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aspeccharactersoftheday · 8 days

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Shiloah from Singer's Security is demisexual!

#shiloah #singer's security #alden security #canon aspec #demisexual

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byfaithmedia · 9 months

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Jesus & His disciples visited the Pool of Siloam & the Lord told a blind man to wash here & he was healed. Excavations are revealing hidden secrets today, what will they find next?

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graceandpeacejoanne · 2 years

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Isaiah 8: Sanctuary Versus Snare

Jerusalem. The city that should be the safest sanctuary will instead become the snare. How? All a matter of perspective. #GentleWaterorGreatRiver #SanctuaryorSnare #LightorDarkness

Then Isaiah and the prophetess, his wife, had a son and God delivered more details about what was to come. And I went to the prophetess, and she conceived and bore a son. Then the Lord said to me, “Name him Maher-shalal-hash-baz, or before the child knows how to call ‘My father’ or ‘My mother,’ the wealth of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria will be carried away by the king of Assyria.”Isaiah…

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#1 peter 3:13-17 #christophany #gentle water or great river #immanuel #Isaiah 8:4 #Isaiah 8:9-18 #light or darkness #propverbs 14:27 #propverbs 1:7 #Proverbs 15:33 #proverbs 19:23 #proverbs 1:28-30 #Proverbs 9:10 #sanctuary or snare #shiloah #theophany

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cinesludge · 1 year

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Movie #38 of 2023: Woodstock 99: Peace, Love, and Rage

Why are music festivals?

#woodstock 99: peace love and rage #garret price #documentary #music #noel hogan #sindri már sigfússon #andre lascaris #avner shiloah #english #38 #2021 #meh #music film club

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secular-jew · 29 days

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A Jewish family in Silwan (Shiloah Village). Jerusalem, 1890.

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officialyourdailyinspiration · 11 months

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Call him ‘Maher-shalal-hash-baz

1 The Lord also told me, “Take a large tablet and write on it with a stylus pen, ‘For Maher-shalal-hash-baz’. 2 Then I will call Uriah the priest and Jeberechiah’s son Zechariah as reliable witnesses to testify on my behalf.”

3 After this, I was intimate with the prophetess and she conceived. Later, she bore a son, and then the Lord told me, “Call him ‘Maher-shalal-hash-baz,’ 4 for before the young lad knows how to call out to his father or mother, the wealth of Damascus and the plunder of Samaria will be carried off by the king of Assyria.”

Invasion by Assyria

5 The Lord spoke to me again: 6 “Because this people have rejected the gently-flowing waters of Shiloah, and because they keep rejoicing in Rezin and Remaliah’s son, 7 watch out! The Lord God is about to bring the flood waters of the Euphrates River against them, mighty and strong.

“It’s the king of Assyria and all of his arrogance! He will rise over all of the river’s channels and run over all of its banks. 8 He will sweep on into Judah, overflowing as he passes through, like flood waters reaching up to a person’s neck. His outstretched wings will flow as wide as your land, O Immanuel!”

9 “Band together, you peoples, but be shattered! Listen, all you distant countries! Strap on your armor, but be shattered. 10 Take counsel together, but it will all be for nothing; go ahead and talk, but it will all be for nothing, for God is with us.”

Waiting on God

11 For this is what the Lord spoke to me, as his forceful hand was resting on me, and as he was warning me not to live the way this people were living:

12 “Don’t call conspiracy everything that this people calls conspiracy, and don’t fear what they fear, or live in terror. 13 The Lord of the Heavenly Armies— he’s the one you are to regard as holy. Let him be the one whom you fear, and let him be the one before whom you stand in terror! 14 Then he will be a sanctuary, but for both houses of Israel he’ll also be a stone with which someone strikes himself, a rock one stumbles over, a trap and a snare to those who live in Jerusalem. 15 Many will stumble on them; They’ll fall and be broken; They’ll be snared and captured.

