Welcome to a Gathering of EChurch@Wartburg
Here Is Our Order of Worship
If you are new to EChurch, please click on this link for an explanation
A Prayer for the Fall link
Gracious God, As the season changes, we are reminded that you are an unchanging God,
but it is your desire to continue to change us–to mold and shape us,
to teach us to have faith like a child. Lord, be our teacher!
Lord, teach us to praise. We praise you for awe, wonder,
and excitement as new programs and plans are introduced in our denomination and individual churches this fall.
Lord, teach us to confess. At this time of year, we are inundated with busyness.
Forgive us, Lord, when our busyness overshadows you. Lord, teach us to be thankful.
We are thankful that in teaching us, you change us. Teach us, Lord, to trust in you for guidance and direction.
Lord, help us realize the magnitude of your grace and then to teach others what it means to live with that grace.
As we seek to further your kingdom, fill us with the same exuberance, wonder,
and awe that we see in children at the beginning of a new school year.
Amen
A Prayer for Stress link
God help me to work through the stress that is in my life today,
So that I need not be anxious for tomorrow.
I know that you have given me life that is to be developed and enjoyed.
I know in my heart that you provide all that I need for health for
Happiness, and for eternal life.
Please help me to remove those elements in my life that stand in the
way of my enjoying your bounty to the fullest extent.
Teach me to manage what seems to be unmanageable and to use the
stress in my life for renewal and growth.
Lord I pray that you will be with people who have been
victimized and traumatized by the acts of foolish, uncaring people,
who think that terrorism and killing and domination are the only way to resolve their problems.
May those who perpetrate such actions come to see
that the way to peace is through loving acts of kindness and not through
violence and pain.
Amen
Scripture Reading: Hebrews 13:16 (NASB Bible Gateway)
And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
The Breastplate of St Patrick link
I bind unto myself today the power of God to hold and lead, His eye to watch,
his might to stay His ear to hearken to my need
The wisdom of my God to teach,His hand to guide, his shield to ward:
The word of God to give me speech,His heavenly host to be my guard.Christ be with me,
Christ within me,Christ behind me, Christ before me,Christ beside me,
Christ to win me,Christ to comfort and restore me,Christ beneath me,
Christ above me,Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,Christ in mouth of friend or stranger.
bind unto myself the name,The strong name of the Trinity;By invocation of the same,
The Three in One, the One in Three,Of whom all nature hath creation;
Eternal Father, Spirit, Word,Praise to the Lord of my salvation,
Salvation is of Christ the Lord.
Amen
Benediction of Thomas Graham link
Now may the Lord lift up the light of His countenance upon you, and give you peace,
in your going out and in your coming in; in your sitting down and your rising up;
in your work and in your play; in your joy and in your sorrow,
in your laughter and in your tears; until that day comes which is without dawn and without dark."
Amen
Notice: Undefined variable: button in /home/guswo2wr8yyv/public_html/tww2/wp-content/plugins/quote-comments/quote-comments.php on line 127
Dear Dee and Deb, Can you please explain what in the world it means that “I know in my heart that you provide all that I need for health for Happiness, and for eternal life.” ? (If I sound a bit ticked off, I am, but not at you… at some things in my life right now.) So if I only did things right I’d be healthy, as God provided everything for that? This is what I understand.
Notice: Undefined variable: button in /home/guswo2wr8yyv/public_html/tww2/wp-content/plugins/quote-comments/quote-comments.php on line 127
Monica,
I will not presume to answer for Dee and Deb, but I’m not sure where you heard “If I did things right I’d be healthy.” Definitely not from Scripture. We live in an upside down, cursed world. What you have in Christ is a King who can “work all things for your good” – even those things in your life right now that are unpleasant. This morning I have already asked the Lord to surprise you with a glimpse of His immeasurable mercy and unbelievable goodness today in some tangible, meaningful way.
