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Justy90
Guest
I’d say read God’s holy word and pray. Crossing ourselves is powerful too because it is an outward display of loving God with our mind our heart and all of our strength.
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poetryforjesus
Guest
In order to love God better, you need grace. In order to get grace, the easiest way is to ask Mary, who is full of grace.
If you have Mary, she will make sure you are close to Christ.
So I’d say, go with Mary.
If you have Mary, she will make sure you are close to Christ.
So I’d say, go with Mary.
J
Justy90
Guest
I’d surely disagree with that. Paul says that we are saved by grace through faith in Christ. He never says anything about going to Jesus through Mary. Scripture tells us that Jesus is the only mediator between God and man.
Mary was a good and pure obedient woman, but she cannot do anything divine for us.
S
Steven_John
Guest
Peace and blessings,
i think R Justy has a point.
I would go further to say if we want to be close to Yeshua (pbwh) we should do as he taught.
Pray to the Father, Yeshua (pbwh) said to, so to follow his teaching must be the best way.
i think R Justy has a point.
I would go further to say if we want to be close to Yeshua (pbwh) we should do as he taught.
Pray to the Father, Yeshua (pbwh) said to, so to follow his teaching must be the best way.
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poetryforjesus
Guest
Paul never said you can’t go through Mary, either.
And you are right, the way to go is to do God’s will, provided we always know what His will is, and provided we always have the strength to do it without fail. For those of us who don’t and can’t, we will gladly go to Mary for security, guidance, protection and wisdom. There is a reason Christ gave her to be mother of His beloved desciple at the moment of His death.
If you prefer to strive on your own, I wish you the best of luck, but I also beg for you to reconsider. Mary is the most faithful help of christians. She will never lead anyone astray. If anyone wishes to be close to Jesus, Mary is the easiest way to find access, because she knows what is pleasing to her Son.
R
Rocket_Man
Guest
Acts 13:22
And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave their testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.
I like to read David’s psalms and hear him pouring his most innermost being into his prayers, singing, dancing, and gloryfing the God of his salvation. I think it’s through this prayer of the heart that we draw closet to Him.
po18guy
Well-known member
First: Mary’s role was much more important than Paul’s, correct? No savior, no Paul - only Saul of Tarsus. Being Anglican, you do not believe in the communion of Saints? How much more efficacious is the prayer of a Saint in Heaven, who is perfected and stands in God’s presence, than the prayers of sinful souls on earth? Also, you confuse “mediation”: with “intercession”. You and I intercede through our prayers. Why? To gain favor from the Lord in many cases. You, I and the Saints intercede. Jesus mediates. Where’s the conflict?
Also, do you not see that Mary’s entire purpose in life was to give flesh to the Savior, and that her entire purpose in eternity is to lead us to Him? Why did she command the servants at the wedding in Cana “Do whatever He tells you”, thus bringing about the first public miracle? Was this a worthless act? Was it a disposable statement? Was it a mistake to place it in scripture? Or, is this maybe an indicator of a special relationship?
(S)aul persecuted Christ via persecuting His Church, and paid the price of that sin his entire life - rightly suffering for the sake of the Kingdom. Mary did not such thing. I pray I am not seeing misogyny here.
J
Justy90
Guest
Hold on a sec. here. I never said that we cannot pray with the saints. The problem here is with all that you have attached to Mary. She is nothing without her savior. This is scriptural. No different than Paul. Mary cannot do divine things for us. She can pray with us to our Lord as any of the saints can do.
J
Justy90
Guest
Just where do you get security, guidance, protection and wisdom from Mary? Aren’t these the job of the Holy Spirit?
po18guy
Well-known member
We have attached nothing to Mary. God did that by choosing her, from all women who would ever exist, to give flesh and blood to His only Son. She was “full of grace”, “found favor with God” and was so chosen by the time she was 14-15 years old. Since nothing else was written about her, and she was completely unknown in the ancient world, doesn’t this point to a special relationship with the Almighty? A special dispensation? I mean, what could an impoverished teenager accomplish to be chosen by God Himself? Gabriel appeared only to the prophet Daniel, Zechariah (father of John the Baptist) and Mary in all of scripture. He did not appear to Elizabeth, but to her husband Zechariah, the head of the household. He appeared to Mary directly, since she would, with her “be it done to me according to thy word”, become the eternal spouse of the Holy Spirit, and in the temporal care of Joseph.
All of this was done by God, not by “us”.
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Wesley7
Guest
By staying close and being obedient to the Bishop.
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poetryforjesus
Guest
Yes, the Holy Spirit is the ultimate counsel and teacher of christians. But do you ever wonder why christians do stupid things? It is not the Holy Spirit that we can’t trust; it is ourselves that we can’t trust. That is why I ask Mary to be my caretaker–she will work on my behalf with the Holy Spirit. She will handle my spiritual progress.
Why are you astonished that Mary can help us?
Did she give security and protection to the wedding party of Cana, when she entreated with her Son, “they have no wine”?
Did she give wisdom to servants of the wedding party, telling them “do whatever he (Jesus) tells you?”
