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frazzledsoul · 2 months

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The primary reason Lorelai prefers Dean to Rory's other boyfriends (to the point where it seems that Lorelai is enjoying the relationship far more than Rory is) is because Dean is so controlling and demands that Rory spend every waking moment with him, to the point where she doesn't have time for any outside interests or friends. Rory can't be swayed by the rich kids at Chilton or their hard-partying lifestyle that got Lorelai in trouble if Dean monopolizes all her time (the only person she socializes with there is Paris, another outcast). Her only real friend at Stars Hollow High is Lane, another sheltered only child with a highly constricted social life. Rory is constantly negotiating with Dean to get him to go to events, because he doesn't want her to go alone or to spend time with other people. Much of their time is spent just hanging out with Lorelai, with Dean as a sidekick to Rory and Lorelai's domestic routines. Dean keeps Rory's world small, tied to Lorelai and Stars Hollow, with no room to contemplate life outside of the bubble that Lorelai created. He heavily micromanages Rory's social life and Lorelai likes that, to the point where she is constantly encouraging Rory to not do anything to upset him, to anticipate his wrath, to forget about her attraction to Jess who she tells her doesn't really like her because he moved onto Shane when Rory wouldn't take him seriously as an option. She needs to stay with Dean to make Lorelai happy, because Rory (unwisely) views her as having better judgment in romantic matters and she wants to please her mom.

Jess is a threat because he reminds Lorelai of the person she was when she was a teenager, wild and rebellious and itching to escape from the life she didn't want. Jess is not made for Stars Hollow: he represents all of the art and the literature and the worldly adventures that Rory dreams of experiencing someday. He's a force that's going to pull her away, and Rory is sexually and intellectually attracted to him, having outgrown the safety of her tightly controlled relationship with her dimwitted beanpole of a boyfriend. Jess doesn't want to be part of Stars Hollow life, he wants his time with Rory to be with her only, and if she wants to do the cheesy town stuff that's cool with him because he doesn't seek to control her every waking moment. He can have his interests and she can have hers and their time alone can belong to them and both Lorelai and Rory...have a hard time adjusting to this. There's definitely some middle ground to be had here, but Jess doesn't want to do what Stars Hollow expects him to do because they hate him anyway and I'm pretty sure Rory was his first serious girlfriend, so he was out of his depth even if he wanted to conform...and he was too emotionally damaged to be much good to anyone at that point anyway. That said, Rory does seem to make an effort to socialize the most among the Stars Hollow crew while they are together and do her own Chilton stuff, so maybe it was in her best interest not to be tied to someone who insisted on controlling every single thing she did.

Logan is a mixed bag, because prior to getting involved with him Rory was alone for an entire year and hated it. She struggles at the paper, doesn't make any real friends at Yale except for Marty, comes home every weekend, and eventually gets involved with Dean again because she wants to relive her youth before realizing they actually don't have anything in common. She's sucked in by Logan's lifestyle and his hard-partying ways but she hasn't really let herself be involved in this kind of thing before, so she enjoys it until she doesn't. Logan doesn't actively seek to control her, she's always there by choice, and he never tells her she can't hang out with other people or do things on her own...but she still gets subsumed by him because it's what her primary experience of being a girlfriend is. When Jess goes to find her in Hartford, she has no idea of what to do in the city because even though she's lived there for six months, she still defaults to doing what her boyfriend wants to do.

I think this does get better in the seventh season, because she did gain a little bit of independence after she got back together with Logan, but also because he's elsewhere, his entire supporting cast of characters isn't around, and she's forced to make friends on her own and deal with things that don't revolve around her significant other. (Also, their relationship is relatively stable, so even though there is tension with Marty and Lucy, it's not really an insurmountable obstacle). She seems to have learned by that point it's okay to argue with your partner and not have it be the end of the world and to have parts of your life that don't revolve around him, either.

Of course, that is not ASP, even if it was something that needed to happen. It seems that the patterns set up early with Dean and Lorelai controlled Rory's life for a long time and negatively influenced how she interacted with the other guys. Remove AYITL from the equation (yes, please) and it puts Rory in a position to reconcile with Jess on the campaign trail or afterwards, because she's finally able to entertain the thought of maintaining an independent existence while being part of a couple.

#meta #rory gilmore #not sure where i was going with this but whatever #gilmore girls #anti dean forester #jess mariano #logan huntzberger

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gothicfairytopia · 3 months

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How act two of The Sound of Music might foreshadow Good Omens season three ~

I was reading this post about Aziraphale’s ball idea coming from The Sound of Music rather than Jane Austen, and remembered that I’d meant to make a post about parallels between Aziraphale and Maria. The romantic plot of Good Omens has a lot in common with the plot of The Sound of Music, and season two just so happens to leave off at the very end of act one. So, is there a chance that act two could provide some clues about season three? I find the idea very compelling, so here’s my analysis of the movie and how I think it compares to what we’ve seen so far, as well as what we can hope to see in season three.

In the beginning we have Maria at the abbey, where it is made clear that she does not fit in because she has a hard time abiding by the rules. She also has a tendency to prioritize the natural/material world over her spiritual duties, which is represented by the opening song (“The Sound of Music”), the singing of which literally makes her late to return to the abbey. This has obvious parallels to Aziraphale’s difficulties conforming to Heaven’s way of life, as well as his worldly attachments.

(A fun bonus parallel is in the song “Maria,” when the nuns say “she’s always late for everything / except for every meal.” Aziraphale-coded fr.)

Maria leaves the abbey to be the governess to the von Trapp family, and this is where she begins to really learn about herself as an adult outside of a tightly controlled religious environment. She still doesn’t conform to the new world she lives in, but begins learning how to retain her selfhood without feeling ashamed of doing so. This period is obviously a parallel for Aziraphale’s time on Earth—although the time frames are quite different, the same general lessons are learned.