Notice: Undefined variable: button in /home/guswo2wr8yyv/public_html/tww2/wp-content/plugins/quote-comments/quote-comments.php on line 127
Monica,
Hey,
You asked the questions: (inspired from the prayer [A Prayer for Stress] above)
Q: Can you please explain what in the world it means that : “I know in my heart that you provide all that I need for health for Happiness, and for eternal life.” ?
Q: If I only did things right I’d be healthy, as God provided everything for that?
Monica, we are famished in the very recesses of our soul, if have no Hope.
hmmm…
Hope deferred, makes the heart sick, the bible says.
So without Hope, we can not necessarily expect the things this prayer speaks of:
Health, Happiness, and Eternal life.
As you are aware, Health is subjective, it can refer to the physical, the mental, the emotional, and last but not least, the spiritual.
In the modern world, the spiritual, is more often, the most neglected, yet in the grand scheme of things, the most endearing, the most meaningful, the most consequential.
What?
C.S. Lewis, the writer of “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe”, said that inside every person there is a God shaped vacuum, longing to be filled. Yet we sometimes spend our whole existence trying to fill it, to no avail, as it was designed to be filled only by the one that made you, Monica.
Jesus made a way for that little recess to be filled…
Simple.
…all you have ta do is ask Him.
We believe in what Jesus came ta do, ta bring us back to God. To offer us Eternal Life, when this mortal life is over. We accept his saving work on our behalf, and we are given new life within us, sealed with his very own Spirit, assured by his very promises.
We are no longer alone.
We no longer have to fight our battles alone.
We have someone who can know us truly, and loves us in spite of our imperfections.
When you reach out to Jesus today, you will find he has more than met you half the way.
(tear)
Health and Happiness shall follow like two little puppies!
Hope you feel better real soon!
hmmm…
Does this help you?
Blessings! 🙂
Sopy
—
Notice: Undefined variable: button in /home/guswo2wr8yyv/public_html/tww2/wp-content/plugins/quote-comments/quote-comments.php on line 127
Dear Pastor Burleson,
Thanks for your answer. Yes, I realize Scripture doesn’t say “If I did things right I’d be healthy.” It seemed to me however that the prayer quoted in today’s post implied that, when it said, “I know in my heart that you provide all that I need for health…”… and I disagreed with the idea.
Thank you very much for your prayer and for the gracious words!
Notice: Undefined variable: button in /home/guswo2wr8yyv/public_html/tww2/wp-content/plugins/quote-comments/quote-comments.php on line 127
Dear Sopy,
Thanks for your answer too. I am already a Christian and fully agree with what you said about C.S. Lewis and the vacuum in our soul (I thought Augustine said that though…). I just disagree with the idea implied in the sentence I quoted from the stress prayer… I don’t think being a Christian means you will be necessarily healthy. I don’t think God has provided all so that you would be so necessarily… then, if you’re not, if follows that you’re outside of His will or something… That’s what I logically get from that.
Notice: Undefined variable: button in /home/guswo2wr8yyv/public_html/tww2/wp-content/plugins/quote-comments/quote-comments.php on line 127
Speaking of doing good and sharing….
I hope I haven’t posted this before, because at my age there is a tendency to repeat oneself…smile
Years ago while in church, I felt impressed to give $100 to Stacy, the worship leader. I didn’t know her personally and because I thought $100 was a lot of money to give to someone I didn’t know, I resisted the impression…as long as I could. When it didn’t disappear, I conceded and went to the ATM the following week with a card containing $80 unsigned. I had withdrawn $100, but still felt that was too much money and kept $20 for myself. I gave the card to an usher with a request that he give it to her without telling her where it came from.
Just before the service was to begin, Stacy took hold of the microphone with tears in her eyes and told this story. Her son, who was in high school, had told her he needed $100 for a special event. Because she knew they didn’t have it, she never mentioned the need to her husband. BUT, she said (praising the Lord) ALMOST the entire amount had been supplied this morning so her son would be able to attend the event!
