It was a miracle!

[Maleficent13]

Self-proclaimed skeptic here. Those who know me here know I am not religious. But come on folks...she posted a story about HER...something that happened to her and reflects *her* beliefs. Telling her it's the stupidest post ever accomplishes what, exactly?

I have never understood why the "anti-religion" folks feel the need to go on to "God" threads and talk about how God doesn't exist and the OP is just plain stupid. So you don't agree...good, great, cool. Then roll your eyes and move on to another post. Yes, yes, of course you can post here, of course it's a public forum, of course you have every right to post whatever the heck you want as long as it remains in DIS guidelines. But what is the point?

She wasn't asking a question, she wasn't trying to prosleytize, she had no intention of converting any of you and why is she being strung up on the rack and asked to answer for God's actions?

Believe me, auntpolly needs no defense from me, she's more than able to take care of herself. This is my own opinion. People scream at the top of their lungs when they feel that the religious are trying to convert *them* or show them the error of their ways; how is this different?

Have we completely lost the high road?

 

[binny]

Thats awesome Aunt Polly!


I love that.

 

[Cool-Beans]

Self-proclaimed skeptic here. Those who know me here know I am not religious. But come on folks...she posted a story about HER...something that happened to her and reflects *her* beliefs. Telling her it's the stupidest post ever accomplishes what, exactly?

I have never understood why the "anti-religion" folks feel the need to go on to "God" threads and talk about how God doesn't exist and the OP is just plain stupid. So you don't agree...good, great, cool. Then roll your eyes and move on to another post. Yes, yes, of course you can post here, of course it's a public forum, of course you have every right to post whatever the heck you want as long as it remains in DIS guidelines. But what is the point?

She wasn't asking a question, she wasn't trying to prosleytize, she had no intention of converting any of you and why is she being strung up on the rack and asked to answer for God's actions?

Believe me, auntpolly needs no defense from me, she's more than able to take care of herself. This is my own opinion. People scream at the top of their lungs when they feel that the religious are trying to convert *them* or show them the error of their ways; how is this different?

Have we completely lost the high road?

Nobody said it was the stupidest post ever. That is reserved for the guy from Canada who was so pissed off at American smokers that he (and he was serious) threatened to come down here and fart on us. I have yet to see a more stupid post than that.

The OP is not surprised that questions came up in this thread. They always come up in these threads. She has participated in this stuff before.

You, too, are free to skip over posts you don't agree with or wish to read.

 

[orljustin]

I've done the same thing. Last time I couldn't find the checkbook I had set down somewhere. My DH told me to stop, relax and pray to ask God for guidance. Well, he helped me pray and the second I went into the living room, I went directly to my purse and opened it up and there was my checkbook. Which was good, b/c I was getting ready to leave for work and needed it later in the day.

Some would say it was just coincidence, but when you have your faith in God, there are no coincidences. Yes, prayer does work and I am very thankful to God when He answers it.

An amazing story of finding a checkbook in, of all places, a purse.

 

[rie'smom]

I posted about my friend collapsing the other day. She was given CPR for 15 minutes before the ambulance arrived. The prognosis was grim. All of her friends prayed. She's still in CCU but is recovering. She has no brain damage. The doctors said her progress is not due to them because,frankly,they hadn't expected her to live. He said it was a miracle and obviously prayers were answered.
Does God answer all prayers in exactly the way we want Him to? No. Why? I don't know. My faith sustains me and has brought me through nightmarish times in my life. I went through a period not believing. However,when I needed Him,He was there. At one time,my faith was the only thing keeping me alive. If people choose not to believe,fine but I know how God's grace can save lives. Oh and I also pray for intercession from Mary and the saints too.

 

[Fitswimmer]

Self-proclaimed skeptic here. Those who know me here know I am not religious. But come on folks...she posted a story about HER...something that happened to her and reflects *her* beliefs. Telling her it's the stupidest post ever accomplishes what, exactly?

I have never understood why the "anti-religion" folks feel the need to go on to "God" threads and talk about how God doesn't exist and the OP is just plain stupid. So you don't agree...good, great, cool. Then roll your eyes and move on to another post. Yes, yes, of course you can post here, of course it's a public forum, of course you have every right to post whatever the heck you want as long as it remains in DIS guidelines. But what is the point?

She wasn't asking a question, she wasn't trying to prosleytize, she had no intention of converting any of you and why is she being strung up on the rack and asked to answer for God's actions?

Believe me, auntpolly needs no defense from me, she's more than able to take care of herself. This is my own opinion. People scream at the top of their lungs when they feel that the religious are trying to convert *them* or show them the error of their ways; how is this different?

