#a good portion of this next chapter is a testament to that

[otrtbs]

tender curiosities, baby! ch. 5 snippet

#tender curiosities baby! #i am back to writing it tn lads #this chapter is like a complicated cake #and by that i mean she needs a lot of time to cook #and patience #anyway i was forever altered by that one poem abt the pieces of people that live on in you #like how i still braid my hair the way my grandma taught me #and i use phrases my sister used to say even though she stopped saying them ages ago #and i still ad-lib parts in this song my friend and i both loved even though we don't speak anymore #a good portion of this next chapter is a testament to that

[wood-white-writer]

“Didn’t mean to make your heart Blue” || [4.5/...]

- OPLA! Buggy x F!Reader

Pairing: Buggy the Clown (Live action) x F!Reader

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6

Summary: In which Buggy discovers that he’s in over his head while making a deal with Arlong the Saw.

Warnings: LA! One Piece, Canon typical violence, slight canon divergence, Arlong is his own warning

A/N: Unfortunately, part 6 of "DMTMYHB" is a little delayed and won't be out until at least next week. However, I began working on this initially out of boredom, so at least you can read about Buggy's POV after the events of chapter 4 and before the events of chapter 5.

Life sure is a shitshow sometimes, Buggy thinks to himself while spitting out a few grains of sand. For fish people, there’s a certain irony with pulling over a bag propped with sand over his head.

Then again, it could’ve been considerably worse.

They could have decided to water board him, or maybe take a decent chunk off his nose. It’s not too outlandish to assume that these kinds of people prefer the taste of human flesh, and although he considers himself fairly experimental man on occasion, that one is not on his kink list.

He might be big-headed sometimes, he’s man enough to admit as much, but even Buggy knows better than to underestimate the fish people. He’s had his fair share of encounters with them before, and needless to say, mixing a Devil Fruit eater with people who primarily live and breathe in the sea is a bad combination.

A very, very bad combination, especially if you throw Arlong the Saw into the mixture. Buggy’s not a recluse; he’s heard of his reputation as the self-proclaimed ruler of the East Blue. Ask just about anyone who he is, and they’ll whisper his name while pissing their pants like school children.

A misanthrope with a less than discreet disdain for all things human, and a face only a mother could hope to love, the guy does not fuck around with what he considers his, which approximately covers all of the East Blue. And the people in it are merely collateral.

If anything’s a testament, it’s his bounty. Twenty million berries for his head, doesn’t matter if it’s attached to his body or not. The highest bounty on this piece of the ocean.

Well, second highest. The top spot belongs to you, but that’s a thought Buggy has tried desperately to bury in the sand for the past few days. He doesn’t need to think about you, least of all now.

He has bigger fish to deal with, and it blows.

It’s his fucking luck that this is happening specifically to him.

No, it wasn’t enough that he got his ass handed to him by a bunch of scrawny nobodies.

It didn’t suffice that he had to watch you turn your back to him twice in a lifetime.

He’s managed to evade the saw-nosed fucker’s eye up until this point, and so, of course Fate would deal him this final one.

Just as the cherry on top of the shitty sundae that is his life.

So, to conceal or own terrified state when faced with the darkened stage room, Buggy decides to do what Buggy does best:

Fake it ‘til he makes it.

And he sure as fuck hope he does.

“Is this the best way to ask for an autograph?” His echo bounces like a ball through the darkened room. “I mean sheesh! Fans have gotten so toxic!”

The eerie silence is his only companion now, and he finds that he can’t stand it. Not even the two fishy folks standing guard at his side offers him more than rolled eyes. Rude.

This place — his stage — which once served as his sanctuary, might soon become his tomb. If Arlong lives up to his rep, he’ll ask the clown to dig his own hole before chomping on his jugular.

Curtains for him and all fucking that.

“Alright, what do you want?! Tickets to the show? I can get you house seats, they’re pricey!”

A loud thud emerges from the shadows behind him, and a cold breeze brushes against the the exposed skin on his face.

“Oh, I am no fan of yours.”

He knows a beast when he hears one, even better when he sees them. He spent the good portion of his youth alongside one, and witnessed first-hand just how they could be. Beasts are strong, and brutal, and precise. They can tear you apart if they deem it necessary because it’s in their nature, but that’s all it is. Nature.

However, Buggy’s also come to discover that beasts have also the capacity for kindness and love. A beast is someone he can fall in love with.

This thing that emerges from the dark at his side, on the other hand, is no mere beast.

Hell, he can’t even qualify it as such. This creature at his side, one he doesn’t dare to face at first until he notices it’s gradual approach, is a monster.

Ain’t no way in the blue hell he’ll ever consider tapping that the way he would with a beast.

“I run things here in the East Blue,” the fish-man speaks, voice grating Buggy ears as he circles the clown. “I’m here to remind of you of your place in the food chain. You pull a job in my seas, you gotta pay tribute.”

Despite the fact that he’s nervous as shit, there’s a certain taunt crystallising in Buggy’s brain that he’s subconsciously urged to free against his better judgement.

Arlong’s place is second in this so-called food chain. Yours is the first, and if it wasn’t for the fact that voicing this would guarantee his premature death, Buggy would’ve reminded the fishy shithead of this.

Despite whatever grievances you two share, Buggy knows that he won’t mind not being at the top as long as it means it’s not under Shark-boy’s hierarchy.

The East Blue is, per Arlong’s definition, yours, whether you know it or not, and he’d much rather comply with that.

But Buggy keeps his act going. “But Arlong, baby, you don’t gotta worry about me. I’m small potatoes. Pirating’s more of a side gig.”

As much as he tries, and he does try, Buggy knows his words can’t keep the shark’s teeth at bay for much longer. Arlong is not a patient type, and it just about snaps when he reaches for his throat and prepares to chomp.

Buggy doesn’t intend to die now. He can’t. He’s got unfinished business to attend to.

“Wait, wait, wait, wait!”

Maybe fate is actually on his side for fucking once, because the fish man actually does wait.

He has a shot.

“You know who’s out there really disrespecting you? It’s that little Rubber-Prick in the straw hat, goes by the name of Luffy.”

It doesn’t work, because it seems Arlong is more of a recluse than him. Has never heard the boys name. So, he tries a different approach before the teeth settle in again.

“He— He’s not alone.” Fuck, he’s losing air, and he kinda needs that to get the primary point into Arlong's thick, scaly head. A point that he’ll be sure to catch the asshole’s attention. “Cross-Hairs is with him!”

Arlong halts, and his lips don a sneer.

Another thing Buggy has discovered in all of this is that Arlong is an inherently proud guy, and believes himself superior to others not only because of his fishy nature, but due to the fact that he has among the largest bounties on this piece of the map.

Yours is the only obstacle keeping him from completely claiming that title.

“The Captain of the Cross-Haired Pirates has been absent for the past decade.” Arlong lets up on the pressure around his neck, enough to let Buggy grasp a few fistfuls of air, but his feet still dangle above the ground.

“Y-Yeah—,” Buggy heaves. “But her— b-bounty hasn’t changed, has it? And the kid, he just knocked over a marine’s base in Shells Town, then he stole a map of the Grand Line and now he’s talking shit about finding the One Piece.”

This seems to be enough reason for Arlong to finally drop him, and Buggy struggles to retrieve all the air he’s lost.

“The One Piece, an excuse for humans to spread their filth across the seas.” Arlong is less than impressed, but what he says next opens a door. “Why should I concern myself with the ambitions of a mere human boy?”

“Because that map is useful,” Buggy regains some semblance of balance on his knees. “The kid is not, but I have unfinished business with him. What’s more, if Cross-Hairs is with him, then that’s your chance to get the highest bounty in all of the East Blue. Think about it! You’ll be at the top of the list if she’s out of the way.”

Arlong doesn’t like the implication laced in Buggy’s words, the possibility that he’s in any way lesser than a human. “I am already at the top of the list, clown. The Cross-Haired Pirates are disbanded, and humans tend to age so quickly compared to fish men. I’m sure she’s grown old and weary in the last couple of years, hardly worth my time.”

Buggy wants to smile. Smile as he thinks about just how fucking wrong this guy can be. The years have not drained you, nor weakened you, nor made you any less hot if he does say so himself.

Oh, if anyone can wipe the floor with Arlong, it’s you. That’s why he’s not afraid of revealing your current whereabouts, because he already knows fishy over there will get his ass whopped big time.

“How about this: you let me live, and I’ll help you find Luffy and Cross-Hairs. Two birds with one stone, so to speak.”

Two birds, one stone, and one fish filet, to be more specific.

Arlong grabs him by the neck. “And how do you plan to do that?”

“I've got eyes and ears everywhere.”

The fish takes the bait, and Buggy can't help but laugh.

Laugh, not because Arlong agrees to his plan, but because the guy is going to be struck by lightning so fucking hard that in the end, there'll be nothing left of him save for that ugly-ass tool he calls a nose.

The moron has deliberately put himself up for slaughter, and personally, Buggy can’t wait to watch the show unfold.

The stage is yours.

He’ll watch from the front rows and give you an upstanding applause once the curtains falls.

---

Taglist: @kurinhimenezu, @carpinchootaku, @ay0nha, @teh-vampire-bunny, @lokiscure, @internationalsuper-spy, @detectivesparrow , @yuriwk , @notyuralycat , @angeli-fucking-cat, @machinema7k, @shuujin, @avatar-lover, @gingernut1314, @autumn-slaves. @marvelouskatie, @floristoflillys, @dizzyenby, @redpool, @deliri-yum22, @aemondsb1tch, @ackroxia, @gayandfairycore (If you want to be tagged for this story, just send me a message or leave a comment :))

#buggy the clown #buggy x reader #buggy one piece #buggy the clown x reader #one piece live action #one piece x reader #buggy x you #one piece #buggy the clown fanfiction #buggy x female reader #arlong

[thetldrplace]

Sicily: An Island at the Crossroads of History. Chapters 1-3

This book was written by British historian John Julius Norwich. I will attempt to cover the chapters one at a time, other than this first installment, since the chapters are smaller.

1 Greeks  The first true culture we encounter on Sicily is Mycenaean, from around 1600BC. Around 1400 BC, Sicily was absorbed into the Mediterranean trade routes. The Mycenaeans disappeared around 1200BC, no one knows why. There were some tribes that lived on the island: Sicans, Sicels, Elymians, but we know little of them.  

Sicily's earliest historical period people were Greeks who had come over to colonize areas of the eastern and southern coast. The first Greek-Sicilian settlement was Gela around 688BC. The next centuries saw the cities build up through Greek art, philosophy, and civilization. But we must recognize that "Greece" was something like the way we consider "Arab" today. It was a concept more than a particular nationality. 

The Carthaginians had a footing on the western edge of the island at Marsala and Trapani. Carthage was originally a Phoenician outpost. The Phoenicians were canaanites from the Old Testament. They were a seafaring people, who had established trading outposts all over the Mediterranean. Carthage, modern day Tunis, was one of those cities, which had gained independence in 650BC. 

There were occasional clashes between the Greek cities with appeals to Carthage to intervene by whatever city saw itself as undermanned in the looming fights. 

Around 400, an agreement was made between Syracuse and Carthage whereby Carthage would limit itself to the western portion of the island.  

2 Carthaginians  For the next hundred years, skirmishes continued between Greek Sicily and Carthaginian Sicily, but in 272, Rome captured Tarentum and effectively claimed control over the entire Italian peninsula. During the 200's Sicily was going to have to make a choice between Rome and Carthage.  

There were a series of 3 Punic wars (wars between Rome and Carthage) fought between 264 and 146BC. During that time, Sicily became a Roman territory. 

3 Roman, Barbarians, Byzantines, and Arabs.  Roman  By 241BC Sicily was essentially run by the Romans. The Greek speakers were still there, but Greece was in no position to influence much on the Island. Carthage was a power during the first part of the 200's, and indeed, Hannibal was causing all kinds of trouble on the Italian peninsula itself but, Carthage was not the influence on Sicily.

The Romans never considered Sicily more than a province... allies... but they were not considered citizens. The important fact was that Sicilians spoke Greek, not Latin. We know relatively little about the events on the island. But here are some 'highlights'... or lowlights... you can decide....

There were several slave revolts on the island. The slave population dangerously outnumbered the free, and they were terribly abused. (Good combo for an uprising.) The first slave war broke out around 139BC, Rome was slow to react since it didn't take the idea of slaves too seriously, and consequently wasn't put down until 132BC, seven years later. 

A second slave war broke out in 104BC, but this time Rome was quicker to respond. The second war was ended in 100BC after an epic effort by the slaves. 

Gaius Verrus was governor/criminal from 80-70BC, which saw the island suffer terribly under his pillaging. He was excoriated in the Roman Senate by Cicero, who took the case on himself, and Verrus, who saw the writing on the wall, packed up his stuff and amscrayed to Marseille before the trial ended and he was put under arrest.

The final transition of Rome from Republic to Empire left Sicily with a much larger Roman element than before. By decree, all mainland Italians had gained Roman citizenship, but this was not true for Sicily. 6 cities however were included, and their citizens were given Roman citizenship: Taormina, Catania, Syracuse, Tindari, Termini, and Palermo. 

Sicily had become one of the most important sources of grain for the Roman empire.  

Unfortunately, we know little of Sicilian history for the first 500 years of the Christian era. It seems to have prospered, as evidenced by the quality of the buildings that have survived from that period. 

They were largely unconcerned by Constantine's decision to move the capital of the Empire to Constantinople in 330. They were largely unconcerned with the decision to move the western capital to Ravenna in 395.  

Constantine's main contribution was the official status of Christianity, which spread rapidly across the island, replacing the old Greek religion.  

By the 400's there also seems to have been a large influx of Jewish immigration. 

Barbarian  By the late 400s, the barbarians had arrived. Who you callin' barbarian?? I'm sure the barbarians didn't think they themselves were so deficient... after all, who just kicked who's @$$ on Rome's home field? The three "barbarian" tribes of interest to us are the Goths, Huns, and Vandals. Only the Vandals showed any interest in Sicily. 

The Goths, under Alaric, had besieged Rome as early as 408.  

The Huns attacked Italy by 452, but didn't get to Sicily. 

The Vandals however, had gone across Gaul (france), settled in Spain, then crossed into North Africa, attacked Carthage and raided Sicily. 

The Roman empire, these days, is considered to have finally succumbed in 476.  

Byzantine  In 533, Emperor Justinian launched a campaign to recover the western empire. His general, Belisarius, arrived in Sicily in 535, where he was universally welcomed by the Greek-speaking population. Sicily was once again an imperial province,  ruled by a Byzantine governor, hooray! By the middle of the 600's, the Greeks were concerned for their western provinces because of the surge of Islam.  Emperor Constans II decided that a Roman empire without a Rome was kind of pointless, so he wanted to shift his capital westward, but after actually seeing the dump that Latin Rome had become, he decided in 663 on the more familiar Greek atmosphere of Syracuse. This should be good for the Greek speaking Sicilians, right? The next 5 years were a nightmare for the Sicilians, due to the extortions and heavy taxes laid on them. This may have gone on for God knows how long, except in 668 Constans was assassinated. His son picked up again and moved back to Constantinople. 

Arab  Sicily had been left in peace for some time, but Arab raids were continuing. They now controlled the entire north African coast, and in 827, they invaded Sicily when a local governor, Euphemius, was ousted for an affair with a nun. He responded by proclaiming himself Emperor and then, realizing he didn't have enough muscle to actually make that happen, invited the Arabs to come help. The Arabs came, shoved  Euphemius out of the way, and started a slow takeover for themselves. 

Palermo fell in 830; Messina fell in 843; Syracuse in 878. By that time, Sicily was effectively an Emirate of the Muslim world. 

The Muslim conquest made Sicily a major player in Mediterranean commerce. The Arabs introduced terracing and siphon aqueducts, they introduced cotton and papyrus, melon and pistachio, citrus and date palm and sugarcane. Muslim, Jewish, and Christians all thronged the bazaars of Palermo. 

But stability was not part of Arab rule, and there were always tensions between the various factions. 

#Sicily #Sicilian History

[deus-ex-mona]

WAY OF FT4: Chapter 7

end the year with a bang

previous part (chapter 6)

next part (epilogue)

Minami: Hey everyone! Thanks for having an absolute blast with me!

Minami: The End-Of-Year Super Live has finally begun, yeah?!

Minami: There are tons of amazing performers lined up, so be sure to enjoy it with all you’ve got!

mona: We’re finally halfway through the programme of the End-Of-Year Super Live!

mona: Hey guys! Are you still able to call out for us?!

mona: Lemme hear even more of your cheers! On the count of three!

Aizo: Yo Julieta! Lemme hear your voices!

Yujiro: And now, to everyone who’s watching us for the first time! Please let us hear your calls!

Yujiro: That was great! You guys sure are full of energy!

Aizo: I know, right? I’m so happy that I’m getting really fired up!

Yujiro: Shall we sing another song, then?

Aizo: Yeah, let’s! That’s fine with y’all, right, everyone?!

YUI: Hmm, LIPxLIP’s emcee portion’s pretty entertaining.

RIO: I never thought that I’d ever get to see the day when you complimented those two, YUI.

DAI: I can’t really tell through this screen, but the venue’s prolly getting real hyped up too.

MEGU: Well, they’re just the opening act for us, though.

YUI: Let’s capture their hearts with all we’ve got at the very end, yeah?!

Staff: Hey FT4! It’s time! Please wait on standby!

YUI: Gooot it!

YUI: Now, gang, shall we roll?

RIO: …IV.

IV: Yeah. …Guys, this will be our last performance of the year.

IV: This year has been a really important year for FT4. But, we won’t be stopped here.

IV: Let’s aim for even greater heights. And then, let’s be sure to show our SICKS the view from up there.

IV: And to accomplish that—

IV: Let’s start off by having an absolute blast as we end the year with a bang!

YUI: Yeah!

RIO: Let’s go!

DAI: Ahh, I’m getting fired up!

MEGU: I’m totally pumped!

YUI: (I’ll give it all I’ve got… So that we’ll be able to end the year with a bang without leaving anything unfinished!)

Aizo: And now, it’s time for the closing act of the day to take the stage—

Yujiro & Aizo: Please welcome Full Throttle4!

Loud cheers engulfed the stage. YUI took a deep breath as the heat from the spotlight beamed down onto him—

YUI: We’ve kept y’all waiting, haven’t we?!

YUI: What was this year like for you guys?

YUI: We’re gonna continue to put on amazing performances next year, and we’ll keep at it forever!

YUI: So continue to tag along with us! Got it, SICKS?!

IV: …!