I don’t need to tell you how I felt and that it was a lesson I’ve never forgotten. I was stunned and ashamed when she announced that. I’d like to be able to redeem myself by saying I gave her the remaining $20, but I didn’t as that was allocated (in my mind) for the basket when it was passed. I honestly don’t remember another thing that happened during that service, but I do know I never again rationalized the authenticity of an impression and learned to listen to that still, small voice and obey.
Wade, I loved the story about Gracie! I find it so refreshing to hear of down-to-earth, everyday occurrences in the lives of pastors. Sometimes we forget that they experience the same aggravating, inconvenient, sad and funny things we do (and probably even more.) Several days ago, I watched a program called “The President’s Gatekeepers” on the Discovery Channel. It focused on the tedious responsibilities of the various Chief’s of Staff of the Presidents. Donald Rumsfeld said it was the most difficult job he ever had. The average length of their tenure was 1 ½ yrs. due to the stress. I couldn’t help thinking of pastors and the heavy load they carry 24/7 and had a new appreciation for their ministries. So I extend a heartfelt “Thanks!” to you, Wade for all you do and for the gracious, loving manner with which you do it.
And thanks to Deb as well for another beautifully put-together service!
Notice: Undefined variable: button in /home/guswo2wr8yyv/public_html/tww2/wp-content/plugins/quote-comments/quote-comments.php on line 127
Victorious,
What a wonderful anecdote! I appreciate the humility and transparency! I, too, concur with your opinion not “to rationalize (away) the authenticity of an impression and learn to listen to that still, small voice.”
Powerful stuff.
Notice: Undefined variable: button in /home/guswo2wr8yyv/public_html/tww2/wp-content/plugins/quote-comments/quote-comments.php on line 127
Monica,
Hey,
hmmm…
Famous Quote originated from:
“There is a God shaped vacuum in the heart of every man which cannot be filled by any created thing, but only by God, the Creator, made known through Jesus.”
― Blaise Pascal, “Pensées”
*
@ Monica:
You said:
“I just disagree with the idea implied in the sentence I quoted from the stress prayer…”
“I don’t think being a Christian means you will be necessarily healthy.”
“I don’t think God has provided all so that you would be so necessarily…”
“then, if you’re not, if follows that you’re outside of His will or something…”
“That’s what I logically get from that.”
*
Being sick does not necessarily mean you find yourself outside the will of God…
If you are doubt as to what God can provide you in the way of Health,
You might try:
Doing your part:
Consulting your primary care physician.
Being pro-active in proper exercise, diet, hygiene, rest, etc.
*
God can provide health solutions:
Consulting the Elders of your church, can help, having them lay hands on you an praying for you, as well.
Consulting a good concordance, examining the word, Health.
Consulting the Lord in pray, being assisted with his promises found in his word. (maybe the ones associated with the word, ‘Health’.
*
Sin issues?
Examining your life to determine if maybe sin has cause problems for you. confession, repentance, and faith in God’s promises can and do help.
*
Be thankful:
Being thankful to God, even in your present circumstances, is a game changer.
*
Trusting God:
Trusting in his word works wonders.
*
Being ‘others’ minded:
Doing for others, Taking care of others in their hour of need, etc. may help as well.
Don’t forget ta smilie often!
Hope this brings further help!
Blessings!
Sopy
—
Notice: Undefined variable: button in /home/guswo2wr8yyv/public_html/tww2/wp-content/plugins/quote-comments/quote-comments.php on line 127
Dear Sopy,
From what I’ve read it’s debatable that Pascal made that exact statement (God-shaped vacuum) – it is said that it is somewhat of an urban legend, and that the thing closest to it that can be found is:
“What else does this craving, and this helplessness, proclaim but that there was once in man a true happiness, of which all that now remains is the empty print and trace?