Have we completely lost the high road?

Thank you for posting this, it really couldn't come from one of "us".

Anyone who has been posting here a while knows the posters who are trying to convert people or tell people who don't follow a particular brand of Christianity that they're going to the hot place -Aunt Polly is NOT one of them. She doesn't need my help either, but I do feel badly for what happened just the same.

 

[cybrkitn]

I'm so glad you found your papers, what a relief that must have been. I hope this thread doesn't turn into a debate over the power of prayer.

I, myself, am unsure and I will admit it. I do pray and like to believe that my prayers make a difference. But, then I am scientific by nature and tend to rely more on the concrete. I can't answer the questions that Cool-Beans has posed, and they're valid questions.

Oh well - I don't really think it's we HAVE to know...we just need to go on, being good people, and doing what we need to do.

I do have a cool story though. I was baptized when I was 13, and my grandma gave me a beautiful gold cross on a necklace. She died several months later. The necklace has always been very special and meaningful to me because it was the last thing she gave me.

When I was in high school, I somehow lost the cross off of the necklace. I was sick. I looked everywhere - EVERYWHERE! I canvassed my room inch by inch for weeks. I couldn't even tell my parents because I was so horrified by what I had done.

One morning I woke up, and before even opening my eyes, I prayed, "God, please let me find this cross today." I was sleeping on my stomach so I was kind of looking at the floor. I opened my eyes and I was literally looking straight at the cross, laying on the carpet. I could have wept with relief!

Could it be a coincidence that my line of sight was on the cross? Of course. Could have been God? I believe it could have. I don't think God put the cross there, but I do believe that he opened my eyes in just the right way and MADE me see it.

That reminds me of when I "lost" my wedding ring for about 3 months. The only time I ever take my ring off is when I take a shower, but I woke up one morning without my ring on. Couldn't understand it and thought "well, maybe I took it off in my sleep without realizing it, so it's gotta be around the bed." I looked all over the house and even behind our bed several times and still couldn't find it. I had this "nagging" feeling that it was behind the bed, but everytime I looked it wasn't there. I don't know about anyone else, but I feel kind of naked without my ring on so I had put on my engagement ring in the meantime <tag fairy, don't get any ideas >.

I was praying every day asking God guide me to where it was. We had to flea bomb the house one day and I took our bed apart and split apart our split boxsprings. I started cleaning up all the stuff that wound up under our bed and picked up a tissue that was up against the wall. Lo and behold, there was my ring! I was crying hysterically (tears of joy) that I found it and was thanking God so much. He was telling me where it was the whole time, I just wasn't seeing it. Yeah, sometimes I need to be hit over the head so-to-speak before I finally "get" it. But since then, I haven't taken off my ring in the middle of the night without knowing it. Still don't know why that happened the last time

 

[Maleficent13]

Nobody said it was the stupidest post ever.

This could be the silliest prayer post I've seen.

Sorry, it was "silly", not "stupid". To me, it's the same thing.

And yes, of course I can skip over posts. I usually do. As a matter of fact, I've typed out that same post on about a dozen other threads in the past and always hit the back button instead. This time, well, I guess it caught me on a good day.

 

[cybrkitn]

An amazing story of finding a checkbook in, of all places, a purse.

Ahh, but in a place I usually don't keep a checkbook in . Sometimes, like that morning, I get a little scatter brained and set something down without realizing it. Or I do realize it then get side tracked by something else that I forget what I did to the first thing. But I'm too young to be getting senile (I'm only 35)

 

[DVCLiz]

I'm not really sure how or what I believe in terms of God answering prayers. I don't think it's a case of "order filling", although I do believe asking for strength, or grace, or patience, can be a good way to speak to God.

As far as the child molesters go, I don't think God has the power to keep those things from happening. I think humans are in charge of their own behavior, and that God can't interfere with those events.

But I do have to wonder, when I hear about something horrific like that little boy's sexual abuse and death, if there aren't many, many more people each day saying, "Dear God, please give me the strength to keep from hurting a child today."

I think that's the kind of prayer God must hear and answer.

 

[auntpolly]

Yes I am a tough old bird, but I do appreciate everyone who posted with kind words.

Honestly, while the controversy kind of surprised me, it didn't hurt my feelings or anything.

If there is one thing I could wish for everyone here it would be that they live a really joyful life - my life really is joyful and I give the credit to God.
Sometimes I just kind of overflow with it - sorry, I didn't mean to sound like holier than thou or anything. But I think God's grace is there for anyone who "seeks" it, and it is not about found papers or luggage or jewelry, it's about living a joyful life and feeling part of something bigger than yourself.