The music began to play upon IV’s cue.

YUI: (I only sing for myself. Not for anyone else.)

YUI: (The meaning behind why I stand onstage with these pals of mine… only needs to be known by the few of us.)

YUI: (But for now…)

YUI: We’re gonna entrance y’all with our performance!

MEGU and DAI were using their entire bodies as they performed. RIO was standing right by YUI’s side as they sang together. And— IV was watching their backs from his spot right behind them. All five of them were completely in sync, even without any eye contact between them, a true testament to the amount of time they had spent with each other.

YUI: (This performance is making me feel oh so good!)

Even as YUI’s ears rang from the deafening cheers… The curtains fell upon their hugely successful live performance—

#GAY OF FT4 #just honeypre things #fedora translations4 #real talk: knowing what the ft4 dances are *actually* like enhances the experience of reading about their performances #yui: we're gonna awesomely perform awesome performances!!!! also yui: [dabs to welcome sicks] #epilogue in a few hours... maybe. we shall see~~~~

[dailyaudiobible]

07/13/2023 DAB Transcript

1 Chronicles 15:1-16:36, Romans 1:18-32, Psalms 10:1-15, Proverbs 19:6-7

Today is the 13th day of July welcome to the Daily Audio Bible I am Brian and it is wonderful to gather together with you today as we come together around the Global Campfire like we do every day and find our place and just understand that we’re here and we are here together. And that's not like just a metaphor. There's never…we’re not alone. At whatever point we’re listening, somebody else is too. And, so, it is wonderful that we can come together around the Global Campfire and take the next step forward and move forward together one step at a time. And our next step in the Old Testament leads us back into the book of first Chronicles. We’ve been working our way through the genealogies and we’ve pretty much come out of the genealogical portion of Chronicles and are more in the narrative portion. And then yesterday we began Paul's letter to the Romans. And we talked about that. And, so, we’ll be taking the next step forward in Romans as well, which is a wonderful season that we get to move through each year as we listen to Paul explain to us how it is that he arrived…his understanding of the gospel, how it is that he migrated from devout Pharisee persecuting the way of Jesus to becoming a persecuted advocate of the Lord Jesus Christ and the message of the gospel. So, excited to take that next step. And let's go ahead and do that. First Chronicles chapter 15 verse 1 through 16 verse 36 today.

Commentary:

Okay. So, yesterday we began Paul's letter to the Romans and we kinda did a flyby a little flyover just to orient ourselves into what we we’re moving into and then he started reading and it became really clear even in Paul's introduction where we’re going. Paul was saying that the good news tells us how God makes us right or righteous in his sight. And according to Paul, this is accomplished by faith. So, that is and will be the crux of many of Paul's arguments. Like he will…that…that is the flag that he's planting in the sand. Today Paul is beginning…because this is a bit of a lengthy letter, so we’ll be spending some time as we go through it. We just have to remember they we’re reading a letter and not like a theological textbook. So, Paul begins to lay things out today by telling us, reading this letter, that…that God has made himself obvious to everyone. There isn't an excuse for not acknowledging God. And it's not God's fault that we’re confused about Him and it's not God's fault that humanity has suffered greatly because we refuse to acknowledge Him. It's just that when we were reading through the book of Genesis, and we reached the third chapter of Genesis we saw an exchange happen. God was exchanged for the knowledge of good and evil. And, so, through the knowledge of good and evil we’ve been trying to figure everything out, which has created an enormous amount of distortions about God throughout the human story because we cannot contain God in our minds, in our knowledge only. Paul puts it like this, and I quote, “although they knew God, they didn't honor God as God or thank Him. Instead, their reasoning became pointless and their foolish hearts were darkened.” And then he says, “they traded God's truth for a lie, and they worshiped and served the creation instead of the creator”, which simply left humanity to create gods for itself or to…to make gods of themselves, which ultimately created corruptions that human beings were never intended to experience. Paul says it like this. “Since they didn't think it was worthwhile to acknowledge God, God abandoned them to a defective mind to do inappropriate things. So, they were filled with all injustice, wicked behavior, greed and evil behavior. They are full of jealousy, murder, fighting deception and malice. They are gossips, they slander people, and they hate God. They are rude and proud, and they brag. They invent ways to be evil and they are disobedient to their parents. They are without understanding, disloyal, without affection, and without mercy.” So, what Paul's laying out here is a bleak picture of life on earth after the rebellion that we talked about in Genesis 3. And its…its still an accurate picture of life on earth. And what Paul's doing this portion of the letter is simply painting a picture of how things are so that we can begin to get a glimpse of how things ought to be and so that we can begin to understand that there is a way. And we will certainly be getting to that in the days ahead.

Prayer:

Father, we thank You. We thank You. We thank You for Your word and we thank You that we have this document that we can hold in our hands tangibly that spans thousands of years and introduces us to the human heart, our heart, and introduces us to You and Your presence in our lives to restore our hearts. And, so, we are grateful. And as we continue in the days ahead, through the letter to the Romans, Holy Spirit come. May we see things that maybe we've never seen before or understand things in a way that we hadn’t before, quickening or awakening things in us that change us irreversibly. We ask this in the name of Jesus our Savior. Amen.

Announcements:

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And that's it for today. I'm Brian I love you and I'll be waiting for you here tomorrow.

Community Prayer and Praise:

Thank you God for giving me everything that I’ve asked you've freed me from my demons and my true self now unmasked time is running short now and as they say this too shall pass I praise and thank you constantly there's not much that I ask the relationship I have with you I pray will always last last is first and first is last a simple little verse some men go from good to bad some from bad to worse help me just be patient God and follow where you lead help me not be selfish and consumed with lust and greed wherever two are gathered I know that you'll be there keep my mind’s eye simple God and strip my ego bare make me over in your image God I'm flesh but still I’m clay fill me with your spirit God and renew my strength each day one and one and usually two but you are and I are one finish God the work in me you clearly have begun

[email protected].

Good morning Daily Audio Bible family it's Soaring On Eagles Wings from Canada. You know, when I was growing up as a little girl in my culture men were supposed to be strong. They don't cry, they don't show their emotions. Thank God that's changing now. And when I listen to all the men coming on the DAB praying or being…or asking for prayer it just stirs my heart. And, so, today I choose to pray for those who are going through marriage difficulties whether they want a separation, or the wife wants a separation. I don't know but god sees everyone. And DAB men who are struggling with all of this, God sees your heart. He knows everything that concerns you. He created marriages and it was his intent that a wife and husband should be together until death part them. But you know when this world fell and went into sin all sorts of things happened. But Abba You see their heart, You see the emotions, You see the pain. I pray for them, Lord. I pray that they would be guided to knowing what they should do and what they shouldn't. And I pray for the wives Lord. O God, You're able to do abundantly more than we can ask or imagine. And I pray for relationships to be mended and marriages come back together again in the mighty name of our Savior. Renzo, I haven't heard you for a while. I've been missing you. I pray the lord continues to guide you into the right path for you…

Good morning Daily Audio Bible family this is Saved by Grace in California. I just want to lift my sister up who called in for prayer who's having financial problems with taxes and husband who’s also having some health challenges and her faith is truly being tested. And I just thank God for you sister for your sharing that and your wanting…reaching out. So, Father God in the name of Jesus I lift my sister up to You in her situation and her circumstance Father God. I thank You God that we can continue to look to You Father God and keep our focus on You because You said seek ye first the Kingdom of God and all things You got all these things, You'll take care of everything. I pray for my sister Lord that You would increase and help her strengthen, solidify her trust and faith in You God. I pray Father that You show her little glimpses of You in these circumstances, that You…that she is not alone, that You have not leaving her and that You have not forsaken her oh God. I pray Father God that You’d give her favor in the eyes of the IRS and her job Father that they would not garnish her…her checks Father she would be able to provide for her husband and herself financially as You have always done in the past. Remind her that You are that same God that got her through all those difficulties and circumstances and You are the same God that would deliver her on today.

Hey DABbers, this is Slave of Jesus in North Carolina. Alright Holy Spirit let's roll. Amen to prayers for Writer for Christ. I love how you said you got an answer to your prayer. So, you've been praying for…I guess a smaller commute. I think I missed the first or just can't think of it at the moment. But this is your second time calling. And…but your answer to the prayer was wait. What great insight. What great wisdom. Like, we think if we don't get what we want from God that He's not answering our prayers or even that it's no. That's not necessarily true. And, so, thank you for pointing that out to everyone. Sometimes wait is some of the best. I've debated this job I’m at. I commute 45 minutes each morning. You know, I'm getting old. I've kind of got some weird signs that I'm toward the end of my life and that, you know, can make me wanna go, you know, like OK, let's focus on family and focus on important things. But I know God's giving me so many signs that this job is where I'm supposed to be. But my drive into work is my…is my God time. That's when I listen to DAB. That's when I listen to little Ezekiel on the way in. That's when I call a guy and pray on the way in every single day. And if I didn't have this job and this commute even if I was home you’d think I'd have more time for God but I think I'd spend less time with God. So, it's just weird that the commute is actually helping me and as…as long as I keep hearing that message, you know, I haven't thought of it as a wait every time I think about God. Should I just quit and do something more godly, do something more for You. It's…it's just been a blessing to actually have this time away. It's sad for my family but it's God time that's kind of made for me and I don't have to try to force. It…it's drive time. So, thanks for calling us and reminding us. Sometimes God answers our prayers with the wait. Love you all. Have a great day.

[dfroza]

A mighty fall of human pride

Today’s reading of the Scriptures from the New Testament is the 18th chapter of the book of Revelation:

Next I saw another messenger descending from heaven. I knew he possessed great authority because his glory illuminated the earth.

Heavenly Messenger (with a powerful voice): Fallen, fallen, is Babylon the great city!

It has become a habitat for demons,

A haunt for every kind of foul spirit,

a prison for every sort of unclean and hateful bird.

For all the nations have drunk deeply

from the wine of the wrath of her immorality,

And the kings of the earth have disgraced themselves by engaging in gross sexual acts with her,

and the merchants of the earth have grown fat and rich, profiting off the power purchased with her luxury.

Then I heard another voice from heaven urge,

A Voice: My people, get away from her—fast.

Make sure you do not get caught up in her sins.

Put some distance between you so that you do not share in her plagues,

For her sins are higher than the highest mountain. They reach far into the heavens,

and God has not forgotten even one of her missteps.

Deal out to her what she has dealt out to others,

and repay her double according to her deeds.

In the cup where she mixed her drink, mix her a double.

Whatever glory she demanded and whatever luxury she lived,

give back to her the same measure in torment and sorrow.

Secretly she says in her heart:

“I rule as queen;

I am not like a widow;

I will never experience grief.”

Because of this arrogance, in a single day, plagues will overwhelm her.

Her portion will be death and sorrow and famine,

And she will be incinerated with fire,

for mighty is the Lord God who exacts judgment on her.

And the kings of the earth, who committed lewd, sexual acts and lived lavishly off of her, will weep and wail over their loss when they see the smoke from her burning body rise into the sky. They will stand at a distance, fearing they, too, might fall victim to her torment. They will moan,

Woe to you, our great city!

Babylon, the most powerful city in the world.

In a single hour, your day of judgment has come.

And the merchants and the magnates of the earth weep and mourn over her demise because no one is buying their goods any longer: warehouses remain full of gold, silver, jewels, and pearls; fine fabrics, purple, silk, and scarlet cloth; fragrant woods, items made of ivory, and items finely crafted out of expensive wood; bronze, iron, and marble; cinnamon, spices, incense, myrrh, and frankincense; wine, olive oil, rich flour, and wheat; cattle, sheep, horses, chariots, and human cargo (the trafficked souls of humanity).

Everything your heart desired

has gone away;

All the glitz and glitter

are lost to you forever;

you’ll never have them again!

The sellers of these goods, who made a fine profit from her, will stand at a distance. Like the kings, they will fear her punishment might fall on them too. They will weep and mourn their loss.

Woe to you, our great city,

dressed in finest linens, in purple and scarlet fabrics,

dazzling in gold and jewels and pearls.

In a single hour, all this wealth is gone.

And all the sea captains, all those who sail the seas, sailors, and those who make a living by the sea, stood at a distance. Strong men were reduced to tears as they gazed on the smoke that rose from her ruins. “Was there ever any city like her?” they asked. They threw dust in the air covering their heads. They wept bitterly and mourned their loss.

Woe to you, our great city;

all who had ships at sea

became rich off your wealth!

In a single hour, you have been utterly ruined.

Rejoice over her torment, O heaven. Join in the celebration, you saints, emissaries, and prophets because God has judged in your favor and against her.

Then a mighty messenger picked up a huge stone—it looked like a great millstone—and he cast it into the sea.

Mighty Messenger: Watch and see. This is how Babylon, the great city,

will be thrown down; violently will she go down,

and they will search for her in vain.

Never again will the sound of music grace your streets.

The melodies and harmonies of the harpists and musicians and flutists and trumpeters

will never be heard again.

And never again will an artisan of any craft

be found in your markets,

And never again will the grinding of the millstone

provide rhythm to your city,

And never again will the light of a lamp

bring warm light to your houses,

And never again will the voices of the bridegroom and bride

bring joy to your festivities.

For the merchants were the magnates of the earth,

and all the nations fell prey to your sorceries.

And in her streets the blood of the prophets, saints,

and all who have been slaughtered upon the earth, ran freely.

The Book of Revelation, Chapter 18 (The Voice)

Today’s paired reading from the First Testament is the 7th chapter of the book of Hosea:

Eternal One: I will heal Israel of her exposed sins:

Ephraim’s wickedness will be laid open;

Also Samaria’s evil will be revealed:

dishonesty is tolerated, thieves break in and bandits rob in the open.

They don’t realize I’m aware of all of the evil they’re doing.

Even now their sins are all around them—I can see them clearly.

The king celebrates their evil deeds,

and princes enjoy their deceptions.

All of them are adulterers with unquenchable lust.

They are like an oven overheated by a baker,

An oven so hot it doesn’t need to be stoked for several hours

from the time the dough is kneaded until it finishes rising.

Eternal One: When the king was celebrating and the princes were sick with drunkenness,

his conscience was dulled and he joined forces with rebels.

Their hearts are like a heated oven as they plot their schemes.

All night their anger smolders, but at dawn it blazes into a flaming fire.

All of them are as hot as an oven,

and they consume their own judges.

All of their kings have fallen; none of them calls on Me.

Ephraim is mixed up with all the other nations.

Ephraim is like a cake that hasn’t been turned over.

Foreigners are devouring his strength, taking territory and tribute,

but he doesn’t realize how weak he’s grown.

Gray hair is sprouting on his head,

but he doesn’t see what others observe.

Israel’s stubborn pride will testify against him.

The people haven’t come back to Me, their True God;

they haven’t asked Me for help despite all their troubles.

Ephraim is like a dove caught in foreign intrigues, silly and without sense:

they call to Egypt; they go to Assyria.

But as they fly to others for help, I’ll throw My net over them.

I’ll bring them down like birds out of the sky and punish them,

as their congregation knows full well.

May they experience sorrow for wandering away from Me!

May they be destroyed for the way they’ve rebelled against Me!

I would like to buy them back from death,

but they would just keep lying to Me and against Me.

They’re not sincere when they cry out to Me for help.

They howl on their couches;

Hoping a god will send grain to gather and wine to enjoy.

They turn away from Me.

I trained them, I made their arms strong, I could have protected them,

but they devised evil schemes against Me.

They turn for help, but not to the Most High;

they’ve become as weak and ineffective as a loosely-strung bow.

Because of their defiant words, their leaders will be killed in battle,

and they’ll be the laughingstock of everyone in Egypt.

The Book of Hosea, Chapter 7 (The Voice)

A note about baking from The Voice translation:

Two types of ovens are used in ancient Israel: tabuns and tannurs. Both are beehive-shaped structures molded of clay, broken potsherds, and chopped straw, and are commonly found in a house’s courtyard. At the top is a capped opening, which regulates the inside heat and allows the baker access to the oven’s interior. Tabuns are fueled with cakes of dried manure and straw (Ezekiel 4:12-15), while tannurs are fueled by wood fires. Once a tannur’s wood fire burns down to the embers, the oven is ready for baking.

Each day, women mix flour and water, knead the dough, and add a small amount of salt and fermented dough (from the previous day’s work) to the mixture. After balls of dough have risen, they are flattened and shaped into discs. These discs are then easily tossed inside the oven’s opening, where they stick to the walls and cook in just minutes.

A link to my personal reading of the Scriptures for Tuesday, january 2 of 2024 with a paired chapter from each Testament (the First & the New) of the Bible along with Today’s Proverbs and Psalms

A post by John Parsons about the Biblical calendar:

Like most things Jewish, the idea of the "new year" is not simple... First there is the New Year of spring (Rosh Chodashim) on the first day of the month of Passover, and then there's the New Year of the fall (Yom Teruah) on the first day of the seventh month. The two halves of the year mirror one another and are prophetic regarding the Messiah's two advents.

The "civil New Year" the world observes derives from the pagan sources. Ancient Rome used the "Julian calendar," and January 1st was dedicated to Janus, the "god" of gateways and beginnings, and after whom the month of "January" is named. For more on this tap the following link on the secular calendar:

https://hebrew4christians.com/Holidays/Calendar/Gregorian/gregorian.html

[ Hebrew for Christians ]

========

Exodus 12:2 reading:

https://hebrew4christians.com/Blessings/Blessing_Cards/exod12-2-jjp.mp3

Hebrew page:

https://hebrew4christians.com/Blessings/Blessing_Cards/exod12-2-lesson.pdf

1.1.24 • Facebook

from yesterday’s email by Israel 365:

The land of Israel – Judea, Samaria and Gaza included – is the biblical and historical homeland of the Jewish people, who have maintained a continuous presence in the land since ancient times. No other nation has ever governed the Land of Israel as a local sovereign entity. By contrast, the Arabs living in these areas have no historical claim to the land of Israel. There has never been a “Palestinian” national entity in the land. While Arabs who are loyal to the State of Israel may be granted full individual rights, there is no legitimate Arab national claim to any part of the holy land. Inevitably, the creation of an Arab state would lead to the expulsion of Jews from their ancient biblical homeland. Yet pompous Western leaders like Joe Biden and Emmanuel Macron insist that Israel must divide its already small land and create yet another Arab terror state in its midst.

Today’s message (Days of Praise) from the Institute for Creation Research

January 2, 2024

The Branch of the Lord

“In that day shall the branch of the LORD be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel.” (Isaiah 4:2)

One of the fascinating titles of the promised Messiah is that of “the Branch.” Here He is called “the branch of the LORD,” along with “the fruit of the earth.” As the first, He is “beautiful and glorious.” As the second, He is “excellent and comely.” “And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem [or ‘stump’] of Jesse [that is, the father of King David], and a Branch shall grow out of his roots” (Isaiah 11:1).

