YMI -- ODB: 9 July 2025

Jul. 9th, 2025 03:44 am
sparowe: (Bible)
[personal profile] sparowe

ODB: Panic in a Cave

July 9, 2025

READ: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 

 

Do not quench the Spirit. 1 Thessalonians 5:19

They were three adrenaline-fueled teenage boys, unleashed in the immense underground system connecting to Mammoth Cave. With them was their Uncle Frank, a veteran caver familiar with these parts. He knew the drop-offs and danger spots and continually called to the three, “Guys, this way!” Still, they ventured ever farther from him.

Dimming his headlamp, Uncle Frank decided to remain silent. Soon, the boys realized they’d lost their guide. Panic-stricken, they yelled his name. No response. Finally, they saw his headlamp flicker to life in the distance. Instant relief and peace! Now they were ready to follow their guide.

This true story makes an apt parable for how we can treat the gift of the Holy Spirit. Detours lure us away from the voice that calls us to follow the one who said, “Follow me” (Matthew 16:24). That voice is the Holy Spirit, who dwells inside each child of God (Acts 2:38-39).

God’s Spirit will never abandon us, but we can ignore Him. The apostle Paul warns, “Do not quench the Spirit” (1 Thessalonians 5:19). Instead, “Rejoice always, pray continually,” and “give thanks in all circumstances” (vv. 16-18). By doing so, we stay close to our guide, “the God of peace,” who can keep us “blameless” (v. 23). It’s not our work that does it. It’s His. As Paul reminds us, “The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it” (v. 24).

— Tim Gustafson

In what ways have you ignored the voice of the Holy Spirit? How might you follow Him more closely?

Father, please keep me close and attentive to You today.

Source: Our Daily Bread

sparowe: (Bible)
[personal profile] sparowe
Living Generously


Leviticus 18:1-2, 19:9-10 – And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, I am the Lord your God.” … “When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap your field right up to its edge, neither shall you gather the gleanings after your harvest. And you shall not strip your vineyard bare, neither shall you gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard. You shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner: I am the Lord your God.”

It interests me that God gives such specific instructions for how people are to harvest their wheat and their grapes. He tells them to do the very opposite of the way most people think nowadays: that we should try to get every last grape, every last kernel of wheat.

God had a good reason, of course. The fallen or overlooked harvest belonged to anyone who could collect it—which normally meant the poor, the hungry, and the foreigners, who had no land or harvest of their own. By giving them a share in the harvest of others, God provided for their needs and also taught the rest of Israel to live generously.

It’s not a bad principle, to build a little extra into your own plans for the sake of people in need. For example, I’ve been to church conferences—and at the end of the day, there are generally pencils and pads of paper left lying on the tables. Those helped my Vietnamese church supply its schoolchildren. Or there may be food left over after a church potluck or lunch; could that be given to people who need it? The LWML already uses mite boxes to gather up loose pocket change; that money has funded mission work around the world.

Living generously requires two attitudes—first, a concern for our fellow human beings, whoever they are and wherever they come from. All of them matter to Jesus; and He calls us to love them as He has loved us (see Matthew 15:21-40). In the same way we should leave no one out of our own care, whether they are poor, disabled, immigrants, children, or people who are unwanted by the rest of our society for any reason.

The second attitude we need is one that pays attention to overlooked gifts. After Jesus feeds the two large crowds, He directs the disciples to pick up the leftovers. He notices a food source that could be used for the poor—and He uses it.

In the end, we live generously because God Himself has been so incredibly generous to us. He doesn’t make us live on scraps from His table; no, He saw our need and He sent us the best He had—His own dear Son Jesus, to become our Savior and to rescue us from the power of evil. Through His death and resurrection Jesus bought us back to be God’s children, forgiven and living forever. With such gifts as that, how could we not be generous to the people around us?

WE PRAY: Dear Father, thank You for Your incredible gift of Jesus! Teach me to care generously for the least of Your people in this world. Amen.

This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Kari Vo.


SGA: Nils Nisi Bonum by Dossier

Jul. 8th, 2025 12:46 pm
mific: John sheppard head and shoulders against gold orange sunset (Sheppard orange)
[personal profile] mific posting in [community profile] fancake
Fandom: Stargate Atlantis
Characters/Pairings: Genfic. John Sheppard, Teyla Emmagan, Elizabeth Weir, Rodney McKay, Aiden Ford, Steven Caldwell, Jack O'Neill, Cowen
Rating: G
Length: 27,574
Content Notes: Major character death. John has no special relationship with Atlantis and dislikes the city's voice in his head. Dossier's original Notes are here.
Creator Links: dossier on AO3
Themes: Working together, Character development, Teamwork, Action/adventure, Genfic

Summary: I had set the galaxy afire because she had given me her loyalty and trust.

