May, 17 (Evening) Devotion

“Thou art my servant; I have chosen thee.”

Isaiah 41:9

If we have received the grace of God in our hearts, its practical effect has been to make us God’s servants. We may be unfaithful servants, we certainly are unprofitable ones, but yet, blessed be his name, we are his servants, wearing his livery, feeding at his table, and obeying his commands. We were once the servants of sin, but he who made us free has now taken us into his family and taught us obedience to his will. We do not serve our Master perfectly, but we would if we could. As we hear God’s voice saying unto us, “Thou art my servant,” we can answer with David, “I am thy servant; thou hast loosed my bonds.” But the Lord calls us not only his servants, but his chosen ones—“I have chosen thee.” We have not chosen him first, but he hath chosen us. If we be God’s servants, we were not always so; to sovereign grace the change must be ascribed. The eye of sovereignty singled us out, and the voice of unchanging grace declared, “I have loved thee with an everlasting love.” Long ere time began or space was created God had written upon his heart the names of his elect people, had predestinated them to be conformed unto the image of his Son, and ordained them heirs of all the fulness of his love, his grace, and his glory. What comfort is here! Has the Lord loved us so long, and will he yet cast us away? He knew how stiffnecked we should be; he understood that our hearts were evil, and yet he made the choice. Ah! our Saviour is no fickle lover. He doth not feel enchanted for awhile with some gleams of beauty from his church’s eye, and then afterwards cast her off because of her unfaithfulness. Nay, he married her in old eternity; and it is written of Jehovah, “He hateth putting away.” The eternal choice is a bond upon our gratitude and upon his faithfulness which neither can disown.

Daily Bible and Devotional for Women - http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=daily.bible.for.woman

you think YOU had a bad day at work?

bonus: sid shrieking "no!!!! NO!!!!!" loud enough to be heard in the stands and on camera

revstar emu save me

*banging fists on table* more mentally ill characters in stories that aren't just about them being mentally ill! More mentally ill characters in sci-fi, in fantasy, in romance and fun and high stakes situations and everything in between, as the heroes, as complex individuals, multifaceted and treated with respect, not having their needs and differences ignored or skirted around but, again, not having them be their only trait or plot point/entire premise! Please, I'm begging, on my hands and knees, there's a place for these topics and characters in realistic, reflective and literary fiction, yeah, but there's also a place in those magical, mystical, action packed, mysterious and alien worlds, give them to ME

I am once again thinking about the reluctant ruler whose arc justly and correctly includes assuming the throne and taking responsibility for the people set before them

man

Okay but it will give me life if Imogen gets to say "I'm bi actually" in the next season and them have nick give her the biggest hug and then they're bi4bi bffs forever and ever and

You know, eventually, one of either Scott/Pearl or Cleo/Martyn is going to have to die first. And at that point whatever duo is left is going to be pretty much forced to team up, and that, dear friends, is going to be the single funniest angry crawling-back-to-your-ex conversation that we’re ever going to get to witness

Okay but the life of the legendary Shovana Narayan altered my brain chemistry, a superb academic record hold, a maestro in kathak and then also a civil services officer with a long distance marriage and motherhood

If she could do this in the 50s and 60s, wtf is stopping me from doing so, when I have never wanted just one thing to define me

saw a post about how rhaegar was the best-placed person to stand up to aerys and how he failed, and now i have brainworms about it.

because he was (short of… well, robert, it turns out), and he did fail. he was too weak when it counted to ultimately save his wife and children. there are no heroes. grand designs always fail at the level of a man. and men are weak and fallible.

(side note: not anti-rhaegar. clown on this post at your peril.)

Philippians 3:7-8 — Today's Verse for Thursday, March 7, 2024

Sukuna is a human trying to play games with Gods. His power is false and those who know it do not even care enough to point it out. They see Sukuna as nothing but a blip on the map that is their world. His power is given, and any power not earned can be taken away. Unlike the Gods he emulates, imitates, he did not forge his own abilities in the heat of a dying star. He did not build his strength in ichor and ash. He fought well and was graced by a Devil who used to be an Angel and given a gift. Power from a higher being without contract is a dangerous thing. Any Curse knows. But Sukuna was young and greedy and thought he was powerful. He accepted and did not point out that no one ever asked where he got such abilities. Never thought of the consequences of using his gift in ways that did not honor his benefactor. Sukuna was a human who did not worship the God who gave him his status. He will regret it.

Thinkin about an AU where curses are people who have been cursed/blessed by the gods to give them power because of their actions.

memes that cater to no one but me

[Image ID: A meme with a blank white background. On the left is concept art of Jowee from Drawn to Life with text above him that reads "im transmasc". On the right is concept art of Pastel from Graffiti Kingdom in her boxdog form with text above her that reads "and im transfem". Below both of them is flaming text that reads "THE ART GAME BROTHERS". End ID]

“Image-obsessed celebrity can’t be struggling behind the scenes because being ultra-famous and almost pathologically protective of your public image is famously a very mentally healthy experience with no psychological downsides” is just as much of a dogshit parasocial take as “famous straight conventionally attractive if sometimes cryptic celebrity is leaving secret puzzles to prove to me specifically that she’s gay”.

You don’t know these people. YOU DON’T KNOW THESE PEOPLE. You can just like or dislike the music and it will be ok. I will not send the art cops to your house. Go to a coffee shop and put a tenner in the busker’s guitar case if you’re that exercised about it.

Also, not for nothing, being wealthy can be helpful with mental illness, but pushy stage parents and legions of obsessive fans historically Are Not. We’ve somehow blown straight past “money can’t buy happiness but it can pay for rent and doctor’s appointments which sure fucking help” to “no rich person has had a real problem ever” and I regret to inform you that that second statement is what the original platitude is about. It is, tragically, possible to have rent and groceries and doctors bills and cute clothes paid for without a second’s thought and still have a bad time of it, because even rich people are human beings who come from families of human beings and have human friends and lovers and staff and coworkers and part of the human condition is that sometimes some of us suffer.

I get the impulse to be resentful of someone singing about having a hard time when the spare change from between her couch cushions would easily save your life. I’ve been through a period of my life where I tried not to obviously resent my friends for *having food*. It’s ok if you can’t listen to her for that reason and in fact I’d argue that you shouldn’t. It’s painful, and it’s not the kind of pain that produces anything worthwhile, just more resentment. But “she’s making up alcoholism for clout” is such a deeply stupid way to phrase that. You don’t know her. What if she isn’t? What if she IS? Making up personas is literally part of her brand. Do you need a hug? Sincerely. I think a hug would maybe be more productive here. I’m sorry things are hard. It’s not fair. You’re right. It isn’t.

I just think one slightly overexposed pop singer is maybe not the main reason it’s hard.

Sort of the same idea as this, but Sigewinne standing around playing with the inmates of The Fortress of Meropide, when Wriothesley happens to walk by and hears them competing for rarest haul that they ever stole and got away with. Wriothesley immediately declares Sigewinne the winner.

And they all turn to look at her, because. Sigewinne is literally like the only one down here without a criminal record? Even she looks confused???

Wriothesley, with a completely straight face: Because she stole my heart.

Sigewinne is, in spirit, doubled over on the floor, clutching her chest and coughing blood as tiny cherubs shoot her full of arrows. The inmates are so so happy for them, they really truly are, but also Your Grace, please, some of us just ate BSMZJZJJZNSMDK