At the end of act one, as addressed in the linked post, there is a ball where the Captain and Maria dance, and this is the moment where Maria discovers her feelings for the Captain. Although this scene is an obvious parallel for the Jane Austen ball scene, I think it’s honestly more similar to the kiss in the final 15. Maria, mid-dance, stares into the Captain’s eyes, freezes, and backs away, saying she can’t remember the dance anymore. The Baroness is watching from the doorway, and when Maria runs upstairs to get changed for dinner, the Baroness follows her.

Up in Maria’s bedroom, the Baroness confronts Maria about her feelings for the Captain, which Maria denies initially. The Baroness convinces her of her own feelings and of the Captain’s, and essentially encourages her to run away—I’ll get into why in a second. Without a word to anyone, Maria returns to the abbey. This is a super obvious parallel to the end of season two, with the Baroness acting almost in the role of the Metatron by pulling Maria aside and reminding her of her “duty.”

Now into the more speculative side of things, trying to think of how The Sound of Music might offer hints as to what’s coming in season three.

When Maria returns to the abbey, she remains in constant silent prayer for the first several days before being called upon by the Abbess. Maria confesses that she ran away because she was frightened, and admits that she had accidentally developed an attraction for the Captain. She gives her reason for not telling the Captain about her feelings and choosing to return the abbey: “I was there on God’s errand. Oh, I couldn’t stay, I just couldn’t. I’m ready at this moment to take my vows.” This sense of misplaced duty might not be all of it, but again, we’ll get to that in a second.

The Abbess responds with probably more kindness than we’d expect from anyone in Heaven: she says that romantic love can be holy, that Maria needs to discover how God intended her to spend her love, and assures her that “if you love this man, it doesn’t mean you love God less.” With this, she commands Maria to return.

While this may seem incongruous with Heaven’s general business model and something unlikely to be paralleled in season three, I think it’s important to think back to the conversation at the end of season one immediately following the failed apocalypse, when Crowley asks, “Angel, what if the Almighty planned it like this, all along? From the very beginning?” People joke about God trying to set them up from the beginning of time, but I don’t know that it necessarily has to be a joke. The question of God’s ineffable plan is a constant throughout the series—the whole point is that it’s impossible to say what exactly God intends.

This is the exact same conflict Maria faces in the scene with the Abbess. When she objects to returning, she says, “But I pledged my life to God, I — I’ve pledged my life to his service.” The Abbess rejects the idea that this is the only possible plan that could have been intended for Maria, saying, “You have to live the life you were born to live.” Perhaps there will be something similar in season three, some way in which God communicates the same thing to Aziraphale—that loving Crowley doesn’t mean loving Her any less, that their love is holy, and that the life he is meant to live is not one pent up behind heavenly walls, but rather out in the world with Crowley.

After Maria returns, she’s reunited with the children, the Captain and the Baroness break off their engagement, lots of little plot things. What I’m interested in is the song “Something Good” (which I would just like to emphasize is sung in a gazebo... anyway). The song introduces an additional reason for Maria’s departure—namely, that she did not feel worthy of the Captain’s love, a sentiment that he returns. They both come to the conclusion, though, that they must have done “something good” to deserve having found each other. Here are some lyrics:

For here you are, standing there, loving me

Whether or not you should

So somewhere in my youth or childhood

I must have done something good.

The basic theme of the song is self forgiveness, and the acknowledgement that past imperfections do not make a person unworthy of being loved. Rather, both characters here have felt themselves to be inadequate, but view the other’s love as a sign that they must, in some way, be good.

I love the idea that Crowley and Aziraphale might have a moment like this, because I think it would be massive in terms of their own self acceptance. For Crowley, Aziraphale’s love (and possibly God’s endorsement?) is proof that his fall did not make him irredeemable, that he remains a being who can love and be loved in return. For Aziraphale, Crowley’s love is an affirmation that he can honestly be forgiven for his transgressions, rather than marked forever by them (like removing the stain from his coat, allowing it to be forgotten).

Unfortunately, the movie does not end with their marriage—they still have to escape Austria after the Captain is called to serve by the Nazis. I think we can assume the Nazis parallel Hell, and say that perhaps Aziraphale and Crowley really will have to establish “their own side.” Maria has to break free of the abbey, and the Captain has to break free of the Nazis. They do this by running away, and I’m not sure Aziraphale and Crowley would ever flee Earth in the wake of the Second Coming, but I will say that it does immediately evoke the idea of the pair running away to Alpha Centauri. I do think that given the “they are bad at their jobs and did very little to seriously prevent Armageddon” joke from season one, it would be a little funny if humanity managed to save itself during a momentary retreat from Aziraphale and Crowley.

I don’t mean to imply that the blueprint of season three is found in act two of The Sound of Music, but I do think that the movie being canonically a favorite of Heaven’s, the recurring theme of the ineffability of God’s plan, and the sheer number of parallels within the plot so far make it a fair place to look for clues. Who’s to say that God’s plan wasn’t hidden in plain sight?

#brought to u by ur local theatre kid fr #i’ve prepared for this sound of music analysis my whole life #good omens #ineffable husbands #aziraphale #crowley #good omens s3 #sound of music #aziracrow #good omens meta #good omens s2

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sensualnoiree · 3 months

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astro observations: 1h 10h square & the souls journey 🤸🏿‍♀️

In astrology, every aspect between planets or houses tells a unique story about the individual's inner workings and external experiences. One particularly intriguing aspect is the square formed between the 1st and 10th houses. Here, the clash between personal identity (1st house) and societal recognition (10th house) creates a dynamic tension that shapes the native’s journey.

At the heart of this aspect lies a struggle for balance. The 1st house serves as the sanctum of the soul—an intimate chamber where the essence of selfhood resides, untethered from external influence. Conversely, the 10th house stands as the grand theater of society, where one's public image and worldly achievements are spotlighted and scrutinized. It is in the tension between these two domains that the soul encounters its most poignant challenges and transformative revelations.

