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erine
Guest
I will pray you understand His love for you I too have lost everything, and many times, and worse survived horrors…He will show you His love, you will see
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Methos
Guest
If I may interject.
fred_conty:
The problem is that words such as “love” and “trust” are being used, but it might as well be a foreign language. Forget about the bricks and mortar of faith, the foundation isn’t even there and the bricks and mortar are at the Home Depot. That’s the problem with many homilies and such in the Church, it assumes there’s a basis there. That we know love and a child-like faith when both are/were lacking. When I hear “faith like a child,” I have no idea what that is. All I remember as a child is fear, at home and school. Doing something for my parents out of fear, not approval. I can read all about faith and love as well as repeat it, but I don’t get it. Something just doesn’t click. I’m sure that would come as a shock to people who know me and say I’m intelligent (I’d say well-read, especially since I’ve been unemployed for several years), but I honestly don’t get it.
But what if things never went well? Would it be too much to ask for things to go well?
OK, but with me and maybe others, trust doesn’t exist, but expectation does. With some people, I do them a favor and expect a favor in return. No return favor, no help the next time around until that debt is paid. Then, everything will be as it was. With others, I expect them to act a certain way if only to keep up appearances and use that to my advantage as well as for others. I’ll admit I’m the same way. I’m loyal to my family because it’s expected of me.
The problem is that words such as “love” and “trust” are being used, but it might as well be a foreign language. Forget about the bricks and mortar of faith, the foundation isn’t even there and the bricks and mortar are at the Home Depot. That’s the problem with many homilies and such in the Church, it assumes there’s a basis there. That we know love and a child-like faith when both are/were lacking. When I hear “faith like a child,” I have no idea what that is. All I remember as a child is fear, at home and school. Doing something for my parents out of fear, not approval. I can read all about faith and love as well as repeat it, but I don’t get it. Something just doesn’t click. I’m sure that would come as a shock to people who know me and say I’m intelligent (I’d say well-read, especially since I’ve been unemployed for several years), but I honestly don’t get it.
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PJM1974
Guest
The people who go to Hell and who are in Hell are those who hate God and and refused his commandments while on Earth.If you live by the commandments and the true teachings of the church,you have nothing to worry about.Satan will always try to make you think otherwise.
St.Alphonsus Liquori wrote,“If you pray you are sure of saving your soul.If you do not pray you are just as sure to lose your soul.”
Know this my friend,“He who has God,has everything!”
St.Alphonsus Liquori wrote,“If you pray you are sure of saving your soul.If you do not pray you are just as sure to lose your soul.”
Know this my friend,“He who has God,has everything!”
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Lost_Sheep
Guest
And don’t for get those people whom God hates.
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LegoGE1947
Guest
I have no clue what “faith like a child” is neither. I know only expectation,which seems constantly to be crushed when the expected benefit never materializes. I too have done things because they were expected, not out of love, or trust. I have no foundation except fear that if I don’t do what I’m expected to do I’ll get smashed with a very large fly-swatter. I went and “served my country” during Vietnam, not out of love of country or patriotism but out of fear. That was all I had and that is all I continue to have. I used to attend a “mega-church” where it was all about “faith” and “positive affirmations” and that rot. I didn’t get it there and I don’t get it as a Catholic. But I’ll continue to do what is expected, because that’s all I know. I only wish I could have “faith and trust” like others seem to have. (I’m sorry to be raining on anyone’s parade, but this pain is in my heart and it won’t go away!)
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RoseMary131
Guest
Praying for you that today is a good day!! Thank you for going to Vietnam.
A hug for you.:console:
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Robert_Caritas
Guest
Hi,
I’ve been through nothing like you have (war, 4 years of unemployment, bad car accident…), but I can relate to what you are saying about doing things out of fear. A few years ago I realized that I was doing what was expected of me, and doing them out of fear. Well, I stopped doing that, and things started getting better. When I started taking risks things started working out well.
Stop listening to what custom dictates, and go into your heart and find what God wants you to do. Find the charism that he has left there for you to use.
You can trust and believe in this, instead of human custom!
Code:
I hope that this helps a bit, and I will pray for you today. I'd also be very happy to talk more about this -- it's a big topic.
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Dorothy
Guest
God doesn’t hate anyone.
