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drussell52 -> recent musings and question (7/1/2008 12:47:45 PM)

Hi reader. My name is drussell, new to this forum but relatively new in general to the forums on crosswalk. I have been a believer in Jesus much my life but always learning something new. A couple things have been on my mind of late. Forgiveness of sin and turning from sinful behaviors. You think the woman at the well in John's gospel, when told, go sin no more, immediately went and sinned no more, or did she perhaps still have the struggle of saying help me Lord so I choose to indulge in X sin no more. I think the latter is more the case from my life and study of Bible events. In your faith walk do you find you pray for friends, acquaintances, maybe someone you may have dated all in your past? You have no way of contacting them perhaps but may occasionally think of them. I guess saying a prayer for their welfare is the safest way to try and reconnect especially if it's a someone you were interested in earlier in your life. Like to hear your thoughts on this stuff, gotta get back to work and do God's will for me today, blessings friends!



mvic -> RE: recent musings and question (7/1/2008 1:02:19 PM)

Hi,

I think you're right - the woman did need God's help so that she may sin no more. I believe the propensity to sin is part of our human nature; and no matter how much we try, the devil will take advantage of our human weakness and tempt us to sin again and again. That's why we should pray for God's help to avoid sin and "lead us not into temptation".

Many on this Forum will disagree with me on this as it has been discussed before.

Your second point is about prayer. I believe that the best prayers are those we offer for other people and for their welfare. It shows your generosity of spirit and lack of selfishness.

Having said this: I'll pray for you if you pray for me !

God bless.



drussell52 -> RE: recent musings and question (7/1/2008 1:53:02 PM)

MVic, thanks, you got it, let's remember one another in occasional prayer. I liked your response.



BerianAardvark -> RE: recent musings and question (7/1/2008 3:02:54 PM)

I agree with you that the woman needed help to over come her sins, we all do.

BUT I must point out that Jesus was never recorded as having told the woman at the well to "go and sin no more".

That was what He said to the woman caught in the act of adultery.

Minor point, I know,
Tim



isaacsmom -> RE: recent musings and question (7/1/2008 5:02:54 PM)

quote:

Your second point is about prayer. I believe that the best prayers are those we offer for other people and for their welfare. It shows your generosity of spirit and lack of selfishness.


I have been thinking a lot about this over the past year. Isn't it amazing how people randomly come to mind sometimes? People we haven't spoken to or seen in years, or just someone who crossed our path briefly. Recently I began to wonder if sometimes the Holy Spirit lays people on our heart that way because they are in need of prayer. So, anytime an old friend or acquaintance comes to my mind, I stop and pray for them. I have no idea what may be going on in their lives. But the Lord does!



drussell52 -> RE: recent musings and question (7/1/2008 6:43:04 PM)

Tim, thanks for the correction of who and where, sorry about the goof. Isaacsmom, thanks for your comments. My wife and I read a couple Karen Kingsbury novels a year or so ago, and prayer was an important component within her story, so have learned to take that aspect of my faith walk more serious than formerly as it truly does what it's set out to accomplish. I think though in my second point, to be honest I was suggesting prayer is the safer way to connect and care, than call information and see if I can track them down, call them up and have a chat. Not wanting to resurrect anything but just curious about where life has taken them. Sorry if that wasn't clear before. I guess my question is how do you handle the need to know about others from your past, similarly?



mvic -> RE: recent musings and question (7/1/2008 6:59:31 PM)

Yes ... "prayer is the safer way to connect and care".

Sadly, in this modern world where humans seem intent on rushing ahead with their busy lives, we are never so sure how someone from our past will react to our contact. You can track old friends and try to make contact. But will they welcome such contact?

Whenever my thoughts lead me to someone in my past I just say a little prayer and hand them over to God.



BerianAardvark -> RE: recent musings and question (7/1/2008 7:22:07 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: mvic

Yes ... "prayer is the safer way to connect and care".

Sadly, in this modern world where humans seem intent on rushing ahead with their busy lives, we are never so sure how someone from our past will react to our contact. You can track old friends and try to make contact. But will they welcome such contact?

Whenever my thoughts lead me to someone in my past I just say a little prayer and hand them over to God.



It always upsets me when I hear people say "All we can do is pray." as if prayer was something futile and weak.

If my mother hadn't prayed for me for a couple of decades I don't know where I would be, but I don't think I would be where I am.

Prayer is more of a stealth/cruise missile "weapon" in spiritual warfare....no one can stop you from praying, and it's effect might not be immediately obvious, but it is and amazingly powerful thing.

Tim



BerianAardvark -> RE: recent musings and question (7/1/2008 7:25:04 PM)

quote:

Tim, thanks for the correction of who and where, sorry about the goof.


Not a problem, I have no doubt that Jesus did exhort the woman at the well as He did with several of those encountered, after all His message always included "Repent for the kingdom of God is at hand."

Tim



mvic -> RE: recent musings and question (7/1/2008 7:36:40 PM)

Hi Tim,

I've missed the point you're trying to make. I didn't say "all we can do is pray".

