#What are the 3 types of Psalms?

[jesuslivesinyou]

Psalm 10: God’s Response to the Wicked Now. Psalm 10 begins on a rather negative note, “Why, O Lord, do you stand far off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?” This may seem negative, but it is also a very human reaction. At times, when we face trials and crisis, the Lord does seen to be far off and impersonal. This is especially true when we have to deal with those that reject the Lord. Verses 2 through 11 vividly describe a person who has no thought of the Lord, or his responsibilities to God. “His ways are always prosperous; he is haughty and your laws are far from him; he sneers at all his enemies. He says to himself, ‘Nothing will shake me I’ll always be happy and never have trouble.’ He says to himself, ‘God has forgotten; he covers his face and never sees.’” How many of us know people that reflect that attitude in their lives? When we look at unbelief and the evil actions that come from it, we may wonder why God allows this to happen. Why does He seem to stand off and watch?

Psalm 10: God’s Response to the Wicked Now

Today, it seems like the forces arrayed against the Lord’s people – the Church – are growing stronger. The doomsday prophets see the church in retreat. People challenge the fact that God is involved in the world of man today. “Look at the evil that exists. Look at how unfair things seem to be. Look at the people that seem to be doing just fine that never once thought about God or Jesus Christ.” These statements may be correct. There is a great deal of evil in the world. In fact, considering the nature of the world, it would be surprising if it was otherwise. However, the apparent strength of the opposition to Christ has nothing to do with the reality of God and His authority. What is David’s response to such thoughts? Verse 16 states, “The Lord is King for ever and ever….” Appearances are deceiving. Regardless how the world sees the present order, the Lord is King forever and ever. Simply because people may ignore that truth does not make it less real and true.

Psalm 10: God’s Response to the Wicked Now

One of the reasons why the Lord seems to stand back is His desire that all come to Him, and the Lord will give each person as many chances as possible to accept the offer of salvation. Peter wrote, “But do not forget this one thing, dear friends. With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” God is love, and He does love all people. That is why the offer of salvation is open to all. When we think that God does not seem to care, it may be that he is giving a person another chance to repent. As for us, we know that the Lord is King, and we know that we have an inheritance of eternal life. What can happen to us in this world that will change that? Can it be taken away or destroyed? No. There is nothing in this world that can affect our relationship with the Lord except ourselves. We can reject the offer that has been made; but other than that, our treasure is secure. Yes, as we have to face the day to day problems of life, we may echo the thoughts of David – “Why, O Lord, do you stand far off?” But as we consider the entire picture, we know better.

Psalm 10: God’s Response to the Wicked Now

God doesn’t stand far off. He is right here with us. Yes, we will have to face problems and trials. Yes, we will see injustice and tragedy in the world. God never promised to place us in a vacuum. But as we place our lives in the hands of our Lord, He will strengthen us and guide us to a more Christ-like life. The first verse of Psalm 10 began very negatively, but the last is a message of hope. “You hear, O Lord, the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry, defending the fatherless and the oppressed, in order that man, who is of the earth, may terrify no more.” A final thought concerns verse 6 again. The wicked say, “Nothing will shake me; I’ll always be happy and never have trouble.” We know better. Such people are fooling themselves. Sooner or later, the sharp bite of despair will be felt. The words said with such arrogance in verse 6 are the words of youth and health. Everything in this life will surely pass away. Only the Lord stands forever. Only those that are joined to Him in Jesus Christ can say, “I will never be shaken!” That is a blessing that we need to remember.

Psalm 10: God’s Response to the Wicked Now

[apocrypals]

my understanding of the apocrypha were most were recognized as canon by the Roman Catholic Church and other Orthodox Churches but as I'm trying to find more information online I'm getting more confused about what's considered canon by who (mostly the Roman Catholic Church as that is what I was raised in) do you have resources that clearly explain and/or list which denominations recognize which apocrypha?

So there’s a distinction to be made between what we on the show call capital-A Apocrypha and lower case-a apocrypha.

The capital-A type is also known as the Deuterocanon, and it represents the various late-era books that are present in the Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures called the Septuagint, but which are *not* included in the authoritative Hebrew text of the Bible known as the Masoretic text. (NB: the Septuagint is many centuries older than the Masoretic text.)

When Martin Luther translated the Bible into German, he separated these texts and put them at the end as being worthy of study but not as authoritative as the other material. Later American English editions of the Bible would subsequently cut the Apocrypha/Deuterocanon altogether to save on printing costs. So if you grew up in a Protestant church and don’t know what Bel and the Dragon is, that’s why.

These books include Tobit, Judith, and 1 and 2 Maccabees, among about a dozen others. You will find these in pretty much any Catholic Bible.

In addition, the Eastern Orthodox Church accepts a small handful more, including 3 and 4 Maccabees, 1 and 2 Esdras, and a bonus Psalm. If you buy a copy of a study version of the NRSV such as a NOAB or the new SBL study Bible, you should find that it contains all of the Deuterocanon of both the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches.

Where things start to get broader is in some of the Oriental Orthodox churches, most notably the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, which has over 80 books in its broader canon (numbers differ), including Jubilees and 1 Enoch.

Where the confusion comes, I think, is from the fact that the word apocrypha is also used to refer to works that were never part of any official canon despite their popularity and influence. Elements of these books have come into Catholic belief through tradition, however, even though they have never been official scripture. The Infancy Gospel of James is a major example of a book that has never been canon but which nevertheless has had an outsize influence on Catholic teaching.

Wikipedia has a chart that you may or may not find useful depicting which books are canon where

A short rule of thumb is this: the only Apocrypha considered canon by any church is Jewish in origin. There is no New Testament apocrypha held as canon by any major church

[gaelic-symphony]

hi!! :)

i hope this isn't weird, but i love reading your posts about judaism to learn more from it. i don't follow any religion but i love getting to know them from people who do

and if you don't mind me asking, what are your favourite things about it? <3

i hope i have expressed myself well and you don't mind this 🫶🏼

I actually love this ask, and I'm so glad you sent it! There are so many things I love about Judaism, it would take me forever to come up with a list of them, but here are a few of my favorites:

I love our everyday rituals. I love keeping kosher and going to the kosher supermarket. I love that every time I eat or go grocery shopping, I'm affirming my connection to my people and my ancestors. I love that we have blessings for the most mundane human activities like washing our hands. I love ending every week with Shabbat. I love how it gives us a day to rest and reflect and be thankful before we start a new week, and I love having the weekly marker of Shabbat to track the passage of time. I love that you don't have to subscribe to any particular version of Jewish theology or believe that we do these things because Hashem commanded us in order to participate fully in these rituals. You can do them just because you find meaning in them. You can do them just because you're proud to be Jewish and follow the traditions of your ancestors.

