help us figure out this stupid shite. Amen."

"Uh, huh? What? Say that again? *To the father* Ah aye aye, The fatherly light says, 'They're all dead'!"

"We can't give up now, we just gotta have faith. HAVE FAITH!"

"Light guide me! Guide me to the righteous path-- The righteous path laden with your glory ! Your glory that shines bright as I smash in all those f*ckin bastards heads!"

"Behold the lights plentiful bounty of death!"

"Time to cut off some devilish d*cks."

"What are you lookin' at?!"

"Serving the light with me and I shall reward you with a title of the highest order-- Honorary Guide of the Danian Movement. You do well to cherish it, for it is an honor bestowed ONLY to select few."

"Patch me clothes, patch meself. :)"

"Use your minds eye to find it! *sighs* That is if you got one, get what ya need and make yer peace with it."

"Mom! Yer a tough ol' bird, but you should patch yerself up."

"All ears 😏" "May the undying light watch over us."

"You want a blessing? Come here! And I'll grant ya powers SO great *lowers voice* you'll crush skulls in the palm of yer hand. Come here. And I'll share my great sight so that you may see the world as I do."

#prophet dan #b4b prophet dan #prophet dan quotes #b4b quotes #b4b #back for blood #back 4 blood #video games #quotes

[mindofeloquence]

How do I connect with God again? I still believe but it’s hard to feel that drive to become more practicing like I used to

there's lots of things we can unpack here i think but im no expert and everyone's journey is different so take this how you will i guess.

you're never not connected with God. if that wasn't the case, we would simply cease to exist altogether. we are an awareness that exists only because of God and the darkness of separation is an illusion that only exists because we perceive it to be that way (but i think that's a different discussion, maybe for another time). our being is a projection of The Ultimate Being — we are an extension of Divinity. much like how the rays of the sun cannot exist without the sun. and before you even become/became aware of anything else, or your own self for that matter, you are aware of Him, first. and every single thing you were, are and will be aware of is truly nothing but the awareness of God.

ok the next thing is that, your yearning for Him and your desire to seek and connect with Him is really Him yearning and seeking you. it comes from the tawfīq (Divine opportunity) that He's placed in your heart. when He's inspiring you to ask and seek, know that He wants to give. what greater honour than that?

next, next thing: the drive that you're talking about, or sometimes lack thereof, actually speaks to the concept that that our heart and our spirituality ebb and flow. it's quite normal actually, but what's important is to make sure you continue to tether yourself to God in some way or form, and that you continue to perform your wajibāt (even if you think you're not visibly "gaining" anything per se, also another discussion perhaps) so you can eventually transcend out of this spiritual low. Imam Ali (a) has a hadith on this as well: "sometimes the hearts move forward and sometimes they move backward. when they move forward get them to perform the optionals (as well), but when they move backward keep them confined to obligatories only" (Nahj-ul Balagha, hadith #312)

also, we're not perfect. if God required perfection as a pre-requisite to approaching Him and receiving His Love, none of us would be capable/eligible. but He knows about our shortcomings and invites us towards Him anyways. our God is the God of Love. our religion is the religion of Love. and i think there's so much humility in the act of just showing up that (even if it is imperfectly or differently than others), sometimes that effort and struggle alone might be enough for God to transform someone's heart entirely.

i think the truth is, we fail to comprehend the magnitude of God's love, mercy and acceptance sometimes... so much so that we try to bring Him down to our own level. so in our mind's we put a cap on His forgiveness and mercy and become engulfed in the illusion of perceiving His Limitlessness as limited. such an injustice on our part. and how can we do that when repeatedly, in many ways and forms He, Himself says "[I] bring [you] out of the darkness into the light."

im sure you know this already but connecting with God also doesnt only need to be confined to the daily prayers or the traditional ways we're conditioned to think of connecting with Him. i think that's also another way of limiting our perception of God in our minds too...again, injustice. it's easy to be mindful of God on the prayer mat but i always think it's really about those in between moments that our faith is tested and how we seek Him. and there's so much to be said about that too. let yourself be overwhelmed by the magnanimity of God. avoid sins and giving into desires that restore you in your lowest form. transcend the ego. go out in nature. stare at the moon. sit under the stars. watch bees. look at the mountains or trees. read books that glorify His name. surround yourself in the company of those who remind you of Him. break the idols within your heart. cry. sit with God in silence. turn your attention to your inmost consciousness. limit distractions. and above all, remember, you're never not connected to God.

soz this ended up being way longer than i intended...summarizing isnt my strong suit. hope this helps.