This he tries in vain to fill with everything around him, seeking in things that are not there the help he cannot find in those that are, though none can help, since this infinite abyss can be filled only with an infinite and immutable object; in other words by God himself. [Pascal, Pensees #425]”
It doesn’t really matter, I agree with your quote as much as with this, the idea is there anyway. I guess what I actually had in mind by Augustine was ““Our hearts are restless until they fine their rest in thee.”
I understand your points about seeing a doctor, eating well, resting, confessing sin, etc. And after that, what? What if one is a committed Christian who’s doing all he can and he still gets cancer or who knows what else? That is my point. I don’t find that God guarantees in the Bible that if you do x, y, z, you’ll be healthy because He is actually provided all so that you can be. How come really godly people in history were not healthy in spite of this? So I don’t have any problem with what the Bible says and what common sense says (taking care of your body). I do have a problem with theology systems and with people (nobody here I’m referring to) who say or imply that if you are not healthy, it must be that you’re not doing smth right – maybe you have sin, maybe you don’t do x, y, z right… because God *has* made a way for you to actually be healthy. And to me, that’s what that sentence in the prayer quoted actually implies (go and read it again and see what you think). If nobody else sees this or has a problem with the idea – I don’t know how to explain clearer than this what I mean – then never mind… I have many things going on in my life right now and I find that some things do rub me quite the wrong way. I have had the experience, after sharing some of the hardships we deal with in our family, of being told, ‘May God reveal to you why this is happening’. I’m glad the Bible is full of examples of people who really were accepted by God and they *still* had illness, or went through poverty, or were barren, or suffered in various other ways.
Notice: Undefined variable: button in /home/guswo2wr8yyv/public_html/tww2/wp-content/plugins/quote-comments/quote-comments.php on line 127
Monica,
Hey,
hmmm…
@ Monica:
Quote origin debatable? Correct. (close is good… -snicker- )
Agreed: “Our hearts are restless until they fine their rest in thee.”
*
Concerning Health matters: Aside from what I have shared already, as you well know, there are no easy answers or solutions, for that matter. One size certainly doesn’t fit all.
You said: “I’m glad the Bible is full of examples of people who really were accepted by God and they *still* had illness, or went through poverty, or were barren, or suffered in various other ways.”
Me too!
hmmm…
If folks are throw’in rocks, you might try and avoid them in the future, if you can’t get them to be more sensitive or sympathetic. Kindly excuse yourself and disassociate. That might be a health improvement in and of itself!
‘May God reveal to you why this is happening’?!?
Ok. (prayer is good)
You said: “I do have a problem with theology systems and with people …who say or imply that if you are not healthy, it must be that you’re not doing smth right – maybe you have sin, maybe you don’t do x, y, z right… because God *has* made a way for you to actually be healthy. ”
I can certainly understand your frustration.
Folks can speculate all day. Folks can bring theology systems to bear. Folks can ‘say’ or ‘imply ‘ what ever they have a mind too. That is human nature. Many are being polite, others are generally concerned, and try to help. Others…well ?!?
Yet at the end of the day, it is your body, and you health that is of primary concern to you, not other’s responses. It is your relationship with the Almighty. It’s you decision to do, to pray, to praise, and to trust, to be thankful.
To smile. 🙂
Do your best, God always does His.
…and remember what ever your circumstance God reassures Folk, “I will never leave nor forsake you…”
Take comfort in this, His promise.
He took the time to send the very best: His precious Son…
Blesings!
Sopy
—
Notice: Undefined variable: button in /home/guswo2wr8yyv/public_html/tww2/wp-content/plugins/quote-comments/quote-comments.php on line 127
@ Sopwith:
Dear Sopy (and anyone else, and sorry if I’ve been monopolizing the discussion, I merely tried to respond but didn’t mean to be obnoxious),
Without meaning any offense, I didn’t write my comment to discuss the state of my body or health… just to point out how I perceive that quote from the stress prayer – Does it imply what I see in it? If it does, do any of you have a problem with that idea as I do? I keep trying to bring the exchange back to that *quote* and it keeps ending up with people’s reactions, my response to them or my seeing the doctor, etc.
