I was recently searching some blogs just to see what's out there when I came across a blog called God is for Suckers. I'm not trying to give that blog and its author advertisement, but I was really baffled as to why someone would attack or post something so... well... hmm, I can't even come up with a word for it.
I was going to post a comment to simply ask them why they started a blog such as that, but decided against it. The nature of the comments and posts on that blog were such akin to a person I would avoid talking to.
So, I've brought the discussion to you. Why would someone post a blog like that? And, given the nature of this blog, I ask another question: When you tell someone your beliefs in God or mention your commitment to God to remain celibate until marriage; what type of feedback do you generally get?
“A person is never happy except at the price of some ignorance.” – Anatole France
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
Desperate Prayers
This past Sunday’s service at my church, Word Of Faith Family Worship Cathedral, was really powerful. Our bishop, Pastor Dale C. Bronner, didn’t deliver a message, but said he felt led by God that we should all pray.
Throngs of people approached the alter and knelt in reverence to God. We prayed, worshipped, cried, shouted, sang… well, you get the picture. Right before we started to pray, Bishop Bronner said, “God only answers desperate prayers.”
Huh?
His statement caused me to pause and think, but instead of pondering what he said at that moment I went on a prayed with his statement at the back of my mind.
Maybe you’re wondering, ‘Why did you pause?’ Or, like me, the statement gave you something to think about. When I think about “desperate” I think about someone who is crying, screaming, jumping, shouting and flailing about in desperation, but what I’ve realized is that if I limited my thinking to that then I would limit my experience with God.
I feel (when I say that, I mean that I believe God is telling me) that God wants us to have desperation in our hearts. Now, that doesn’t null the person who has an outward appearance of desperation. God, I’m sure, recognizes that as well and he recognizes an individual who has desperation in their heart when they seek him.
If you think about it – as a very good friend of mine pointed out – there isn’t any reference in the bible of Jesus screaming, shouting and jumping. He did cry out to the Lord, but that doesn’t necessarily mean how I initially pictured desperation in my head.
What I think we should remember as we seek God is to just seek God. Know what I mean? Don’t let the how, why and ‘what for’ keep you from seeking Almighty God. Worship him. Praise him. Thank him. And pray to him. He’s waiting for each and every one of us to seek him… in desperation. :-)
“Pray as if everything depended upon God and work as if everything depended upon man.” Francis Cardinal Spellman
Throngs of people approached the alter and knelt in reverence to God. We prayed, worshipped, cried, shouted, sang… well, you get the picture. Right before we started to pray, Bishop Bronner said, “God only answers desperate prayers.”
Huh?
His statement caused me to pause and think, but instead of pondering what he said at that moment I went on a prayed with his statement at the back of my mind.
Maybe you’re wondering, ‘Why did you pause?’ Or, like me, the statement gave you something to think about. When I think about “desperate” I think about someone who is crying, screaming, jumping, shouting and flailing about in desperation, but what I’ve realized is that if I limited my thinking to that then I would limit my experience with God.
I feel (when I say that, I mean that I believe God is telling me) that God wants us to have desperation in our hearts. Now, that doesn’t null the person who has an outward appearance of desperation. God, I’m sure, recognizes that as well and he recognizes an individual who has desperation in their heart when they seek him.
If you think about it – as a very good friend of mine pointed out – there isn’t any reference in the bible of Jesus screaming, shouting and jumping. He did cry out to the Lord, but that doesn’t necessarily mean how I initially pictured desperation in my head.
What I think we should remember as we seek God is to just seek God. Know what I mean? Don’t let the how, why and ‘what for’ keep you from seeking Almighty God. Worship him. Praise him. Thank him. And pray to him. He’s waiting for each and every one of us to seek him… in desperation. :-)
“Pray as if everything depended upon God and work as if everything depended upon man.” Francis Cardinal Spellman
Thursday, January 04, 2007
You have a choice
Happy New Year!
I’m doing something a little different today: I’m posting a book review I wrote about Robin McGraw’s book “Inside My Heart: Choosing to Live with Passion and Purpose.” This post is more for my female readers, but I encourage everyone to read it.
Enjoy.
When I’ve watched Robin McGraw with her husband, Dr. Phil, on television, she appeared to be a centered person and a down-to-earth woman. That’s why when her book, “Inside My Heart: Choosing to Live with Passion and Purpose,” was released last year I had to get a copy and read about this woman for myself.
Not only is “Inside My Heart” an easy-to-read book, but among Robin’s life story are lessons every woman should learn. The primary one being that we – as women – have a choice. We shouldn’t just ride along on life’s highway and allow others’ choices and decisions dictate our lives. Robin relays this by giving examples of some of the things that happened in her life: From something as seemingly small as not letting a bank employee tell her she didn’t make a deposit when she knew that she had to watching her mother refuse to let a group of drunken men into their home to take their furniture. (This was after her father, who was an alcoholic, had gambled it away.)
