#verse; devil may cry (soul bound)

[holyguardian]

@lostsonofsparda​ continued from here:

“Really?” Aerith woke up deciding to push her luck that day, going toe-to-toe with a human — but also not. There was no denying he was incredibly powerful when she had witnessed his skillful use of his blade first hand. He could slice through the scutes of a poison-spitting lizard like paper without even breaking a sweat!

“I mean, I could probably beat you in a fight you know. You look like a tough guy so I must be impressive.” The smile she flashed was teasing, though self-doubt betrayed her in how she looked relieved by his assurance. The world was terrifying and the young woman understood well enough that is was a matter of when not if it tried to swallow her whole.

[michaelbogild]

Lines by Joanna Newsom

No one knows what is coming Or who will harvest what we have sewn Or how I've been dulling and dumbing In the service of the heart alone

Oh, silent, constant driver of mine: wordlessly calling from the end of the line, where, even though each hour I ever loved must queue and dive, still, you will not take my heart, alive.

And darling we will be fine but what was yours and mine appears to me a sandcastle that the gibbering wave takes But if it's all just the same then will you say my name? Say my name in the morning so that I know when the wave breaks

I fell, I tried to do well but I won't be. Will you tell the one that I love to remember and hold me?

See, I got gone when I got wise But I can't with certainty say we survived

Stay with me for awhile, that's an awfully real gun I know life will lay you down as the lightning has lately done

All we saw was that Time is taller than Space is wide

What happened to the man you were, when you loved somebody before her? Did he die? Or does that man endure, somewhere far away?

I don't know if you loved me most, but you loved me last.

Meanwhile, I will raise my own glass to how you made me fast and expendable And I will drink to your excellent health and your cruelty, will you have one on me?

It was a dark dream, darlin', it's over The firebreather is beneath the clover Beneath his breathing there is cold clay, forever A toothless hound-dog choking on a feather

the records they left are cryptic at best, lost in obsolescence.

The old veil of desire, like vessels that we fired, fell thin as eggshells.

But stand brave, life-liver, bleeding out your days in the river of time. Stand brave: time moves both ways, in the nullifying, defeating, negating, repeating joy of life;

Anyhow, I sat by your side, by the water You taught me the names of the stars overhead that I wrote down in my ledger Though all I knew of the rote universe were those Pleiades loosed in December I promised you I'd set them to verse, so I'd always remember

I called to you several times while the change took place and then arrived all night And I died But all these songs, when you and I are long gone, will carry on

That the meteorite is the source of the light and the meteor's just what we see And the meteoroid is a stone that's devoid of the fire that propelled it to thee And the meteorite's just what causes the light and the meteor's how it's perceived And the meteoroid's a bone thrown from the void, that lies quiet in offering to thee

Hardly seen, hardly felt– deep down where your fight is waiting, down 'till the light in your eyes is fading:

There's a big black spider hanging over my door Can't go anywhere, anymore

Who asked you? Asked you if you want to be Loved by me? Who died and made you in charge of who loves who?

And I saw straight away that the lay was steep But I fell for you, honey, as easy as falling asleep And that right there is the course I keep

And the tilt of this strange nation And the will to remain for the duration Waving the flag Feeling it drag

Hey, hey, hey, the end is near On a good day you can see the end from here But I won't turn back now though the way is clear I will stay for the remainder

You froze in your sand shoal, prayed for your poor soul Sky was a bread roll, soaking in a milk-bowl And when the bread broke, fell in bricks of wet smoke My sleeping heart woke, and my waking heart spoke

And it's my heart, not me, who cannot drive At which conclusion you arrived Watching me sit here bolt upright and cry For no good reason at the Eastering sky

bearing weight, taking fire, trading smokes, in the war between us and our ghosts.

And every little gust that chances through will dance in the dust of me and you, with joy-of-life.

We broke our hearts in the war between St. George and the dragon But both in equal parts are welcome to come along I'm inviting everyone

By the time you read this, I will be so far away Daddy Longlegs, how in the world am I to be expected to stay? In the night, in the night, you may hear me call Pa, stay your hand and steel your resolve, stay where you are, so long and tall

Our nature does not change by will In the winter, 'round the ruined mill The creek is lying flat and still It is water, though it's frozen

Our lived come easy and our lives come hard. We carry them like a pack of cards: some we don't use, but we don't discard, but keep for a rainy day.

Until the night is over, hold on, hold on Hold your horses back from the fickle dawn

I am easy Easy to keep Honey, you please me Even in your sleep But my arms want to carry My heart wants to hold Tell me your worries, I want to be told

There is a blacksmith and there is a shepherd and there is a butcher-boy And there is a barber, who's cutting and cutting away at my only joy

And that is all I want here To draw my gaunt spirit to bow Beneath what I am allowed

How I said to you, "Honey, just open your heart" When I've got trouble even opening a honey jar And that right there is where we are

My heart is a furnace full of love that's just, and earnest Now, you know that we must unlearn this

Squint skyward and listen Loving him, we move within his borders Just asterisms in the stars' set order

"Do you love me? Will you remember?" The snow falls above me. The renderer renders: "The event is in the hand of God".

And I been 'fessing double fast Addressing questions nobody asked I'll get this joy off of my chest at last And I will love you 'til the noise has long since passed

With your hands in your pockets, stubbly running To where I'm unfresh, undressed and yawning Well, what is this craziness? This crazy talking? You caught some small death when you were sleepwalking

And there was a booming above you That night, black airplanes flew over the sea And they were lowing and shifting like beached whales Shelled snails, as you strained and you squinted to see The retreat of their hairless and blind cavalry

You ranged real hot and real cold but I'm sold I am home on that range And I do hate to fold Right here at the top of my game

Then down and down and down and down and down and deeper Stoke, without sound, the blameless flames, you endless sleeper Through fire below and fire above, and fire within Sleep through the things that couldn't have been if you had not have been

You burned me like a barn I burned safe and warm in your arms

All the way to the thing we've been playing at, darlin' I can see that you're wearing your staying hat, darlin' For the time being all is well Won't you love me a spell?

And when the fire moves away Fire moves away, son Why would you say I was the last one?

And I rose, to take my shape at last, from the dreams that had dogged me, through every past, when, to my soul, the body would say You may do what you like, as long as you stay.

And, in your kindness, you put me straightaway in the cupboard with a bottle of champagne And then, later, on a train

Well I wish we could take every path I could spend a hundred years adoring you Yes, I wish we could take every path because you know I hated to close the door on you

And then a slow lip of fire moves across the prairie with precision While somewhere with your pliers and glue, you make your first incision And in a moment of almost unbearable vision, doubled over with the hunger of lions "Hold me close," cooed the dove, who was stuffed now with sawdust and diamonds

In martial wind, and in clarion rain, we minced into battle, wincing in pain; not meant for walking, backs bound in twine: not angel or devil, but level, in time.

The text will not yield, nor x-ray reveal with any fluorescence where the hand of the master begins and ends.

When cruel death debases, we believe it erases all the rest that precedes.

What’s redacted will repeat, and you cannot learn that you burn when you touch the heat, so we touch the heat, and we cut facsimiles of love and death (just separate holes in sheets where you cannot breathe, and you cannot see).

Here, the light will seep And the scythe will reap And spirit will rend In counting toward the end

All the livelong day If I have my way, I will love you But one can't carry the weight Or change the fate of two I've been waiting for a break How long's it gonna take? Let me love you

But it don't make no difference, now, and no-one's listening, anyhow, and lists of sins and solemn vows don't make you any friends.

I have got some business out at the edge of town Candy weighing both of my pockets down Till I can hardly stay afloat, from the weight of them And knowing how the common folk condemn What it is I do, to you, to keep you warm Being a woman, being a woman

And it pains me to say, I was wrong. Love is not a symptom of time. Time is just a symptom of love

Where i know that you can yield, when it comes down to it; bow like the field when the wind combs through it:

But though I tried so hard my little darling I couldn't keep the night from coming in

All along the road, the lights stream by. I want to go where the dew won’t dry. I want to go where the light won’t bend– far as the eye may reach–nor end.

I can't claim that I knew you best, but did you know me at all?

But it's mine. Or, at least, it's lent. And my life, until the time is spent is a pin-light, bent.

Though the long road begins and ends with you I cannot seem to make amends with you

In the folds and the branches, somewhere, out there, I was only just born into open air. Now hush, little babe. You don’t want to be down in the trenches, remembering with me, where you will not mark my leaving, and you will not hear my parting song. Nor is there cause for grieving. Nor is there cause for carrying on.

But inasmuch as that light is loaned, and, insofar as we’ve borrowed bones, must every debt now be repaid in star-spotted, sickle-winged night raids, while we sing to the garden, and we sing to the stars, and we sing in the meantime, wherever you are?

Rowing along, among the reeds, among the rushes I heard your song, before my heart had time to hush it

Easy, easy You must not fear You must meet me to see me I am barely here But like a Bloody Mary Seen in the mirror Speak my name And I appear

And the little white dove made with love, made with love made with glue and a glove and some pliers Swings a low sickle arc from its perch in the dark, settle down, settle down my desire

In our lives is a common sense that relies on the common fence that divides, and attends, but provides scant defense from the Great Light that shine through a pin-hole, when the pin-light calls itself Selfhood, and the Selfhood inverts on a mirror in an Amora Obscura.

When I've been trying with my whole heart and soul To stay right here in the right lane But it can make you feel over and old Lord, you know it's a shame When I only want for you to pull over and hold me Till I can't remember my own name

Then in my hot hand, she slumped her sick weight We tramped through the poison oak, heartbroke and inchoate The dogs were snapping, and you cuffed their collars While I climbed the tree-house, then how I hollered

At night, I walk in the park with a whip between the lines of the whispering Jesuits Who are poisoning you against me

And what do you remember most? The line of the sea, seceding the coast? Fine capillaries, glowing with cars? The comfort you drew from the light of the stars?

Failing this, failing this, follow me, my sweetest friend To see what you anointed in pointing your gun there Lay it down, nice and slow, there is nowhere to go

it was dark out, I was half-dead I saw a star fall into the sky like a chunk of thrown coal as if God himself spat like a cornered rat

but honey it’s been a long time since I’ve come to any use. And it hurt me bad, when I heard the news that you’d got that call, and could not refuse.

But always up the mountainside you're clambering Groping blindly, hungry for anything Picking through your pocket linings, well, what is this? Scrap of sassafras, eh Sisyphus?

Come across the desert with no shoes on I love you truly or I love no-one

And when I cut your hair and leave the birds all of the trimmings I am the happiest woman among all women

You asked my hand, hired a band "In your heart is all that you need Ask and you will receive," it is said I threw my bouquet and I knocked 'em dead

Haven't you seen what I've seen? Don't you know what you ought to do? I was born to love And I intend to love you

The borders of the land that man has girded All double-bolted and tightfisted Until we reach the open country A-steeped in milk and honey Will you keep your fancy clothes on, for me? Can you bear a little longer to wear that leash? My love, I swear by the air I breathe Sooner or later, you'll bare your teeth

From the top of the flight of the wide white stairs Through the rest of my life, do you wait for me there? There's a bell in my ears, there's a wide white roar Drop a bell down the stairs, hear it fall forever more Hear it fall forever more

And no amount of talking is going to soften the fall But, like after the rain, step out if the overhang, that's all It had a nice a ring to it when the ole opry house rang So with a solemn auld lang Signed, sealed, delivered, I sang And there is hesitation and it always remains Concerning you, me And the rest of the gang And in our quiet hour I feel I see everything And am in love with the hook upon which everyone hangs And I know you meant to show the extent To which you gave a god dang

Beyond recall, you severed all strings to everyone, and everything.

