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stitchlesswitch · 4 years

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have a question and haven't found anyone to answer it.. I've got very mixed feelings on doing any sort of cursing or jinxing of people because I feel like it's not my place and God will be upset... Thoughts and opinions? 👉🏻👈🏻

Oh man, that’s an excellent question, and I hope I can do it justice, but please keep in mind I am no way the final authority on the subject matter. Buckle up, because you made the mistake of asking a particularly wordy person. I’ll try to break it up to be more digestible.

TLDR: Do No Harm ... But Take No Shit

PS: Binding and Banishing Spells are pretty good “christian” alternatives -- to me, anyways. See the bottom of the really long post below.

Inadvertent Masterpost Below?

Opinion on Other Witches Using Curses

In terms of Other witches using cursing, hexes, and jinxes---don’t judge them. (Don’t call it black/dark magic either. It associates “black” or “dark” with “negative/bad/harmful” which has racist repercussions.) To me, it is not a Christian’s place to pass judgement on how other people live their lives.

Now this might confuse some people, and in fact it already has, because I literally just made a post where I told people to not curse donald trump--to clarify, I was kidding. It was supposed to be irony/satire.

Opinion on Christian Witches in General Using Curses

In terms of Christian witches cursing/hexing/jinxing, it’s the same rule, I don’t tell other christians/christian witches how to practice their religion. But it gets really complicated, because there’s obviously a line, right? Like if someone starts using Christianity to be homophobic or racist or as an excuse to oppress other groups, Obviously I’m gonna step up and try to stop them. As christians, I feel we have a certain obligation to stop other people from warping and twisting our faith into a tool of hate. So how does cursing/hexing/jixing fit into that line of thought?

In terms of other Christians using curses/jinxes/hexing, to me it’s a two sided coin. Either they are doing it to be malicious, in which case that’s their personal problem between them and their God. I’m not the sin police. I’m not gonna sit here and pretend I espouse Christianity in all my words and actions. On the other side of the coin, and this is really important, they could do be doing it for the sake of Justice, or even in defense of worthy causes. For example, cursing an abuser, or hexing white supremacists. So that’s the distinction I hold, and I feel it’s important to separate: essentially, don’t tell people how to live, but don’t stand by and let them use christianity as a tool of oppression either.

My Personal Opinion on Cursing as an Individual Christian Witch

But, it goes even further, and I think this is really the heart of your question: how do I feel, personally, as a Christian witch, about curses in the name of justice? How are we supposed to know God’s thoughts/feelings/opinions about enacting negative consequences for the sake of a good and just cause? I think that, with all things, it depends.

Defense

I think using curses against someone who is abusing you in any way is entirely justified as self defense. I refuse to believe that God would want you to just lie there helpless and suffering if you have the means, any means, to stop it.

Vengeance

Now this is a big one, and the most complicated one. Especially if the person in question is a past abuser. I have a few of those in my life, and the temptation to curse them, is really powerful sometimes. It’s really hard, because one of the staples of Christianity is forgiveness. We’re taught to believe that those who are evil will get whats coming to them in the afterlife, therefore we do not need to seek retribution against them in this life. So I had to analyze my fundamental beliefs. Perhaps you too, could benefit from these questions:

Why did I become a Christian witch? What is it that I hope to get out of being a Christian witch? And the answer to that question is that I’m trying to be a better person, a better Christian. I am a Christian witch because I’m actually an incredibly hateful, angry, and violent person--I’m trying to use christian witchcraft to undo that. So to curse as a Christian witch would be hypocritical and counter-productive In My Case. Cursing For Me, would go against my core reasons for being a Christian witch.

Secondly, Do I accept letting God take responsibility for seeking vengeance on my behalf? I had to ask myself that--do I trust God? Do I relinquish control of justice into God’s hands? And again, because control issues and trust issues are major problems I’m struggling with, it is in line with my practice to say yes to those questions. To say no I don’t trust God and I don’t relinquish control when it comes to seeking justice, would be counter-productive against my core reasons for being a Christian witch.

But if you have entirely different reasons why you are a Christian witch, then your answers might differ.

Social Justice--Cursing Against Injustice in General

I always go back to this quote: “When we go before Him, God will ask, “Where are your wounds? And we will say, “I have no wounds.” And God will ask, “Was there nothing worth fighting for?”— Allan Boesak (via shaneclouw)

To me, I very much believe that God would want us to stand up for those who are being persecuted. In these cases, things along the lines of “hexing white supremacists” is quite acceptable in my perspective. But that’s because I’m a fighter.

Like I said, I’m a very violent and angry person. I have Zero issue with using violence for the sake of what I believe is right. BUT, not all Christians are like me. Some Christians are pacifists. I know people who are pure love, who are incapable of hate, who couldn’t hurt a fly if their life depended on it. Those are the kind of people that violent and angry people like me are supposed to protect. Does that make sense?

Not all Christians choose to respond to injustice with bloodthirst the way that I do. And I can’t sit here and pretend that there is only one correct way to respond to injustice. Both the fighters and the lovers are important and necessary in the response to injustice. Your wounds don’t automatically have to come as a result of being violent.

( This post is a cool resource fyi )

Protection Post and Hexes for BLM Movement from @littlewitchygreen

Talk to Your God

You don’t have to take my word for it. Try to pray, use divination, journal, ask for signs. Communicate with God. Easier said than done, I know. And God sometimes specifically withholds answers because he wants to see what we’ll do. But I really don’t recommend just jumping into something so serious without having multiple talks with your deity about it first.

It’s Not Black and White

Take this post for example, what magic does the bible prohibit? a very good post. Except, shit’s just not that simple. For example, the Bible unequivocally says, “Thou Shall Not Kill” -- but if someone is attacking me, you bet your ass I’ll kill them without hesitation, remorse, or mercy. Another example, it explicitly prohibits contacting the dead. Well I Regularly speak to love ones that died at their grave--could that count as contacting? Maybe maybe not. The point is we Love to pretend that Religion is just So Simple and Black and White and it just fucking isn’t. We can’t box the creator of the universe into a dichotomy.

Christian Alternatives

Protection Spells/Return to Sender

In some cases, protection spells can accomplish the same thing in a less malicious way, by simply keeping negativity the fuck away from you.

Ultimate Protection Magic Masterpost

[part 1]

[part 2]

Source: auricwitch

Baneful Magic Countermeasures from @breelandwalker

Return to Sender Protection Jar from @shroud-of-roses

Return to Sender Spell from @cyncrow

Return to Sender Masterlist from @the-canary

So you think you’ve been cursed from @sylvaetria

Banishing Spells

Definition: Banish--to forcefully remove something; to put an end to something. Source: lunaesteria. Banish--To magically end something, Or to rid the presence of. Definitely works on people. Source: unknown but not me sorry.

Methodology:

Banishing - take an item that represents what you wish to banish and: throw it in the trash, flush it down the toilet, burn it, bury it, drown it; burn the item and sweep the ashes out the back door or bury them; carve the name of what you want to banish into a black candle and let it burn down completely; transmute negative energy into a stone (preferably a black stone like onyx) and throw it over the fence in your backyard (or whichever direction is south in reference to your home); stir your morning coffee or tea in a counter-clockwise motion while focusing on the intent of what energies you wish to banish for the day; using incense that is associated with banishing negative energy, walk around your space in a counter-clockwise motion with the lit incense in your hand. Source: lunaesteria

Specific Banishing Spells:

Other Examples of Banishing Spells and This One both from @sylvaetria

Christian Banishing: Banished with a Blessing

Binding Spells

Definition: Bind – to restrict the actions/behavior of someone or to tie them to another object, place, or situation Source: lunaesteria

spells – what’s a binding spell ..?

Methodology:

Binding & Sealing - wrap a string around a poppet or other representation of the target or item you wish to bind; put the poppet or other representation in a plastic bag filled with water and freeze it; place the item in a black box and seal it - store in a dark place or bury the box in your backyard; drip wax over the item. Source: lunaesteria

Specific Binding Spells: Search “witchcraft binding” on Tumblr and you will find a Ton of binding spells for a variety of different purposes/reasons. Unfortunately they are not compiled on a single post.

Christian Binding Spells:

Prayer to Bind someone who wishes you harm

I’m so Sorry I didn’t post the below spell I looked all over tumblr for the original person who posted it but I can’t find the post anywhere:

“Christian Witch Binding Spell

Disclaimer: This spell does not belong to me. It belongs to Aslinn Dhan. It’s in her Christian Witch’s Book of Shadows

Materials

Anthame Bowl

White and Black Candle

paper and pen

wand

Incense

Sacred Fire

salt water

Perform cleansing and the calling of the corners to begin each spell. Pour some of your water into a bowl and bless it with the sign of the cross. Using salt, cast your protective circle and light the white candle from your sacred fire. Place the candle in the center of your circle and with your wand intone:

Angels of the four corners, hear my cry. Carry my words to your Master and mine. Within this space stands one who believes Protect me and give me the strength I need.

Write the name of the one who is harassing you. Roll it like scroll or fold it and lay it in your sacred space.

On this paper is the name of who is vexing me. Bind them from harassing others, and me, from harming others or me. The harm they inflict comes back to them. By the power of three make it be. May their heart grow heavy with regret but may they make amends. St. Michael the Archangel, I ask your help in this matter.

Burn or otherwise destroy the paper.

Say the Lord’s Prayer.

Take up your wand and say

___________ I admonish you from harming yourself and others. Your hurtful ways harm not only others but yourself, Angels of the four corners, protect him from harm and protect others from being harmed by him.

Announce: Blessed Be!

Angels of the four corners carry the sentiment of this spell to God in heaven. May all of the elements of this spell enlighten me to help me to withstand evil and encourage those around me to put aside their evil ways that are harmful to themselves and to others. May all we do come back to us seven times.

