100223 faithposting

Daily devotionals=

ttywpf= we still get SO SCARED at the idea of praying to saints and angels??? Like we're scared we'll be under their constant monitoring from then on, & forced to make conversation??? "If we open the door, they will move in and take over and never leave"??? What exactly ARE we afraid of?
IT'S THE SAME EXACT "FEAR RESPONSE" THE GATEKEEPER GIRLS FEEL WHEN WE'RE TALKING TO "TOO MANY PEOPLE" IN HEADSPACE!!!
The roots seem to be our INVASION fear??
IT HAS TANGIBLE CHILDHOOD ROOTS. Type it out.
⭐It's SHAME!!! I'm a stupid sinner, THEY'RE NOT. I keep doing things wrong and offending God, but THEY'RE PERFECT IN HEAVEN. So why are they watching every move I make? Why are they constantly giving me orders when they know I am weak? They KNOW I'm going to slip and fall and get hurt. They KNOW I'm going to let them down and even scandalize them with my evil. I'm so ashamed. But THEY KEEP WATCHING ME. It's the security camera from heaven fixed on my face day and night. "We've got our eye on you! So don't mess up!" EXPECTED TO FAIL feeling.
THIS IS HOW WE WERE RAISED.
IT CANNOT BE THE TRUTH OF HEAVEN!!!!!
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Bible study Scripture passage reference to Jeremiah 13:23 DESTROYED US because OF VERSE 22.

"‭If you ask why all this has happened to you—why your clothes have been torn off and you have been raped—it is because your sin is so terrible." (Jer 13:22 GNT)
OUR IMMEDIATE RESPONSE, written in the app =
"...This is literally what happened to me. It's a nightmare to come to terms with, but it is true.
My sin REALLY WAS THAT TERRIBLE.
Remember this. God cannot be mocked, and your vile sins-- even if you won't admit them as sin-- will always bring death upon you.
Nevertheless... if God had not allowed this, I would have remained blind. Even in justly allowing this horror, He offered His mercy of deliverance by crushing my pride and revealing my prison.
Do not cry "why me." This is why. Thank God it wasn't worse."


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Chrysostom continues! John 12:27 pickup.

BUT FIRST, TO HIS ENTIRE CREDIT, WE JUST FOUND THIS =
"Consistent with divine pedagogy, Chrysostom also engages in psychagogy. He assumes that harsh rhetoric is a form of love, for painful surgery is sometimes required if the unhealthy are to make progress."
THAT EXPLAINS IT ALL. Forgive us, we get it now, and we thank you profusely for speaking that essential aspect of God's love to us, so now we can recognize & treasure it AS such.