We all have these houses and therefore all face this soul struggle to some basic degree. Other’s however, who do have planets squaring each other in these houses may find themselves even more torn between pursuing their personal passions and conforming to societal norms. The pressure to succeed in the professional realm can sometimes overshadow the need for personal fulfillment, leading to a sense of disconnection from one's true self. This inner turmoil may manifest as periods of identity crisis or feelings of inadequacy in the pursuit of external recognition.

Yet, despite the challenges posed by this square aspect, there is immense potential for growth and self-discovery. Through navigating the tension between the 1st and 10th houses, individuals can learn valuable lessons about authenticity, integrity, and the importance of aligning personal values with professional pursuits. Each obstacle presents an opportunity for deeper introspection and greater self-awareness.

Ultimately, the journey of reconciling the energies of the 1st and 10th houses is a profound one. It requires courage, resilience, and a willingness to embrace both the light and shadow aspects of the self. By embracing this tension and striving for balance, individuals can unlock their full potential and create a life that honors both their innermost desires and their aspirations for worldly success.

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blimbo-buddy · 2 months

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As a person who's so fucked up obsessed with Pokemon Mystery Dungeon, how bad would it be to isekai into Warrior Cats and could you feasibly make it work or leave?

Like the human protagonists are always summoned due to world going fucky-wucky and you the sole human have the power to fix it with your chosen partner.

I think if I were transported into WC, allowed to spawn into any clan, have my dimensional scream (PMD explorers power where you can see the future and past but it's activated by interacting with certain people and objects).

I think I'd just fuck off tbh but only come back if the calamity is like actually threatening to destroy stuff more than the clans.

PMD protags almost always have amnesia (almost always because iirc in Super you don't lose your memories-)

What would you do if you were isekai'd into Warrior Cats by not Starclan and told you have to save the world.

Would you do it even if you're forced into the clans?

I really like the idea of getting isekai'd into Warrior Cats specifically, becoming another pawn to the dictating narrative and forced to conform to the status quo of the stagnancy of the Clans. Do you fade into the background? Do you eventually give in to the narrative? Do you try and fight against the narrative and have your existence wiped in an instant? So many ideas to consider

I think if I got isekai'd into Warriors I think I'd probably end up fucking up the narrative, my appearances would be jumbled and all over the place by not a fumbling writing team, but by my own hand. Make them question their own writing choices y'know. But don't we all want to do that now don't we

Two stories that involve humans being turned into Warrior Cats that I can think of off the top of my head:

Honey's horrible time by the-owl-tree: Protagonist got hit and killed by a truck and was reincarnated into a fake series called FrostBlaze's Destiny. Really cool with how it uses the entire "The actual story takes place in a fake story series" and delves into how a human might try and adapt to a series that they used to read, as a character within said series.

Maliceclan by stupidwarriorkitties: A clangen blog run by one of my friends and mutuals Frog/Oliver. A company responsible for the destruction of a Clan's territory (and the Clan itself) are killed after their hq collapses and they are reincarnated into a Clan by an angered god (not Starclan). They run into some strange, other-worldly encounters of varying concern from being tormented by the god that killed them, to being grabbed at by a skeleton in a cave.

#blimbo rambles #ask #wc

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theprinceofpeacesposts · 17 days

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Your life should reflect Christ

Above all else, you must live in a way that brings honor to the good news about Christ. Then, whether I visit you or not, I will hear that all of you think alike. I will know that you are working together and are struggling side by side to get others to believe the good news. Philippians 1:27 CEV

The Holy Spirit is reminding us today to live in a way we reflect Christ in our daily lives. The word of God today is a call to unity and steadfastness in living out the gospel message.

So Let me break down what God is saying in his word today:

1. "You must live in a way that brings honor to the good news about Christ": Here, we are reminded of the importance of living in a manner that reflects the teachings and values of the gospel. It is not about you professing belief in Christ, but also you must demonstrate your faith through your actions and your conduct.

2. "So that whether I come and see you or am absent": Paul was telling Philippians whether he is with them or not, their conduct should remain consistent. This underscores the idea that their commitment to the gospel should not waver based on external circumstances or the presence of particular leaders.

3. "I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel": Paul desired to hear reports of the Philippians' unity and dedication to the faith. Because one of the main reflection of Christ in us is unity. If we live and work in unity, we are portraying the love of Christ in us to the world. This way the world will know we are children of the Most High.

Overall, the word of God today serves as a reminder to us to live lives that reflect the transformative power of the gospel, to remain steadfast in our faith regardless of circumstances, and to prioritize unity and cooperation in our efforts to spread the message of Christ.

Regardless of the cultural context, we are called to exemplify Christ in all aspects of our lives, transforming the world around us for the glory of God.

Now; here are the affirmations of Christ's character and image, along with the renunciation of conformity to worldly things:

1. Affirmation of Christ's Character: "I affirm that Christ's character is my model and example in all things. I strive to emulate his love, kindness, and compassion in every aspect of my life." (Phil 2:5-8)

2. Renunciation of Conformity to Worldly Things: "I renounce conformity to the values and patterns of this world. Instead, I choose to be transformed by the renewing of my mind, aligning myself with the will of God and rejecting anything that contradicts his truth." (Rom 12:2)

3. Affirmation of Reflecting Christ's Light: "I affirm that I am called to be a light in the world, shining brightly with the virtues of Christ—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. I strive to reflect Christ's light in all that I do, bringing glory to God in every circumstance." (Mt 5:14-16)

4. Renunciation of Dishonorable Conduct: "I renounce dishonorable conduct and resolve to keep my behavior honorable among others. Even in the face of opposition or criticism, I will maintain integrity and righteousness, knowing that my actions speak volumes about the character of Christ within me." (1Pet 2:12)

5. Affirmation of Living in Christ's Name: "I affirm that everything I do, whether in word or deed, is to be done in the name of the Lord Jesus. I give thanks to God the Father through him, acknowledging his lordship over my life and seeking to glorify him in all things." (Col 3:17)

AMEN!