Perform closing ritual.”

Why are Banishing and Binding Okay?

To some, they aren’t. To me, they are just more defensive. They aren’t saying “I specifically wish ill intent on you” it’s more along the lines of “I wish you would go away” and “I wish you would fucking stop doing that.” (Some will say you’re infringing upon free will with binding, but to that I say, I also fringe upon my dog’s free will when I stop her eating a doughnut off the counter idgaf free will is a myth.)

Tips for Cursing

You should never cast a curse unless you know how to undo it from @sylvaetria

How to undo a curse from @heatherwitch

Curse Breaking from @nightmarist

What I learned about Curses from @kendallscraft

Jinxes Hexes and Curses from @orriculum

Source: lunaesteria

✖ Spell & Curse Breaking ✖

Methods for negating spells you have cast:

Destroy the physical representation of the spell i.e. if your spell was contained within a jar, break the jar and dispose of the pieces

Disassemble the spell and cleanse each component individually

Place item in a bath of sea salt and dried herbs that are associated with cleansing and banishing - leave overnight and disassemble the spell when finished

Cleanse the item with moon or rain water and disassemble if applicable

Place the item in a black box to negate its effects

Bury the item for 3 days, retrieve it, then dispose of it

Bury the item on the night of the full moon and retrieve it at the next new moon

Create a sigil or written incantation with the intent of breaking the spell and place the item on top of the paper - leave in place overnight

Create a written incantation that includes the details of the spell - bury, burn, drown, rip apart, or throw it away

Light a black candle that is surrounded by sea salt while focusing on the intent of negating the spell - recite an incantation if you wish, and allow the candle to burn down; sweep the sea salt out your back door

Breaking and warding spells others have cast upon you:

Perform a “Return to Sender” spell - find a black taper candle; turn it upside down; cut the tip off and leave the wick in place; carve “return to sender” and the target’s name (or a description of them) into the candle; light the candle upside down and let it burn down completely

Leave a Witch Bottle outside of your home - it should contain items like: pins, needles, broken glass (to shred their negative intentions towards you); your name and the names of those who may be affected by this negative energy plus an incantation for protection (e.g. your loved ones, pets, anyone who lives in your home); and lemon juice, lime juice, or sea salt (to purify their negative energy so that it may not get to you)

Create a mixture of charcoal, chili powder, and sulfur powder - sprinkle around the perimeter of your home to stop a spell in its tracks

Alternately, you may combine these ingredients, add to a hollow pendant, and wear on your person to protect you from the effects of a spell

If you know the details of the spell that has been placed on you, write them down on paper; while focusing on breaking the spell, hold the paper in your hand, and then rip it to shreds; throw the pieces in the trash, or bury in your backyard

If you don’t know the exact details, write down the effects you have been feeling if you think they have been caused by a spell or malintent directed at you; follow the steps above

Submerge yourself in a bath of sea salt and light frankincense incense - place the incense on the edge of the tub or somewhere safe in your bathroom - to cleanse yourself of any negative energy that has been directed at you

Place an energetic shield over yourself or your home that is designed to negate negative energy

Tips:

Close all loopholes

When crafting a spell, remember to create a fail safe (e.g. “this spell will be broken if X occurs”)

Add timed conditions to your spells (e.g. “this spell will be broken on the night of the next full moon” and include a specific date)

Be specific when describing the target that will be affected by the spell (whether it’s you or someone else, be sure to include taglocks whether it be their name written or spoken aloud, DNA such as hair, fingernail clippings, etc., or a photo of the target)

Use ingredients, supplies, and tools that match your intent

Employ a method of protection before casting spells, whether the intent is malefic or not

Cleanse your space and tools before and after performing a spell to “wipe the slate clean”

Herbs:

Ague, Angelica, Asafoetida, Bamboo, Basil, Bay Leaf, Benzoin, Boneset, Brimstone (Sulfur Powder), Burdock, Chili Pepper, Cinquefoil, Comfrey, Datura, Frankincense, Galangal, Garlic, Geranium, Holy Thistle, Huckleberry, Hydrangea, Iris Root (Orris Root), Lemon Verbena (Vervain), Lilac, Lily, Lucky Hand (Orchid Root), Mimosa, Myrrh, Nutmeg, Oak Moss, Onion, Oregano, Papaya, Patchouli, Peony, Pokeroot, Prickly Ash Bark, Rue, Safflower, Solomon’s Seal, St. John’s Wort, Stinging Nettle, Squill, Thistle, Toadflax, Turmeric, Vetiver, Willow, Wintergreen, Witches Grass (Dog Grass), Wormwood (Absinthe), Yarrow Flower, Yew, Yucca

Crystals:

Agate, Amber, Amethyst, Ametrine, Black Tourmaline, Bloodstone, Carnelian, Celestite, Chrysocolla, Citrine, Emerald, Epidote, Fire Opal, Fluorite, Garnet, Halite, Hematite, Howlite, Jet, Kunzite, Labradorite, Malachite, Natrolite, Obsidian, Ocean Jasper, Onyx, Selenite, Silver, Smoky Quartz, Sugilite, Sunstone, Turquoise

Jesus Christ I hope that covers everything.

#cursing #hex #hexes #hex white supremacy #christian witch #christian witchcraft #jynx #anon #answered #banishing spells #binding spells #inadvertent masterpost #long post #christian cursing alternatives

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orthodoxydaily · 4 years

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Icon, Saint&Reading: Tue, Oct. 6, 2020

Commemorated on September 23 and March 31_ according to the Juian calendar

Saint Innocent of Alaska and Metropolitan of Moscow (1977 canonization)

Saint Innocent (Innokentii), Metropolitan of Moscow (in the world Ivan Evseevich Popov-Veniaminov), was born on 26 August 1797 in the village of Anginsk of Irkutsk diocese, into the family of a sacristan. The boy mastered his studies at an early age and at age 7 he was reading the Epistle in church. In 1806 they sent him to the Irkutsk seminary. Here, to the betterment of lineage, they gave the youth the family name of Veniaminov, in honour of the deceased Irkutsk archbishop Veniamin (Benjamin, + 8 July 1814). On 13 May 1817 he was ordained deacon for the Irkutsk Annunciation church, and on 18 May 1821 – he was ordained priest. The missionary service of the future Apostle of America and Siberia began with the year 1823. Saint Innocent spent 45 years at the labour of enlightening the peoples of Kamchatka, the Aleutian Islands, North America, Yakutia, the Khabarovsk frontier, performing his apostolic exploit in severe conditions and at great risks to life. Saint Innocent baptised ten thousand people, and built churches, alongside which he founded schools and he himself taught in them the fundamentals of the Christian life. And together with this, his knowledge of various crafts and arts aided him much in his work. Saint Innocent was a remarkable preacher. In making liturgies, moliebens and the all-night vigil, he incessantly guided his flock. During his time of endless journeying, Saint Innocent studied the languages, customs and habits of the peoples, among whom he preached. His work in geography, ethnography and linguistics received worldwide acclaim. He composed an alphabet and grammar of the Aleut-Lisiev language and translated into it the Catechism, the Gospel and many prayers. One of the finest of his works was the "Directions of the Way to the Heavenly Kingdom" (1833), translated into the various languages of the peoples of Siberia and appearing in more than 40 editions. Thanks to the toil of Saint Innocent, the Yakut people in 1859 first heard the Word of God and Divine-services in their own native language.

On 29 November 1840 the Metropolitan of Moscow Philaret made the tonsuring of Father John-Ivan into monasticism with the name Innokentii (Innocent), in honour of Saint Innocent of Irkutsk. On 15 December Archimandrite Innokentii was consecrated bishop of Kamchatka, the Kurile and Aleutian Islands. On 21 April 1850 Bishop Innocent was elevated to the dignity of archbishop. By the Providence of God on 5 January 1868 Saint Innocent succeeded Metropolitan Philaret on the cathedra-seat of Moscow. Through the Holy Synod Metropolitan Innocent consolidated the secular missionary efforts of the Russian Church (already in 1839 he had proposed a project for improving the organisation of missionary service). Under the care of Metropolitan Innocent there was created a Missionary Society, and the Moscow Pokrov-Protection monastery was reorganised for missionary work: in 1870 was set up the Japanese Orthodox Spiritual Mission headed by Archimandrite Nikolai Kasatkin (afterwards Sainted Nikolai of Japan, Comm. 3/16 February), to whom Saint innocent had passed on much of his own spiritual experience. Quite fruitful also was the guidance by Saint Innocent of the Moscow diocese. By his efforts, the church of the Pokrov-Protection of the MostHoly Mother of God was built up into the Moscow Spiritual Academy. Saint Innocent reposed to the Lord on 31 March 1879, on Great Saturday, and was buried at the Holy Spirit temple of the Trinity-Sergiev Lavra. On 6 October 1977, Saint Innocent was glorified into the rank of the Saints by the Russian Orthodox Church. His memory is established to be celebrated twice during the year: on 31 March / 13 April, the day of his blessed repose, and on 23 September / 6 October – the day of his glorification.

"Hawaiian" Myrrh-streaming Iveron Ikon of the Theotokos. (2003)

The Miracleworking Hawaiian Myrrh-streaming Iveron Icon of the Theotokos appeared inexplicably giving myrrh in the home of a pious Orthodox Christian couple on Sep. 23 / Oct 6, 2007, in Honolulu, Hawaii. Since it’s manifestation, it has been recognized by the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia as miraculous and genuine. This icon is well known to have cured many pious individuals of cancer, blindness, kidney and liver diseases, chronic pain, and demonic possession. It currently resides at the Russian Orthodox Church in Honolulu, but frequently travels throughout the world bringing forth healings and cures to all who have shown faith and love to Our Lord Jesus Christ and His Most holy Mother.