I love our holidays. So many of them commemorate our survival against those who tried to wipe us out: Purim, Chanukah, Passover. Every year, we tell the story of our peoples' perseverance. We reflect on the strength and courage of generations of Jews before us that allowed our continued survival into the present day. Other holidays are seasonal markers of time. Tu B'Shvat is a little over a week away, and it's our "new year for trees," the time of year when the earliest trees start to bloom in the Land of Israel. Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur mark the end of the old year and beginning of a new one, and give us the chance to leave our mistakes of the past year behind and learn from them moving forward as we start fresh with a brand new year. Sukkot is a traditional celebration of the annual harvest. And other holidays, we're just so happy to be Jewish that we need to throw a party about it! Shavuot celebrates the Israelites receiving the Torah from Hashem at Mount Sinai, and then we celebrate the Torah again on Simchat Torah, when we read the very last verses of the book of Dvarim and start all over again with Bereshit.

I love our music. Our daily prayers are set to music, with special nusach (melodies) for Shabbat and holidays. When we read from the Torah or the books of the prophets, we chant the words to the same melodies our ancestors have done for centuries. We sing as a way to connect with each other and with Hashem. We sing the psalms of King David, and we sing wordless melodies we call niggunim. We've developed our own styles of secular, non-liturgical music and dance: klezmer and canciones, the horah and the Yemenite step, and many, many more!

I love our scholarship. Our scholarly tradition is one of questioning and arguing, neither of which are viewed negatively in Jewish tradition! We love to ask ourselves "what if" and "why," and the point isn't so much finding a singular answer as it is the process of engaging with the text. Does it really matter as a real-world issue whether there are any Pokemon that would be kosher to eat? Of course not! But that's exactly the type of thing we love to argue over, and if the ancient rabbinic sages like Hillel and Akiva and Rashi and Maimonides were alive today, I guarantee you they would have opinions on the matter.

I love our joy. There is so much joy that comes with being Jewish, a joy we feel just for being alive against all odds. Most of our prayers are not asking Hashem for the things we want, but thanking Hashem for the things we have. We have a brachah we say specifically to thank Hashem for the opportunity to fix what is broken in this world. Our history has rarely been a happy one, but we have always found reasons to rejoice. We danced and sang and celebrated our holidays and life events even in the Warsaw Ghetto. This past December, during one of the saddest, heaviest, and scariest times for our people since the Shoah, Jews all over the world celebrated Chanukah like we always do. In the midst of our mourning, we found joy. Literally and figuratively, we came together as a tribe to create light in the darkness.

[discoveringorthodoxy]

Hymns of the Orthodox Church

If you've ever read an Orthodox service, you may have noticed the different types of hymns that are often used. There's antiphons, troparions, kontakions, etc. But what do these all mean?

An antiphon is a collection of Scripture verses (usually from the Psalms) that alternate. You can see these, for example, in the Three Antiphons during Divine Liturgy. They are called Antiphons because traditionally, they are sung by two choirs, with each responding antiphonally (alternating) to the other. Below is an example from the Divine Liturgy:

Antiphon 1. Mode 2.

"Verse 1: O Lord, the light of Your face was stamped upon us.

Through the intercessions of the Theotokos, Savior, save us."

A troparion is a brief hymn expressing the main focus of that day's celebration. These are usually one or multiple stanzas. There are several different types of troparions that you might recognize. These include apolytikions, evlogitarias, and theotokions.

An apolytikion ("dismissal hymn") is a troparion that typically honors a saint, Christ, or the Virgin Mary. It is also usually sung at the end of the Vespers Service. Below is an example of an apolytikion from the Sunday of the Veneration of the Holy Cross:

Apolytikion of the Feast. Mode 1.

"Save, O Lord, Your people and bless Your inheritance, granting victory to the faithful over the enemy, and by Your Cross protecting Your commonwealth."

An evlogetaria is just a troparia that is sung after the reading from the Psalter. The evlogetaria consists of the refrain "Blessed art Thou, O Lord, teach me Thy statues. (Psalm 118:12)" The two forms of the Evlogetaria is the Evlogetaria of the Ressurrection (which is sung at Sunday Matins after the Kathismata) and the Funeral Evlogetaria (which is sung at Matins for the Dead after Psalm 118 and at funerals). Below is an excerpt from the Evlogetaria of the Ressurrection:

Ressurrectional Evlogetaria. Mode pl.1.

"Blessed are You, O Lord, teach me Your statutes.

When the hosts of the Angels saw how You were accounted among the dead, they all marveled. You, O Savior, are the One who destroyed the might of death; and when You arose You raised Adam with yourself and from Hades liberated everyone."

A theotokion is a hymn that refers to or praises the Theotokos and it usually concludes a cycle of stichera or troparia. There are several categories of the Theotokia, including the resurrectional theotokia (which is sung after we sing Glory...), the theotokia dogmatica (sung after Both now...), and dismissal theotokia (sung after the dismissal troparia). Below is an example of a theotokia dogmatica:

Both now. Theotokion.

"O Virgin Theotokos, beseech Your Son, Christ our God, who voluntarily was nailed to the Cross and resurrected from the dead, entreating Him to save our souls."

A kontakion is similar to a troparion, however, it mostly expresses the history of the celebration. It used to be so long (18-24 stanzas) that it would have to be rolled up on a pole. However, only short preliminary stanzas remain today. Below is an example of a kontakion from the Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee:

Mode 3. On this day.

"Sinners, let us fall before* the Lord and Master in prayer,* and as once the Publican* let us present Him our sighing.* He desires that all humanity gain salvation.* And to all who are repentant He grants forgiveness.* He became a man for our sake,* though with the Father without beginning as God."

Following the kontakion is the oikos. This is a stanza that develops the ideas that are in the kontakion and usually conclude with the same words as the kontakion. Below is the oikos that follows the kontakion from above:

"Bretheren, let us all garb ourselves in lowliness, and with laments and sighs strike at our conscience, that at the judgment then, which is in perpetuity, we shall be viewed guiltless, attaining our impunity. For there we have true mitigation; to see it, let us make supplication. For there is pain and sorrow's unseating, gone the deep sighs, there in wondrous Eden, of which Christ was fashioner, He being with the Father without beginning as God."

The Biblical Ode's (also known as odes) are hymns that are taken directly from Scripture. These odes are chanted during the Matins service. There are nine odes, however, today only the Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55) is read. During Great Lent, however, the original Biblical Canticles are read. Below is an excerpt from the Magnificat:

Ode ix. The Magnificat. Mode 3.

Verse: My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.

"Greater in honor than the Cherubim, and in glory greater beyond compare than the Seraphim; you without corruption gave birth to God the Word, and are truly Theotokos. You do we magnify."

Finally, a prokimenon is a passage of Scripture that introduces the theme of the Epistle reading to follow. It is usually a verse and a refrain that is read and sung before the Epistle reading. Below is an example of a prokimenon from the Sunday of the Veneration of the Cross:

Prokeimenon. Mode pl.2. Psalm 27.

"O Lord, save Your people, and bless Your inheritance."

Verse: To You, O Lord, I cry; O my God, may You not pass over me in silence."