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Lost_Sheep
Guest
Um, OK. Sure.
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Dorothy
Guest
Can you explain why you think that God hates some people?Um, OK. Sure.
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LegoGE1947
Guest
Today another expectation of mine got crushed when Obama got re-elected. I totally expected Romney to be President but that didn’t happen.
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Dorothy
Guest
All Christians will be challenged by this presidency. This will be an opportunity for us to show the Lord we love Him by reacting in much prayer and action to the moral wrongs being permitted. Also, prayers are needed for Obama and all who think like he does to have a change of heart.
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LegoGE1947
Guest
I was reminded of St Paul’s letter to Timothy where Paul says to pray for all in authority (1Timothy 2:1-4)
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Methos
Guest
How? What risks?
Also, what if there’s nothing in the win column…ever?
I really haven’t a clue of how to go about this. Might as well be quantum physics to me. I’m being honest here. When I hear people talk like this, I really don’t understand.
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Robert_Caritas
Guest
About nothing being in the win column for a person’s whole life, though I have a hard time seeing that as possible, I guess we have to turn to the story of Job, and the patience of Christ during his passion. Though if our expectations of happiness are placed in the wrong things (like a career, or material possessions), we are sure to miss the more subtle gifts that God gives us throughout the day.
The other stuff is said in spiritual concepts. I believe that people have a calling, at least at some moments of their life. This can be a calling to a career, a marriage, a ministry, etc… They don’t know why, and they don’t know how, and most of all they rarely have a guarantee that it’s going to work. This is because, when it’s an authentic calling, it’s planted in our hearts by the Lord. It doesn’t come from our own mind, and it doesn’t come from society’s plans for us. Following it requires a risk, and a trust in Divine Providence (and prayer, and sober thinking as well…).
I said this stuff because this person was mentioning doing things out of irrational fear, and societies expectations. The fear we should truly have is that of God’s judgment, not of society (or a giant fly swatter as the poster put it). And when you follow the status quo of the non-Christian world (blindly or out of fear, etc), there is a great chance that you are marching to the drum of the devil.
Though I could be way off the mark with all this, it’s hard to judge such things in general, and especially so on a forum. But it’s my two cents, and if some of it helps that would be great. What this person wrote reminded me of my own life a few years ago. I was training to become an engineer because it promised a good job security and a nice career. I hated it, but was too scared to imagine doing something else. I fell badly sick in the second year and had to drop out of the college. It made me question life for a while. And now I’m studying philosophy, which normally has very low career prospects or job security… and many great opportunities that previously would have seemed like pipe dreams have presented themselves.
So I’m riffing from my experience, and I’m immensely grateful from the sickness that God sent me, which still debilitates me today, that gave me the courage to take his path. Again, if this is irrelevant I’m sorry, but I’m posting it on the odd chance that it helps.
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Lost_Sheep
Guest
From my own personal experience, I do not feel I am one of his “chosen people”. It is to long and complicated to explain here but the events of my life have led me to the conclusion that God, well, hates me. I have been singled out by him and I am miserable. My prayers go unanswered.
I only go to mass and such in the frail hope that he will change his mind, and I am all but convinced that I am going to the Hot Place when I die.
I believe this because I have no reason to believe anything else.
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RoseMary131
Guest
Lost Sheep, I am so sorry you feel so bad. I don’t know you. I know nothing about you. Yet my heart breaks for the pain you feel.From my own personal experience, I do not feel I am one of his “chosen people”. It is to long and complicated to explain here but the events of my life have led me to the conclusion that God, well, hates me. I have been singled out by him and I am miserable. My prayers go unanswered.
I only go to mass and such in the frail hope that he will change his mind, and I am all but convinced that I am going to the Hot Place when I die.
I believe this because I have no reason to believe anything else.
God does LOVE you. He truly does.
Just the fact that you go to Mass even though you think God hates you…is amazing to me.
God is full of so much more love than any of us. If I, a poor pitiful sinner, feel my heart breaking for you and offer you love…how much more must God love you.
I know God loves you!
:hug1:
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LegoGE1947
Guest
There are two of us here who are having a problem with God"s love “Lost_Sheep” and yours truly “Legoge1947” We don’t know each other. We are not related to each other. But we seem to share the same pain.