#spirituality #biblequotes #christian faith #christian inspiration #god #bibleverse #bibledaily #believe #christian tumblr

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astrologichole · 2 years

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The signs and what they look for in a partner

Aries: wants a partner that is willing to balance out their sometimes-lack-of-containment side, someone who appreciates the amount of effort they put into their partner, wants a partner who can match their understanding for life yet challenge their core understandings, someone who wants to adventure with them

Taurus: wants a partner who will be gentle and caring with them, someone who will understand when they need a moment to think things over before impulsively continuing a conversation or argument, someone who wants to be in their company often, a partner who doesn’t try to change them or challenge what they believe in or like in life, someone who spoils them

Gemini: wants a partner who truly loves them for better or worse, a partner who can engage them in intellectual conversation, someone who can make them feel comfortable in their own skin, a partner who is honest and doesn’t try to hide how they feel or avoid difficult conversations, a partner they can be critical of without it being a detriment to their relationship (not overly sensitive)

Cancer: wants a partner who can truly be their backbone and be sensitive to their feelings, a partner who sees their worldliness and understands that they are sometimes troubled but ultimately incredibly loving, a partner who values the finer things in life and knows how to slow down and enjoy the moment, a partner who is in it for the long run and enjoys quality time together above anything else

Leo: wants a partner who is patient and understanding that they aren’t perfect, a partner who can enjoy a fast paced life but especially values the slow intimate moments when they’re alone together, someone who isn’t afraid to speak their mind and stay true to their convictions, someone who is willing to help them achieve what they set out to do and won’t interrupt their grind

Virgo: wants a partner who prioritizes life and takes life seriously but still knows how to have fun, a partner who is complicated and engaging, not just someone who is either/or but the whole package, a partner who can really understand when they’re struggling since they themselves don’t always know how to say that they are, someone who is creative yet practical and can get shit done when needed

Libra: wants a partner who just gets them, someone that knows what they’re thinking naturally and can interpret some of the more ambiguous things they say or think, a partner who is considerate and is a natural communicator, someone who gives back to them as much as they do their partner, someone who values art and sophistication

Scorpio: wants a partner who is as crazy as they are, a partner who can distinguish and understand their emotions as they are rapidly changing, someone who understands that their nature is very push and pull but they ultimately want you to want them, someone open with their emotions and isn’t afraid to be vulnerable, someone who understands their intimacy as art

Sagittarius: wants a partner who loves to live life to the fullest, a partner who can keep up with their constantly changing pace of life, someone who can equally enjoy periods of isolation where it’s just the two of them, a partner who is open and honest even if their partner thinks it might hurt their feelings, a partner who trusts them and comes to them for help or guidance as their nature is often to be sincere and upfront

Capricorn: wants a partner that doesn’t need constant validation and can simply pick up on their needs and wants with little affirmation, a partner who is serious about life and goes at it with vigor, someone who truly feels like a foundation for them as they often struggle to feel content with someone for life, someone they can trust is dedicated to them and trusts them fully

Aquarius: wants a partner that will validate and affirm their feelings, a partner who is chill and doesn’t mind taking life a little slower, a partner who doesn’t push them to be someone they’re not, someone who is non-conforming and really stands out amongst a crowd, someone who doesn’t need to change for them, someone who they feel really wants to be with them and values their personality and uniqueness

Pisces: wants a partner that is sensitive and nurturing, a partner who validates them and reminds them often that they are loved, someone who really listens to their emotions and tries their best to understand them, a partner who cares about others as much as they do, someone who is super affectionate and romantic, a partner who is curious about the world and is knowledgeable in more ways than just intellectually

#aquarius #aries #astrology #cancer #capricorn #gemini #leo #libra #pisces #sagittarius #scorpio #taurus #virgo #zodiac

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hyakinthou-naos · 11 days

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Question for the Masses

I was raised Catholic, identified as Atheist for a time, and would now consider myself an Agnostic Pagan/Polytheist. I’m curious how others relate to this experience.

CLARIFICATIONS & DEFINITIONS BELOW THE FOLD

[reblog for bigger sample size]

Clarifications / Defintions

1. Religious ( a/o Spiritual) - In this context I am using the term “religious” to denote a faith of some kind that includes a belief in a one or more deities, entities, gods, or god like figures (“higher power”). This “higher power” could be anything from The Christian God to Mother Earth. Could also be synonymous with “spiritual”.

2. Pagan/Polytheist - In this context I am using the term/s “pagan/polytheist” to denote a faith of some kind that includes a belief in a deity or god like figure (“higher power”) that DOES NOT conform to Christianity, Judaism, Islam, or similar “main stream” monotheistic religions that follow a belief of/in Religious Exclusivism.

3. Atheist - In this context I am using “atheist” to mean someone who does not believe in deities, energies, or entities outside of what can be documented and proven through observation and scientific testing. Some individuals believe in spirits and other worldly energies but do not believe in Gods/Deities - in this context I would not classify those individuals as atheists.

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primordialsoundmeditation · 3 months

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DAILY ANGEL MESSAGE!

Take a deep breath, let it out slowly, say this prayer and then keep reading: “Thank you angels for revealing to me what I need to know!”

MESSAGE

It’s time to come out of hiding and be seen. Energetically, you have taken some time to retreat and recharge, which has been highly beneficial for your mental and emotional wellbeing, but now it’s time to emerge! Don’t get too comfy or fall into old ways of being because the old you wants to hide or old fears of persecution or judgment make you feel that you need to. You weren’t born to suffer in this lifetime, you were born to surmount challenges and embrace and share your gifts.

If you have been holding back or hiding a part of yourself in order to fit in or conform, you are being encouraged to break the pattern and be seen in all of your glory. You are a powerful teacher and healer with the ability to break outworn family cycles and help others radiate their brightest light. Your personal journey shows others what is possible for them, but to do this, it has to be shared. Let all your gifts be shared.