This prokeimenon preludes Hebrews 4:14-16; 5-:1-6, which talks about how Jesus is our high priest in Heaven who sacrificed himself for us.

The Orthodox has several types of hymns within its services. Hopefully this has cleared it up some more for you all! It definitely has for me.

[meirimerens]

3 and 15.... I come to you with knees bent and face turned up to kiss your palms as if in prayer asking for 3 and 15 on the ask meme.....

honestly this ask scared me because i was literally writing a piece of PMPE where it is discussed how the plague in dankovsky's ears sound like psalms and prayers are you in my walls...? oh well that's topical. LET'S GO

3. any ideas for how that experiment where daniil resurrected a woman went down?

love this question love it love it ok so the collective-imaginative vision of the anatomist resurrecting the dead before a crowd is very Victorian, it's very 19th century, at a time where mediums and other spiritualists were a more and more common sight; it's Gothic, it's Frankensteinesque. now, while patho's time period is purposefully ambiguous, many consider it 1910s-ish, with p2 being a little later (possibly closer to 1930s from what we've seen of the bachelor's route behind-the-scenes), so by this time, this type of thing would have been quite passé, and for Dankovsky especially, who's a man of the future, and not of the past, at least as far as medicine goes. the only account of him resurrecting a woman is from Lilich, and in the text it is also mentioned she didn't introduce herself by this name. the canon explanation for this is that puppet-players are not remembering their past games right, and are not weaving a coherent story; but i see this as... dankovsky would not do this kind of thing publicly - again, too Victorian, and with everything that entails; the pompousness, the stuck-upness,, the religiosity, the good mores; he is not of that kind. he would do this privately, he has. privately, perhaps surrounded by his peers at Thanatica, and as such, he remembers there being a woman - not Lilich, not even Karstlich (how she says she introduced herself as then), but his memory faltering¹ he thinks he remembers it. same for Lilich, in her own right: she attended one of his lectures. it did not contain reanimation, it contained something else; but his reputation, preceding and running after him like a bloodhound, has shaped her remembering of it. he has never resurrected a woman, privately or publicly - how so? how come? because he has never defeated death. we begin the game with him desperately trying, because he has always failed before.

¹ this is not faltering. i see it more as closer to greek myths: a single myth will be different from era to era, from storyteller to storyteller, from island to island. they are all true. this is not faltering, this is a truth polymorphic.

15. pick a barnett newman painting for each of them

my favorite question. let's get on with it.

this is Andrey. do you see the un-inked strip? and do you see how the ink seems to bubble up all around it, like festering around a wound, like matter accumulating by the Lack, bubbling up like anger, boiling? this un-inked stripped is what he sees as his Lack. he is the one constantly bringing up peter as his soulmate, them being two sides of a same coin, he is the one who declares the threefold bullet line. he is the one who acts in lack, in order to fill the lack. kill to keep peter close. go forward to bring dankovsky closer. kill a man because you couldn't keep him. matter, his own, and other's, accumulate by the Lack. dead fish where the water has drained.

this is Peter. the twotone is because i think he's bipolar (true fact). it is also because the pitch-black rectangle, the monolith, is the shape of farkhad's grave - it is farkhad's grave. (it is farkhad.) he is the guilt-bearer, he is eaten. half of him eaten by guilt, like taking of his bed. this half would be where he has space for andrey, for dankovsky, for himself expanded, but the murder put in its place the casket. he and andrey have been drifting apart since the murder, peter says of it he has been "hurting for 10 years" because of it, because of andrey's act of it. see how the black monolith encroaches into the lighter ink's space, but the reverse isn't true, because the black of the monolith is so absolute? this is happening to him.

this is Dankovsky. his shape is different from the others, because he is different from the others. he does not quite fit in with the twins. he is in the middle: he is cleaved. he is cleaved because he lacks: his life work has been destroyed, and he is slowly realizing everything is slipping out of his grasp. he is cleaved in two, there is a hollow for a third thing, a third part, a third piece. andrey calls it: molded me, my brother, and you into a single person… The fire of war has molded us into a threefold bullet. dankovsky is cleaved piece into which the already-molded peter and andrey could fit. if they were molded. and andrey, paining peter for years, has quite kept them from being so. dankovsky will keep this cleave, his hollow: he says "keep your dumb head cool", he reins back in. the hollow is fit for grief. at his sides, shadows approach and stand, but do not encroach. still, they threaten. one is bigger, one is seeping out. one grows and swells like an oil spill. (a monolith, baring hazier parts, in the fog of unknownness)

this is farkhad. come then forth thee monolithe... stands tall, pitch-black, front and center, middle. not unlike his grave. on his sides, matter frames him, maybe follows, or threatens him. matter boils, bubbles, or streaks. matter reacts to him, or around him -> the twins. the single white line, maybe the breaking of the bond, or the knife strike. see there, to the right, three lines? they are brackets: } . they are bringing-together brackets. he is the bringer-together... for the better and worse.

this was so fun :3 thank you... [ask me a little something something?]

[hibernica]

When Harrow is having her confessional with Jod she tells him that she's a war crime. But that's weird, right? Harrow isn't the type to play fast and loose with words most of the time, so why describe herself that way? I am a genocide, sure. I am a tragedy. But a war crime needs a war. So here's my question, what war does she think she's a crime in and why? Most likely, there is only one war in The Locked Tomb. The Nine Houses versus everyone else. Certainly there's no civil wars in The Houses, regardless of what the eighth would like to do to the Ninth. But what makes The Reverend Father and Mother genociding their own house to create a necromancer be a war crime against The Houses? My thinking is this: Every child of every house is a potential recruit for the cohort. The Lyctors are the hands and gestures of Jod, but the Cohort is his weapon. I think that in Jod's evangelical crusade to dominate the survivors of the resurrection he's turned the Nine Houses into a Quiverfull Death Cult. Psalm 127:1-5 has been cited by the Quiverfull sects of Christianity, of which Catholicism is one, as the reason families should have as many kids as possible. Some of them take it a step further and frame as building God's army on Earth. I think that Jod's obsession has not merely recreated the crimes of pre-resurrection colonialism and militarism. It's made clear multiple times throughout the text that Jod may care for the Houses, but doesn't have particularly strong feelings on any individual. I think the Nine Houses have taken that to heart and every life born into it is merely a weapon to be brandished by Jod against his enemies. This is reinforced by The Fourth's rather horrifying tendency to send literal child soldiers to the front lines and everyone kind of being okay with it. Harrowhark believes herself to be a crime against Jod and therefore a crime against Jod's war of evangelization. She is casting her parents as fundamentally doing Blood of Eden's work for them and as traitors to The Nine Houses even as she herself becomes a Lyctor. Psalm 127:1-5 1 Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.

2 It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.

3 Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.

4 As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.

5 Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.