Reccer's Notes: Yes, it's MCD, but hear me out. Dossier creates an AU story of Sheppard as Laurence of Arabia, eventually saving Pegasus from the Wraith. Like Laurence, he dies in a motor vehicle accident, which happens right at the start so you know what you're in for. The structure works well - a 3rd person account of his death, then the story itself from the expedition's arrival in Atlantis, told in John's first person POV like T. E. Laurence's "Seven Pillars of Wisdom", then a last 3rd person section about his death and the birth of his legend. Sheppard doesn't mercy-kill Sumner in this - he remains ostracised and mistrusted by the mainstream military and carves out a role for himself by "going native" and working together with Teyla and the Athosians, and eventually other Pegasus peoples, finally masterminding an alliance that destroys the Wraith, but being wounded himself and losing 20 or so years from a Wraith feeding. As with Laurence, he's ultimately tormented by the deaths he feels responsible for along the way, especially the massive genocide of the Wraith, and he dies on Earth, alone and largely unrecognised. But in Pegasus, it's a very different story. Not a comfort read, but a powerful and well-told story that fits Sheppard's character.

Fanwork Links: Nils Nisi Bonum

YMI -- ODB: 7 July 2025

Jul. 7th, 2025 03:42 am
sparowe: (Bible)
[personal profile] sparowe

ODB: Growing Up in God

July 7, 2025

READ: 2 Timothy 2:14-1622-26 

 

Present yourself to God as one approved. 2 Timothy 2:15

In her early years as a Christian author, Gayle often received winsome gifts from her publisher. Bouquets of flowers, chocolates, boxes of herbal teas. All lovely. But over time, her publisher began to send gifts with lasting value. A one-year Bible, devotionals, and prayer journals. As she used them, Gayle became a more mature believer—less distracted by frilly gifts and more committed to using her life to lead others to Christ.

This approach recalls Timothy’s growth under the mentoring of the apostle Paul. Stressing spiritual maturity, Paul advised, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).

Then Paul added, “Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly” (v. 16). He added, “Flee the evil desires of youth . . . . Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments. . . . And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful” (vv. 22-24).

Paul’s wise advice offers believers one other key benefit. Even opponents of Christ, when they see our mature choices in Him, may “come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil” (v. 26). So “growing up” in God has eternal outcomes beyond ourselves. Let’s not wait, therefore, to grow up in our faith. Others will benefit as well.

— Patricia Raybon

Where is your faith immature? How can you “grow up” spiritually?

Wise God, please grow my spiritual maturity in You.

For further study, read Going the Distance-Spiritual Disciplines.

Source: Our Daily Bread

garryowen: (trek kirk ouch!)
[personal profile] garryowen posting in [community profile] fancake
Fandom: Star Trek AOS (Reboot)
Pairings/Characters: Kirk/inappropriateness, hints of Kirk/Spock
Rating: Teen +
Length: 3,235 for the fic, 23 minutes for the podfic
Creator Links: [livejournal.com profile] insaneidiot [archiveofourown.org profile] reena_jenkins
Theme: Working Together

Summary: The crew of the Enterprise is subjected to a compulsory seminar on Inappropriate Workplace Behavior, and Jim Kirk finds this to be particularly challenging.

Content notes: In addition to Kirk being inappropriate in the ways one might expect from canon, the seminar leader is stereotyped in a way that might be considered offensive.

Reccer's Notes: I'm reccing both the story and the podfic here because the story is only on LJ, and the writer does not seem to be active anymore. The podficcer, however, is still around, and the pod is hosted on AO3, which may be more accessible for some. It is also the way I first encountered this story.

Now that we have all that out of the way, I can gush about how hilarious this story is because Jim Kirk + Starfleet bullshit is fertile territory, and I always laugh really loudly when listening to the podfic. Jim is so deeply wounded by any attempt to rein in his obnoxiousness, inappropriateness, and mouthiness. The best thing about this fic, though, is Jim's relationship with his crew. Throughout the seminar, we see the dynamics play out, and it becomes clear that the seminar was put together for a very different kind of workplace and a very different kind of crew. As Jim puts it: "All the team unity and 'synergy' exercises in the universe aren’t going to build real trust or strong relationships amongst a crew."

As you might expect, Jim gets kicked down a couple notches by the seminar leader, but the tables turn in an unexpected way by the end of the seminar.

Reena, as usual, does a wonderful job with the podfic.

Fanwork Links: Wrote the Book fic at LJ and Wrote the Book podfic at AO3

YMI -- ODB: 6 July 2025

Jul. 6th, 2025 12:28 pm
sparowe: (Bible)
[personal profile] sparowe

ODB: Choices and Consequences

July 6, 2025

READ: Genesis 3:1-7 

 

When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food . . . she took some and ate it. Genesis 3:6

In 1890, amateur ornithologist Eugene Schieffelin decided to release sixty European starlings into New York City’s Central Park. While there were likely several introductions of the species, Schieffelin’s released starlings resulted in the first successful, documented nesting. Now there are roughly eighty-five million of the birds flapping across the continent. Unfortunately, starlings are invasive, pushing out native bird populations, spreading disease to cattle, and causing an estimated $800 million annually in damage. Schieffelin couldn’t have imagined the damage his choice would cause.

