localflorist12-blog

[cryinglightning64]

Hope Is Lost

Summary: You left home to get away from the normalcy, only to end up in a foreign country not knowing that the world was beginning to end.

Pairing: Daryl Dixon x female (sorta nun) reader

A/N: this is my first attempt at writing a fanfic bc i cant seem to find any about him in france and if you have found any tag me plss 😭 i had to resort to making my own instead. lmk if anyone is even interested in a part 2 this is basically just a teaser i promise it will have smut if 1 person interacts with this. even if nobody interacts ima still post part 2 bc wtf am i doing hoarding this in my notes app.

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The first time you saw him you had a strange feeling about him. As if you knew who he was. As he floated on top of the boat that seemed to be capsized, a measly tied rope that hardly held his body to the boat, you weren't sure what his name was, but you had a gut feeling, you knew it had to be him. The one to get you home.

You followed him, watched as the man washed up on the shore, confused, but seemingly determined.

The sisters might be right, you thought to yourself. Isabelle might be right.

You met Isabelle after the world began decaying, finding refuge at the convent. It wasn't really your first choice, staying at the convent, but in this world, beggars can't be choosers. You thought maybe immersing yourself into religion might help take your mind off everything that happened to you, everything going on outside.

Many of the nuns at the abbey didn't see you as one of them, despite you doing everything possible to fit in, as much as a fake nun could. You never were religious like the rest of them, which made everyone turn their heads away from you. Religion came easy to them, meanwhile with you, well, you hadn't given it much thought.

To this day it's still in the back of your mind, chipping away at you, the guilt of not being a big enough believer in God. How could you believe in a higher power if this is what the world has succumbed to? How could anything good let all the people you loved, cared about, die such gruesome deaths? Always a constant back and forth battle you had going on in your mind.

Sister Isabelle confided in you, telling you about Laurent, and how she needed to find someone to deliver him to Paris. The whole messiah thing seemed like such a crazy thing to wrap your head around, but you still offered your help in anyway you could. After all, you knew she would do anything for you and the rest of the nuns. That and you needed to get out of France. It was your one chance, you finally had a good enough reason to leave the abbey and try to find your way back home.

Hanging up the small poster of the Union Isabelle made, you watched as the man with the wings on his back took an abandoned boat as his shelter for the night. Hopefully he would still be there by the time you got back tomorrow.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Isabelle, I am telling you, I saw him." you pleaded. You stood in the now-quiet kitchen, eyes wide, but barely visible due to the small lantern you held up.

"Je t'ai dit de ne pas y aller seul," Isabelle whispered, "I told you not to go alone out there, what if he had seen you? Or followed you?"

"He didn't, okay? Please Isabelle, I know what everyone here thinks about me and my faith, but I know it, he's the one that can help us take Laurent." you spoke quietly but urgently, as to not wake up the rest of the sisters.

"No, we know nothing of this man, maybe he is already out there walking amongst the dead, or worse, he might just be here to steal from us and kill us all. You will not go back out there, especially alone, do you understand?" Isabelle spoke, her hand coming to rub her forehead, smoothing the frown lines forming.

Sighing, you nod your head, peering down at the drawing.

"Good, now get some sleep." Isabelle turned away, heading back to sleep.

Even if deep down, you didn't believe that Laurent was the messiah, you still had the need to find out more about this man.

The next morning you came back to where you had last seen the man, hoping he was still out there.

You watched and followed as he got up and began packing his things, setting out to wander the land.

You also saw how he had got himself into trouble with the young woman and older man, seeing how he fought off the men from the Pouvoir des Vivants, as best as he could. You watched from a distance until you saw how they robbed him blind, injuring him long enough for them to get away.

You ran up to him, kneeling before watching him pass out from the blows to the head and quite probably the dehydration.

You carried, or more so, dragged his limp body to your small carriage you brought with you, hoping he wouldn't be what Isabelle said he was.

You were dreading having to explain to Isabelle why you had brought this man to the abbey after she so explicitly told you not to engage with him, let alone bring him into your homes.

"Qu'est-ce que je t'ai dit? Why did you have to bring him back here?" Isabelle raised her eyebrows at you as she held the hot poker towards his arm.

"Perdóname, no supe que hacer, I had no choice he was injured" you said and you rounded to the opposite side of the bed.

"Hold his arm down, and cover his mouth." Isabelle said as she looked at you with a glare you were sure was the maddest you have ever seen her.

He screamed into the cloth you had placed between his teeth as he writhed and she held the hot metal to his arm where the mutated undead had burned him.

His grunts and pained yelling made something inside you feel horrible, the pain he was in almost made you feel as terrible as it seemed to pain him.

His anguished face combined with the peaceful singing of the nuns down the hall swarmed your senses, until he coughed and passed out once more.

"Listen to me, I know you didn't mean for all this to happen, I get that, and I understand he was hurt. But you better pray that he will be able to deliver Laurent, it's what he needs, deserves." Isabelle said after she wrapped the man's arm, who you had come to learn his name was Daryl Dixon from the tape you found in his pack.

"I will, Isabelle. I'll make it my life's mission to get that boy to Paris." you said quietly as to not wake up Daryl, who had begun to snore softly in the bed below you.

"Very well. Now help me prepare the bath for him, he's going to need it once he wakes up." Isabelle walked away to fetch a kettle of water to fill up the bath.

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a/n: yall pls dont be mad i tried my best i know its shitty writing but i dont have anything to lose.

also im open to suggestions or if you guys wanna see a certain trope or scene play along u tell me ill do my best to make it come true on paper 😪

[rosemarydisaster]

I feel like Chani choosing to save Paul through the prophecy would make their reconciliation so much easier. I really dislike Jessica's use of the voice in general but especially at this moment.

It would have been such a great moment of tension with herself, completely devastated by the loss of her Usul. And then she remembers... the tears of the desert spring, a stupid prophecy. She isn't sure that's how it works. The desert spring is supposed to be a metaphor for the ecological change, right? But it is her name and she does feel like crying. She isn't convinced it will work because it's a silly prophecy, but she just has to try.

She springs into action she grabs the water of life and Jessica tries to stop her, probably thinking she's trying to join Paul. But Stilgar, who knows Chani's, name stops her. And Jessica sees her mix the tears with the water of life, she know another drop of it might either kill Paul or bring him back so she let's it happen, hoping for the best. We get some much needed nuance with her character, clearly worried about her son and asking Alia "what have we done?".

Chani, who doesn't believe in religious prophecies nor Bene Gesserit bullshit holds the two drops to Paul's mouth. A part of her simply wants to show everyone how stupid this is, how there's no prophecy, and how they're fanaticism has killed a great man. But then Paul wakes up.

The relief, the horror, the completely upending of her entire belief system... chef's kiss. She isn't sure if this is some Bene Gesserit thing, if Paul was pretending so he could get her to fulfill the prophecy. And then she hears Stilgar's voice "Tears of the desert spring".

Everyone around them drops to worship the Lisan Al-Gaib. Jessica is relieved, Stilgar is overjoyed and she's just confused. Paul tries to hold her, tk kiss her to thank her but she isn't ready. She feels tricked. She has spent her entire life believing one thing and now nothing makes sense.

So she keeps her distance, she tries to resist the prophecy that Paul himself called bullshit but she's confused. She isn't going to abandon her conviction that their savior must be Fremen. She remembers Paul asking in the tent if he's not Fremen enough after passing every test and she doubts.

She fights for the Fremen at the battle for Arrakeen, she does her part and she wonders if she had any choice at all. And then the thing with the princess happens, and she's distraught. Paul reassures her that he will love her as long as he breathes and it comforts her. At least until she remembers how he stopped breathing after the water of life. What's worst, he declares himself an emperor, forcing the old man to kiss his hand like a petulant child. And he threatens to destroy the spice if people don't accept him as their new ruler ...is too much.

She made a promise too, to love him as long as he remained himself. He changed and the most frightening thing is that she still loves him. She needs space, she needs the desert.

This would offer the possibility of Paul finding her and saying "You are angry at me for participating in the prophecy to save this planet but you used it to save me when you thought I was dying". He could try to convince her with that whole "when everything and everyone you love is at stake you'll take whatever chance you get" which is kinda how he locks himself in that specific future in the books.

I don't know they could have a conversation on how things would be different if he had died in Siege Tabur or after the water of life. He would explain to her (and the audience) the narrow golden path, and how the alternatives are so much worse.

I think it would be interesting if Chani comes to the conclusion that she has to end Paul's tyranny out of love, because her Usul would rather die than become a monster. But she pretends to accept Paul's argument (the audience unsure if she does buy it or not). That would set the stage for Dune Messiah much better and have a very interesting dynamic between the two (specially for that ending).

Jessica forcing her doesn't accomplish anything it only confirms for Chani that the Profe y is some Bene Gesserit bullshit (Jessica calls for her and forces her to do it). The reconciliation is going to be so much more difficult after that. Also, for a guy that wants to tell "a bene Gesserit story" the director is misusing Jessica. If they let her be more manipulative (talking to Alia about how the drop from the water of life will trigger the reaction for him to wake up) we could see how the prophecy is planted while allowing the Fremen to believe something magical happened. It would open Chani to her manipulation...but no, she had to scream.

I feel like, for all that they show us Jessica manipulating the religious people, that scene left a lot of people confused. I saw the people at the theater saying "wait so the prophecy is real" which is the last thing you want to do in a Dune adaptation.

What I described would only take two more minutes (and a lot of acting) but I think it would make the themes clearer and make Chani and Jessica a bit more interesting. I liked the movie but this is one of those moments I simply can't understand, specially from a fan of the Bene Gesserit.

[the-chosen-fanfiction]

Andrew | He Connects Us | Platonic

Roman or not, you can relate to Andrew’s anxiety and make sure that he knows he is not alone in this.

Requested by Mall

Had you told yourself you’d be in this situation a year ago, you’d have scoffed and considered it utterly ridiculous. Kicking dust with every step you take, you squint at the horizon. Jesus has taken all of you out on an impromptu trip in the midst of mourning his late cousin John the Baptist, so none of you know exactly why you are going. Somewhere a few miles back, you passed a sign with the name ‘Caesarea Philipi’ carved into it.