"But," He says... "For for this cause came I unto this hour." As though He had said, "Though we be confounded, though we be troubled, let us not fly from death, since even now I, though troubled, do not speak of flying; for it behooves to bear what is coming on. I say not, "Deliver Me from this hour," but what? ...Although My trouble urges Me to [express my agony in weakness], yet [in truth] I say the opposite, 'Father, Glorify Your Name,' that is, Lead Me henceforth to the Cross." ...By these words also He taught [us] that, if ever we be in agony and dread, we even then start not back from that which is set before us [by God]; and by saying, "Glorify Your Name" He shows that He dies for the truth, calling the action, glory to God. And this [was evidenced] after the Crucifixion. The world was about to be converted, to acknowledge the Name of God, and to serve Him..."
...I was always so confused that Jesus said BOTH things: both "deliver me" and "glorify Your Name." BUT He did the SAME THING IN GETHSEMANE!!
Christ was HONEST & OPEN at ALL TIMES, even with the struggles of His humanity.
He did not hide His fears from God! He brought them TO His Father, as an OFFERING of FAITH, and in doing so they were TRANSMUTED!!
Denying our weakness, pretending everything is "fine," ironically worsens the fears, because it shoves them down into the dark, where vices breed.
Denial is ALSO a form of LYING!!! And it can feed PRIDE, too, if it's done to "save face" for REPUTATION, to CRUSH VULNERABILITY.
In humble contrast, Jesus was a perfect example of UNCONDITIONAL TRUTH and TRUST IN GOD.
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"Let us then not be as in darkness, but avoid all sins, and especially those which tend to the hurt of others, since by these God is most blasphemed. What pardon shall we have, when, being commanded to give to others, we plunder the property of others? What shall be our hope of salvation? You are punished if you have not fed the hungry; but if you have even stripped one who was clothed, what sort of pardon shall you obtain?"
Sins of omission are evidently sins, this is important. But the worst sins are those active ones that believers KNOW they must avoid, yet blind themselves to their true nature or motive! What Christian would ever outright rob a man of his clothing? But we will buy out thrift stores, when we already have a full closet. What Christian would deprive a hungry man of a meal? But we ignore the homeless on the street, we only donate unwanted or expired food, and we throw away half our uneaten plates and spoiled leftovers. We buy the best fruits and leave the bruised ones for others. We buy the last item on the shelf when we don't really need it anyway. We don't tithe as much as we're able, we grumble at giving to the annual appeal, we throw away the envelopes we get from nonprofits... we hoard old toys & books & housewares when there are poor folks in our hometown who can't afford to buy their own. We don't loan our possessions to others because we don't want them dirtied or ruined or even kept, even by accident. We seek revenge on someone who has already suffered enough from the immediate consequences. You get the picture. THAT'S ALL SIN, TOO. It's indirect but it's poison, and it's ALL SELF-FOCUSED.
...
Nevertheless, for one's heart TO sin outright and STILL seek to justify oneself... that is the worst sin. And, yes, we have done it.
We have plundered. We have stolen.
And every time, we claimed we had a "good reason"-- we had a RIGHT, even. We were so egocentric that we couldn't even see, let alone admit, the consequences our sins had on others.
...And then we would go to church.
THAT IS BLASPHEMOUS.
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I really love this, for persistence in loving correction, and indomitable hope of conversion=
"These things I will never desist from saying, for they who have not heard today perhaps will hear tomorrow, and they who take no heed tomorrow perhaps will be persuaded the next day; and even if any be so disposed as not to be persuaded, yet for us there will be no account to give of them at the Judgment. Our part we have fulfilled; may we never have cause to be ashamed of our words, nor you to hide your faces, but may all be able to stand with boldness before the judgment-seat of Christ, that we also may be able to rejoice over you, and to have some compensation of our own faults, in your being approved in Christ Jesus our Lord, with whom to the Father and the Holy Ghost be glory for ever. Amen."
...
Don't forget= ALL Christians have a DUTY to preach and witness to the Gospel message AT ALL TIMES.
It's in the Old Testament too, very clearly and beyond question, in Ezekiel 3:17-21.
We MUST warn sinners who do not know they are sinning-- we MUST shine the Light we have been entrusted with, as disciples of Christ the Light of the World! If we do not, then we show that we do not love our fellow man... and that we do not love God, Who DIED to save them, AND US. Where is our humble and ardent gratitude, if we are not burning with zeal for all men also to know the liberating truth of Christ & so be saved from death??
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"Deceit is a thing easily detected, and weak, though it be daubed outside with ten thousand colors. For as those who whitewash decayed walls, cannot by the plastering make them sound, so too those who lie are easily found out..."
Ohhh wow that is EXPLICITLY THE PLAGUE.


"Observe what He does. He begins with humble and modest expressions, and betakes Himself to the Father; then again He raises His language, and when He sees that they are exasperated, He retires; then He comes to them again, and again begins with words of humility... one may see Him continually thus varying His teaching, by His presence, by His absence, by lowly, by high discourses."
He still does that, to us. It reveals & chastens our pride, too, when we think we can grasp "lofty" teachings but fail utterly. Christ knows. He speaks to us as we truly need, for our working out our salvation. Sometimes He completely withholds understanding & knowledge from us, which frightens us & makes us doubt the validity of our faith... but He is teaching us to be humble, to accept mystery, to be patient with learning, to come to terms with the fact that we CAN'T and WON'T know everything.
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Cyril time!