And in an infinite regress: Tell me, why is the pain of birth lighter borne than the pain of death? I ain't saying that I loved you first, but I loved you best.

And though our bones they may break and our souls separate, why the long face? And though our bodies recoil from the grip of the soil, why the long face?"

I think you saw their flares and kept me safely unawares In your arms

But there is nothing I adore apart from that whore's black heart

But I took my fishing pole, fearing your fever Down to the swimming hole, where there grows a bitter herb That blooms but one day a year, by the riverside, I'd bring it here Apply it gently to the love you've lent me

See how the infinite divides: and the divers are not to blame for the rift, spanning distant shores. You don't know my name, but I know yours.

We are tested and pained By what's beyond our bed We are blessed and sustained By what is not said

The wandering eye that I have caught Is as hot as a wandering sun But I will want for nothing more in my garden, start again In my hardening to every heart but one

So, across the years and miles and through On a good day you can feel my love for you Will you leave me be so that we can stay true To the path that you have chosen?

But for now, just dance, darling C'mon, will you dance, my darling? Darling, there's a place for us Can we go, before I turn to dust?

I see the blossoms broke and wet after the rain Little sister, he will be back again I have washed a thousand spiders down the drain Spiders' ghosts hang, soaked and Dangling silently, from all the blooming cherry trees In tiny nooses, safe from everyone Nothing but a nuisance, gone now, dead and done Be a woman, be a woman

I had a dream that i walked in the garden of Chabot, and those telescope ruins. It was there that I called to my true love, who was pale as millennial moons, Honey, where did you come by that wound?

Rushing, tearing, speeding home: bound to a wheel that is not my own, where round every bend I long to see temporal infidelity.

My mind is failing and my body grows weak My lips won't form the words I speak I'm floating away on a barrel of pain New York City won't see me again

Save up, up where the light, undiluted, is weaving In a drunk dream at the sight of my baby, out back Back on the patio, watching the bats bring night in While, elsewhere, estuaries of wax-white Wend, endlessly, towards seashores unmapped

Bleached the night with dawn deleting In that high sun after our good run When the spirit bends Beneath knowing it must end

Recall the word you gave: to count your way across the depths of this arid world, where you would yoke the waves, and lay a bed of shining pearls!

When the sky goes pink in Paris, France, do you think of the girl who used to dance when you'd frame her moving within your hands, saying This I won't forget?

Hey little leaf, lying on the ground Now you're turning slightly brown Why don't you get up on the tree Turn the color green the way you ought to be

Now the towns and forests, highways and plains, fall back in circles like an emptying drain. And I won't come round this way again, where the lonely wind abides, and you will not take my heart, alive. You will not take my heart.

I saw a rabbit as slick as a knife and as pale as a candlestick And I had thought it'd be harder to do but I caught her, and skinned her quick

I said a sort of prayer for some rare grace Then thought I ought to take her to a higher place Said, "Dog nor vulture nor cat shall toy with you And though you die, bird, you will have a fine view"

till we hear the telltale Boom, too soon– hotdogging loon, caught there like a shard of mirror in the moon!

There's an old trick played, when the light and the wine conspire to make me think I'm fine. I'm not, but I have got half a mind to maybe get there, yet.

It was dark, I was drunk and half-dead and we slept, knocking heads

And the moment I slept, I was swept up in a terrible tremor Though no longer bereft, how I shook and I couldn't remember And then the furthermost shake, drove a murdering stake in and cleft me right down through my center And I shouldn't say so but I know that it was then or never

Down in the valley where the fields are green Watch my luck turn, fro, and to Pluck every last daisy clean till only I may love you

I saw a life and I called it mine I saw it drawn so sweet and fine And I had begun to fill in all the lines Right down to what we'd name her

I wasn't born of a whistle or milked from a thistle at twilight No, I was all horns and thorns, sprung out fully formed, knock-kneed and upright So enough of this terror we deserve to know light and grow evermore lighter and lighter You would have seen me through but I could not undo that desire

A goose, alone, I suppose, can know the loneliness of geese, who never find their peace,whether north, or south, or west, or east

I'll hunt the pearl of death to the bottom of my life, and ever hold my breath, till I may be the diver's wife.

I call and call for the doctor but the snow swallows me whole with ol' Florry Walker and the event lives only in print.

This is blindness beyond all conceiving Well, behind us the road is leaving, yeah, leaving And falling back Like a rope gone slack

Bottle of white, bottle of red Helpless as a child, when you held me in your arms And I knew that no other could ever love me as you loved Love me as you loved but help me, I'm leaving

Dig a little hole not three inches round Spit your pit in a hole in the ground Weep upon the spot for the starving of me Till up grows a fine young cherry tree When the bough breaks, what'll you make for me?

But I saw the Bering Strait and the Golden Gate, in silent suspension of their golden age

And everything sloped like it was dragged from a rope in the mouth of the south below

Do you remember staring up at the stars So far away in their bulletproof cars?

I found a little plot of land in the garden of Eden It was dirt and dirt is all the same I tilled it with my two hands and I called it my very own There was no one to dispute my claim

[whoareyouandwhyshouldicare]

To all my fellow LoVe shippers who are feeling down I have one thing to say.

I can’t make the last 8 minute of season 4 disappear but I can recommend some really great LoVe fanfiction that will make you feel at least a little bit better. So without further ado here are a few of my favorite LoVe fics!

A Hard Habit to Break  by  mskatej   Nothing gets Veronica over her failed relationships better than Logan Echolls.    

...And Long For You  by  AbsolutelyIris It was moments like those Veronica wished she could be like Lilly- storm into his house and curse and yell and damn him to hell before demanding he fuck her...and like with Lilly, he would gladly, if reluctantly, do so.      

 “Any Love Is Good Love, Baby”  by wily_one24   Apparently, Hollywood was wrong, the devil did not wear Prada, the devil wore butch black boots and tiny little skirts.                                

The Best (and Only) Kept Secret in Neptune  by  vixleonard Even when they hated each other, Logan and Veronica just couldn't stay away from each other.                     

The Burdened Vessel  by  vixleonard   Veronica needs a favor only Logan can help her with.              

Every Belt That Ever Hit Someone (Is Still Made to Hold Something Up)  by igrockspock   Logan doesn't get any votes for Most Changed at the ten-year reunion, which is bullshit when you think about it.  In the past ten  years, everything in his life has changed.  He's joined the Navy, dated a pop star, and figured out that Dick Casablancas can occasionally behave like a real human being.  Only one thing hasn't changed: he's still in love with Veronica Mars.  Oh, and he's suspected of murdering his girlfriend.

"Fear and Loathing in Neptune"   by wily_one24 Veronica Mars was going to get herself laid. Series  Part 1 of Any Love  

A Fine and Endless Cycle  by kartography A freshman year at Hearst and the cyclical nature of love                                         

Fireworks by AliLamba Veronica is technically not a virgin, and awkward results ensue. An AU version of LoVe's first time.                

For the Sake of a Friend by jacedesbff   What if Logan and Veronica were involved in a secret relationship throughout the events of Season 1?     

The Game of Trust  by Kantayra of Yore (Kantayra)   This time Veronica really did trust him, and she knew how to prove it...    

Getcha, Getcha, Getcha, Getcha  by  Kantayra of Yore (Kantayra) Veronica and Logan prank each other. Really, it's shameless the way they flirt...  

Give Me The Ocean  by scandalpants   Post Season 3 AU.  Veronica decides what she really wants.  Spoiler: it's not Piz.                                              

Home Is Where The Heart Is by: lv63   AU preseries and forward, begins in season 1. this story is all about veronica and her friends. angst, mystery, humor and romance, LoVe and MaDi. summary in prologue. 

I Hate You Because by: SilverLining2k6   Mid 1X3 - Meet John Smith.    Logan, Veronica, a pool, snark, and a made up drinking game.

i knew you were trouble when you walked in  by youcallitwinter   And, it's just—  Logan had always been her intense high-school romance, sure. But she had, somewhere along the way, in some secret corner of her mind, convinced herself that was all he was; a high-school romance. Explosive, powerful, passionate, and bound to burn itself out eventually

(Im)Perfection  by  AbsolutelyIris The only real mistake is the one from which we learn nothing.                

In a World by: my shangri-la   A/U! Exploring the 'what ifs' that could have happened if Lilly Kane hadn't been murdered, and her secrets – and others – had come out anyway. Pairings: Lilly/Logan, past Duncan/Veronica, eventual Logan/Veronica. (Story begins with Lilly as a senior, the rest are juniors.)

In the kind of world where we belong  by  Anonymous  There was always something missing.  A Lilly Kane sized hole in both their hearts.  Instead of going to see Aaron Echolls on October 3rd Lilly decides to comfort a friend and their lives change forever.A very smutty OT3 take on what might have happened if Lilly had lived.

Kid Things  by sowell   5 years after graduation, Logan comes back to Neptune to ask Veronica for help.                      

King of Mars  by: HGRising   AU. In which everyone has a story to tell but not everyone gets the chance. And, things make more sense from a different perspective. Ever wonder why Veronica Mars was Lilly Kane's best friend? There's redemption for some and condemnation for others when the secrets come out. And everyone's got a good one.

Landmine  by  AbsolutelyIris It needed to be forgotten, and quick.             

The Long Way Home  by  AbsolutelyIris   "We should take the long way home." 

Matching Pink Bikinis  by  Anonymous Veronica and Lilly wear matching pink bikinis to Logan's for a pool day.  This is pure threesome smut, folks.                

Pink Lemonade (Logan/Veronica/Lilly)  On a trip to Honolulu, Lilly manages to bring Veronica out of her pink, frosty shell. Spoilers/Warnings: This is a threesome fic and therefore includes some femslash.        

Playing Hide and Seek With the Truth by: jenwin23   Continuation of the Truth series. The kids go back to school. Old issues remain while more secrets will be revealed, relationships will change and lives will crumble.

The Real Thing by: Josielynn   AU. Logan and Lilly are off again/on again. Duncan is dating Meg. Veronica was never friends with Lilly. Logan sees Veronica in her soccer uniform and wants to date her.

Scotch on the Rocks (A FanFic Tribute)  by kmd0107   A long time ago...there was an incredibly hot LoVeLy trilogy fic (Pink Lemonade & Sex on the Beach) started over on Live Journal that never got its third part.  This is a tribute to what that might have been.   Logan POV of the evolving sexual and emotional relationship between himself, Veronica, and Lilly.              

Scourging Fire, Blazing Soul  by Nerdyesque   What if Veronica didn't grow up with the 09ers, but came into their lives prior to Lilly's death? How would her presence affect Duncan, Lilly, Logan, the Kanes, and the Echolls? Also, who is Veronica without Keith Mars' loving protection?      

Sex on the Beach (Logan/Veronica/Lilly) NC-17 Lilly's chapter in my Drinks Series. Nobody wants to talk about what happened in Hawaii, and it's driving Lilly crazy. How could she possibly make what happened less awkward? By making it happen again, of course!        

Some Truths Hurt by: jenwin23 Jumping off point: V gets Duncan's journal in Echolls' Family Xmas. AU from there but many canon events happen too. All characters in the VM-verse make an appearance, but it is a LoVe story. In script format-but give it a try, it's well written.

The Third Kane by: Mac-alicious   Lilly, Duncan and Veronica Kane rule the social scene in Neptune. The three are loyal and inseparable. They once believed there was nothing that could come between them. They didn't count on Logan Echolls.

Time, Make It Go Faster Or Just Rewind  by  kmd0107  Logan being ‘the real-Logan’ is so familiar that she almost can’t help but give in to it, even if it’s just a one night pass.   She’ll embrace this moment out of time and the walls and armor can go back up tomorrow.AU from 1x4 Wrath of Con              

Truths Too Big to be Told  by: jenwin23 Sequel to Some Truths Hurt. It's summer time and more than the weather is hot. Neptune is embroiled in class warfare, Veronica is looking into the mystery of another dead girl, the fallout from Lilly's case continues, and more secrets will be revealed.