In addition to the two references in Isaiah, there are two in Jeremiah and two in Zechariah. In both Jeremiah passages, He is a Branch of David. “Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch” (Jeremiah 23:5). See also Jeremiah 33:15.

In Zechariah’s prophecy, He is called God’s servant and God’s man. “For, behold, I will bring forth my servant the BRANCH” (Zechariah 3:8). “Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD” (Zechariah 6:12).

This fourfold presentation of the Branch of David, the Branch as a servant, the man who is the Branch, and the Branch of the Lord beautifully corresponds to the fourfold gospel depiction of Christ as King (Matthew), Servant (Mark), Perfect Man (Luke), and Son of God (John).

Just as a branch when it first begins to shoot forth appears small and fragile and easily broken, so would the Messiah first appear to be inconspicuous and unattractive. “For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground” (Isaiah 53:2). Yet, this same fragile branch will one day become a great vine with innumerable branches (John 15:5) that will spread its excellent fruit throughout all the earth. HMM

[lesfeldickbiblestudy]

  Through the Bible with Les Feldick LESSON 2 * PART 1 * BOOK 82 THE LAST MESSAGE TO DANIEL - 1 Daniel 11:32 - 12:13 Okay, it is good to see everybody in today. Another opportunity to share the Word. And we trust that as we teach, you’re praying and asking that the Spirit will direct us.  For those of you out in television, again, we want to welcome you to an informal Bible study.  And that’s all we want it to be, is a Bible study, so that you can learn to study and read and enjoy the Bible on your own.   And from our letters and phone calls, I think we’re succeeding to a certain degree. All right, we’re going to pick right up where we left off in our last program, which was last taping. For many of you, that’s a few weeks ago. We’re going to drop in where we left off in Daniel chapter 11 verse 32.  Let’s finish the chapter rather quickly, because from here to the end of the chapter is an Old Testament preview of the coming Tribulation. And, of course, I think if we have time, if not this afternoon, then in the next four programs, I’m going to make a point of the fact that there’s probably no other subject that is so thoroughly dealt with in Scripture as those final seven years of the Tribulation.  A lot of it is so horrible that the scoffers, of course, just think that it’s a bunch of funnies. But, really, it is a coming time.  And as we see the world’s whole scenario, the stage is being set for these final seven years. All right, now here we pick them up prophetically, even as we come into a prophetic picture of the anti-Christ in verse 36.  But let’s just finish the chapter. Because if I don’t, you know what will happen?  They write and say, why didn’t you cover verse 32 to the end of the chapter?  I did that with Galatians.  I’ll never do that again.  But when I skipped the last chapter, I didn’t think that it was that important and I went on into Ephesians.  And I’ve had hundreds of letters…why did you skip those verses?  So I don’t dare.  All right, verse 32: Daniel 11:32-33a “And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: (in other words, smooth talk) but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits. 33. And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: (Boy, that’s always the case, you know. If you know something, you can share it with somebody.) they shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword,…”  Now, this is all typical of the Tribulation.  That as soon as someone professes their faith, they’ll be martyred.  They won’t last very long at all.  All right, then you go on: Daniel 11:33b-35 “...they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days. 34. Now when they shall fall, they shall be holpen with a little help: but many shall cleave to them with flatteries. 35. And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try (or test) them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed.” Now, that reminds of a verse back in Jeremiah.   I was going to use it anyway a little later on in the afternoon, but it won’t hurt to use it twice.  So, go back with me to Jeremiah chapter 30 and we’ll see the same kind of language.  Jeremiah chapter 30 verse 6, and I think I’ve got another one that I want to look at in Zechariah chapter 13.  Hang on just a second.  Yeah.  All right, just look at these two portions, again prophesying the horrors of those final seven years, especially the second half of them and especially for the people of Israel. Jeremiah 30:6-7 “Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child?  wherefore do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, (or childbirth labor) and all faces are turned into paleness?  7. Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble (or Israel), but he shall be saved out of it.” Now, if you’ll jump ahead to Zechariah 13, you have much the same kind of language, only now it’s even more specific.

  Zechariah chapter 13 and we’ll jump in at verse 8. Zechariah 13:8a “And it shall come to pass,…” Most of you know that we’ve been traveling for the last two weeks.  We’ve been speaking to a lot of people.  And I’m emphasizing over and over, when this Book says thus saith the LORD, or it shall come to pass, what can we depend on?  It’s going to happen!  It’s going to happen, even though these prophecies were written back in 400-500 B.C.  We’ve now come 2,000 years on this side, and it’s still in the future.  We’re closer now, of course, than they were then, but it is going to happen. Zechariah 13:8 “And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, (That is the land of Israel.) saith the LORD, two parts (or two thirds) therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein.”  And I feel that that’s the escaping remnant of Matthew 24:15. Zechariah 13:8b-9 “…but the third shall be left therein. 9. And I will bring the third part through the fire, (That is the testings of those last three-and-a-half years.) And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try (or test) them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, (When it’s all over.) and I will hear them: and I will say, It is my people: and they (Israel, this one third of surviving, or what I call the escaping, remnant.) shall say, the LORD is my God.” Now, you see, that hasn’t happened for hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of years that God could call the Jewish people my people and they in turn would claim Him as their God. All right, back to Daniel chapter 11. Those were portions I didn’t intend to use, so I’m already five minutes behind if I was on a schedule.  But you know, thank the Lord I’m not on a schedule.   All right, so here we have it, verse 35: Daniel 11:35 “And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, (That is through the fires of the Tribulational testing.) even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed.”  Now when God sets a time schedule, is He ever a day late?  Is He a minute late?  And you know the verse I love to use most of all when it comes to God’s timeliness in fulfilling this prophetic plan is—jump all the way up to Galatians.  I just love this little portion of Scripture to see that God is so exact in His scheduling.  He’s not off a minute in any of the things that have unfolded for the last 6,000 years.  All right, but here in Galatians chapter 4, we’re talking about something totally different.  We’re talking about Christ’s birth in Bethlehem.  Galatians chapter 4 verse 4, and I hope you love it as much as I do. Galatians 4:4a “But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman…” So, what does that tell you?  The very conception of Christ in Mary was timed in such a way that on the exact day that God had appointed from eternity past, He was born.  That’s how exact God is in everything He does. And the same way back here in Daniel, flip back with me. This Tribulation thing is not going to come by accident.  It’s not going to be a day late or a day early.  It’s exactly on God’s timetable.  It’s all been foretold for thousands of years, and now we’re looking it in the face.  The whole world is getting ready for it, whether they know it or not.  We’ll be looking at that more and more this afternoon. All right, let’s move on into verse 36, where now we jump into almost explicit language describing the man anti-Christ, who, we feel, is alive. He’s someplace in the world.  He’s in some government. And one of these days it will be a little more evident, although I feel we’ll never know for sure who he is.  We may speculate all we want.  There have been books written of all the various men that they have been prognosticating as being the anti-Christ.  Nobody knows.  Nobody will know that are believers, because I’m a firm believer that we will be taken out before the anti-Christ makes his appearance.

And I pick that up from II Thessalonians.  All right, but now in Daniel 11 verse 36: Daniel 11:36a “And the king (this coming world ruler) shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, (Now, he’s going to be quite the character, believe me.) and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, (in other words, the God of Creation) and shall prosper (He’s going to get away with it.) till the indignation (or those final seven years) be accomplished:…” Now, just for the sake of showing and proving, again, the miraculousness of Scripture, turn with me up to II Thessalonians. Because the main thrust of my teaching is I want people to see that this Book isn’t just thrown together by campfire stories.  This is all put together by the intrinsic wisdom of the Creator God Himself.  So turn with me to II Thessalonians chapter 2.  And even though the Apostle Paul rarely speaks of prophecy, in fact, if I’m not mistaken, these are the only verses where he alludes to prophecy.  And I think that the main reason is to show us that even this Apostle is so led of the Holy Spirit that he can fit the things together coming out of the Book of Daniel. All right, now remember what he just said about the anti-Christ back in Daniel—he’ll magnify himself, and he’ll speak marvelous things against the God of gods, and so forth. Now look at II Thessalonians chapter 2 verse 4.  Almost the identical description. II Thessalonians 2:3c-4a “…the son of perdition; (up there in verse 3) 4. Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God,…” Do you see that?  He puts himself above all that is called God. Now for those of you who are history buffs, what did almost all the ancient emperors end up thinking of themselves?  That they were god.  Most of the Caesars, and you go back to Nebuchadnezzar and all the other oriental kings, they all got to the place that they felt they were God. Even King Herod, but, boy, he bit the dust, didn’t he. As soon as King Herod accepted the worship of his subjects, almost immediately, remember, God put him down. And if I’m not mistaken, either worms chewed him up or dogs or something, but it was a horrible death.  But see, we can’t get away from the fact that when they get that kind of power, they get the puffed up idea that they’re above humanity.  They’re now gods.  Well, this guy is going to do it supremely like no one has ever done it before, and he’s going to show himself that he is God. All right, now let’s come back to Daniel, once again. We’ll just move on through the chapter. Now these are all just graphic descriptions of this world ruler that probably is somewhere in the world today.  He doesn’t know that he is the anti-Christ, only God does.  But nevertheless, he’s being groomed.  And one day at the right time he will come forward after the church is gone.  All right, verse 37—since he set himself up as God, naturally he shall neither-- Daniel 11:37b “…regard the God of his fathers,…” Now I’ve got to stop right there, don’t I?  We normally think that someone like this would have to be a Jew, because he is putting himself above the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Well, I’m not saying that can’t be. But, you see, he could also be an apostate of Christianity.  He could still be putting himself above the God that he has worshipped in the Christian faith.  Or, he could be an apostate of Islam, as far as that goes.  He could even do that, put himself above Allah, or of the other things.  Just remember that this guy is going to be so uniquely different and so uniquely puffed up and arrogant that he’ll have no compunction about elevating himself to such a position, regardless of whether he’s a Jew, whether he’s Christian, or he’s Islam. I don’t think it makes any difference whatever place he comes from. I’d better qualify that. I still think they’re going to come out of Western Europe because of Daniel chapter 9. But, you see, you’ve got all three of those elements in the European Governments.

  You’ve certainly got enough Jewish people that are in a high place of government.  You have quote/unquote apostate Christians. And you also have tons of Muslims in Europe today.  Europe is almost turned Muslim already.  So, there’s no problem with any of those three backgrounds coming out of the Ten Nations of Western Europe.  I had to clarify that.  Now let’s go on into verse 38. Daniel 11:38 “But in his estate shall he honour the God of forces: and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honour with gold, and silver, and with precious stone, and pleasant things.” And so on and so forth, and again, I think there’s one of the Scriptures that we’re going to see sometime before the afternoon is over. He is going to honor a god of nature that evidently has some tremendous power.  Well, what power is lying in warehouses all around the world and that will be triggered in the closing days of the Tribulation?  All of our “nukes.” Nuclear power is something, of course, that no one ever dreamed of until we got the atomic bomb back at the end of World War II.  But I said it in the last taping, and I’ll say it again, because I’ve had statements from scientists proving that I’m right.  These hydrogen bombs that are standing in warehouses—they’ve never seen one openly exploded.  Not like the old atom bomb that they dropped from a steel tower.  They actually witnessed that.  As far as I know, no one has ever witnessed an open explosion of a hydrogen bomb.  So, even our scientific community really doesn’t know the power that those things are going to exercise once they’re released.  But this guy, I think, is going to almost cherish the day when he can give the command to start. And I’ve said it for thirty-some years that I do not believe that a hydrogen bomb will be exploded until we get to these last days of the Tribulation.  I just cannot see it happening, for the simple reason that if anybody, even this guy down in Iran, if he would try to drop a nuke on Jerusalem, somebody would retaliate immediately and it would just be the end of everything.  Well, God’s not going to let that happen, it’s not going to end until He is ready to end it.  So I think we can rest on that premise that these nukes will not be used until we get to that last part of these seven years. All right, so continue on, we are describing the man anti-Christ as he finally makes his appearance.  And verse 38 again: Daniel 11:38-39 “But in his estate he shall honor the God of forces: (Maybe that was the word I had in mind. He will think the world of all of this nuclear power that now sits at his fingertips.) and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honor with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things. 39. Thus shall he do in the most strong holds with a strange god, whom he shall acknowledge and increase with glory: and he shall cause them to rule over many, and shall divide the land for gain.” Now again, I may be as wrong as daylight from dark, but I think what we dealing with here are the satanic and demonic powers.  He’s going to draw on demon power, and Satan, of course, will be indwelling him in the last half. This is what I have to feel we’re looking at here—that he’s going to be toying and exercising the demonic powers.  All right, verse 40: Daniel 11:40a “And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind,…” Well, you see, some feel that the king of the north and the king of the south were two different empires, but they cannot be.  Because the anti-Christ is the king of the north, and who the king of the south will be—at this time I’m in no position to guess, and I can’t find anybody else that does either.  So, we’ll just let that one slide.  But now you come to the last half of the verse. Daniel 11:40b “…with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over.”  Now just to mention the ships, of course, indicates the use of naval power.

  And that is, of course, today like never before in history.  All right, verse 41, now it becomes obvious. Daniel 11:41a “He shall enter also into the glorious land,…” Well, now there’s only one piece of real estate in the world that is glorious in God’s eyes.  And what is it?  The little land of Israel.  So, he’s definitely going to make his appearance in Israel. And I think that he will make his headquarters in the defiled Temple up there on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. Daniel 11:41 “He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon.”  Now those are Arab nations and, again, to what extent he’s going to leave them alone—I’m in no position to comment.  Now verse 42: Daniel 11:42-43 “He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape. (Egypt is going to come under his wrath, as well.) 43. But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps.”  So, he’s going to have total control of North Africa, and they’re going to be under his thumb.   Now verse 44: Daniel 11:44-45a “But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him: therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many. (So, these are conflicts that he’s going to have to put down in order to maintain his power.  But, of course, he’s going to be successful in doing so.) 45. And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas (Between the Mediterranean and the Dead Sea; which, of course, is Jerusalem.) he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain;…”  Which, I feel, is the Temple Mount in Jerusalem on which you have the Golden Dome, the Mosque of Omar, whatever you want to call it. And where I also feel, as I think we’ve mentioned before, will be the seven-year peace treaty that the anti-Christ will sign between Israel and the Arab world that will permit Israel to build a Temple of sorts up there on the Temple Mount. I think I explained it the last time we were here, that there is that large, almost 200 feet if not mistaken, 200 feet by 200 feet square—nothing but pavement as smooth as this floor right north of the Golden Dome and also straight west of the Eastern Gate.  That’s where I personally feel that this rebuilt Temple that the Jews will be permitted to build in the early days of the Tribulation will then become his capital.  I think he’s just going to do everything he can to besmirch the things of God.  I may be wrong, but that’s the way I’m looking at it.  So, he’ll make Jerusalem his capital, and all the things pertaining to his power will be exercised. Now, we’ve got a few minutes left.  Let’s go back to the Book of Revelation, which, of course, is the parallel Book of Daniel. The two fit hand-in-glove.  We’ll come back to chapter 13 of Revelation to pick up how the world will fall at his feet.  Now, I think we’re all aware that we’re seeing an example of that even in our own country today. How we have a man who has suddenly captured the astonishment of the world. I read some time ago that they’re actually raising statues of him in cities all around the world.  Well, it’s just an indication of how people can suddenly be attracted to one individual.  Chapter 13 of Revelation, we’ll use this to finish up these last three minutes.  John, the writer of Revelation, is speaking in symbolism much as Daniel does. Revelation 13:1-2 “And as I stood upon the sand of the sea, (That is the sea of humanity.) and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and, ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. (Now that, of course, I think, indicates his empire, his Revived Roman Empire.  And it’ll be as Daniel saw it in chapter 2.) 2. And the

beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon (Satan) gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.” That’s what I mentioned just a few moments ago.  This man is going to derive his power from Satan himself.  In fact, I think Satan will do like he did with Judas. I think he’s going to indwell the man anti-Christ, whoever he is.  Then I’m going to come all the way down to verse 5, lest I run out of time. Revelation 13:5 “And there was given unto him (this coming world ruler) a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue (or to keep on going) forty and two months.” Now, you know we’ve stressed it over the last several programs that these final seven years are always divided into two halves: three-and-a-half years and three-and-a-half years; twelve hundred and sixty days and twelve hundred and sixty days; forty-two months and forty-two months.  Those are all the terms of Scripture.  Now, here we have the same thing. That after he has defiled the Temple of Jerusalem and he’s turned against the Nation of Israel, he now has forty-two months where he can draw on the satanic power. Now, I don’t have time enough left here. But in Revelation chapter 12 we have another parallel package where Satan is cast out of Heaven at the very mid-point.  When this anti-Christ goes in and defiles the Temple on Earth, Satan is getting kicked out of Heaven. All right, now it says as clearly as can be put, that when he is kicked out of Heaven and he’s brought down to earth, he immediately hooks up with the man anti-Christ. And I feel, like I said, that Satan will indwell him.  All right, by indwelling the man anti-Christ, it will give him tremendous power.   Now verse 6 of Revelation 13: Revelation 13:6-7 “And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, (In other words, if it’s the one that’s on the Temple Mount, as I think, he’s going to defile it and curse it and blaspheme it.) and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. 7. And it was given unto him (In other words, God in His Sovereignty permits it, but Satan is going to empower him to do it.) And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, (That is anyone that professes salvation.) and to overcome them: (He’ll put them to death.) and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.” Now, when Scripture brings these things down to tongues, that means that every dialect throughout China, every dialect throughout India, or any other nation you can think of, are all going to come under his total control.  So, it says that those that are in the Lamb’s Book of Life will not lose their life.

[dailyaudiobiblechronological]

2/12/2023 DAB Chronological Transcription

Exodus 39 - 40

Welcome to Daily Audio Bible Chronological, I'm Jill. Today's the 12th day of February, and I'm coming to you from the land of Israel. What a beautiful, beautiful place this is. What a beautiful time we're having together and what a joy it is to be here together with you, reading the word of God for us as it comes to life and pops off the page here in the land where this all took place, where this all transpired. We are starting a brand new week together today. And you know what that means. It's all brand new. Brand new. Start a brand new week and exhale to release everything from the past week that we didn't accomplish that feels undone. Maybe that's not even ours to do. And a clean slate, a fresh start walking forward into this week. And it can be a week of transformation, can be a week of accomplishment. It can be a week of rest. It can be a week just to be whatever it is that you need. That's what you can make it. We're continuing in the book of Exodus today, reading chapters 39 and 40. Exodus being the exit of the children of Israel out of Egypt, out of slavery, into freedom. And that doesn't come with its own challenges after you have been enslaved for so many years. And now we see a culture being set up and started. And that comes with precision, that comes with exact instruction. And there's a reason for that. So we're going to dive into this today. Exodus, chapters 39 and 40. This week we're starting a brand new translation. We'll be in the contemporary English version, exodus, chapter 39.