You’ve taken to yourself for the last hour or so, not in the mood for listening to Nathanael and Philip bicker over something you don’t know the context of. Something about their past, you had reckoned, and instead quickened your step to walk in front of them. 

Before you walks Andrew, who you know had been close to John. Something akin to guilt tugs at your heart. Although tetrarch Herod Antipas was no Roman ruler, you still feel horrible for the events that led to John’s arrest, and the power that had been put in Antipas’ hands by your own people.

You walk a little faster to catch up to him.

“Shalom, Andrew.” 

He gives you a look from the corner of his eye and hums. “Shalom.” 

“How are you holding up?”

“Honestly? I thought I’d be doing worse.”

You hum in response. “I see. Is that a good thing or a bad thing?”

Andrew shrugs.

You walk on for a minute longer without either of you saying anything. “I recall you visiting him while he was in prison.” you say, “Telling us all about it at the fire when you returned…”

“Do you think he felt it coming?”

“I don’t know. I didn’t know him.” 

Andrew sighs. “Right. Maybe I should ask Jesus, then.”

“Yeah, maybe.”

Another silence follows as the sun lowers on the horizon. Every so often, you kick a sharp rock from between your toes, and you huff a small laugh of disbelief as you readjust your drape against the sun stinging in your neck. 

“What are you laughing about?” Andrew asks. Under any other circumstances, he’d have taken offence to you doing so amidst of shiva, but then, you aren’t Jewish so not required to follow their customs, and he had been laughing with Jesus about the staleness of the bread hours prior anyways, so he wouldn’t have a leg to stand on. 

“No, just… I had never imagined I’d be travelling with a group of Jewish men and women to an unknown destination while pursuing a Jewish Rabbi.” 

Andrew nods a bit. “Yeah, I can see why you’d never have imagined that. I bet it must have been difficult, leaving behind your old life. Not familiar with anxieties about the unknown.” 

“What do you mean by that?” 

He does not intend to sound bitter, but Andrew grits his teeth. “Things haven’t been going well for our people for a long time. Under Roman occupation, we’ve suffered a great deal - and still are - and I feel like it will never end. Even though Jesus is giving us hope, this… What has happened to John can happen to any of us. Perhaps it will happen to all of us.” 

You’d be lying if you said you hadn’t considered it. Especially with a background like yours, you are bound to have people on both sides of the coin who’d rather not see you around. 

“I get it.” you sigh. “It’s like nothing else I’ve ever done. Being part of the following of the Messiah is the most significant purpose a person could ever have, yet the most dangerous and complex thing at the same time.”

Andrew lets out a small noise of acknowledgement as he weighs your words. “Right. But… It must be all so new for you. I bet you’ve never had to struggle a day in your life, being Quintus’ sister and all.” 

You let out a long sigh. It’s not like you ever went to bed with an empty belly or had nothing fancy to wear even if you had to attend parties a week in a row. To everyone else, it might have seemed like you were living the dream. The Roman Empire was powerful and wealthy, life within the circles of the elite desired. However, it came with a price consisting of a persistent case of imposter syndrome. Now that you had met Jesus, you finally understood where your restlessness had come from, that He had been the only one able to mend it.

“Be as it may, my life has been filled with anxiety before I met the Messiah, Who turned everything around.” you admit. 

“Anxiety? How would you ever know what that is? You’ve never had to worry for a day in your life.” Andrew mutters, and although he didn’t intend for it to sound harsh, it has an edge to it nevertheless, with a certain glint in his eyes that makes you draw a sharp breath as you try to not turn insulted. His tone is understandable after all, seeing how your people constantly hurt his people. 

“Living as a woman in Roman society,” you reveal, “Is not necessarily as glorious as it might appear on the surface. Certainly, I’ve always worn beautiful gowns and have never gone a day in my life without food nor had I ever slept in a tent before joining you. Opulence does not make up for the… Expectations that come with living in such a world.”

“Expectations?” Andrew queries.

You nod. “Women in high society are… Well, they’re seen as property. First that of their father, then of their husband whilst her father still maintains some sense of control over her. As luxurious my life before Jesus was, it was never mine. I was not allowed to make my own decisions, my own choices, voice my own opinions. If I did, it was seen as rebellious and unbecoming. And because I was not supported in my own unique identity…”

Your voice trails off and you let out a shaky sigh. 

“What does your anxiety look like, then?” he asks you. It takes you a moment to comprehend the gravity of the question. 

“I don’t necessarily get panic attacks or something like that. Just this… This… This weight on my shoulders that presses down with a constant force that doesn’t even yield when I try to rest. You probably know the feeling; that dreadful pit in your gut as if something bad is about to happen, and even though you are fully aware that nothing will happen, you still have these dark shadows looming over you, taunting you without saying a word. Also, I felt like I was some kind of intruder in my own life. That I didn’t belong with my family, that they only pretended to like me but secretly all hated me. Does that make sense?”

Andrew looks at you for a long moment, letting your words sink in. “It does.” he then mutters. “I don’t know what that feels like, but I can get behind the kind of pressure you must have been going through. I’m sorry to hear that, (Y/n). You didn’t deserve that kind of emotional pain.” 

You smile a bit at him. “Thank you, and for hearing me out as well. Now that you’ve heard my story, I’m curious to know more about you. You seemed to be very adamant about knowing what being anxious means.” 

He drags a hand through his curls as you walk in sudden silence as he thinks through your question. “Well, I… Before I met Jesus, things were worse for me as well. Whereas Simon was often living from day to day, making brash decisions which he sometimes dragged me into as well, I tried to make the best of things. This didn’t always go the way I wanted to, especially if we got in trouble or if we had a few days of poor catch… It’s… It’s hard trying to pay off your debts whilst they build faster than you can pay off. It’s an ever-growing pile of money that you can never dream of getting off your shoulders. I was often hopeless, like there was no end to it.” 

You hum. “I get that,” he says, “Although I cannot imagine what it’s like to be in your shoes, I can see that it has shaped you a lot. It’s nothing but logical that such a lifestyle would eventually cause you to grow desperate, especially when there seems to be no finish line to the suffering.”

“But now, things are different, no?” Andrew muses, causing you to smile a bit.

“Very much so.” You look at the back of Jesus’ head as He walks a little bit in front of you. As if He can feel your gaze and knows you’re watching Him, Jesus looks over His shoulder and smiles at you a bit. You mirror the expression before He turns back again to focus on the road.

“I wouldn’t have it any other way.” you sigh. “I’d rather starve than to go back to my old life. And with Jesus, there is no such thing as spiritual starvation, either. Only a hunger to know more about Him and about God.” At that, Andrew chuckles lightly.

Behind you, Nathanael complains about a blister. The sun is steadily lowering and you wonder how much longer you’re going to walk before heading off the path to set up camp.

“Are you still anxious?” Andrew wants to know.

“Sometimes.” you confess to your friend after a moment. “It’s difficult to not feel the weight of all this on my shoulders from time to time, too.”

“Yeah, I have that, too.” Andrew mutters before letting out a long sigh. There is a certain strain in his voice that tells you he’s been struggling with it more than he lets on. 

“For example, what happened to John. No matter how much you devote your life to the service of Adonai, it doesn’t mean that everyone will be going smoothly. Of course, a life free of suffering is never promised, not even to the most faithful of us. I mean, look at Job.” 

“Job?” 

Andrew realises your Roman background as you repeat the name with a heavily-accented voice. 

“Ah, he’s someone from Torah. A man who was very faithful, and God allowed the devil to take everything for him in order to test Job when faced with evil and suffering.”

“Did he endure?” 

“He did. He struggled with it a lot, but he still remained with God in spite of what he went through. That is true devotion and love. And in the end, God blessed and restored him with twice as much as he had before.”

“So… God restored Job because he accepted his fate?” 

Andrew pauses for a moment.

“Maybe put it this way: Job shows us genuine trust in God even when suffering seems without reason or end. And… I suppose that he accepted that it was part of life and does not make God any less powerful, even if His ways are often a mystery to us. None of us can ever comprehend our adversities, but we know this. That God is good and that His ways are better.” 

You squint at the horizon as the sun wavers at the edge. “I suppose that puts things into perspective. No matter our hardships, God is in control, no matter what we’re going through. It doesn’t take away from God’s glory if bad things happen to us, or if we don’t feel so confident about ourselves, or if our circumstances aren’t what we want them to be.” 

Slowly nodding, Andrew smiles at you. “You know what? Well-said, (Y/n). That sounds like a good way to put it. It doesn’t matter how tough life gets, it is God Who holds everything in His hand, and it is Him Who has the final say. Even if we are afraid at times… He is greater than that fear. That hope is more powerful than anything else.” 

You find Andrew’s conclusion inspiring, humming softly as you look at the back of Jesus’ head. The way He is looking from side to side every so often, you realise He is looking for a place to set up camp and turn in for the night, and you feel grateful for it.

“You aren’t alone in this, you know that?” you suddenly pipe up before you realise you even wanted to say these words to the former fisherman walking beside you, and Andrew gives you a kind look as he grins a bit.

“That’s good to know. Neither are you. It’s good to have someone who knows how it feels to be anxious about things. On the other had, it’s also nice to have someone to rely on in case you threaten to fall into that spiral of dread.” 

“Then let’s look out for one another.” you suggest.

Andrew purses his lips, his smile growing as he overthinks that idea. 

“It’s good to have you.”

“Likewise, Andrew.” 

As if on cue, Jesus veers off the beaten path, and the rest of the group follows. Even though all this talk of being less afraid now that your hope is stronger than that, your body still needs its rest. For a moment, you halt as Andrew walks further in front of you, and you watch him walk towards his older brother as you ponder your earlier conversation.

It’s pleasant to have company, but you’d also be fine on your own, something you wouldn’t have been in your past life. 

You are no longer afraid of the dark after all. 

[love-beyond-space-war]

If your requests are still open could it be damon vaird x read where there's jealousy involved it could be either damn or reader being jealous which eventually ends up with one of them confessing (blurting out) their feelings

I'm always one for jealous characters, especially Baird! Hope you like this short story of Baird being jealous about Cole :) Takes place in no specific Gear game. Sorry that I missed the blurting out feelings part, it didn't fit Baird in the fic :(

On My Nerves

Jealous! Damon Baird x Reader

Synopsis: Baird is tired of hearing you talk about Cole for about the thousandth time. Sometimes he wishes you'd show him that same adoration.