I’m also throwing in some of my favorite MaDi (Mac and Dick) fics because Dick needs a hug too.

The ABCs of Mac and Dick by: jenwin23   The ABC challenge with Mac and Dick. Created for Madi lover at VM Santa 2010 at livejournal. Cross-posted. In letter order, not in chronological order.

Bodycount by: BIFF1   Cassidy and Mac meet a little earlier and a little blood-lust gives him an entirely different problem when it comes to forming a real relationship with Mac. AU with MAJOR season two SPOILERS! Mac/Cass, Mac/Dick, Mac/Cass/Dick

Casablancas Kryptonite By: BIFF1   "You just don't get it. She's like kryptonite or something." Dick looked at his brother and thought about those blue eyes that cut and the way her mouth twisted around insults. Yeah maybe she was kyptonite. Casablancas kyptonite because isn't he just as weak.

Casual? By: BIFF1   It's just sex. Casual sex. no attachments, just good hot sex. But that was the summer and now school is about to start up again and Veronica's back from Virginia and can tell that something is up. They can stop, no problem...

The Charm Bracelet by: DalWriter   Future Fic. Who Knew Prince Charming Would be Dick Casablancas? Mac reminisces as she looks at a charm bracelet Dick gave her.

Commitment Buffers by: BIFF1   Dick and Mac live with Logan and Veronica in their attempt to have some sort of commitment buffer between them. Only problem with the arrangement is that Mac and Dick tolerate each other at best which is a big improvement as far as their concerned. However living in such close quarters may prove difficult when it becomes obvious that they may actually sort of like each other.

Dark Day by: BIFF1   It's Cassidy Casablancas' birthday and the two people closest to him are falling apart. She just wants to hide away from the world for the rest of the week, just drink and cry and be with someone who gets it and no one gets it more than Dick. Not as angsty as it sounds, promise. Now complete with happy ending!

Electrify by: BIFF1   A guilt trip from Logan has landed Dick in a crowded tent with Mac. With a lightening storm raging outside he can't sleep and it appears neither can she.

Rendezvous by: BIFF1   A collection of one-shots. In which Dick and Mac are forced together by fate or friends and hook up. Because I apparently really like writing them hooking up.

Secret Santa By: BIFF1   Saw this homemade sweater from hell prompt from VMficRec. It's a November challenge but I couldn't help myself. Just some fun when Mac pulls Dick's name for Secret Santa. She figures a six pack and porn until he makes a big deal about not wanting anything handmade. She can't really help herself, she spends the month knitting Dick a sweater.

[blondrichclosetwitch]

900/902afraid of everyone

903 wishful thinking

9:11/9:12 Deanna live

936/938/939 hallelujah

1011\1012 kangaroo

1039 pushing forward back

1102\1103 no favors

1103 I almost do

1109\1111\1112 Rome

1112 coming down

11:36/11:38 Neptune city

1138 /11:39his story

1203 we can’t stop

1209 fourth dimension

1211\1212 golden years squandered

12 36\1238 wish you were sober

1238 /1239living in one country

102\103 fuck your acid trip

109 don’t forget me

111/112the tools of the inner warrior

136’pavane for the deceased child

138\139 lady

202 maniac

202/203song for Bob Dylan

209\211\212 thunder

212 telling lies (238\212)

236\spies

238-\239 strange wire

302no yeah

302\303-\309\3 11\312 straight no chaser

336 stay away Nirvana

336\338-\339 born to run

409\411\412 when the music‘s over live at the Isle of Wight

436 le promenoir of the two lovers

438-\439 ashtanga yoga opening

5 o’clock favorite crime

502\503 every time I’m with you danger mouse

509\511 I want you she’s so heavy

511\512 beautiful strangers

536 1979

602/603 seraphims

609\611\612 fish

636\and it stoned me

638\639 Dolly’s suite

6:53 bound 2 (14)

836/838-\839 the chain demo

9 o’clock\902-\903 it’s my own cheating heart that makes me cry

936 ghost

936\938-\939 freak

2 202\2203 dark but just a game

2209\2211 shout Tears for Fears

2211:\22:12 the gate

2236\Daddys gone danger mouse

1102 sketches and annoyances of a big man

1102 keep my Spirit alive

11 36\11 38\1139 hotel

1139 by my car

1153 divorce

1209 hoax

12:11/12:12 new again

12 36\12 38\1239 illest motherfucker alive

With my kid on my shoulders I try not to hurt anybody I like

Your voice has stolen my soul

Meet you down at the bottom, finish your bottle

I heard a rumor, everybody’s talking about you now

I cum a death’s head in your frock and we discuss the murder plan

Well this is a car and this is a gun and this is a day number one of our little crime-worn histories

We will eat out of their pantries and their parlors, ashy leaving in their beds and will unload into their heads on this mean season.

I’m down here for your soul

I’ve been here before I’ve seen this room and I’ve walked this floor

When I first saw you you had on blue jeans knew what I was doing I came against them didn’t say excuse knew what I was doing.

Falling down, now I know her

I’m about taking a risk, that might fuck up your life

How many hot verses till you bitches start acknowledging the pictures we’ve been painting

Insanely perverted, rapey and scurvy

Oh we made quite a mess, babe

I’ll be driving, you look the other way. That ain’t easy to ignore when your shutters are open all the way.

I’m coming down

Neptune city (this showed up on the playlist 4 times today, usually Indicative of a blond with 4 planets in water; my mother said she had a “really bizarre” fall around 11:30)

Girls have an image too, but when they get mad at you there is no telling what they’ll say to hurt you.

Why you wanna go and tell a lie on me

We can’t stop (bookmark)

If I get locked up, I won’t finish the sent…

Wish you were sober

The clouds above and the fish below

Because of what you do all my world is you

don’t put a hex on me baby

Making me want you somehow

You were with your friends partying when the alcohol kicked in; said you wanted me dead.

Psychopathic don’t be so dramatic

We had magic, but you made it tragic

Now you’re manic, honestly I’ve had it

Listen to yourself; you need to get some help

Some words had truthful vengeance that could pin us to the floor; brought a few more people on and put the fear in a whole lot more

“From the brow of the super brain.”

Couple of songs from your old scrapbook could send her home again.

Is this my Sweet savior or the devil in disguise

Only the children born out of me will remain

I’m telling lies

You’ll come to me with tears and blame

Knowing this may help you to open up your eyes…Spies.

There’s something going on that’s not quite right.

Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, let me read your mind for the final time.

Straight no chaser

Stay away.

Everybody’s out on the run tonight but there’s no place left to hide

What have they done to our fair sister

Ravaged and plundered and ripped her and beat her stuck her with knives in the side of the dawn and tied her with fences and dragged her down

Music is your only friend until the end

I was you’re willing accomplice, Honey and I watched as you fled the scene

You used me as an alibi

It’s bittersweet to think about the damage that we do because I was going down, but I was doing it with you.

Your favorite crime.

Every time I’m with you I am drunk and you are too. We get so trashed. And every time I’m with you I’m fucked up and you are too.

Maybe there’s a singer with no ring around their little finger

If you ever hear that gunshot

I know you better than you fake it to see

I started wars in the heads of men

There’s bitches in my business

Bound to fall in love

When a real bitch hold you down, you’re supposed to drown

This that what we do, don’t tell your mom shit

I think making up/faking up stories is all right. Fiction is my thing. My attitude is always I and me and mine. It’s funny how me fucking her about has got me in this fucking mess. Liar liar liar liar liar pants on fire, lies and alibis lies more alibis.

So this is where the outcome unfurls and the truth is being told.

And one day in New York City, baby a girl fell from the sky

Hands are full of a fishing rod

There were bottles two, one for me and you

It’s dark but just a game, so play it like a Symphony.

They’ll both go down in infamy.

In violent times you shouldn’t have to sell your soul

I hope we live to tell the tale

shout, shout let it all out these are the things I can do without

I’m talking to you

Didn’t used to be so needy just more broken than normal

“He gotta get paid.”

Lyin in the hospital when I got shot

“Met ‘em in a hotel.”

I’ve known you for years. I know all your moves. I just can’t believe that it caved in this soon. I’m playing it over and over again in my head.

And I’ve killed little baby rabbits

All you got to do is say it

Divorce

This has broken me down

You knew the password so I let you in the door

But what you did was just as dark.

Cause you know you would never live up to my ex, though

Most insane out of body experience

“Keep your mask on.”

When they vandalized, He’ll evangelize

“I need a slow motion video right now.”

[dalyunministry]

Topic: THE SPIRIT OF PERSISTENCY.

By. Min. Sergius Boniface Fiadjigbey

💥

Let's warm our spirit for an encounter

Please stay connected as I bring unto Us Gods Word in few minutes. Bless evening unto Us all. I'm humble to be a vessel to bless us tonight. Please stay tuned even as the Spirit of God leads Us.

Let's pray! Father in the name of JESUS, unto your hands we commit our spirit, we thank you for the precious gift of life,we thank you for your quickening Spirit, we pray keep brooding over Us and cause Us to always abide to your will for our lives in JESUS' name we pray. Shout a bigger AMEN!!!!

Tonights, I trust God not to take much of your time,please let's connect our spirit by careful following and trust me Your life will never be the same. God bless you.

Quickly we move on....Encountering the Spirit of Persistency is the ability to endure ascendency over many times of consistency!

Now, speaking on the theme : THE SPIRIT OF PERSISTENCY.

In your journey of life into eternity wouldn't be an easy one to embrace as years goes by.,..

Inevitably, you'll encounter and deal with many stuffs of life happenings! And these are the stumbling blocs one needs and must deal with in order to rise to His or her God ordained purpose and mission for fate.

Watch this, In the journey of Christ on earth was a clear example to- wards us Christian to the reality which involves the facts of encountering the blockades to your rising.

Persistency simply gives the understanding to the state of being persistent! Thus (the ability of not giving up irrespective). So the bible says in Romans 8:18-22 which is gonna be the basis of our teachings tonight.

Its says ....

KJV:For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

19

KJV:For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.

20

KJV:For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,

21

KJV:Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

22

KJV:For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.

From the eighteenth verse its start by highlighting unto Us the challenges,the problems of life is inevitable... they were bound to happen and we have no means to subject them unto bondage!!!! But we've been given the power to overcome. So, it says "the suffering of this present time......cannot be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in Us.

Its establish the facts that "the glory, the crown and absolute dealings of God for humanity is on His/Her place of Persistency".

Its opens our mind in a jiffy to the rising of a child unto adulthood.

Let's take this illustrations....If a child should just start walking after been delivered what will that Child be called especially in Africa???

In my Africa certain ,we easily grasp the issues of witchcraft with just a little strange manifestation not meaningful to the mind....why?? Because Every child must go through the law which governs growth.

Therefore, this child has to maintain

ascendency in order to establish persistency in His or her let say growth life,academic life or social lives" as far as birth rate is concern.

Same way with God....you cannot be born again and convincingly tells that you can become a potent and matured Child of God " with the lack of Prayer,Studying the Word,

fasting, and going through all that build up true intimacy and be fulfilled in just relaxing and sleeping. No ooo thousands times NO!!!!!

You must go through the law of growth in order to maintain ascendency in the Spirit that actually births. THE SPIRIT OF PERSISTENCY in the life of an individual.

Listen....I want to talk on just two main reasons why one must Encounter the Spirit of Persistency.

1. Your generations will die when we refuse to established today on the alter of Persistency!!!!

Listen, from our opening scripture its in verse 19 says that "For the earnest expectations of the creature awaits the manifestations of the sons of God ".