ABOUT

Hilarion, also known as Hilarion the Great or Saint Hilarion, was a master healer in the temples of Atlantis and also had incarnations in ancient Egypt. In his last incarnation, he was born to pagan parents in Syria in the 4th century AD. He studied in Alexandria, Egypt, where he converted to Christianity, and it is said that from that moment he dedicated his life to spiritual pursuits. At the tender age of 15, after hearing about the miracles of Saint Anthony, he went off to his desert hermitage for two months. He craved personal space, but the hermitage was busy, so he decided to go back home. But after his parents had passed, he gave up all his worldly possessions and retreated to a cave in the wilderness.

Hilarion spent the majority of his life away from humanity, because he was a highly sensitive being who picked up the energies of those he came close to. It is said that those who came to his cave experienced miracles, including barren women becoming pregnant and people overcoming mental and other health challenges. Now Hilarion’s soul helps lightworkers embrace their gifts and emerge from the cave of sensitivity.

DECK: Divine Masters Oracle

ARTIST: Jennifer Hawkyard

Thank you for sharing this card if it relates to you!

Kyle Gray

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vesper-of-roses · 3 months

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Evangelical Atheism is a thing and it's something I see too many ex-Christians engaging in

They use the exact same tactics as Evangelical Protestant Christians only they replace God with materialism or other ideologies (Neoliberalism, Communism, etc.) because that's all they know and they end up being indistinguishable from the people they claim to be fighting against

If you find yourself:

Insisting that your worldview is the only correct one and that other people need to conform to it regardless of cultural context or traditions

Believing that only good people self-identify in a way that agrees with you ideologically (e.g. "Leftist") and that other people are either foolish, misguided, or actively evil

Dismiss other people's perspectives and beliefs about a topic that literally nobody can ever have absolute certainty about in favor of your own explanations

Related to the above point, truly believing that you know with any kind of certainty the true nature of reality and that other people should share your certainty

Dismissing entire belief systems wholesale based on surface-level observations without any sort of nuance into the specifics of a given tradition like theology or metaphysics because you've already decided such things are worthless to you

Then congratulations! You're an Evangelical Christian but nontheistic. Please consider analyzing your worldview and gaining a more worldly perspective before talking to anyone about religion

Truly nonreligious people don't think about religion all that much! If it's always on your mind then consider why that is.

#religion #atheism #antitheism #theism

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yeslordmyking · 2 years

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June, 27 (Morning) Devotion

“Only ye shall not go very far away.”

Exodus 8:28

This is a crafty word from the lip of the arch-tyrant Pharaoh. If the poor bondaged Israelites must needs go out of Egypt, then he bargains with them that it shall not be very far away; not too far for them to escape the terror of his arms, and the observation of his spies. After the same fashion, the world loves not the non-conformity of nonconformity, or the dissidence of dissent; it would have us be more charitable and not carry matters with too severe a hand. Death to the world, and burial with Christ, are experiences which carnal minds treat with ridicule, and hence the ordinance which sets them forth is almost universally neglected, and even condemned. Worldly wisdom recommends the path of compromise, and talks of “moderation.” According to this carnal policy, purity is admitted to be very desirable, but we are warned against being too precise; truth is of course to be followed, but error is not to be severely denounced. “Yes,” says the world, “be spiritually minded by all means, but do not deny yourself a little gay society, an occasional ball, and a Christmas visit to a theatre. What’s the good of crying down a thing when it is so fashionable, and everybody does it?” Multitudes of professors yield to this cunning advice, to their own eternal ruin. If we would follow the Lord wholly, we must go right away into the wilderness of separation, and leave the Egypt of the carnal world behind us. We must leave its maxims, its pleasures, and its religion too, and go far away to the place where the Lord calls his sanctified ones. When the town is on fire, our house cannot be too far from the flames. When the plague is abroad, a man cannot be too far from its haunts. The further from a viper the better, and the further from worldly conformity the better. To all true believers let the trumpet-call be sounded, “Come ye out from among them, be ye separate.”

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

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mahayanapilgrim · 2 months

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The First Step of the Spiritual Path: Disbelief

Ordinary people do not question the commonly accepted version of reality. They conform to the standard values of subduing enemies and cherishing friends and family.

Materialism, ambition and mundane achievements are the worldly hallmarks of success. We experience the phenomenal world and our minds as solid and truly existent. Very few people doubt these assertions and question their validity. Yet, the process of disbelief is the first step on the spiritual path.

~ Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche

#buddha #buddhist #buddhism #dharma #sangha #mahayana #zen #milarepa #tibetan buddhism #thich nhat hanh

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chickabee · 8 months

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In Bliss's defense

Sit down, and look at the pretty water. We need to have a talk.

Anyone of the PPG fandom, who cares, the hate around Bliss is overrated and leaves a more hurtful message than people realize.

And I was a part of that crowd at some point, but I was wrong, and im calling myself out.

People virtue signaling hate around her always somewhat rubbed me the wrong way, especially when the rant boiled down to "She's pandering to black people!" Erhm, she's dark skinned, so any darker skinned person of any race can identify with her, and in that case...

"so what if she's here for pandering?"

For a decade, the ppg has pandered to white people. There are no diverse people of color from the cast. Also, whenever this topic of "inclusivity in media" comes up, there's this crowd that runs up with their shields wailing, "but kids or 'x crowd' shouldn't care about race! Or the way main character's look! It should be about the message."

And then the 2023 Live Action Little Mermaid came along, and society really showed their true colors.

There were people, who spoke different languages, in the depths of the comments, reprimanding the idea of Halle Bailey playing Ariel. Black people were posting these reaction videos condemning Disney for changing the race of such a "beloved classic" and white people working together to make A.I renditions of "what should have been."

And that is such a traumatic experience that gets gaslit into "if it doesn't matter what Ariels race is, why change her race?"

That question was asked so many times, ironically.

