crusaderchinchilla

[crusaderchinchilla]

Hey stop thinking of God and Jesus as your "homie" or "the man upstairs" or even your "best friend" in the same sense as your human best friends.

I get where those impulses come from--they help you feel relationally "closer" to God. But that's the thing. The whole Gospel is "He's way high above you and totally perfect and in complete authority over you—and yet you can still have a close intimate relationship with Him, without that aspect of His nature ever lessening or changing."

That's the wonder and the awesomeness of the Gospel—that His holiness and otherness and authority doesn't make your relationship less intimate, and in fact, you can have the closest relationship to Him of your whole life. Without Him ever being brought down to your level. That's the wonder of the Gospel. Don't cheapen it by letting humanism-shortcuts taint your view of Him. Don't settle for normal mud pies when it's actually an extravagant feast like nothing else you can taste.

Leviticus 10:3: "By those who come near Me I will be treated as holy."

[crusaderchinchilla]

Can I be honest here? It’s one of those days where I’m fighting against lukewarm love for God. I don’t want lukewarm love. I want to be knee deep in scripture, loving every minute of it. I want messy scribbles in my Bible and my notebook I keep beside me during my studies. I want to talk to God every hour of every day. I want to cry with joy because I’m so filled with the holy spirit. Instead, I find myself crying because I’m somewhere in the middle of all this. I’m… lukewarm.  But I know I won’t stay this way, and I know I’m not alone. I think most of us go through times like these, where we doubt, and we grow afraid, and we grow anxious, and we grow bored.  Praying for any of you who may feel the same. May God set a fire in us that never fades.  Trusting in Him. After all, He’s got this.

[crusaderchinchilla]

Avoid mean and unnecessary gossip. Don't spread mean and unnecessary gossip, and if you're in a conversation where someone is gossiping something mean and unnecessary, change the topic, or if you're feeling brave enough speak up about how it's rude to say mean things behind someone else's back.

It's one thing to vent about someone who's wronged you or hurt you. That's perfectly normal and understandable that we want to get the frustration off our chest.

It's another thing entirely to gossip about something personal but isn't hurting you. For example, gossiping with your co-workers about that one colleague who's been showing up late to work due to struggling with addiction. Or gossiping about how ugly or weird you think someone's clothes are.

Rule of thumb, if you wouldn't say it to their face, then you have no business saying it while gossiping about it. For example, if you would express concern or worry to your alcoholic colleague's face, but you wouldn't say the things to their face that you're saying while gossiping about their alcoholism, that right there should tell you that on some level you know it's mean and wrong to say these kinds of things.

For one, people are going to trust you more if you don't say mean and unnecessary things behind other's backs. If you're someone who likes to gossip, people are eventually going to stop trusting you with anything personal or confidential.

Also, the golden rule. If you wouldn't want someone saying nasty rude things behind your back, especially about something that's a personal struggle for you or something that's already a sensitive topic for you, then why would you think it's okay to turn around and do the same to others?

[crusaderchinchilla]

Do you think Nala's conversion to Christianity was genuine, or was it just a ploy for attention?

i have no idea who that is sorry

but i can't answer this anyway, i don't know anyone's motivations or sincerity. only Jesus can know the genuineness or lack thereof of someone's faith, not me

[crusaderchinchilla]

i'm so sorry, i've been so inactive lately...! this time, the reason is not personal struggle/distress. i have been incredibly incredibly busy with studies, work, and life changes, but they are good changes! i am really doing better now, and i am so so thankful to the Lord; i am so happy that i finally feel myself growing closer to Him, and my love for Him grows every day

i wanted to really sincerely thank everyone who prayed for me or sent me nice messages after that vent i posted a while back, it means so very much to me. the ppl on here are so kind and lovely! <3 (also, i am not ignoring my asks- i'll respond as soon as i have the time to give thoughtful input!)

this blog is not abandoned and i will return to regularly scheduled Christposting sooner or later!

hope you are all doing wonderfully, mutuals, and God bless you all!

#talk tag #i feel like i have a lot to share regarding the developments in my faith (how much stronger it has gotten) #i havent looked at tumblr in a while bc i feel so stretched thin irl #but in a good way #like im convinced things are hard in a “God is putting you in this situation for a reason and you will learn and grow from it” way #i got out of some bad situations i used to be in and things are getting better all by His grace #and i trust Him to guide me to a place where things are less chaotic and more okay! #i am so glad my faith was “tested” for a bit cause i feel like you have to experience that as a Christian at some point in order to #actually notice and appreciate how subtly God works if that makes sense

[crusaderchinchilla]

Fasting and prayer are a means of embellishing our soul and bringing it back to its original state.

Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica

[crusaderchinchilla]

Was thinking about this earlier and got curious.