Who are the creature???. Obviously its You and me and all that is in existence! Both godly or born again or ungodly or unborn again people across the world.

Therefore, in the latter part of the verse 19 speaks on the sons of God ".

That is to say those who have received JESUS as their Lord and personal saviour and walk in accordance to his will. Now, the sons of God are the representative of God on earth for a specific assignment and thus soul winning!

That is to say "Until you come to a place in your life that you cry for souls to be saved ,,,you're not there yet....its takes persistent life with God to develop the appetite and received that agape love of God in your spirit.

Hear me Somebody ,Your salvation wasn't a play ground for funfair or a place of relaxation, NO!!!! ITS a manifestation that generation will be birth out of You You were saved to save others by abiding power inside of you to materialize the golden rule going into the world and making disciples unto God".

So Paul says in...1 Thessalonians 1:3,

constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father. Its takes a consistent mind to establish persistency and this will bring forth generations on fire for God and the Kingdom.

2.Your salvation and that of others is built on your persistency with the Lord.

Jesus made an emphatic statement on the salvation of an individual, he says in Matthew 24:13

But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved. And this has something to do with PERSISTENCY

Listen people of God, there is a Spirit of Persistency ", which is impacted on the corridors of not giving up. If a believer will maintain his fervor of glory and power, then that individual must and should maintain ascendency in order to encounter the Spirit of Persistency!

I pray for you today after today's meeting you'll not lay down your crown on the alter of lukewarmness, receive the Spirit of Persistency to maintain your fervor of power and dominion in the name of JESUS.

To climax my message for tonight ,the bible says in revelation 3:11 KJV:Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.

That means in order to receive the honour to your laboring in the vineyard of God, you got to hold firmly onto thou which you have received in Christ Jesus that NO ONE(NOT EVEN THE DEVIL) to take up your Crown of Glory.

May God bless you and keep you all and grant unto your spirit the Power to maintain ascendency in Jesus name.

Shalom Peace.

[outpostsofbabel]

Demigods and Semi-devils, Chapter V (IX)

The scroll described many exercises of the other meridians and acupoints, all aimed at helping the reader tap another person’s inner energies. Duan Yu went through these briefly, but felt that studying them would go against his principles and be rather greedy besides. So, he set them aside for the time being.

At the bottom of the scroll, the words “Light Steps Over the Waves” caught his eye. He called to mind several lines from the Ode to the Nymph of the Luo River:

She steps lightly across the waves,

Water droplets settle like dust on her silk stockings...

She turns and her eyes are full of life,

Her beautiful skin as fair as white jade.

She holds her words in her mouth, saying nothing,

With an air like a tranquil orchid.

So graceful and elegant is she,

That I completely forget myself.

These famous verses, written by Cao Zhi centuries ago, slowly unfurled in Duan Yu’s head.

She strikes a balance between plump and frail; 

The tall and short of her are perfectly proportioned, 

With shoulders shaped as if by carving, 

Waist slender as though bound with a cord; 

At her slim throat and curving neck 

The pale flesh lies open to view, 

No scented ointments overlaying it, 

No coat of leaden powder applied. 

Cloud-bank coiffure rising steeply, 

Long eyebrows delicately arched, 

Red lips that shed their light abroad, 

White teeth gleaming within, 

Bright eyes skilled at glances,

A dimple to round off the base of the cheek

Her rare form wonderfully enchanting, 

Her manner quiet, her pose demure. 

Gentle-hearted, broad of mind, 

She entrances with every word she speaks

Duan Yu thought of the fairy woman’s beautiful face and elegant posture - “as clear as the rosy light of dawn, as luminous as the lotus above the green waters”. To follow her bidding was the pinnacle of happiness on earth, and he felt as though he would gladly die a hundred deaths for her with no regrets. I will learn this Light Steps Across the Waves, he thought. After all, it is for running away, and not for killing people. Nothing but good can come out of its.

The scroll detailed the various steps for this technique, and also included the 64 hexagrams from the Book of Changes. He was familiar with this book, and had no trouble memorising them all. 

However, some of the steps listed in the scroll puzzled him deeply, for there seemed to be no logical way of smoothly moving from one stance to the next. Then, he realised the only way to do so was to perform a somersault in mid air. The scroll also instructed him to leap back and forth, as well as dodge and dart from side to side.

Part of Duan Yu’s scholarly mind loved the challenge of trying to solve a difficult puzzle, and derived great joy from finding the solution to a problem. So, one can find this sort of pleasure in martial arts as well, he thought. Indeed, it is no less than the enjoyment of studying books and memorising scriptures.

So it was that a day passed, with Duan Yu grasping about a quarter of what was in the scroll. After dinner, he continued practising his footwork before bed. Even at night, the names of the acupoints and meridians continued swimming hazily through his mind.

In the middle of the night, Duan Yu was suddenly awoken by a loud bellowing. It sounded like a cow, but much louder and more aggressive than any cow he had ever heard. The Boundless Mountain, he knew, was full of strange and dangerous beasts. So when the bellowing stopped, he thought nothing more of it. Putting his head down on the pillow, he tried to go back to sleep.

“It’s been a long time since we heard the Giant Crimson Bullfrog,” he heard a voice say outside. “I wonder if its cry tonight brings us good luck or ill.”

“Things can’t get much worse for us, can they?” another voice replied. “It’s more than enough to thank the gods for, if all of us in the Eastern Branch get home safe.”

Duan Yu recognised these as the voices of Yu Guangbiao and Wu Guangsheng. They had evidently taken up residence in the house next to his, in order to make sure he didn’t escape.

“You know, it’s not so bad that the Boundless Sword answers to Lingjiu Palace now,” Wu Guangsheng said. “Our freedom has been curtailed, yes. But we’ve gained a powerful backer as well. No, what really pisses me off is that the Western Branch is clearly inferior to us. So why did the Divine Messenger appoint Xin Shuangqing as master of the Boundless Cave? Even our own master has to answer to her now.”

“Well, every leader in Lingjiu Palace - from the Tianshan Tonglao downwards - is a woman. They say that no man is truly trustworthy,” Yu Guangbiao replied. “They say it was a kindly gesture of the Messenger to appoint Master Xin as our head, for now the Palace will look upon us with different eyes. Look how they treated Sikong Xuan. Why,  they were much kinder to our Master Xin.”

“Brother Yu, there’s something else I don’t understand. Why was the Divine Messenger so polite to that kid next door? All that ‘Young Master Duan’ stuff. It’s a bit too much, isn’t it?”

Hearing his name mentioned, Duan Yu listened harder than ever.

Yu Guangbiao laughed. “This stays between you and me, got it? Now, when a young lady calls a pretty boy like him ‘Young Master Duan’, all politely,” - he affected a nasal tone, imitating the Divine Messenger’s voice - “what do you think it means?”

“What?” said Wu Guangsheng loudly. “She fancies that pretty face?”

“Shh, don’t wake the pretty boy up! I’m not a divine roundworm in her divine belly, so how would I know what her divine thoughts are? But I believe Master Xin has seen it too. That’s why she told us to keep a close eye on him and make sure he doesn’t escape.”

“So how long are we keeping him?”

“You heard Messenger Fu just now. She said-” Here, Yu Guangbiao mimicked the woman’s voice again. “-take him down and if the Four Brigands kick up a fuss, tell them to take it up with me at the Misty Peak. And what were we to do after that? Nobody dared to ask her, of course. What if she sent orders to have the kid sent to Lingjiu Palace one day, but we’d taken him off and killed him or let him go? We would be in deep shit, I’ll tell you that.”

“So if she doesn’t say anything about him, we’re just supposed to keep him locked up here for his whole life, just in case she decides to drop by and say hi?”

“That’s about right, eh?”

Duan Yu was filled with alarm. Messenger Fu called me “young master” because she could see at a glance that I’m the educated sort, not because of any twisted rubbish you people have been thinking! You could shut me up until I’ve grown a long white beard and she still wouldn’t be interested in my face.

“So doesn’t that mean the both of us-” Duan Yu heard Wu Guangsheng say, but he was cut off by another three loud bellowing croaks from the bullfrog. The young man stopped talking instantly. After some time had passed with no further noise from the frog, he continued: “That creature’s croaking always gives me the creeps. Who knows how many souls Old Father Plague is about to reap now?”

“They say that he rides on the Giant Crimson Bullfrog,” Yu Guangbiao replied. “It’s all talk, of course. And the Lord of Wisdom rides a lion, and the Lord of Truth rides a white elephant, and the Grand Supreme Elderly Lord rides a green ox... This bullfrog is supposed to be the king of all venomous beasts, with great power. Its venom is legendary. Who knows if it really is the steed of the Lord of Plague?”

“What do you think it looks like?”

Yu Guangbiao chuckled. “What, you keen to have a look?”

Wu Guangsheng laughed too. “Nah. You can describe it to me after you’ve had a glimpse.”

“If I ever caught sight of it, its poisonous vapours would blind me in an instant. The fumes would so addle my brain that I’m afraid I would never be able to tell you what I’d seen. Tell you what, let’s both go look for it together.”

There followed the sound of footsteps, and Duan Yu heard someone lift the latch of the door.

“H-hey...quit messing around,” Wu Guangsheng said nervously. The latch rattled again. It sounded as though the younger man was securing the door.

Yu Guangbiao laughed again. “Hah, you thought I’d really have the guts to go searching for it? Look at you, trembling like a rabbit.”

“You shouldn’t jinx things by cracking jokes like that. Everything is fine now, so let’s just go to sleep.”

The other man changed the subject. “Hey, do you think that bloody pair - Gan Guanghao and Ge Guangpei - are actually going to get away with it?”

“No one’s seen or scented anything of them for days,” Wu Guangsheng replied. “So they really may.”

“Well, I’ve got a pretty good idea of what Gan Guanghao’s good at. First, he’s good at lazing around and flirting with people. Next, he’s good at being completely uninterested in improving his swordplay. And lastly, he’s good at charming women with honeyed words. They’ve been searching for him all over. Even the Messenger herself has been sent out. Could they really have given all these people the slip? I don’t believe.”

“You may not believe it, but it is what it is.”

“I bet the two of them must have made their way into the deep mountains and run into the Crimson Bullfrog.”

Wu Guangsheng made a little ‘Ah!’ sound.

“They must have fled to the most remote, wild country,” Yu Guangbiao continued. “When they saw the bullfrog, they were entirely overcome by its poisonous vapours and their bodies were reduced to two puddles of blood and pus. That’s why no one has found any trace of them yet.”

“That makes some sense, I guess.”

“Some sense?” Yu Guangbiao snapped. “Why, if they hadn’t run into the bullfrog, then the whole situation would make no sense at all!”

“Maybe they just couldn’t hold it in,” Wu Guangsheng suggested. “Maybe things started to get heated, deep in the high mountains. And then at night, while they were flopping around like carp, why, they flopped right off a cliff.” Both men started sniggering.

Mu Wanqing killed both Gan Guanghao and Ge Guangpei, back at that teahouse, Duan Yu thought. Surely the Boundless Sword can’t have missed that? The owner must have buried the bodies as quickly as he could, to avoid any trouble. None of the villagers would have dared to tell the Boundless Sword the truth, if they had come knocking as they usually do, bristling with weapons and with those fierce expressions on their faces.

“You know, it’s really not a big deal to have two disciples elope like that,” Wu Guangsheng said. “Like they say: ‘The eunuchs fret but the emperor remains calm.’ So why is the Messenger so desperate to find them and bring them back?”

“Use that brain of yours, and think about it,” his companion replied.

Wu Guangsheng was silent for a long time. “You know I’ve never been as sharp as you,” he said finally. “I can’t figure out what it’s all about.”