Choices can have massive consequences. Though warned, Adam and Eve couldn’t have envisioned the disastrous ramifications of their choice on all creation. God had told them they were “free to eat from any tree in the garden” (Genesis 2:16), save one, the tree in “the middle of the garden” (3:3). But deceived by that wily serpent, “[Eve] took some and ate it” (v. 6). Then Adam followed, also choosing to eat the fruit God forbade. So much destruction, heartbreak, and ruin because of one choice.

Every time we ignore God’s wisdom and choose another path, we invite calamity. It may seem that our choice is insignificant or only affects us; however, our narrow understanding or fleeting desires can easily lead us into a world of trouble. Choosing God’s way, though, leads us to life and flourishing.

— Winn Collier

What choice has proved disastrous for you? How can you make wiser decisions?

Dear God, please help me make wise decisions.

Source: Our Daily Bread

full_metal_ox: A gold Chinese Metal Ox zodiac charm. (Default)
[personal profile] full_metal_ox posting in [community profile] fancake
Fandom: DC Universe; Sandman
Pairings/Characters: Gen; Morpheus, Alan Scott, Tomar-Re, Bruce Wayne, Clark Kent, OCs by the billions (including Reader?)
Rating: General Audiences
Length: 297
Content Notes: Nothing icky happens, but the story references Neil Gaiman’s Endless mythos;(1) dream transcript.
Creator Links: (Website): https://leighwoosey.co.uk/; (Instagram) [instagram.com profile] leighwoosey; (LiveJournal) [livejournal.com profile] woogledesigns; (Twitter) [twitter.com profile] Leighwoosey

Theme: Working Together, Action/Adventure, Gen, Just Plain Fun, Non-AO3 Fics

Summary: One for Sandman fans: I had a dream of Morpheus, who saw an invasion of earth that would go through the dreaming to reach target. Morpheus, who foresaw the plan even as it was being dreamt up by the aliens, was obligated to mount a defense. He recruited two sleeping Green Lanterns, one of Alan Scott of Earth and one Tomar-Re.

Author’s Notes: People are always telling me to keep a dream diary, this is a concession.

Reccer's Notes: Raw dream content notoriously tends to be some-assembly-required narrative material, but in a 29 August 2010 LiveJournal post(2), Woosey described this downright jackpot he received from Dreamland: a cool premise complete with plot, grand spectacle, a firm grounding in the canon lore (note the smooth incorporation of the various Elseworlds Batman scenarios), implicit invitation to the audience (what would you have been doing during the Big Event?) and a clear if haunting resolution. The title is my own [livejournal.com profile] metaquotes header.

Fanwork Links: We could be heroes, just for one night, by Leigh Woosey.

(1) Note that some commenters envisioned Morpheus from The Matrix.

(2) The entry has since been deleted; archived here: https://web.archive.org/web/20170821194033/https://woogledesigns.livejournal.com/69811.html
sparowe: (Bible)
[personal profile] sparowe

Don’t Be a Stumbling Block

When I was in middle school and high school, I remember hearing a lot about peer pressure. I learned to be aware when others were pressuring me to do things I knew weren’t right or that I wasn’t comfortable with. I also learned how important it was to respect other people’s boundaries, and not encourage them to participate in things they were uncomfortable with.

As we look at Paul’s writings, we recognize that he also cares about peer pressure and our actions as Christians toward others. Paul has a large heart and deep concern not only for those who know the Lord but also for the community as a whole, including those who are not living as Christians.

In 1 Corinthians 8:9, Paul writes, “Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak.” During the time of this letter, people were dealing with a dilemma when it came to  eating meat offered to idols, even those who didn’t practice sacrificing animals as a form of worship. Those who practiced their faith knew they had freedom through Jesus’ crucifixion to eat anything; however, eating the meat could have been a stumbling block or created an atmosphere of pressure for those who did not have the same faith.

As Christians, we are called to love and respect one another, even those who may disagree with us and have different beliefs. It is not out of law or duty that Paul says not to eat meat, but out of respect for our brothers and sisters, because we do not desire to lead them astray or put them in a position of guilt or shame in their lives.

In 21st century Western culture, I think it may be fair to say we don’t have the experience or pressure of eating meat of sacrificed animals, but we do have our own dilemmas we face every single day that not only affect us but the people around us.