16 “Bind up the testimony, and seal up the teaching among my disciples. 17 I’ll wait for the Lord, who is hiding his face from the house of Jacob, and I’ll put my trust in him. 18 Watch out! I and the children whom the Lord has given me are a sign and a wonder in Israel from the Lord of the Heavenly Armies, who resides on Mount Zion.”

Rejecting Occultic Wisdom

19 “So when they advise you,

‘Ask the mediums your questions, and quiz the spiritists who chirp and mutter,’ shouldn’t a people instead be consulting their God— and not the dead— on behalf of those who are living 20 for instruction and for testimony? Surely they are speaking like this because the truth hasn’t dawned on them.

21 “They’ll pass through the land, while[w] greatly distressed and hungry. When they are hungry, they’ll become enraged, and they’ll curse their king and their god. They’ll turn their faces upwards, 22 or they’ll look toward the earth, but they’ll see only distress and darkness, the gloom that comes from anguish, and then they’ll be thrown into total darkness.” — Isaiah 8 | International Standard Version (ISV) The International Standard Version of the Holy Bible Copyright © 1995-2014 by ISV Foundation. All Rights Reserved internationally. Cross References: Genesis 41:24; Exodus 20:20; Leviticus 24:11; 1 Kings 18:46; 2 Kings 16:10-11; Isaiah 1:10; Isaiah 7:8-9; Isaiah 7:14; Isaiah 17:12; Isaiah 29:11-12; Isaiah 30:8; Jeremiah 20:3; Matthew 1:23; Matthew 21:44; Luke 2:34; Luke 13:4; Luke 20:18; Luke 24:27; Acts 16:16; 1 Peter 3:14-15; Revelation 16:10; Revelation 17:15

#Isaiah's son #prophecy #Assyrians #invasion #call #fear #God #darkness #light #Isaiah 8 #Book of Isaiah #Old Testament #ISV #International Standard Version Bible #ISV Foundation

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transgenderer · 10 months

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According to Mishnah Parah, the presence of two black hairs invalidates a red heifer, in addition to the usual requirements of an unblemished animal for sacrifice. There are various other requirements, such as natural birth (The caesarian section renders a heifer candidate invalid).[6] The water must be "living" (i.e., spring water). This is a stronger requirement than for a ritual bath (mikveh); rainwater accumulated in a cistern is permitted for a mikveh but cannot be used in the red heifer ceremony.

The Mishnah reports that in the days of the Temple in Jerusalem, water for the ritual came from the Pool of Siloam. The ceremony involved was complex and detailed. To ensure the complete ritual purity of those involved, care was taken to ensure that no one involved in the red heifer ceremony could have had any contact with the dead or any form of tumah, and implements were made of materials such as stone, which in Jewish law do not act as carriers for ritual impurities. The Mishnah recounts that children were used to draw and carry the water for the ceremony, children born and reared in isolation for the specific purpose of ensuring that they never came into contact with a corpse:

There were courtyards in Jerusalem built over [the virgin] rock and below them a hollow [was made] lest there might be a grave in the depths, and pregnant women were brought and bore their children there, and there they reared them. And oxen were brought, and on their backs were laid doors on top of which sat the children with cups of stone in their hands. When they arrived in Shiloah [the children] alighted, and filled [the cups with water], and mounted, and again sat on the doors.

— Mishna Parah 3:2

do we think this is legit. this seems insane. omelas children to purify those who have touched the dead...

also:

A red heifer that conforms with all of the requirements imposed by halakha is practically a biological anomaly. For example, the animal must be entirely of one color (a series of tests listed by the sages must be performed to ensure this) and the hair of the cow must be absolutely straight (to ensure that the cow had not previously been yoked, as this would be a disqualifier). According to Jewish tradition, only nine red heifers were actually slaughtered in the period extending from Moses to the destruction of the Second Temple. Mishna Parah recounts them, stating that Moses prepared the first, Ezra the second, Simeon the Just and Johanan the High Priest prepared two each, and Elioenai ben HaQayaph, Ananelus, and Ishmael ben Fabus prepared one each.[11]