So, Bliss is what happens, when people who are honest about imagery realize their is a lack of a common worldly reality in a popular media. Why not have a dark skinned Powerpuff girl, when younger Dark-skinned girls and boys will definitely watch the show?

Representation, seriously, does matter. And children of color shouldn't be denied pandering just because, we as a society, have our grandstand hang-ups over 'what is pandering, what is not'.

At this point, we can't tell that non poc characters ARE being pandered, 24/7.

I have a theory that in the late 90's to early 2000's media shifted into white fragility code. Basically it was an unspoken rule of, "if we don't talk about it, it doesn't exist!" It was the height of excluding poc characters. It was the height of reducing poc roles to their stereotypes. It was the height of recognizing "this is the white version, this is the black version."

White people were behind a lot of popular media, and they were very scared to talk about black people. How couldn't they when civil rights and slavery were right up the crack of their asses? Hell, as of September 17th, 2023, Ruby Bridges is still alive and well.

Yes, her!

I feel like this created an Era of normalization. This notion that "white people can be anything! But people of color must ALWAYS be people of color."

Another day, I will talk about how white people have to shoe horn 'minority tropes' into even their fanatical stories to create empathy, which is always a glaring red flag when I see white people attempting to talk about privellege with monster 'white coded' cartoon characters. But for now, I'll say this.

Bliss' personality is mid at worse.

Okay, so people latched unto the fact that she gets angry as a dark skinned character to dismiss her. Mainly, black people were upset about this.

I'm starting to see the problem with that.

People say that her unique, colorful design is bad.

Subjective, but also their are underlying tones.

People say her story messes up the Powerpuff girls story, which is my biggest red flag.

Okay, let me just get something off my chest.

My fellow black women and girls who are also creators and are creating. Let me remind you.

We, as black women and girls are allowed to portray anger.

Flaws.

Misfortune.

Unattractiveness.

Non conformating ideas.

Trauma.

Etc

And still be interesting, likeable main character's without being urbanized.

This also goes to Poc who are Dark-skinned and non poc who are creating diverse casts.

But mainly black women, as I've learned it's best to give advice, like that, within my own community. It is important that we prioritize our image or else we get .. well, what I'm ranting about.

Anyway, just because a dark skinned person is non urban does not mean they have to be this... precious, agreeable cinnamon bun 24/7.

That makes the most blandest characters.

They have no real stakes nor relatability!

Take some notes from Japanese animation. Japanese people do not focus their stories on 'what it means to be Japanese' 24/7 in anime.

And I'm tired of westerners turning Dark-skinned girls and women into 'sista soldier's ✊️' everytime they need a dilemma on a screen!

Bliss is a cute, fun, character who has temper tantrums that effects her story.

We are allowed to do that! To portray a dark skinned character with conflict! To show that she has flaws!

This isn't a stereotype! What the actual hell!

What would make it a stereotype is if she was being shown in a horrible light. Like she's overly sassy, and that's her only quality. She's been reduced to constantly telling the crowd, "hey, I'm dark skinned! Look, I'm about to do something 'only dark skinned people do', amirite? Amirite?" 😃

Bliss' situation is non color coded. We all know someone who deals with bad news, badly. Hell, Buttercup from the og series is more of a 'stereotype to Black people' then bliss is, and society knows it! When they go to make anyone Dark-skinned, more than likely they'll make it Buttercup. Hell, even the show runners know that shit!

That... is a stereotype.

Because, obviously, the cute bubbly one, can't be black. Nor can the quality leader everyone wants to be.

But the tough one with an attitude? Um, duh!

And I'm not gonna lie, I love me some Buttercup. I'll do an essay on her character someday, but I'm just trying to point out a very real problem.

It's no coincidence that when they wanna shoehorn diversity in, they have no issue choosing Buttercup over and over again.

That in the grander scheme of things, put what it means to be a poc girl, in a box. Very upsetting when you see it for what it is.

Bliss has tempers because it contributes to her story and character arch, two things people creating poc characters are very afraid to do. Because we can't have dark skinned characters with traits that are not outright agreeable.

Or 100% liberal.

Even though we have a history of white characters that are flawed, controversial, and crass that go down in history as icons.

Because, the reality is, no one likes a black bitch! It's enough if she's black, but now she's a bitch!?

Goes back into my theory of when white fragility was at its height in the early 2000's. All these white bitches were getting movie lead roles and stamps of approval.

WHERE THE HELL WERE THE BLACK BITCHES?

Oh yeah. They were getting urbanized and glorifying dysfunction from within their respective communities 🙄

Not saying white women were always represented in a healthy way, but they were... roles of interest, desirability, nurture, femininity, images of ideal, relatability, etc.

The list goes on.

And that affected the way society views how to create poc. Suddenly, if you don't wanna be offensive, just have a poc being the ambitious voice of reason! If they're not that, they must have a pinch of black characiture and be the most grounded.

Again, sad really.

So bliss to me, is an okay character. She's cute and funny, and she has an actual story.

Sure there wasn't an original 4th Powerpuff girl, but it's not like she ruins the pre existing story. She's another character introduced with her own narrative. And I can respect that the creators of the 2016 reboot noticed the importance of showing that literally ANYONE can be a Powerpuff Girl, without chickening out and creating another non poc design and minority coding them.

Like, there is an official dark skinned Powerpuff girl. A CANON DARKSKINNED POWERPUFF GIRL. THAT IS AWESOME.

So good job 2016 reboot. You did something right.