Don’t you think she also gave comfort, strength, and assurance to the apostle John when they both stood at the foot of the cross watching Jesus expire? Don’t you think her presence helped John, who was the only disciple there?
S
Steven_John
Guest
Who did he tell you to pray to?
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Kirk_O
Guest
I would have to agree with all of your answers. But the key is doing these things while humbling yourself. The humbling is what brings you closer to Jesus.
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grace_singh
Guest
at the same time Steven, Jesus also accepted and responded to prayers from people in need of help, and Christians in the NT pray to Jesus, too.
Matthew 20:29-34
Acts 7:59-60
it is right to pray to the Father, as Jesus taught this and prayed to His Father, too.
yet as Jesus is risen from the dead, alive now, and having all power of heaven and earth, it is not wrong for a Christian to pray to, talk to, and worship Jesus vocally, as He Himself says that however we honor the Father, we are to honor Him (John 5:23) as He and the Father are One and the Same (John 10:25-30).
confessing one’s sins to the One who bore your sins, took on human flesh, endured temptation as a Man on earth, and died for you is the most humbling, awesome, and amazing prayer experience one can have. Christ is more than an ethical teacher and a prophet… His being Lord, Saviour, Son, and Immanuel are what we hold dear about Him, and what makes Him so unique, and worthy.
Matthew 20:29-34
Acts 7:59-60
it is right to pray to the Father, as Jesus taught this and prayed to His Father, too.
yet as Jesus is risen from the dead, alive now, and having all power of heaven and earth, it is not wrong for a Christian to pray to, talk to, and worship Jesus vocally, as He Himself says that however we honor the Father, we are to honor Him (John 5:23) as He and the Father are One and the Same (John 10:25-30).
confessing one’s sins to the One who bore your sins, took on human flesh, endured temptation as a Man on earth, and died for you is the most humbling, awesome, and amazing prayer experience one can have. Christ is more than an ethical teacher and a prophet… His being Lord, Saviour, Son, and Immanuel are what we hold dear about Him, and what makes Him so unique, and worthy.
C
catholic-rcia
Guest
Maybe it has already been mentioned, I would say spending time in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel. In silence, no motive or looking for any kind of transaction. the words that come to mind “Just Be”
Let God move you, spend time with Him.
Once I was on my way to Bear Lake Utah do a construction job. All the way I was praying, speaking to God, asking for guidance etc… all the way there. It was about a 25 mile drive through a snowy canyon. When I got to the job no one else was there, anywhere to be seen. It was winter and the condominiums where all empty, about 100 units. As I got out of my truck and gathered my tools the spirit spoke to me, told me to just go inside and sit down before you start working. This place backed up to the lake and it was beautiful all around with no distractions other than the ice,…. I said ok I will go in and just sit down. So I grabbed a five gallon bucket of paint and placed it in front of a large window that faced the frozen lake. Then I was told to sit down and basically to just shut up. Really! Like God was tired of my one sided conversation all the way to this place. I had a great sense that all was really meant to be just plain and simple. That all God really wanted from me was to just spend a few moments with Him in complete silence. To acknowledge Him, just to be with Him and Him with me, that this is all He desires from me, no more and no less. I was moved and I really can’t express the feelings that I had.
Spend some quiet time in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel, that’s all I have to offer as to drawing closer to Christ.
God Bless
Rich
www.utahmission.com
Let God move you, spend time with Him.
Once I was on my way to Bear Lake Utah do a construction job. All the way I was praying, speaking to God, asking for guidance etc… all the way there. It was about a 25 mile drive through a snowy canyon. When I got to the job no one else was there, anywhere to be seen. It was winter and the condominiums where all empty, about 100 units. As I got out of my truck and gathered my tools the spirit spoke to me, told me to just go inside and sit down before you start working. This place backed up to the lake and it was beautiful all around with no distractions other than the ice,…. I said ok I will go in and just sit down. So I grabbed a five gallon bucket of paint and placed it in front of a large window that faced the frozen lake. Then I was told to sit down and basically to just shut up. Really! Like God was tired of my one sided conversation all the way to this place. I had a great sense that all was really meant to be just plain and simple. That all God really wanted from me was to just spend a few moments with Him in complete silence. To acknowledge Him, just to be with Him and Him with me, that this is all He desires from me, no more and no less. I was moved and I really can’t express the feelings that I had.
Spend some quiet time in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel, that’s all I have to offer as to drawing closer to Christ.
God Bless
Rich
www.utahmission.com
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Kirk_O
Guest
Yes, that is it. You humbled yourself to His will. When we do that it is so powerful and peaceful all at the same time.
R
RomanCath379
Guest
I am extremely curious as to why you would leave the one true faith. After all, the teachings of the Catholic Church have remained the same from 2,000 years ago. (Doctrines). The Church teaches all that there is according to the Scriptures. What you prefer to do, and what Jesus wants you to do are two different ideas. Either we are for Him or against Him. God Bless.
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Priscilla_Ann
Guest
I find that spontaneous prayer, and time spent reading the bible are the best ways for me to draw closer to Christ. Like, Rev. Kevin, I was once a Catholic and used rote prayers; however, I now prefer a more intimate form of prayer.
J
Justy90
Guest
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