Notice: Undefined variable: button in /home/guswo2wr8yyv/public_html/tww2/wp-content/plugins/quote-comments/quote-comments.php on line 127
@ Monica:
Monica,
Your question is not a strange one.
Notice the theme in the responses to you and in the prayer itself: these things God supposedly provides are not defined. So, you are being asked to trust God for “things” which you need but which aren’t named and thus cannot be qualified as actually meeting any needs.
So, WHO gets to define your needs then? Well, the common sense answer is YOU, but that doesn’t pass the reformed theology orthodoxy test, and so this notion is merely used as a means to continue to subjugate you to the capricious whims of your environment and your church “authority”. Any move on your part to decide that, no, your needs are NOT actually being met and that your pastor assumes incorrectly and so you are going to work to provide for yourself is derided as “pride” and “lack of faith”.
You are seeing clearly the idea that if needs are to be met, then YOU must be the final arbiter of whether this is true or not. Reformed theology denies this, and so you are rightly confused and questioning the reformed position.
I say good for you.
Notice: Undefined variable: button in /home/guswo2wr8yyv/public_html/tww2/wp-content/plugins/quote-comments/quote-comments.php on line 127
@ Monica:
I understand what you’re saying about the quote. I do see the implication that if you are not well, you’re doing something wrong…its your fault. Perhaps it requires having lived in/under a system that teaches that to see it. My former pastor and, in fact, the whole ‘denomination’ he followed, actually said outright, “If what we are teaching you isn’t working for you, you aren’t doing it right.” Another leader in this group has said often (I think he’s proud of this quote), “If you tell me these principle do not work for you, my answer is ‘no, you do not work for them’.”
So yes, I see it and it does put me off whatever teaching I find it in.
Notice: Undefined variable: button in /home/guswo2wr8yyv/public_html/tww2/wp-content/plugins/quote-comments/quote-comments.php on line 127
@ Jeannette Altes:
Thank you!
Notice: Undefined variable: button in /home/guswo2wr8yyv/public_html/tww2/wp-content/plugins/quote-comments/quote-comments.php on line 127
” If I only did things right, I’d be healthy.”
– As in church official(s) adding ‘guilt’ to the imposition of an individual’s poor health?
– As in church official(s) adding the ‘accusation’ of faulty action to the imposition of an individual’s poor health?
Sopy
—
Notice: Undefined variable: button in /home/guswo2wr8yyv/public_html/tww2/wp-content/plugins/quote-comments/quote-comments.php on line 127
@ Argo:
I hadn’t seen this answer before, sorry… Thanks. Well, I don’t really know if I was questioning the reformed position :-), I was questioning the phrasing in that “stress prayer”, whoever it was that authored it… I think I get what you’re saying. There is for sure lots of stress in my life right now and I can’t see that it’s working any good at this point anymore… Oh well…
Notice: Undefined variable: button in /home/guswo2wr8yyv/public_html/tww2/wp-content/plugins/quote-comments/quote-comments.php on line 127
Monica wrote:
I haven’t read through this whole thread, so I might be missing some things from lacking full context, but I get what you’re saying there.
A lot of Christians do this on many topics, whether it’s a Christian who needs healing, who has mental health problems, singles such as myself who would like to be married, Christians who are having financial struggles.
I wouldn’t pin this all on Reformed theology,though, as “Word of Faithers” (aka the Prosperity Gospel), and other types of Christians (including conservative evangelicals and Baptists) also tend to play these “blame the hurting” type games. They also rig up a list of things for the person to do, such as, if you just do X, Y, Z, God will heal you or your physical problem, financial problem, or whatever.