"The traitor rebukes the woman who had shown her devotion towards Christ, and attacks the admirable deed, and affects to blame it out of love towards the poor, because ointment was brought and not money... And Christ said in defence of the anointing with the ointment, that it had been done, not out of luxuriousness, but because of a certain mystery which had reference to His burying..."
Judas ONLY saw money, whereas Mary didn't even consider it-- BOTH in the selling AND the using!
I never even considered that someone as rich as Magdalene would have anointed Christ for show, as an exhibition OF luxury. "Look at how much I can afford to sacrifice to honor Him!" Awful hollow spiritual pride. But not Mary. She gave her expensive ointment because Jesus deserved all her best & infinitely more. She acted solely out of that burst of pious love in the heart that can't help but pour itself out for the Beloved.
In contrast, Judas had a mind to see the price tag on everything. Why?
ALSO!!! Even if he HAD protested out of genuine concern for the poor, HE WAS IDOLIZING HIS OWN WORKS OVER CHRIST, hence Christ's rebuke. To have the opportunity to use one's riches to serve GOD, and refuse because "I could give it to the poor instead" is SELF-IDOLATRY. Yes we must care for the poor, but as I said before, they need SPIRITUAL wealth even moreso than financial, and if we snub their Creator and Provider, under the pretense of helping His struggling children... our efforts will not go very far. All we have to give are barley loaves & dried fish, after all. But I guarantee you-- if you prioritize God, WHILE NOT NEGLECTING THE POOR (Luke 11:42), I assure you He WILL multiply your faithful almsgiving more than you can imagine... IF IT IS INDEED DONE IN CHARITY. You can give to the poor selfishly, if you're taking praise & credit & honor from it.
I'm rambling, I apologize. Cyril says it better.
"And the Lord... convinces us that nothing is better than devotion towards Him. For, He says, love for the poor is very praiseworthy, only let it be put after veneration of God... He does not however in any way forbid the sympathetic person to exercise his love towards the poor. Therefore when there is need of service or of singing, these must be honoured before love towards the poor; for it is [always] possible to do good after the spiritual services are over... [and] it is not necessary... to spend everything upon the priestly service, but to lay out the greatest part upon the poor."
I emphasize all this because I have historically not been very active in serving the poor, which is shameful, and it upsets me greatly. The few times I have done so, either through monetary donations or active service, have been a great joy to my spirit, and it honestly hungers to do more such good for others. I just... I'm so timid, it's detestable. There are inevitably opportunities everywhere, but my human instinct focuses on worst-case scenario probabilities, and avoids them. But it only makes me miserable, and I never stop thinking about how I can do good for others.
The problem is... it always seems to involve talking, food, or money.
Aren't there other ways, more sincere & meaningful ways? Am I being too proud by asking such? Maybe the Good Lord specifically wants me to serve in ways that cause me significant distress and/or difficulty, as proof of my loyal devotion to His commands, not just when it's easy or appealing for me. Probably, actually. That's humbling. It's liberating, too, and very hopeful. I need grace to do it, but my free will must first ask for it, with intention to follow through once enabled. I must pray sincerely for that moral fortitude, and the honest love for God & neighbor that ignites & sustains it.
Little steps. Start small. Get used to the light, the temperature, the environment. Let the flower of service bloom fully. Don't rush in through foolhardy arrogance. This isn't a box to check off. This is a new way of living. Your own soul must be broken in before you can walk the whole way. Only "take my yoke upon you"...



"The multitudes, being more obedient and yielding to the effect of the sign, went to meet the Christ, hymning Him as One Who had conquered death, and carrying palm branches. And they do not praise Him with ordinary language, but quote from the inspired Scripture that which was beautifully spoken with regard to Him..."
First: the "unlearned rabble," as the rulers called them, the common folk with simple minds & humble lives, were the ones whose hearts were able to open to Christ. They had no high opinion of themselves, and they could obey like children, like sheep, like servants... their yielding to His evidenced authority made them subjects of the King of Kings. It was no curse to be poor in spirit as they, but the greatest blessing.
Second: they knew Scripture just as simply, but sincerely. They didn't pick it apart like the Scribes; they heard it and had faith in it and held tight to it as God's Word.
Third: they did not pray from themselves. This is really beautiful to me. Possibly from that same humility of spirit, and maybe even awareness of their own common speech, they recognized that this King deserved loftier praises than they themselves could imagine, let alone own, and so they cut self completely out of the equation and prayed with God's Own Words-- which were guaranteed true, guaranteed right, guaranteed beautiful.

"He Who blesseth all things and guards them from destruction..."