“Right, riddle me this: Why is Lingjiu Palace so keen on taking over our Wuliang Palace?”

“According to Brother Tang, it’s probably because of the Boundless Jade Cliff. When Messenger Fu first arrived, the first things she asked about were the shadows on the cliff and their swordplay, and that sort of thing. Wait, that’s it. We’ve all sworn not to reveal anything about that cliff to anyone. But Gan Guanghao and Ge Guangpei didn’t swear any such vow. If they were willing to betray their own clan, there’s no telling what other secrets they may spill.”

There was a loud smack, as though Wu Guangsheng had slapped his thigh in triumph. “Yes, that’s why Lingjiu Palace wants them dead!”

“Be quiet!” hissed Yu Guangbiao in a low voice. “There’s someone next door. Have you forgotten that?”

“Yes, yes,” Wu Guangsheng said hurriedly. He paused, then said: “That Gan Guanghao is one lucky bastard, isn’t he? He managed to get that soft, fair little body wrapped around his little finger and shear her like a little lamb. Shit, he may have been reduced to a bloody mass, but at least...ah.”

The two men continued in this vein, and try as he might, Duan Yu could not block out the sounds of their vulgar jests coming from next door. He set his mind to thinking about the meridians and acupoints listed Divine Art of the Northern Darkness instead. After some time, he was so deep in thought that even though the obscene conversation continued on, Duan Yu heard none of it at all.

[frederickwiddowson]

The writings of Luke the physician starting with his version of the gospel - Luke 8:22-39 comments: the Gadarene possessed

Luke 8:22 ¶  Now it came to pass on a certain day, that he went into a ship with his disciples: and he said unto them, Let us go over unto the other side of the lake. And they launched forth. 23  But as they sailed he fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy. 24  And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm. 25  And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him. 26  And they arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which is over against Galilee. 27  And when he went forth to land, there met him out of the city a certain man, which had devils long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs. 28  When he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God most high? I beseech thee, torment me not. 29  (For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For oftentimes it had caught him: and he was kept bound with chains and in fetters; and he brake the bands, and was driven of the devil into the wilderness.) 30  And Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy name? And he said, Legion: because many devils were entered into him. 31  And they besought him that he would not command them to go out into the deep. 32  And there was there an herd of many swine feeding on the mountain: and they besought him that he would suffer them to enter into them. And he suffered them. 33 Then went the devils out of the man, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the lake, and were choked. 34  When they that fed them saw what was done, they fled, and went and told it in the city and in the country. 35  Then they went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid. 36  They also which saw it told them by what means he that was possessed of the devils was healed. 37  Then the whole multitude of the country of the Gadarenes round about besought him to depart from them; for they were taken with great fear: and he went up into the ship, and returned back again. 38  Now the man out of whom the devils were departed besought him that he might be with him: but Jesus sent him away, saying, 39  Return to thine own house, and shew how great things God hath done unto thee. And he went his way, and published throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done unto him.

 God, being the author of all weather events, is not unaware of the storm through which He, in human form, is sleeping. As Psalm 107 says;

 Psalm 107: 23 ¶  They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters; 24  These see the works of the LORD, and his wonders in the deep. 25  For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof. 26  They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble. 27  They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits’ end.

 The disciples call for Christ to save them. The first part of Psalm 44:23 says;

 23a  Awake, why sleepest thou, O Lord? Arise...

  As Psalm 107 continues;

 Psalm 107:28  Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses. 29  He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still. 30  Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven. 31  Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! 32 Let them exalt him also in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of

the elders.

 Gadarenes from the Greek is said by commentators to be the same location as Gergesenes, a word of Hebrew origin, used in Matthew. As I am not studying to make a harmonization of the gospels of which there are many good ones we won’t discuss why Matthew mentions two men. Certainly only the one the Holy Spirit is concerned about is the focus of this story.

 This devil-possessed man lived naked among the tombs. The characteristics of devil-possession or oppression was part of God’s arguments against the Israelities during the time of Isaiah as they had let themselves become enraptured with the religions of devils.

 Isaiah 65:3  A people that provoketh me to anger continually to my face; that sacrificeth in gardens, and burneth incense upon altars of brick; 4 Which remain among the graves, and lodge in the monuments, which eat swine’s flesh, and broth of abominable things is in their vessels;

 When Jesus commanded the unclean spirit to leave the man the devil acknowledged who Christ was, that He had the authority to destroy the unclean spirit. Here we see in the context that devil and unclean spirit are synonymous. Compare verse 27 with 29. Go back to chapter 4, verse 33.

 Luke 4:33  And in the synagogue there was a man, which had a spirit of an unclean devil, and cried out with a loud voice,

 I’ve mentioned previously about connecting the word spirit to the word mind. It bears repeating here.

 For contexts where the Spirit of God or the spirit of man can be synonymous with mind please see the following;

 Romans 8:27  And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

 1Corinthians 2:16  For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

 Ephesians 4:23  And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;

 Philippians 1:27  Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;

 2Timothy 1:7  For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

 These devils have one unclean spirit. They call themselves Legion because they are many. Modern man has a great difficulty with wrapping their mind around the idea of spiritual entities influencing behavior. Of course, this has been used too often in history blaming unseen forces for crimes. Horror movies and stories have also foolishly suggested in their modern humanism that some kind of arcane ritual performed by a man can remove a devil. Of course, this is nonsense even if it is fun entertainment.

 When is blind ambition or lust impacted by spiritual entities? It is doubtful that you would know. We do know that;

 Matthew 18:7  Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!

 So, be careful with this information. It is best left up to God to deal with. We can usually only deal physically with what we see. Notice that this person under these devils’ influence is very, very strong, strong enough to break chains. Here is another example.

 Acts 19:14  And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so. 15  And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye? 16  And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

 We should only ask that God rebuke. Jude warned of men who come into the church of God and challenge the unseen world with ungracious and carnal speech, claiming power they do not have personally.

 Jude 1:4  For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. 5  I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not. 6  And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. 7  Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.

     8 ¶  Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities. 9  Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee. 10  But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.

 So, beware of preachers who shout from the pulpit, “I bind Satan with the power of the Holy Ghost,” or some such thing, as they may be issuing a challenge their congregation would not appreciate the consequences of.

 The question in verse 31 is what is the deep? Is the deep the lake? Or is it something else? It seems odd that they would plead not to be sent into the lake when that is where they went when they entered the swine, an unclean animal that the Jews were not permitted to eat. There is plenty here for several sermons on that.

 At least one commentator I read insisted that the deep was outer space, the habitation of those unseen powers.

 Ephesians 2:2  Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

 Ephesians 6:12  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

 But, keep in mind the immediate  context, and while I am not a Greekophile or think it is necessary in most cases to examine the Greek word, the word for the deep (the abyss) is translated as the bottomless pit elsewhere, another term for Hell, being at the center of the earth, a pit that has no bottoms, only sides, a circle. Here is the word for abyss again from the Greek.

 Revelation 9:11  And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon.

 Here are references from the Hebrew tongue in the Old Testament.

 Isaiah 14:15  Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.

 As the devils drove the man into the wilderness, into the tombs, so they drove the swine to die in the lake. Perhaps, this gives us a key to some self-destructive behavior we see in people around us that makes no sense. Their primary problem is a spiritual, not a physical one, not one of disease or mental illness primarily but of other forces that should be dealt with first. If they are not dealt with the person’s future estate may be worse than their former.

 Matthew 12:43  When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. 44  Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. d45  Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.

 The Gadarenes, herding swines for the Gentiles, something that those Jews were forbidden to eat but willing to provide to non-Jews, wanted Jesus to leave, out of fear the text says, perhaps a little bit regarding their livelihood. Many drowned swine were a lot of money to lose as well as being a frightful scene.

 Jesus sends the man He has delivered to be a witness to his city. How willing are we to spread the news of what great things He has done for us? It is a shame how close-mouthed some of us can be. You don’t have to be obnoxious or a public nuisance. But, letting others know what Christ has done for you is very important as far as your tasks on earth are concerned.

[misspattylowell]

This blog is Multi-Verse, meaning interactions don’t need to occur in a strictly-canonical fashion. I do have canon-based verses for different plot-stages of the story, but also alternative timelines of events and canon divergent options to allow for different types of interactions.

If you’re interested in creating a Verse with me, or by joining one of your Verses, let me know! (I enjoy reading whole verses)

Anime | Age: 10

A young orphan who doesn’t know anything about her family, only her mother’s appearance. She is on the search for her mother and will do anything to be with her, even at the expense of her own safety and others. Despite this, she does care deeply for other people. Her friends at Devil May Cry (Dante, Lady, Morrison) and particularly the other kids at the orphanage she grew up in.

While still young and moderately innocent, she is aware of the dark side to the world around her. Despite any fear she may have in scary situations, her will to help her friends and make things better will eventually prevail.

#v Sundae Princess Verse

Devil May Cry 5 | Age: 18

In her final year of high school, Patty remains bright and bubbly as ever. The past few years of her life have been comparatively normal to her childhood. While popular with guys in social-circles she finds herself involved in, she turns down any advances.

In the time following meeting her mother and finding more about her family, and following her experiences with Dante, Patty does quietly decided to learn more about Alan and his work.

#v Not a Little Kid Verse

Beyond Devil May Cry 5 | Age: Early 20s

Formally she studies Classics & Mythology. Informally she also takes an interest in occultism and parapsychology. She begins to dabble in sorcery and demonic summoning much like her predecessors had. Her first success was in summoning and retaining command over a Shadow demon runt.

She works part-time at a local diner in order to afford her own apartment to be closer to her friends while studying. She has perfected the art of Strawberry Sundaes, along with other desserts.

#v The Descendants Tear Verse

Child of Mundus | Age: Spanning 10-20s, Check Icon.

Predating the Dark Knight’s rebellion, the Demon Emperor experimented with cambions intended for war. The project was set aside as the resulting hybrids were all physically weak, however one showed promise in magical ability. Over the centuries thereafter, while the emperor occasionally intervene in what became an odd pet project, he otherwise showed little interest in their affairs. Eventually they became a family line of magic-wielding demon hunters, and in order to lock one powerful demon away, sorcerer Alan Lowell created an amulet to store his own powers so that he could create a seal. 

The pendant was passed down through the bloodline, collecting the latent demonic power of each carrier and allowing them to use its collective strength as they guarded it... Until one descendant- the result of an unfortunately recent intervention of demon emperor -undid the seal, destroying the amulet and inadvertently absorbing the powers of her forebears stored within it.

#v Daughter of a Demon Verse

AU Crossovers | Age: 18

Growing up alone and constantly on the move, Patty carried the burden of protecting a mysterious pendant of great power. Hunted relentlessly by greedy devils coveting its strength, she couldn’t simply abandon the trinket for her own safety due the risks to the world that would present.

She is able to harness the pendant’s powers to protect herself and others, but he control over it at first can be quite chaotic and temperamental. Living on the run, the girl is considered cursed by almost everyone she meets.

#v The Pauper Sorceress Verse

Youtube Cooking Show | Age: 18

Patty works as an intern on Youtube Cooking Show ‘ Devil May Cook’, under head chef, Dante. Dante essentially comes from cooking royalty, with his father running an internationally renowned restaurant where her own grandfather once worked. Hoping to follow in his footsteps, Patty learns Dante’s brilliant yet unorthodox cooking methods are far from what she expected.

Inspired by Mythical Kitchen.

#v Devil May Cook Verse

Puella Magi Madoka Magica | Age: 18

Growing up an orphan, all Patty wanted was her family. Hope drawing thin that her mother one day might return for her, a mysterious magical creature offers her a wish in exchange for service as a Magical Girl. Patty strikes the deal and seals her fate, her soul drawn out and bound to the gem of her locket.

