Give Your All To . . . ? . . . . [A Rel Forum Research thread--Open]

Bible, Vultus Christi, Quix's noggin ^ | 28 APR 2010; 30 APR 2010 | Jesus, Mark Kirby & Quix

[Quix]

GIVE IT ALL TO . . . ? . . . .

--A Research Thread--

. . .

.

7 “When you pray, don’t babble on and on as people of other religions do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again. 8 Don’t be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him! 9 Pray like this: Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. 10 May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today the food we need,[a] 12 and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. 13 And don’t let us yield to temptation,[b] but rescue us from the evil one.[c] --New Living Translation 7And when you pray, do not heap up phrases (multiply words, repeating the same ones over and over) as the Gentiles do, for they think they will be heard for their much speaking. [I Kings 18:25-29.] 8Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him. 9Pray, therefore, like this: Our Father Who is in heaven, hallowed (kept holy) be Your name. 10Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 11Give us this day our daily bread. 12And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven ([e]left, remitted, and let go of the debts, and have [f]given up resentment against) our debtors. 13And lead (bring) us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. 14For if you forgive people their trespasses [their [g]reckless and willful sins, [h]leaving them, letting them go, and [i]giving up resentment], your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15But if you do not forgive others their trespasses [their [j]reckless and willful sins, [k]leaving them, letting them go, and [l]giving up resentment], neither will your Father forgive you your trespasses. --Amplified Pray with Simplicity 5"And when you come before God, don't turn that into a theatrical production either. All these people making a regular show out of their prayers, hoping for stardom! Do you think God sits in a box seat? 6"Here's what I want you to do: Find a quiet, secluded place so you won't be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace. 7-13"The world is full of so-called prayer warriors who are prayer-ignorant. They're full of formulas and programs and advice, peddling techniques for getting what you want from God. Don't fall for that nonsense. This is your Father you are dealing with, and he knows better than you what you need. With a God like this loving you, you can pray very simply. Like this: Our Father in heaven, Reveal who you are. Set the world right; Do what's best— as above, so below. Keep us alive with three square meals. Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others. Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil. You're in charge! You can do anything you want! You're ablaze in beauty! Yes. Yes. Yes. 14-15"In prayer there is a connection between what God does and what you do. You can't get forgiveness from God, for instance, without also forgiving others. If you refuse to do your part, you cut yourself off from God's part. 16-18"When you practice some appetite-denying discipline to better concentrate on God, don't make a production out of it. It might turn you into a small-time celebrity but it won't make you a saint. If you 'go into training' inwardly, act normal outwardly. Shampoo and comb your hair, brush your teeth, wash your face. God doesn't require attention-getting devices. He won't overlook what you are doing; he'll reward you well. --THE MESSAGE

Mark Kirby: O Mother of Good Counsel, Mother of Perpetual Help, I turn with confidence to thy maternal Heart, and I renew my total and irrevocable consecration to thee. I am all thine, Most Holy Mary, and all that I have is thine. I give thee my past with its burdens. I give thee this present moment with its anxieties and fears. I give thee my future and all that it holds. There is no part of my life that is not open to thee, no place so secret, or so darkened by sin that thy presence and thy influence are not wholly and ardently desired there. I want to be completely transparent with thee, utterly simple, guileless, and childlike. Thou knowest, O Mother, all my preoccupations, all my intentions, and all those recommended to my prayer. Take them, I beseech thee, to thy Immaculate Heart and, as my Advocate, my all-powerful intercessor, and my Mediatrix, present them to thy Son. Seeing them presented by thee and held in thy maternal Heart, there is nothing that He will not do to give to each intention the one response worthy of the infinite mercy and love of His Sacred Heart. Praying in this way, I can be at rest, for thou art my Mother, and all that I entrust to thee will be, I am sure, received, and considered, and cared for with a Mother's love. Amen.

.

.

.

[Quix]

Perhaps those who have asserted that they choose to give their ALL to God,

would be willing to articulate some of the ways they try and walk that out, live that out.

I believe it would be edifying and instructive for all of us.

. . . and give a chance for those who wished to—to return their postings on this thread to a different focus.

[Quix]

Tooooo true far tooooooooo often.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thank you oh so very much for sharing your insights, dearest sister in Christ!

Of course, you know I very strongly agree with you that God the Father revealed Himself in four ways: 1) the Person of Jesus Christ His only begotten Son, 2) the Person of the indwelling Holy Spirit, 3) Scriptures, and 4) the Creation both spiritual and physical. And further, that there is no contradiction in His revelations.

And you know, of course, that I very strongly agree with you that faith and reason are complementary - but that reason does not trump faith.

As an example, every rational thought in my mind might be to run, my physical senses may be screaming of danger - but if God tells me to stay, I will stay.

So I'll just say, without good faith and good will, "research threads" like this one are exercises in futility and frustration; and I do not see what purpose they serve. I will no longer be a party to such.