[jurakan]

"The Catholic Church does not enforce a literal reading of all parts of the Bible. The Scriptures have many types of texts: prayers (Psalms), visions (Revelation), debates (Job), parables (parts of the Gospels), letters (St. Paul), and, of course, historical reports (Acts). But not everything in the Bible is a historical report. Writing more than a century ago, Pope Leo XIII (1878-1903) used a quote of St. Augustine when he said:

The sacred writers, or to speak more accurately, the Holy Ghost "Who spoke by them, did not intend to teach men these things (that is to say, the essential nature of the things of the visible universe), things in no way profitable unto salvation." Hence they did not seek to penetrate the secrets of nature, but rather described and dealt with things in more or less figurative language, or in terms which were commonly used at the time, and which in many instances are in daily use at this day, even by the most eminent men of science.

So why do a number of Catholics still have a serious problem with evolution? Most likely, some Protestant groups have persuaded them that they should have a problem. When Scripture is the one and only authority--sola Scriptura (see chapter 3)--then Scripture is seen to be completely infallible if taken literally. Years ago, many Catholics in the pews understood that evolution of the human body was somehow acceptable in Church teaching. What has changed recently is not Church teaching, nor science, but the fact that non-Catholic fundamentalists and Evangelicals now have an enormous impact on our culture, especially in North America--and so has their rejection of evolution, making Catholics feel as if they must be suspicious of evolution if they want to be 'faithful' in their religion.

As a result of this, the theory of evolution has become highly suspect, even among some Catholics. Lost in this debate is the profound Catholic truth, affirmed by popes and theologians from the earliest Church until today, that science can never conflict with the truths of faith--not even evolution (see chapter 29). There is just no room in modern society for a "King James Version" of science textbooks. In schools, we should teach science, not preach it! Pope John Paul II said it right: "Scientific culture requires Christians to have a mature faith."

-Forty Anti-Catholic Lies by Dr. Gerard Verschuuren

[conjuremanj]

Traditional Road Opener with Rituals

In traditional Hoodoo life is one long road from Birth to the Grave, that's when we'll to become ancestors ourselves. The term Road Opening is not used in hoodoo back in the day it was called Blockbusting. So if you go to a spiritual shop and see a road opener and a blockage candle it's the same thing. It gets rid of blockages, and do away with the obstacles in your or your clients life.

There also is a Blockbuster (read my post in that up top)

Now in the Spanish version like Santeria they may use a herb like Abre Camino which means "opens road, where the plant may be used.

Now think of it as a road where our blessings come one way and our gifts our free will comes the other way. ☝️ Sometimes we can get side-tracked that ends up with a blockage in our way. It may be from pursuing a person we should not be pursuing or a job we should pursue or a life path. Now I'm not saying you can't have those things just that it may not be the right time for those yet there are many reasons we can get blocked.

So when we pursue those blessings that comes towards us and don't received them it's because we put blockages in front of ourselves then we ask why. Why am I not receiving my blessings. That why... Your Blocked.

So when you use a blockbuster your undoing the blockages so that the blessings can start flowing towards you again. And it's does not matter if your blocked in love or money or even employment this will help you to receive those blessings and have them flow back to you again. Now if it's yourself that is blocked see my last post there's another spell for your self to stop blockages. Do both if you feel you need to.

Candles: We know that road opening colors are green, yellow, gold some are red. But you can used a color base on the type of opening you're doing. [Example of it's money that is blocked green is a good choice if it's love use that color if it's spiritual use white] So for this spell color can help if you don't have one white is fine.

Ritual: You will need a Bay leaf. Charcoal frankincense and myrrh and Incense burner. Write on a bay leaf the things that are holding you back.

We use the bay leaf because the leaf is a carrier it invokes spirits and ancestors to walk with you to identify the problem and to help get rid of the burdens and we use the frankincense and myrrh help cleanse the road and give them that extra push to get it out of your way.

Pray the 23rd psalms and walk around with it your going to walk because these are your burdens and you must carry it. This isn't a working where you can just let it burn and walk away NO. Just continue to pray the 23 psalms while you walk around (just like if your sageing) untill the bay leaf is completely burned out. It's important.

Now once you finish your road opening take those opportunities that come up even if it's not what you really want it's a opportunity to get where you need and want to be so take those opportunities when they present themselves.

Full Spell: If needed.

Road Opener Candle Spell: First you'll make a name paper. Take 4" x 4" piece of paper and write "Open Roads" on it stacked 3 times. Turn the paper 1/4 turn clockwise and write your name across it stacked 3 times. Dab a bit of Road Opener Oil on the four corners and center of the paper and set it aside.

Get a Yellow jumbo candle glass is ok, and dab a bit of Road Opener Oil on it. Stroke the oil on the candle toward you saying "Open my roads to me unblock health, love, money and opportunities unblock this________ I have so I may receive the blessings I deserve!" Set the candle in a candle holder.

Place the name paper on a plate then sprinkle a bit of Road Opener powder on top of the name paper in the shape of a large "+" (making a little crossroad on the plate)

(if you decide to go outside draw this symbol on the ground same way. Pour a little rum or whisky on top then place the candle in the center)

Place the candle in the center of the "+" of the herbal powder on the plate. Use your rattle and bell to bring spirit and or ancestors to you for help blow your cigar on the altar.

Now pray to God in your own words for the obstacles in your life to be cleared away and release the blockages so you can move toward your goals and the blessings in your life to be open and easy.

Next writ your problems on a bay leaf and follow the prayer and ritual instructions I mentioned at the top.

After your done with the bay leaf other instructions mention at the top. Hold the candle, take a moment to think and picture all of the goals you would like to accomplish in life as if you already had them. Once you've pictured all of your goals and desires, say "Amen" Let the candle burn all the way down.

Candle Read: Once the candle is done burning you can interpret the way the wax drippings are shaped for signs as to the success of your spell. (this is a very subjective and interpretive art - please if you need help interpreting your candle contact me for free)

Finishing Up: by taking the wax remains, the paper etc, wrapped it up and leave it in the trash. You don't need to go to a crossroads if you don't want to. Throw it away with all your problems.

Let me know how this goes if you try these.

[these-detestable-hands]

Ask games summoned me!

12, 13, 16, 19 (note: I don't actually care if it's romantic or platonic or familial or anything else. As long as it's something you feel strongly enough to reasonably call it love!), 25, 29 (note: ideal hangout)

You're really the questioner huh

12. Your favorite music genres?

Show rock, whatever tf Jhariah, pinkshift and bear ghost are, jazz and honestly idk man I don't know genre names

13. Your dream place to visit?

Canada, Malaysia, France, Brazil, Spain, Turkey and South Africa

First three are cause I have friends there, Brazil and Spain is cause of family, Turkey cause it seems like a lovely country and South Africa because it seems nice

16. Do you have tattoos? If not, would you like to?

Yes! I'm thinking one of Psalm 23, a sheep and a cross. I don't think I'd want any non religious stuff because tattoos are a big deal and I wouldn't wanna put random stuff on my body

19. Have you ever been in love?

Ok so I had a gf when I was 12 and a bf when I was 14. Both were horrible mistakes cause they were both really really mean to me and one made my mental health issues worse. I'm not sure I was really in love with either. I guess I did sorta like the bf. Currently I have a crush on my best friend. (mr. Krabs, if yirue curious who it is) He knows and doesn't like me back but we're chill. Had a brief platonic crush on another friend but it passed.