Today is celebrated the day of the conception of John- the-Baptist the forerunner.

Luke 1:5-25

5There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both welladvanced in years. 8 So it was, that while he was serving as priest before God in the order of his division, 9 according to the custom of the priesthood, his lot fell to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. 10 And the whole multitude of the people was praying outside at the hour of incense. 11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 12 And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. 13 But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. 14 And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. 15 For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb. 16 and he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God17 He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, 'to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,' and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.18 And Zacharias said to the angel, "How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years." 19 And the angel answered and said to him, "I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad tidings. 20 But behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time. 21 And the people waited for Zacharias, and marveled that he lingered so long in the temple. 22 But when he came out, he could not speak to them; and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple, for he beckoned to them and remained speechless.23 So it was, as soon as the days of his service were completed, that he departed to his own house. 24 Now after those days his wife Elizabeth conceived; and she hid herself five months, saying, 25 Thus the Lord has dealt with me, in the days when He looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.

Ephesians 5:20-26

20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,21 submitting to one another in the fear of God 22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.23 For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body.24 Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her,26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word,

#orthodoxie #orthodoxchristianity #ancientchristianity #spirituality #holyscriptures #gospel #sacredtexts #sacredart #icon

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thepatchworkcrow · 7 years

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I had been hoping to film part of my eighth YT Pagan Challenge video outdoors in one of my on-campus sacred spaces, but it seems the weather is just not willing to agree with me. So, so I can give you all a bit of a visual, this post will be jam-packed full of pictures of the places I was talking about in the video.

First thing’s first: my on-campus sacred spaces. I am blessed to be going to a university that is filled with small garden spaces and has a sprawling expanse of wooded ravines hugging along the side of campus. In my five years here, I’ve been able to find a number of places to relax, be one with nature, and perform a few rituals and magical workings in. Three of the major places where I tend to hang out and do my workings are the arboretum, the garden behind the religious center on campus, and a grove back in the ravines behind the art building.

In each of these spaces, I’ve found little places to leave offerings, quiet spots to sit and meditate, and have even done a few rituals there.

The arboretum is full of places to explore, and I admittedly spend a lot more time there than anywhere else. There’s a stump I’ve found a short distance off of the path that I use frequently for spell work, and have left offerings at over the past few years. It happens also to overlook a ravine in a pretty straight shot to the grove I’d found in the woods as well.

In the little garden behind the religious building on campus, there’s a statue of St. Francis that seems to have a presence and an energy all its own. I’ve made a habit of leaving little offerings in the hands of the statue whenever I go there to write, drum, meditate, etc.

And then, of course, there is the grove in the ravines. It’s just off the path, and was shown to me by a good friend who graduated a couple of years ago. It’s often where I go if I’m looking to communicate with the Wylde Hunt while on campus, and has been the site for a couple of rituals. There’s a large three-trunked oak that sits in its center, and there are a few places to sit in little nooks between its roots. I like this place because it is a little further away from the main part of campus, and therefore quieter. You can’t hear the bells from the clock tower and are a lot less likely to see people wandering by. There’s also a fantastic view of the stars on clear nights.

Aside from these natural spaces, I do tend to do much of my ritual / meditation / etc. within the safety (and warmth!!!) of my dormitory bedroom, as well. My room is almost always decorated with pictures that are sacred, beautiful, inspiring, etc. to me and I try to create a warm and welcoming atmosphere for myself to live/study/rest/etc. in and for my friends to visit.

My altar space is situated by the window, which overlooks a little courtyard and the woods beyond.While I’m at school, this is the most sacred space to me, and I work really hard to keep it that way while I’m here.

Of course, when I’m home for winter / spring / summer break, I have places where I go to practice as well. Due to the nature of the space situation in my parents’ home, most of those places are outdoors.

In my own backyard, I am again blessed to have a great expanse of land full of trees and a big ol’ forest beyond. In particular, there’s a small grove hidden among a bunch of pine and cedar trees where I do some more private rituals, and then there’s Treebeard, a cottonwood tree where I leave offerings, prayer ribbons, etc. and spend time enjoying the space on the shady hill just beneath him.

I’m also blessed to have other little places of beauty within my hometown such as the local state park, my local witchy shop, and my aunt’s gorgeous and wild garden. These are places that really make me feel attuned to the energies of the universe and the natural world, and where I like to perform tarot readings, have debates about different witchy/spiritual topics, etc. with my friends.

And of course, there are a number of places in Michigan that have spiritual significance to me. The biggest one is the Boyne/East Jordan/Charlevoix area up in the northern part of our lower peninsula. Over the years, it has been a place full of childhood memory as well as shared memories and explorations with one of my best friends, Mark.

Being a pagan who follows a primarily Celtic path and lives within the United States makes it a little difficult to visit holy sites associated with my practice. There are, no surprise, remarkably few here in the states. There are Native American sacred sites, but because that runs along the slippery slope of what is culturally appropriative and what is respect for the culture and traditions associated with those sites, you’ll note that none of the places I’ve shared above are tied to those places. I was fortunate enough, four years ago, to visit the United Kingdom and places like Stonehenge, Avebury, and Glastonbury. These are memories that I hold really dear to my heart, and feel very privileged to have experienced in my lifetime.

Two of my very favorite memories from my trip to the UK came from my experiences on the weekend we went visiting various sacred sites. While in Chalice Well Gardens, I’d sat down by the well head to meditate and get away from the rest of the crowd of students I was with for a while, and man and his young daughter sat down alongside of me. The little girl had to have been about 4 or 5 years old at most, and as most 4-5 year-olds are, she was a little rambunctious and was bouncing around a bit. Rather than be upset with her, or harsh, I heard her father very calmly explain this was a special place, and saw (much to my amazement and admiration really) her nod in understanding, and sit down to meditate with him.

The second vivid memory I hold dear from that trip (as far as sacred space and that goes) occurred while we were in Avebury. It was rather late, the sun was setting, and we really didn’t have much time to spend there, but I remember it being a much more tangible feeling of presence there. Perhaps it was because we could actually approach the stones; maybe it was just the liminal time of day we were there or the place itself. I couldn’t quite say.

As we wandered about the stones, we saw an older gentleman with rather wild grey curls sitting at the base of one of the smaller stones. He had candles, incense, etc. and was using dowsing rods. The rest of our group gave him sort of a wide berth, and I (as the sort of unofficial pagan authority of the crew) stood a respectable and out-of-earshot ways off, explaining to my roommate that he was probably using the dowsing rods to look for ley lines in the area. He then turned to look at us and asked: “Have you two got good imaginations on you?” We were a little surprised, but answered that yes, we supposed we did. “Do you know where the word imagination comes from?” We honestly weren’t sure. “I. Magi. Nation. A nation of magicians. Merlin is one of my guides, you know.” He then proceeded to tell us this tale about Merlin performing his first magic trick in the stone circle in which we stood: he’d turned a friend invisible and was unable to turn him back again. He also told us about how the Druids had used that place as a place for their initiations. I wasn’t at all sure on the historical accuracy of those things, but in the moment, you sort of wanted to suspend your disbelief. Awen was flowing, and you could almost see what he was describing in your mind’s eye. He then looked at us again and said: “I get Druid from both of you.” I was a little shocked because, of course, I was. I told him so, and he simply turned, and went back to his business of dowsing as though it had never happened. And for the life of me, I swear no one else seems to have seen or heard him say these things but my roommate and I. That is no doubt a mystery and a feeling I will remember for quite some time.

And finally, the last part for this prompt: circle casting. I’ll be honest, I don’t perform circle casting in my own work. For one, I’ve been studying off-and-on with a Druid organization for some time that doesn’t utilize them in their ritual formats. But, more importantly I find them to be distracting and a waste of energy and time. Circles, to my understanding, function for a few general purposes:

To contain and thereby magnify energy raised during a working until it comes time to release it at the end of the ritual.

To protect the individuals within and the magical working from the influence of any nasty / negative energy.

To create a sort of liminal and marked out place in which a ritual can occur and entities (spirits, gods, whatever) may be more easily contacted.

However, as I’ve mentioned above, I don’t generally feel a need to do this. For starters, I always cleanse a place before I use it, and if appropriate might make small offerings to any outside spirits that might be poking about to say “Hey, please let me use this space for a bit.” I don’t perform rituals in places where negative energy is hanging about, and I certainly am confident enough in my own ability to raise and manipulate my own energy to not feel a need for the circle of protection, or the circle that focuses energy in an external space. I also work with many liminal deities. I think it’s very safe to assume I don’t need liminal space for them to get messages across. When I do a particular magical working, my own personal energy field acts in the way a circle might: raising, containing, and releasing energy for my working. It eliminates the need for a physical circle- which means less time/resources marking it out, and I don’t need to cut a door in it should I forget something (which I often do!). It also helps hone in my focus on the working at hand. I often find that by the time I draw and cast a circle, call the quarters, etc. I’m quite distracted from what I was originally intending to accomplish.

Please note, I’m not bashing on anyone who uses circles. They can be quite useful to one’s practice especially when you’re just beginning! I just don’t feel a need to use them.

And, thus concludes a very long blog post. Thank you for hanging in there and reading if you’ve made it this far.

Love and blessings to you all -Rachel

YT Pagan Challenge: Sacred Spaces, Holy Sites, and Circle Casting I had been hoping to film part of my eighth YT Pagan Challenge video outdoors in one of my on-campus sacred spaces, but it seems the weather is just not willing to agree with me.

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dailychapel · 4 years

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Father, thank you for the blessing of a family. Today, please keep the enemy at bay. Increase their faith. Protect them from falling into temptation. Grant them the opportunity to shine a light in the darkness and lead others to you. Whatever is making my family anxious today, I ask that you comfort them, and that they can rest in your complete sovereignty. Amen.