The extreme rarity of the animal, combined with the detailed ritual in which it is used, have given the red heifer special status in Jewish tradition. It is cited as the paradigm of a ḥoq, a biblical law for which there is no apparent logic. Because the state of ritual purity obtained through the ashes of a red heifer is a necessary prerequisite for participating in Temple service, efforts have been made in modern times by Jews wishing for biblical ritual purity (see tumah and taharah) and in anticipation of the building of the Third Temple to locate a red heifer and recreate the ritual. However, multiple candidates have been disqualified.

i feel like theres a logic to this. theres something very beautiful about a red cow. such a rich earthy color

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namesetc · 2 years

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Do you have any androgynous ”weird” or uncommon names that arent nouns? thanks

ohh interesting lets see

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Aero

Airlie

Aja

Astor

Auden

Americus

Aniston

Ashby

Avidan

Aurum

Brasen

Brevyn

Bayle

Brier

Brinley / Brinly

Camber

Cagney

Carlen / Carlin

Chaner

Chasen

Corwin

Cheris

Connery

Destry

Daveney

Daylin

Darby

Desta

Dresten / Dresden

Elam

Eridian

Eirian

Ellery

Emsley

Esarosa

Elwyn

Eston

Florian

Farren

Farly / Farley

Flannery

Gable

Greer

Gale

Gene

Glenn

Halyn

Hollis

Izzy

Isley

Jocelin

Jory

Joss

Jacey

Kit

Karsten

Katriel

Keller

Kaylor

Keeton

Keltie

Kerry

Kindle

Kensington

Kip

Kizzy

Kendrix

Kipling

Lux

Lenny

Lorne

Loxley

Lael

Langley

Lynley

Laken

Laurie

Lexington

Macrae

Manning

Marlow

Merrill

McKale

Meris

Merritt

Mercer

Merle / Meryl

Monet / Monette

Morrigan

Murray / Murrey

Noland

Natania

Nevin

Oran

Orien

Oberon

Orly

Paysen / Payson

Pemberley

Phyre

Pasha

Paz

Peregrine

Pax

Perrin

Quillian

Quinlan

Ramsay

Reegan

Rhoslyn

Romy

Ransom

Reyn

Rafferty

Reilly

Romilly

Sable

Sible

Sayer

Shea

Severyn / Severin

Shiloah

Sonnet

Sully

Syler

Sabriel

Saxon

Saxton

Stellan

Tabor

Tait / Tayte / Taite

Taryn

Tennessee

Thane

Tierney

Torrance

Troian

Tavin

Terran

Theron

Tynan

Thessaly

Tully

Vian

Wylie / Wiley

Wynn

Wyeth

Yale

Yardley

Zenith

Ziven

ended up with a pretty long list, whoops!

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restorationofthetentofdavid · 3 months

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21 DAYS OF PRAYER AND FASTING - DAY 11.

Isaiah 8:6-8 (ESV) “Because this people has refused the waters of Shiloah that flow gently, and rejoice over Rezin and the son of Remaliah, therefore, behold, the Lord is bringing up against them the waters of the River, mighty and many, the king of Assyria and all his glory. And it will rise over all its channels and go over all its banks, and it will sweep on into Judah, it will overflow and…

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#Bible #Deliverance #Gospel #morning Devotion #Prayer #Salvation #Worship

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shizori · 3 months

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The Mystery of the Boxes, Unwrapping the Unknowable

Hello to all of you! I hope today is going great for everyone! I'm thrilled to share the three boxes that my manager graciously provided me yesterday with you at last. I had been waiting anxiously to return to my hotel room and open them as it was the first time i had received a present so thoughtfully. Let's open them together right now, without more delay!