As for other stuff, I guess you could say God? I think love towards God is obviously very different from other types but it's closest to familial. I think it's worth noting cause it's like familial love but He's not technically a relative.

25. Are you a morning or night person?

I used to be a big morning person but quickly changed to night when my mental health got worse, also because a lot of my online friends are American so I'll often stay up to talk to them.

29. What's your dream date/hang out?

3 hour walk and then baking and chatting

[psalmonesermons]

Lessons from the Beatitudes Part 2

What does it mean to hunger and thirst for righteousness?

To get a better understanding of what this means we will look at the original Greek words used in Matthew 5:6

Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

Hunger

Original Word: πεινάω

Part of Speech: Verb

Transliteration: peinaó

Phonetic Spelling: (pi-nah'-o)

Short Definition: I am hungry, needy

Definition: I am hungry, needy, desire earnestly.

It means we ought to be starving for God in our souls, Continual hunger day by day. This brings us close to God and leads us into eventual spiritual victory. The earnest desire for God should be at the very heart of our being.

Only the bread of life which came down from heaven can satisfy our souls.

Thirst

Original Word: διψάω

Part of Speech: Verb

Transliteration: dipsaó

Phonetic Spelling: (dip-sah'-o)

Short Definition: I thirst for, desire earnestly

Definition: I thirst for, desire earnestly.

Psalm 42:1 as the deer pants for streams of water,

so my soul pants for you, my God.

2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.

When can I go and meet with God?

Like a plant in the desert craves water. It cannot continue to live without some water. Only the water can sustain life. Only the water of the Holy Spirit can slake your spiritual thirst.

Take a deep drink now from the wells of living water. Amen

Righteousness

Original Word: δικαιοσύνη, ης, ἡ

Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine

Transliteration: dikaiosuné

Phonetic Spelling: (dik-ah-yos-oo'-nay)

Short Definition: justice, justness, righteousness

Definition: (usually if not always in a Jewish atmosphere), justice, justness, righteousness, righteousness of which God is the source or author, but practically: a divine righteousness.

There are at least two types of righteousness found in the New Testament. 1. Legal righteousness such as we obtain from Jesus when we are born again, we receive the righteousness of Christ, and this is in a sense a one off situation. This passage however seems to be talking about moral righteousness which is something we achieve on an ongoing basis. It is from our sense of the divine justice that our good deeds flow to the poor and the hurting.

Filled

Original Word: χορτάζω

Part of Speech: Verb

Transliteration: chortazó

Phonetic Spelling: (khor-tad'-zo)

Short Definition: I feed, satisfy

Definition: I feed, satisfy, fatten.

If we hunger and thirst for God, He will fill us like we have just had a sumptuous meal. When we hunger, we will be fed, we will be satisfied and our souls will be fattened.

God is in the filling business;

He will fill us with;

1. The Holy Spirit

2. His love

3. His moral righteousness

4. A satisfaction that can continue to grow

One bible scholar put it like this, the more of God you want the more get and again the more you want.

How can we become hungry and thirsty for God?

Jesus awakens the desires of his believers hearts. Consider these words of Jesus: "Ask and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock and it will be opened to you" Luke 11:9. Keep asking, keep seeking, keep knocking, it is an open secret. You need to want it and it is appropriate for us to ask for it! Amen

It's whom you ask, where you seek and what door you knock on that makes all the difference. What could be more exciting than a journey into God himself for that is what he desires for you and me?

Conclusion

God does not ask us to deny our burning desire for intimacy, beauty and adventure. Religion does that. Jesus invites us to intimate communion with himself and his Father that will truly satisfy the deepest longings of our souls. Where are you looking to satisfy your deepest desires and longings? Only God will satisfy your deepest desires if you look to him for fulfilment. God is calling his mature ones here today to hunger and thirst for him and to begin seek his face.

Amen

Personal Prayer

[godslittleprincess]

I've already asked this of @katelyn-marie323, but I'm asking you as well because I'm always curious as to answers to this:

What denomination are you and why?

Favourite book of the Old Testament and why?

Favourite book of the New Testament and why?

Favourite Bible character, excluding God/Jesus, and why?

Favourite Psalm(s) and why?

Favourite hymn or worship song and why?

Favourite names of Jesus and why?

Bonus question if you're Catholic, Anglican/Episcopalian, Lutheran or Orthodox - favourite saint(s) and why?

Hiye, sorrey for the late reply. I'm on vacation and i’m only now getting this, but thank you, i love questions like this :)

1) I'm currently a born and raised Baptist wanting to convert to Orthodoxy because it's more in tune with my beliefs. I believe that all the practices and teachings of the early Christian church (including veiling and prostration) are not to be abandoned and I'm more of a faith + works type believer as Jesus said to go out and sin no more as well as repent.

2) My favorite book of the Old Testament is a tie between Exodus and Esther, because I love both the story of Queen Esther and all the history of the Hebrews in Egypt especially God saving them. I think both books are very beautiful, and to be honest, in the middle of church I sometimes get lost reading them and forget to pay attention to the sermon.

3) My favorite book of the New Testament is Revelation, as it's always been so incredibly compelling for me. It's so amazing and faith affirming watching the prophesies of Revelation coming true, but at the same time it sends a chill down my spine reading the the judgment that is to come and the extent of the battle of good and evil.

4) I don’t have a favorite Biblical figure in particular, but i have an extensive fascination with the angels and with biblical angelology. I doodle the different types of angels sometimes, and I’ve done lots of research on them.

5) I’m afraid I haven’t yet read much of Psalms but one of the verses I quote the most often, especially when I’m fearful or need comfort happens to come from it. It’s Psalms 23:4, Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for thou art with me... It gives me a huge amount of peace.

6) My favorite Hymn is “It is well with my soul” I remember when I was little, I listened to a story about the writer of that song, he experienced many horrific tragedies in life including the Chicago fire burning his assets, and the passing of his young daughters on a sinking ship, and still he was able to have peace in the Lord and be able to say that whatever happens, it is well with his soul. I always found that so incredibly inspiring and knowing the story makes the song sound so much heavier and emotional.

7) Honestly I think my favored name for Christ would simply be Jesus 😅. I say Jesus whenever I’m feeling uneased and it gives me a rush of calm and peace like no other.

8) I don’t yet know much about the concept of saints, but my favorite disciple would be John, I hope he counts. I admire that he didn’t hide and was bold enough to be the only apostle to stand by Jesus during his crucifixion, and I think it’s amazing that he was given the vision of Revelation and documented it so that we could read it today.

I apologize, I realize I’ve wrote so much, but I truly enjoyed this, thank you 😊

[steveezekiel]

A GODLY SORROW

9 NOW I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, BUT THAT YOUR SORROW LED TO REPENTANCE. FOR you were made SORRY in a GODLY MANNER, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing.