#v My Heart in a Locket Verse

Final Fantasy 7 | Age: Spanning 10-20s, Check Icon.

Every night when the reactors of Midgar light up the night sky, there is a young orphan girl that flinches. Patty doesn’t know why she can feel it; all she knows it that it hurts. Neither Cetra nor connected to JENOVA, she is oblivious to her true nature.

Manifest of the Lifestream, an avatar of Minerva and connected to Gaia's will, how better for the planet to judge its residents than through the eyes of an innocent child?

(OG FF7 based, but any remake spoilers will be tagged with ‘FF7R Spoilers’)

#v Will of the Planet Verse

For any random nonsensical things.

#v Crack Verse

[holyguardian]

@lostsonofsparda​ | X

Aerith didn’t have the good graces to even appear apologetic, whipping her head around with a dramatic swing of her hips to return Vergil’s smirk. He wasn’t upset so she saw no reason to play innocent with him.

“I see why you wear this all the time, I feel HELLA CUTE!” Implication being that the sleeveless top also made him feel the same.

She sauntered playfully over to him, though never actually breached his personal space, her confidence soaring as she danced around him in a wide circle. “Ah, I could get by fine like this.” she replied, flashing him a grin in passing as she made another pass. With him standing still all he would see were the passing movements of her dancing, actually dancing, unless he turned to follow her with his gaze. She wasn’t even being a brat behind his back despite ample opportunity.

“Plus this is a benefit for you too! You hide all of that  — ” she made a vague motion up and down with her hand “from the world and no one realises how much of a weapon you are.”

[calliewebbersmusic]

CALLIEFORNIA is the second studio album by American singer/songwriter Callie Webber. Featuring live instrumentation and whispered verses with distorted belts echoing in the background, Callie delivers a breath of fresh air to the pop music scene. CALIFORNIA SUNLIGHT Old projector spinning film Puts up a picture oh so grim Outcast girl sits with her head down Always the daughter just hanging around Boys outside that window playing ball She wouldn't be caught dead with a doll Did Mom and Dad do something wrong Or will this girl grow up to be strong After being raised in black and white Had to teach myself how to shine Like the California Sunlight Good and evil always fight I'm caught in the middle Of dark and light Had to teach myself how to shine Like the California Sunlight Living scene to scene Playing that same old role Type casted as the heroine "Girl, never touch that heroin" Always played it safe Always kept my cool Now that I'm on my own Left to wonder if I Was the hero or the fool After being raised in black and white Had to teach myself how to shine Like the California Sunlight Good and evil always fight I'm caught in the middle Of dark and light Had to teach myself how to shine Like the California Sunlight Now as these credits roll I'm praying for a sequel Give me one good chance To reinvent This shy girl who don't dance Green light this remake Let me make it right If I direct my own life Then the truth will see the light After being raised in black and white Had to teach myself how to shine Like the California Sunlight Good and evil always fight I'm caught in the middle Of dark and light Had to teach myself how to shine Like the California Sunlight SHAMELESSLY ME In a dog eat dog world I traded one dull life For nine of the curious kind I'm not blind to the Silliness of my mind Never paid attention to the dark Only wandered towards the light While others were blinded And wound up lost I never gave up that classic fight You know good versus evil Sounds so simple But we're all just living Somewhere in the gray I'm me Proud to be The girl next door Got neighbors The world thinks matter More than the rest But that won't change That Classic Callie, she Is the grounded Calm in the storm, I Am shamelessly me I know I never bark And I may not have much bite But it's pretty well known Cats still rule the night When the moon comes up I lurk around in the shadows And everybody knows What it is I seek Prowling for a single spark Someone or something To warm my heart The best inspiration Lies in the dark I'm me Proud to be The girl next door Got neighbors The world thinks matter More than the rest But that won't change That Classic Callie, she Is the grounded Calm in the storm, I Am shamelessly me Smallest kitten in the litter Got one brother That man's a kidder And another has A heart of gold He'll be the first of us That's getting old Still one left, He's in the middle He'll make you laugh, Make you cry They all play domestic games Inside closed doors I'm a proud street cat Always preferred nature's floors I'm me Proud to be The girl next door Got neighbors The world thinks matter More than the rest But that won't change That Classic Callie, she Is the grounded Calm in the storm, I Am shamelessly me WASHED UP A pretty white shell Breaks beneath my feet What was once so pretty Is now so frail Picked up the pieces Put em' in my pale Gonna use what's left To adorn my castle Built from sand So I'm not tied down It made the sea so beautiful It made the ocean a sight to see It made kids happy Be they thirteen or three. It was a wondrous part Of the great big sea Now it's all washed up, Abused by you and me. The cracks in this shell are rigid Tossed aside by water so frigid Was it nature herself that did this Or are we all to blame Guilt weighs more than a wave But they crash just the same Revealing what was once unseen Water and hearts both so unclean It made the sea so beautiful It made the ocean a sight to see It made kids happy Be they thirteen or three. It was a wondrous part Of the great big sea Now it's all washed up, Abused by you and me. Sand between my toes How long have you been dry Shell that broke my skin How long have you been beached Who even knows Your curves used to allow The sound of waves to be carried home Now that you've been crushed By the weight of my blind bliss You can't make a single sound It made the sea so beautiful It made the ocean a sight to see It made kids happy Be they thirteen or three. It was a wondrous part Of the great big sea Now it's all washed up, Abused by you and me. ‪BLUE BIRD‬ ‪Set the sky as the limit ‬ ‪Wings spread to fly‬ ‪Flew over the nicest cars‬ ‪Money can buy ‬ ‪Chirping loudly ‬ ‪This flock's melody ‬ ‪Keeps them together ‬ ‪Cardinals, red birds ‬ ‪Fly across the earth‬ ‪One blue bird ‬ ‪Found itself in their flight ‬ ‪One bad storm‬ ‪And a crash landing later‬ ‪One blue bird‬ ‪Found itself all alone‬ ‪Sing to me, blue bird‬ I will be your tree Sing to me, blue bird And I will set you free Cling to me, blue bird I will be your tree Sing to me, blue bird And I will set you free Wings propel off the wind Crash through the clouds Watch as we descend In a nosedive Scary sight from the ground But we've never felt more alive Red birds all know how to land This blue bird braces To crash in the sand Finds itself in the hand Of a dark feathered bird child Swept her up Rescued her From the villainous wild ‪Sing to me, blue bird‬ I will be your tree Sing to me, blue bird And I will set you free Cling to me, blue bird I will be your tree Sing to me, blue bird And I will set you free Sing to me, black bird Lay my head down in your nest Sing to me, black bird May I finally rest Cling to me, black bird So that I am not alone Sing to me, black bird Thank you for giving me a home ‪Sing to me, blue bird‬ I will be your tree Sing to me, blue bird And I will set you free Cling to me, blue bird I will be your tree Sing to me, blue bird And I will set you free ANGEL WINGS Lightning bolts across the sky Remind me of this guy Who used to paint them on his face Music was food for the soul Of the human race He was completely quirky Some considered that a disgrace I accept this angel That makes the stars look different Every time they take one of us An angel sings We can curse, cry or carry on We all grieve differently Peace of mind knowing They've got their Angel Wings Hallelujah! To the angel in the sky Wish we could've kept you How unfair to you It was your time to fly Don't know what you've got till it's gone I'll still smile when your song comes on Write a masterpiece for your Angelic brothers and sisters now I can smile knowing One day I'll get to hear it And sing along To an angel's song Every time they take one of us An angel sings We can curse, cry or carry on We all grieve differently Peace of mind knowing They've got their Angel Wings If you need me I'll be here, Singin' in the purple rain Ignoring all the pain It just won't stop One takes two takes three takes four This domino game has gone A bit too far Haven't enough humans fallen Tenor section of that choir Is filling up Faster than we can raise more Future angels and get them out the door Every time they take one of us An angel sings We can curse, cry or carry on We all grieve differently Peace of mind knowing They've got their Angel Wings Their angel wings Angel Wings THE KILL Take my wish and grant it  Don't take me for granted  How did shit get so slanted  I'm done with requests  It's time I demand it  Done with I can't  Ready for a new chant  I will! I will! I will!  Not gonna fall victim to  The kill. The kill. The kill.  SIN CITY What happens when an angel wanders Down, Down, Down From the valley Where our Lord watches To man made lights Girls run topless In the streets In the club Make evil decisions Underneath their sheets Am I lost or am I home? I was an angel El-El-El Angel Living under God's wing Crash landed where sinners Praise the devil il-il-il Devil When they dance and sing Can I still call myself a saint If I lay my head in sin city Ity-Ity. Sin City My Father blessed me Back where I come from With sheets of white powder It kept me out of school Gotta similar substance here But it don't fall from the sky Might have the same effect Might even make you die Do I try it cuz I miss the snow? Lord I don't know, I don't know. I was an angel El-El-El Angel Living under God's wing Crash landed where sinners Praise the devil il-il-il Devil When they dance and sing Can I still call myself a saint If I lay my head in sin city Ity-Ity. Sin City BAD GIRL [feat. G-Eazy] Pig tails In my hair and on the farm Cowboys Hard at work and around my arm From the day I turned eighteen They've tried to get me dirty Thought city boy's would be clean They're just as crazy when they're thirty You think cuz I'm a good girl That I do what I'm told to do That's dead wrong, run along I'll never be a bad girl for you Smoke clouded bistro Masks bad intentions Thumb to guitar strings Who knows what that boy brings In that fabric back pack He dresses like me Wants to get me undressed I may not be an angel But my behavior is always best You think cuz I'm a good girl That I do what I'm told to do That's dead wrong, run along I'll never be a bad girl for you You think cuz I'm a country girl That I want to ride on you That's dead wrong, run along I'll never be a bad girl on you Not your legs spread wide Come inside Ready for anything kinda girl Nothing wrong with that But that's not me I'm your stool bound strumming Greyhound riding Earn every dollar shy gal [G-Eazy] Uh She'll ride the metro While you ride ya man Grounded by the system The way only Hollywood can Listen It's a damn shame good men Don't live out in Vegas Getting courted by Gollum When she wanted Legolas Got men snapping nudes I say screenshot and save this Come good girl, Why don't you make me famous It might be the darkside But that spotlight shines bright You think you can do no wrong I'll prove you ain't right Now I don't want to fight With an angel from heaven Baby subtract one from seven Then triple it up Drink that white shit Broke boys shoot into cups Rain drop Drop top We ain't gon' let this track flop Once you go bad The bad things don't stop Take my visa Max it out in the shop Feel tempted by evil Aye girl welcome to pop You think cuz I'm a good girl That I do what I'm told to do That's dead wrong, run along I'll never be a bad girl for you You think cuz I'm a country girl That I want to ride on you That's dead wrong, run along I'll never be a bad girl on you TATTOOED TIARA Who died and made you queen? I'm not some servant On which you can lean I'm not here To keep you clean You want a better life Do it yourself Stop blaming me For your career on the shelf No coronation Just a needle and some ink Right there on your lower back Sitting right above your crack How classy No coronation Heavy eyeliner and that clumpy mascara While you get your tattooed tiara There's sitting on a throne of lies And then there's making a kingdom Out of pure deceit Well I hope you built a moat Because the tide is coming in How long can your castle made of sand Stand up to the industry's demands No coronation Just a needle and some ink Right there on your lower back Sitting right above your crack How classy No coronation Heavy eyeliner and that clumpy mascara While you get your tattooed tiara I'd yell 'off with her head' If I had any spine But I'm just too good To cross that line And I know that you think That you are divine But I'm here to watch Your mortal decline No coronation Just a needle and some ink Right there on your lower back Sitting right above your crack How classy No coronation Heavy eyeliner and that clumpy mascara While you get your tattooed tiara DYE HAIR, DIE Brown haired beauty queen, Why'd they have to call you mean? I guess you did alright for yourself You're the only one here to stay clean. They hated you when you were difficult  But now that you're balding  They adore you. Like a painter made famous  Only after death, It takes a dying woman Just to earn some respect.  Dye hair, It didn't help. Die hair, Only she can define herself. Dye hair, Another color, another criticism.  Die hair, So she can be ready for the fight.  She was a brunette slut, A blonde moron, A red headed devil, How dare she?  Voted for a woman? God she must be lazy. She's got too many thorns To be your beautiful daisy Took a razor to her head Left that pinup girl for dead  Now that her locks don't flow, She just must be crazy.  Dye hair, It didn't help. Die hair, Only she can define herself. Dye hair, Another color, another criticism.  Die hair, So she can be ready for the fight.  Dye hair, die! Dye hair, die! Dye hair, diiiiiiiiiie! Ohhhhhhh Dye hair, It didn't help. Die hair, Only she can define herself. Dye hair, Another color, another criticism.  Die hair, So she can be ready for the fight. 