Content Warnings: Romantic Pairing, Gender-Neutral Reader/Male Character, Jealousy, Implications of Reader/Cole in a more platonic sense, Kissing.

"Man, I used to watch Cole Train play all the time. I'm surprised I even got to meet him, in the military no less!"

Baird grit his teeth but said nothing. He never really wanted to admit it but hearing you talk about Cole in such a way made his blood boil. Sure, Cole is cool and all, almost everyone knows him for his Thrashball career.

Baird just wishes you'd praise him in the same way since you're so close.

Baird gets it, Cole is a friendly and lovable person that draws others in. While Baird is the opposite and drives people away. It's expected that you'd take to Cole more than him.

Maybe he's just being insecure.

"Yeah, cool... I've been friends with him for years." Baird answers in a dismissive tone. You then continue on to talk about how big of a fan you are and how you've been hanging around him more often. Baird feels a weight in his gut as he listens in.

Did you like Cole more than a fan and friend? The thought that you may like Cole in a more romantic sense makes Baird ill. Yet... the signs are there.

"So what? Are you asking me to set you up on a little date? Is that it?" Baird finds himself snapping. The sudden bark in his voice shuts down your rant. He only feels more frustrated when your face flushes.

"I-... No, Baird. Me and Cole are just friends. I don't think I like him like that." You defend yourself. Baird turns to you with an unimpressed gaze.

"Really now? If you don't like him in such a way why do you speak about him with such adoration." Baird frowns. "You speak of him like he's so cool and hot or something. Always talking about him like he's the only thing that occupies your mind!"

You stare at your friend confused by his sudden outburst. He looks so angry. Did you... say something to upset him? Did Cole upset him somehow?

"Did something happen between you two?" You ask and Baird just about loses it with a sigh.

"No, not between him. I just can't stand to listen to you talk about him like some messiah anymore! He's not that great... he gets all of the attention by just being him." Baird vents, trying to calm his nerves. It's then you notice the last thing he said and feel your heart beat.

Truth is, you never had a crush on Cole. Cole and you were just friends and you happened to be a fan of him. You thought sharing your respect for Cole would connect you with Baird, the one you actually have feelings for.

Turns out you only made him jealous...

Which isn't that bad since it confirms your thoughts."

"Baird." You get his attention, the blonde's gaze glaring into you. "I see what's wrong now."

"Do you now?" Baird sighs, rolling his eyes.

"You're jealous I'm not praising you." You grin playfully.

There's silence between you as Baird feels his heart quicken.

"What makes you say that...?" Baird asks, scoffing.

"You're mad because I'm bringing up Cole. That's why you suggested the date, right?" You continue, walking closer to him. "If anything there's only one person I'd want to date and it isn't Cole."

"Is there someone else on your mind now?" Baird sighs.

"Yes." You say curtly, standing right in front of him. "You!"

There's another long pause of silence with Baird staring at you. It's then you take the time to slide a hand under his chin and pull him down to kiss you. Quickly Baird gives in, not fighting the sudden affection.

"So you finally caught on?" Baird murmurs when you pull away. Before you can fully pull apart from him he keeps his hands on your waist, pulling closer.

"Truth is, I liked you for awhile. I just couldn't figure out how to say it." You confess, laying your head on his chest.

"Is it because I'm difficult to talk to?" Baird asks.

"Partially." You snicker.

"Guess I can't blame you for that...." Baird sighs.

"As much as I like Cole..." you hum. "You are really intelligent and skilled when it comes to tech and explosives. You've helped the team more than once. Truthfully... Delta wouldn't be what it is without you."

"Hey! Where was that praise before, huh?" Baird frowns and you giggle.

"I was too shy to say."

"Bull." Baird grumbles before you kiss him again.

"Well... now that the cat's out of the bag..." You coo when you pull away, nuzzling into his neck. "Should we make things official?"

"I want to wait a bit..." Baird whispers, squeezing you closer as he leans towards your ear. "I want to just feel you in my arms right now... just to know you're mine."

"Of course, Baird." You laugh again softly. "I'll always be yours...."

With that you sit with Baird in silence, an emotional weight being lifted off both of you

[writerwrightlegend]

13 Days of Halloween:Day 7. Foggy Woods.

Summary:Geo had been running for what felt like hours through the woods. Its not easy to navigate the fog, especially with a broken Hunter-VG. It didn't help that it felt like someone was watching him through the fog.

Geo had been running for God knows how long now. There was sweat dripping down his head and his breathing was heavy and sharp. His heart was beating so fast that it felt like it would burst out of his chest.

He stopped underneath a tree before leaning against it. His legs and arms aches. He examined his Hunter-VG. The whole device was cracked and some parts were burned. He placed it around his wrist.

"Gnh!"

He grunted in pain as the device zapped his arm before the display appeared. It was barely working as the screen glitched out constantly. The wizard adapter wasn't faring any better. It had the same cracks as the Hunter-VG. It looked like it was about to shatter on impact.

"Omega-Xis... Mega? Can you hear me?"

"Yeah... kid, I can hear you..."

Geo looked at the screen as Omega-Xis appeared before leaving the adapter and appearing in front of Geo. Luckily, Mega was mostly fine with only a few small scratches.

"Thank goodness you're okay."

"Just who was that guy?"

"I have no idea."

Geo recalled the events of what happened prior to them being in the forest. He was at the Vista Point stargazing when a mysterious figure who looked suspiciously similar to Mega Man appeared. He called himself Rockman Shadow and claimed that he was to bring Geo back to Dr. Weil's laboratory for reprogramming. That's when the fighting began. Geo had changed to Mega Man and started fighting Rockman Shadow. Halfway through the first, however, Rockman Shadow aimed a blow that shattered Geo's Hunter-VG, knocking him out of his Wave Change form and paralyzing his arm. After that, Geo panicked and fled through the woods, hoping to lose Rockman Shadow in the fog. It seemed to have work. Geo had his Visualizer on and could see Mega but couldn't see any sign of Rockman Shadow.

"I think we lost him."

"Okay, but where are we?"

"Somewhere outside of town, not sure where but if we go back the way we came, we should be back at the Vista Point."

The two of them began making their way back home. As they were heading back, Geo began hearing whispers in the distance.

"He's here."

"So he's the savior?"

"I can't believe it. The Messiah is here!"

"Huh?"

Geo turned around only to see nothing.

"What's wrong, Geo?"

"I could've sworn I heard voices just now."

"Well, snap out of it and keep going, we don't know where Rockman Shadow and he could be right on our tails now."

"Right, let's go."

He continued traveling through the woods, trying to recall his steps.

"Is he lost?"

"Shouldn't we help him?"

"We can't show our faces yet, but we can guide him."

"This way..."

Geo watched as a blue orb of light went past him. He instinctively began following it. They continued onwards, occasionally, the wind would howl. Finally, after what seemed like forever, Geo could see civilization in the distance.

"Mega, look!"

"Let's go!"

They ran towards the area.

"Wait!"

"No! Do not go there, Messiah!"

"It's a trap!"

The voices pleas fell on deaf ears as Geo ran towards the Vista Point, only to be met with Rockman Shadow again.

"You!"

"Ah, I figured you would come back."

He began speaking through his wristband to someone.

"Dr. Weil, I've found him. You can begin the operation."

"Mega Man is unarmed?"

"Yes, I'll detain him right now."

"Good! Let Operation Override commence!"

"What?!"

Geo looked up in horror to see a fleet of ships coming this way. Robots rained from the sky and began attacking the city and capturing people. Geo saw his friends being surrounded by robots in the distance.

"Guys!"

"Not so fast!"

Geo began running over to his friends, only to be stopped by Rockman Shadow and thrown into a wall.

"Gnh!"

"You're not going anywhere."

Geo tried to run but, Rockman Shadow shot him through the chest with his own mega buster.

"Ahhhh!"

Geo fell into ground, hitting the back of his head. In his nauseous state, Rockman Shadow put handcuffs on Geo's arms and a collar around his neck before doing the same to Omega-Xis. Mega stayed next to Geo, trying to wake him up.

"Kid! Geo, come on! Don't you dare go out on me!"

While this was happening, Rockman Shadow's backup arrived.

"It's about time you all got here, hurry up and help me load this two into the ship."

Mega was loaded into a cage with Geo before being transported onto the ship and moved into a cell.

"Misson complete, Dr. Weil."

"Good, bring him to the main base in Cyber City, where he can be persuaded into joining our cause."

"Yes, sir."

The airship began flying towards Dr. Weil's man base.

[junegirl06]

Hush now, little one don't be scared. Tuck your head in and snuggle up tight as I tell you the tale of a wonderful world. A world full of rolling colors and silly shapes. Take a peek into the land of wonder of magic, of life. see them live and laugh and love, and perhaps you'll wake up in the morning having learned to do the same. Let me tell you the tale of the land of sweets. Let me tell you the tale of the land of oddities. Let me tell you the tale of the land of dreams. Let me tell you the tale of Euclydia.

I have a headcannon that a trillion years ago, before the Euclidian massacre, the entire universe dreamed of Euclydia when they slept. Euclydia was an actual place that existed, but it was in a kind of bubble. There were creatures like the Axolotl that were aware of its physical existence, but nobody could actually get in or out. That was because Euclydia itself just kind of floated in and out of the mindscape and reality. Its very existence is tied to the mindscape. As such, Euclydia operates on dream logic. Anybody can do anything, anything can happen to anything, and reality itself can be easily bent and molded to the citizen's whims.

Euclydia looks different to everyone who looks at it. That applies to the dreamers (although their dreams always look vaguely 2-D and the people always look like shapes) and to the Euclidians to a certain degree as well.

However, for as free rein and trippy Euclydia seems to be, the people were strangely unimaginative with what they did. Most of the magic things they did were just for convenience - like telekinesis - sports, maybe something among the caliber of freezing a cabinet if someone got really crazy. The real magic of Euclydia came from the fact it could look like anything to an outsider. To a Euclidian, it would look surprisingly normal and mundane. Sure, the little Euclidians would look at the green grass and see blue toes or something, but eventually, somebody would convince them it was just green grass and that would be how they would see it for the rest of their lives. The most notable thing about this sterile mindset though, is that Euclidians believed wholeheartedly that the bubble they lived in - the boundaries of what their dream magic could affect- was the entire world. Anyone who claimed there was something more was completely ignored or heavily bullied.