"...the blessing which is due to One Who is God and Lord by Nature is offered to Him from us, inasmuch as He came in the Name of the Lord. For all the saints did not come with the authority of lordship, but as trusted servants; This One, on the contrary, came as Lord... For indeed, [others] are called lords, who are not such by nature, but have the honourable name granted to them by favour, [just as] men are called "true," when they abstain from falsehood: but this is not the thing to say with regard to Christ; for He is not called "Truth" for the reason that He does not speak falsely, but because He has that Nature which is altogether superior to falsehood."
First: we humans have the IMMENSE HONOR of honoring Jesus as Lord. Yes, all Creation honors Him, but He became man specifically for our salvation, to be OUR Lord in a particularly unique sense, and so our reference of Him as such is a privilege as much as it is a duty.
Second: We do not "give" Him anything. He is already authoritative, and true, and Lord of all. Our belief or lack thereof does not change or affect His Nature.
Third: Christ IS TRUTH. That always strikes so deep in me. 
...I think of poor Jade and "her" obsessive drug-tripping quest for "knowledge" and "truth," when it's all right there in Christ. 


"For [the wise men of the Greeks] say that one (God) is the Creator of all things, and that the rest are included within the universe, and have been elected by Him as directors for the administration of human affairs. It was then a custom for certain of the inhabitants of Palestine, especially the Greeks... to be impressed in some way by the Jewish habits of thought, and to honour the name of One Sovereign [Deity]... they were in the habit of going up with the Jews to worship, especially at the national gatherings, not meaning to slight their own religion, but as an act of honour to the One All-supreme God."
The big difference today: people flat-out don't believe in a God at ALL. So this common ground is lacking. These Greeks still had a heart FOR God, AND for TRUTH, which they obviously felt they did not currently have a real grasp of. They sensed their pagan beliefs were lacking, else they would not be drawn to this Sovereign God, and seeking-- one would hope, however unconsciously-- to know Him.
But they BELIEVED IN GOD. Nowadays, people just believe in people, and an amoebic "cosmic goodness" with no solid definition or dogma.
...Jade believes in "the deification of humanity" in ironic contrast, claiming a "collective creative imagination" and "we are the Logos" and such things. But it all feels so floaty & foundationless.
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"And the Lord said these words, not as implying that the soul can suffer anything here, but meaning by "love of life" the disposition to hold it firmly, as shown by those who do not expose their body to dangers [for Christ's sake]."
First: Consider a child. They're not afraid to risk dangers! Bandaids are badges of honor! That's how we should be for Christ.
Second: How is that true, that the soul cannot suffer in this world? Am I understanding that correctly?
In any case, in the next world, it's a stark either/or... either your soul, "whose life is hidden in Christ," never suffers again... or the soul that rejected Him in favor of itself suffers forever by that very separation.


More on this Because it's where we're being called to now in our life=
"...since the Author of our salvation travelled not by the path of glory and luxury, but by that of dishonour and hardships; so also we must do and not complain, in order to reach the same place and share the Divine glory. And of what honour shall we be worthy, if we refuse to endure sufferings like those of our Master? But perhaps in saying: where I am, there shall also My servant be, He speaks not of place, but of progress in virtue. For by the same qualities in which Christ appeared conspicuous, those who follow Him must also be characterised. This does not refer to the God-befitting and superhuman prerogatives, for it is impossible for a man to imitate Him Who is the True God and in His Nature God; but to all such qualities as the nature of man is capable of displaying: not the bridling of the sea and deeds of similar character, but the being humble and meek and tolerant of insults."
THAT is true theosis, NOT whatever poor Jade is after. If I want them to realize this, I must model it for Christ's sake alone.  
...In any case, this is an utterly wonderful realization. Christ, Who Is God, CHARGES us to be LIKE HIM so we can SERVE THE TRUE GOD and SHARE HIS LIFE, and how do we do such an amazing thing? By suffering bravely, being meek & humble, despising the luxuries of life, tolerating insults, and enduring dishonor & hardship. In short: by taking up the Cross. THAT is how we are LIKE CHRIST-- THAT is how we are "LIKE GOD." Take that, snake.
Honestly it boggles the mind. It's beautiful & terrible. It's the best news ever. It's everything worth living for. It's the hardest thing you'll ever do. Et cetera.
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