#answered

[anagramtransitory]

6. It’s having so much to prove that’s gotten me here. I’ve got to act confident and be confident, it’s got to be part of an idea. I’ve got to think about functioning the way I think about living in all other ways- with the faith I have in those arenas, about my ability to do normal things in a way that says “let me show you about the good that exists in the world and cares about you personally because you’re worth it/deserve it, if not because I like you, in which case, let me show you how I’ll give you everything I’ve ever got forever for free with nothing except kindness asked in return, if that”. And I’ve got to do it alone in the house with myself, all my life. I behave that way around people with the faith someone will notice, will be heartwarmed in a genuine way, will believe me about that being who I actually am with no tricks attached. At home, I’m gonna have to pretend like the universe is watching, that the universe and all its inhabitants are one, or something like that. I’m going to have to wrangle myself into a belief held with some kind of forced genuineness that the universe will see me functioning and think to itself “now that’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen, impressive and worth rewarding at some point in this person’s life”. When of course it doesn’t and won’t. When nobody cares about the struggle and only want to clap for images of beauty and understood things that fit their unquestioned ready-held templates for both. Maybe it’s one of those things where I have to tell people what you believe and can’t wait or coax them into eventual belief. To do the idea-version of going to their house, ringing their doorbell, and presenting them with a complete science fair fold out poster presentation board explaining simple obvious things one tiny tiny piece at a time, as small of pieces as I can get things into, and make them not only look right and science-article-backed, but feel right, according to what kinds of things tend to feel right to whoever they are I’m on the front porch of the house/apartment of. To do this without being asked or invited and even after being gently warned off. I think. To show them: look, my “putting it into practice” needs practice in terms of not looking rough-draft-like or cheap or easy, but my method is solid, my underlying ideas are absolutely there, they’re all there. I’m gonna have to have “look, your way sucks, my way is better” type of confidence. The way I have in other arenas of my life. My way is the anti-waste, nerdiness-loving, proud (or at least unashamed, and unstoppable in being one even if I was ashamed) intellectual (academic, primary resources hoarder, passionate idea-hoarder, idea memorizer, idea stress-tester (stress-tested out of respect for their creators and not disrespect towards them), idea lover), value in the free or almost free, gold from the worst plant-root-resistant, mineral-less, dry, powdery, unsaveable waste dirt you find anywhere at all, or in the badlands of South Dakota, or in the dirt bike track meet sites, or on cursed land. That is, material anywhere, being worth gold. In the right hands. My way is the built to last and built to not harm the planet way. The non-brand-name, dumpster diving, Craigslist free section plus an old pickup truck equaling almost everything I need, gardening food and tea and medicine and herbs in small apartments, way. DIY, shopped locally, real-artist-bought art directly from the artists, wearing shoes and clothes until I can’t anymore, way. Why is that the best way? I just know it is, I lack the confidence I need to live as a functional adult that way though. That way looks so dysfunctional and holier-than-thou and “for show”, even. Or compensating for emotional problems with do-gooder-living. Or like I’m a weak person, in body and spirit, generic in my weakness and limpness. This is a consumerist shallow setting I will always live inside of, period, and I must work with it to communicate with it. I have to trust that people will see past the ethos and differences in living styles and see me instead. To see…

[vinceleemiller]

Faithful To Testify About The Trial | Daniel 3:24-30

GET THE BOOK: Daniel: A Strong Man Is Faithful here https://amzn.to/3ToZqOk

Do you testify to others about your fiery trial of faith?

Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up in haste. He declared to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.” He answered and said, “But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.” Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the door of the burning fiery furnace; he declared, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out, and come here!” Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out from the fire. And the satraps, the prefects, the governors, and the king's counselors gathered together and saw that the fire had not had any power over the bodies of those men. The hair of their heads was not singed, their cloaks were not harmed, and no smell of fire had come upon them. Nebuchadnezzar answered and said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants, who trusted in him, and set aside the king's command, and yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any god except their own God. Therefore I make a decree: Any people, nation, or language that speaks anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego shall be torn limb from limb, and their houses laid in ruins, for there is no other god who is able to rescue in this way.” Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon. — Daniel 3:24-30

We live in times ruled by the spirit of Babylon. Satan roams the earth, and men like Nebuchadnezzar still exist. They will till the end of this time. This means we're going to have trouble in this life. We might even have long seasons of fiery trials. We will experience trials on a macro-level in the world, in our countries, with governments, politicians, and leaders. We'll also experience trials on a micro-level in our marriage, family, workplaces, and personal lives. Somedays, the furnace of these trials is going to rage on both levels. 

Occasionally, the heat is going to get turned way up. But know this — a man of faith always has God standing by their side. God will stand by you through the fire, even when a vengeful spirit walks you to the edge of the furnace and pushes you in. God will not let you be burned. Not a hair on your body. Not a singe of your skin. Not even a smell of flame. But you'll have to have faith that the Spirit of God is greater than the spirit of this world.

In fact, I bet you have a story like this—a tale of a test where God intervened for you. This story is a testimony of God’s greatness and faithfulness through you. It’s worth recalling and retelling because it tells the tale of a faithful God who is ready to save. 

So do that today. Testify about God by telling the tale of your trial and his salvation. Give some hope to others who are walking through the same test or trial that you did. Because the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego is not the only great story of God’s salvation. It’s one of many God has done through men just like you.

God, use our stories to testify about the great works you do. As we share them, may they testify to your faithfulness and greatness and help others know there is hope in their tests and trials. May our stories of you be salvation to others. In Jesus’s name, amen. If you liked this devotional series, check out the 30-day Devotional Book that partners with this study—Daniel: A Strong Man Is Faithful, which you can find on Amazon at the link below.  https://amzn.to/3ToZqOk

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