If you just “have more faith,” “trust God more,” “read your Bible daily,” “title regularly,” “serve in a soup kitchen helping those less fortunate,” (*insert more religious tasks you must do*), then God will…
lift your depression (or restore your fizzling marriage, get you a new job if you were just laid off, whatever problem you may be facing).
As a female single who wants marriage, you’ll also get suggestions from Christians such as, ‘lose weight, let your hair grow really long, join a dating site,’ and once you do all that, God will send you a Prince Charming!
Christians are fond of coming up with checklists of requirements that if you just fulfill the check list, you’ll get “X” from God.
And it does not work – this is the hard truth Chrisitans don’t like to admit to, or Non Christians. You can be a good person, doing your best in life, treating others right, and still be hit with misfortune, illness, etc.
You can do every thing on the check lists you get from people and still be sick, have depression, have financial problems, and still be single, or whatever your issue is.
I do sympathize with you.
Having a problem is bad enough, but when people give you a check list, and hoops you gotta jump through to get relief, your problem is compounded by their insensitivity, or simplistic solutions (that often do not work).
Notice: Undefined variable: button in /home/guswo2wr8yyv/public_html/tww2/wp-content/plugins/quote-comments/quote-comments.php on line 127
Where I wrote, “title regularly” in my post above.
That was supposed to be TITHE, not “title”
Notice: Undefined variable: button in /home/guswo2wr8yyv/public_html/tww2/wp-content/plugins/quote-comments/quote-comments.php on line 127
Tripping On Church: “Religion And It’s Purview?”
hmmm…
“There is for sure lots of stress in my life right now and I can’t see that it’s working any good at this point anymore… Oh well…” ~Monica
Monica,
Hey,
Church leadership can not offer it’s membership medical treatment. It is not their ‘line’ of business. Stress can and does often lead to health concerns. You would do well to see your primary care physician, even if it is an initial or part of an annual checkup. You would do well to obtain assistance, to address the ‘stress’ issue, determining the probable cause(s).
[Also: You might consider a long walk in the fresh air, possibly (maybe) a change of pace.]
(Maybe Wartburg readers joining together in prayer can help as well.)
Please take care of yourself! 🙂
Thank you for your words.
Sopy
—
Notice: Undefined variable: button in /home/guswo2wr8yyv/public_html/tww2/wp-content/plugins/quote-comments/quote-comments.php on line 127
We know that officials in some of these ‘questionable’ 501c religious not-for-profits are “playing God”, with their members.
Question: Are they “Playing Doctor”, as well?
Notice: Undefined variable: button in /home/guswo2wr8yyv/public_html/tww2/wp-content/plugins/quote-comments/quote-comments.php on line 127
Jeannette Altes wrote:
It puts me off too Jeannette, but I don’t think that was the author’s intent. I know from previous comments you’ve made here at TWW, that you’ve lived through some horrific stuff dressed up as Christianity and you’re bound to be sensitive.
When people are hurting they don’t give a rat’s rip about what C.S. Lewis said about pain and they certainly don’t want a bunch pat platitudes derived from Scripture. It hurts. They hurt and want the pain to stop. That’s where we come in. We have immense power to be the balm and morphine in very practical ways to the hurting around us.
Notice: Undefined variable: button in /home/guswo2wr8yyv/public_html/tww2/wp-content/plugins/quote-comments/quote-comments.php on line 127
@ Muff Potter:
I’m sure that wasn’t the author’s intent. And I know it was not Deb’s intent. 🙂
I mainly wanted to point out to Monica that she is not alone in seeing that and being sensitive to it. For me, if someone, no matter how seincerely they want to help, has bought into this paradigm, I must, for sanity’s sake, make a boundary and be cautious about what else they my try to sell me, even if sincere.