I carefully tore open the first box with my hands, and as i did so, i couldn't help but feel excited. I was shocked to find a stunning ballet figure with a pink motif inside the package that was eerily similar to me. I was a little taken aback at first, but then i realised that this gift had to have been thoughtfully selected specifically for me. The figurine was exquisitely crafted, with the best materials and a gorgeous gloss. I was impressed by its attention to detail. I was filled with gratitude and admiration as i held it in my hands, realising that there are people out there who will support and nurture my passion for ballet. Prior to proceeding, i observed a missive atop the box. When i opened the package, i saw the message: "Hello Shiloah! We are your ballet company and we want to thank you so much for your loyalty and dedication to us. You were the first person to join our company and helped us grow. We want to show you our appreciation by giving you this special gift. We hope it will make you smile and remember that we will always support you in your journey in ballet. Thank you! Yours, The Ballet Company." When i read my ballet company's sincere note, i was overcome with emotion. The message reassured me that they will always be there for me and gave me more motivation to keep developing and loving dance. I experienced a wave of emotions, ranging from pride at being acknowledged as the company's pioneer to thankfulness for the assistance i received. Knowing that this letter would serve as a potent reminder of the influence my love of ballet might have, i was resolved to keep pursuing it with the zeal and commitment it so richly deserves.

I was astounded by what i saw inside the second box when i gently opened it. Within were two sets of dance books, a repair kit, extra tights, hair accessories, makeup bags, and a gorgeous pair of pointe shoes. It was unbelievable to me. My business has really exceeded expectations. I was finally able to get everything i had been wanting to get for myself in one location. My favourite shoes were the pointe shoes in particular, and i was eager to start dancing in them. I was quite appreciative to have such a considerate and devoted firm that genuinely recognised a dancer's demands. My attention was drawn to the two sets of dance books in particular. These have been on my want list for a while, but i've been hesitant to buy them because of their price. It was like a dream come true to see them in front of me. The idea of all the inspiration and knowledge i would get from reading these books made me smile broadly. I was eager to begin studying from them and was already considering all the different dancing moves i would be able to pick up from the books. I was so appreciative of my workplace for giving me such a kind and kind gift. I was now prepared to advance in my dancing career.

I was shocked to see what was inside the third box when i opened it. When I opened the enormous, flat box, i found a dance costume inside. I was taken aback and a little perplexed, wondering why my employer would provide me with something of that nature. The outfit was exquisite, featuring shades of deep red, white, and black. As i was about to shut the box again, i saw a message nestled into one of its corners. After carefully unfolding and reading the note, everything made sense. According to the note, the costume was for my competition, which is tomorrow. Yes, i see why they handed it to me! An overwhelming sense of appreciation and pleasure overcame me. I was honoured that my employer had given me a gorgeous outfit for the contest. In addition to making me appear fantastic on stage, this costume would inspire me and give me more self-confidence. I couldn't wait to don the costume and perform tomorrow; i was prepared to give it my all.

Excitement and expectation were growing inside of me as i completed unloading the boxes. I was excited to wear the gorgeous outfit my firm had given me for my competition tomorrow. I felt convinced that i would perform to the best of my abilities because i had been training a lot. I was eager to take the stage and represent my company with pride. My confidence was sky high with my new pointe shoes and dance books. I was filled with confidence and eager to show everyone what i was capable of. Thus, remember to tune in tomorrow to see my performance! I am so grateful for your encouragement and support, and i can't wait to dance all night long for you all.

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bookoformon · 11 months

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2 Nephi Chapter 18. "The Light to Come."

Christ will be as a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense—Seek the Lord, not peeping wizards—Turn to the law and to the testimony for guidance—Compare Isaiah 8. About 559–545 B.C.

This is the very definition of apostasy to represent the Knower of All as a source of offense. History has yet to explain how so much trouble was caused by the appearance of the Christ, how its preponderances for sin increased, yea, even up to the level of being the justification for mechanized mass-exterminations.

One of the purposes of this Midrash is to restore the Son of Man to His Lauded Position and give Him the chance to enact the peace somehow in spite of the fact he left and is now Zenos, dissolved into the Infinite Spirit:

1 Moreover, the word of the Lord said unto me: Take thee a great aroll, and write in it with a man’s pen, concerning Maher-shalal-hash-baz.

Maher-shalal-hash-baz= Spoil Speeds And Prey Hastens.

2 And I took unto me faithful awitnesses to record, Uriah the priest, and Zechariah the son of Jeberechiah.

Uriah= Yah is Light

Zechariah=God Remembers, remembering God

Jeberechiah= Yah Blesses

"God blesses and remembers those who remember He is the Light of Lights."