Prayer

Father, we thank you for your word. We thank you for this brand new week ahead. Thank you that you are with us. You go before us. You're behind us every step of the way. We do not walk alone, but walk we must, resting when necessary, getting back up when we fall down, listening, leaning in to hear your voice so that you will guide and direct us. And I pray that you would do just that, guide and direct our steps today, this week, as we go forward with every person, no matter what they're dealing with, no matter what the circumstances of life that they are in the middle of, in the midst of. And we know that life is and can be hard, but we can do hard things because we do not do them alone. You are with us. We thank you for being present, near almighty, all knowing and ever present. We pray this now in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, amen.

Jill from Israel

For those of you who are following along on the Israel pilgrimage, this is where we talk about what we did today. Today started in Cana. We left the Sea of Galilee, where we'll be for the next few days. And boy, is it good to open a suitcase and leave it put for a few days, not have to load it up, pack it up, load it up. And so just can exhale, enjoy the sunset, sleep in a few extra minutes. And this is where we do that in that portion of the trip. So we went to Cana and for those of you who are here for the first time reading the Bible, we have not got to Cana yet, but that is in the Gospels, in the New Testament, and that is where Jesus performed his first miracle of turning water to wine at a wedding ceremony. I actually love that story because I love a good party for one. I love a good celebration wedding and there is a stone VAT where the water would be held and where it would have turned into wine. And it's just mammoth to think about these things in your mind and then to see the scale of it, it's just incredible. And then it's just a special time because that is where any couples on the pilgrimage, who long to renew their vows. They get to do that. So that happened and Brian and I got to perform that little ceremony. And so sweet and so special. Just a story within a story of hearing some of the couples talk about how long they've been married, some newlyweds, some 38 years, I'm sure even more than that. So really just a sweet way to start the day. And then from Cana we went to Mount Precipice. It is a large overlook and it is absolutely spectacular. When we read stories of the Old Testament and in the New Testament we might talk about things, we just pass names. We don't really have any reference for them. Mount Hebron, the Jezreel Valley and they're just places in our mind in the story. And we can't figure proximity, we don't know distance until we take a pilgrimage like this. And you realize that those places are they're not right down the road. You can't get to it on your bike, but standing at the top of a mountain of an overlook, you can see them. They are relatively close, but then you consider people didn't have vehicles, they were not paved roads. They're either footing it or they're hoofing it. And by hoofing I mean like a donkey. And I've never really seen a donkey run too terribly fast. But at the top of Mount Precipice, you just really gain perspective of so many different things in the Bible, the view is spectacular. It's just looking down, just even patchwork of the crops of the fields, lush, beautiful green vegetation. And then you might have two mountains. And then there's a sweet little river floating right between it and just the sheer beauty of being there and putting some places in perspective. And then just the sweet little unexpected surprises that do my heart so good of being at the top of a mountain. And there's the smell of fire permeating the entire area. I don't even know where it was or where it came from, but it almost felt magical to my heart. Just like a little pitter patter of sweet little smile from God. It's cold, it's windy up here. It's beautiful. But let me just show you some things. And while I'm showing you some things, how about a little campfire? The only thing that could have made it better was if there was a three piece jazz band playing at the top of the mountain. But, well, that didn't happen. From Mount Precipice, we went to Kirsi, and then from Kirsi, our final destination for today was the peace vista that's another overlook, that overlooks the entire Sea of Galilee. It was cold, very windy. It was having some problems with the wind really bothering my eyes, so I stayed back for that. And then from there, we headed home. We headed back to the hotel for a quick dinner and for a live broadcast to bring all of you to Israel and bring all of us to you. So that's always just a really sweet time together for you to hear the stories of how lives are already being affected by this trip, what God is speaking, what he is doing, and just a sweet time for the people. We're on two different buses, but for the people to come together and really just be a family together. So that's it for day six in the books, and we look forward to turning that page together with you all tomorrow as we continue the journey here in Israel on day seven of the pilgrimage that will be our first full week complete. And also as we turn the page in the story and in the reading to hear what God would love to speak to his children. So that's it for me for today. I'll join you again tomorrow, and I look forward to it. I'm Jill. Until then, love one another.

Community Prayer Line

Hi, this is Kerry, aka Jesus girl, and I just wanted to pray for saved by his grace in Happy Valley and her grandson Ronan, who is claiming he has a demon and that he loves hell and he's plotting to kill children. Jesus, I bring Ronan to you right now. And, Lord, I just place them at your feet. I speak your name, Jesus, over him. I plead your blood of protection. Not over just Him, but Lord, of over the children around him. Jesus, the spirit of Moloka is alive, and Satan is doing his best to destroy our children from the womb on up. And Lord, we just beg of you, please, Ronan needs help. We beg of you that you please break the chains that have bound him with a demonic force in Jesus. We just ask that he is a child, Lord. His mind is not mature enough to know what he's truly saying. And yet, Lord, he's at an age where children are killing children. So, Lord, we beg Your mercy and such that you be mindful of this and that you go with him, that you place angels around him, Lord, that Your light shatters the darkness that has enveloped him. Lord, please help his parents to come together and to join in peace to do what is best for their son. Father, may they please find help for Ronan that is Christian based, Lord, people that will come alongside and help pray for him and speak life over him. Jesus be was saved by grace because this is her grandbaby. And as a grandmother, I can't imagine the pain that she must be going through. And in reality, a bit of panic, even though we are told to be anxious for no thing, lord, when it comes to our kids, there's a bit different of a feeling, but so, Lord, we thank you and I praise you, and I ask you for this. Amen.

Hey, family. This is Pam, his ransom soul in New Jersey, calling in to pray for Ronan, the six year old grandson of Saved by His Grace in Happy Valley, who's been speaking a lot about death and hell and demons and actually thinks he is a demon. And at one point was trying to make plans with a friend to kill someone who's bothering this friend. Oh, family, let's go to prayer now for this precious child. Dear Father in Heaven, lord of angel armies, this is obviously a satanic and demonic attack on this child. Please, Father God, in Your great mercy and compassion and power, command these dark and sinister and demonic forces that are attacking Ronan to flee now, in the mighty name of Jesus. I implore you to please command these vile spirits of chaos and violence and oppression to come out of him and remind them they have no power or authority over Ronan, because Ronan belongs to you. Lord. Be a wall of fire around about him and a shield over him. And surround Ronan with Your guardian, warrior and ministering angels. Destroy the stronghold the enemy has set up within this little boy and in his home. Heal and renew Ronan's mind and spirit. And O Jesus, invite Ronan to fix his young eyes on you, and to open his ears to hear Your voice alone, calling him to come to you. And for his dear grandmother, banish all worry, anxiety and dread. Fill her with Your perfect peace. Bring healing to her aching heart, and be her strength and weakness as she waits and hopes and trust in you, Father God, in all of this. May Your perfect will be done. And I pray this in the name of Your son, Jesus, our Prince of Peace and Lord of Lords, our warrior king and strong deliverer. Amen.

This is Kim from Tulsa, Oklahoma, and I have been wanting to get on here and call because I am a new listener to the DABC. I've heard Brian for over ten years, and I love to jump on the community prayer and hear all those that call almost daily or weekly. It's so fun to be a part of that community also. But I'm excited to hear and get to know Jill and China and hear their insight and have just loved starting this year with a new group of people. But I was listening to Justin from Indiana at Sunday, February the fifth and what a powerful prayer, Justin, that you prayed today for us to stop and reflect the many blessings we have in life, our family, our friends, our health. And so thank you for just taking the time and praying this morning and reminding us all of the many blessings that we have. And I also want to be just really mindful of Brian and Jill and the family and the community that is traveling in Israel for the next couple of weeks. And so I will be praying for that and looking forward to hearing updates from Jill on the DABC. So thank you community. I love you all. This community is such a wonderful asset to my life and I'm so grateful. Many blessings to all of you. I love you all.

Good morning, DABC family. This is Kim from Kentucky. It's Saturday, February the fourth, and I have just finished up listening to yesterday's podcast and I am calling in for Sam from Arizona, whose mom passed away from pancreatic cancer and whose funeral is today. And Sam, I am going to a friend's husband's funeral today here in Kentucky who passed away from pancreatic cancer. And so Father God, I come to you on behalf of Sam and his sibling and my friend and her children who have lost loved ones due to pancreatic cancer. And I know you are the God of all comfort and you are the father of mercies, and I know you are very present to those who are broken hearted and these people with this funeral today are broken hearted over their losses. But God, I know where my friend's husband is and I pray Sam's mom is in your arms as well, walking on streets of gold, seeing things that we have not even imagined, but still we are here to carry on. And I just lift them up to you, asking you to hold them close, give them comfort in these days ahead, guide them in all the decisions they have to make, lead them along your path. You are a good, good father and we're so thankful that we can come to you in our times of grief and you comfort us. And all this I pray in the mighty and matchless and wonderful name of Jesus. Be blessed, Sam. God bless you all.

Hey, DABC, it's Brady from Northern Virginia. I'm inspired by what I heard today. It's February 5, but I'm always a couple of months behind on my listening. It's December 27 and May listening today, but a lady from Australia was talking about how she appreciates the fact that we're all different time zones and we're all praying as we are listening to the Daily Audio Bible or Chronological throughout the world at our different times. That still resonates with me. I am very thankful for this community. This might be my 7th year listening to Daily Audio Bible and or Chronological. I love you guys. I'm always praying for you. Thank you to the narrators, Brian, Jill, and China for this one wonderful biblically based podcast. Praying for you all. God bless you.

[ohheyitsokay]

home

part 10 of the ‘hey batter batter’ series

pairing: Francisco (Frankie, Catfish) Morales x reader

wordcount: 3k

warnings: so so soo much fluff. clouds and clouds worth. kissing, implications of sex (blink and you’ll miss it)

summary: it’s a Triple Frontier Baseball AU! Trust me, you don’t need to know anything about baseball.

In this chapter, you and Frankie finish the season and the summer, and know it’s only the beginning.

notes: thank you all so much for supporting this little story of mine! I genuinely am blown away by how kind everyone has been! originally I planned on this series just being a couple of one-shots set in the same universe, but it got away form me, and I can’t believe so many of you came along for the ride. some of those stories will come in time, but thank you thank you thank you to everyone who stuck around this long! all the love for all of you!

>>

It was a beautiful day for a baseball game.

The sun was shining and for once your bones weren’t shaking with the rumble of the stadium as people stomped and cheered. In fact, the majority of the noise was from Frankie’s momma as she chattered across your lap to your grandfather. The two of them were discussing gardening and how well season was played, how proud they were, the best of friends. It was peaceful, almost, and most of the flashing lights and roaring crowds were away – it was the final game, a charity fundraiser, all fun.

You could see your catcher as he turned, looking at your section like he couldn’t help but search for you, and you smiled, heart as full and as warm as the sun on your shoulders. His curls were sticking out from under his helmet haphazardly, the pads on his shoulders and thighs making him even more solid, and it was a sight that you’d never get tired of. Combined with the smells of warm pastries, jalapeños and melted cheese, contentment settled into your soul like a hand in a glove, a perfect fit.

It was the of the ninth and they were playing well, encouraged by the cause and playing for the love of of the game instead of a paycheck. Behind you, you heard someone mention just how well Frankie had batted this season, and you brushed pan dulce sugar from your lap.

The players had told you last week after all the big games were done why Santi had offered to pay for you and James to fly to see their final games. At the time, it had baffled you how intensely they insisted, how eagerly the pushed it, and how your boyfriend had looked equal parts embarrassed and hopeful, but eventually you agreed, assuming you could get the time off from work. When the secret came out you laughed, shaking your head and rolling your eyes.

They had exchanged smiles and shrugged and shared knowing glances as they let you explain away what they knew was true. You were their luck.

The thought was long gone from your mind now though, as Ben was doing weird poses on the field, and you heard chuckles ripple through the crowds. Fans of him and the team alike were endlessly charmed, and you knew you’d catch comments about it for months to come. His brother was just standing, and still you heard dreamy sighs of Will’s name, and made a mental note to tease him after the game about his “blonde halo”. Whatever that meant.

Santi threw a perfect curveball, and when it landed firmly in Frankie’s glove, you heard a girl swoon, “That’s my man!” and the laughter of her friends, as they called her “Mrs. Morales”.

“No!” his momma was glaring over her shoulder tugging on your elbow, as if physically fighting them was a viable option. You tugged back, making soothing noises as she protested, “Mi frijol.” The sweet lady muttered something else and before your heart could latch on to what you could’ve sworn was something about the future and tu marido you moved on.

“I know, I know,” you were saying, when James leaned over, glint in his sweet, aging eyes.

“She’s right, honey,” he said, only encouraging his friend, and you grinned.

“He’s my boy,” she said again with an air of finality, “and yours."

Looking at your grandfather sheepishly, you pointed at your shirt and shrugged as he said, “Right again.”

You were wearing his backup Jersey.

Cheesy as it was, it felt good to have the little claim of his over your skin, and while it wasn’t obvious to everyone, you wore it with pride. Comments from his fans slid off it like raindrops on a tin roof, and while you apricated her inclusion, you didn’t need it to know he was yours, as you were his.

Jimbo leaned towards the woman at your side and whispered conspiratorially in her ear, and she settled, and you left it, enjoying their friendship. The day was too lovely for anything else, anyway.

Catch, catch, walk, look for his girlfriend, sit, swing, hit, run, walk, sit. Repeat.

Nothing so eventful happened the last few minutes of the game, and as the Will went out for his final bat, you felt a surprising wave of bittersweet nostalgia for all that had passed since the opening game, cold as an evening breeze.

Then the ball cracked against the bat, and the sound snapped you back, and you felt a fire under your breastbone, reminding you the best was yet to come.

Frankie’s mom finished her final cheers enthusiastically, all annoyance long gone, and she pulled you into a hug.

“Nieta is calling. Hug Francisco for me, hija, and I’ll see you tomorrow?” You nodded, squeezing her back almost as hard. You and Frankie were using his first real day off to babysit and get some quality time, and both of you were well aware this was hardly goodbye. You gave a gentler hug to your grandfather, who was going with her, whispering “Bye Jimbo,” as you kissed his cheek. He had conspired to let you stay out for the evening, and while you’d miss driving him home, you were grateful for the opportunity.

Seeing them safely as far as you could, your feet danced with excitement. Like it had been more than handful of times, they knew the path to the locker rooms, carrying you so light you were almost floating. When you slid into the waiting room, Frankie was already clean and looking for you anxiously. Maybe you should’ve given him a little wave from across the room, but you could do better.

You ducked away from his line of sight, and snuck around behind him before say, “hey, batter, batter.” He whipped around and before you could even register the grin on his face, he was pulling you against his chest.

“Hey yourself,” he said, and the two of you got one sweet, slightly needy kiss before you heard good-natured groans.

“It’s been like month,” Santi said, ruffling your hair as you stepped back, “Aren’t you guys done flirting?” You stuck your tongue out at him, wondering if you were fast enough to flick him in the forehead.

“Don’t bother,” Will said, his tone resigned but playful as he hugged you too. “Be happy he got her to stick around.” You pulled a face, and Benny laughed. They all knew by now that it was more than a summer fling, even Tom, who you realized hadn’t come out yet.

When you asked, they winced, and you dropped the topic, knowing they would tell you in their own time. Frankie pulled you back to him, his warm fingers lacing with yours as you herded them towards the door.

They were still working on things, still trying to figure out what their next steps looked like.

For now, you owed your baseball boys a dinner.

-           

 It had taken you a couple of times cooking for them to get the portions right. The Miller boys ate like they were hollow, and after a game was a testament to that.

Thankfully, you had more than enough this time, having been preparing their favorites for days with the enthusiastic help from Frankie’s mom, and begrudging help from his sister as a thank you to her hermano. The piled into your little space and ate gratefully, telling you about the game like you knew what they were talking about.

“Benny, why were you –” his deep laughter cut you off, and your hand shot out to grab Will’s wrist mid-throw. You had a rule against projectile food to keep them from squabbling like children at your makeshift dinner table. The dinner roll fell to his plate as Benny tried to explain, and Santi deadpanned.

“I was stretching, and I got distracted –”

“You were flirting with the entire stadium, Ben.”

“No! Well –”

It was warm and bright, eating dinner with them like a family, teasing and laughter filling the space like clear broth in the cool of night.

Frankie’s hand found your knee under the table.

The best part about these replacement-parties was watching them all try to help clean up. You were lucky professional athletes had fast reflexes, or you would’ve lost more than a few dishes to their shenanigans. They insisted, wouldn’t let you help, and things probably would’ve been put back correctly if you had, but it was great, letting things play out however they may. Maybe years and years down the road, you would tell a younger generation that you had some of the world’s most desirable athletes fighting in your kitchen over where you kept your dish soap refills.

And after, they would collapse in your living room, unearthing all the games from your shelves. One of your favorite moments from the summer was coming through thrift stores for games, ignoring the stare of jealousy and making ridiculous bets.

All the while, Frankie kept as close to you as he could, too busy watching you with wrinkles in the corners of his eyes to be embarrassed of his rambunctious friends.

When you and Will won the first game of the evening, he accidentally hit you in the face with the back of his hand as he flung his arms open in triumph.

It hadn’t hurt as badly as it would’ve if his brother had been the one talking with his hands, but Frankie had still thumped him in the back of the head before he followed you to the kitchen.

“Baby, are you okay?”

“I’m fine, Frankie,” you laughed, but he was already taking the pack of frozen peas from your hand to press it against the lump forming on your temple. He was gentle, and the air shifted, like there was more on his mind than your minor injury. Brown eyes searching yours, you wished you knew what he was thinking.

“Francisco?” Your hands had settled on his chest but the moved around his neck when he moved the ice to ghost his lips over the spot. He didn’t answer for a moment, just setting the peas aside, and carefully trapping you against the counter.

There were noises of good-natured arguing coming from the living room, and you knew he was taking advantage of their distraction, carving a little pocket for the two of you in time.