Notice: Undefined variable: button in /home/guswo2wr8yyv/public_html/tww2/wp-content/plugins/quote-comments/quote-comments.php on line 127
*may* try to sell…
Notice: Undefined variable: button in /home/guswo2wr8yyv/public_html/tww2/wp-content/plugins/quote-comments/quote-comments.php on line 127
Monica wrote:
I’d not pay much attention to that prayer when you’re going through genuinely rough times. ISTM it’s meant for small problems.
I think you are correct to criticize the “God giving health” thing.
Besides that, it prays to “teach us to manage what seems unmanageable” which means that nothing in life is really unmanageable but only feels that way. Yet occasionally life gets plain unmanageable.
Also, to pray that those who do terrorism, killing, domination, violence, and pain just get it through their hearts that they need to do acts of kindness instead, seems to me a bit like melting a marshmallow on top.
When going through overwhelming distress, prayers like Neibuhr’s Serenity Prayer are more useful:
“God, give us grace to accept with serenity
the things that cannot be changed,
Courage to change the things
which can be changed,
and the Wisdom to distinguish
the one from the other.”
I hope you will be ok.
Notice: Undefined variable: button in /home/guswo2wr8yyv/public_html/tww2/wp-content/plugins/quote-comments/quote-comments.php on line 127
“Pastor Peter Piper Picked A Putrid Paradigm Of Prostrated Church Member Health?”
hmmm…
Jeannette,
@ Jeannette Altes
Hey,
Monica is certainly not alone in seeing, and being sensitive to this paradigm:
Church officials saying : ” If only you did ‘things’ right, you’de be healthy.”
Church officials saying : “If you are not healthy, it must be that you’re not doing something right – maybe you have sin, maybe you don’t do x, y, z right… because God *has* made a way for you to actually be healthy. ”
The Prostrated Church Health Paradigm, Perhaps? : “If you are not healthy, therefore you are somehow out of the will of God.”
Yes, no matter how sincerely church folk want to help, if they have bought into this ‘faulty’ church paradigm, caution must certainly be the order of the day; for if they believe and teach this, your right, what else are they peddling?
Skreeeeeeeeeetch!
Pastor X, Y, Z: Member A, B, C…”Your just not doing it right, Your just not doing it right, Your just not doing it right, Your just not doing it right, Your just not doing it right, Your just not doing it right…”
Kind Folk could sure get a complex, huh?
(sadface)
Sopy
—
Notice: Undefined variable: button in /home/guswo2wr8yyv/public_html/tww2/wp-content/plugins/quote-comments/quote-comments.php on line 127
Jeannette Altes wrote:
Absolutely, I too am sure she meant well.
Notice: Undefined variable: button in /home/guswo2wr8yyv/public_html/tww2/wp-content/plugins/quote-comments/quote-comments.php on line 127
@ Sopwith:
Dear Sopy and everyone else,
Thank you for your sincere concern and words of encouragement.
Sopy, I know you are kind and mean well, and so I do thank you for your care. However, advice about seeing my primary care physician and determining the cause(s) of my stress, and going for walks… really falls short. I only meant to discuss the quote and admitted I might have been more sensitive to it because I do have several hard things going on in my life right now – and yes, they do cause lots of stress, which I realize is not good for health. There isn’t much I can do about it however.
I didn’t mean to say that my main problem was being particularly sick, and inviting medical advice… I do have health problems that I can’t do much about and have learned to just live with … but they are not more particularly terrible today than a year ago. But I do go through some things that are very hard for me and I’ve had my share of insensitive people, those who just can’t put themselves in others’ shoes and at least imagine how it feels … Those who ask ‘how are you doing?’, and you end up wondering, “Do you really want to know or am I supposed to just smile and say ‘Fine, thanks’, when I’m actually totally miserable..?” And at times you do share some of what’s going on, and at the end what you get is a smile and the words ‘The Lord be with you’, as the person is merrily walking away. Or you share some of what’s going on and you get ‘Oh, come on, *still*?’ Excuse me, apparently things should have been solved so much sooner. Now I’m supposed to feel guilty too, for still having the problems… And those that say they have thought about it long and hard and still can’t figure out why it is all happening to us, we should think and go back and try to correct what we did that wasn’t in God’s will… Ugh… And as Daisy said, and I quite realize, it’s true about health, or depression, or severe poverty, or other things (singleness or whatever else).