3 And I went unto the prophetess; and she conceived and bare a son. Then said the Lord to me: Call his name, Maher-shalal-hash-baz.

4 For behold, athe child shall bnot have knowledge to cry, My father, and my mother, before the riches of Damascus and the cspoil of dSamaria shall be taken away before the king of eAssyria.

Damascus= "The beginning of salvation".

Samaria="To keep guard."

Assyria= "To level".

"Eve gave birth to the future, stealing the technology from God, and knowledge of the way to end the crying of the children. The beginning of salvation and sovereignty is the leveling of the mind."

5 The Lord spake also unto me again, saying:

6 Forasmuch as this people refuseth the waters of aShiloah that go softly, and rejoice in bRezin and Remaliah’s son;

Shiloah=the parting gift

Rezin= Head of a Spring

Remaliah= Adorned by God

"The parting gift from Eden, which adorns man and puts him beyond the animals was not the capacity for sin, it is his intelligence."

7 Now therefore, behold, the Lord bringeth up upon them the waters of the river, strong and many, even the king of aAssyria and all his glory; and he shall come up over all his channels, and go over all his banks.

The river that brings glory into the mind of a level-headed king is the same as the one in Eden:

A river went out from Eden to water the garden. Genesis 2:10

There is Eden, and there is the garden.

Eden is a place of delight, far beyond the garden, beyond all created things. Yet its river nurtures all that grows in that garden.

The garden is wisdom, understanding, knowing—where all of creation begins.

Adam is placed in the garden, to work with his mind and to discover the transcendent Eden flowing within.

So too, that is the objective of all man’s toil in this world: To reach beyond his own mind. Not to a place where the mind is ignored, but rather to its essence, to the inner sense of beauty and wonder that guides it. To Eden.

8 And he shall pass through Judah; he shall overflow and go over, he shall areach even to the neck; and the stretching out of his wings shall fill the breadth of thy land, O Immanuel.

9 aAssociate yourselves, O ye people, and ye shall be broken in pieces; and give ear all ye of far countries; gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces; gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces.

10 Take counsel together, and it shall come to naught; speak the word, and it shall not stand; for God is with us.

11 For the Lord spake thus to me with a strong hand, and instructed me that I should not walk in the way of this people, saying:

12 Say ye not, A confederacy, to all to whom this people shall say, A confederacy; neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid.

13 Sanctify the Lord of Hosts himself, and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.

=Egypt, the Temple of Ptah, the Temple of Speech ruled by a Pharaoh, someone who takes power from the people vs. a leader who is legally granted power by the people. This is a metaphor for the mind and its faculties and their owner, a man and also for the duality present in the widespread world; power over the mind is initially by conquest, later it is granted as a matter of privilege and responsibility.

Slavery of the mind to a master is for adolescents until sentience, the parting gift is awarded, but under no other circumstances. The Tanakh in the previous sections says "the collective of mankind must confederate with prosperity" but otherwise confederation is forbidden.

14 And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling, and for rock of offense to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

15 And many among them shall stumble and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken.

16 Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples.

17 And I will wait upon the Lord, that hideth his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him.

18 Behold, I and the children whom the Lord hath given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the Lord of Hosts, which dwelleth in Mount Zion, "the pile of signs," AKA history.

19 And when they shall say unto you: Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep and mutter—should not a people seek unto their God for the living to hear from the dead?

20 To the alaw and to the testimony; and if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.

21 And they shall pass through it hardly bestead and hungry; and it shall come to pass that when they shall be hungry, they shall fret themselves, and curse their king and their God, and look upward.

22 And they shall look unto the earth and behold trouble, and darkness, dimness of anguish, and shall be driven to darkness.

History has shown us that persons who keep "little spirits" close by, who waste time mumbling, muttering, and peeping all day long instead of looking up in search of the Light of Lights bring death, destruction and desolation in the wake. They anguish the world with their constant prattle about life after death in stead honing the way for the living in the here and now.