[Psa 101:1-8 NLT] 1 A psalm of David. I will sing of your love and justice, LORD. I will praise you with songs. 2 I will be careful to live a blameless life--when will you come to help me? I will lead a life of integrity in my own home. 3 I will refuse to look at anything vile and vulgar. I hate all who deal crookedly; I will have nothing to do with them. 4 I will reject perverse ideas and stay away from every evil. 5 I will not tolerate people who slander their neighbors. I will not endure conceit and pride. 6 I will search for faithful people to be my companions. Only those who are above reproach will be allowed to serve me. 7 I will not allow deceivers to serve in my house, and liars will not stay in my presence. 8 My daily task will be to ferret out the wicked and free the city of the LORD from their grip.

[Isa 10:5-19 NLT] 5 "What sorrow awaits Assyria, the rod of my anger. I use it as a club to express my anger. 6 I am sending Assyria against a godless nation, against a people with whom I am angry. Assyria will plunder them, trampling them like dirt beneath its feet. 7 But the king of Assyria will not understand that he is my tool; his mind does not work that way. His plan is simply to destroy, to cut down nation after nation. 8 He will say, 'Each of my princes will soon be a king. 9 We destroyed Calno just as we did Carchemish. Hamath fell before us as Arpad did. And we destroyed Samaria just as we did Damascus. 10 Yes, we have finished off many a kingdom whose gods were greater than those in Jerusalem and Samaria. 11 So we will defeat Jerusalem and her gods, just as we destroyed Samaria with hers.'" 12 After the Lord has used the king of Assyria to accomplish his purposes on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, he will turn against the king of Assyria and punish him--for he is proud and arrogant. 13 He boasts, "By my own powerful arm I have done this. With my own shrewd wisdom I planned it. I have broken down the defenses of nations and carried off their treasures. I have knocked down their kings like a bull. 14 I have robbed their nests of riches and gathered up kingdoms as a farmer gathers eggs. No one can even flap a wing against me or utter a peep of protest." 15 But can the ax boast greater power than the person who uses it? Is the saw greater than the person who saws? Can a rod strike unless a hand moves it? Can a wooden cane walk by itself? 16 Therefore, the Lord, the LORD of Heaven's Armies, will send a plague among Assyria's proud troops, and a flaming fire will consume its glory. 17 The LORD, the Light of Israel, will be a fire; the Holy One will be a flame. He will devour the thorns and briers with fire, burning up the enemy in a single night. 18 The LORD will consume Assyria's glory like a fire consumes a forest in a fruitful land; it will waste away like sick people in a plague. 19 Of all that glorious forest, only a few trees will survive--so few that a child could count them!

[Luk 1:5-25 NLT] 5 When Herod was king of Judea, there was a Jewish priest named Zechariah. He was a member of the priestly order of Abijah, and his wife, Elizabeth, was also from the priestly line of Aaron. 6 Zechariah and Elizabeth were righteous in God's eyes, careful to obey all of the Lord's commandments and regulations. 7 They had no children because Elizabeth was unable to conceive, and they were both very old. 8 One day Zechariah was serving God in the Temple, for his order was on duty that week. 9 As was the custom of the priests, he was chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense. 10 While the incense was being burned, a great crowd stood outside, praying. 11 While Zechariah was in the sanctuary, an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the incense altar. 12 Zechariah was shaken and overwhelmed with fear when he saw him. 13 But the angel said, "Don't be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer. Your wife, Elizabeth, will give you a son, and you are to name him John. 14 You will have great joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, 15 for he will be great in the eyes of the Lord. He must never touch wine or other alcoholic drinks. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even before his birth. 16 And he will turn many Israelites to the Lord their God. 17 He will be a man with the spirit and power of Elijah. He will prepare the people for the coming of the Lord. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and he will cause those who are rebellious to accept the wisdom of the godly." 18 Zechariah said to the angel, "How can I be sure this will happen? I'm an old man now, and my wife is also well along in years." 19 Then the angel said, "I am Gabriel! I stand in the very presence of God. It was he who sent me to bring you this good news! 20 But now, since you didn't believe what I said, you will be silent and unable to speak until the child is born. For my words will certainly be fulfilled at the proper time." 21 Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah to come out of the sanctuary, wondering why he was taking so long. 22 When he finally did come out, he couldn't speak to them. Then they realized from his gestures and his silence that he must have seen a vision in the sanctuary. 23 When Zechariah's week of service in the Temple was over, he returned home. 24 Soon afterward his wife, Elizabeth, became pregnant and went into seclusion for five months. 25 "How kind the Lord is!" she exclaimed. "He has taken away my disgrace of having no children."

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

Lord Jesus Christ, send us out with confidence in your word, to tell the world of your saving acts, and bring glory to your name. Amen.

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winningpaths-blog · 5 years

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Masters of Hiding and Flourishing

… he that refraineth his lips is wise. Proverbs 10:19

SERPENTS ARE WISE BECAUSE THEY HIDE AND FLOURISH

If there is a lion living in your area, you are likely to hear about it. Most animals make some kind of noise, alerting us to their existence. Even mosquitoes announce their presence. Snakes rarely make any noise. Snakes are wise because they live in silence, rarely disturbing anyone. It is rare for us to see a snake and to hear any noise because it is there. Because of this great wisdom key, snakes flourish and prosper more than any other wild animal.

…therefore let thy words be few. … Ecclesiastes 5:2-3

Snakes are masters at hiding. Most of the time, the patterns of the snake’s skin camouflage the snake by breaking up its outline and making it difficult for predators to see where the animal’s body begins and ends. A striped snake, for example, may look quite noticeable on the pavement but almost disappear when placed on the forest floor where it lives. These masters of hiding, blend with their environment until you do not notice them anymore. These characteristics give snakes the ability to hide and flourish. They prosper mainly because they are hidden from the view of others. While snakes are hiding, they are flourishing, prospering and multiplying.

A snake charmer in Bangladesh once found 3,500 poisonous cobras and their eggs hidden underneath the floors of two suburban homes. Imagine that, 3,500 cobras flourishing under the boards of your living room! A huge viper was recently discovered on one of our building sites. When I saw pictures of this viper, I had goose bumps all over me. It was so large and so frightening and I knew that this snake should be nowhere else but in a zoo.

Where are dangerous animals kept? They are either out in the wild or confined to a zoo. But this dangerous viper had been living near human beings and flourishing. It had probably gotten married and had several children over the years. How was it able to hide and flourish? Through the master key of silence! Silence is a powerful weapon that allows you to truly hide, flourish and prosper.

Silence, Quietness, Hiding and Flourishing

1. Hiding and flourishing is a godly practice. God Himself hides from us! Why does God hide from us? Because of our pride and presumption. It humbles us and makes us seek Him until we find Him. Learning to hide is to become an imitator of God. Have you ever wondered why the bible teaches, ‘remove thy foot from thy neighbour’s house lest he be weary of thee and so hate thee?’ The more you are seen, the more you are despised. That is why removing your foot from your neighbour’s house is important. You are more respected and valued because you hide yourself! Truly, You are a God who hides Himself, O God of Israel, Savior! Isa 45:15 (NASB)

2.Quietness and silence will cause you to command the respect of outsiders. Most people are uneasy around quiet people. When there is a meeting, a quiet person is often asked his opinion. He is often respected more because of his posture. If you want people to respect you, learn to keep quiet. The serpent that lies quietly in the grass without making a sound is one of the most feared and respected animals in the world. Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life MAY WIN THE RESPECT OF OUTSIDERS and so that you will not be dependent on anybody. 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 (NIV)

3.Hiding and flourishing will protect you from premature exposure in the ministry. Today, most pastors love to advertise and show their faces to the world. Advertisement is good and it has its positive effects. But when you are loud when you should be silent, you are endangering your very life and ministry. A certain level of exposure is not necessary all the time. When Jesus’ ministry was exposed it was just a matter of time until He was killed. This is the reason why He limited His exposure until a certain point. Do not think that you need to be seen and known by everyone all the time. There is a time to be quiet and silent and there is a time to be seen. The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it, that its deeds are evil. Go up to the feast yourselves; I do not go up to this feast because My time has not yet fully come.” Having said these things to them, He stayed in Galilee. John 7:7-9

4. Quietness will qualify you to work for very important people. Most important people would not like to have a blabber mouth near them. People who talk too much cannot work in sensitive places. Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were judged to be people who could stand in the king’s palace. Do you want to work at the highest level? Then learn to shut up and not chat about everything you see or hear! Pastors must not work with people who talk too much. It is not everything that has to be discussed, described or re-described. Children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skillful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and SUCH AS HAD ABILITY IN THEM TO STAND IN THE KING’S PALACE, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans. Daniel 1:4

5.Silence will help you to hear from God.

Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). This popular scripture is telling you to be silent and quiet so that you can hear from God. Many times, Christians do not hear from God because they are too busy talking, chatting or singing. I once spoke to a millionaire who got saved in prison. I asked him why he waited until he went to prison before he got saved. He explained, ‘When you are out of prison, there are so many people to interact with. When I was in prison I had no one to talk to and no meetings to attend. It was there I began to commune with God.’ You will definitely hear from God when you cut out the chatting, the talking and the human interaction. Notice the scripture below. It was when there was silence that he heard the voice of God. Then a spirit passed before my face; the hair of my flesh stood up: It stood still, but I could not discern the form thereof: an image was before mine eyes, THERE WAS SILENCE, AND I HEARD A VOICE, SAYING, shall mortal man be more just than God? Shall a man be more pure than his maker? Job 4:12-17

6.Quietness and silence reveal your wisdom.