For many years I have authored research project threads on the forum to shed light on specific issues and requested input from all the Freepers to "flesh it out." In fact, I'm no doubt to blame for this thread being a research project instead of something else - because Quix was asking around for the best way to get a profitable discussion going - and "research thread" was my suggestion to him.

But sadly, as with so many threads which contrast beliefs between two groups of Christians, this one has indeed devolved into the usual rhetoric and usual offenses.

There were few, very few, direct answers to the question - and likewise, there were very few attempts to explore differences objectively.

And that makes me sad, too.

God's Name is I AM.

[Quix]

INDEED.

[Quix]

EXCELLENT POINTS.

THANKS.

[Quix]

You did not need to disclose that on my account.

Thanks much for your kind candor, regardless.

Blessings,

[boatbums]

Perhaps those who have asserted that they choose to give their ALL to God, would be willing to articulate some of the ways they try and walk that out, live that out.

I think that would be a great way to turn this thread into something more edifying.

I think as I have grown older, and more mature in my faith - though ALWAYS still growing - I have found that my first inclination upon hearing good news or bad is to go to my Heavenly Father in gratitude, thanksgiving and prayer. I recently had a triple whammy health concern and the very first thing that I did when I got in the car to drive home was to bow my head and the words from Psalm 73:25 came immediately. "Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee."

[Quix]

AMEN! AMEN!

NIGHT all.

[Dr. Eckleburg]

ding ding ding! The Daily Double!

[Dr. Eckleburg]

lol. Advantage you.

[Cvengr]

IMHO, one beginning facet of the Christian walk boils down to the object of our thinking. Either it is on Him and Him alone or it isn’t.

Anything added to Him as our object of faith, voids the salvific work of that faith.

Any additional work in life is still possible, though not always profitable, again, through faith alone in Him.

He, our Lord Savior Christ Jesus is the object of our faith.

[Quix]

Well put.

Wed’s lesson at church was on Gal 3—the first 8-12 paragraphs or so. We are going through Galatians verse by verse.

[Manic_Episode]

We were at church praying for my alcoholic roommate who was at home sleeping off a bender.
When I got home he met me at the door and was scared out of his mind and told me: "You're not going to believe this. I told God if He took away my hangover that I'd quit drinking. The second I said that my hangover disappeared."
We were praying for him at the same moment it happened. He normally would have several days of DTs and dry heaves.

We prayed in Jesus name, not to Mary or saints.

Recently my family was at a small group meeting where we are going thru The Truth Project and afterwords we prayed.
Right as we prayed for my friend to come to church my phone went off with a text.
When we were done praying I checked the text and it was my friend saying he would be coming to church in the morning, which he did for the first time in 15 years that I've known him.

We prayed in Jesus name, not to Mary or Saints.

These 2 examples span 20 years and please believe me that I can go on and on and on with the prayers God has answered in between, all in the name of Jesus, not to or with Mary or saints, or any hair splitting tortured explanation of why the bible is inadequate, but in Jesus name alone.

I'm not certain I can say I've given my all to God because I'm sinful and selfish, but I can say I've given God my best but I can't explain that without ruining it by bragging, as if my filthy rags were something to brag about.

Do not pray to Mary or saints. It is anathema.

[metmom]

There are many different ways.

Probably the major one is prayer.

For the decisions we need to make, and there are many significant ones at this point in our life (this summer is going to be particularly overwhelming) is to pray for God’s leading and provision.

We don’t make any major decisions without seeking Him on it. Your will, God, not ours.

[metmom]

We could use some prayer.......

Lots of decisions about college for all three kids.

One heading off to grad school across the country, one in college, and one heading off for her first year (both more locally- within driving distance but not even close enough to consider living at home.)

You can only imagine what this summer is going to be like.

[metmom]

I'm not certain I can say I've given my all to God because I'm sinful and selfish, but I can say I've given God my best but I can't explain that without ruining it by bragging, as if my filthy rags were something to brag about.

One of my favorite passages of Scripture....

Psalm 103

8 The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.

9 He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; 10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.

11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; 12 as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

13 As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him; 14 for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.

[Manic_Episode]

You caught me on a good day as today I'm praying and fasting.

Prayers up for you and your family.

VERY glad to do so.

[metmom]

Thank you so much.

[stfassisi]

One heading off to grad school across the country, one in college, and one heading off for her first year (both more locally- within driving distance but not even close enough to consider living at home.)

I'm in the same boat as you.I fell your pain,dear sister-in the heart and in the wallet.

I have friends in Canada who get as good a college education for 1/4 of the cost

[RnMomof7]

I have been there ladies.. when you have a family close in age you end up scrambling at college time.

One good thing is if you have more than one in college the college aid increase ..(not enough)

I will be thinking about you ...i so well remember the stress