“Te adoro,” his lips were almost hot as they pressed into yours. “I love you,” he said, so close you could feel the hairs on his upper lip still.

For the past month, your relationship had been fast, jumpstarting to serious and staying that was, but this was new. It was one thing, for him to tell you he wanted something real with you, wanted you to be a part of his life, and another to hear him say he loved you simply, without abandon. Still, you didn’t hesitate.

“I love you too.”

He kissed you again, unhurried, and you almost couldn’t return it, you were smiling so widely. Your bump was long forgotten.

When the two of you came out the kitchen, the others had barely noticed you were gone and Ben immediately was accusing you of cheating, but Santi shot you a knowing smile.

-           

There was a gap of time when a season ended, when Molly’s inbox was mercifully void of emails. It was a time when the chaos of her job slowed, for a bit before she began her work for the off-season, and she relished it with every fiber of her being.

This particular gap began wrapped up in sheets with Tom, her Tom, kissing and wishing the world outside was a simple as this, in the little bubble of her room.

She could always tell though, when his mind was no longer filled with her, and the other sides of him began to leak through the cracks. His eyes moved with urgency instead of appreciation his hands moved a little slower and then in sudden jerks, and when he trailed off mid-sentence, she sighed.

“You told them, didn’t you?”

He rolled onto his back; his gaze pointed towards the ceiling.

“Right after the game,” he confessed, and she sighed again, sitting up. If nothing else, for him, she had endless patience.

“How’d that go?”

Her love was silent, thinking only of the embarrassment and defensiveness that had reared in his chest. The tilt of Santi’s head, Frankie’s slow nod. He wished Benny had been disappointed, wished Will had thought it was a joke.

“They understood,” Tom didn’t add that he hoped with all his considerable might that they had reacted stronger, hoped they had told him not to, said they needed him to stay, but they hadn’t. It wouldn’t have been true, anyway. They were growing, going somewhere he couldn’t follow.

Her hand ran over his chest as it filled with air, stilling over his heart.

“It’s time,” one of them said, and the other nodded.

Counseling. Rehab. Retirement.

Slowing down to coach at a local college.

He clenched his hand into a fist, and then relaxed, palm falling open, upwards.

The love of his life kissed his forehead.

It was time.

-           

The first stop of the day was with James, spending the morning helping him around the house. Before this summer, you had thought you were his favorite grandchild, but he had essentially adopted Frankie months ago, and already liked him more than you.

The little old man talked excitedly about baseball and lectured your love on enjoying his off-season. He dragged him into the yard, talking his ear off about the benefits of different teas and the importance of volunteering with youth programs, and you settled inside, throwing away expired things from his fridge. Their absence was your only opportunity for the chore.

Honestly, the two of you needed to leave sooner than later and you weren’t sure how much time you had.

“Honey?” You dropped a can of whipped cream from a month ago guiltily.

“Yeah, Jimbo?”

He eyed you suspiciously but seemed too excited to be deterred by you.

“I put this together for you!” He said proudly, and you noticed a flash of the same mischief from yesterday in his eyes. Your grandfather handed you a box, and made you promise not to open in until you left. You hugged the sweet man, and smiled when Frankie did, too, before saying your goodbyes, thankful beyond words for him.

If it weren’t for him, you were sure you wouldn’t be climbing into the truck of your boyfriend, and certainly not having the catcher’s hand slide into yours. When you opened the box, the gratitude didn’t shrink, but your embarrassment rose.

Frankie laughed so hard you thought he was going to have to pull over.

It was full of Francisco Morales merchandise, signatures and memorabilia ranging from his very first baseball card to his most recent bobble head.

-           

Frankie kissed your knuckles for the second time since you climbed into his truck, which was silly since it had only been three minutes since you left his mother’s house.

He could feel your look, answering before you even asked.

“I’m good, just… I love you,” he said, unable to keep his eyes on the road when he said it.

“I love you too, Frankie,” you said, wondering what prompted him.

“Could we… would you want to get dinner?” He looked thoughtful and you laughed.

“Are you asking me on a date?”

Your hand was lifted to his lips again, sending electricity up your spine as he confirmed.

The two of you had a bag full of Anita’s best by the time you entered his home, and he still hadn’t told you what was on his mind. The two of you ate, sharing stories about the day’s adventures, helping his mother around the house and watching, Bianca, his sweet, tiny new niece. You had a great conversation with his mother, and despite her excitable nature, she surprised you by asking you about your boundaries and promising not to overstep.

Frankie told you about his hermana, and her slowly opening up to the idea of letting him help her out, not as charity but family, and letting him shoulder some of the responsibilities. You watched the warmth in his eyes as he talked and wondered how it was possible for a single person to feel so safe.

Eventually the talking slowed, and you found yourself half falling asleep against the stretch of his chest, is hands slowing their wandering paths.

“Love?” he murmured into your hair. You hummed in response.

When he didn’t say anything, your mind woke, and you pulled yourself up, and into his lap, straddling him.

He looked up at you for a moment before you felt him sigh against you.

“I have this baby,” he said, and you couldn’t help but smile at his phrasing. Santi always said it was melodramatic. “Do you… is this all too much?”

His expression mirrored that of your first date, and you told him the same thing as you had then.

That you would stay, as long as he would have you. That you would navigate alongside him, that you were happy to. This time, you added that you loved him, and you felt him shift under you, anxiety leaking out of him, allowing solid adoration to replace it.

Frankie said, “Thank you,” against your mouth, and like a prayer. In the dim evening light, you kissed him, and as his hands slipped under your shirt to hold your sides, he held you for the first time like you were real.

And you were, this was something that wasn’t going away.

For the first time in a long time, it was a perfect day for something new, and his heart was here, beating under his hands.

 <<

translations:

pan dulce: pastries

mi frijol: my bean

tu marido: your husband

nieta: granddaughter 

hija: daughter

hermano/a: brother, sister

te adoro: I adore you

<<

taglist:

@fangirl-316 @scribbledghost @writeforfandoms @beautyagegoodnesssize @princess76179 @mrsbentallmadge @pbeatriz

hey batter batter taglist:

@icanbeyourjedi @studyofawearymind @hnt-escape @athalien @the-witty-pen-name @daffodin @sarahjkl82-blog @pintsizemama @anaaaispunk @pjkimrn @dobbyjen @stuckontheceiling

#francisco morales #francisco morales x reader #francisco morales x you #frankie x you #frankie x reader #triple frontier baseball au #hey batter batter #maybe i don't know people

[juuls]

This was a comment left on chapter 11 of my fem!Tony Stuckony time travel/soulmate fic, Hanging From a Cross of Iron, and I just wanted to put a couple things out there.

First of all, I’m not mad. We’ll make that clear. I’ve received variations of this comment before and it’s rather on the mark. But sometimes both sides can be correct in how they interpret a piece of fiction, and I wanted to show that.

So… yeah. This is something I get every so often on this fic, especially around this chapter (10-12ish) and I just… really wanted to post my reply to it, if for nothing other than explaining the way my brain works and WHY I hate Captain America: Civil War so much for ruining so many good things in fandom.

I’m not putting this out there for sympathy or agreement or to start a fight or stupid shit. It’s more like a… “I’m tired of explaining myself, let me post something I feel is a semi-eloquent response to someone who was at least mostly respectful and got some things right, who I know does represent a fair portion of people who may be interested in reading this fic,” which I could then just point/link to the next time I wake up to things making me sad in my inbox on top of me being sad and feeling guilty at not having written for a while.

Stupid covid. Stupid life being dumb and depressing and draining energy and happiness from many. Just you wait. I’ll be back soon with Codega and this fic, Cross.

But here. This is my reply to the above comment:

So I don’t normally reply to critique such as this because this IS fanfiction, but you are at least part right: it IS supposed to be unfair.

This is me working out my issues with Civil War, because boy that sure as fuck pissed me off. I love Stuckony, but after CACW it was really hard to reconcile that love anymore. So this was my way to do that, and I 100% wanted to bring in the unfairness, the distrust, the favouritism, the… meanness that I saw and felt after that.

It’s also a way for me to work through my issues at the injustices I suffered at the hands of my ex-husband—I started writing this shortly after packing my bags and leaving.

I wanted a slow, somewhat realistic, non-fairytale path to even partial redemption, shared pain and circumstances and experiences, and to show that things CAN work out as long as certain lines are not crossed. I skirt the line sometimes, definitely on purpose, but that’s for ME.

I wanted to turn the tables: Steve (and Bucky) were out of their time and comfort zone in the future—Toni, in turn, needed to be out of her time and comfort zone in the past.

Plus, can you imagine a soulmate world where you’ve had a partner and you think “this is it”? Then bam! Suddenly someone’s suddenly thrust into your life.

And I wanted to play on every single issue Toni would have experienced with her family, friends, “friends”, enemies, Obie, her company, the world, etc., post-IM2.

None of them have had an easy go of it and war is goddamn hell. They ALL have PTSD. (But also, lol, the Howlies start laying into Stucky about what you’re getting mad about here too, so I’m way ahead of you!)

From the beginning, this was as much a psychological setting as a romantic one: way more so in the beginning. But it slowly crawls its way out of the murk. I wanted a soulmate story where it wasn’t all sunshine and roses. I wanted a story where they had to fight for it… or where they had a choice, shitty as it may be (they’ll NEVER choose not to have Toni, that was never going to happen). I wanted something… realistic, even amidst super soldiers, super tech, an almost unbelievable war, and soulmates existing.

I wanted it to be a fight. I wanted rejection… then them, ALL of them, to choose each other despite that, despite their past, and despite fate.

That is my goal with this fic. And since I take my own sweet time, that’s really not readily apparent so soon in this fic, even at chapter 11.

The love will be there. The unconditional love, the equal triadic love. Not just Stucky plus Toni. Because believe me, Stucky is probably one of my least favourite ships that include some of my favourite characters. Sounds ridiculous since I write them here, but as a historian I wanted to take that, take some realism, with a dash of ridiculous and hurt and pain and anger, and see what I could do with that.

The entire reason this story exists is because of a scene idea I had that doesn’t come about until the future in the 20s chapters. Leaning on each other and trusting each other because one of them was lost. Well, technically, that happens twice.

But the point is: this is a long as fuck story towards a love they have to (and WANT to, eventually) fight tor.

This fic is for me. It’s for people like me. It’s for people who don’t want an easy love story. It’s absolutely okay that you don’t like it! There are SO many fics that I dislike for a variety of reasons, and I simply close it, mark it as Did Not Finish, and don’t return. I recognize not every fic is for me.

This one’s for me. I may have sort of stalled out where I’m at in the 20s chapters, but it’s left at a pretty good place, and I’m looking forward to this dumb pandemic so I can get back to forging this love between these three idiots, as well as pick up an old Star Wars story I left 4+ years ago due to the abuse at the hands of my ex. But I’m ready to return to it now. Well, after the world calms down a little.

It’s okay if you’re done with this story—that is 100% your choice and I will never begrudge you that. I’m glad you gave it a try though! If you’re interested, you could skip ahead and see how the dynamics have changed, or I could give you clips and examples too.

My one wish (though I understand it completely) is that you had not done this on Anon. For a few reasons:

1, I would never hold this opinion against you, especially because you got tons of it right! Go you!

2, I’d love to understand you better and discuss this with you. No recriminations whatsoever.

3, But I do wonder who of those who have read my other writings left me this message. It makes me a little sad, and I will wonder which of the people I talk to have this negative opinion of me now, but that’s also my own past issues rearing their ugly heads. You have every right to remain on Anon, though it’s not so nice when you wake from a nice dream and discover anon ‘dislike’ in your inbox on a work you slaved away on, and that the dislike is specifically about the things you wrote about deliberately, hah. Sorta funny, actually, so I’ll let that one go. xD

Thank you, though, even if I disliked reading this words: it helps me to look at my own work critically and to better understand how to frame and write things going forward.

Not every fic is for everyone, and that’s okay. I’ve encountered mine, you’ve encountered yours, but I think we’ve both learned from this interaction.

Whoever you may be, even if you divulge your handle to me, my respect for you wouldn’t diminish. It’s good to have healthy discussions and to look critically upon your own work—even if I am a sensitive bean and it hurts a little, I’m fine. :P

I think the lesson to be learned here is: fuck everything after CACW!!!! Grrrrr xD

Take care,

Juuls

P.S. I may post parts of this on my Tumblr because I do occasionally encounter similar complaints about this story, and I think maybe this is the most coherent and respectful enough comment-reply response I’ve had on this topic. Thank you.

P.P.S. Happy to talk privately too!

P.P.P.S. And the offer still stands for some lovely clips from future chapters, especially if you’re not considering continuing reading this story anymore; it’ll at least show what I’m talking about and what I’ve been working tirelessly towards. It’s hard—fucking hard—work to get past CACW and still like these characters together (my fic Paper Boats is probably one of my bigger testaments to that, oof) and I admit it’s still really really hard and I struggle with it. Covid isn’t the only reason I’ve sort of stalled out on that. But that’s more because I’m like “now what?” than not seeing any love between these three.

It’s a long journey. I knew it was going to be. But I like a challenge. :)

Take care, be well, stay safe, to you and all of yours.

And may you find many fics you love!

#fanfiction #comments #commenting #comment replies #stuckony #hanging from a cross of iron #my writing #i know i don’t need to justify my writing but i am rather lacking in confidence most days #so stuff like this does suck #but it’s also helpful y’know? #not mad! not sad! seriously #i like engaging in conversations about WHY we write what we write #:)

[guiltysecretpasttime]

Contentment

So here’s a thought that became a Lin Beifong one-shot. If someone’s reading this... let me know what you think 🤷‍

---

Ever since she made it to Chief of Police, she found that she was able to take more control of her schedule. Nonetheless, quiet Friday nights at home like these were rare.

Using metalbending, Lin Beifong peeled her armor off and placed it in the cabinet beside the shoe rack, a reminder that she will get to its maintenance before going to work on Monday. She wiggled her toes and continued into the house barefoot, enjoying the feel of the cold marble floor against her skin. She headed towards the kitchen, tossing her work bag into the study along the way.

The paper bag of take-out food was plonked on the dining table and an old battered kettle with water was soon on the stove. She stretched her arms languidly then reached to turn on the radio, if only to fill the silence with white noise.

Plucking out some spice canisters from the shelves and taking out the vegetables she sliced earlier, Lin set about to prepare dinner. Humming softly with the radio tunes, she cleared a portion of the table and opened the containers of sliced vegetables. She sat down and unrolled a piece of cloth, intent on assembling a couple of vegetable wraps on the mat.

After decades of preparing vegetarian meals, Lin had learned to appreciate the cuisine and tweak it to her taste. She added spicy pickled kelp and sprinkled chili on some of the wraps. She made a mental note to ask her sister to bring more kelp on her next visit. (The older Beifong would never admit it but she dearly valued exchanging recipes with Suyin’s ex-pirate chef.)

The kettle let out a high-pitch whistle (which her husband hated and had thus more than once offered to buy a replacement kettle; which she adamantly refused to do so since her mom made it for their housewarming party years ago) and she took it off the stove, placing a steaming pot in its place. The earthbender tore open her take-out paper bag and dropped the store-bought dumplings into the pot.

She then arranged the vegetable wraps on the serving plate alongside the fried puffs she purchased from the vendor beside headquarters (“Assorted crab and tofu puffs, please”).  With not enough time to make dessert, she figured her husband would have to settle for some chilled moon peaches from the icebox.

As she waited for the dumplings to reheat, she decided to make herself a cup of coffee before dumping some tea leaves to steep in the kettle.

-----

It was a quaint and cozy scene that greeted the last airbender when he got home. A scene that still brought a lightness in his heart even after being married for fifteen odd years.

Leaning against the kitchen counter was his wife, apparently fresh from the shower as evidenced by the dampness of her short grey hair. Tenzin continued to observe her quietly as she absentmindedly continued to stir something in a saucepan while reading a book propped at the side, page held in place by an empty coffee cup. Barefoot and clad in a plain tank top and shorts, the stern protector of Republic City was barely recognizable in the casual setting. He smiled as Lin made a face, probably scoffing at the plot of her novel.

He made his way towards her, landing a kiss on her exposed shoulder from behind, effectively startling her.

“Spirits, Tenzin!” Lin raised the spatula in shock, landing whipped cream on her face and on his robes.

Tenzin grinned. He loved that he was the only person in the world who could surprise the otherwise vigilant metalbending chief of police. It was a testament on how comfortable she was with him that she never felt the need to be on her guard.

“Hello, dear.” He kissed off the cream from her cheek and was rewarded with a slap on the arm. “You seemed engrossed there, good book?” 

“Oh Agni, no.” His wife snorted as she marked her page in the book. “It’s just one of those trashy books that Su sent me, in the hopes that I get in touch with my inner dancer or something.” She placed the saucepan beside the peaches on the dining table.

The airbender accepted the napkin given by Lin to clean up his robes. “Still trying to convince you to join her dance group?” He turned to the counter, opening his paper bag of food.

“Yes, claims it would make me more flexible and limber - as if I don’t have enough training at headquarters.” (”Or in bed,” Tenzin muttered, getting swatted on the arm for his contribution). She offered her husband assistance as he poured the soup he brought home into a serving pot. “I have to constantly remind those children running the precincts that I am not old.” Her hand flicked in irritation. “And apparently, the only way I could assert that is by beating them down. While hanging on the ceiling. With my metal cables.” Little tremors were felt on the floor as she punctuated her statements with barely perceptible stomps of her foot.

Tenzin chuckled, guiding his wife into her seat in the dining room as she scowled. “I’m sure you enjoyed putting them in their place,” He added the pot of soup on the table. “Come now, I wouldn’t have thought a bunch of new officers would get you down. It’s the weekend!” He sat down, pouring tea for the two of them.

Lin shrugged and proceeded to pile Tenzin’s plate with two (bland) kale wraps and a few dumplings.

“This one’s new,” He lightly touched an angry red cut on her forearm.“And so is this.” He grasped her wrist when she placed his plate in front of him, gently massaging a darkening bruise on her elbow. “Where...?”

Having been raised and grown up in Air Nomad culture, Tenzin feels discomfort whenever his wife arrives home with another souvenir from work on her body (often temporary, sometimes somewhat permanent).

“A new group of non-benders instigated a faceoff with some benders near the cultural center today,” The metalbender downplayed the encounter, removing her arm from his hold. “Good thing we got there just in the nick of time.”

“And got yourself something which is more than a nick,” He frowned at the four-inch long scarlet mark that was a stark contrast against her pale skin. “Lin,” He quickly ladled some seaweed soup into a bowl. He knew it had properties good for blood loss. “Please be careful.” He pushed the bowl towards her.