Then came the prophecy. It was a simple foretelling by a simple unnamed shape. It went that the child of Scalene and Euclid would permanently and irreversibly kill the two parents, and with their deaths, would usher in a new era for dreams.

Obviously, this caused mixed reactions. Euclidians weren't exactly the most familiar with the concept of death, as most people could easily survive normally lethal experiences, and just bringing back a person if they had somehow "died" was what usually happened. As such, some were scared, some dismissed the prophecy entirely, and some were hopeful about what this new 'era' would be. Then Bill was born, and... nothing happened. Scalene and Euclid were completely fine, and by all means, Bill just seemed like a very average baby Euclidian.

This led to some people ignoring the whole 'his parents would die' part of the prophecy and celebrating Bill as a divine messiah type character. (his birthday did indeed, become a minor holiday)

But Bill, of course, was not a normal Euclidian. He started opening up about seeing things that others couldn't. Things like light, and space, and stars. However, everybody laughed at him when he spoke of things like that, and when it became clear he wouldn't shut up about it, he was literally given medication. Even among his peers, he was ridiculed for it. (Though, the kids were kind of jealous of him and were looking for an oppurtunity to be jerks anyways)

The once celebrated child of prophecy who would lead everybody to a (supposedly) bright future became just... that weird kid. What was so special about him anyways? All he really could do differently was see a bit better, and that just seemed to annoy people instead of helping. Nobody liked him for him, just the made up icon in their heads.

Eventually, (after years and years) things came to a breaking point, and Bill decided to try something no Euclidian had ever tried before. Extending his influence through the entirety of Euclydia. He would make them see, he had to. The stars were right there. All he needed to do was to get rid of that pesky bubble blinding everyone...

Usually, if someone tried to pull a stunt similar to that, someone else would come by and defuse it - That's the thing about a world where everybody has near infinite power, things balance out - but nobody stopped Bill. Why? Perhaps it was sheer dumb luck, maybe divine bullshittery - the question still haunts Bill to this very day.

Obviously, such a huge event drew the attention of cosmic forces like the Axolotl and time baby. (Wait, was time baby even alive at that point? I know he's old but is he older than Bill?) They found out that Euclydia was completely unsalvageable.

Through some horrific irony, the prophecy did come true in a way. Bill killed his parents, (and everyone else) and dreams did change. Through burning a giant hole in the mindscape, Euclydia disappeared, and dreams adopted to let the dreamer's mind kind of wander the mindscape at night instead of focusing on a fixed point. The stories and lullaby’s about the wonderful “land of dreams” slowly disappeared over time, until the name of Euclydia just became whispers among the gods.

Meanwhile, Bill was sitting in a corner in an alien reality dealing with a massive heapload of trauma as well as trying desperately to understand this utterly bizarre world around him. So this was what the 3rd dimension was like... It was loud and big (much, much bigger than he had initially assumed) and strange. He didn't like it. But... he couldn't go back, he couldn't see his parents, his classmates, even those annoying kids that used to laugh at him, he couldn't feel his blanket, he couldn't eat those nice sandwiches his mom had always made, nothing was familiar anymore because he destroyed it all.

So how did he cope with all this? By taking over the land he had found himself in as its overlord. This, of course, was the nightmare realm. It wasn't called that before though. Bill was the one who started calling it that after he utterly wrecked it. (Or “fixed it” in his words) After living his entire life with horribly boring people and finally free to explore the limits of his logic defying dream magic that had stuck with him even outside of Euclydia, he went a bit haywire with his takeover... to the point he literally broke the laws of physics and destroyed all semblance of what the nightmare realm had been before. He also managed to get himself a crew of interdimensional freaks to break more stuff with, and so finally, he found himself settling into his new life.

Now, I want to elaborate a bit more on the logistics of Bill's powers. He is from a species that logically doesn't make sense. He is a broken piece of the mindscape thrust into the real world, and thus, everything about him boils down - to dream logic. He can pretty much do anything he can think of, but that doesn't mean he doesn't have limits. His powers revolve around and are limited by how he views himself and how he chooses to portray himself.

An obvious example of this is the fact he appears as a demon. He already destroyed his home world, as well as a decent number of dimensions at this point, and so, well... even he had to admit quietly that no matter how hard he tries to gaslight himself, he can't help but view himself as a monster. If that was the case, why not embrace it even further? Demons make shady deals and possess stuff - messing with people is fun, so why not? Wait, demons have fire, so, err... you know what, fire is also fun! He burnt down his home? Burn more! Yeah! This is fine. This is who he wants to be! (He says while trying not to focus on the mental image of his parents glaring at him)

Everybody had made fun of him for seeing more, so wouldn't it be a huge middle finger to be able to see more than anyone else in the universe? Besides, he did have a lot of unanswered questions about the 3rd dimension after wondering what it was like for so long as a child. It'd be fun to just look around it without actually having to move across galaxies and stuff. That was a great idea!... ah- oops- yeesh, seeing everything at once was a bit much... he could limit it to... triangles, yeah, that much was better.

What Bill could and couldn't do shifted a lot over the years, but his ability to traverse the mindscape, his all-seeing eye, and his magic leaning more on the side of demonic remained a constant throughout his long lifespan.

Now... Okay, I'm going to be completely honest, I don't have the best explanation for why Bill can't seem to physically leave the nightmare realm - so I'm just going to throw the "random dream magic working against Bill" reasoning at it. I'd also use it to justify some other details, such as aluminum blocking Bill from entering someone’s mind, and why his power scaling can seem inconsistent at times. He's reluctantly learned to accept occurrences where his own logic works against him - but the whole not able to leave the nightmare realm was definitely a huge slap in the face for him. (not that he took away anything from it)

[timeless-fanfic]

Hey, I loved the pilate and Claudia talk but I was still wondering if you could do one with pilate and. Jewish girl

The Weight of Innocence

Word Count: 1285

Pontius Pilate x (Platonic) Reader

The midday sun cast a warm glow over the Roman palace, a stark contrast to the tension that simmered beneath its marble walls. Pontius Pilate paced his private quarters, his brow furrowed, thoughts consumed by the events unfolding in Jerusalem. The city, always a hive of activity, had become a battleground of voices, and at the center of it all was a man named Jesus.

Word of the supposed prophet had reached Pilate’s ears long before the Jewish leaders brought Him to trial. Pilate had heard of the miracles, the teachings, the hope that seemed to follow Jesus wherever He went. But now, as the religious leaders demanded His crucifixion, Pilate found himself in a position he could neither fully comprehend nor escape. The man was innocent—anyone could see that. But the pressure to appease the Jewish authorities, to keep the fragile peace, weighed heavily on Pilate’s mind.

As he stood by the open window, looking out over the bustling streets of Jerusalem, a knock at his door interrupted his thoughts.

“Enter,” Pilate called, his voice more tired than commanding.

A guard stepped inside, bowing slightly before speaking. “Governor, there’s a woman here to see you. She says it’s important.”

Pilate sighed, rubbing his temples. “Another complaint? What does she want?”

“She’s Jewish, sir. I’m not sure what she wants, but she mentioned… Jesus.”

At the mention of Jesus’ name, Pilate’s interest was piqued. He waved the guard away. “Send her in.”

Moments later, a young Jewish woman entered the room, her eyes cast downward in deference. Her dark hair was pulled back into a modest covering, and her hands were clasped in front of her, as if holding onto some unseen hope. Pilate studied her for a moment before speaking.

“You wished to see me?” he asked, his voice more curious than stern.

The woman raised her eyes slowly, meeting his gaze with an unexpected steadiness. “Yes, Governor. I… I wanted to speak to you about the man you hold prisoner. Jesus of Nazareth.”

Pilate’s brow arched. “You’re one of His followers?”

She hesitated for a moment before nodding. “I am. My name is (Y/N). I know you’re a busy man, but I felt I had to come. To speak with you.”

Pilate gestured for her to continue, intrigued by her quiet determination.

“I know you don’t believe in our faith,” (Y/N) began, her voice soft but firm, “but Jesus… He’s not just a prophet. He’s the Messiah. Many of us believe He was sent to fulfill the prophecies of old.”

Pilate crossed his arms, his gaze narrowing slightly. “And what does that have to do with me?”

(Y/N)’s eyes flickered with emotion as she stepped forward, her hands trembling slightly. “Because I know you don’t want to kill Him,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “I’ve heard the rumors in the streets, and I’ve seen the way you’ve handled other prisoners. You’re a just man, Governor Pilate. You can see that He’s done nothing wrong.”

Pilate stared at her, the words hanging heavy in the air. “You think I don’t know that?” he said, his tone sharper than he intended. “You think I haven’t questioned the charges brought against Him? The Jewish leaders are determined to see Him crucified, and if I don’t comply, there will be riots in the streets. You can’t possibly understand the weight of this decision.”

(Y/N) flinched at his words but stood her ground. “I understand more than you think,” she replied, her voice shaking with conviction. “I’ve seen what happens to those who challenge the authorities. But Jesus isn’t like anyone else. He’s changed everything—He’s healed the sick, raised the dead, shown us what it means to love and forgive. And I know, deep down, you must see that too.”

Pilate was silent for a moment, the weight of her words pressing against his chest. He had spent the past hours questioning his own judgment, wrestling with the decision that could alter the course of history. The truth was, Pilate had never encountered a man like Jesus before. Even in the moments when Jesus stood silent before him, there had been something unsettling about His presence—a quiet strength, a certainty that defied the accusations hurled against Him.

“What do you expect me to do?” Pilate asked, his voice quieter now, almost resigned. “You speak of faith, of miracles, but the people outside this palace, the ones crying for His blood, they don’t care about any of that. They want Him dead.”

“I expect you to follow your conscience,” (Y/N) said softly. “You’re in a position of power, yes, but that doesn’t mean you have to do what’s wrong just to maintain control. If you know He’s innocent, you must act on it.”