A silent person is always seen as wise and respectable. Talking, chatting and relating do not make you look as wise as when you are quiet. A person who keeps quiet seems to have assessed the situation and judged that it is better to be quiet now than to speak. This is what seems to make him look wise. A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to rend, and a time to sew; A TIME TO KEEP SILENCE, and a time to speak; Eccl 3:6-7

7. Quietness and silence will help you develop into a prophet.

Amazingly, you will need to learn how to be quiet if you want to be a prophet of God. Apostle Paul was caught up into paradise and saw and heard wonderful things. But he made a remarkable comment about the things he saw and heard. He said, it was unlawful for him to say what he heard and saw. Indeed, if you need quietness and silence to work for important men, you will need quietness and silence to work for God. God can reveal things to you that He has no intention of sharing with the public. God is looking for friends whom He can chat with. Would you like it if everything you said to your friend was broadcast on a radio? If you are going to become a prophet of God, you will have to learn to be quiet. I once shared a revelation that God gave to me and I got into such trouble from doing that. I learnt quietness and silence the hard way.

It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven. And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, WHICH IT IS NOT LAWFUL FOR A MAN TO UTTER. 2 Corinthians 12:1-4

8.Silence is the way to deal with your accusers.

Therefore the prudent shall keep silence in that time; for it is an evil time. Amos 5:13

Jesus could speak for hours when He was in the presence of friends but when He was in the presence of His enemies he was silent. You must learn to hold your peace when you stand in the presence of your accusers. Let them say what they can, but entrust yourself to God. And the chief priests accused him of many things: but he answered nothing. And Pilate asked him again, saying, ANSWEREST THOU NOTHING? Behold how many things they witness against thee. But Jesus yet answered nothing; so that Pilate marvelled. Mark 15:3-5

9.Silence will help you not to sin with your mouth. Developing the art of being quiet and silent will help you to avoid falling into many sins. It is easy to criticize! It is easy to be treacherous! It is easy to murmur! It is easy to grumble! Sin is present when there is a lot of talking. Developing the art of keeping quiet will increase your level of holiness and sinlessness. When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise. Proverbs 10:19 (SB)

10. Hide and flourish by doing your unseen assignments. Serpents grow longer, bigger and more powerful as they hide in the undergrowth. By the time you see a snake it may have lived near you for several years. How did it get to that size? In the ministry the unseen work is prayer. There is plenty of unseen work for a priest. Notice the many unseen jobs that Eleazar the priest had to do. And to the office of Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest pertaineth the oil for the light, and the sweet incense, and the daily meat offering, and the anointing oil, and the oversight of all the tabernacle, and of all that therein is, in the sanctuary, and in the vessels thereof. Numbers 4:16

A modern pastor must be a master of the unseen and hidden jobs of ministry. The work of prayer! The work of intercession! The work of waiting on the Lord! The work of meeting leaders! The work with small groups! Most of these activities are hidden. But they are the most potent and fruitful activities of a minister. One day someone asked me, ‘Where did you get all these pastors from?’ When did they join your church? He did not know about the many private meetings I have held, talking with young people and encouraging them to work for the Lord. It is this unseen aspect of the ministry that yields great fruit. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. Matthew 6:5-7

by Dag Heward-Mills

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brucesimpkinsblog · 6 years

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Heaven, Royalty, Blood, And The World

I have performed many weddings in my career. I notice that there are lots of symbols in a wedding. A symbol is something ordinary and visible which represents something that is intangible and invisible. One of the most powerful symbols in a wedding is the wedding ring. It is symbolic in many ways, but mostly it is an outward sign to the world that this person is set apart for one other person. It represent a commitment like no other commitment on this earth to remain faithful to this one person only. The wedding ring is a very meaningful symbol.

I’m returning to Numbers chapter 4 again, but this time, I want to pay attention to the significant symbolism God is putting in place of some invisible truths for all time. I will tell you in advance what symbols to be watching for:

Blue Cloth, Purple Cloth, Scarlet Cloth, and Animal Hide . . .

Blue represents Heaven, Purple represents royalty, and Scarlet represents sacrificial blood.

The Animal Hide represent the earthly part of Heavenly things.

The last of the 4 things is simply “animal hide” because no one knows how to translate the kind of an animal the hide was from. For example:

NIV = Sea Cow Hide, KJ = Badger Skin, NAS = Porpoise Skin, NRS = Fine Leather,

ESV = Goat Skin Other scholars translate it as: A Manatee, Egyptian Leather, an Antelope, or a Kosher horse with one horn (Unicorn) Nobody really knows how to translate that word, but what we can discern with some certainty is that it was a skin or a hide of some sort that was probably exotic and of the highest quality.

So, be watching for: Blue Cloth, Purple Cloth, Scarlet Cloth, and Animal Hide . . .

Num 4:4-6 "This is the work of the Kohathites in the Tent of Meeting: the care of the most holy things. When the camp is to move, Aaron and his sons are to go in and take down the shielding curtain and cover the ark of the Testimony with it. Then they are to cover this with hides of sea cows [NIV], spread a cloth of solid blue over that and put the poles in place.

Take note that the holiest of holy things, (the ark and the shielding curtain) are to be covered with hide on the inside and a solid blue cloth on the outside. It is important to take note of this because all of the other holy things were to have the colored cloths on the inside and the animal hide on the outside. The ark of the Testimony (Indiana Jones) was to be kept behind the shielding curtain because it is where the Glory of God resided. If a person looked at it, they would instantly die.

Ex 26:31-33 31 "Make a curtain of blue , purple and scarlet yarn (it brings to mind symbols of the Trinity: Heavenly Royalty giving its own Sacrificial blood) and finely twisted linen, with cherubim worked into it by a skilled craftsman. 32 Hang it with gold hooks on four posts of acacia wood overlaid with gold and standing on four silver bases. 33 Hang the curtain from the clasps and place the ark of the Testimony behind the curtain. The curtain will separate the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place.

It is believed this shielding curtain actually consisted of two curtains woven together and was 40 to 60 feet high and 30 feet wide. It was thick as the palm of a man's hand. It was woven in 72 separate squares and then joined together.

If you are familiar with the resurrection story of Jesus, you know that at the moment Christ died on the cross this curtain was torn in half from the top to the bottom. Think of the force that would have been required to tear this massive curtain in two from top to bottom! A 60 foot tear! This is extremely significant!

When Christ made the final sacrifice for all mankind, the curtain was torn open and the Glory of God was revealed. And I believe His glory rushed out into the world and was made available to dwell in the “ark” of the hearts of men and women who would accept it.

So, designated priests were to take down the curtain and put it over the ark. That way they did not have to look at it. Then it would be wrapped in the animal hide and then all of that would be wrapped in a blue cloth. The holiest of holies does not require earthly protection . . . so the blue cloth is on the outside proclaiming the Glory of God where ever it went.

Once the Holy of Holies is covered, then God goes on to tell them how to wrap all of the other holy things:

Numbers 4:7-8 "Over the table of the Presence they are to spread a blue cloth and put on it the plates, dishes and bowls, and the jars for drink offerings; the bread that is continually there is to remain on it. 8 Over these they are to spread a scarlet cloth, cover that with hides of sea cows and put its poles in place.

The bread that must always be on the plates is called the “shew bread”. It must also not to be burned with fire, but must be eaten or consumed by a person. And the plate must never be empty. It is an everlasting bread. >>> Thou preparest a table before me . . . There is a table which God Himself has prepared in Heaven, so the table is covered in blue. This is a symbol of God’s eternal provision for mankind prepared for us in Heaven. Then there is the bread that is NEVER unavailable. Jesus said, I am the bread of life . . . and He taught us to pray, >>> Give us this day our daily bread . . . This bread is covered by a scarlet cloth which represents a sacrificial and atoning blood for sin. Jesus was prepared for us, He is eternally available, and He gave His blood as a sacrifice for the atonement of our sin.

AND ALL OF THIS symbolism was put in place over a thousand years before God, in the flesh, named Jesus, would come to fulfill the symbolism! Is that not miraculous??? To put a thousand years in perspective, we are in the year 2018. That would be like someone in the year 1018 prophesying what our life would be like today and be perfectly accurate . . . not a few hundred years . . . A THOUSAND.

So that’s the table. Then:

Numbers 4:9-10 "They are to take a blue cloth and cover the lamp-stand that is for light, together with its lamps, its wick trimmers and trays, and all its jars for the oil used to supply it. Then they are to wrap it and all its accessories in a covering of hides of sea cows and put it on a carrying frame.

The lamp-stand is very important throughout the Bible. It is like a tall slender table. A lamp would be put on it to make light in the room. Maybe like Aladdin’s lamp or something quite different . . . we don’t know. God’s Word is a lamp unto my feet . . . This is all first wrapped in Heavenly Blue and then in animal hide after that. The symbolism of the lamp illuminates things as they really are without having to grope in the dark to figure out what things are. God’s Word is a treasure to be protected.

Ps 119:11 I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.

Just as they were to keep God’s Word close to them and hidden inside the wrapping, so it is symbolic of God’s Word kept close to us and hidden in the earthly wrapping of our hearts.

Then: Numbers 4:11 "Over the gold altar they are to spread a blue cloth and cover that with hides of sea cows and put its poles in place.

The gold altar is different than the bronze altar. The gold altar stood just in front of the shielding curtain. The gold altar was where they burned incense to the Lord. The incense always represents the prayers of the people. It is a pleasant aroma to God when we pray to Him.

Numbers 4:12 "They are to take all the articles used for ministering in the sanctuary, wrap them in a blue cloth, cover that with hides of sea cows and put them on a carrying frame.

All priests are ministers in different ways but still ministers. As a kingdom of believer priests, you are all ministers too in different ways. Their ministry was in the temple. Our ministry is in the world. How are you a minister? Whatever you have done for the least of those on this earth, you have done for Jesus.