10 FOR GODLY SORROW PRODUCES REPENTANCE LEADING TO SALVATION, NOT TO BE REGRETTED; But THE SORROW OF THE WORLD PRODUCES DEATH.

11 FOR OBSERVE THIS VERY THING, THAT YOU SORROWED IN A GODLY MANNER: WHAT DILIGENCE it produced in you, WHAT CLEARING OF YOURSELVES, WHAT INDIGNATION, WHAT FEAR, WHAT VEHEMENT DESIRE, WHAT ZEAL, WHAT VINDICATION! In all things you proved yourselves to be clear in this matter."

2 Corinthians 7:9–11 (NKJV)

* A godly sorrow would lead to a genuine repentance. There are two types of sorrows mentioned in the above Bible passage (2 Corinthians 7:10):

a. The Godly sorrow that produces or leads to repentance.

b. The sorrow of the world that produces death.

- The two types of sorrows could be seen In the betrayal of Jesus Christ. Two of His Disciples betrayed Him, and both were sorrowful or remorseful for what they did. The sorrow of one led to repentance, whilst the sorrow of the other person led to death.

- Both the Judas Iscariot and Simon Peter betrayed Him.

a. When Judas realizes what he did, he was sorrowful, and he took the money he collected from the high priest and the council to them, but his sorrow led to death—he went from that restitution to commit suicide (Matthew 27:3-5).

b. However, when Simon Peter realizes that he had betrayed the Lord, he wept sorrowfully (Matthew 26:69-75; Luke 22:54-62).

- Jesus is willing to receive back whoever misses it. No matter how worst whatever the person had done is, If he or she returned to Him, He will still receive them back. Only do not think that you had offended Him beyond a reconciliation (Luke 15:18-24).

- The story of prodigal son illustrated this clearly. When the prodigal son came to himself, when he realizes where he had missed it, he said he would arise and go back to his Father and he did exactly that. Meanwhile, his father's Heart also had been longing for him (Luke 15:11-24).

- God is willing to receive back Whoever has gone astray. No matter how hideous or disgusting what you had done may have been, He would still receive you back, If you could come with a remorseful and a repentant Heart (Psalm 34:18; 51:17; Isaiah 66:2).

* The Corinthian's godly sorrow that produced a repentance in them, which led to a number of things: "FOR [you can look back and] SEE WHAT AN EARNESTNESS AND AUTHENTIC CONCERN THIS GODLY SORROW HAS PRODUCED IN YOU: WHAT VINDICATION OF YOURSELVES [against charges that you tolerate sin], WHAT INDIGNATION [at sin], WHAT FEAR [of offending God], WHAT LONGING [for righteousness and justice], WHAT PASSION [to do what is right], WHAT READINESS TO PUNISH [those who sin and those who tolerate sin]! At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in the matter" (2 Corinthians 7:11 (Amps).

* The New Living translation put the passage, 2 Corinthians 7:11, Thus:

"JUST SEE WHAT THIS GODLY SORROW PRODUCED IN YOU! such EARNESTNESS, such CONCERN TO CLEAR YOURSELVES, such INDIGNATION, such ALARM, such LONGING TO SEE ME, such ZEAL, AND such A READINESS TO PUNISH WRONG. YOU SHOWED THAT YOU HAVE DONE EVERYTHING NECESSARY TO MAKE THINGS RIGHT."

a. The Corinthians believers were more diligent or earnest, having authentic concern after being remorseful (2 Corinthians 7:11).

b. They were indignant at Sin. They were no longer relishing or tolerating Sin.

c. They would not want to offend God again. They had the fear, reverential fear, of not offending Him.

d. They had the long or zeal; hunger and thirst for righteousness and justice (Matthew 5:6).

e. Passion to do what is Right was birth in them. They were longing to live holy, live for God and not to the self, to please Him (1 Peter 1:15,16; 4:1,2).

f. They had the readiness to discipline those who were wrong (2 Corinthians 10:6).

* A true Godly sorrow should lead to a change of heart that manifested in a change of Character.

- It is nowadays that you see those who professed to be believers living in blatant Sins without any remorse. Such might even be one of the church workers, the work force, in his or her local church. Some are even ministers, preaching or teaching others.

- There are a lot of hypocrisies in the church today. Would a preacher or Teacher not preach or teach himself or herself?:

21 YOU, THEREFORE, WHO TEACH ANOTHER, DO YOU NOT TEACH YOURSELF? YOU WHO PREACH THAT A MAN SHOULD NOT STEAL, DO YOU STEAL? 22 YOU WHO SAY, “DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY,” DO YOU COMMIT ADULTERY? YOU WHO ABHOR IDOLS, DO YOU ROB TEMPLES? 23 YOU WHO MAKE YOUR BOAST IN THE LAW, DO YOU DISHONOUR GOD THROUGH BREAKING THE LAW? 24 FOR “THE NAME OF GOD IS BLASPHEMED AMONG THE GENTILES [the unbelievers] BECAUSE OF YOU,” AS IT IS WRITTEN" (Romans 2:21-24 NKJV).

* Some Believers are entrenched in a particular Sin, they found it difficult to come out of it.

- Whenever they committed the Sin, they would be remorseful, but after a while they are back in the same act (2 Peter 2:22).

- Godly sorrow should lead to a genuine repentance. If you actually wanted to be free from the hold of that particular Sin, you might need to confide in someone who is mature spiritually, to help you. The person would be able to counsel you, and break the hold of the Sin through Prayer and the Anointing of the Holy Spirit (Isaiah 10:27).

- The hold of that Sin might be an initiation. Especially if it was a sin of immorality. Whoever is bound and entrenched in the Sin of immorality and claimed to be born-again, It is always an initiation.

- The sinful partner whom the person is bound with, whom they are commiting the Sin together, is usually a person with demonic power.

THE initiation is always done through sexual relationship. And this might be difficult to break loose from with physical strength, since it involves the activities of a demon or demons.

- If what is being shared here is your experience or what you are going through presently, I want to enjoin you to confide in your pastor or a minister of God who has the understanding of the operations of the kingdom of darkness.

- Also, take a bold step and stay away from the person, the sinful partner. If you live in the same place, you may have to move to another place temporarily until your deliverance is done and made perfect.

- However, If your own case is not as severe as what we have just shared here, that is, you do not perceive any demonic involvement in yours; you just go ahead and cofess your Sin and break away from whoever you are commiting the Sin with (1 John 1:9).

* I declare your freedom, your deliverance, in the mighty name of Jesus.

- Should there be any ailment in your body, receive your healing now in Jesus' name.

- Whatever is contrary to your health is completely uprooted in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.

Peace!