One that comes to mind in my life is my relationship with alcohol. I have family members who have struggled with alcohol abuse in their lives and faced severe consequences for their actions. I celebrate with joy and love one family member who has more than 10 years of sobriety. Although this looks different for everyone and different situations, I am very aware of my alcohol intake around family members or friends who have struggled with alcohol abuse … not because I feel the same conviction but out of love and respect for my neighbor, because Paul tells us this love looks like not being a stumbling block for others.

Although my primary experience with not being a stumbling block relates to alcohol, it could be many other things for other people. For example, it could be screen time or even gambling. It’s not that these things are inherently wrong, but if someone in your life struggles with setting boundaries, loving them looks like not leading them into temptation.


garryowen: (trek enterprise)
[personal profile] garryowen posting in [community profile] fancake
Fandom: Star Trek Reboot (AOS)
Pairings/Characters: Gen
Rating: Teen
Length: 1390 words
Creator Links: [archiveofourown.org profile] lazulisong
Theme: Working together

Summary: Winona is called to fix the cock-up of the Yorktown's engines. She uses one of the science-bitches to help her do it.

Reccer's Notes: This fandom has many versions of Winona Kirk. The one you get here is the engineer who does NOT fuck around and can fix anything you throw at her. She is irreverent and badass. And, in this particular story, she is wonderfully, delightfully contrasted with Spock, who is helping her fix the Yorktown engines. Yes, Spock is the science bitch.

I really can't say much more because I'm laughing too hard rereading the story in order to write this rec. Laz perfects the art of proving that swearing isn't what you do when you lack imagination. Every cuss word in this fic is a brilliant gem of hilarious, creative, and accurate speech.

Like every ridiculous fic that is very, very good, this one makes you believe that this Winona Kirk is not only possible, but is absolutely in character. It also makes you believe that this Spock is possible and will call Winona Overlord and let her call him Tiny Science-bitch.

Fanwork Links: One Foot in Front of the Other
sparowe: (Bible)
[personal profile] sparowe
A Little Light, Reading


This devotion pairs with this weekend’s Lutheran Hour sermon, which can be found at lhm.org.

Job 1:8-12a – And the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?” Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason? Have You not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse You to Your face.” And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your hand. …”

Daniel, a friend of mine, tells me he went through a Job-like experience when he was in high school.

He was living this fairytale life when the lights went out. His world collapsed. Everything fell apart. His guidance counselor at his school knew that Daniel was a Christian. So, he encouraged Daniel to read the book of Job. But not because he wanted to strengthen Daniel’s faith. He wanted to destroy it. He wanted to confront Daniel with the senseless suffering of this world and the cold silence of God. He wanted Daniel to curse God in the dark and reject him. That’s why he suggested Job.

One night, Daniel took his advice. He read the whole book of Job, from start to finish, all 42 chapters in one sitting. There’s an illuminating passage from another part of the Old Testament. It says that people will see in God what they bring to God. To the crooked, God seems tortuous. To the proud, God looks like a monster. But to those who need mercy, God shows Himself merciful. To the broken, God is Savior (see 2 Samuel 22:26-28). Daniel went in Job’s darkness to God that night, broken. He came baptized into the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Daniel sat in the darkness next to Job with just a little light of Christ, and he says that it saved his faith.

The book of Job is not light reading. But Christians do read it in the light of Christ. Jesus’ light does not dispel all the book’s mysteries for us. We read it and are still confronted with the darkness. Why does God allow such suffering to come to some, but not others? Why is God so often silent when we’re in pain? Why doesn’t God do something about this, now? We don’t know what the answers are. We only know Who the answer is. We know who found us when our world fell apart and the lights went out. We know what Jesus did for us on the cross. So, we trust that if God’s love could shine on that darkest day, in the suffering and death of Jesus, then His love will one day finally break through every other shadow of doubt, when Jesus returns to raise the dead and restore our losses. And for now, He sits with us in the darkness. For now, Jesus is enough light to live by.

WE PRAY: Dear Jesus, when the darkness comes, show me the way. Amen.

This Daily Devotion was written by Rev. Dr. Michael Zeigler, Speaker for The Lutheran Hour.


sparowe: (Bible)
[personal profile] sparowe

I Know that Person


In Luke 24:49 (TLB) Jesus said, “And now I will send the Holy Spirit upon you, just as my Father promised.” Who is the Holy Spirit? God as Father? We comprehend that image. God as Jesus, the Son? That idea is manageable as well. But God as Spirit? That word itself is mystical.

One day, I read the words Jesus used to describe the Holy Spirit: comforter and friend. I know that Person. That was three decades ago. I no longer think of the Holy Spirit as “the Holy Who?” I now call him our Heaven-Sent Helper.  He is our champion, our advocate, our guide. He comforts and directs us. He indwells, transforms, sustains, and will someday deliver us into our heavenly home.