Pilate turned away from her, his hands clenched at his sides. “You think it’s that simple?”

“No,” (Y/N) admitted. “But the truth rarely is.”

For a moment, the room fell into silence. Pilate could hear the distant murmur of voices from the streets below, the growing unrest among the crowds who awaited his judgment. He knew what they wanted. But standing here, listening to this woman speak of a man who had touched so many lives, Pilate felt a stirring of something he hadn’t expected—doubt. Not doubt in Jesus’ innocence, but doubt in his own ability to stand against the tide of hatred and fear that threatened to sweep over him.

Finally, Pilate turned back to (Y/N), his expression unreadable. “You’re brave to come here and speak to me like this,” he said quietly. “Most people wouldn’t dare.”

“I’m not brave,” (Y/N) replied, shaking her head. “I’m just… I believe in Him. And I believe that you’re not the kind of man who would condemn an innocent person. Not if you had the choice.”

Pilate studied her for a long moment, his thoughts swirling like a storm. “Even if I believed what you say,” he began slowly, “how can I stop what’s already in motion? The people won’t listen to reason. They want blood.”

“Sometimes,” (Y/N) said, her voice gentle but firm, “doing what’s right means standing against the crowd.”

Pilate exhaled slowly, the weight of her words settling over him like a heavy cloak. He knew that what she said was true, but he also knew that the decision he made in the coming hours would define his rule—and possibly his life.

Before he could respond, a guard appeared at the door, interrupting the moment. “Governor, the leaders are demanding an answer.”

Pilate glanced toward the door, his jaw clenched. He looked back at (Y/N), her eyes still filled with quiet determination.

“I don’t know what will happen,” he admitted, his voice low. “But you should go. It’s not safe for you to be here.”

(Y/N) nodded, understanding the gravity of his words. She turned to leave but paused at the door, looking back at him one last time. “I’ll be praying for you, Governor Pilate. And for Him.”

With that, she disappeared into the corridor, leaving Pilate alone with his thoughts.

For a long while, he stood there, staring out the window at the bustling city below. He could feel the weight of history pressing down on him, and for the first time in his life, he wasn’t sure if he was strong enough to bear it.

But one thing was clear: this decision, this moment, would change everything.

Scripture Reference: John 19:12 - "From then on, Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews cried out, 'If you release this man, you are not Caesar's friend. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar.'"

[kieran-the-writer]

Statement of Salome Lukas

I. Statement Begins

I was born to Oliver and Judith Carter in 1988. I think they cared about me, but I can’t be sure. My earliest clear memory is from when I was four years old, watching my parents be taken by the Spiral after they put me to bed. There couldn’t have been a door there. There couldn’t have been, but they opened it anyway and never came out again…

The time between that and going into the foster system is a blur. The families did their best, but how do you accommodate a traumatized toddler with abandonment issues and an irrational fear of unfamiliar doors? I didn’t get a chance to process and grieve my parents’ deaths for a long time. How could I, with the way I was bounced between foster homes? I remember the workers talking about bringing me to a halfway house in Oxford, but I think those plans must have fallen through. Then again, thinking back on it, I wonder if my uncle had gotten involved…

It took two years following the incident with the Spiral for my uncle, Peter Lukas—my mum’s brother—to come round for me, and before I knew it, he’d officially adopted me as his daughter, and I had a single bedroom cabin aboard his cargo ship. I was wary, but even now, I can’t deny that small, hopeful part of me.

I want to say I eventually learned that my uncle–while chatty—wasn’t interested in getting close to me and that I gave up trying to get his attention, but even now, something inside me just wants his approval.

His approval. That’s where this hell all stems from, isn’t it? The desperate, human need for connection, shoved down and ignored along with years of trauma in favor of behaving in the vain hopes that Uncle Peter would just look at me.

A lot of good that did me in the end. I played right into his hands…

He didn’t raise me, not really. He brought in a rotating cast of nannies and tutors whose names… I don’t remember their names, really. Or their faces. They swapped out whenever we made port. …Or maybe Peter just fed them to Forsaken when their time was up and brought in someone new. There was only one ‘tutor’ who I remember with any great clarity. It was an old man—who I think must have owed my uncle a favor—called Simon Fairchild. He was the one who gave me my first guitar, though now that I think about it, he might have originally stolen it from someone he threw into the Vast…

My entire childhood was spent completely alone. No family. No friends save for a boy my uncle had introduced me to when I was twelve or thirteen, but even that came with… expectations… I wouldn't be surprised if he features in some of your statements. Gerard Keay. His mother and my uncle had hoped that Gerard and I would… combine the Lukas and von Closen lines. Nothing ever happened between us, of course. Not even my uncle could manipulate that into existence, thank God.

That’s not to say I didn’t love Gerard; he was like a brother to me. We just weren’t each other’s types, plus we were just… We were too similar. We were both deep in the Fears. I suppose that was part of my uncle’s decision to try and pair us up.

I could have run away. I tried once or twice when we made port; but it always came down to my craving for my uncle’s approval and affection. I… I couldn’t have known what I was choosing by staying…

That was his goal, you know. To make me… I don’t know what you’d call it. Beholding has its archivists, and the Lightless Flame had its messiah, the Spiral has its Distortion. Whatever that is, my uncle wanted me to be it. I remember hearing him call me ‘the All-Alone’ – the perfect vessel for Forsaken’s power.

But he made a mistake. I was nineteen and well into my journey to my Becoming when Elias Bouchard suggested I begin handling the quarterly financial meetings, and my uncle took him up on it; I think they were sick of dealing with each other, and I… Even then, at eighteen years old and after twelve years of empty futility, I went along with it to make him happy, to make him look at me. All I wanted was for him to look at me…

It took until my second meeting for me to meet him. Michael Shelley. He was filling in for Bouchard’s secretary that day, and I met him when I went up to his office.

He was unlike anyone I’d ever met before. All my uncle’s associates are either loud, arrogant, or both, and Michael didn’t seem to be either one. When he smiled, his eyes crinkled, like he was genuinely happy to see me. I’d never gotten that kind of look from anyone, not even Gerard.

And when he spoke, he had this little stutter. He was awkward, and sweet, and his laugh was weird, and he was... He was perfectly imperfect.

He fascinated me. And it turned out I fascinated him, as well. Over time, that mutual fascination turned into… love, I suppose. As clichéd as that is. I felt… happy. Truly, deeply happy. He made me happy. He was so sweet and caring. He saw me.

But then… But then… Gertrude Robinson decided Michael Shelley, my Michael Shelley, would be a perfect little disposable sacrificial lamb to disrupt the Spiral’s ritual.

And now, for the heart of the matter: why I tried to kill that old woman. Have you ever lost the one thing tethering you to your humanity? The grief is… unquantifiable. I couldn’t eat. I could barely open my eyes some days. I starved to death – both my body and the Lonely. And then I came back, traveled to Chelsea, and cast half the Institute into Forsaken before Gerard talked me down. He was the only reason I didn't kill Gertrude Robinson. I think he blamed himself for a lot of it; he had tried over and over to—to break me out of my uncle’s programming. He was even the one to get me to ask Michael out, hoping that would be enough to ground me – and it was. …Until it wasn’t.

Peter must have been thrilled. There I was, a newly realized, grieving incarnation of the Lonely and I already cast half of Elias’s place of power into the fog; and all it took was the death of the love of my life.

---

Masterlist

[buggie-hagen]

Sermon for Sixth Sunday after Pentecost (7/9/23)

Primary Text | Zechariah 9:9-12

------------------------------------------------------

Dear People of God,

          Look! Pay attention! See what is happening here! The prophecy of Zechariah. It is our King who comes to us, not we who come to our King. He is triumphant and victorious. I am not talking about King Charles. Nor am I talking about the President of the United States. The psalmist says after all, “Do not put your trust in princes, in mortals, in whom there is no help…when their breath departs—that very day their plans perish” (Ps. 146:3-4). This is a different kind of King I am speaking about—not a political ruler. He is a kind of King we have not seen before. He is a King in whom we can put all our trust. In his hands, our trust is always in safekeeping. This King I speak of is the Christ, the Messiah of God, Jesus our Lord. It is this King Jesus who arrives on earth as God’s anointed one. Uniquely chosen to bring peace to the nations. Jesus comes to us in order to save. In the days leading up to his suffering and death, our King Jesus road into Jerusalem on a donkey. Note that. It was not a great steed of a horse. He did not come to his holy passion riding a Mercedes-Benz. Nor riding on a Tesla. He came to the task set before him riding on a donkey. It is a most humble way. Not attractive. Not grandiose. It was a lowly occurrence.

          Now, why is that important? If Jesus came riding in on a Tesla people would come to him for the wrong reasons. We’d be impressed with the features in his car. We’d admire the shiny paint job. We’d be looking with awe at the state-of-the-art technology. We might be fascinated that it doesn’t need gas to work. So what’s a donkey compared to a Tesla? It’s just a regular farm animal. It’s stubborn. It poops. It makes an obnoxious noise. You got flies following it around. Our King Jesus arrived on a lowly donkey and not on anything more esteemed because he wants people to believe in him and follow him for his own sake. Not to mention, to scorn the prestige of the world. I’m sure there’d be people flocking to this place if we started handing out gold bars. If we promised them health and wealth and every luxury. We have something unbelievably better than Teslas and gold bars. In the humble means of a bit of bread we have forgiveness of sin. In the mouth of a nobody we have given to us a life eternal. In a splash of water we have salvation. No one regards these simple things because they look so insignificant. The word and the sacraments are, in a manner of speaking, so ordinary, so boring. Isn’t there more fun to be had in a jet ski? Isn’t my time better spent doing other things I want to do? After all, what good can a little bit of water poured over my head in baptism do? What help is there for me in a sip of wine? Why would the Almighty choose to speak to us by just a regular human being? Not to mention, one with so many flaws to boot! (pause) As it is, God has set a part a people for himself who will receive his humble word gladly. Just as Jesus arrived into Jerusalem on a humble donkey, Jesus continues to arrive to you and me in such humble and ordinary ways in his word and in his sacraments. In those things, your King comes to you. In them you have God’s goodness without measure apart from your works. Because in them you have Christ. Christ, who is life itself And when you have Christ, there is nothing better to have in the world. (pause)