“I always am.” She caught the sober tone of his reminder. “Don’t worry, I make sure to assess the risks beforehand. I’m no longer that reckless and brash detective who attempted to arrest her sister.” She tried to make light of their conversation.

As if on cue, as with any other time that her scars or the origin of her scars were brought up, Tenzin delicately cupped her cheek and gave her a soft kiss. He was a husband seeking a reminder that all was well. He felt the familiar pressure on his lips as his wife pressed back to deepen their kiss. 

They both ended the kiss, breathing heavily. She smiled, finally accepting the soup.

The rest of the meal continued uneventfully. Tenzin complimented his spouse on her thoughtfulness on the meal. They talked about how their day went (”Tarrlock, that chattering hog-monkey, would not stop about this new ordinance he wanted to pass. I was sorely tempted to ring Mother and Fire Lord Izumi to influence their representatives to vote against it out of spite.” “Oh Tenzin, but you wouldn’t. 10 yuans on you that you would not push through with that.” “You’re right dear,” A sigh was heard. “I wouldn’t have.”) and how their respective families were faring (”Mom hasn’t still gotten in touch with Su and I.” “Should we be worried?” “I don’t think so. Lord Zuko is out travelling as well - 10 yuans bet that they’re out on a life-changing field trip.” “Lin, what’s with you and 10 yuans??”).

-----

The couple decided to finish their dessert in the study.

Lin tucked her legs under as she got comfortable on the couch while Tenzin cleaned up (”You go ahead and relax, I’ll take care of the kitchen and dining table since you prepared the meal - well, most of it at least - ouuuuch woman, stop hitting me.”). She pulled out her (Su’s) novel to bide the time (yes, bide the time, she was not invested in the story of the lone ballerina who captivated the king in that one-night-only performance, nope, not invested at all, thank you very much) while waiting for her husband.

She had made it into a chapter and a half by the time Tenzin joined her. She got up to make space for him, then laid her head on his lap to continue reading while he elected to tackle his correspondence.

They passed the time in that position, with Tenzin alternately feeding Lin and himself some of the sliced moon peaches. The only sound was the occasional flip of pages and parchment being discarded on the side table.

Half-way into the book, Lin was making mental note to ask her younger sister if she had a copy of the sequel when the airbender released a deep breath.

“Is something wrong?” She lifted her eyes from the book and directed her attention to the face of the man above her, albeit a bit concealed by the beard from her point-of-view.

“The new Avatar has mastered Earthbending.” He indicated the letter he was perusing.

“That’s good news, right?” The earthbender sat up on her heels, taking her mother-in-law’s letter to go through it.

“It says here they’re inviting you to train the Avatar as her airbending master in five years time,” Lin felt her excitement building as she read Katara’s update. “Provided, however, that she passes her Firebending mastery test by then.” She knew how important this was to him. “Ten-!” She looked up and saw his faraway expression.

“Hey,” Lin tenderly took his face into her hands, looking into his eyes. Green met gray. 

Earth and air - their elements and their personalities were as opposite as they can go. While Lin Beifong learned early on how to master her emotions (which several times proved to be necessary in her line of work, sometimes even a matter of life and death), the man in shades of saffron and red before her wore his heart clearly. Even at the age of forty-six, he exuded an air of artlessness. Some of his detractors saw it as a weakness but she recognized it as his strength, the ingenuous sincerity which coated each of his interactions appealed to the constituents. Nonetheless, Lin knew him for as long as she was alive and she knew something was troubling him.

“Do you,” Like any earthbender worth his or her salt, she faced this head on. She swallowed the lump in her throat. “Tenzin,” She knew they had made peace with it in the past but she needed to ask, yet again. “Do you regret it?” Do you regret choosing me - the unsaid question hung thickly in the air.

-----

The last airbender covered her right hand with his and leaned into her palm. “Never.” He knew she can feel his steady heartbeats as she held him. After a beat, he leaned forward, capturing her lips with his.

Lin Beifong, while a confident woman, did need reassurances which only her husband can provide. He knew that she still experienced vestiges of guilt from time to time.

He saw it when she was reading the newspaper and an article called out the Chief of Police as a hard-ass with a heart of stone, unbending with the law and unbending in rehabilitating an extinct nation.

He saw it through the years as she accompanied him in various city council formal events and got asked on multiple occasions when they were going to start trying for kids. She would pleasantly smile, with a poise that would make the late Poppy Beifong proud. Then she would sweetly reply something along the lines of no, thank you, we’re not trying for kids but rest assured we’re frequently engaging in exercises that might (if we were not careful) result in one. Now, that (and the subsequent choking noise made by whichever pompous guest who dared ask) would make Toph Beifong proud.

He saw it whenever the entire family gathers at Air Temple Island to celebrate someone’s birthday and the Air Acolytes seem to walk on eggshells around her, never mind that technically she was the first lady of the nation.

Everyone else saw her smirk or her stoic blank face; no emotion betrayed by the absence of hunching of the shoulders or the lack of a furious blush on her complexion.

But Tenzin, her partner for most of her life, saw the little indicators - the tightening of her jaw, the stiffening of her spine, the whitening of her knuckles as she dug her nails into her palm... 

They simply did not know. They did not see her as a terrified child, fresh from being abducted by a convict on parole that her mother had put into jail years before her birth. It was the day that she first showed signs of metalbending as she broke off the chains the bound her. She was seven.

They did not see her stay up late as a teenager, waiting on the roof of one of the buildings in Air Temple island, scouring the horizon in the hopes that her mother might be coming home soon from a raid.

They did not see her collapse after returning to headquarters, after being beaten up (close to death) as a police captain caught in a turf war, getting more heat because of her ancestry. (”Bonus points in taking the metal woman down - her mother is the esteemed chief of police!” One of the fire-bending hooligans had spat.).

They did not see her weep neither did they hold her in their arms after a particularly difficult day on her job. She had murmured to him that she will never want to put a child, her child, in dangerous situations just because of the consequence of having her a mother. That would have been selfish. It was simply not an option.

Her (their) decision not to have children was publicly discussed and dissected. More than once, the usually calm Tenzin had blown up at the press to leave them alone. These only resulted in new heated rumors published the next day that he was probably selecting Air Acolytes across the Air Temples to impregnate to repopulate the Air Nation. If anything, while he was infuriated, Tenzin was glad to see Lin laugh out loud upon reading about it in the paper. His eldest brother Bumi had even called over just to check its veracity, volunteering to scout the United Republic in the next years in search for thick-eyebrowed large-nosed airheads cooped up in libraries across the temples.

Tenzin also dealt with the aftermath of these public set-downs once they returned to their home in Republic City. He would willingly offer the reassurance that only he can give her at her most vulnerable.

Even as the last airbender, Tenzin would do anything to make his metalbender happy.

-----

Satiated and relaxed, the couple adjusted their position on the couch, with Tenzin airbending the throw blanket over them. He noticed Lin fingering the letter from the Southern Water Tribe again.

“It’s just that - they’re asking us to move to the South Pole for the duration of Korra’s training.”

Lin raised her eyebrows at this. “Oh.” 

“But no,” Tenzin moved to put an arm around her as she sat in his embrace. “I wouldn’t want to uproot you. It’s not for a few more years; we’ll figure something.” He distractedly finished the rest of the peaches and cream from the crystal bowl. Between the two of them, he was the one with the sweet tooth. “I could start training Oogi for frequent long distance trips to the South Pole, if only to ready him for my frequent back-and-forth to you in Republic City.”

The sound of the scraping of the spoon against the bowl echoed in the companionable silence.

“Or, Tenzin, maybe - what if,” Lin played with the smoothness of the blanket. “You invite her to Air Temple Island?” She avoided his inquisitive gaze. “I mean, we can reinstate the White Lotus around the temple for security and prepare the island for airbending training. You’ve probably have enough in the coffers for a refurbishment on the Island, given that it’s been a while since your family lived there. But those would be best put into use in rebuilding the other temples; I have enough money to add from the Beifong inheritance, we could use that - it will be my home too, you know -.” She was interrupted by a tight embrace and a kiss.

“You’re amazing, you know that?” The response he got was just a laugh. “But, really, are you sure about this?” He rubbed her side gingerly, taking care not to hit any of her bruises.

“Of course,” Lin grinned at him. “But you better start training again - sounds like this Korra would be a tough kid to manage.” She patted his chest.

“Train you say?” Tenzin had a glint in his eye. “Why don’t we start now,” He picked up his surprised wife as he carried her in the direction of their bedroom. “Let’s get you all limbered up and flexible then let’s give your sister a call so I can give her a blow-by-blow account on how you need not be a dancer to limber up.” Laughter trailed behind him as Lin made sure to metalbend their door close.

Yes, they treasured quiet Friday nights at home like this.

=====

Related:

Follow-up fanfic: The Airbender’s Wife:  1 | 2 | 3 | 4

#linzin #lin beifong #tenzin #lok #legend of korra #lin deserves a happy ending #linzin fanfic #linzin fanfiction #toccatina's fanfics #toccatina completed

[wesleyhill]

The Voice from the Whirlwind

A homily on Job 38:1-11, preached at Trinity Cathedral, Pittsburgh, on the Fourth Sunday after Pentecost 2021

Our Old Testament reading today is taken from the book of Job. Many scholars consider Job to be a literary masterpiece and its poetry the most beautiful in the entire Hebrew Bible. In light of that, I’m going to read our text again from the King James Version, which does better than most any other version at capturing the grandeur of the language.

 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said, 2 Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge? 3 Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me. 4 Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. 5 Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it? 6 Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof; 7 When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy? 8 Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb? 9 When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddlingband for it, 10 And brake up for it my decreed place, and set bars and doors, 11 And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed?

This portion of Job comes from the very end of the book. In the thirty-seven long chapters that precede it, we have heard the story and the voice of Job, as well as the rebukes of some friends of his that have come to visit him.

Let’s recall that story so that we have the context for the portion we just heard. Job is a kind of Everyman character, a timeless figure. He does not seem to be descended from Abraham; he is not an Israelite. He is from Uz, some faraway city, and he is described as “the greatest of all the people of the east” (1:3). We might picture a wealthy sheikh with a palace and a retinue. His city and his lifestyle are meant to transport us into a sort of fairy tale setting (and remember — as C. S. Lewis and the Inklings remind us — that doesn’t mean the story is any less true! To be swept up in a good fairy tale is to be forced to grapple with something true about us).

One day, according to the story, an accusing, adversarial angelic figure makes a proposal to God in his heavenly court. He claims that Job only worships God and lives a virtuous life because it’s easy for him to do so. “But stretch out your hand now,” the adversary tells God, “and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.” And God gives the adversary permission to take away Job’s family (his ten children are all killed), his wealth, and his health. And Job’s response is to continue, through it all, to worship God: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return there; the LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD” (1:21).

At this point in the story, three friends of Job travel from far away to see this greatest of all men reduced to sitting in an ash heap scraping his inflamed skin with a shard of pottery. For seven days they simply sit in silence with Job (as Jews to this day practice sitting shiva with the bereaved), “for they saw that his suffering was very great” (2:13).

But then, for the next thirty-five chapters of the book, Job howls out his innocence in poem after poem, speech after poetic speech, and his three friends remonstrate with him. They rebuke him for his arrogantly supposing that he can call God to account, and he retorts, “Miserable comforters are you all” (16:2). Back and forth it goes. So many words. So many “vain,” “windy words,” as the poet calls them at one point (16:3, KJV; NRSV).

And then, out of a storm that overwhelms all the words, the LORD finally speaks. Job had earlier wished that the day of his birth had been shrouded in darkness, but God turns that wish around and asks Job why he has shrouded everything with ignorant speech: “Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?” Then the LORD declares that He intends to question Job: “Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.”

And then comes some of the most memorable imagery in the entire book. I encourage you to open your Bible at home and read the passage again later, slowly, and pay attention to the striking imagery and metaphors. The LORD asks of Job:

You who are so full of opinions and recriminations, where were you when I was hoisting the rafters of the universe? Where were you when I was taking a plumbline to the Milky Way? Were you there, Job, when the roar of exploding galaxies sounded like a thundering choir of praise? Were you there when the ocean’s water broke, and I wrapped the sea with clouds like a mother wraps an infant in a warm blanket? If you know so much, Job, tell me, were you there? Because I was!

The LORD goes on like this for four whole chapters, giving Job a tour of all the wonders and terrors of creation.

And it’s at this point many readers have felt that the book of Job is at its least convincing. Here is Job, in psychological and bodily agony, crying out from the depths, “Why me?” And God’s answer is… to talk about oceans and stars and ostriches and crocodiles, as if merely asserting His power as the Creator were enough to put an end to honest, gut-wrenching questions, as if God were saying, “Shut up and just look at how much bigger and stronger than you I am.”

That’s a common interpretation that people have of our reading for today, but I don’t think it does justice to the text. Because God isn’t silencing Job so much as He is inviting Job to see in a new way. The LORD is not simply cataloguing His creatures for Job, as if He were curating a nature exhibit. Job has been trying to relate to the LORD as if He were a contractor; the LORD is trying to tell Job that, from the very beginning of creation, He is a covenant-maker. The LORD is reminding Job that back behind and underneath Job’s calculus of guilt and innocence; deeper than tit-for-tat human schemes that would supposedly sort out all the rational, moral reasons for why things happen in the world the way they do; beyond all this, at the heart of everything there is an unending, un-endable generosity, a light that can never be extinguished, an unfathomable source of life and goodness and wisdom. This isn’t merely some impersonal source of inspiration or fortitude that will get you safely through grief and out the other side; this ceaseless gift comes from the presence of the LORD Himself, the God who addresses Job, who speaks with Job, who seeks Job out precisely in his pain and loneliness. Beyond all deserving or undeserving, the LORD comes to Job. The LORD reveals Himself. Job is not given a platitude; he encounters a Person. The LORD is there — in majesty and mercy. And ultimately, in repentance and trust and hope, Job says to God, “I had heard You with my ear, but now my eye perceives You. Therefore, I recant and relent, being but dust and ashes” (42:5-6, NJPS). Job has not had his questions answered, but he has met the One who made him — the One who will open a future for him beyond all deserving or comprehending, the One who asks not for comprehension but for humility and trust.

Some of you may have seen Terrence Malick’s film The Tree of Life from ten years ago. It was nominated for multiple Oscars and struck a chord with many Christian viewers in particular. It opens with a blank screen and the words from our reading, the words that the LORD speaks to Job: “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth… When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?” The movie follows the story of a family with young children in Waco, Texas in the 1950s. I don’t want to spoil it for you (if you haven’t seen it, I encourage you to), but I will say that tragedy of the most awful kind strikes this family, and throughout the film, the characters return to that haunting question God asks of Job, “Where were you?” — except, in the film, it is the people who say it to God, rather than God who says it to them. Where were you?

Astonishingly, the movie tries to visually depict God’s speech to Job by taking a full 18 minutes — roughly an eighth of the entire film — to show the unfolding of creation, from the big bang to the emergence of dinosaurs. It sounds bizarre, but it’s extraordinary to see. One minute you’re watching one ordinary family in Waco in the 1950s navigate ordinary human sorrow, anger, remorse, and longing, and the next minute you’re watching nebulae and planetary rings and cell divisions. At the same time that you’re seeing one particular family’s life play out in all of its quotidian drama, you’re seeing the dazzling, awe-evoking origin of all life.

Where were you? the characters ask God.

The answer to that question that the LORD gives to Job is, in essence, “I am here, and I was here before you, and I will be here ahead of you. I am here, speaking to you, addressing you, seeing you, knowing you, redeeming you. I, the Maker of heaven and earth, am the same God who draws near.”

One scene in the movie takes place at a funeral, in a church. The text for the sermon is the same one we have heard this morning. And you can hear the priest say (and by the way, in real life, the priest in the film is an Episcopal priest who helped write the words he would perform!), “Is there some fraud in the scheme of the universe? Is there nothing which is deathless? Nothing which does not pass away?”

And at that point the camera slowly pans away from the character sitting in the pew listening, who has endured and will endure so much grief in the course of the story — the camera pans up to a stained glass window where we see the LORD of Israel who spoke to Job — the LORD as a human being, the man Jesus, bound with ropes, crowned with thorns, looking out from the glass with eyes of grief and unceasing love, ready to give His life for the world He had made.

It is He whom Job meets. It is He who is alive and here with us today, who speaks to us, who feeds us with His own Body and Blood.

Amen.

[sebthesnipe]

The Dreamer by Whatwashernameagin an Analysis? Part 2

All portions:

Chapter 1: Part 1 // Part 2 // Part 3 // Part 4

Chapter 2: Part 1 // Part 2 // Part 3 // Part 4

The Dreamer

by @whatwashernameagain

Reminder: Spoilers under cut!

So… Where were we? Aw yes… The desperation for acceptance of a POV which is both unique and far out of the reach of the human populous as a whole. In other in other words, Logan being very lonely and wanting to share his ideas with the world and hoping against hope he will not always be alone in them… heartbreaking…

The next portion of Whatwashernameagain’s work introduces The Dreamer. Going into the work with foreknowledge of the ship and the characters within, we as the readers (or I, rather) know that Roman is The Dreamer and thus know that Logan is referring to him. So, to be completely honest I am not sure if I am imagining this next bit or if it is truly the case (hence why I have chosen to focus more on Reader-Response theory rather than some of the more closed reading disciplines). However, in Logan’s first description of The Dreamer there are a few …. Odd choices in wordings. Eva writes:

“The one thing consistently standing between him and the fulfillment of his plans had turned out to be an outrageously insignificant detail…. This thorn in his shoe showed up at the most inopportune moments, predictably puffing up his chest in his ridiculous, unpractical costume, ready to boldly reassure the public before thoughtlessly storming in to hinder his plans with his irritating presence” (Whatwashernameagain).

There are a number of things in this small paragraph that gives way to yet even more of Logan’s personality, still molding the mental image that the author is painting while still leaving the blanks to be filled in our heads. ‘Consistently’ being italicized, for example, provides me with the mental image of a small tick of annoyance like Logan is mentally hissing the word while his index finger and thumb are pressed together drawing it out with annoyance (kinda like Moriarty during the pool scene in BBC’s Sherlock). Anyways, it immediately pulls the reader back into his frustration but this time… something is different.