Read more Help Is Here

YMI -- ODB: 2 July 2025

Jul. 2nd, 2025 03:50 am
sparowe: (Glory)
[personal profile] sparowe

ODB: From Glory to Glory

July 2, 2025

READ: 2 Corinthians 3:7-18 

 

We . . . are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory. 2 Corinthians 3:18

Living in a coastal town, Valerie loved warm weather, wildlife photography, and being in the water. Above all, she loved watching the sunrise over the ocean. Every morning, she woke up before dawn to catch a view of the water. Val estimated that despite cloudy weather or travel, she still managed to see more than three hundred waterfront sunrises each year. She never tired of watching them. In her eyes, the sunrise held a glory she didn’t want to miss.

In Exodus 34, we read about Moses’ radiant face literally reflecting his glorious encounter with “the Lord” (vv. 29-35). Paul said that since Jesus came, there’s an even more glorious ministry than what Moses experienced (2 Corinthians 3:7-8). It’s the ministry of the Spirit, which brings righteousness (vv. 8-9). God’s plan of salvation has permanent glory, surpassing anything that came before (v. 10), and we get to participate in it. The apostle said, “We all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory” (v. 18). That ever-increasing glory is not dependent on how well we perform but on the Holy Spirit. We, like the clouds at sunrise, just reflect a little more and a little better each day the glorious work that He’s doing.

— Karen Pimpo

When is it more difficult to see the work of the Holy Spirit in your life? How do you know He’s still there?

Dear God, You’re doing a glorious work within me! Thank You for transforming me into Your image.

Source: Our Daily Bread

kingstoken: (Clint Barton Comics)
[personal profile] kingstoken posting in [community profile] fancake
Fandom: Sherlock Holmes (tagged both Books and Granada)
Pairings/Characters: Holmes & Watson
Rating: T
Length: 2743 words
Creator Links: RatTale
Theme: working together

Summary: After a long day of seeing patients, Doctor Watson is on his way home when he gets pulled into an alleyway to help one more patient for the night.

Reccer's Notes: When Watson has an unexpected patient, in an unexpected place, Holmes gets roped into helping.  They have to work together for the benefit of the patient.  It's very nice to read a story where Watson is the competent medical professional and is the one in charge instead of Holmes. 

Fanwork Links: AO3

Round 176: Working Together

Jul. 1st, 2025 09:19 am
runpunkrun: combat boot, pizza, camo pants = punk  (punk rock girl)
[personal profile] runpunkrun posting in [community profile] fancake
Photograph with added text: Working Together, at Fancake. Workers in India use wide wooden paddles with long handles to shove a huge yard of drying grains into big piles. The grain, most likely rice, is a beautiful golden color, and there's a mix of western and traditional clothing among the seven men and women.
Our theme for July is working together!

This round is for fanworks that feature characters working together to achieve a common goal or—and this is not necessarily the same thing—fanworks set in the workplace.

The tag for this round is: theme: working together

If you're just joining us, be sure to check out our policy on content notes. Content notes aren't required, but they're nice to include in your recs, especially if a fanwork has untagged content that readers may wish to know about in advance.

Rules! )

Posting Template! )

Promote this round! )

YMI -- ODB: 1 July 2025

Jul. 1st, 2025 03:51 am
sparowe: (Bible)
[personal profile] sparowe

ODB: Loving Others Through Prayer

July 1, 2025

READ: 1 Samuel 12:19-25 

 

Far be it from me that I should sin . . . by failing to pray for you. 1 Samuel 12:23

“I don’t know where I’d be today if my mom hadn’t prayed for me. I don’t think I’d even be alive,” my friend Rahim related. He was a former addict who’d spent time in prison for drug distribution. Over coffee one day, he shared the difference his mother’s prayers had made in his life. “Even when I disappointed her so badly, she kept loving me with her prayers. I was in a lot of trouble, but if she hadn’t prayed for me, I know it would have been worse.”

The Old Testament account of Samuel tells another story of someone who showed faithfulness to God and others through prayer. On the day Saul was coronated as king at Gilgal, the prophet Samuel was also disappointed. The people had placed their faith and hope for their future in a monarchy instead of in God.

As the people gathered, God displayed His displeasure through an unseasonable storm that terrified them and made them regret their decision (1 Samuel 12:16-18). When they pleaded with Samuel to intercede for them, he replied, “Far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray for you” (v. 23).

Samuel’s response reminds us that praying for others is a way of keeping God first in our hearts and lives. When we love others by praying for them, we open the door to witness what only He can do. And we never want to miss that.

— James Banks

How does consistent prayer help you to keep God first? How will you pray for others today?

Strong Savior, thank You for praying for me. Please help me to follow Samuel's example and love others with my prayers today.

Learn how consistant prayer can change your relationship with God

Source: Our Daily Bread

Rebuilding journal search again

Jun. 30th, 2025 03:18 pm
alierak: (Default)
[personal profile] alierak posting in [site community profile] dw_maintenance
We're having to rebuild the search server again (previously, previously). It will take a few days to reindex all the content.