STEPS TO SALVATION

* Take notice of this:

IF you are yet to take the step of salvation, that is, yet to be born-again, do it now, tomorrow might be too late (2 Corinthians 6:1,2; Hebrews 3:7,8,15).

a. Acknowledge that you are a sinner and confess your Sins (1 John 1:9); And ask Jesus Christ to come into your life (Revelation 3:20).

b. Confess that you believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is Lord, and that you confess it with your mouth, Thus, you accept Him As your Lord and Saviour (Romans 10:9,10).

c. Ask that He will write your name in the Book of Life (Philippians 4:3; Revelation 3:8).

- If you took the steps As highlighted above, It means you are saved—born-again. Join a Word based church in your area and Town or city, and be part of whatever they are doing there. Peace!

[transthadymacdermot]

Please tell me more about your OCs, Fredrick, Sarah and Annie?

Sure!!! They are main characters in the vague sequel story to my wip red & riotous light that I'm writing + they are tenant farmers on a vaguely located estate owned by a fictious marquess somewhere in co. antrim, ireland, in the mid 1790s. Their family situation is best explained I think by this diagram but to shorten it, Frederick and Annie are the nephew + niece of Sarah's toxic boyfriend Jem, who she basically adopted after she moved in with them. She also has 2 more younger kids but she sent them off to help F&A's father on his search for work in scotland, so they don't factor in to the actual story much. I will go through them in depth one at a time.

Frederick

Frederick is 11 and he's like. one of those annoying street urchin artful dodger type characters but in an almost wholly rural setting. He's def. got what would be today recognised as undiagnosed ADHD and he's working through a lot of complicated feelings surrounding his relationship with his mother (which swings between loving and being like a cage fight like a pendulum) as well as his place in the world and what he's meant to be doing about the incredible violence he's witnessing around him daily. In some ways this manifests as him having grown up far too quickly -- he's already an active member of 1 of the most feared gangs in his area and him stabbing a man without batting an eye is what starts the plot -- in other ways it's him acting at all times like he knows exactly what's up and like he's 100% in control even when he's obviously just a helpless kid.

Some facts about Frederick:

When he grows up he wants to join the army, ideally as an officer + ideally in the cavalry

He is a narrative foil to another character, Seamy, who I went into detail on here

He slowly develops the ability to see snatches of the future in his dreams, although he doesn't typically tell anyone about these dreams so for now it's more of a mounting dread situation than something with any massive effect on his life.

Sarah

Probably the main facet of Sarah's character, imo, is that she really does not give a shit. About anything. She has been utterly miserable due to the fact that she and Jem both despise each other (but she won't leave cos she wants the children to grow up with some kind of father figure + is too exhausted to find anything or anyone else. not answering questions on whether or not this was inspired by anything I have witnessed in real life at this time) for so long that she crossed the threshold of not caring about people's opinions/consequences/moral implications wrt any of her actions years ago. This typically does not end well for people who anger her, especially when taken with the fact that she spent so long blaming herself for things other people did to her that she swung to the opposite extreme + the fact that she is living most of her life now in survival mode, and therefore no longer regards a single one of her actions as her own fault. It does not take much to push Sarah over the edge. If she decides you are jeopardising her survival AND aren't useful for anything otherwise that's you done with this mortal coil and good luck trying to talk her out of it.

Some facts about Sarah:

She is fluent in english, irish, and latin + she can read + write in all 3, and though her family members only know english she often says simple commands and asks simple questions in latin to her children. Her favourite book (a copy of which is owned by a local schoolmaster) is ovid's metamorphosis

She is also a narrative foil to another character called Lady Durham, who I've not made a big post on yet

For many years she sang all the psalms at the local chapel (before she got into a fight with the priest and stopped going)

Annie

Ah, Annie. She is a 12 year old eldest daughter and she has all of the complications that implies. Tbh, she's probably the most capable in her family, or she would be if she didn't spend most of her time wandering around climbing trees and pretending to be a wolf or whatever. She and her mother tend to both blame each other for every single thing that is wrong with the world + fight constantly about everything, but ironically they're very similar -- Annie, too, is very independent and a loner by choice, though she doesn't necessarily dislike company if it's someone who can keep up with her, and she has more than a little of Sarah's ruthless streak in her. Her head is often in the clouds but she isn't incapable of being more practical, nor is she not razor-sharp, she just chooses to get a little whimsical with it. If the rest of the world wants to know what she's talking about they should simply come up into the clouds with her.

Some facts about Annie:

She has a tortoiseshell kitten called Chicken which Sarah gets her early in the story to patch things up after a fight

There is some kind of bizarre cosmic horror monster following her around and doing whatever she tells it to. This manifests as the ability to kill people basically with her mind, though the trade-off is that Annie spreads plague and misfortune wherever she goes as a result of its malign influence leaking out. More lore posts on this coming soon 👍

She enjoys going to see plays &c a lot. Her current favourite is shakespeare's titus andronicus, which she saw when a troupe of players came to perform it for the Marquess (he was so scandalised he nearly perished on the spot) and the local innkeeper Lazarus managed to entice them into doing a cheap showing of it at his inn

[awideplace]

Question: Is Jesus in the Old Testament?

Answer: Jesus shows up often in the Old Testament—not by that name, and not in the same form as we see Him in the New Testament, but He is there nonetheless. The theme of the entire Bible is Christ.

Jesus Himself confirmed the fact that He is in the Old Testament. In John 5:46 He explained to some religious leaders who had challenged Him that the Old Testament was talking about Him: “If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me.” According to Jesus, God’s work with man since time began all pointed to Him. Another time when Jesus showed that He is in the Old Testament was on the day of His resurrection. Jesus was walking with two of His disciples, and “beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself” (Luke 24:27). Earlier, before His crucifixion, Jesus had pointed to Isaiah 53:12 and said, “It is written: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors’ and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me. Yes, what is written about me is reaching its fulfillment” (Luke 22:37).

By some counts, more than 300 Old Testament prophecies point to Jesus Christ and were fulfilled by Him in His life on earth. These include prophecies about His unique birth (Isaiah 7:14), His earthly ministry (Isaiah 61:1), and even the way He would die (Psalm 22). Jesus shocked the religious establishment when He stood up in the synagogue of Nazareth and read from Isaiah 61, concluding with this commentary: “This scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing today” (Luke 4:18–21).

Another way that Jesus is in the Old Testament is in the form of Christophanies—pre-incarnate appearances of the Son of God. The Old Testament uses the term angel of the Lord interchangeably with the Lord in reference to these visitations. One Christophany is found in Genesis 18:1–33 when the Lord appeared to Abram in human form. Such tangible encounters with deity are scattered throughout the Old Testament (Genesis 16:7–14; 22:11–18; Judges 5:23; 2 Kings 19:35; Daniel 3:25).

But there are even deeper ways that Jesus is found in the Old Testament. These are seen in what we call “types.” A type is a person or thing in the Old Testament that foreshadows a person or thing in the New. For example, the tabernacle, the sacrificial system, and the Passover are all types of Christ’s redemption. In addition, some of the lives of Old Testament characters reflect elements of the life of Christ. Moses, like Jesus, spoke for God, confronted the evil powers of the day, and led his people to freedom through a miraculous deliverance. The life of Joseph is another that seems to model the life of Christ.