Feeding the hungry, Giving water to the thirsty, Offering hospitality to strangers in your home, Giving clothes to those who have none, Taking care of those who are sick, and Visiting those who are in prison.

Note: there are many kinds of prisons. There are prisons with bars, but there are also prisons of hopelessness: lonely apartments, and elder care homes, and prisons of addictions, and prisons of abuse, prisoners to all kinds of sin . . . Ministering to those who are in prison may just set them free in ways they never thought possible.

Numbers 4:13 "They are to remove the ashes from the bronze altar and spread a purple cloth over it.

Ashes represent the old sacrifices which are to be discarded . . . they are not permanent like the sacrifice of God. The altar itself represents OUR sacrifices to a Holy God who sits in Royalty on His throne. The old sacrifices were animals but our sacrifice now is ourselves.

Rom 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God — this is your spiritual act of worship.

We are living sacrifices given to a Royal and Sovereign God. The sacrifice is Holy, but if the sacrifice is not on-going, it is turned to ashes, which are only to be thrown away.

So, they have the altar covered with purple, they are not finished yet.

Numbers 4:14 Then they are to place on it all the utensils used for ministering at the altar, including the fire pans, meat forks, shovels and sprinkling bowls. Over it they are to spread a covering of hides of sea cows and put its poles in place.

The tools and utensils used by the priests are not covered by anything heavenly. They are simply covered by the earthly animal hide. I find it interesting that the accessories were not covered with anything but the hides. Of everything described, the tools and utensils were the only things not covered by any of the heavenly cloths.

Isn’t it true that we human and earthly people put so much emphasis on being a tool in the hand of God? Don’t get me wrong, it is a great honor to be a tool in God’s hand to accomplish His will, and we do need to protect it . . . but in the end when we make that final move into the actual presence of God, the tools are not what is going to be revered.

What will have lasting significance is the Dwelling and Glory of God, and the everlasting bread of Jesus body broken for us, and the lamp of God’s Word, and the prayers of God’s people which are like incense to God, and those who have ministered to the world around them, and those who have become living sacrifices for God.

How glorious to have the honor of serving a God whom we take joy in loving and worshiping.

If you have not given yourself as a living sacrifice to the Lord OR accepted the glory of God which was made available when the curtain was torn OR have been wrapped in the Heavenly cloth of the MOST Holy God . . . don’t wait. Do it today. Let the Spirit speak God’s truth into your heart and embrace the love that will last for an eternity.

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ghanaspiritualecho · 7 years

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Spiritual Protection Techniques

Spiritual Protection TechniquesBy

WingsfortheSpirit

| January 19, 2017

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Spiritual Protection is something that everyone should know how to do, regardless of your religious beliefs (or lack of). It encompasses far more than just ghosts & spirits too.

Negativity in any form can be damaging to the human energy field (aura). Fear, anger, depression, negative people/places, arguments and more actually create negative energy that can cling to you or build up in your home and cause problems over time. Spiritual cleansings are very important, for yourself and your home. I recommend they be done at least every few months, more if you find yourself feeling stressed or fatigued.

White Light Protection

One of the most important aspects of spiritual protection is “white light” protection. It’s very simple to do, and maybe you’ve even read about it or done it without knowing it. It’s very effective at removing and preventing negative energy from harming you.

To do this, just visualize an egg-shaped sphere of brilliant white light completely surrounding you, from head to toe. Really focus on seeing it clearly in your mind, and keep building it up so it’s SUPER bright and glowing. See it as a solid barrier of protection that negativity cannot cross. If you wish, you can also say a prayer of protection while doing this.

You don’t have to get fancy with the wording. Say something like, “God/dess, please surround me with a sphere of powerful, brilliant white light. Send the Archangels to protect me from all harm, and please send my Spirit Guides to guide me, guard me and keep away all negative influences.”

You can do this for yourself, loved ones, pets, even your house and car! Before traveling anywhere, you can visualize this white light surrounding your car, and the occupants of the car. At night before you go to bed, visualize the white light completely surrounding your house and your family, preventing any harmful energies from entering.

This should be done frequently, whether you feel threatened or not. Over time, this builds up a strong shield of protection that is with you always. And just keep reinforcing it, day after day. It’s best to do this in the morning and again at night before bed, but it can be done as many times as you want, any time of day.

Clearing Your Home of Negative Energy

Regular spiritual protection house clearings are also important to remove any negative energies that may be hanging around. You’d be amazed at how that stuff likes to linger! See our House Clearing page for simple instructions on how to do this.

You don’t have to follow it exactly, or use the same exact ingredients. Get creative with it. Use your own wording if you want. Use whatever ingredients you have on hand, and don’t be afraid to improvise. The most important thing is your intention that you are removing negative energy.

Herbs for Protection and Purification

Here is a list of common plants and herbs that are very good for removing (and preventing) negative energy: aloe, anise, barley, basil, bay leaf, cactus, carnation, cedar, chamomile, cinnamon, clove, cumin, curry, dill, dragon’s blood, eucalyptus, fennel, fern, flax, frankincense, garlic, ginseng, ivy, lavender, myrrh, onion, parsley, pepper, peppermint, rosemary, sage, thyme, violet.

After your house cleansing, fill some pretty dishes with these protective herbs, and place them on tables or shelves in the main parts of your home. (Caution: Some herbs are toxic, be sure to keep out of reach of children and animals!)

The herbs should be replaced every few months. However, don’t toss the old herbs in the trash – rather, sprinkle them outside, to return them to Nature so they can be recycled. You can also make pretty herbal sachets or “charm bags” to hang on doors or tuck in a drawer. Place one in your car for protection while traveling. Sprinkle protective herbs on the tops of doorways, or at the thresholds of your home.

Smudging

Burning certain incenses can help with spiritual protection and achieve the same effect. This is similar to “smudging”. Smudging usually involves taking a bundle of dried sage leaves (sage is great for neutralizing negative energies!) and lighting the tip of it until it starts to smoke, then waving the smudge stick around your home, letting the smoke remove negative energy.

The incense does the same thing; you don’t have to use Sage sticks. Frankincense, Sandalwood, Myrrh and Sage are the greatest for removing negativity.

Sea Salt – The Ultimate Purifier

Sea salt is an EXCELLENT neutralizer! The ocean holds a lot of power, especially for cleansing and healing, so sea salt obviously does too. You can get pure sea salt at health food stores, and many online shops also carry it. (try to get “unrefined sea salt” if possible, because it retains most of its natural properties) You can mix in some sea salt with your herb mixtures, or use it by itself as described above for the herbs.

Charging Objects With Your Intent

White candles are also great for removing negative energy, and you can make them work even better by “charging” them. (in fact, you can charge your herbs the same way to help activate their natural properties)

To “charge” something means that you are infusing it with energy, and your intention. It’s really simple to do this.

Hold the candle (or whatever object you wish) in both hands (or you can hover both hands above/around it, if it’s a dish of something) and visualize it being infused with brilliant white light from your hands. Just the same way you did the white light protection for yourself and your family.

But this time see the energy soaking into the candle and making it glow bright white. You can state an intention out loud if you want to, “I infuse this candle with powerful purifying energy, and ask that this energy spread through our lives and remove all negativity.”

Then when you light the candle, it releases the energy out into your home, and by extension, the universe.

You can also charge things like jewelry, to hold a certain intent. Metals particularly hold a charge VERY well, for a long time.

For example, you can “charge” rings or necklaces with prosperity/success energy (green and/or red energy), and wear them to a job interview.

Will this guarantee you the job? Of course not. But you are stating your intent to the Universe, and therefore you are putting certain energies into motion, which can help you. It’s all about your intent and the energy you put into it.

Crystals and Gemstones

Certain crystals and stones also carry spiritual protection properties. Here is a short list of the most common ones: agate, amber, amethyst, black onyx, citrine, coral, emerald, garnet, obsidian (apache tears), ruby, tourmaline.

You can charge your gemstones and either carry them with you, place them around your home, or purchase jewelry that contains stones with the properties you want, and wear them.

Angels and Spirit Guides

Last but certainly not least, ASK for spiritual protection (and physical protection, of course) from your Angels and Guides! That is what they are there for. Each of us is “assigned” certain angels and guides before we are born. Their “job” is to protect us, comfort and guide us, and to work with us in living our most productive life possible here on earth. But remember that they cannot interfere with our free will. We must invite their help if we want it.

You can ask for their protection on a daily basis for general purposes, or you can ask when you have an immediate need for protection. But keep in mind that although they are “assigned” to us, they are not our slaves. They help us because they want to. Respect and gratitude should always be the context in which you request (not demand) their assistance. No one likes to be bossed around. Be thankful for their presence in your life, and know that you are never alone.

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dailyofficereadings · 4 years

Text

Daily Office Readings August 21, 2020

Psalm 140

Prayer for Deliverance from Enemies

To the leader. A Psalm of David.

1 Deliver me, O Lord, from evildoers; protect me from those who are violent, 2 who plan evil things in their minds and stir up wars continually. 3 They make their tongue sharp as a snake’s, and under their lips is the venom of vipers.Selah

4 Guard me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked; protect me from the violent who have planned my downfall. 5 The arrogant have hidden a trap for me, and with cords they have spread a net,[a] along the road they have set snares for me.Selah

6 I say to the Lord, “You are my God; give ear, O Lord, to the voice of my supplications.” 7 O Lord, my Lord, my strong deliverer, you have covered my head in the day of battle. 8 Do not grant, O Lord, the desires of the wicked; do not further their evil plot.[b]Selah

9 Those who surround me lift up their heads;[c] let the mischief of their lips overwhelm them! 10 Let burning coals fall on them! Let them be flung into pits, no more to rise! 11 Do not let the slanderer be established in the land; let evil speedily hunt down the violent!