#sometimes i #mostly you

[crusaderchinchilla]

Icons depict the visible and invisible worlds and contain direct and symbolic images. Iconographers represent the conversation between Mary and the Archangel, and also the conception of the Son of God. At the top, many icons represent the world of heaven – typically as a sphere. A ray of light is emanating from the sphere toward the Theotokos. Some iconographers also depict a dove, the most widely known symbol of the Holy Spirit.

Along with space, many icons also represent time. One of the oldest Russian icons of the Annunciation, the Icon of the Annunciation of Ustug from the 12th century, shows the archangel bringing the good news and also an image of the Son of God. In this wondrous icon, Christ is present inside the sphere of heaven and also in the womb of the Theotokos as an infant. [source]

[crusaderchinchilla]

What do you think God was thinking about when He created one of the biggest animals in the ocean (whales) to feed on one of the smallest (krill)? Idk what but there's something about this that makes me feel a certain (positive) way

[crusaderchinchilla]

hey, just wanted to say as someone who has also struggled with a sinful past, keep going. the two great lies I’ve heard that the Devil tells us is that we are too far gone to be saved, and too saintly to need saving. God will always love you, even if He does not feel near. keep seeking Him, that’s the most important thing. when I read the Psalms especially, it reminds me that people have always struggled with faith and belief but the Lord guides us through and is still there with us. to rely on feelings alone ultimately won’t work. but I absolutely consider you Christian because you have the desire to be saved! Christ loves you, and died for your sins. keep running the race. you will be okay and I am praying for you 🙏💖

thank you so much anon, your words mean a LOT to me and your prayers are incredibly appreciated

#the asks ive gotten have legtimately made me tear up #and make me remember why being a Christian is so important and meaningful #thank you again #i am ok now btw that one post was just kind of made in a moment of despair. lol

[crusaderchinchilla]

Hey. I just came across your post from yesterday. God's still listening, even if it doesn't feel like He is. Sin feels shameful, but God loves us and wants to forgive us, if only we abandon our sin and turn to Him. That may not be easy, but we don't do it on our own (we can't do it on our own): every step of the way we'll have His help, if only we ask for it.

I just said a decade of the rosary for you, and I'll remember you in my prayers when I'm next at Mass. Don't lose heart!

thank you so so much anon it means so much <3

[crusaderchinchilla]

Do Not Lament Me, O Mother

[crusaderchinchilla]

I just found your blog from Irons' apologetics, and clicked over because your journey from atheism to Christ seemed remarkably similar to mine... and, well. So does your present crisis, from what I was in six months ago. Grave sins begetting despair begetting grave sins begetting despair, seemingly ad infinitum (my favorite grave sin is wrath)... but it's the despair that's the killer app. Palpably, now. Your shoulder demon is telling you "your sins are too vast for God ever to forgive. No point knocking, really. Why don't you just back away from the door." But you - you're no apostate. Apostates don't have that gut-deep yearning. The advice I got in my crisis - I will never forget this - is to run through that door full tilt to your Father like a sobbing little girl who got her dress muddied running away from home. He'll hold you so close. He loves you so much.

hey thank you so so so incredibly much for your words and encouragement. this is exactly what i needed to hear right now. i am so glad for you that you got out of your own personal crisis and that you’ve become closer to God and embraced Him, and it gives me hope that i can do the same. thank you again and have a wonderful day 💖💖💖

[crusaderchinchilla]

absolutely obsessed w the notion that pan ppl are the only humans on earth who like a person based on their personality while the rest of us all sit around w ppl we absolutely hate just cause we like to bang...mind

[crusaderchinchilla]

Possibly the most important thing you'll read this year...

The following is the philosophy of Charles Schulz, the creator of the 'Peanuts' comic strip.

You don't have to actually answer the questions. Just ponder on them. Just read it straight through, and you'll get the point.

1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.

2. Name the last five Heisman trophy winners.

3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America pageant.

4. Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize.

5. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winners for best actor and actress.

6. Name the last decade's worth of World Series winners.

How did you do?

The point is, none of us remember the headliners of yesterday.

These are no second-rate achievers.

They are the best in their fields.

But the applause dies.

Awards tarnish ...

Achievements are forgotten.

Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners.

Here's another quiz. See how you do on this one:

1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.

2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.

3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.

4. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special.

5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.

Easier?

The lesson:

The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with the most credentials, the most money ... or the most awards. They simply are the ones who care the most.

[crusaderchinchilla]

The Kennebec River, Waiting for Wind and Tide, 1860, William Bradford

[crusaderchinchilla]

Lost Ecstasy by Mary Roberts Rinehart, 1966. Paperback detail. Illustrated by Victor Kalin.