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RoseMary131
Guest
God loves both of you, LegoGE and Lost Sheep. Do you know the Footprints in the Sand?
amandashome.com/footprints.html
God is with you right now and He is offering you His love.
I don’t know how to share that with you, that God loves you. I just know 100% that He does.
He can not Not Love you.
Do you want to share why you think He does not love you?
:grouphug: A hug for both of you from your friends here.
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fred_conty
Guest
Methos, Lost sheep, and Legos,
In the following, maybe some ideas that will help. In that spirit it is written.
I’ve noticed on CAF that one person says that they have “this” problem, and another says they have “that” problem. No two people are alike, so that means there are no two crosses alike.
Your cross is tailored for you to bring you to him. Your cross probably would not bring me to him. He knows what kind of load we carry and gives us the strength to bear up under it.
Please don’t take this in a bad way. I mean it for your good and your peace of mind.
I can tell that you are feeling very low and are puzzled by it all. From what you have said, I believe you need to tell God, “Thank you for all my problems for I know you are good, kind, and generous. And if there is something wrong, then it is my mistake. I love you. Please help me to know how to change and what you want me to change in my life. I’m flying in the dark dear Jesus. I want you as my dear friend, but I’m confused. Please help me.”
Just continue saying that along those lines and he will answer you. He’s waiting for you to open up to him and let him in. Welcome him and open your heart and don’t be fearful, he won’t do anything to hurt you are ask too much of you. He knows your limits and where you are coming from and why, and how you got there. Give him a chance to be with you as your friend. Trust him. That means that you are not worried, and that he will deal with you gently and warmly.
He will bring you to where you should be, and then you will find yourself and peace.
As far as knowing or experiencing what a child is like, just look at a little child in the eyes. Clear as crystal and beautiful. A little child is as pure as the new driven snow.
They have not been exposed to all the evil of an adult and are preserved in their innocence.
Jesus wrapped his arms around children and laid his hands on them and blessed them. The story is in Luke about chpter 6. He appreciated their innocence and purity.
In a way you have an advantage over me, for I had a good set of parents. You didn’t, so this means you have more to give to Jesus than I do. For it is far harder to give what you haven’t received than to give what you have received. When you get close to him you can do more for him than I can, for you can offer him your childhood which you never had. He will bless you for that if you tell him so. He will make it up to you in other ways for he too feels sorrow for your loss.
Be at peace.
In the following, maybe some ideas that will help. In that spirit it is written.
I’ve noticed on CAF that one person says that they have “this” problem, and another says they have “that” problem. No two people are alike, so that means there are no two crosses alike.
Your cross is tailored for you to bring you to him. Your cross probably would not bring me to him. He knows what kind of load we carry and gives us the strength to bear up under it.
Please don’t take this in a bad way. I mean it for your good and your peace of mind.
I can tell that you are feeling very low and are puzzled by it all. From what you have said, I believe you need to tell God, “Thank you for all my problems for I know you are good, kind, and generous. And if there is something wrong, then it is my mistake. I love you. Please help me to know how to change and what you want me to change in my life. I’m flying in the dark dear Jesus. I want you as my dear friend, but I’m confused. Please help me.”
Just continue saying that along those lines and he will answer you. He’s waiting for you to open up to him and let him in. Welcome him and open your heart and don’t be fearful, he won’t do anything to hurt you are ask too much of you. He knows your limits and where you are coming from and why, and how you got there. Give him a chance to be with you as your friend. Trust him. That means that you are not worried, and that he will deal with you gently and warmly.
He will bring you to where you should be, and then you will find yourself and peace.
As far as knowing or experiencing what a child is like, just look at a little child in the eyes. Clear as crystal and beautiful. A little child is as pure as the new driven snow.
They have not been exposed to all the evil of an adult and are preserved in their innocence.
Jesus wrapped his arms around children and laid his hands on them and blessed them. The story is in Luke about chpter 6. He appreciated their innocence and purity.
In a way you have an advantage over me, for I had a good set of parents. You didn’t, so this means you have more to give to Jesus than I do. For it is far harder to give what you haven’t received than to give what you have received. When you get close to him you can do more for him than I can, for you can offer him your childhood which you never had. He will bless you for that if you tell him so. He will make it up to you in other ways for he too feels sorrow for your loss.
Be at peace.
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