Sonny to some degree might be right, but your way seems somewhat like kicking them when they are down . isnt it the Holy Spirits job to convict and our job to love? i have a hard enough time consistently doing the love job to attempt to do his job also. its human nature to set yourself above others when you attempt to judge them. i know that whenever i start judging people its usuially my own standards or opinions that i use. this NEVER comes out good for me. when i start judging and setting up standards then im usuially disapointed and create distance between them and me and sometimes between God in me .

I am addressing the comment about the “Townhall Meeting” from Sept. 14th.

I knew when I wrote my answer that it would not be the exact one you were looking for but I was okay with that. I knew I answered to the best of my knowledge and that you would help me find a better answer and/or add to it.

I am glad you came up with this blog and that question. I believe both of those will help me grow, and I hope others, in the Lord and how to turn to the Lord for the solutions for our problems.

Thanks to Sonny, and others who responded to his question. I believe we can all learn from one another.

May God Bless you all.

Sabrina

You know, I find the more I try to not like or pray for someone I spend more time focusing on what John (the guy who made the post, not the disciple) described as “creating a separation… between myself and God.” I think, as people, we spend so little time with God and keeping him in our lives that when we actually do “find” that time it is a very short, brief summary of current events that affect us in the short term and are not necessarily important or profound to building our relationship with God.

That may sound terrible, but Sonny is right in that we don’t necessarily spend enough constructive time devoting and doing God’s work in a way that is worthy of what God does for us. But – to just give upon someone when there is an opportunity to help them simply because they are unworthy sounds sad and – to me – goes against what we should be doing. If that were the case and it would never make a difference, then that means we would have to give up on loved ones who didn’t follow the correct path just because they aren’t “worthy” (and I use this word because it’s really with all the yelling at my house the only word I remember).

I have always believed in Purgatory (not the time to start that discussion and no blog necessary Sonny) and the opportunity for forgiveness but do agree with the discussion\verse on one point – You just can’t rely on prayer alone. Sometimes, like you said, it is necessary become more active and even necessary to kick someone off the “path to destruction.” Sometimes, sitting back and doing nothing is just as bad (laziness is another way evil creeps in) a way to handle things as relying on prayer alone.

To the guy who asked for prayer, I would say, “Sure, but what will YOU do with it?”

Sometimes, even people in the Bible fell of the path and the beautiful thing about God was He was always there whether people chose to recognize Him or not. Same goes for us here.He may not always hear us but he is always there. Maybe we should be more active in our approach and if we say we are followers of God we should act more like it. Even, as Chris my husband always tells me, Jesus showed emotions ranging from calm to angry and wasn’t always as peaceful as people think he was. (He was always about peace but wasn’t afraid to show how he felt is what I mean.) I think that people think just because they verbally condemn someone or get angry with them they, too, are committing a sin by judging someone and to an extent its true. But there is nothing wrong with pointing out to someone who is looking for God how or where to find it. The key – and what we should all pray for – is the power to say it correctly and make someone connect or reconnect with God.

My house is now quieter meaning someone is probably into something. But this was a very interesting question and I enjoyed answering it. My kids hit the keyboard a couple of times so my appologies for mizpelyngs and such. (Smile goes here) But to everyone, peace and love to you all.

And Sonny – maybe you should send out an automatic response (if you haven’t done so all ready) on Monday to remind others about Tuesday. Just a thought.

Leigh,

You don’t know how much this means to me that you are sharing your thoughts here. And I promise not to get into the doctrine of Purgatory, for now. And even if I do later, please know that it will only be to try to come to an understanding between those who believe differently.

As far as time goes, I know what you mean. For the last few years I had no time for anything except work and God. And now since there is not much work and no money for other things, God is taking up most of my time. That’s okay though because I am coming to new truths everyday it seems. We make time for what is important to us anyway.

As far as your response I believe you get what I am saying. Your response to the guy was exactly what I believe is called for. LOVE is everything in this battle stance we should be taking against our adversary.

The real question that needs to be answered is what does that LOVE look like? I am sure that it looks different in different situations.

But we sometimes try to just come up with ‘A’ way to handle all situations because of our laziness, our deceived hearts, our unloving attitudes, etc.

I believe we must stay flexible in our responses to any given situation and have the discernment needed to identify what direction to take.

That takes some training. And it comes only from the Holy Spirit.

Good suggestion about the reminder. I am still learning all of this right now so I will check into that.

Tell the girls and Chris that Nana and I love them, and you.

And, please respond again.

Love you all

Thanks John. There is not really a wedge between us. He is usually the son I call on most. We are very close. I’m sure if he came to church with me that you would be one of the few that would accept him in without judgement. At one point he was attending with me once in a while and he would just weep during praise and worship. I felt that God may be answering my prayers soon…..that he would be saved.

Then “you know who got in the midst” He overheard three people he thought were his friends laughing and making fun of him. Of course you know what came next….he never came back. He was crushed by those of us who were supposed to love him unconditionally.

So we as Christians need not only to pray and tell a sinner the truth….but we need to change our attitudes and welcome those in who are different so they might be saved. You seem to be a person that can do that easily.

BTW…thanks for saying I was sweet even after I pushed you down at church Sunday :halo:

Love you too,
Connie