          I want to take a look at the final verse the Prophet Zechariah leaves with us today. He says, “Return to your stronghold, O prisoners of hope; today I declare that I will restore to you double” (Zech. 9:12). What is our stronghold, dear people? Our stronghold is nothing other than God’s promise made to us in Jesus Christ. Which we encounter in the word spoken. Faith comes by hearing, after all. It is a specific promise that is spoken not just generally but to you in particular. It is not enough just to say, “God is love.” It is true that God is love. But how do we know whether he is love for you and me? This is where the promise comes in. This is how we know God beyond generalities—in the absolution! When God says specifically to you, “Because of the blood of my covenant, the blood of my Son, I forgive you.” Your stronghold in all of life stems from the promise God made to you in baptism when for the sake of Jesus Christ he forgave you all your sins—past, present, and future. (pause) Now, Zechariah says on behalf of God, “Return to your stronghold” for good reason. We are feeble in our faith. We are weak. When faced with the troubles of this world both from within and from without, we wonder if God really does keep that promise. Can we trust him? Should we look elsewhere? Are the word and the sacraments truly enough? Here Zechariah speaks profoundly, beautifully. He calls you and I “prisoners of hope.” The hope we have been given in our King Jesus Christ does not disappoint. God’s love has been poured into our hearts. And so we are captivated. We are tied to that hope whether we like it or not. Whether we feel it or not. Whether we see it or not. Because God is the one who is faithful. God’s greatest attribute is that he does not lie. We are called prisoners of hope because our will has nothing to do with it. Nor can we convince God to undo his promise. His promise to give you life stands forever. We are indeed prisoners of hope. What’s more, God promises to “restore to you double.” Whatever we have in this life is but a drop in the ocean for the goodness that God will make known to us in the future. (that he begins to make known to us now). Whatever suffering you go through now, whatever storms you face, your hope in Christ is greater yet. (pause) Now Jesus reveals himself specifically to you as he wants to be known in this humble way: “Come to me, all you that are weary and carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

[ravenspeakrp]

Welcome to Raven’s Peak, Dusto, we’re excited to have you. Abel Davis (Michael B Jordan, Witch) has been accepted. Please be sure to stop by the CHECKLIST for the follow list, tags to track, and other reminders.

OUT OF CHARACTER 

NAME: Dusto PRONOUNS: He/him AGE: 29 TIMEZONE: EST

IN CHARACTER 

FULL NAME: Abel Davis SPECIES: Witch AGE: 34 DATE OF BIRTH: July 7th GENDER IDENTITY: Cis-male NEIGHBORHOOD: Downtown OCCUPATION: None. WORKPLACE: None. POSITIVE TRAITS: Charming, genuine, loyal NEGATIVE TRAITS: Distrustful, stubborn, hedonistic  LENGTH OF TIME IN RAVEN’S PEAK: A week FACE CLAIM: Michael B Jordan

BIOGRAPHY

TRIGGER WARNING: Abuse, death

- The seventh son of the seventh son, born on seventh day of the seventh month, under the light of a full moon, Abel Davis was prophesized by his coven to be a witch of extraordinary power who would lead them to prosperity and dominion over all others like never seen before.

- His treatment throughout his life was like that of a messiah; he was revered by all who knew him, almost to the point of being worshipped. But so great were the expectations that were placed upon him that whenever he failed to live up to them, the consequences were severe. But perhaps even worse than that, was the fact that he wasn't allowed to leave, or have friends, or do anything that a normal child would do.

- It's not hard to understand why, at age fourteen, he ran away, wanting nothing more than to escape the dysfunction and unbearable weight that came from being a child of prophecy. So badly did he want to live a normal life, that for many years, he buried his magic within himself and tried to forget it altogether. 

- Unfortunately, no matter how far he ran, he was never able to truly escape his coven who pursued him relentlessly. He was never able to stay in one place for too long before he was discovered and had to run again, and he was constantly looking over his shoulder. Finally, more than twenty years after he first fled, he was caught, bound, and thrown into the back of a van, so that he could be taken back to the very same Hell that he had spent years trying to put behind him. That's the last thing that he remembers happening, before waking up lying in the middle of a deserted road, surrounded by the smoldering remains of destroyed cars and dead bodies, including the bodies of those who had been trying to drag him back. The power that he had tried so hard to suppress for so long had exploded out of him, and caused destruction in its wake, and it was clear to him that he could ignore it no longer; he needed to learn how to control and use it, or else he could end up hurting many more innocent people 

-  Throughout his years of travelling, he'd heard whispers about a place where the supernatural gathered and lived without the need to hide, and it sounded like exactly where he needed to go if he wanted to learn how to use his magic. It took some time to find, but he eventually was able to make his way to Raven's Peak, where he hopes he can find someone who can teach him how to control and embrace his power, rather than fear it and resent it. 

FILLING CONNECTION: No

[leonbloder]

The Journey of the Magi

In his wonderful poem The Journey of the Magi, T.S. Eliot tells the story of the Magi who followed a star to Bethlehem to see the Messiah.  

The last stanza is a masterpiece told from the perspective of one of the Magi years after the event: 

On the surface, this may seem dark, especially the last line, but there's something extraordinary about the words of the Magi that bears some exploration.  

The Magi speaks of Birth and Death, capitalizing words for emphasis.  The birth and death that he speaks of are connected to the incredible transformation that he experienced at the end of his journey. 

He also speaks of how, upon their return, all of the Magi were different.  They felt unsettled and "no longer at ease" as they realized that their old life and old ways felt hollow compared to the wonder they felt at the sight of the Christ-child. 

At what seems to be a reflection on all of this at the end of his life, the Magi narrating the story admits that he "should be glad of another death."  This sounds dark, to be sure.  

But what he's actually wishing for is a future enveloped in hope, something that will lift him beyond the hollowness of the old life and old beliefs that he and his comrades returned to after their great adventure. 

There's a lot to love about this perspective and the lessons that the story of the Magi teaches us. 

Far too many Christians celebrate the arrival of Christ, the moment when God became one of us to rescue all of us, and then return to their old lives and old spaces as if nothing happened.  

It's become too routine, this celebration of the birth of the Christ-child and all that it brings with it.  We have done it so many times that we've lost our sense of wonder at how God entered into history to demonstrate how far God is willing to go to save and restore.  

The story of the Magi is filled with wonder and marked by the transformation that not only changes us but gives us a sense of holy discontent about the state of the world around us. 

If we let ourselves enter that story, we can discover just how incredible it truly is and find that we've been forever changed by it.  We won't be content to continue as we have with a hollow faith that settles for less-than-living.  

May you discover wonder in this new year.  May you embrace the transformation that comes when you embrace the story of God's love.  

And may the grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you now and always. Amen.  

[empressofthesunwriter]

Goddess of the Sun, Queen of the Stars

On a night shooting stars cross over Konohagakure the life of 12-year-old Hinata changes forever. A white wolf named Shiranui searched for her to end the reign of the “Planet Eaters” as she calls the enemy. The young Hyuuga awakens power beyond her imagination. But will it be enough to end the millennia-old conflict?

OP!Hinata

Goddess!Hinata   

Chapter 3: Beginning

Slowly breathing in and out Hinata stood before her classroom door.

When she goes through this door…she will start her life as kunoichi of the village hidden in the leaves.

Even with all the training she had done over the year with Shiranui, the Hyuuga Heiress was still in disbelief that she managed to become a Genin yesterday.

Also, Iruka-Senei congratulated her, as being kunoichi of the year. 

A spot Haruno Sakura would have gotten if her Hoshi-Kami friend never had stepped into her life, she was sure.

“Nervous, Hinata-Chan?”, asked Shiranui in the form of a star brooch on the dark blue Obi she wore.

As a graduation gift, Shiranui had given her a new ninja gear. 

Hinata wore a sleeveless black turtleneck made out of soft fabric. Woven in it was the plate of a headband from Konoha.

An off-the-shoulder white kimono jacket with golden trims and the already named dark blue Obi with Shiranui in the form of a silver star brooch.

Simple dark blue baggy pants and the standard ninja sandals, kunai holder and pouches on her back completed the outfit.

It was one of the most beautiful things she ever wore.

It also made her nervous.

Showing her shoulders…also her clothes did nothing to hide her..erm…developed figure…if this wasn’t a gift, Hinata would never wear such a thing.

Nervously she played with a kimono sleeve, answering her wolf companion: “Kind of…I’m not used to such clothes…also what will happen now that I’m a Genin.”

“We will cross the bridge when we get there.”, advised Shiranui. “Already making yourself freak out will do nothing good. Keeping a calm head is the key to being a good shinobi and one day a powerful goddess.”

Only because she heard the Hoshi-Kami say this for a year, Hinata managed not to sign and again saying she would never be the goddess, the Messiah, Shiranui wanted.

Did the hellish training of Shiranui turn her into the best kunoichi of her class?

Yes.

Did it turn her into the heiress her father wanted? 

Also yes.

Could she use advanced Jutsu like Kagebushin and was she not affin to all 5 elements?

Yes, Yes!

But it didn’t mean she was a goddess.

Maybe, and even thinking this made Hinata feel unworthy, a prodigy in the ninja arts.

There were still a lot of shinobi out there who would clean the floor with her without breaking a sweat.

Sadly she couldn’t win against Shiranui. She was a blockhead trough and trough.

Hinata only waited for the day she WOULD undoubtedly screw up and her wolf companion would see what big mistake she made in laying all her hopes in the Hyuuga Heiress.

So she only thanked Shiranui for her words and entered the classroom. 

Swift, she found a place to sit down, hoping no one would take note of her.

Thankful no one did.

But she took note of something pleasing.

Naruto was in the room, proudly wearing a headband.

Naruto-Kun was able to graduate…she thought happily for him.

Then Sakura and Ino formally burst into the room and all got downhill from there.

Our goddess-to-be didn’t need to see Naruto and Sasuke accidentally kiss. 

Naruto's first kiss was stolen in such a stupid way. 

She wanted to cry.

In her brooch form, Shiranui nearly died of laughter seeing the scene.

Over the past year, the Hoshi-Kami had learned that the blond boy was always good for a laugh.

Still, neither of the two females liked that Sasuke’s Fanclub beat the poor boy up.