Lets recap a moment, So far we know that Logan is a cold calculating man with only his work to keep him company; we know that he wishes for someone to share his view points but otherwise hasn’t really shown any emotional fluctuations (he obviously has emotions, there just seem muted almost) and yet his train of thought here, indicated by the italics is fairly harsh. His choice of words far less calculated than we’ve seen thus far. Here we see him use something akin to an oxymoron calling The Dream ‘an outrageously insignificant detail’. Why would he use so many words when a simple ‘insignificant’ would work? Unless… He is compensating. Many authors will push a thought or description to further lengths than necessary to give the owner of said thoughts a unique perspective. One of the best I’ve ever seen/read would be Robert Jordan in his The Wheel of Time series. Jordan switches from POV to POV flawlessly without pausing to explain it to the reader but as talented as he is at making each so unique the reader never needs the explanation, following along without a hiccup. As much as I would love to say that Eva is there, she isnt... at least not yet… but then again, I haven’t found anyone on par with Robert Jordan’s use of POV and character development as of yet. My point is that she uses the type of flow shifting POV very fluidly without having to spell it out for the reader; and the use of the additional descriptors are a testament to that. (I hope I am making sense I am so very tired #dead).

Logan goes on to talk about the ‘puffing up’ and how ‘unpractical’ The Dreamer’s costume is and his ‘irritating presence’, he talks about grand speeches and attempting to appeal to Logan’s ‘humanity’. The tone of the paragraphs is that of annoyed humor as if it were amusing to think Logan had any humanity at all. That being said… another literary study comes to mind when reading this portion of the work. I will do my best to keep from going too much in depth but basically back in the early EARLY 1900s Sigmund Freud invented psychoanalysis with his publication of The interpretation of Dreams (Rivkin, Julie). Why was it such a big deal? Well, before the publication psychology assumed that what goes on in the mind was limited to the conscious (Rivkin, Julie). What does that have to do with Logan? Well, the revolution was a huge part of history and the strides that were made in psychology didn’t only affect the medical world but the literary one as well. Psychoanalysis wasn’t only limited to a person but the work they created as well; it began to be used as a way of studying literature, analyzing the author through their work. But… I’m veering a bit too far to the left. The reason this is important is because some of Frued’s research was based on the ‘defenses’ that the ego mobilizes against unacceptable libidianal or unconscious material (Rivkin, Julie). I.e. The mind can invert a feeling into its opposite, so that a yearning for contact can become a desire to do violence (Rivkin, Julie). That, of course, is an extreme but we see the same psychological mechanism here for Logan. The Dreamer is a man who represents the very thing Logan is determined to pull down; it would be extremely illogical to have any sort of attraction to the man. There for, to put it simply, he’s in denial. (Yes… I am aware I went into a bunch of Fruedian jargon just to say Logan is in denial and everyone already knew that… He would have approved though so I’m not editing it out. You will just have to deal with it.)

This says a lot about Roman’s character as well. Those who are familiar with the character knows how outrageous the creative man can be, but Eva writes (from Logan’s POV) ‘the idiot was actually attempting to change his mind’ (Whatwashernameagain). This give another shift in the emotional tone of the work, feeding off Logan’s annoyance and dark undertones and changing it into something more hopeful; giving us our first glimpse at the painting of The Dreamer; so far nothing but a symbol of hope (and a ‘thorn in Logan’s shoe’).

Going to reverse for a moment as well. Bringing up the metaphor of ‘a thorn in his shoe’; there is a lot to be said about this line as well. It really puts The Dreamer in perspective from The Utilitarian’s point of view…. At least his conscious one. It shows that Logan wants the hero to be beneath him, that he consciously tries to convince himself that he is. That The Dream is at his feet causing more annoyance than actually damage. I’m a sucker for a good metaphor and this one certainly isn’t a bad one.

Within the next paragraph Logan goes on ranting about The Dreamer being a nuisance, continuing on his rant that really only cements his attraction to the hero. But, once again, the image of The Dreamer is becoming more detailed. Logan describes him as ‘clinging desperately to his ancient, deontological ethics with its rules that mustn’t be broken at any cost’ (Whatwashernameagain). It sounds as if despite the way Logan whines about The Dreamer he sees him as misguided. If he truly believed that the ethics The Dreamer represents were the man’s own then we would no doubt see the frustration we did when Logan spoke about the state of the world. Instead, we see the deflection of the blame from The Dreamer to ‘ancient, deontological ethics. It is obvious that Logan doesn’t blame him but rather sees that he is attempting to simply ‘do his duty’. This provides a sense of honor for The Dreamer which is quite fitting for Roman really.

Logan only cements his denial and affection for the hero but commenting on his concern for the man’s well-being despite his inconvenient presence: “Many a times he’d foiled his operation with simple stupidity, like running into an already unsafe sweat-shop he was about to blow up in order to rescue the industrialist he’d tied up in the vicinity” (Whatwashernameagain). It is possible that he has this concern for everyone that is not directly involved in the crimes he is attempting to shine some light on but it is doubt full.

To add to the growing case against Logan’s inaffection for the man, he actually tries to defend himself! He claims that he hadn’t planned on killing the industrialist, just make a statement and ‘singe his eyebrows’ (Whatwashernameagain). I love this line; it does a lot for the story is so few words. So, first it paints Logan, the cold calculating villain, as a sulking teenager who has been scolded. I love the imagery. It also brings a bit more humor into the work than the subtle outlines of Logan’s denial had been providing. It is makes it even more clear that Logan does not dislike Roman enough to actually want to hurt him; in fact, quite the opposite. It paints Roman as someone he would like to protect, emphasizing the ‘misguided hero’ view of The Dreamer once more.

Now to the good bits: “He knew very well how much the media loved [The Dreamer] with his uniform accentuating his broad shoulders and his lush, caramel hair, his blinding smile and perfect, tan skin” (Whatwashernameagain); Really Logan? Lush, caramel hair? Who talks like that? Only someone with a crush…. And boy do you have it bad! You think he’s smexy with a capital ‘M’! I don’t even have to explain this one… we all know… We all understand.

After that oh so very subtle remark, Eva follows up with a ‘He was a nuisance, is what [Logan] was trying to say’ (Whatwashernameagain)…. Mhmmm suuurrrrree D-E-N-I-A-L. Freud would love you! Just saying!

I think from now on I’m just going to break it down paragraph by paragraph. This is getting quite long and I don’t want anyone having to jump back and forth. So:

“The Utilitarianist prided himself in his polite, calm manners, yet this – man – brought out a temper he was not fond of. How dare this simpleton speak to him about right and wrong? Despite knowing the math advised against it, he found himself drawn into moral arguments repeatedly … and had almost gotten caught by those strong hands several times due to his frustration. He found himself simply unable to refrain from correcting the man when his claims were just so utterly stupid.” (Whatwashernameagain)

We’re going to jump back into Freud’s work now… be prepared. So, obviously Logan blames Roman for Logan’s reactions, his loss of self-control. This is known as projection. In projection, we assign to others feelings or thoughts in ourselves that are unacceptable (Rivkin, Julie). What possible feelings could Logan be having that are unacceptable? Maybe it has something to do with being caught by those ‘strong hands’. -eyebrow wiggle- This is also a good example of intellectualization. In intellectualization, we avoid potentially overwhelming feelings by focusing out attention on things that allow us to exercise that part of our mind devoted to reasoning rather than emotion (Rivkin, Julie): Hence, the arguments.

Before I move on, I want to point out the author’s talent here. Writing characters with a lot of depth can be difficult especially with characters that weren’t originally yours. I say that because I do these analysis’ constantly; I do them for work, I do them for school… I obviously do them for fun on occasion… but, while talking psychoanalysis can be daunting and perhaps a bit boring; the fact that I can apply these theories to a CHARACTER not the author is astounding. That is when you know someone has a great talent for their character formations. Sure, I can slap a few fancy words to describe a character but to actually be able to analyze a fictional character’s psyche… that is when you know that they are fully formed.  

I’m afraid I will need to end Part 2 here. Once again work is approaching. I will be back with a Part 3 When I get the chance, however. Hopefully, I can get through more than 5-6 paragraphs of the work then… Some dialog is coming up so it should be a bit quicker. I am quite enjoying this analysis and I wanted to thank everyone who had read/commented/liked/reblogged Part 1; and for all of the asks I have received. I quite enjoy hearing from you and love answering questions so feel free to drop a line! Special thanks to Whatwashernameagain, as always, for writing so brilliantly and just being a genuinely wonderful human being. Until next time…

 (Please forgive any poor grammar or misspelling. I tend to run short on time so I don’t really proofread)

Rivkin, Julie. Literary Theory: a Practical Introduction. Wiley-Blackwell, 2017.

Whatwashernameagain. “The Dreamer - Chapter 1.” Hello Guys Gals And Non Binary Friends, 8 Sept. 2019, https://whatwashernameagain.tumblr.com/post/187581477262/the-dreamer-chapter-1.

#THe dreamer #villain!logan #hero!roman #sanders sides #logince #logan sanders #roman sanders #logan/roman #analysis #readerresponse #sigmund freud #reaction #fanfiction

[cpdevos]

4/17/20: Registering for BIBL100

Hi everyone! I hope you guys are all taking the necessary precautions during this trying time to stay safe and healthy physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually! Please pray to begin, before we dive into this devo together.

(For the title, I hope you got a good laugh out of it haha. This week, I registered for classes, so I felt like it was a fitting title for the registration season! :) )

Job 23:12 ESV “I have not departed from the commandment of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my portion of food.”

In modern words, Job was really going through it. This chapter was kind of his lowest of lows. Job’s in the middle of talking to his friend Eliphaz during his suffering; And he spends most of the chapter crying out about where God is and why he must endure so much pain. And yet, we the readers find out that in spite of all his suffering, Job has not “departed from [God’s] commandment[s],” and he has continued to “treasure the words of his mouth.”

Oftentimes, I find myself jealous of Bible characters that were truly on fire for God. I want to have that same hunger for the Word, and crave my next “meal” of Bible reading as much as I look forward to real food. Sometimes, I think it’s an unattainable goal, thinking maybe I’ll never be able to reach that level of dedication to daily reading and meditation on His Word.

But then I’m reminded of the people that I know in my own life, the brothers and sisters that I’ve observed in their walk with God, living out the Christian life, and being open with their struggles in growing their faith to the point it is now. I’m reminded that if I truly desire to know God deeper and more intimately, he will not deny me if it’s part of his plan. And I’m reminded that God is worth every minute of my day, every second of my life -- it’s only fitting that I strive to treasure Him and His Word for the rest of my life (wow that's a long time).

It’s definitely easier said than done. But we all start somewhere! I’m urging you, if you’ve been feeling stale in your readings, to try something new in your reading habits. Or if you have no reading habits, to just Google search “daily bible verse” and read the first one that pops up. We have too much time now to not take advantage of our resources when the Bible is literally at our fingertips (I know we’re always on our laptops and phones nowadays).

Now here’s some practical application (aka homework for BIBL100 :) )

! Choose one (or more): (15 points each)

Try to learn something new when you’re reading the Bible! I found that this approach really works for me. When there’s a topic/concept in the Bible that I don’t really understand, I find that I can spend so long looking up supporting verses, texting friends to see what they think, and just trying to get a better grasp of the head-knowledge. Of course, just knowing Biblical facts without application isn’t what we should only concern ourselves with, but we also shouldn’t ignore our curious minds for God’s Word. Don't just leave it up to like “God is mysterious and we'll never know” haha. Try and dive deeper!

When reading through the Old Testament, try to find ways to connect the prophecies of the Messiah to Jesus’ life on Earth! Or look for parallels between OT characters and Jesus (like David and Jesus! Which is even more interesting since Jesus is from the bloodline of David)

Listen or read different commentaries on the passage that you’re currently reading through; It could just be the daily verse from the Bible App! Maybe you’ll get some new perspectives from hearing what other people think or how they interpret the verses. Or maybe it could be a diving board into a deeper appreciation and/or study of a long-held favorite verse of yours.

Read through the Psalms and sort of “pray them back” to God. Psalms that describe God’s greatness directly are good places to start! (Like Psalms 23, 33, 62, 86, 103, and 145). Psalms were songs and poems of praise(!) meant to be sung. I also thought it was interesting how Psalms were probably all sung at some point, but today we don’t know what the “melody” was. Maybe you can write up your own!

I hope these practical apps work for you in your reading journey!! Pray to close, and I hope everyone is doing well <3

Challenges!!:

Did you make/bake something this quarantine? If so, what did you make? My sister made egg tarts the other day and they were.. Okay? We will do better next time haha, please drop a recipe if you have one though, we’re struggling. :’)

Privately (or publicly!) send me a prayer request, I want to know how I can pray for you guys :)

Rebecca

#job #rebecca #bible #meditation #april 2020

[devnny]

CHAPTER NINE.

JTRM — THE “R” STANDS FOR RECOVERING!

PREVIOUSLY.

this was too fun to write knowing what comes next, PLEASE ENJOY

Tenna leaned her cheek against her hand with a smile, swaying the leg that she had slung over her knee as she sat across the table from her unexpected guest. It was a mischievous, evil smile, Devi thought.

“So,” She tittered a little. “how’s your househusband?”

“Please, do NOT call him that.” Devi begged, eyes rolling firmly backwards in her skull.

Tenna continued her snickering.

“That what he is, isn’t it?”

“Absolutely not.”

“Oh come on.” Tenna scoffed, her mug scooting across the table as she extended her hands out. “How many times has he made dinner this week?”

“That has NOTHING to do with ANYTHING.” Devi pointed at her defensively. “He should be cooking for me – it’s not like he pays rent! That’s just him earning his keep.”

“Uh-huhhh…” Tenna nodded as if she was humoring the denials. Devi gurgled her irritation in the back of throat.

“But he is behaving himself, like a good little hubby might?”

“Tenna…” Devi gritted her molars, and Tenna belted out another set of laughs.

“WELL, IS HE?”

“YES, he is behaving fine. Like a dog might.” She answered, more comfortable comparing Johnny to a mostly-domesticated creature than even conceptualizing the joke of him being a spouse to anyone, especially her. Tenna bobbed her head along again. Devi settled back into her chair, hoping to relax.

“He’s been asleep all day.” She complained. “I want to wake his ass up so I can paint, because I can’t be blasting music in there if he’s sleeping on his desk, but he probably needs the rest. He supposedly hadn’t slept in ‘months’ before this.”

Tenna’s tongue poked out from behind her smile, followed by a sharp squeak from somewhere out of Devi’s line of sight.

“That’s so considerate of you, Devi—!”

“DO NOT even TRY to construe any decency I have as acts of kindness for him.” Devi cut her off with a squint.

Two more squeaks.

“Why are you so defensive about this? It’s okay to enjoy the company of your roommate.” Tenna teased again. Devi grumbled.

Tenna hadn’t let up on this topic since she found out that Johnny was officially moved into the apartment. At this point, laying on the couch aimlessly with a sleeping Johnny in the adjacent room was more appealing than sitting here and getting ridiculed for her wrongly-assumed-nice choices.

“Forget it. I’m going to go check—” Devi started as she stood, but cut herself off as her friend flittered another smile toward her.

“…go check on him.” She finished unhappily, then left before Tenna could mock her again.

--

TWO FLOORS ABOVE:

“No…!” Devi’s voice was waning, and he laughed.

“No, Johnny, no, don’t—”

Johnny dug the knife into her chest again, and felt a rush of satisfaction that she was helpless to stop him. He never held the control between the two of them, but this time she would be answering to him! She hardly even tried to push him away, only calling out with a voice that was growing softer with each gasp she worked to swallow.

She deserved this for being so rude to him! Awful woman – she had such biting words before, but now she had to reserve her fangs for biting back the blood that sputtered out past her lips. It made him laugh.

“Nny…” Devi croaked out.

He felt a sudden emptiness in his chest, and his arms chilled, startling him with the stark contrast of how hot his skin had felt just a moment ago, burning with the pleasure of revenge.

There was no pleasure in this.

She was dying.

--

Johnny’s body spasmed and he whacked his elbows against his desk as he awoke with a guttural gasp. He scrambled into a sitting position in his chair, slapping his palms on the surface of his drafting table like a scurrying animal. As he got his bearings, his head swiveled around frantically, until he was certain that he knew where he was – which was sitting in Devi’s art room.

A breath shuddered out of him through his panting, and he gulped as best he could past the dry lump in his throat.

Just another fucking dream. He had fallen asleep. GOD, he hated sleeping. The last thing he remembered was finishing the project that he had been working so madly on. He must have laid his head down on his desk afterwards and opened himself up to the horrors of his fervid mind.

He didn’t want to disclose it to Devi, but this was not the first dream he had about killing her since her intervention into his life. The first was the night after their tutoring sessions restarted, after their minor falling out due to him attacking her with a pen.

That week Johnny had cried his guts sore, then rode wave after wave of anxiety about meeting Devi again and attempting to apologize, then nearly combusted with joy that she actually forgave him. He must have burned himself out, he had figured, with the last of his drawing attempts the night following that, then had passed out when he got home.

Stupid emotions, so tiring.

He sneered and roughly rubbed his uneven hair, then turned his attention to his sketchbook that laid closed in front of him. He opened it to check his work, partly to distract himself from the lingering tendrils of his nightmare, and partly out of rampant curiosity of what the final result was.

His lower eyelid wiggled uncomfortably at the figure that greeted him.

DEVI? He had been drawing Devi this entire time?

Jeezus, how was he supposed to share this with her? He hadn’t meant to put a week’s worth of effort into a portrait of… her, but he had, and now he would need to hide it away to ensure she didn’t think he was a total creep and throw him out of her house on his ass.

Johnny pouted; it was the nicest thing he’d made in years, too. He really liked the lines, and how it was layered through multiple pages. He sighed and settled the cover closed again.

“So, you’re finally up, huh?” Devi stood in the doorway, previously obscured by the sketchbook he held up. Johnny screamed.

“AH—OH, UH, DEVI…!” He blathered, clutching the book close to his chest. Devi chuckled.

“It’s weird seeing you sleeping.” She commented as she walked the short way to his desk. “You snore a little bit, by the way.”

Johnny’s nose crinkled, unaware that he snored. Strange.

“I saw your little project.” She said, and his heart toppled into the hopeless abyss of his stomach. Devi laughed again at the terrified look on his face. She hated to admit that she felt more relaxed around Johnny than Tenna these days, but that could just be her pride talking.

“DEVI, I…” He gasped, then swallowed and tried again. “I-I promise, it’s, it’s really not as… uhm, intimate, as it seems—”

“Oh please don’t use that word for it.” Devi scoffed casually.

Johnny lowered nervously, partially hiding behind his sketchbook.

“Just promise me it’s not like, a testament to your undying love for me, and I won’t have to club you to death.” She teased, and Johnny’s eyes went wide in embarrassment.