Meanwhile search services should be running, but probably returning no results or incomplete results for most queries.
mific: (Tea or coffee)
[personal profile] mific posting in [community profile] fancake
Fandom: Lord Peter Wimsey - Dorothy L. Sayers
Characters/Pairings: Harriet Vane & Mary Wimsey
Rating: Gen
Length: 1951
Creator Links: Beatrice_Otter on AO3
Themes: Female relationships, Female friendship, Female characters

Summary: "I was complaining to my brother about how few friends I had, and he suggested that you might be an interesting person to know."

After Harriet is exonerated, she and Mary Wimsey meet for tea.

Reccer's Notes: A lovely, quietly perceptive story about two slightly lonely women finding commonalities and starting to become friends - one of Lord Peter's more successful machinations. It's beautifully written and the author's note at the end is interesting if you're a fan of the Wimsey books.

Fanwork Links: Tea For Two

YMI -- ODB: 30 June 2025

Jun. 30th, 2025 03:46 am
sparowe: (Bible)
[personal profile] sparowe
 

ODB: Sleepless?

June 30, 2025

READ: Psalm 3 

 

I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me. Psalm 3:5

My friend confided that he hadn’t been sleeping well. His sleeplessness was related to a difficult family situation that had kept him up at night. It happened that this was the day I was prepared to discuss Psalm 3 in my adult Sunday school class.

In Psalm 3, King David also had a family problem, one that would lead most of us to sleeplessness. His son Absalom was undermining David’s rule over Israel as part of his plan to overthrow him and snatch the crown for himself.

David was in despair. He fled Jerusalem after a messenger said, “the hearts of the people of Israel are with Absalom” (2 Samuel 15:13). In Psalm 3:1, David describes his situation: “Lord, how many are my foes!”

But notice how David found peace. He recalled that God was his shield of protection and that He “lifts [his] head” (v. 3). Then came the help we all need when we fret over our circumstances: David was able to “lie down and sleep.” He observed, “I wake again, because the Lord sustains me” (v. 5).

For my friend facing a tough time, this was great news. And for all of us who face hard circumstances and sleepless nights, our God protects us and gives us rest. When we place our total trust in Him, He helps us “lie down and sleep” (v. 5).

— Dave Branon

What is your “David moment” today? Instead of listening to those who distrust God (Psalm 3:2), how are you trusting His offer to protect you?

Heavenly Father, sometimes like David I exclaim, “How many are my foes!” But You’re there for me. Please shield me, lift my head, and allow me to lie down and sleep.

Source: Our Daily Bread

Deadloch: Keep On Gruckin' by kirazi

Jun. 30th, 2025 09:48 am
mific: (Deadloch)
[personal profile] mific posting in [community profile] fancake
Fandom: Deadloch
Characters/Pairings: Dulcie Collins/Eddie Redcliffe/Cath York
Rating: Explicit
Length: 5010
Content Notes: not kidding about the rating
Creator Links: kirazi on AO3
Themes: Female relationships, Femslash, Polyamory, Friends to lovers

Summary: “This is not a good idea, love,” Dulcie says, keeping her tone level. “I know I said I’d try to be more open to change, and I hear and respect your opinion, I truly do, but this is — it’s like the hobby farm. It’s really not going to work.”

“I just think,” Cath says, bright-eyed and earnest, “that it would be a healing experience for me. For us both! To share that kind of intimacy. I am committed to working through my anxiety about you fucking your partner and I’m sure that would be so much more manageable for me if we fucked her first. Together.”

(Eddie needs a gruck. Dulcie and Cath offer to help her out.)

Reccer's Notes: This is a polyamory fic where Cath decides she and Dulcie should have sex with Eddie so as to manage her anxiety that Dulcie might be unfaithful with Eddie (as happened in the past with a former partner at work). There's some nice psychological and historical exploration as Dulcie tries to work out what's going on, and the eventual sex is hot and well-written. What I like most is the character voices and dialogue for the three of them, which are spot on. It's also very funny, as are Eddie's creative takes on the English language.

Fanwork Links: Keep On Gruckin'

YMI -- ODB: 29 June 2025

Jun. 29th, 2025 09:26 am
sparowe: (Bible)
[personal profile] sparowe

ODB: A Grandmother’s Prayers

June 29, 2025

READ: Proverbs 31:10-18 

 

A wife of noble character . . . gets up while it is still night; she provides food for her family. Proverbs 31:1015

During a family reunion many years ago, my mother shared some words she’d written. She honored her grandmother, a woman I’d never met but I’d heard her spoken of often. Mom wrote that she recalled Mama Susan getting up “before dawn” and praying over her household. What a distinct memory that impacted my mother’s life—one I cling to even today although I never met my great-grandmother.