I said that sometimes it is better not to contact someone from the past as they may not welcome such contacts. So when these people come to mind I pray for them.

Have I said something wrong?



BerianAardvark -> RE: recent musings and question (7/1/2008 7:54:00 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: mvic

Hi Tim,

I've missed the point you're trying to make. I didn't say "all we can do is pray".

I said that sometimes it is better not to contact someone from the past as they may not welcome such contacts. So when these people come to mind I pray for them.

Have I said something wrong?


Nope, not at all. I was putting my three cents (inflation) in by indicating that I think prayer is one of the more powerful things we can do, even if the person we are praying for doesn't know (and wouldn't approve of it if they did) that we are praying for them.

I do the same thing all the time.


Tim



mvic -> RE: recent musings and question (7/1/2008 8:06:22 PM)

Hi Tim,

I too pray for others all the time ... so much so that my knees are as callous as a camel's.

Sometimes I think God gets fed up with all my prayers ...

I agree that we should pray even if others don't approve of it. Many years ago, when I was young and a little too outspoken, I said to my boss who was very ill that I'd pray for him. He looked down at me with disdain and said: "Fat lot of good that will do."

I replied: "I'll pray all the same".



BerianAardvark -> RE: recent musings and question (7/1/2008 8:18:33 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: mvic

I too pray for others all the time ... so much so that my knees are as callous as a camel's.


Then you are in good company. James (the author of the book of James) was known as "Camel Knees" because he spent so much time in prayer. [:D]

Tim



drussell52 -> RE: recent musings and question (7/2/2008 8:45:21 AM)

Mvic and Tim, enjoyed coming back and reading your conversation. I just want to get this off my chest then will remain quiet on the subject. Several years ago in college, I was befriended by a lady and though I transferred to another college in the same state, we got together for an occasional day out for the next few years. She called 1 day to tell me she was getting married, and at that time, I was breaking up with someone so didn't really care to share her joy and told her so. Two years ago, I became interested in Messianic Judaism, studying it from the aspect of what we as believers got from our faith heritage, and this gal, being Jewish in nationality came to mind and has come to mind off and on since. More to apologize for being such a jerk back then and say how nearly 30 years has polished some of my rough edges. If you want to join me in prayer, her name is Stephanie. I take from that experience Jesus's words from the sermon in Matthew, Treat others how you want to be treated. That in today's lingo says to me, be active not reactive. Thanks for listening, and thanks for reminding me prayer is sure a means to use in staying the course. Father, enable my respondents, including Tim and Mvic to be enabled by you to do what lies before them today, keep their soul, mind, and spirint in your care as you want us to come to you.. Amen



mvic -> RE: recent musings and question (7/2/2008 10:23:02 AM)

Hi Drussell,

Thanx for sharing your story. We all have something in our past which we regret. As for being a jerk: I bet you I'm a bigger jerk than you. When I think of the things I've done, I could win a gold medal at the Olympics if "jerk" was allowed as an entry.

Of course I'll join you to pray for Stephanie and for you too. Also, for Tim.

God bless.



BerianAardvark -> RE: recent musings and question (7/2/2008 12:15:26 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: mvic

Hi Drussell,

Thanx for sharing your story. We all have something in our past which we regret. As for being a jerk: I bet you I'm a bigger jerk than you. When I think of the things I've done, I could win a gold medal at the Olympics if "jerk" was allowed as an entry.

Of course I'll join you to pray for Stephanie and for you too. Also, for Tim.

God bless.



I will certainly add Stephanie to my prayer list, the two of you are already on it.

And I suspect that I could give either of you a run for your money in the which was the biggest jerk contest....but that jerk is dead, and I was glad to see me go....but I left me a bunch of people to pray for.

Tim



Lufia -> RE: recent musings and question (7/2/2008 9:17:08 PM)

quote:

We all have something in our past which we regret


Yes and if you have one with friends or relatives go settle it before it is too late. I for myself have to live with something i did to my father and i would love so much to say to him that i'm sorry and ask forgiveness but he's dead ...



mvic -> RE: recent musings and question (7/3/2008 3:01:42 PM)

Lufia,

Many people carry the unnecessary pain and regret of something which they wish they had done (or put right) but they can't now because cricumstances have changed. This weighs them down and slows their progress towards God.

You say you regret something you did to your father. You need regret no longer. Say to him in prayer that you are sorry and seek his forgiveness.

He is there listening to you alright. He loves you and will surely forgive you. He doesn't want you to go through life in pain for something you truly regret.



Lufia -> RE: recent musings and question (7/3/2008 7:20:24 PM)

I always taught that we cannot talk or pray to the deceased ...



mvic -> RE: recent musings and question (7/3/2008 7:42:56 PM)

I don't want to go off-topic; maybe this is the subject of another thread.

However, many people (me included) pray for their deceased loved ones. And a lot of people believe that their deceased loved ones intercede on their behalf with God.



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