Many Old Testament historical events double as symbols of what God would do in the future, through Christ. For example, God called Abraham to offer his son Isaac as a sacrifice. Abraham uttered these prophetic words in response to Isaac’s question about a lamb: “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son” (Genesis 22:8). God did provide a ram in Isaac’s place, symbolizing what He would do thousands of years later on that very mountain when His own Son was offered as a sacrifice in our place (Matthew 27:33). Events surrounding the sacrifice of Isaac thus serve as a type of the sacrifice of Christ.

Jesus referred to another event in Israel’s history as a foreshadowing of His crucifixion. In the wilderness, the people following Moses had sinned, and God sent serpents among them to bite them. The people were dying, and they appealed to Moses for help. God told Moses to make a bronze serpent and place it on a pole. All those who looked to it would be healed (Numbers 21:4–19). Jesus alluded to this incident in John 3:14–15: “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life in him.”

God’s design for the tabernacle is another way that Jesus is in the Old Testament. The altar in the courtyard symbolizes the need for Jesus’ sacrifice to atone for our sin. The laver shows Jesus as providing the water of life (John 4:14). Inside the Holy Place, the lampstand is suggestive of Jesus as the light of the world (John 9:5). The table of showbread is Jesus as the bread of life (John 6:35). In the altar of incense is seen Jesus as our heavenly intercessor, continually offering prayers for us (Romans 8:34; Hebrews 7:25). According to Hebrews 10:20, the veil before the ark of the covenant is a picture of Jesus’ human flesh.

The Son of God is not just in the New Testament; Jesus is in the Old Testament, too. Jesus is God’s promised Messiah. From the virgin birth in Bethlehem (Isaiah 7:14; Luke 1:35; Micah 5:2), through the sojourn to Egypt (Hosea 11:1; Matthew 2:14–15), to His ministry of healing and hope (Genesis 3:15; 1 John 3:8), all the way through His resurrection (Psalm 16:9–11; Acts 2:31), Jesus Christ is the theme of both Old and New Testaments. It could be said that Jesus is the reason for the Bible. He is the Living Word. The entire Bible is a beacon that points us to God’s offer of reconciliation, the hope of forgiveness and eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Source: https://www.gotquestions.org/Jesus-in-the-Old-Testament.html

[sagehuntsargs]

the corn video (tm) analysis

OKAY SO ANOTHER DECODING

the ciphered text here is decoded as : https://youtube.com/@cornfieldsorrows

which only has this video.

the description is in hebrew and translates to "You made a big mistake" (oh no oh fuck what did we do gang)

and the bible section is this! (above)

the video itself features a dog barking and a distorted voice reciting of Psalm 59.

something super interesting is how this aspect of the psalm seems to contradict with the description - "I have done no wrong, yet they are ready to attack me. / Arise to help me; look on my plight!"

and this section - "They return at evening, / snarling like dogs, / and prowl about the city." is obviously a reference to the borzoi, a type of dog.

the video ends with two voices talking (i can't make out what they're saying; it might be in another language?) and then a voice repeatedly saying "destroy him", before we get a cut of the sun setting and a dog howling.

NOW,,

putting all this together seems to suggest that the borzoi (singular or multiple i am not sure) are this all-seeing threat (psalm 139:8 suggests that), perhaps as a sort of antithesis to the good of god??

and the reoccurring theme of corn is super interesting bc like

the idea of being surrounded by 'ears' = all listening

you can't see through it, it's a block

it also denotes rural areas so like, no one can hear you scream

and it has a liminal space feel to it

anyways ty for coming to my ted talk <3

[light4jesusblog]

Bible Study | Proverbs 1:7 | The Significance of Fearing the Lord in Light of the Gospel

An integral aspect of walking with God is the fear of the Lord. In this article, we examine the wisdom of Proverbs 1:7 in the light of the Gospel of Christ. In doing so, we gain insight into the importance of fearing God and the repercussions of forsaking wisdom and instruction.

God Is Worthy to Be Feared

The term "fear" in the context of the fear of the Lord is not the paralyzing terror we might associate with it. Here, “fear” translates to deep respect, reverence and love for God. Therefore, by fearing the Lord, we humble ourselves, choosing God's ways over our own, recognizing Him as the great I AM, who is alone worthy of our worship.

Psalm 96:4 (NKJV) - For the Lord is great and greatly to be praised; He is to be feared above all gods.

The Bible confirms that the fear of the Lord does not entail living in constant dread or walking on eggshells under condemnation. It explicitly states that God has not given us a spirit of fear. Furthermore, it emphasizes that perfect love casts out all fear. This is especially true for believers, as we have obtained peace with God through the blood of Jesus. When we comprehend that the fear of the Lord is good for us because through it God lovingly guides us, then we have nothing to be terrified of. Consequently, we willingly choose to love Him.

2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV) - For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind

1 John 4:18 (NKJV) - There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.

Those Who Neglect Reverence Face Consequences

However, for those who fail to fear the Lord, there is something to be utterly terrified of. Paul, the apostle, acknowledges the terror of God, especially for unbelievers. This knowledge of God urges us to preach the Gospel, offering salvation to those who believe and sparing them from the impending wrath of God.

2 Corinthians 5:11 (NKJV) - Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences.

Jesus himself advised us to fear God, who has the authority to destroy both body and soul, over fearing mere mortals who can only harm the body. The instruction to work out our salvation with fear and trembling resonates through the teachings; We are to always mindful that God, being just, will judge every deed.

Matthew 10:28 (NKJV) - And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

2 Corinthians 5:10 (NKJV) - For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

On the day of Judgment, if we are found guilty because we do not believe in the only begotten Son of God, Jesus Christ, for our salvation, we will face the penalty of sin–death–leading to eternal damnation and the wrath of God.

Worldly Knowledge vs. True Godly Knowledge

Fearing God, therefore, is the beginning of true knowledge, guiding us to follow the One who leads us to life–-eternal life. It allows us to know the true and only God. In contrast, worldly knowledge deceives by appearing clever, but it cannot save anyone's soul. This type of knowledge only puffs up, causing people to become wise in their own eyes, thinking that they know better than God. Some even deny His existence. However, by professing to be wise they become fools by rejecting the truth and not following Jesus. Therefore, they will face the consequences of those decisions. 

Proverbs 3:7 (NKJV) - Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and depart from evil.

All Given the Opportunity to Choose Wisely

God warns and gives every person the opportunity to choose between life and death: Every person who walks this earth will hear the Gospel. Yet, many will despise this wisdom and instruction, unaware that in Jesus, God has hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

1 Corinthians 1:18 (NKJV) - For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

Colossians 2:2-3 (NKJV) - that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

In conclusion, when reading Proverbs 1:7 with the Gospel of Christ in mind, we discern the benefits of fearing the Lord and the severe consequences of neglecting wisdom and instruction.