When I said, “There is for sure lots of stress in my life right now and I can’t see that it’s working any good at this point anymore… Oh well…”, it must have sounded a bit strange. Something Argo said resonated with me and I had that in mind. I do fully believe I am saved. But I really don’t like the way my life looks right now. And up to a point, I know suffering can change you in good ways, and it has. We (my husband and I) have certainly learned much about being more sensitive to others through some of the things we went through. We learned we didn’t know everything we thought at some point that we did, and now we can see more ‘shades’ and show more grace and mercy. But at this point, I don’t honestly see any more good coming out of it, only everything falling apart… And I am told – in the Scriptures this time – that it’s all working for good and that I’m fully equipped… And God forgive me, but I don’t see that at all…
I’m sorry if it sounds like I’m rambling all over the place. I didn’t even mean to write any of this, beyond asking that initial question about the quote… Deb and Dee, forgive me if I broke your rule about monopolizing the thread.
Notice: Undefined variable: button in /home/guswo2wr8yyv/public_html/tww2/wp-content/plugins/quote-comments/quote-comments.php on line 127
@ Patrice:
Thank you, Patrice. If I remember correctly, I do owe you an answer to a question you asked on another thread… I mentioned that as much as I disagree with Piper now on a number of things, he was a breath of fresh air to someone coming out of fundamentalism… and you asked me about that. (It was you, right?) I didn’t mean to be rude and leave you without an answer, kept thinking I’d get back when I had more time… I’m sorry.
Notice: Undefined variable: button in /home/guswo2wr8yyv/public_html/tww2/wp-content/plugins/quote-comments/quote-comments.php on line 127
Monica wrote:
Well, if I did ask that question, I do not remember so it’s all good.
Comment sections are strange places. It’s ok not to comment back. Or perhaps one thinks about it for a while and then discovers the thread gone to rest. Or perhaps life gets busy which is proper priority. It makes for peculiar but interesting conversations.
So if you do it again, no probs. 🙂
Notice: Undefined variable: button in /home/guswo2wr8yyv/public_html/tww2/wp-content/plugins/quote-comments/quote-comments.php on line 127
Monica wrote:
There are things that happen in this world that cannot be made good, no matter how thoroughly we scrub it. Some situations are just plain destructive and we are laid waste by it. Sometimes it is a spiritual triumph to come out the other end more-or-less alive and able to find a contented life. Suffering is not of one type; it comes in many layers and levels.
I believe that God will make our suffering meaningful (good) someday, but for the more severe kinds of sufferings, it will not be until heaven. I do not know how that will work (although I have several ridiculous unsubstantiated ideas lol) but I am certain that it will be worked out fairly and lovingly because that is the nature of our God.
God knows what you are going through. He/She knows what’s unfair and what’s destructive. He/She knows your heart. Just hang next to God and let the other stuff roll off because those spouters do not know what they presume to know. IMNSHO
Notice: Undefined variable: button in /home/guswo2wr8yyv/public_html/tww2/wp-content/plugins/quote-comments/quote-comments.php on line 127
@ Monica
Monica,
Hey,
I sincerely hope, that what may not be granted to you on this Earth, will one day be given to you without measure, in the Kingdom Of God.
Remember, Jesus, …He calls us His ‘friends’,
Adieu.
Sopy
—
Notice: Undefined variable: button in /home/guswo2wr8yyv/public_html/tww2/wp-content/plugins/quote-comments/quote-comments.php on line 127
@ Sopwith:
Thank you, Sopy! 🙂