It was a stupid accident, not like both boys wanted to lock lips.

Anyway, Iruka-Sensei finally arrived, which calmed the class down. 

He sends them all a warm and happy smile.

“Starting today, you are all official ninjas, but…You all are still new Genin…”, he began. “It’s going to get harder from here.”

He explained how they would form a group of three with a Jonin instructor as their sensei doing missions together.

Again Hinata played with her kimono sleeve. It would be nice to be with Naruto-Kun in a team…I don’t know who should be our third. I’m open to anything.

For her growth and allies, she needs…Uzumaki and Uchiha., thought Shiranui. No doubt the reincarnations of the sons of the Sage of the Six Paths will play a major role in this world…

Calmly Iruka-Sensei began to read the teams aloud, Hinata got more twitchy any second she didn’t hear Naruto’s or her name.

She didn’t want to hope…but it would be so nice to finally talk and interact with Naruto. 

Even if they were only teammates, Hinata wished to be closer to her crush.

“Next the 7th group, Uzumaki Naruto…”

So hard Hinata gripped her kimono sleeve so that Shiranui thought she would rip it apart any second.

“...Hyuuga Hinata…”

…Did she hear right?!

A tiny happy squeak came out of her mouth. Blushing she put her hands over it.

Please, let nobody have heard it…

If someone did it was forgotten since the third and last name was Sasuke Uchiha!

Not only did Naruto crumple like a balloon, but Sasuke’s Fanclub, mostly Sakura and Ino, screeched in outrage!

“Why her?!”

“This is not fair!”

“She doesn’t even like him!”

“No Sasuke-Kun belongs with me, how could destiny be so cruel!”

Oh Kami, Hinata wished to crawl into her kimono, why did it have to be off-the-shoulder?

“Girls calm down!”, shouted Iruka-Sensei over the hyestric fangirls. “Hinata was placed on the team since she is the top kunoichi. It’s tradition to put the Rookie of the Year, Sasuke here, the top kunoichi and the dead last in one team. It balances their weaknesses out.”

Naruto didn’t seem to have listened since he asked how a top student like him was placed in a team with Sasuke. Again Iruka-Sensei explained the reasons. 

Sasuke told Naruto arrogantly to not get in his way.

The two boys would surely fought each other if Iruka-Sensei hadn’t stopped them.

I take it back…not anyone with Naruto and myself…even Sakura would be better…

Damn, that sibling rivalry transcends lifetimes…my poor Hinata-Chan…

The Hyuuga and the wolf in brooch form had a sweatdrop running down.

After Iruka-Sensei called for the other teams, Shiranui took only note that Team 8 would be the Inuzuka boy, the Aburame and the Haruno-Fangirl and Team 10 Yamanaka, Nara and Akimichi, it was time for lunch.

Thoughtful Hinata ate the Bento she had prepared for herself. She had wanted to ask Naruto and Sasuke out to eat with her. 

It would be good to bond with them, but she had chickened out.

For all the power she was wielding now…she still was shy and timid.

Also, her wolf friend wanted to talk with her.

So she sat down alone on a secluded bench and waited for Shiranui to speak.

“What do you know about the Sage of Six Path, Hinata-Chan?”, was she asked.

Okay, she didn’t expect that.

“Not much.”, she admitted. “Only that legends say he was the one who first unlocked Chakra and he taught it to the rest of the world.”

“Remember when last week I returned for the weekend to my home planet?”

“Yes, you didn’t want to tell me why.”

“I needed some information on this world, just in case you would be placed in a team with Naruto and Sasuke.”

The Hyuuga stopped mind-chow. Confused she looked down at her brooch.

“What? Why Shiranui-San?”

“Both are reincarnations. Important ones. Let me tell you the story of the Sage of the Six Paths.”

And she listened.

[christian-perspectives]

In The Presence Of Jesus

On the third day after the crucifixion of Jesus, I’m sure His disciples must have longed for His presence. It started early that morning when they heard the report of His empty tomb. Upon the news, fear and excitement filled the hearts and minds of His secluded disciples. When evening came and the excitement died down, two of His followers headed home to Emmaus. That same day two of Jesus’ followers were walking to the village of Emmaus, seven miles from Jerusalem. As they walked along they were talking about everything that had happened.  Luke 24:13-14 They had a lot to talk about. There was no doubt about it, Jesus had died three days earlier. But on that morning some strange and magnificent things happened. - Someone unknown rolled the stone from the entrance of the tomb. - The body of Jesus was nowhere to be found. - Angels spoke to the women declaring He had risen. - And He had made some physical appearances. As they talked and discussed these things, Jesus himself suddenly came and began walking with them. God kept them from recognizing him. Luke 24:15-16 The next verse says that Jesus asked them, “What they were discussing so intently as they walked along?” With expressions of sadness written across their faces, they stopped to explain. Then one of them, Cleopas, replied, “You must be the only person in Jerusalem who hasn’t heard about all the things that have happened there the last few days.” Luke 24:18 Jesus never claimed not to know what had happened. He might have wanted to hear their version of those recent events. So He continued by asking, “What things?”

Jesus Inquired of What Happened

“The things that happened to Jesus, the man from Nazareth,” they said. “He was a prophet who did powerful miracles, and he was a mighty teacher in the eyes of God and all the people. Luke 24:19 Continuing they said, even though the people viewed Him as a mighty teacher, the religious leaders didn’t. They finally found a way to stop Him by removing Jesus from their presence. But our leading priests and other religious leaders handed him over to be condemned to death, and they crucified him. Luke 24:20 What they said next though revealed what they and many of His other followers expected from Jesus. We had hoped he was the Messiah who had come to rescue Israel. This all happened three days ago. Luke 24:21 Israel spent many of their existing years in bondage mainly because they disobeyed God. When they got sick and tired of being sick and tired they prayed for God’s deliverance. In the Old Testament, their deliverers came in the forms of judges, some kings, and prophets. These men and others thought God sent Jesus as their Messiah to deliver them from the Romans. In their thinking, everything was moving in that direction. So they continued to tell this stranger the events that had recently taken place. Some women from our group of his followers were at his tomb early this morning, and they came back with an amazing report. Luke 24:22 - “They said his body was missing, - And they had seen angels who told them Jesus is alive! - Some of our men ran out to see, and sure enough, - His body was gone, just as the women had said.” Luke 24:23-24

The Lord Rebuked These Two Men

I’m not sure how these two followers of Jesus reacted to the next statement made by this total stranger. This man who seemingly knew nothing about what happened boldly rebuked them. Then Jesus said to them, “You foolish people! You find it so hard to believe all that the prophets wrote in the Scriptures. Wasn’t it clearly predicted that the Messiah would have to suffer all these things before entering his glory? Luke 24:25-26 They indicated that Jesus wasn’t the Messiah they had waited for. You see, they were looking for a military-type leader, not a spiritual Savior. So Jesus gave them a quick history lesson. Then Jesus took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining from all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. Luke 24:26 They finally got to their destination. After encouraging Jesus to stay, He agreed. Then as they sat down to eat, the big moment came.

Jesus Revealed His Presence to Them

As they sat down to eat, he took the bread and blessed it. Then he broke it and gave it to them. Suddenly, their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And at that moment he disappeared! Luke 24:30-31 These two men were in the presence of Jesus all along and never even knew it. They had their minds made up as to what they were looking for in a messiah. But they were wrong! We do something very similar to what they did. When Jesus walked on the earth with them everything was fine because they could see and feel His presence. We do the opposite. We feel that when everything is working fine for us, Jesus is right there in our presence. But when things aren’t going well, we wonder where He is. The presence of Jesus in our lives has nothing to do with our circumstances. We can get so caught up in them we miss His presence even though Jesus is always there.

We Too Can Rely on the Presence of Jesus in Our Lives

The Lord delivered a message to these two men because they didn’t trust Him or believe His Word. But He didn’t leave them hanging there. Jesus revealed His presence to them. We can trust Him and His Word for everything in our lives. So never doubt the presence of Jesus because our faith in Him is built upon a firm foundation. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family. Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. Ephesians 2:19-20 Lord, help us to stay focused on you and your will. We never want to get sidetracked by our own desires and miss the presence of Jesus. Checkout out these related posts about what Jesus has done for us. - Jesus Prayed For Us! Did You Know That? - Jesus Fulfilled The Law Of The Old Testament - Is There Healing When Jesus is Revealed? - Jesus Is The Ultimate Sacrifice For All Eternity - Jesus Really Does Want To Be Your Friend - Once And For All Jesus Made Us Holy Read the full article

[thelovedmike]

Speech to share.

In Relationship:

If we have an eye to Jesus, we can be whole.

Nothing missing, nothing broken.

You need to be a whole before taking a relationship.

You have to be an addition to the person, not more of a taker.

Avoid having Messiah complex ( being dominated by feeling of you can fix someone’s life).

We are not confronted by the world but confirm

by the Word.

What makes us whole?

Christ is enough.🙌😭

Isaiah 53:45

Sure He has borne our griefs, sorrows but by His strife we are healed.

*transgressions, iniquities, chastisement*, and with His wounds we are healed.

There is only one person who will fit to that person. = JESUS.✞

Just so you know, you’re worth it.

1 Cor 11:27-30

Discerning the Lord’s body. Know that any form of issues in your life has no power over what God has done for us.

Romans 8:31-32

If God is is for us, who can be against us?

Shalom:

Godly kind of completeness, safety, soundness (in body), welfare, health, prosperity, peace, quiet, tranquility, contentment, long satisfying life, boldness that we are cleared of any debt, confidence that we are righteous of God in Christ, we are healed.

I pray for a desire for people😭🙌

Story of Jesus on His intentionality to meet the woman in Samaria.

John 4:3-4

“He left Judea and departed again to Galilee.”

‭But He needed to go to Samaria.

That kind of intentionality is what I pray.

To know my purpose and do it ALL OUT.

Whatever the cirscumstances and regardless of the need.

I also pray this for you as you desire to become registered nurses, you discover your purpose and learn what can happen if you don't give up.

I'm not saying God, bring it on!

What I am saying is I am confident because I now live under the grace of God.