[nolimitsongrace]

I Refuse to Fear | Kenneth Copeland

Who’s Running Your Town—Faith or Fear?June 25, 2020

Who’s running your town, faith or fear? Your influence in this world is far greater than you might think.

by Kenneth Copeland

Your influence in this world is far greater than just the confines of your house, your yard and your little work space at the office.

Actually, if the truth were known, the whole company where you work is dependent upon you, the whole neighborhood where you live is dependent upon you, even the entire nation needs you—if you are fearless and full of faith.

And the reason we can be so influential is because as believers, we are not in this by ourselves.

We are the Body of Christ. We are the Body of God’s anointed ones. Therefore, we are joined together through our connection to Jesus’ anointing.

What’s more, Jesus gave us all authority and dominion in heaven and earth before He returned to the Father (Luke 9:1-2). And He is expecting us to take that authority and cause His enemies to be made His footstool (Hebrews 10:13). The problem is, we have not been using and enforcing that dominion to its fullest.

But that’s all changing, now. And it must change.

There’s a faith race every believer is destined to win, and you’re in it to win it! Request this FREE minibook by Gloria Copeland for FREE, June 29-July 2, 2020.

A Tale of Two Cities

To give you a sense of the scope of authority you and I have, I want to tell you about two cities as they were back in the days when Jesus walked this earth. One city was run by fear, and the other by faith—they were as different as night and day.

In fact, the atmosphere in each city determined what Jesus could and could not do when he visited them. We read about the city of fear in Mark 5:1-8:

[Jesus and His disciples] came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes. And when [Jesus] was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains: Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him. And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones. But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him, and cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not. For [Jesus] said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit.

Jesus and His disciples had crossed the Sea of Galilee by boat, and when they arrived on the shore in the region called Decapolis, they were met by a demon-possessed man. We know him as the “mad man of Gadera.”

In this passage, we learn that Jesus commanded the devil that possessed this man to come out of him. But notice what we discover in verse 9: “And [Jesus] asked [the devil], What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many.”

Just how many is many?

Try 6,000.

Legion was a military term in those days that referred to 6,000 soldiers. So this one particular devil to whom Jesus was speaking revealed that there were actually 6,000 devils working in and through this madman’s life—through his spirit, soul and body.

But what I especially want you to see is that these 6,000 devils were not necessarily in this man all at one time. The one devil that Jesus addressed face to face was really the higher ranking devil of the bunch. He was the one that had authority over the entire legion. That is, he was a high-ranking devil who commanded a troop of at least 6,000 devils.

Now, at first glance, that statement may seem strange. But not when you consider that the “legion” we see in Mark 5 is what the Apostle Paul referred to in Ephesians as “principalities…powers…rulers of the darkness of this world.” In fact, Ephesians 6:12 gives us an understanding of the structure of the enemy’s domain. It says, “we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”

The devil with whom Jesus had conversation—the one devil that actually possessed the madman of Gadera—was a ruler over the 6,000 “principalities and powers” that functioned under his command through the man. He was a “ruler of the darkness of this world.”

We can see there is a rank and file throughout the entire kingdom of darkness. There are “low-level devils,” and then there are evil spirits in different ranks or classes. There is a chain of command that even the enemy follows.

The City of Fear

Now getting back to the madman of Gadera…if you’re like me, you’ve wondered, Why are 6,000 devils and one commander hanging out with this guy?

That seems like a lot of “fire power” for just one crazy man.

To get an answer to this question, let’s take a look at how the citizens of that area responded to what happened between Jesus and their hometown madman.

Let’s pick up with Mark 5:11-17:

Now there was there nigh unto the mountains a great herd of swine feeding. And all the devils besought [Jesus], saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them. And forthwith Jesus gave them leave. And the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea, (they were about two thousand;) and were choked in the sea. And they that fed the swine fled, and told it in the city, and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that was done. And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid. And they that saw it told them how it befell to him that was possessed with the devil, and also concerning the swine. And they began to pray him to depart out of their coasts.

Here is a man who has been running around naked, living in a graveyard and doing all sorts of bizarre and wicked things. Suddenly, he is gloriously delivered by the power of God. He is wearing clothes once again, and he is in his right mind. Yet, instead of the townspeople being thrilled that he had been delivered, they were filled with fear. So much so that verse 17 says that the people “began to pray [Jesus] to depart out of their coasts.”

In this passage, the word pray means to “earnestly, sincerely beg.” So the people in and around these cities of Decapolis were actually begging Jesus to leave.

Why?

Luke 8 also recounts this incident and it tells us that “the whole multitude of the country of the Gadarenes round about besought [Jesus] to depart from them; for they were taken with great fear” (verse 37).

The people responded to Jesus’ ministry of deliverance with great fear.

And there’s our answer as to why they wanted Jesus to leave…fear.

Fear was what this legion of devils and their commander were all about. Over a period of time they had been able to build a stronghold of fear and control the whole coastal area.

Consequently, the people of this city and surrounding areas constantly lived under fear. It dominated the heavenlies—the spiritual atmosphere—over that entire region.

It was fear that came running to meet Jesus when His boat landed. Fear wanted to know what He was up to. Fear ran to tell what Jesus had done to a herd of 2,000 swine. Fear wanted to know what He had done to the crazy man.

And, of course, it was fear that begged Jesus, “Oh…please, please, please, get out of here!”

Watch as Kenneth Copeland teaches about how to refuse fear!

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Drowning in a Sea of Fear

If you study the scriptures carefully, you begin to realize that Jesus and His disciples encountered the stronghold of fear set up in Decapolis before they landed on its shores and met up with the madman of Gadera and his 6,001 devils.

Actually, it started the night before they arrived, out on the Sea of Galilee when Jesus’ disciples were certain they were going to die…and Jesus was going to sleep through the whole thing. We find the following account of it in Mark 4:35-41.

When the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side. And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships. And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?

First, the disciples feared the storm. Then they feared Jesus.

There is a pattern here. The disciples feared the storm, then they feared Jesus—who actually delivered them from the storm.

Likewise, the people of the country of the Gadarenes feared what happened to the swine and to the madman. Then they feared Jesus—who delivered the man from the demons.

If it wasn’t fear of one thing, it was fear of another. And behind all that fear was a legion of devils and their commander. They were ruling over and controlling that whole area. And I guarantee you they were the ones responsible for the storm that blew up that night on the Sea of Galilee.

Why would the devils do that?

Simply because they were trying to protect their territory.

Jesus and His disciples were headed straight toward the stronghold of fear that “legion” had built, and “legion” didn’t want anyone messing with it.

Jesus was bringing a boatload of love and compassion to that side of the Galilee, and 1 John 4:18 tells us that “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment.”

Love was on His way to cast out fear, therefore, “legion” had to do everything possible to try and stop Jesus and His men. I don’t doubt that all 6,000 devils were zeroed in on that boat that night.

Now obviously, “legion” did not expect to be able to stop the anointed Son of God. There’s no way they could have drowned Jesus. But they could make a play for the whole boatload and hope to at least take out a few disciples. And that’s exactly what they set out to do, even to the point of trying to divide the disciples from Jesus through fear and offense. After all, a house divided against itself will fall (Luke 11:17).

In Mark 4:38, the disciples protested, “Master, carest thou not that we perish?” They feared for their safety and thought Jesus didn’t care.

But Jesus was resting in the fact that His Father had instructed Him to go to the “other side” of the Galilee. Hebrews 4 tells us that faith rests. The disciples could have done the same thing. Peter could have stood up and declared, “The Master told us we’re going to the other side so we’re going to the other side, and no storm is going to keep us from getting there. Peace, be still!”

Instead, they got caught up in the danger of their circumstances. They allowed themselves to be tossed about by every wave of fear. And then, when they finally did turn to the Master…He was asleep, resting in faith. But they mistook His rest as irresponsibility. They must have thought He should have joined them in being fearful and worrying.

Before it was over though, Jesus stood up and dealt with the storm. Then He addressed their fear, and their lack of faith.

The City of Faith

In contrast to Decapolis, an area of fear, there was a coastal region over which I believe there was a stronghold of faith. We read about it in Mark 5:21-24.

And when Jesus was passed over again by ship unto the other side, much people gathered unto him: and he was nigh unto the sea. And, behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw him, he fell at his feet, and besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live. And Jesus went with him; and much people followed him, and thronged him.

Again, Jesus had no sooner stepped out of the boat and onto the land, than a man was there to meet Him. This time, however, the man who met Jesus at the shore was not a man dominated and driven by fear. Rather, he was a man dominated and driven by faith. That man was Jairus, ruler of the synagogue.

Notice, too, that on the journey to this side of the Sea of Galilee, there was no storm. The atmosphere was completely different—there was a spirit of faith in this region. Jesus was actually welcomed instead of being asked to leave.

And the fact that Jairus welcomed Jesus and invited Him to his home was even more significant from the standpoint that Jairus was an important public figure. He was a leader, a pastor and president of the synagogue. He was a man of great wealth and position in the community. Everyone knew him. And all eyes were sure to be on him—especially when he fell on his face before Jesus while “much people” were around. And the truth was, Jairus could have lost everything by simply associating with Jesus.

However, Jairus was a man of faith. Had he been a man of fear, he never would have fallen down in front of Jesus in such a public display. Had he been a man of fear, there probably would not have been any other open display of faith that day. And by that, I’m referring to the woman with the issue of blood who got healed when Jesus stopped and told her, “Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague” (Mark 5:34).

Again faith was out there on the road that day, indicating there was an atmosphere of faith in that place, not fear and doubt.

In fact, when someone from Jairus’ house came with the news that his daughter had died, Jesus turned to Jairus and said, “Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole” (Luke 8:50).

In other words, the spirit of fear was trying to push its way into Jairus’ mind, will and emotions. It was trying to gather up like a storm cloud of darkness and quench his faith. But Jesus commanded him to remain in that place of faith, and that’s exactly what Jairus did. And in the end, his daughter was raised up.

Jesus could only perform miracles where there was faith—an atmosphere and a spirit of faith. And as a man of God, Jairus’ spirit of faith had great influence over that region.

This is the same principle we see at work when Adam and Eve sinned against God in the Garden of Eden. Fear caused them to run from God instead of to Him. In fact, fear will always separate us from God. Why? Because fear is not of God, and fear and God never go together.

Deuteronomy 28:66 tells us that fear is under the curse. But Galatians 3:13 and Hebrews 2:14-15 assure us that we’ve been delivered from that curse of fear through the blood of Jesus—the same as we have been delivered from sickness, lack and hell itself.

There’s no denying we live in a fear-based world, but we can and must resist fear.

It’s not enough just to be in the boat with Jesus. We have to resist every wave of fear that would come crashing against us.