#bliss ppg #bliss powerpuff girls #ppg #rant #vent #writing advice #black characters #diverse representation

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childofchrist1983 · 3 months

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But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. - 1 Peter 1:15-16 KJV

Holiness is a lofty ideal. In fact, it is downright impossible for us to be holy on our own. Yet, God’s own holiness demands holiness of us. So how do we do it? We let God impart His holiness on us, according to His grace. Just as He called us to holiness, He supplies the holiness that we need when we surrender to His will and live by His Holy Word and Spirit. There is nobody like Him. He alone is almighty and holy and righteous. And we must answer His call. We must humble ourselves, asking that He would forgive us and redeem us, making us holy and spiritually reborn through His grace, for we cannot do this on our own. May He gift us salvation upon our humbled and heartfelt confession and repentance, filling us with His Holy Spirit and live through us, deep within our newly transformed heart and awakened soul, so that we may walk with Him daily according to Him and His ways and will. May He give us the peace and endurance we need each day, and may He use this time to help us grow in His wisdom and strength and to grow in our walk and relationship with Him. May He make us more into the person that He not only created us to us to be, but called us to be from the very beginning.

Thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for securing a place for all true Christian believers as followers of Christ and spiritually reborn children of God in His eternal Kingdom. Each day, the sun rises and its light and warmth, and the Holy Bible gives us a glimpse of the promised eternity to come. May we continue to walk in the love and light of Christ with our heads held high and our eyes on the finish line. May we lead others to His Gospel Truth and to His light as well throughout this journey with Him. Let us all humble ourselves before God daily, asking Him to forgive us and to strength and teach us to view life through the lens of God and His promises. May He guard our hearts against Satan and the temptations of this world and our flesh. May He give us the peace to find full satisfaction in God and His peace and promises, so that we may live our lives daily in ways that honor and pleases Him. As we seek Him daily, may He reveal Himself to us through the words He has provided and use it to conform the desires of our heart to Him and His love and compassion and grace.

As true and spiritually reborn Christians, we love, trust and believe in Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ. We choose to keep Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ first in our hearts and lives and all other worldly desires behind us. He extends salvation to everyone, and we want to show the world the freedom, hope and peace they can have in accepting and following Him. We must ask Him to help us grow spiritually in our relationship with Him and strengthen us and the bonds of love that He has given us, so that our unity may glorify and testify to His power and goodness. Thank Him for calling us to faith and imparting us with salvation and righteousness. May He empower us to live in His will and righteousness, so that we may testify to His soul-saving power as our faith carries us past all doubt, fear, and failure. May He grant us the grace to forgive others who have wronged us, and the humility to seek forgiveness where we have caused strife. May we follow and serve God daily with love, trust, awe and wonder. May Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ strengthen our faith, lift our spirits, protect our hearts, and show us opportunities to help bring others to Him and His Gospel Truth daily. May we do this duty boldly, humbly and faithfully. Seek, follow and trust in the LORD God Almighty always! To God be all the honor and praise and glory!

We must come to Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ with sincere hearts to ask forgiveness and follow Him and His Holy Word and Spirit always. We praise Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for the mercy He bestows upon us and we are grateful for His grace and mercy and infinite blessings. By surrendering our hearts and our lives to His will, we see all the blessings He has bestowed upon us. God our refuge and our salvation and our constant provider. We lift our voices to Him in praise for His steadfast love, mercy and understanding. May Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ open our minds and hearts more and more to perceive and embrace Him and His truths. May He help us to find time to pray and read and study the Holy Bible daily and to find power in prayer, praying according to His Holy Word and will. May He help us to come to Him in true repentance and with faith in Him and His grace and merciful nature. May He give us the grace, courage and strength we need to walk with Him and do His will daily. May He teach us to watch our words when we pray to Him and to speak reverently and rightly. May we continually ask God to transform our hearts and make us faithful and humble as we walk with Him daily. We must come to Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ with honest, humble and repentant hearts. We must seek Him and His will and choose to follow Him all the days of our lives. May He help transform our hearts, help us to seek and live for Him above all else and to grow spiritually and build our faith and relationship with Him with each passing day. May He forgive our sinful nature and help us always make Him and our relationship with Him top priority.

As true and born-again Christians, we choose to walk in His righteous path and lead a life that is pleasing to Him. We desire Him and His will above anything else. We desire to walk in accordance with the love and light He has shown to us through His Holy Word and Spirit. We long for a deeper relationship with Him and a deeper fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ as well. When we fall into temptation and sin, we must turn to Him for forgiveness, strength and guidance. When believers learn to walk in accordance with God's Holy Word and Spirit, they have deeper fellowship with both God and one another. And the sin that could threaten to destroy that fellowship, if confessed (1 John 1:9), is covered in the blood of Jesus Christ and no longer a barrier between us and God. May we ask Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ to forgive us for any sins we have sinned this day or in days past. May we be faithful to Him and His Holy Word always. May He help us to walk more consistently in the light and to not neglect long to confess and forsake any sins that hinder our walk with Him. May He lead us in the direction He wants us to go so that we may seek and serve Him faithfully. God is holy and almighty and deserving of all praise honor and glory. We rejoice in Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ, knowing He is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). He is the Alpha and the Omega (Revelation 1:8). May our hearts always be filled with thanksgiving and rejoicing. May He help us to praise Him freely and honestly like all believers who came before us. May we live a life that showcases our love and trust in Him and His Holy Word and Spirit as He uses us draw others to Him and His soul-saving Gospel Truth daily. May He continue guide, correct and protect us, so that we continue to grow in Him and not weaken and stray. May we all remain faithful to Him and to this duty and purpose He has called us to. Seek and put your faith and trust in Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ and let Him do the rest. May He humble our hearts and help us focus on following and serving Him daily and helping others with joy and happiness. We lift our voices in praise to Him for His love, mercy, peace, faithfulness and grace - For EVERYTHING!