In Career:

A story of King Chess Master

There was chess enthusiast who visited a museum and found out a paint regarding 2 persons playing chess: One is a person who felt dishearted and troubled because of loosing and on the other side an evil like picture smiling because He knows that's the end of the story.

But, this chess enthusiast observe something strange and he said to everyone,

Hey!Hey!Hey!!

There's must be wrong on this painting.

It has to be corrected and he shout.

The King👑 The King👑

The King has one more move🙌🙌🙌

I declare this also to you!!

Jesus is not done with us yet.

There is so much more in your story.

If you taught you are losing, today you will realize that you are actually winning.

Who we are to deny what the Lord can do.

Because God is on our side and that is God's specialty.

“But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.””

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭19‬:‭26‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

(Story of a rich man asking Jesus how can he can enter into the Kingdom of heaven).

He wants things to turn around in your life.

It's gonna happen just let the waymaker through.

Anything is possible.

Who am I to deny what the Lord can do.

He's gonna move.

Jesus is worth living for.

I've got stories I've lived to tell.

My college days when I has nothing but hope, my family when I had nothing but faith.

I just want you to know now.

Look what the Lord has done in my life.

The overwhelming requirements on your study and the awaiting challenges on your career seems like getting into the verge of quitting, but the King.

The King 🙌👑 has one more move!!!

He is trying to shake you with and be dependable on Him.

Receive that in God-level.

Ephesians 3:20 More than you can ask think or imagine.

God is into experience.

God has given us the true things He wants us to experience for free.

You are going to see things beyond your wildest dreams.

If I have Christ, I have everything.

The world might have a lot, but in Christ, you have everything.

In Life

Your life is a testimony.

The making of the testimony is as important to the testimony itself.

Forgiveness is the most expensive giving you'll ever do.

Luke 6: 38📕

Love God with all your heart, mind and soul.

Maybe you need to forgive yoursefl first.

I don't want the things that I don't deserve.

I want the mercy and the grace of God.

You're not gonna go the promise Land murmuring and complaining.

Walk by faith.

Walk means "peripeteo"

A parameter that keeps you.

A distance that reminds you where to go and where not to go. A time that calls you when to let go and move forward.

We do not want to live in fantasy of what could have been, should have been or would have been.

It did not work out is not same as it will never work out. Good things take time.

It is a protection from the Lord.

It's getting into a higher ground.🚀🌱

I thought it means shallow soil that God has offered. Can you imagine a concrete road pavement and you put soil on it because logically it's higher.

But I was wrong!

It was the other way around. It's letting myself enjoy the feeling of being concealed in the deepest ground so that my purpose would be anchored to the very root of my soul.

How high my God will lead me depends solely on how deep He loves me, and that's out of my question. It is a matter of how I would allow myself to go deeper with Him.

For life update:

I am in the process of transplantation:

Allow me to share this nothing short but beautiful take away I got from my testimony.

" When you are being transplanted, you let yourself

go deep into His love until it became intertwined and inseperable. Allow your self to grow and trust the perfect gardener."

[dailychapel]

Acts 26:1–32 NLT - 1 Then Agrippa said to Paul, "You may speak in your defense." So Paul, gesturing with his hand, started his defense: 2 "I am fortunate, King Agrippa, that you are the one hearing my defense today against all these accusations made by the Jewish leaders, 3 for I know you are an expert on all Jewish customs and controversies. Now please listen to me patiently! 4 "As the Jewish leaders are well aware, I was given a thorough Jewish training from my earliest childhood among my own people and in Jerusalem. 5 If they would admit it, they know that I have been a member of the Pharisees, the strictest sect of our religion. 6 Now I am on trial because of my hope in the fulfillment of God's promise made to our ancestors. 7 In fact, that is why the twelve tribes of Israel zealously worship God night and day, and they share the same hope I have. Yet, Your Majesty, they accuse me for having this hope! 8 Why does it seem incredible to any of you that God can raise the dead? 9 "I used to believe that I ought to do everything I could to oppose the very name of Jesus the Nazarene. 10 Indeed, I did just that in Jerusalem. Authorized by the leading priests, I caused many believers there to be sent to prison. And I cast my vote against them when they were condemned to death. 11 Many times I had them punished in the synagogues to get them to curse Jesus. I was so violently opposed to them that I even chased them down in foreign cities. 12 "One day I was on such a mission to Damascus, armed with the authority and commission of the leading priests. 13 About noon, Your Majesty, as I was on the road, a light from heaven brighter than the sun shone down on me and my companions. 14 We all fell down, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is useless for you to fight against my will.' 15 "'Who are you, lord?' I asked. "And the Lord replied, 'I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting. 16 Now get to your feet! For I have appeared to you to appoint you as my servant and witness. You are to tell the world what you have seen and what I will show you in the future. 17 And I will rescue you from both your own people and the Gentiles. Yes, I am sending you to the Gentiles 18 to open their eyes, so they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God. Then they will receive forgiveness for their sins and be given a place among God's people, who are set apart by faith in me.' 19 "And so, King Agrippa, I obeyed that vision from heaven. 20 I preached first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that all must repent of their sins and turn to God--and prove they have changed by the good things they do. 21 Some Jews arrested me in the Temple for preaching this, and they tried to kill me. 22 But God has protected me right up to this present time so I can testify to everyone, from the least to the greatest. I teach nothing except what the prophets and Moses said would happen-- 23 that the Messiah would suffer and be the first to rise from the dead, and in this way announce God's light to Jews and Gentiles alike." 24 Suddenly, Festus shouted, "Paul, you are insane. Too much study has made you crazy!" 25 But Paul replied, "I am not insane, Most Excellent Festus. What I am saying is the sober truth. 26 And King Agrippa knows about these things. I speak boldly, for I am sure these events are all familiar to him, for they were not done in a corner! 27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do--" 28 Agrippa interrupted him. "Do you think you can persuade me to become a Christian so quickly?" 29 Paul replied, "Whether quickly or not, I pray to God that both you and everyone here in this audience might become the same as I am, except for these chains." 30 Then the king, the governor, Bernice, and all the others stood and left. 31 As they went out, they talked it over and agreed, "This man hasn't done anything to deserve death or imprisonment." 32 And Agrippa said to Festus, "He could have been set free if he hadn't appealed to Caesar."

O Christ, Son of God, for our sake you fasted forty days and allowed yourself to be tempted. Protect us so that we may not be led astray by any temptation. Since man does not live by bread alone, nourish our souls with the heavenly food of your Word; through your mercy, O our God, you are blessed and live and govern all things, now and forever. Amen.

[seekfirst-community]

The following reflection is courtesy of Don Schwager © 2023. Don's website is located at Dailyscripture.net

Meditation: Do you recognize the Lord's presence in your life? The Gospel records that when Jesus disembarked from the boat the people immediately recognized him. What did they recognize in Jesus? A prophet, a healer, the Messiah, the Son of God? For sure they recognized that Jesus had power from God to heal and to make whole bodies, limbs, minds, and hearts that were beset with disease, affliction, and sin. What happened when they pressed upon him and touched the fringe of his garment? They were made well. The Lord Jesus is ever ready to meet our needs as well. Do you approach him with expectant faith?

Do you recognize the Lord's presence with you and the power of his word for your life?

Faith is an entirely free gift which God makes to us through the power of the Holy Spirit. Believing and trusting in God to act in our lives is only possible by the grace and help of the Holy Spirit who moves the heart and converts it to God. The Holy Spirit opens the eyes of the mind and helps us to understand, accept, and believe God's word. How do we grow in faith? By listening to God's word with trust and submission. Faith also grows through testing and perseverance. The Lord wants to teach us how to pray in faith for his will for our lives and for the things he wishes to give us to enable us to follow him faithfully and serve him generously.

Do you seek the Lord Jesus and put his kingdom first?

Jesus gave his disciples the perfect prayer which acknowledges God as our Father who provides generously for his children. The Lord's prayer teaches us to seek first the kingdom of God and to pray that God's will be accomplished in our lives. The Lord in turn, gives us what we need to live each day for his glory. The Lord is never too distant nor too busy to meet us and to give his blessing. Do you pray to the Father with confidence that he will show you his will and give you what you need to follow him? Ask the Lord to increase your faith and gratitude for his merciful love and provision for your life.

"Lord Jesus, let my heart sing for joy in your presence. Give me eyes of faith to recognize your presence and fill me with your Holy Spirit that I may walk in your way of love and peace."

The following reflection is from One Bread, One Body courtesy of Presentation Ministries © 2023.

new creations (part 1)

“God created the heavens and the earth.” —Genesis 1:1

Do you want God to create something new in your life? Do you want Him to create friendship, freedom, ministry, a job, peace, or hope? God creates the same today as He did yesterday (see Heb 13:8).

He begins creation with the mighty wind of the Spirit sweeping over the waters (Gn 1:2). If you want new creations, stir into flame the gift of the Spirit in your life (2 Tm 1:6-7).

The next movement of creation is God’s Word. God spoke and it was made (see Gn 1:3, 6, 9, 11, 14, 20, 24, 26). Nothing was created except through God’s Word (Jn 1:3; cf Heb 11:3), “By the word of the Lord the heavens were made” (Ps 33:6). If you’re not even trying to know God’s Word through His Church and her Bible, don’t be surprised if God isn’t creating much in your life.

The first thing God created was light (Gn 1:3). Just as plants need light for the creation of foliage and fruit, so we need God’s light for our lives to become beautiful, fruitful gardens. Renew your Baptism, in which you first received the light of Christ. Then the created and creative light will shine even more brightly.

The Spirit, the Word, and the light are the first three movements of God’s new creations in your life. (See tomorrow’s teaching for more.)

Prayer:  Father, “a clean heart create for me” (Ps 51:12).

Promise:  “All who touched Him got well.” —Mk 6:56

Praise:  St. Paul Miki & Companions resisted ungodliness, trusted God completely, and were privileged to die as martyrs.

Reference:  (For a related teaching on Lent and the Renewal of Our Baptismal Promises, view, download or order our leaflet or listen to, download or order our CD 83-1, CD 83-3, CD 84-1 and CD 84-3 or our DVD 83 and DVD 84 on our website.)

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The Nihil Obstat ("Permission to Publish") is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted the Nihil Obstat agree with the contents, opinions, or statements