Still a toilet without water. That's the ugliness.Quote:
Originally Posted by cacian
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Still a toilet without water. That's the ugliness.Quote:
Originally Posted by cacian
“Prayer of an Anonymous Abbess:
Lord, thou knowest better than myself that I am growing older and will soon be old. Keep me from becoming too talkative, and especially from the unfortunate habit of thinking that I must say something on every subject and at every opportunity.
Release me from the idea that I must straighten out other peoples' affairs. With my immense treasure of experience and wisdom, it seems a pity not to let everybody partake of it. But thou knowest, Lord, that in the end I will need a few friends.
Keep me from the recital of endless details; give me wings to get to the point.
Grant me the patience to listen to the complaints of others; help me to endure them with charity. But seal my lips on my own aches and pains -- they increase with the increasing years and my inclination to recount them is also increasing.
I will not ask thee for improved memory, only for a little more humility and less self-assurance when my own memory doesn't agree with that of others. Teach me the glorious lesson that occasionally I may be wrong.
Keep me reasonably gentle. I do not have the ambition to become a saint -- it is so hard to live with some of them -- but a harsh old person is one of the devil's masterpieces.
Make me sympathetic without being sentimental, helpful but not bossy. Let me discover merits where I had not expected them, and talents in people whom I had not thought to possess any. And, Lord, give me the grace to tell them so.
Amen”
― Margot Benary-Isbert
Quote:
Originally Posted by Melanie
Whoops.
When I say... "I am a Christian"
I'm not shouting "I'm clean living."
I'm whispering "I was lost,"
Now I'm found and forgiven.
When I say..."I am a Christian"
I don't speak of this with pride.
I'm confessing that I stumble
and need Christ to be my guide.
When I say... "I am a Christian"
I'm not trying to be strong.
I'm professing that I'm weak
and need His strength to carry on.
When I say... "I am a Christian"
I'm not bragging of success.
I'm admitting I have failed
and need God to clean my mess.
When I say... "I am a Christian"
I'm not claiming to be perfect,
My flaws are far too visible
but, God believes I'm worth it.
When I say... "I am a Christian"
I still feel the sting of pain,
I have my share of heartaches
So I call upon His name.
When I say... "I am a Christian"
I'm not holier than thou,
I'm just a simple sinner
who received God's good grace, somehow.
Last week I was reading Pam Grout's E-Squared, 2013, which contained experiments one could do to show that "your thoughts create your reality." Some of the experiments I tried actually worked.
Anyway, she had this to say about prayer, page 84:
People often tell me, "I dont pray. It's a waste of time. It's like believing in Santa Claus or the tooth fairy." My response? It's impossible to stop praying. Can't be done.
I think her point was that our thoughts are prayers, no matter how foolish or profound. So for each of us our favorite prayer would be what we think about the most.
I don't know if that is what you want it to say, or you're saying that is how you interpret it. Nick Cappozoli was right. In order to ask for mercy from God, we must show mercy to others like Christ did. Christ (according to the story) forgave sins the Jews thought people would be damned for. Because Christians believe that Christ is God, we must follow his example and make an honest effort to be like Him in our daily conduct. Thus, we must forgive, even those who hate and offend us, whether they are sorry or not for what they have done.Quote:
Originally Posted by cacian
It sounds like I am making Christians out to be doormats, but that is not the case. Christians are called to love everyone (not necessarily like them because some people are just not likable). To a Christian, love means "willing the good of another." If we see someone doing something contrary to Christ's teachings, we must admonish them, but do it with great love and patience. If they don't like what we have to say and despise us, we can, by all means--like the apostles--seek out friends who will.
I agree, YesNo. Where our thoughts are, our heart is. Scripture says, God knows our hearts.Quote:
Originally Posted by YesNo
The Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13) was for teaching the 12 disciples how to pray before Christ's death/resurrection. After Christ's death/resurrection, everything changed because Christ's sacrifice forgave our sins. So, by grace, we were unconditionally forgiven. That was the purpose of Christ's suffering.Quote:
Originally Posted by Nick Capozzoli
Before Christ's sacrifice for our sins, it was "Forgiveness Under the Law" - a system of command and penalty, conditional blessing and cursing.
After, it was "Forgiveness Under Grace" - a system of unconditional blessing.
Before Christ's sacrifice for our sins, scripture pens it this way: "Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespassed against us"(Matthew 6:12)
After, scripture pens it this way: "Forgive others just as God, in Christ, has forgiven you" (Ephesians 4:32).
Be it unto me Lord, according to Thy will