“NO, NOT AT ALL.” He stood. “I just, I—I didn’t even realize this is what I was making until it… was done! Honest!”

Devi blinked at him skeptically.

“You… didn’t know what you were making?”

“Yes! It was like I was compelled to make that!”

She squinted at him with some suspicion.

“Do you think… Meat influenced you to create it, then?” She asked.

Johnny’s panic dissolved at the question.

“Oh…” His eyes wandered down to the sketchbook, but he was not worried about the idea of Meat’s interference with that. “No, I don’t think so.”

But with the mention of it, he was suddenly very suspicious that his parasite was the cause of his horrible dreams. He couldn’t understand what the Reverend would want as a result from tormenting him with bloody, anguished Devi’s, but Johnny was confident at least that the motive was part of the voice’s ‘plan’ for him. Against his better judgement, he kept those thoughts from Devi for the time being.

“What makes you so sure?” Devi crossed her arms loosely. “I mean, I guess it is creating, so the likelihood is low, but it’s still… me-related.”

Johnny shook his head and inched a ways closer to her.

“A lot of things right now are you-related.” He replied, almost a little smug, and Devi scoffed a smile again.

“Whatever.” She waved him off.

Devi returned to the living room, and Johnny trailed after her, stopping short when he saw her shrugging her jacket on. She had just wanted to paint today, but there was a more pressing issue on the agenda now.

“Hope you’re up for an outing,” She turned to him and gave him an annoyed look. “because we have to go to the store, seeing as you ate all my food.”

Johnny’s upper lip dropped low in surprise, then tightened back up into a guilty smile as he laced his hands behind his back. It was strange having so much food available to eat; he couldn’t recall his own cupboards and fridge ever having such variety. He had allowed himself to get a little carried away with his snacking while Devi was asleep – he still remembered, with some lingering pain, his whining and belly-aching after eating until he was far beyond full for the first time in maybe a year. Devi had shown little sympathy for him.

“Ah – of course!” Johnny shrugged happily, eager to sooth any irritation she had with him with dutiful agreements. Devi huffed a little and hitched her backpack securely onto her shoulders, then lead the pair out of the apartment.

--

AT A NEARBY GROCERY STORE:

Usually, Devi was content with shopping at convenience stores for her groceries, but the small-sized portions and limited selections at a 24/7 or a Grab n’ Go weren’t very good for restocking her entire food supply, so she begrudgingly parked her car in the lot of an actual grocery store. She and Johnny watched from the safety of Devi’s car as a mother wheeled a cart past them that was half full of food, and half full of wailing toddlers. Devi turned to give him a bitter expression, as if he had intentionally eaten her out of house and home and forced her to come here. Johnny offered a nervous smile as reply.

“At least it’s getting late?” He chuckled just as nervously. “So, maybe less screaming babies?”

Devi muttered her complaints under her breath and opened her door to get out, followed hurriedly by Johnny.

They walked briskly to the store’s front, with Devi ignoring all the annoying things she saw in the parking lot to the best of her ability, and with Johnny eyeing every unpleasant and rude act he saw with the shifting eyes of a predator. Neither of them enjoyed being among the masses even on a good day, but Johnny felt particularly on edge being near so many irritating things after such little recent exposure. If Devi wasn’t beside him, he was certain he would have snapped before even getting to the entrance.

He kept close to her side while she wheeled a shopping cart from aisle to aisle, and mused to himself how odd the action was. He never went to places where you’d even be offered the luxury of a shopping cart – not that he was ever buying enough things to require one, what with his meager funds and all. Devi dropped seemingly random things into it, and Johnny, rather than even attempt to suggest anything that he might want to eat too, only eyed the options that she chose inquisitively, settled in the idea that whatever she chose was all that would be available to him anyway.

Johnny had no complains about Devi’s taste in cereals or cheap instant food, and shortly found himself uninterested with their current errand. While Devi checked a carton of eggs for any broken shells, his eyes wandered around the length of the back aisle they were on, and a disruption on the opposite side of the store drew his attention.

When Devi turned back to ask him something, she was horrified to find him missing.

“JOHNNY!” She called out immediately, stricken with both concern and anger.

She got no response, and abandoned her cart to look for him, hoping that he was just a few rows away and got distracted by something shiny or sugary.

Two aisles, nothing.

Four aisles, nothing.

Devi’s anxiety rose the longer it took for her to find him, and after two failed sweeps of the store, it reached a fevered pitch. She had absolutely no concern for his safety, of course, but rather for the safety of every asshole in the proximity of the building. That thought spurred her to go check the parking lot, and she rushed to the front of the store again.

Her boots clanked on the sidewalk as she paced from one end of the parking lot to the other. It irritated a man soliciting near the entrance, but when he went to confront her about her annoying actions, Devi shoved him to the side and out of her way as she sped by. She opened her mouth to call for Johnny again, when a sickeningly damp, whacking sound hit her left ear, and she turned her focus to the alleyway that lead to the back of the grocery.

“Oh, no.” She winced. “Please, Christ.”

With all of her urgency to find him only seconds ago, the speed that she crept to the alley felt achingly slow. Devi hurried the last few steps, and whipped around the wall, convinced that Johnny is what she would see.

She wasn’t disappointed in that regard, at least.

Johnny stood some yards away with his back to her, his slender frame barely visible with the dark backdrop of the alleyway, but unmistakable to Devi. Some poor soul lay at his feet, and Johnny’s arm pulled back, revealing he was equipped with a pipe of some sort. Devi’s mouth hung open in dismay.

“JOHNNY C.” Her voice roared out of her, and Johnny’s body tensed instinctually.

His hand popped open like a talon, letting his weapon of opportunity fall to the badly maintained asphalt with a chorus of metallic clanking. He turned to look at Devi fearfully, and her stare only grew angrier from the clear view of the blood spatter that reached up to his elbows on both arms. Johnny’s face stretched uncomfortably as he forced an anxious smile onto it.

“D… DEVI.” He tried to laugh out. “I, UH… I can explain!”

One of his muddied hands swung back to gesture at the man laying beaten behind him. The man groaned incoherently, then went quiet again. Johnny grimaced, and jolted where he stood as Devi began to approach him with quickening speed.

“YOU—”

“NO, WAIT.” Johnny evaded her a moment by circling around her, suddenly worried about getting cornered just as he had his victim. His arms jutted out to the man on the floor again. “He was calling his girlfriend all sorts of degrading things! In public!”

“Johnny…!” She growled.

A bead of sweat slid down his temple.

“I swear I was going to let him live!” He insisted. “It wasn’t going to be a murder, just a little head bashing, that’s all!”

“OH, THAT’S “ALL”!?” Devi yelled at him, and slipped an arm free from the straps of her backpack. Both hands gripped the other strap, and she propelled it forward in an aggressive swing, tagging Johnny somewhere near his collar. The power behind the hit knocked him to the floor, and Devi stood over him with her knees bent to continue beating him with her bag.

“YOU IDIOT!” She hissed between swings. “I CAN’T TAKE YOU ANYWHERE!”

Johnny pleaded with her through fearful shrieks and all manner of breathless grunts from being struck, but nothing would stop Devi until her rage had run its course. All he could do was shield his face with his forearms until she decided his punishment was over.

At least her bag didn’t have much in it, from what he could feel. He was more concerned that she would abandon it in favor of her much more deadly clenched fists, or maybe the pipe that he had so mercilessly battered that jerk with, which was still laying nearby.

“Ugh!” Devi exclaimed with one final smack of her backpack on his chest.

She stepped over his form and readjusted her bag onto her shoulders, unconcerned about if the contents inside were broken or not. Johnny peeked an eye open at her from the ground, and watched her fix her frazzled hair a moment before scampering upright again. Devi scowled at him, and he replied with a sheepish smile, happy despite himself that she hadn’t cracked his skull open like an egg.

Devi’s nose crinkled, and she lowered her eyes down to his arms and hands, which still had patches of dirty blood on them. His fingers wiggled at his sides, as if in response to her staring, and she glowered.

This was not good. Even when she was right next to him, Johnny, the slippery little fucker, had absconded to commit some violent act – and she wasn’t sure she bought his claims that it wouldn’t have turned fatal, instead suspecting it only didn’t because of her timely appearance. Shit!

“What more do you expect me to do, Johnny?” Devi asked through bared teeth, and his smile dropped into an ashamed pout.

“I… uh, well, nothing.” He replied with a single scuff of his boot on the floor. He was more remorseful for upsetting her than he was for indulging in his desire for carnage, what with her doing so much to help him and all. She shouldn’t need to do anything more – it was just so difficult to control himself with bastards like that populating the city! Such hard choices…

“You need to clean up. You can’t go back into the store with blood all over you.” Devi snipped, and Johnny perked up, hopeful his answer would calm her.

“I’ll just wash off in the bathroom – no one ever notices the blood, anyway.”

“No, of course they wouldn’t.” Devi closed her eyes in annoyance. The universe just liked to hand Johnny free passes for getting away with dastardly deeds, didn’t it?

She started to walk out of the alley, and Johnny paid his latest victim a quick glance – he was still twitching, that was good! – before he followed Devi back into the store.

A myriad of low-spoken curse words ghosted past Devi’s lips as she waited for him outside the men’s bathroom door, and her bitter mood continued when Johnny popped back out to display his now-clean palms to her.

She was disappointed, again, and hated herself for getting comfortable, again. Why did she always fall into the same trap of overconfidence when it came to her ability to control this lunatic? Even with Johnny acting fairly normal and domestic with her at home, he was still like a volatile chemical, and mixing him with anything besides his routine could make him explode.

They returned to the cart that Devi had left near the dairy section, and she felt a tiny bit of relief that it was still sitting there untouched. After grabbing a couple more things, they went through a check stand, paid for their crap, and Devi glared at nothing, one bag in her arms, while Johnny gathered up the other two from the end of the counter.

Amongst her brooding, a blip of color in her peripheral caught her attention, and she looked to the woman that had been behind them in line. She was standing, talking cheerfully with the cashier, while her toddler daughter tried to rush over to the attractive, cheap toy and candy dispensers on the front wall. The poor thing couldn’t get far however, with her brilliantly colored monkey toddler harness and leash springing her backwards onto her butt every time she tried to charge ahead.

Devi blinked, her curiosity peaked, and she looked back up to the mother, who continued on with what she was doing, unbothered by her hyperactive child, unworried about having to watch her, with the pink handle of the leash held firmly in her hand reassuring her that her daughter was right where she expected her to be.

“What?” Johnny asked in regard to Devi’s thinking face.

“Hmm…” Devi looked off thoughtfully.

That might work.

--

NEXT.

#got some good old fashioned gore this time so whatchout #jthm #jtrm #mine #devnny #im howling lets go alreadyyyyyyy #chapter

[dailyaudiobible]

7/12/2023 DAB Transcript

1 Chronicles 12:19-14:17, Romans 1:1-17, Psalm 9:13-20, Proverbs 19:4-5

Today is the 12th day of July, welcome to the Daily Audio Bible. I am Brian and it is wonderful to be here with you, as we pass through the center of another one of our weeks together. Hump day, like it’s hump day, are we in the dog days of summer? I've heard that term all my life, I don't even know what that means. I think it means when it's so hot that the dogs just lay around and I guess we’re getting there. But either way, we take the next step forward and we get to experience all of the different seasons, seasons on the earth, the seasons of life and we get to do it together in community, as we gather and keep taking our steps forward in this relationship that we have with the Scriptures. And so, that's what we've gathered around the Global Campfire for, let's dive in. We’ll be returning to where we left off, which is the custom, that leads us back into the the book of First Chronicles, and today we will read chapter 12 verse 19 through 14 verse 17.

Introduction to the Book of Romans:

Okay, so, now that we have come to the New Testament portion of our day, today, we are entering some brand-new territory. We concluded the Book of Acts yesterday, and we concluded the Book of Acts, actually really the last half of the Book of Acts, getting to know this person named Saul who then met Jesus and became the Apostle Paul. So, he was a former persecutor of The Way of Jesus. He met Jesus. And then he became the Apostle Paul, an advocate for the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. And now we’re turning away from the narrative story of Paul's journeys and the things that were happening around the early church, and moving into the letters of Paul, the things that he wrote and sent and that have been preserved. And our first stop is the Book of Romans, most biblical scholars agree that Romans is the most comprehensive work or writing of the Apostle Paul, and that we arrive at a lot of our theological understanding of what the Good News of Jesus is, in this letter. Romans was probably written from the city of Corinth. This is a place that Paul spent a lot of time and did some of his most impactful missionary work. And it was probably penned somewhere in the mid-50s A.D. and dating these Scriptures enters into all kinds of controversies, because there’s  all kinds of biblical scholarly debates over dating different things. But what we do know about the writings of the Apostle Paul, and this is an interesting thing, they are the oldest writings that we have in the New Testament. So, Paul's letters are some of the earliest Christian writings that are still in existence, predating for example, the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. These letters are older than those Gospels. So, when Paul finished this letter to the Romans, he sent a deaconess, her name was Phoebe, and she was from the church in Cenchreae, which was just outside of Corinth, and she was sent to hand deliver the letter and make an introduction to Paul. The church in Rome wasn't planted by Paul. I mean, we remember the story, Paul had wanted to go to Rome, and he does end up going to Rome but he goes to Rome as a prisoner. And we don't actually know who brought the Gospel of Jesus to Rome. The speculation, a likely scenario is that somebody, or a group of somebody's, who had been influenced by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost and we’re familiar with the teachings of Jesus, carried the Gospel back to Rome, and the church was established. And Paul really wanted to go there. We know that from the Book of Acts. He's a naturally born a Roman citizen, looking forward to visiting the capital city of the Empire that he is a citizen of, but he had other business before he could go to Rome. He obeyed the Holy Spirit, went to Jerusalem, where it looked like everything was gonna get up ended because he was arrested and mobbed and assassination attempts and plots. But he then became under the guard of the Roman military and was able to continue his missionary efforts, speaking to more powerful people that he would've ever been able to get a meeting with. And then he appealed to Caesar, and eventually we got to Rome. And everywhere that Paul went, he got in trouble, right. There’s all this kind of antagonism toward him and that was because of what he was teaching, this Gospel that he was teaching was that the Messiah of the Jews had come and they should recognize that, but because he had come through Jesus, God was welcoming all who had believed into the family of God: Jew and Gentile alike. And this was a massive shift in the way that people understood things, especially the Jews. This was a massive shift to their traditions. And one of the reasons Paul was constantly in a riot somewhere or fleeing for his life. It's in Romans that Paul fully explains how he got there. Like, how it is that he went from this devout Pharisee, persecuting people who followed Jesus, to a Christ follower willing to die for Jesus. And he wrote this letter in a way that a Jewish person would fully understand the argument, connecting Jesus to the Hebrew story that had been taking place all the way going back to the book of Genesis and the patriarch Abraham. And Paul explains this, and it got him in all kinds of trouble that the Mosaic law and its purpose were different than the way that it was being used for, that its purpose was to reveal our human inability to arrive at perfection. Nobody can become righteous before God on their own because they're that good, except for Jesus. And through him we can all be made righteous before God. This is the compelling message of the Good News of Jesus. Not everybody was on board, and many were very antagonistic toward it, as it remains true until today. But in Romans, Paul will explain to us how it is that this devout Pharisee, could make such a transition to become a follower of Jesus Christ. And so, with that, let's begin Romans chapter 1 verse 1 through verse 17 today.

Prayer:

Father, we thank You for Your word, we love You, Lord. And now, as we move into some new territory with a new complexion to it, as we move into these writings from the Apostle Paul and the other writings in the New Testament, we invite Your Holy Spirit, that our hearts may be open to what You are saying through Your word, and that we might grow and understand and go to new depths of understanding about the Good News of the Gospel, about its impact in the world, about the way that it changes us, and about the ways in which we are to go forward because of it. Come, Holy Spirit, we pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

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And that's it for today, I'm Brian, I love you and I'll be waiting for you here, tomorrow.

Prayer and Encouragements:

Hello, Daily Audio Bible. Happy Long Walk Day. It’s the 7th day, it’s the 7th month. It’s me Sebastian. I’m calling in to pray and to hear God bless our community. I pray that You bless all of us who struggle in life. I believe that is all of us. But I do pray that You would help us in our individual tasks and challenges, no matter how powerful they are, no matter how dangerous they are, no matter how boring or just hard and unyielding those challenges are. I pray God, that You lead us through each and every one of them. I pray that You help us overcome. I pray that You give us treasury and to love You above everything else. Thank You for taking care of us. Thank You for blessing us. Thank You for leading us on the narrow path. I thank You God that You help us, each and everyone of us with our quests, with our prayers. Thank You. Love you. Bye Sebastian.

Hey, Daily Audio Bible Family. I know there’s a couple people, more than a couple, that have prayed for deliverance from alcoholism and I need that prayer too. I would just call myself Lynn, for now. I just, I’m dealing with a lot and I would really appreciate you helping me with prayer and drinking because it’s leading me into some bad territory. And I’ve made some mistakes and I’m feeling regret and shame and guilt. And I just need your prayers because I’m trying to sooth my worries and fears and sadness with alcohol and it’s, I’m feeling regret today for some things I’ve done. And I would just really appreciate that prayer. And help me to just release some of the things that I’m worrying and caring about to God. Because this is what makes me start drinking. And I, just pray for me please. And I’ll be praying for those that, that have prayed for the same thing.

Hey, this is Jerry calling from Duluth, Minnesota. I’m outside of Solve Hospice House. Ready to go in and say goodbye to my mom. And just wanted you to know that the Long Walk, couple days ago when we knew that she just had hours or days to live was so incredibly meaningful. As I walk through Anger Park in Duluth, which is just an incredible park. I appreciate your prayers and thank you for your prayers. I called in February when she got the news that she was going to die and not live. And it was 22 below and asked prayers. We were heading to Florida to get her there and she had the time of her life. And she says, what a way to go. And then back at the nursing home, for the last few months. And I asked her yesterday morning, you ready to go to heaven today mom, oh, yes, I hope so. It’ll be the best day of my life. I had the opportunity to do the funeral, as I did my dad and grandmothers. Just pray that God would be glorified that those that are there would be drawn to Him and looking to Him: the author and finisher of our faith. Thank you so much. God bless.

Hello DABers, this is Kristen, Christ in Me. I would like to pray for a young lady named Kayla. She attempted suicide and she was abused by a boyfriend. She is now homeless. He destroyed her stuff. And she’s just asking for prayers that she would be able to find a place to stay and that she could get her life together and get a job. And I prayed with her, just reminded her to trust in the Lord and to call upon Him. So, if you could just pray for Kayla. Thank you.