12 I know that the Lord maintains the cause of the needy, and executes justice for the poor. 13 Surely the righteous shall give thanks to your name; the upright shall live in your presence.

Footnotes:

Psalm 140:5 Or they have spread cords as a net

Psalm 140:8 Heb adds they are exalted

Psalm 140:9 Cn Compare Gk: Heb those who surround me are uplifted in head; Heb divides verses 8 and 9 differently

New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1989, 1993 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Psalm 142

Prayer for Deliverance from Persecutors

A Maskil of David. When he was in the cave. A Prayer.

1 With my voice I cry to the Lord; with my voice I make supplication to the Lord. 2 I pour out my complaint before him; I tell my trouble before him. 3 When my spirit is faint, you know my way.

In the path where I walk they have hidden a trap for me. 4 Look on my right hand and see— there is no one who takes notice of me; no refuge remains to me; no one cares for me.

5 I cry to you, O Lord; I say, “You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.” 6 Give heed to my cry, for I am brought very low.

Save me from my persecutors, for they are too strong for me. 7 Bring me out of prison, so that I may give thanks to your name. The righteous will surround me, for you will deal bountifully with me.

New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

Psalm 141

Prayer for Preservation from Evil

A Psalm of David.

1 I call upon you, O Lord; come quickly to me; give ear to my voice when I call to you. 2 Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of my hands as an evening sacrifice.

3 Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips. 4 Do not turn my heart to any evil, to busy myself with wicked deeds in company with those who work iniquity; do not let me eat of their delicacies.

5 Let the righteous strike me; let the faithful correct me. Never let the oil of the wicked anoint my head,[a] for my prayer is continually[b] against their wicked deeds. 6 When they are given over to those who shall condemn them, then they shall learn that my words were pleasant. 7 Like a rock that one breaks apart and shatters on the land, so shall their bones be strewn at the mouth of Sheol.[c]

8 But my eyes are turned toward you, O God, my Lord; in you I seek refuge; do not leave me defenseless. 9 Keep me from the trap that they have laid for me, and from the snares of evildoers. 10 Let the wicked fall into their own nets, while I alone escape.

Footnotes:

Psalm 141:5 Gk: Meaning of Heb uncertain

Psalm 141:5 Cn: Heb for continually and my prayer

Psalm 141:7 Meaning of Heb of verses 5–7 is uncertain

New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

Psalm 143

Prayer for Deliverance from Enemies

A Psalm of David.

1 Hear my prayer, O Lord; give ear to my supplications in your faithfulness; answer me in your righteousness. 2 Do not enter into judgment with your servant, for no one living is righteous before you.

3 For the enemy has pursued me, crushing my life to the ground, making me sit in darkness like those long dead. 4 Therefore my spirit faints within me; my heart within me is appalled.

5 I remember the days of old, I think about all your deeds, I meditate on the works of your hands. 6 I stretch out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like a parched land.Selah

7 Answer me quickly, O Lord; my spirit fails. Do not hide your face from me, or I shall be like those who go down to the Pit. 8 Let me hear of your steadfast love in the morning, for in you I put my trust. Teach me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.

9 Save me, O Lord, from my enemies; I have fled to you for refuge.[a] 10 Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. Let your good spirit lead me on a level path.

11 For your name’s sake, O Lord, preserve my life. In your righteousness bring me out of trouble. 12 In your steadfast love cut off my enemies, and destroy all my adversaries, for I am your servant.

Footnotes:

Psalm 143:9 One Heb Ms Gk: MT to you I have hidden

New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

Job 2

Attack on Job’s Health

2 One day the heavenly beings[a] came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan[b] also came among them to present himself before the Lord. 2 The Lord said to Satan,[c] “Where have you come from?” Satan[d] answered the Lord, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.” 3 The Lord said to Satan,[e] “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man who fears God and turns away from evil. He still persists in his integrity, although you incited me against him, to destroy him for no reason.” 4 Then Satan[f] answered the Lord, “Skin for skin! All that people have they will give to save their lives.[g] 5 But stretch out your hand now and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse you to your face.” 6 The Lord said to Satan,[h] “Very well, he is in your power; only spare his life.”

7 So Satan[i] went out from the presence of the Lord, and inflicted loathsome sores on Job from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. 8 Job[j] took a potsherd with which to scrape himself, and sat among the ashes.

9 Then his wife said to him, “Do you still persist in your integrity? Curse[k] God, and die.” 10 But he said to her, “You speak as any foolish woman would speak. Shall we receive the good at the hand of God, and not receive the bad?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips.

Job’s Three Friends

11 Now when Job’s three friends heard of all these troubles that had come upon him, each of them set out from his home—Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. They met together to go and console and comfort him. 12 When they saw him from a distance, they did not recognize him, and they raised their voices and wept aloud; they tore their robes and threw dust in the air upon their heads. 13 They sat with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his suffering was very great.

Footnotes:

Job 2:1 Heb sons of God

Job 2:1 Or the Accuser; Heb ha-satan

Job 2:2 Or the Accuser; Heb ha-satan

Job 2:2 Or The Accuser; Heb ha-satan

Job 2:3 Or the Accuser; Heb ha-satan

Job 2:4 Or the Accuser; Heb ha-satan

Job 2:4 Or All that the man has he will give for his life

Job 2:6 Or the Accuser; Heb ha-satan

Job 2:7 Or the Accuser; Heb ha-satan

Job 2:8 Heb He

Job 2:9 Heb Bless

New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

Acts 9:1-9

The Conversion of Saul

9 Meanwhile Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3 Now as he was going along and approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” 5 He asked, “Who are you, Lord?” The reply came, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 6 But get up and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” 7 The men who were traveling with him stood speechless because they heard the voice but saw no one. 8 Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 For three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

John 6:27-40

27 Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For it is on him that God the Father has set his seal.” 28 Then they said to him, “What must we do to perform the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” 30 So they said to him, “What sign are you going to give us then, so that we may see it and believe you? What work are you performing? 31 Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” 32 Then Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is that which[a] comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 34 They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.”

35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. 36 But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. 37 Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and anyone who comes to me I will never drive away; 38 for I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. 40 This is indeed the will of my Father, that all who see the Son and believe in him may have eternal life; and I will raise them up on the last day.”

Footnotes:

John 6:33 Or he who

New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

#August 21 #2020

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dailyofficereadings · 5 years

Text

Daily Office Readings August 23, 2019

Psalm 140

Prayer for Deliverance from Enemies

To the leader. A Psalm of David.

12 I know that the Lord maintains the cause of the needy, and executes justice for the poor. 13 Surely the righteous shall give thanks to your name; the upright shall live in your presence.

Footnotes:

Psalm 140:5 Or they have spread cords as a net

Psalm 140:8 Heb adds they are exalted

Psalm 140:9 Cn Compare Gk: Heb those who surround me are uplifted in head; Heb divides verses 8 and 9 differently

New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

Psalm 142

Prayer for Deliverance from Persecutors

A Maskil of David. When he was in the cave. A Prayer.

1 With my voice I cry to the Lord; with my voice I make supplication to the Lord. 2 I pour out my complaint before him; I tell my trouble before him. 3 When my spirit is faint, you know my way.

In the path where I walk they have hidden a trap for me. 4 Look on my right hand and see— there is no one who takes notice of me; no refuge remains to me; no one cares for me.

5 I cry to you, O Lord; I say, “You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.” 6 Give heed to my cry, for I am brought very low.

Save me from my persecutors, for they are too strong for me. 7 Bring me out of prison, so that I may give thanks to your name. The righteous will surround me, for you will deal bountifully with me.

New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

Psalm 141

Prayer for Preservation from Evil

A Psalm of David.

1 I call upon you, O Lord; come quickly to me; give ear to my voice when I call to you. 2 Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of my hands as an evening sacrifice.

Footnotes:

Psalm 141:5 Gk: Meaning of Heb uncertain

Psalm 141:5 Cn: Heb for continually and my prayer

Psalm 141:7 Meaning of Heb of verses 5–7 is uncertain

New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

Psalm 143

Prayer for Deliverance from Enemies

A Psalm of David.

3 For the enemy has pursued me, crushing my life to the ground, making me sit in darkness like those long dead. 4 Therefore my spirit faints within me; my heart within me is appalled.

5 I remember the days of old, I think about all your deeds, I meditate on the works of your hands. 6 I stretch out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like a parched land.Selah

9 Save me, O Lord, from my enemies; I have fled to you for refuge.[a] 10 Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. Let your good spirit lead me on a level path.

Footnotes:

Psalm 143:9 One Heb Ms Gk: MT to you I have hidden

New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

2 Samuel 19:24-43

David and Mephibosheth Meet

24 Mephibosheth[a] grandson of Saul came down to meet the king; he had not taken care of his feet, or trimmed his beard, or washed his clothes, from the day the king left until the day he came back in safety. 25 When he came from Jerusalem to meet the king, the king said to him, “Why did you not go with me, Mephibosheth?”[b] 26 He answered, “My lord, O king, my servant deceived me; for your servant said to him, ‘Saddle a donkey for me,[c] so that I may ride on it and go with the king.’ For your servant is lame. 27 He has slandered your servant to my lord the king. But my lord the king is like the angel of God; do therefore what seems good to you. 28 For all my father’s house were doomed to death before my lord the king; but you set your servant among those who eat at your table. What further right have I, then, to appeal to the king?” 29 The king said to him, “Why speak any more of your affairs? I have decided: you and Ziba shall divide the land.” 30 Mephibosheth[d] said to the king, “Let him take it all, since my lord the king has arrived home safely.”