This description reminds me of the woman described in Proverbs 31. She cared for her family in many tangible ways, and she got up “while it [was] still night” (v. 15). She had plenty to do to care for her family, such as providing food, purchasing land, planting a vineyard, making profitable trades, sewing clothes, and finishing many other tasks—all in the name of caring for the ones she loved. And she even extended her resourcefulness to “the poor and . . . the needy” (v. 20).

Helping to care for a household during the time of the writing of Proverbs 31 was no easy feat, as demonstrated from the long list of duties described in this passage. And it wasn’t an easy feat for my great-grandmother, who was born in the 1800s. But prayers whispered early in the morning—as well as throughout the day—kept these women focused and encouraged as God helped them live out their calling to care for their family and others.

— Katara Patton

How do you stay encouraged as you complete your daily tasks? How can praying early and regularly help you?

Holy God, thank You for the women and men who faithfully care for their families. Please help me do the same.

Learn how praying regularly can change the way you see God.

Source: Our Daily Bread

sparowe: (Jesus)
[personal profile] sparowe

Multiplication or Division?



Churches that multiply in love, growth, and impact are built on the foundation of the Gospel. The same goes for individual believers. On the other hand, churches and individuals that build their foundation on anything other than Jesus will eventually divide.

Instead of the church, it becomes the Christians who vote like this or that, the Christians who worship like this or that, the Christians who follow this or that leader, the Christians who agree or disagree about this and that issue. When we divide into parties and make that part our foundation, we lose. And as the old saying goes: United we stand, divided we fall.

Paul reminds the Corinthians that we all have a part to play in the body of Christ, an analogy he will use later in chapter 12. If an arm thinks it is the whole picture, it will be a gruesome and useless sight. Ever heard of any churches like that? But if we humbly accept the role God calls us to play in the body, then we don’t worry about who is preaching and what faction we identify with, but the mission of the kingdom of God.

But how do you know if you are building your foundation on Jesus when every Christian faction says they are doing that? Here are some ways to check yourself:

  • Do you spend more time thinking, talking, learning, and giving attention to Jesus or to bringing a Christian perspective to an issue you feel passionate about?
  • Do you spend more time and energy building bridges based on what you have in common in Jesus or trying to change what you don’t share in common?
  • Are you known for loving Jesus and others or for where you stand on things?

Paul built a foundation by sharing the Gospel. Others were building on it and he welcomed it! Now we can build on that as well by choosing multiplication over division.

reeby10: an old school error pop up that says 'canon error' at the top and 'apply fanfic? ok' (fanfic)
[personal profile] reeby10 posting in [community profile] fancake
Fandom: Midsommar
Characters: Dani Ardor, Hanna, Siv
Rating: T
Length: 4,212
Creator Links: [archiveofourown.org profile] Selkit
Theme: female relationships

Summary: In her dreams, dark smudges crowd the edges of the world. One looms larger than the rest, twisting into impossible shapes, morphing into a figure with many faces, all of them howling with rage.

When she jolts awake, the dream-figure lingers. She tries to ignore it. She’s no stranger to nightmares. Her whole life has been one ever since her family’s deaths.

But things are different now. This is a new life. A new family.

Right?

Reccer's Notes: I love seeing what happens with Dani after the events of Midsommar, and this is such a good look at the continued ritual of being the May Queen! I am a known ho for ritual, but especially building off of the existing worldbuilding in such a believable way. I really enjoyed seeing more of Dani interacting with the other women of the Hårga as she learns to be part of her new family and culture. Plus the parts with Maja’s (and Christian’s) daughter were just perfect.

Fanwork Links: on AO3
mific: (Art brushes pencils)
[personal profile] mific posting in [community profile] fancake
Fandom: original work
Characters/Pairings: powerful mage/warrior bonded to her
Rating: G
Length: n/a
Creator Links: creators have been revealed but the artist chose to make the work anon.
Themes: Female relationships, Femslash, Female characters, Characters of color, Magic

Summary: none provided

Reccer's Notes: Another gorgeous work from the recent Everything is Femslash exchange. It's in a fantasy setting, featuring a mage and her warrior. I love the warm earthy colours, and how, the mage being a little shorter, their faces and bodies fit together perfectly, and the way they're linked by the swirl of the magical bond. Beautiful. (Note that the post is locked to AO3.)

Fanwork Links: Always with you

DCU: Office Meeting by Unpretty

Jun. 27th, 2025 09:06 am
sinesofinsanity: For squeeing (Batman Squee)
[personal profile] sinesofinsanity posting in [community profile] fancake
Fandom: DC Comics
Pairings/Characters: Pamela Isely/Harleen Quinzel, Bruce Wayne
Rating: Teen 
Length: 1,882 words
Creator Links: Unpretty on AO3
Theme: Female relationships, Canon lgbtq+ characters, humour, superpowers

Summary:
Bruce Wayne deals with supervillains almost as much as Batman does.