In their dimness, they curse king, country and the Lord Himself because there is no light in them to remember.

The Book of Mormon says fear not, all we have to do is turn the Law, the Holy Torah into a testimony of guidance and the Light shall come.

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byfaithmedia · 10 months

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youtube

Jesus & His disciples visited the Pool of Siloam & the Lord told a blind man to wash here & he was healed. Excavations are revealing hidden secrets today, what will they find next?

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graceandpeacejoanne · 2 years

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Isaiah 8: The Truth Will Out

If you and I will trust God, the Lord will be with us through it all, upholding, sustaining, comforting, equipping, and finally, in the end, bring us home to God. #TheTruthWillOut #UnholyRites #QuickToPlunderSwiftToSpoil

If you and I will trust God, the Lord will be with us through it all, upholding, sustaining, comforting, equipping, and finally, in the end, bring us home to God. T refuse the Lord can only bring sorrow and loss, in the end. The Truth Will Out Some time after this public oracle, the Lord had Isaiah make arrangements to legally document God’s word. Then the Lord said to me, “Take a large…

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#2 kings 16 #Damascus altar #gentle water of shiloah #great river of assyria #isaiah 4 #Isaiah 8:1-2 #Isaiah 8:1-8 #isaiah&039;s wife #the prophetess

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moinchuk · 1 year

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vimeo

James Blake - If The Car Beside You Moves Ahead from Alexander Brown on Vimeo.

Director : Alexander Brown Producer : Adam Nelson Editor : Avner Shiloah Colourist : Aubrey Woodiwiss (Carbon) Exec Producer : Carolyn Pedrossian Managing Director : Laura Thoel Production Company : The Sweetshop Copyright: Polydor 2018 Artist : James Blake Track: If the Car Beside You Moves Ahead Comissioner : Semera Khan

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aimeaustin · 1 year

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Posted @withregram • @judithdcollins March 2023 —11 Must-Read 🦹‍♀️ Crime Thrillers! If you are a crime thriller buff— March has some of the best titles to select from. From legal, cop procedural, detective, medical, mystery, noir, coming of age, suspense, sleuthing, action, literary, and psychological! @netgalley Take your pick, or read them ALL! What is your favorite? 💌See Mar Newsletter for Reviews: bit.ly/Mar2023JDC 🔗 in bio Mar 07 5⭐Stars ~WHAT HAVE WE DONE @alexfinlayauthor 🔉 Narrators: Brittany Pressley,James Patrick Cronin, Jon Lindstrom, Maggie Thompson 4⭐Stars ~ALL THAT IS MINE I CARRY WITH ME @williamlanday 🔉 Narrators: David de Vries, Joyce Bean, Patrick Lawlor, Scott Merriman 4⭐Stars ~FAMILY BONES @ellemarrauthor 🔉 Narrators: Jesse Vilinsky, Sura Siu, Jennifer Jill Araya, Arnell Powell 4⭐Stars ~THE KIND WORTH SAVING @petermswanson 🔉Narrators: Keith Szarabaijka, Kathleen Early, Helen Laser, Micky Shiloah Mar 08 5⭐Stars ~WITHOUT CONSENT @legalthrillerauthor Nicole Long Legal Series #2 3.5⭐Stars ~THE SURGEON @wolfe.leslie 🔉Narrator: Gwendolyn Druyo Mar 14 5⭐Stars ~I WILL FIND YOU @harlancoben 🔉 Narrator: Steven Weber 4⭐Stars ~48 CLUES INTO THE DISAPPEARANCE OF MY SISTER @joycecaroloates3146 Mar 21 5⭐Stars ~A FLAW IN THE DESIGN @nathan.m.oates 🔉 Narrator: David Pittu Mar 28 5⭐Stars ~HER DEADLY GAME @robertdugoni 🔉 Narrator: Saskia Maarleveld 4⭐Stars ~THOSE EMPTY EYES @charliedonlea 🔉 Narrator: Vivienne Leheny Enjoy! #jdcmustreadbooks #mar2023books #mar2023crimethrillers #thrillers #crimethrillers #bookblogger #bookinfluencer #bookstgram #bookstagrammer #suspense #mystery #psychological #detective #action #netgalley (at Los Angeles, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/CqDdzAoO5HS/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#2 #jdcmustreadbooks #mar2023books #mar2023crimethrillers #thrillers #crimethrillers #bookblogger #bookinfluencer #bookstgram #bookstagrammer #suspense #mystery #psychological #detective #action #netgalley