David’s Kindness to Barzillai

31 Now Barzillai the Gileadite had come down from Rogelim; he went on with the king to the Jordan, to escort him over the Jordan. 32 Barzillai was a very aged man, eighty years old. He had provided the king with food while he stayed at Mahanaim, for he was a very wealthy man. 33 The king said to Barzillai, “Come over with me, and I will provide for you in Jerusalem at my side.” 34 But Barzillai said to the king, “How many years have I still to live, that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem? 35 Today I am eighty years old; can I discern what is pleasant and what is not? Can your servant taste what he eats or what he drinks? Can I still listen to the voice of singing men and singing women? Why then should your servant be an added burden to my lord the king? 36 Your servant will go a little way over the Jordan with the king. Why should the king recompense me with such a reward? 37 Please let your servant return, so that I may die in my own town, near the graves of my father and my mother. But here is your servant Chimham; let him go over with my lord the king; and do for him whatever seems good to you.” 38 The king answered, “Chimham shall go over with me, and I will do for him whatever seems good to you; and all that you desire of me I will do for you.” 39 Then all the people crossed over the Jordan, and the king crossed over; the king kissed Barzillai and blessed him, and he returned to his own home. 40 The king went on to Gilgal, and Chimham went on with him; all the people of Judah, and also half the people of Israel, brought the king on his way.

41 Then all the people of Israel came to the king, and said to him, “Why have our kindred the people of Judah stolen you away, and brought the king and his household over the Jordan, and all David’s men with him?” 42 All the people of Judah answered the people of Israel, “Because the king is near of kin to us. Why then are you angry over this matter? Have we eaten at all at the king’s expense? Or has he given us any gift?” 43 But the people of Israel answered the people of Judah, “We have ten shares in the king, and in David also we have more than you. Why then did you despise us? Were we not the first to speak of bringing back our king?” But the words of the people of Judah were fiercer than the words of the people of Israel.

Footnotes:

2 Samuel 19:24 Or Merib-baal: See 4.4 note

2 Samuel 19:25 Or Merib-baal: See 4.4 note

2 Samuel 19:26 Gk Syr Vg: Heb said, ‘I will saddle a donkey for myself

2 Samuel 19:30 Or Merib-baal: See 4.4 note

New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

Acts 24:24-25:12

Paul Held in Custody

24 Some days later when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and heard him speak concerning faith in Christ Jesus. 25 And as he discussed justice, self-control, and the coming judgment, Felix became frightened and said, “Go away for the present; when I have an opportunity, I will send for you.” 26 At the same time he hoped that money would be given him by Paul, and for that reason he used to send for him very often and converse with him.

27 After two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus; and since he wanted to grant the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul in prison.

Paul Appeals to the Emperor

25 Three days after Festus had arrived in the province, he went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem 2 where the chief priests and the leaders of the Jews gave him a report against Paul. They appealed to him 3 and requested, as a favor to them against Paul,[a] to have him transferred to Jerusalem. They were, in fact, planning an ambush to kill him along the way. 4 Festus replied that Paul was being kept at Caesarea, and that he himself intended to go there shortly. 5 “So,” he said, “let those of you who have the authority come down with me, and if there is anything wrong about the man, let them accuse him.”

6 After he had stayed among them not more than eight or ten days, he went down to Caesarea; the next day he took his seat on the tribunal and ordered Paul to be brought. 7 When he arrived, the Jews who had gone down from Jerusalem surrounded him, bringing many serious charges against him, which they could not prove. 8 Paul said in his defense, “I have in no way committed an offense against the law of the Jews, or against the temple, or against the emperor.” 9 But Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, asked Paul, “Do you wish to go up to Jerusalem and be tried there before me on these charges?” 10 Paul said, “I am appealing to the emperor’s tribunal; this is where I should be tried. I have done no wrong to the Jews, as you very well know. 11 Now if I am in the wrong and have committed something for which I deserve to die, I am not trying to escape death; but if there is nothing to their charges against me, no one can turn me over to them. I appeal to the emperor.” 12 Then Festus, after he had conferred with his council, replied, “You have appealed to the emperor; to the emperor you will go.”

Footnotes:

Acts 25:3 Gk him

New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

Mark 12:35-44

The Question about David’s Son

35 While Jesus was teaching in the temple, he said, “How can the scribes say that the Messiah[a] is the son of David? 36 David himself, by the Holy Spirit, declared,

‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet.”’

37 David himself calls him Lord; so how can he be his son?” And the large crowd was listening to him with delight.

Jesus Denounces the Scribes

38 As he taught, he said, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, 39 and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets! 40 They devour widows’ houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.”

The Widow’s Offering

41 He sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the crowd putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. 42 A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny. 43 Then he called his disciples and said to them, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. 44 For all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”

Footnotes:

Mark 12:35 Or the Christ

New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

#August 23 #2019

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dailyofficereadings · 7 years

Text

Daily Office Readings August 25, 2017

Psalm 140

Prayer for Deliverance from Enemies

To the leader. A Psalm of David.

12 I know that the Lord maintains the cause of the needy, and executes justice for the poor. 13 Surely the righteous shall give thanks to your name; the upright shall live in your presence.

Footnotes:

Psalm 140:5 Or they have spread cords as a net

Psalm 140:8 Heb adds they are exalted

Psalm 140:9 Cn Compare Gk: Heb those who surround me are uplifted in head; Heb divides verses 8 and 9 differently

New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

Psalm 142

Prayer for Deliverance from Persecutors

A Maskil of David. When he was in the cave. A Prayer.

1 With my voice I cry to the Lord; with my voice I make supplication to the Lord. 2 I pour out my complaint before him; I tell my trouble before him. 3 When my spirit is faint, you know my way.

In the path where I walk they have hidden a trap for me. 4 Look on my right hand and see— there is no one who takes notice of me; no refuge remains to me; no one cares for me.

5 I cry to you, O Lord; I say, “You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.” 6 Give heed to my cry, for I am brought very low.

Save me from my persecutors, for they are too strong for me. 7 Bring me out of prison, so that I may give thanks to your name. The righteous will surround me, for you will deal bountifully with me.

New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

Psalm 141

Prayer for Preservation from Evil

A Psalm of David.

1 I call upon you, O Lord; come quickly to me; give ear to my voice when I call to you. 2 Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of my hands as an evening sacrifice.

Footnotes:

Psalm 141:5 Gk: Meaning of Heb uncertain

Psalm 141:5 Cn: Heb for continually and my prayer

Psalm 141:7 Meaning of Heb of verses 5–7 is uncertain

New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

Psalm 143

Prayer for Deliverance from Enemies

A Psalm of David.

3 For the enemy has pursued me, crushing my life to the ground, making me sit in darkness like those long dead. 4 Therefore my spirit faints within me; my heart within me is appalled.

5 I remember the days of old, I think about all your deeds, I meditate on the works of your hands. 6 I stretch out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like a parched land.Selah

9 Save me, O Lord, from my enemies; I have fled to you for refuge.[a] 10 Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. Let your good spirit lead me on a level path.

Footnotes:

Psalm 143:9 One Heb Ms Gk: MT to you I have hidden

New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

2 Samuel 19:24-43

David and Mephibosheth Meet

David’s Kindness to Barzillai

Footnotes:

2 Samuel 19:24 Or Merib-baal: See 4.4 note

2 Samuel 19:25 Or Merib-baal: See 4.4 note

2 Samuel 19:26 Gk Syr Vg: Heb said, ‘I will saddle a donkey for myself

2 Samuel 19:30 Or Merib-baal: See 4.4 note

New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

Acts 24:24-25:12

Paul Held in Custody

27 After two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus; and since he wanted to grant the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul in prison.

Paul Appeals to the Emperor

Footnotes:

Acts 25:3 Gk him

New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

Mark 12:35-44

The Question about David’s Son

35 While Jesus was teaching in the temple, he said, “How can the scribes say that the Messiah[a] is the son of David? 36 David himself, by the Holy Spirit, declared,

‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet.”’

37 David himself calls him Lord; so how can he be his son?” And the large crowd was listening to him with delight.

Jesus Denounces the Scribes

The Widow’s Offering

Footnotes:

Mark 12:35 Or the Christ

New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

#August 25 #2017

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ghanaspiritualecho · 7 years

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Spiritual Protection TechniquesBy WingsfortheSpirit

Spiritual Protection TechniquesBy

WingsfortheSpirit

| January 19, 2017

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Spiritual Protection is something that everyone should know how to do, regardless of your religious beliefs (or lack of). It encompasses far more than just ghosts & spirits too.

White Light Protection

Clearing Your Home of Negative Energy

Herbs for Protection and Purification

Smudging

The incense does the same thing; you don’t have to use Sage sticks. Frankincense, Sandalwood, Myrrh and Sage are the greatest for removing negativity.

Sea Salt – The Ultimate Purifier

Charging Objects With Your Intent

To “charge” something means that you are infusing it with energy, and your intention. It’s really simple to do this.

Then when you light the candle, it releases the energy out into your home, and by extension, the universe.

You can also charge things like jewelry, to hold a certain intent. Metals particularly hold a charge VERY well, for a long time.

For example, you can “charge” rings or necklaces with prosperity/success energy (green and/or red energy), and wear them to a job interview.

Crystals and Gemstones

You can charge your gemstones and either carry them with you, place them around your home, or purchase jewelry that contains stones with the properties you want, and wear them.

Angels and Spirit Guides

EVERYDAY SPIRITUAL PROTECTION Simple Techniques to Safeguard Your Mind, Body, and Energy There are times when spiritual protection techniques are helpful, and there are times when they are absolutely essential. The techniques in this book can help you to safeguard your energy, thoughts, physical well-being, your home and possessions, your loved ones, and more. Even if you have never worked with energy before, these techniques are simple and easily used by beginners. They will help you to take back your spiritual power and safeguard your own energy and the things most important to you in life.

http://wingsforthespirit.com/spiritual-protection/spiritual-protection-techniques/

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