Reccer's Notes:
Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy break into Bruce Wayne's office to stop Wayne Enterprises from doing evil corporate stuff. Or kill him. Bruce plays dumb. It's glorious. 
I love Harley and Ivy's relationship in this. They're so true in how they love and support each other but are definitely super-villains who will definitely kill and/or main whoever gets in their way. Also Bruce's line about how Pamela probably wants to kill him because Harley finds him hot :D Bruce being smart by playing dumb is one of my favourite things. 

Fanwork Links: Office Meeting
Also has a podfic
 

sparowe: (Bible)
[personal profile] sparowe
Honest to God

This devotion pairs with this weekend’s Lutheran Hour sermon, which can be found at lhm.org.

Job 1:21 – And he [Job] said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the Name of the Lord.”

It’s what Job says initially when he hears the news and later sees his burnt-up property and children dead in the aftermath of some out-of-the-blue “act of God.” “The Lord gave. The Lord took away. Let the Lord’s Name be blessed.” For some, this is the summary of the whole book. But the story is just getting started. It’s a story about how Job’s way of relating to God is transformed. It’s not a transformation from guilt to forgiveness, because we’re told throughout that Job is innocent (see Job 2:3; 42:7-8). Instead, Job’s transformation is in how he talks. Job goes from proper, pious talk about God to raw and honest talk to God.

Imagine yourself in Job’s situation. People look up to you because your faith is so strong. And you know that you have to be strong for them. You have to say the right thing. So, that’s what Job does. He grins and bears it. But there is more going on inside him. And after seven days of silence, he lets it out. His friends try to “shush” him. They want him to stick to the script, but Job isn’t having it. He lets out a torrent of questions, complaints, and accusations straight to God’s face.

But maybe he went too far? The traditional translation near the end of the book leads us to that conclusion. God answers Job in a storm. God challenges Job: “Who are you to question Me?” And what’s Job’s response? The traditional translation has Job saying that he went too far. Job says, “I despise myself and I repent in dust and ashes” (see Job 42:5-6). But some Bible scholars argue for a different translation. They read the ancient Hebrew script and hear Job say something like, “I have heard about You, God, and now my eyes have seen You. Therefore, I am fed up, and I have pity on dust and ashes.” In this reading, Job is not backing off. He is doubling down because he knows he doesn’t need to be guarded with God because he’s already right with God. So, he can be honest with God.

It may be that the traditional translation is right. It may be that Job repents. But it’s also possible the other translation is right, that Job doesn’t back down. Not that he’s trying to be God, but that he’s being honest to God. And if that’s the case, what comes next tells us something about God’s heart, because God doesn’t condemn Job for his honesty. Instead, God condemns Job’s friends for their scripted pious phrases. God says that they haven’t talked rightly about Him, but Job has. However you understand Job, it’s clear from the rest of Scripture that God does not simply want your pious talk. God wants your heart. He wants to hear what’s on your heart. He already knows everything in there anyway. And in Jesus, you’re already in the right with Him. So, you can talk to Him. You can be honest with Him.

Let’s do that now.

WE PRAY: Dear Father, help me to talk with You, even, at times, like Job did, so that we can be closer. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

This Daily Devotion was written by Rev. Dr. Michael Zeigler, Speaker for The Lutheran Hour.

mific: (spock-dog)
[personal profile] mific posting in [community profile] fancake
Fandom: Star Trek: Reboot
Characters/Pairings: James Kirk/Leonard 'Bones' McCoy
Rating: G
Length: n/a
Creator Links: storietellers on AO3
Themes: Female relationships, Domestic, Femslash

Summary: "Having fun, Bones?"
"Just working out the tension. You really keep it all in your wrists. Keep reading, darlin'. I wanna know what happens next."

Reccer's Notes:
The 'Everything is Femslash' exchange has just revealed creators, and this is a gorgeous artwork of Rule 63 (always a girl) Kirk and McCoy chilling out. The lighting is warm and their likenesses are really well done. It's relaxing just to look at.

Fanwork Links: Relaxing
sparowe: (Fell)
[personal profile] sparowe

Not Out of God’s Reach


Some years ago a Rottweiler attacked our golden retriever puppy at a kennel. The animal climbed out of its run and into Molly’s and nearly killed her. I wrote a letter to the dog’s owner, urging him to put the dog to sleep. But when I showed the letter to the kennel owner, she begged me to reconsider. “What the dog did was horrible, but I’m still training him. I’m not finished with him yet.”

God would say the same about the Rottweiler who attacked you. “What he did was unacceptable, inexcusable, but I’m not finished yet.” Your enemies still figure into God’s plan. Their pulse is proof. God hasn’t given up on them. They may be out of his will, but not out of his reach. And you honor God when you see them not as his failures, but as his projects.


Read more Facing Your Giants: God Still Does the Impossible

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