It is vital that we remain rooted in Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ through prayer and His Holy Word and Spirit and that we live and walk as a beacon of His light and love and share and spread the Gospel Truth daily, so that the lost souls in this world can come to know Him and be saved. The more we focus on Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ, growing spiritually by building our relationship with Him, leaning on Him and His Holy Word and Spirit, the better off we will be. Thanks to this and our faith in Him, we know that everything will be alright. And we will forever be grateful to Him. As true and born-again Christians, we believe in Him and His Holy Word and we strive daily to walk in His Holy Spirit. We know though our mortal bodies should die, He will raise us up and into new and glorious bodies (The Rapture). We who are truly His and alive at His second coming will never die, and our bodies will be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, and so shall we ever be with Him in His Kingdom of Heaven forevermore (1 Corinthians 15:51-52, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). This is one of many promises given to us by God Himself. Thank God for His strength and guidance when we are faced with sin and temptation. Thank Him for His mercy and grace. Through Bible study and prayer, God reveals His wisdom and guides us to see opportunities to grow closer to Him and grow spiritually. He gives us direction to live our lives daily according to His will.

Jesus Christ is the ONLY way to Heaven (John 3:5, 14:6), the ONLY way to salvation (Acts 4:12, Ephesians 2:8-9) and He is the resurrection and the life (John 11:25-26). Jesus Christ the LORD of lords, the KING of kings, the GOD of gods (Deuteronomy 10:17, 1 Timothy 6:15, Revelation 17:14, Revelation 19:16) - He is the Living, Almighty and Everlasting God (Isaiah 9:6, Revelation 1:8, John 3:16, John 3:36, Jeremiah 10:10). There is no other God besides Him (Isaiah 45:5). We MUST humble ourselves before Him, turning our backs on false teachers, false gods and idols and our sinful ways. We MUST repent and turn back to God and recognize who He is and love Him in return for His great love for us. We MUST make God top priority everyday! May we be motivated to spread God's Holy Word and Gospel Truth to all the Earth, knowing that it is the only hope of all those lost in their sins. Let us not hold out a false hope for men to be saved without the Gospel, but instead, strive to do our part to get the Gospel out to a lost and dying world.

Leaning on Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ through prayer and His Holy Word and Spirit strengthens us and our knowledge and wisdom about God and His Gospel Truth, exposing these imposters. May God help us to seek and lean on Him daily to gain the strength, wisdom and spiritual discernment needed to expose Satan and his imposters who seek to destroy us and God's ultimate Truth. Everyday, we must remember to share Jesus Christ's Gospel Truth with the world and to thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for the grace that He poured out for us on the cross at Calvary. He has freed us from the burdens of sin and from the eternal damnation of Hell. In all we say and do, may all praise, honor and glory always be given to Him and His Kingdom of Heaven.

With renewed minds, hearts and wills, let us serve Him humbly and faithfully out of pure love and grateful rejoicing. May He remind us of His presence and to remain at peace, fully knowing that all will be well because He is always with us. Let us seek Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ today and everyday with all our heart and being, looking for His love, light and will for our lives with each step we take. Let us seek to please Him with our thoughts, words, and deeds and seek to advance His Kingdom of Heaven and His glory with our lives. Let us seek Him from a pure and humble heart, and when we so seek, we believe Him and His promise that we will find. May He help us all to be more sensitive to the teaching ministry of His Holy Word and Spirit, relying on Him and allowing Him to speak to us and guide us every step of our Christian journey.

God gave us the Holy Bible - His living and Holy Word - to let us know of Him and His abiding love and care as well as guide and prepare us for all our lives. May He help us encourage one another as we continue our walk with Him and our duty to Him daily. Thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for being present for all our new beginnings and all our lives. May He redirect any anxiety we feel as He provides countless opportunities for growth and change. May we humble ourselves before God always, asking Him to forgive our sins and make our hearts and lives anew through His Holy Word and Spirit. May He help us make Him and His Holy Word top priority, so we can grow spiritually and grow in our relationship with Him as we apply it to our daily lives. Thank God that we can focus on Him and everything about Him, for that is what keeps us sane and at peace. May our words and actions always be a reflection of Him and His Holy Word and Spirit and will.

May He help us to always walk in His grace and Holy Spirit, not by our own measure. May He give us the humble humility to know that our freedom and eternal salvation is found only in Him, so that His grace may sustain us, and we may never lose sight of His love and light and mercy. Thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for calling us to Him and to serve Him. May He equip us to do all that He has called us to do so that as He works through us, He may use us to produce fruit, to reach others, and to encourage all brothers and sisters in Christ. May He work all of these things in us and through us for His Kingdom and His glory. Thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for all His creation, for His miraculous ways and for everything He does and has done for us! Keep the faith and keep moving forward in your walk with Jesus! He loves us and He knows what is best for us. Seek, follow and trust in Him - Always!

Thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for His Holy Word and for sending His Holy Spirit so that we might have His grace, not only to awaken us and transform our hearts in our spiritual rebirth and guarantee our eternity with Him, but to also call upon Him whenever we are in need. Thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for all the reminders of His love and mercy and faithfulness within His Holy Word. He is bigger than any challenge or circumstance in our lives. Knowing this within our minds and our hearts, nothing can deter our faith in Him and His Truth. May we all accept Him and His eternal gift of salvation and ask that He would transform our hearts and lives according to His will and ways. Thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for His Holy Spirit who saves, seals and leads us. May we always thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for His almighty power and saving grace. For He is our strength, and He alone is able to save us, forgive our sins and gift us eternal salvation and entry into His Kingdom of Heaven.

May we make sure that we give our hearts and lives to God and take time to seek and praise Him and share His Truth with the world daily. May the LORD our God and Father in Heaven help us to stay diligent and obedient and help us to guard our hearts in Him and His Holy Word daily. May He help us to remain faithful and full of excitement to do our duty to Him and for His glorious return and our reunion in Heaven as well as all that awaits us there. May we never forget to thank the LORD our God and our Creator and Father in Heaven for all this and everything He does and has done for us! May we never forget who He is, nor forget who we are in Christ and that God is always with us! What a mighty God we serve! What a Savior this is! What a wonderful LORD, God, Savior and King we have in Jesus Christ! What a loving Father we have found in Almighty God! What a wonderful God we serve! His will be done!

Thanks and glory be to God! Blessed be the name of the LORD! Hallelujah and Amen!

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