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timhatchlive · 1 year

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If You're Going to Speak for God

Isaiah 8 is a dark chapter of judgment. It comes between the glimmer of hope in chapter 7 and a reminder of that hope in chapter 9. This has already been found to be a pattern in this book. God comforts, warns, and comforts again. He will discipline His people strongly. But He will comfort them in the end.

Isaiah 8:5–8 (ESV) The LORD spoke to me again: 6 “Because this people has refused the waters of Shiloah that flow gently, and rejoice over Rezin and the son of Remaliah, 7 therefore, behold, the Lord is bringing up against them the waters of the River, mighty and many, the king of Assyria and all his glory. And it will rise over all its channels and go over all its banks, 8 and it will sweep on into Judah, it will overflow and pass on, reaching even to the neck, and its outspread wings will fill the breadth of your land, O Immanuel.”

In a small group recently someone said very simply, "There is no such thing as bad news from God for even the seemingly bad things He says to us are ultimately for our good." That is so true. Because God loves, He disciplines us. Israel to the north had abandoned God completely and celebrated the importance of Assyria's king, Rezin. The result will be judgment. Instead of turning to the living water, they set their eyes on the temporal waters of important people in that age. But the purpose of these warnings is to bring them back and heal them.

This is our message as Christians even when people do not want to hear it. Walking away from God leads to death, period. That's not a "fun" message for many. Most will reject it. So we must get used to speaking in ways that are culturally "unfit" and may be considered offensive or hurtful.

Isaiah describes a moment in chapter 8 that has me gripped. It's a moment when God speaks to him regarding his place among the people. Isaiah 6 gets the headlines, but Isaiah 8 has some serious punch. As he prophesies and warns, sharing THE message that may offend but ultimately can heal, he has to develop certain abilities that do not come naturally. God unpacks them here.

Isaiah 8:11–13 (ESV) For the LORD spoke thus to me with his strong hand upon me, and warned me not to walk in the way of this people, saying: 12 “Do not call conspiracy all that this people calls conspiracy, and do not fear what they fear, nor be in dread. 13 But the LORD of hosts, him you shall honor as holy. Let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.

Notice the words, "strong hand" in verse 11. God warned him strongly here. About what? About how he lives among a people rejecting God. Isaiah MUST learn to think differently than the people around him. This is an important characteristic of those who would speak for the Lord. They MUST not know God's Word so well it shapes their thinking so firmly they cannot be dissuaded by attacks, discouraged by a lack of results/appreciation, or distracted by the "conspiracies" of their age.

The simple question is this: How can a prophet impact culture if he absorbs it? He cannot. He must stand in fear of the Lord. He cannot simply "love" his calling or his profession. He cannot simply love the Lord. He must FEAR Him.

Many Christians love the Lord, but few fear Him. If we are to truly stand for Him and with Him in truth, we must fear Him more than anything. That is, we regard his estimation of our lives as the most important facet of our lives.

When we do this, I believe the promises of the next verses come to fruition:

Isaiah 8:14–15 (ESV) And he will become a sanctuary and a stone of offense and a rock of stumbling to both houses of Israel, a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 15 And many shall stumble on it. They shall fall and be broken; they shall be snared and taken.”

For those bold enough to stand apart from culture because they are entrenched in God's truth, they will find in Him a sanctuary (holy place), that is He will set them apart in safety with Him. Because only in His presence is true peace ever fully realized.

The more diverse in thought and philosophy our world gets, the more important this foundational thought becomes for us. May God give us the strength and blessing we need to stand apart so that we might stand strong.

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