Now I'm just being maudlin and I'm not even saying what I mean very well, oh well..... to everyone!

 

[Cool-Beans]

As far as the child molesters go, I don't think God has the power to keep those things from happening. I think humans are in charge of their own behavior, and that God can't interfere with those events.

That's what I believe, too. For whatever reason, he doesn't intervene.

Which is why I don't think he intervened to help posters find paperwork or checkbooks, or that he gets involved in who wins the Little League Baseball games.

If he were going to intervene in anything, I think it would be something far more important.

 

[mickeyboat]

I remember sitting in CCD when I was in 9th grade listening to the teachers talk about how great and good God was. All I could think about was if he's so great, then why was there so much pain and suffering in the world. The teacher recommended a book Why Do Bad Things Happen To Good People? I never read it, but I was wondering if anyone here had read it. And the question bothers me to this day.

I guess I will have to ask the big guy if/when I get there.

Denae

 

[Vickie46]

Wow... God is so good! God did answer your prayers! He led you to the location of the papers!!!!!!!!!!!!! That is how God works! He is so wonderful!

 

[Mom2Angels]

I kinda sorta doubt God steps in to find your lost papers, but lets a little boy be repeatedly raped, then murdered. That would certainly seem like an odd way of prioritizing for an omnipotent, omniscient and loving being.

I'm glad you found your papers though.

I agree with this one! I've lost two sons and prayed long for that not to happen, so I really don't believe in prayer or God at this point in my life.

 

[milwaukee1]

There are not answers to all questions. That's why it is called "Faith". That's why it is a "belief".

 

[Chicago526]

I'm not really religious. I don't know if the OP just taking the time to pray made her mind quiet enough to help her think of where to look, or if God inspired her to look where she did, or if she just got lucky and looked in the right spot. What I do know is that there is more to this World than what man can understand, and far be it for me to say with certainty "yes it was prayer" or "no it was luck". All we can say for sure is that there is no way for us to surely know!

 

[disney kid at heart]

I'm just going to say one more thing and then I have to go to class.

I think sometimes when little things happen it's to remind us that God is here and hears us.

Sometimes when you are lost and don't ask God for help, or you pray for the wrong thing (like "God, I want this- just give it to me!") you can spend so much time spinning your wheels off in the wrong direction.

Letting go and asking for help is the key to everything, IMO.

Maybe my example seems frivolous and maybe I shouldn't have shared it, I don't know, but it just made me feel God's grace, that God is with me. If it reminds someone else of it, I'm glad!

I for 1 really appreciate your sharing of your miracle of prayer. I have had many miracles in my life also and we should tell of the powers of prayer. There is satan trying to tear peoples lives up with the horrible acts of evil people, but God is reaching out His hands to hold onto. You can see evil in the eyes of these creatures that do dispicable acts to children and it is horribly painful even for those not close to the situation. I cry and pray daily for God to help take the pain from these parents and families. I believe in miracles and prayer because I have seen soooo many in my life. Thank you again for your miracle. We need a lot to get us thru this world til God reaches out for us.

 

[DawnCt1]

Wow didn't see that one coming! But thanks for your opinion!

I don't really think that God's grace is something we can explain, but I guess we can debate how God works in our lives if anyone wants to. I just kind of accept it.

 

[DVCLiz]

I don't think God says "OK, I'll lead you to the papers." I just don't think He works that way. But I do think if you pray for something like that, He might send you grace, or patience, or strength - something that allows you to quiet your mind, as someone else said, or to be calm enough to look with less stress-filled eyes. That's when I think a prayer can work in a situation like this.

I don't believe God has anything to do with children being abused, or babies dying, etc. I don't think a "Please God, save my baby" prayer will be answered. I do think praying for a surgeon to have the strength to perform a life-saving operation is the way God works. I think you can "load the deck", so to speak, with prayers for those types of qualities. But whether an operation is successful, or a medicine works in time, isn't up to God - those are human actions based in science and having to do with the odds of any particular intervention working to halt a medical outcome.

I do think religion is so deeply personal - it is different for every person. I believe in something that comforts and guides me - it might not be anything that appeals to anyone else. I would never fault anyone for believing differently than I do. I do think it's sad that people would shut themselves off from the possible comfort of a set of religious beliefs because they perceived that God didn't answer their prayers. Maybe He had nothing to do with the situation they prayed about, but He could send grace and healing to comfort afterward.

No real insight here from me, just ramblings....