She says it was instances like those that allowed her, and allows her, to make choices about her life. Including not being involved with a man who drinks (Dr. Phil doesn’t drink at all) or being bullied by someone into believing something she knows isn’t true and standing up for herself.
One of the important things that I gather about Robin making choices in her life is that she does it with the grace of a woman and the spirit of Christ. “Inside My Heart” allows a brief glimpse into the life a woman who we only know through television and in the process it teaches us a few things about being a woman first as well as a wife and a mom. With a little sprinkling here and there on how others should treat you and loving the life you’re living.
Robin says, “My wish is for you to perceive, as I do, the presence of God within us and around us and feel the love He feels for us all. I want to get you excited about whatever phase of life you’re in, excited about being a woman in this day and time, excited about being the woman that God created you to be. And it’s all there for the choosing, because I believe in the core of my soul that how you live, how I live, how we all live as women is largely a matter of choice.”
Now why would I post this review here? If you’ve kept up with my entries then you know I have a reason for everything. Well, just about everything. I wanted to impress upon the women about making a choice when it comes to having sex outside of marriage. A lot of women get into situations where they are afraid their boyfriend or significant other will leave them if they aren’t putting out. You know what I mean: Giving up the goods. Ladies, don’t fall for the lines: “I thought you loved me.” Or “I really need you.” And the killer: “Let’s just be friends.” All because you don’t want to have sex.
Don’t be pressured. Don’t be afraid to be alone. Honestly, if a man is going to use that against you then he may not be the man for you. Most likely he isn’t. And if he happens to be the man God has for you then he’ll come back to you the right way.
Remember: You want to be in relationship with someone who has the same beliefs and commitments that you do. Don’t get into a relationship with a man who doesn’t believe in being celibate before marriage. And if you’re already in a relationship, ask God for guidance in bringing that relationship into order or eliminating it from your life.
Make a choice! I know it’s easier said then done, but your spiritual, emotional and physical well being is on the line.
I love you!
“The strongest principle of growth lies in human choice.” – George Eliot
I’m doing something a little different today: I’m posting a book review I wrote about Robin McGraw’s book “Inside My Heart: Choosing to Live with Passion and Purpose.” This post is more for my female readers, but I encourage everyone to read it.
Enjoy.
When I’ve watched Robin McGraw with her husband, Dr. Phil, on television, she appeared to be a centered person and a down-to-earth woman. That’s why when her book, “Inside My Heart: Choosing to Live with Passion and Purpose,” was released last year I had to get a copy and read about this woman for myself.
Not only is “Inside My Heart” an easy-to-read book, but among Robin’s life story are lessons every woman should learn. The primary one being that we – as women – have a choice. We shouldn’t just ride along on life’s highway and allow others’ choices and decisions dictate our lives. Robin relays this by giving examples of some of the things that happened in her life: From something as seemingly small as not letting a bank employee tell her she didn’t make a deposit when she knew that she had to watching her mother refuse to let a group of drunken men into their home to take their furniture. (This was after her father, who was an alcoholic, had gambled it away.)
She says it was instances like those that allowed her, and allows her, to make choices about her life. Including not being involved with a man who drinks (Dr. Phil doesn’t drink at all) or being bullied by someone into believing something she knows isn’t true and standing up for herself.
One of the important things that I gather about Robin making choices in her life is that she does it with the grace of a woman and the spirit of Christ. “Inside My Heart” allows a brief glimpse into the life a woman who we only know through television and in the process it teaches us a few things about being a woman first as well as a wife and a mom. With a little sprinkling here and there on how others should treat you and loving the life you’re living.
Robin says, “My wish is for you to perceive, as I do, the presence of God within us and around us and feel the love He feels for us all. I want to get you excited about whatever phase of life you’re in, excited about being a woman in this day and time, excited about being the woman that God created you to be. And it’s all there for the choosing, because I believe in the core of my soul that how you live, how I live, how we all live as women is largely a matter of choice.”
Now why would I post this review here? If you’ve kept up with my entries then you know I have a reason for everything. Well, just about everything. I wanted to impress upon the women about making a choice when it comes to having sex outside of marriage. A lot of women get into situations where they are afraid their boyfriend or significant other will leave them if they aren’t putting out. You know what I mean: Giving up the goods. Ladies, don’t fall for the lines: “I thought you loved me.” Or “I really need you.” And the killer: “Let’s just be friends.” All because you don’t want to have sex.
Don’t be pressured. Don’t be afraid to be alone. Honestly, if a man is going to use that against you then he may not be the man for you. Most likely he isn’t. And if he happens to be the man God has for you then he’ll come back to you the right way.
Remember: You want to be in relationship with someone who has the same beliefs and commitments that you do. Don’t get into a relationship with a man who doesn’t believe in being celibate before marriage. And if you’re already in a relationship, ask God for guidance in bringing that relationship into order or eliminating it from your life.
Make a choice! I know it’s easier said then done, but your spiritual, emotional and physical well being is on the line.
I love you!
“The strongest principle of growth lies in human choice.” – George Eliot
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