Jesus gave us the power. He gave us the authority. Now, it’s up to us.

So rest in faith by believing the love (1 John 4:16-18). And when you have to, stand up in your boat and declare—Peace, be still!

[hollowedknight]

1 Thessalonians 5 has a ton of relevant Christian admonishment for today, as well as a great deal of encouragement when it comes to the return of Christ and His faithfulness. Jesus is abnormally faithful, faithful to the point of enduring abuse, or even death on the cross, and yet still doing the right thing, no matter what people do to Him. Tonight, I watched a movie I haven't seen in a really long time, and if you haven't seen it, this just might be a spoiler. When I was a kid, I saw the movie armageddon in theaters, one of those beautiful moments that a boy shares with his action loving father lol. My wife and I were scrolling through movies the other night, and we found this one, thinking to myself, I don't remember it being that bad. It was more interesting than I remember lol. However, the main point of it, was about a father and his daughter, and a father willing to give up his life for his daughter and her future, regardless of her betrayals and their disputes over who she ought to date. Christ is like the father who gives up everything to save his child, and we are most often like the disobedient daughter that Christ gives up everything for, but His faithfulness is stunning until the end, and if you're emotional like me, you'll cry at the end, when Bruce Willis makes a sacrifice much like Jesus did, although, Jesus' was cooler. Since God is so good, we ought to be faithful Christians, because He is so faithful we ought to do the right thing continually, we don't, but we should. Luckily for us, as it says, Christ has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ 1 Th 5:9. Moreover, because God is so good and we love Him because He first loved us, 1 John 4:19, we ought to put on the breastplate of faith and love, and the helmet of salvation which is hope, 5:8, knowing that we will be with Jesus, whether we live our lives sober and awake or like those who're sleeping 5:10, because He is good and has not destined us to wrath. Additionally since Christ died for us, and loved us while we were yet HIs enemies, Romans 5:10, dying for us while we were still yet sinners 5:9, we ought to walk uprightly and like children of the day and not the night, we ought to appreciate and thank vigilantly those who serve us in the Lord and take care of us in the Lord and raise us in the Lord, those good men of God who're there for us daily when we need them to be, those are who we should thank. Our pastors, our friends, our family. We are also to admonish the unruly, lift up the faint hearted, help the weak, and be patient with everyone, as we know we will be assailed for doing such things, and we know we will face persecution for doing what's right. Essentially, I am here to encourage you to rebuke those who're outright sinful that call themselves brothers, those who you know ought to be walking in the light, to lift up those who're struggling with their faith, we all know someone who is and we've all had our struggles, help your friends. Also, help those that are weak, whether that be the poor who cannot feed themselves, those who cannot defend themselves, or those who're incapable of doing things for themselves, because of disabilities or otherwise, help them. Someone needs to, and because Christ lives in us, Jesus wants to and He wants to use us to do it. In spite of all of this, and the trials that will follow some of this, be patient with everyone, this is harder than and it sounds and I pray that the Lord might grant us all patience as we set out to do good deeds and follow His words by the power of His Holy Spirit, that He might grant us that fruit of the spirit or aspect of love which is patient/patience. We will need it, as someone of these people, by their own will or the devils will try and test our patience, some might even be our brothers in Christ, but it is bound to happen. We ought not to repay anyone evil for evil, but we ought to repay them with good, we ought to pray for those who persecute us and love our enemies (5:15, Matthew 5:44). As Ephesians 6 tells us after speaking on the armor of God, we ought to pray without ceasing for ourselves, but most importantly for our brothers in the faith. Rejoice always, do not quench the spirit and in everything give thanks because this is the will of God for us in Christ Jesus, meaning we ought to listen to what the Spirit is telling us, forgive us for not doing so Lord Jesus, help us to rejoice even in our sufferings and tribulations as James 1:2 touches on, as we should rejoices when we enter into various trials, we ought to be grateful for what we have and what the Lord has given us and for what He's doing for us, because He does tons everyday, whether we see it or not, thank you for that Lord Jesus. A statement, that we ought not to despise prophetic utterances or gifts, could in itself be a blog. We ought to acknowledge the gift and utterances of Prophesy because they're God speaking to us through another human being, usually for our benefit, as 1 Corinthians 14:3 says, for our strengthening, encouragement, and comfort, and it tends to reveal the secrets of our hearts so that we will know that God is there, in their midst or presence of wherever we are at, God tends to show this to the ungifted man or the unbeliever in order to make himself known, ask for God to do so, and He will, just do not hate what you hear or the one God has gifted to do so. (1 Cor 14:24,3). As verses 21 and 22 touch on, we ought to hold fast to that which is good, and abstain from any form of evil or appearance of evil, this is a very broad statement and may the Lord open our eyes to it, and may we stay away from any form or appearance of evil and hold fast to that which is good. Lastly, "Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." 1Th5.23 "Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass."1Th5.24 These are two very hopeful verses, thank the Lord Jesus Christ and Our collective God and Father, that He's faithful and will bring to pass the entire sanctification of our spirit, soul, and body, that it might be preserved complete and without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, that Christ will finish a good work that He has started in us, that when He returns, the God of Peace will have made us complete, lacking nothing. There are few things as hopeful as this, knowing that God will finish what He has started so that when He returns we will be ready to be caught up in the air with Him and be with Him forever and ever amen. (Phil 1:6, 1 Th 4:17,).

[holyguardian]

@lostsonofsparda​ | X

The party was exactly that. A party. No refinement or touches of elegance, a large get-together of people on familiar terms — most of them pleasant. Dante’s speakers made the shop walls vibrate and there were few signs of it slowing down anytime soon. Quite the opposite. There would be drinking, laughter and cheer until first light if the mood was any indication.

Though Aerith was well-versed in the acts of revelry, that belonged to her past. The younger Sparda sibling may have clung to that spark of youth but others around him slowly matured out of it.

Then there was Vergil, who old soul that he was had probably never been to many ragers. When she noticed him step out she took that as her own ticket to freedom and followed.

“What?” Aerith questioned his surprise. “Did you expect someone younger and laden with alcohol and daddy issues?” She barely paused a beat. “Nero’s still inside, drinking the other hunters under the table.” The comment was accompanied with a flick of her hand and a very wicked grin.

[holyguardian]

🌷 Short Starter | @lostsonofsparda​

“Only crazy people talk to themselves.” Aerith piped up from behind Vergil, hands clasped behind her back with a coy little grin. “Go on, finish your conversation for me. What’s on your mind?”

[holyguardian]

♡ 👀👀

MEME → Ship meme.

Who is the most affectionate? Hhhhh. Aerith! She's more openly affectionate, though Vergil in all his time knowing her has been incredibly soft which I don't think even he realises. He holds a lot of people to a certain standard... and then there's Aerith, getting away with so much stuff, he has a limit of course but she can greatly overstep the line and barely get chastised.

Who initiates the handholding? Aerith does. If Vergil reaches out to hold her hand it's the kinder version of a leash to keep her close and out of fucking trouble swear on Sparda.

Who worries more for the other? 8D aha. Vergil does, naturally. He isn't so much a 'worrier', it's not in his nature, and while he does attempt to place his trust in Aerith to not be reckless and live her second-chance at life like she is mortal... HE FUCKING WORRIES. He made a mistake taking on a role as her protector because this woman is either running headfirst into danger or she's tripping into it.

Who is more likely to ask for help? On the bright side, Aerith clearly knows when to ask for help. Had she not she honestly wouldn't have survived this long. It's extremely rare and a privilege for Vergil to ever ask for anything.

Who is the one always losing the keys? Aerith is. Guarantee she's been locked out of Devil May Cry before and he's found her curled up like some sad lump sitting on the steps outside because no one was there to let her in AND she locked the keys for her truck inside said truck along with her phone so she just had to wait.

Who leaves little love notes for the other? This one is difficult! Vergil reads quite a lot of classical literature and he's definitely well-learned in classical dances like the waltz which does make me believe he has quite the potential for romantic gestures, though in the same breath he doesn't have time to waste on anything frivolous. You can fight me on this one, but I think it's Aerith whose the one writing the love notes and Vergil is occasionally guiding her into a slow dance around the kitchen / shop / their rooms.

Who can’t sleep unless the other is there? Squints into another realm. I feel it in my BONES that I have answered this. In fact, I think I did, in a random headcanons prompt. It's Vergil. He's more at ease hearing her footsteps pacing around at night because it means she's inside and safe, it's when he hears the chime of the shop door that sleep is truly lost on him because he hates 1. how she walks outside at night and 2. not knowing where she has gone.

Who is more likely to propose to the other? Vergil is. This is another case of Aerith could happily live out her life with him and never be concerned about marriage, the piece of paper means little and the strength of their relationship is far more important. Though the thought of him stressed because in battle he lost the ring she gave him is chef's kiss because it would show how much he cares about their bond.

Who introduced the other to their family first? ... well. Vergil, surprisingly, and that's because she doesn't have a family anymore. This feels like a question where it should be Aerith who wins considering how guarded he can be but they get no choice here.

Who is more likely to play with the other’s hair? How many questions in a row am I going to answer Vergil, go! He's starting to open up to her more and I can honestly see him with a book in one hand and his other tangled in her curls and winding them around his finger etc etc.

Who makes sure the other has meals/stays hydrated? 8D Vergil does. He even goes out of his way to shop at the farmers market for fresh produce, and while he has suckered Aerith into contributing more when it comes to cooking meals for the collective DMC family, he still takes on the larger portion of that work in an effort to keep everyone healthy and reduce the sheer amount of pizza intake.

Who is more likely to stand up to anyone for the other? No, you know what, I'm stealing this one. He may be her protector but just watch Aerith launch to his defense. Sure, he doesn't need it, he could silence most people with a mere look and yet the small pink-clad thorn in his side will leap to tear shreds into anyone speaking badly about him.

Who is the most likely to prepare a surprise for the other? ... Aerith? Massive question mark on this one. Vergil feels like the kind of man who will come home with a gift because he saw something and thought of her in that moment, whereas Aerith would want to really impress him. He's impressed when she can do the dishes and not almost wrap her hand around the kitchen knives, but SHE thinks he has extremely high standards. He speaks well, dresses well, all of his hobbies are ✨fancy✨ so she will very carefully prepare surprises for him because she wants it to actually mean something.

Who makes the other pinky promise not to do certain things? Aerith. Can you imagine Vergil initiating a pinky promise? She would think he was teasing her or that she had just discovered a malfunctioning clone of his. Hell, she would try to make him pinky promise something and have to FORCE her pinky on his because he wouldn't be having any of it.

Who puts a blanket over the other when they fall asleep on the couch? Awww. This time it's Vergil. Cannot imagine he often falls asleep anywhere but his own space, and the couch is in a very common area. Aerith, the rare times she drifts off like that, is either very exhausted from working or she's unwell, which adds more sweetness to the gesture of covering her with a blanket.

[holyguardian]

@lostsonofsparda​ | X

Aerith blinked taking a moment to roll her shoulders back and sit a little straighter. “I was trying to mimic your speech to earn your favour, by pointing out our accomplishments and how we have been resourceful I hoped for you to recognise my very-good-points.” She hadn’t been sat there for days thinking of how to approach the conversation, penniless beggar that she was.

She exhaled and relaxed her stiff posture. How did he always carry himself like that? Her hands raised to hold under her chin and over her cheeks with her elbows propped up onto the desk. He wouldn’t see it, but her feet gently swayed beneath the table, too short in Dante’s chair to fully reach the floor. “Come ooooooon. There’s always going to be at-home food because you’re always going to the markets. Nothing is going to spoil from one takeout meal, I think we’ve all been really good, and I would like to point out that I still ate the dinner you prepared when Lady came in with a cheese pizza.”