tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8383701632927065467.post3407102280245444303..comments2023-08-21T03:51:17.425-06:00Comments on Enlightened Catholicism: THE MASTER'S PRAYERcolkochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03432916690101599393noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8383701632927065467.post-69379684398415628192008-10-25T20:16:00.000-06:002008-10-25T20:16:00.000-06:00This needs to be a book Carl. Wow. Eloquent, pre...This needs to be a book Carl. Wow. Eloquent, precise, and so true.Whole Food Pioneerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18374792659121649246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8383701632927065467.post-11602558786858540102008-10-04T10:22:00.000-06:002008-10-04T10:22:00.000-06:00Faith and how we pray really go hand in hand. If F...Faith and how we pray really go hand in hand. If Faith is not focused on God and prayer is selfish, the prayers manifest negatively. If our Faith is focused on God and prayer is intended for good, the prayers will manifest positively. Does that sound right?<BR/><BR/>Admittedly, a lot of the time my prayers have been fear-based. My idea of God was fear-based for a long, long time, because that is how I was taught. I could not develop a relationship with God since I was too fearful of Him. Discovering He is all about love has taken time to settle into my heart and soul. It's easy to become fearful in the political environment of fear-mongering, which always seems to bring one to the mind-set of relying on the self, on an institution, someone else, or something outside ourselves other than God to take care of problems. But - nothing about ourselves can truly take care of problems. We need God. We were meant to be in relationship with Him. Faith and prayer are all about that relationship.<BR/><BR/>It is a real testimony of true Faith in God, practicing that Faith in Him by prayers that thank Him for taking care of us and our needs; knowing that He will always provide the best, nothing less. If we doubt this, we doubt Him and our Faith is in doubt.<BR/><BR/>Thanks Carl for listening.butterflyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09684946870144030594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8383701632927065467.post-41551775465494680892008-10-04T02:37:00.000-06:002008-10-04T02:37:00.000-06:00For any who are interested:The Victor Alexander Ar...For any who are interested:<BR/><BR/>The Victor Alexander Aramaic translation is found at:<BR/><BR/>http://www.v-a.com/bible/index.html<BR/><BR/>Another Aramaiac resource is the Lamsa Online Bible at:<BR/><BR/>http://www.lamsabible.com/<BR/><BR/>There is a good online concordance with a couple of dozen different translations that can be searched by keyword which I find really helpful:<BR/><BR/>http://bible.crosswalk.com/COL55https://www.blogger.com/profile/07057765287988790129noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8383701632927065467.post-6868062573231417332008-10-03T16:26:00.000-06:002008-10-03T16:26:00.000-06:00PS: The beauty of: "God always provides for every ...PS: The beauty of: <BR/><BR/>"God always provides for every need"<BR/><BR/>is that it covers what I know I need, AND the things that I need that I dont know that I need.<BR/><BR/>"God always provides the best, and nothing less."<BR/><BR/>NamasteCOL55https://www.blogger.com/profile/07057765287988790129noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8383701632927065467.post-31621525996832277562008-10-03T16:25:00.000-06:002008-10-03T16:25:00.000-06:00This comment has been removed by the author.COL55https://www.blogger.com/profile/07057765287988790129noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8383701632927065467.post-56026981975976140112008-10-03T16:21:00.000-06:002008-10-03T16:21:00.000-06:00Butterfly:Not at all. If your intention was solid ...Butterfly:<BR/><BR/>Not at all. If your intention was solid and you prayed in faith expecting the prayer to be answered, it was answered. <BR/><BR/>However, if your prayer was a form of begging or pleading (which implies the possibility of it not being answered) or if you were praying out of fear instead of faith, then it was not as powerful as it could have been.<BR/><BR/>Consider the following variations which affirm the request as if it is already done:<BR/><BR/>Thank you God for bringing peace to this situation. <BR/><BR/>Thank you God for your protection and intervention in this situation. <BR/><BR/>Thank you God for providing for all of our needs today.<BR/><BR/>Re: the storm. In Mark 4:39 Jesus said "peace, be still" (RSV). Jesus commanded the storm and it obeyed. No fear. No doubt. Jesus knew when he spoke, the storm would obey. He did not ask, he commanded and what he commanded came to pass. <BR/><BR/>In John 14:12 (rsv) Jesus said "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do". Jesus is very clear here, each of us has within us already the power to say "peace, be still", and it will. That being the case, realistically, we all have a bit of work to do on ourselves before we are able to quiet the storm simply by commanding it be done. That is why we use the Master's Prayer. <BR/><BR/>One thing to consider, the terminology of "ask" was used to describe events before the crucifixion, before the Holy Spirit was given to us, at a time when an intecessor was needed. If you look at Jesus' words, he rarely if ever asked, he commanded. If the scriptures were to be written by the disciples today in the current vernacular, it would most likely be renedered "affirm in faith".<BR/><BR/>John 15:7 "And for those of you who adhere to me and my words become strong in you, whatever you wish to ask for, you shall have".<BR/>(victor alexander aramaic)<BR/><BR/>The issue with asking is, like hope, asking implies the possibility of not receiveing. Ask and hope by their definition express lack of faith.<BR/><BR/>It really isnt hard, it is just a new skill, which takes a little bit of practice to get comfortable with it. <BR/><BR/>My own personal story: 8 months ago I was crippled up with arthritis in the knees so badly, the only way I could ambulate was with crutches. When I finally stopped my pity party, I used the prayer “Thank You God for the health and vitality that fills every part of my body and mind. It took a while, but today, I walk without crutches, I mountain bike, I’m able to backpack with a light load and I received a bonus I didn’t ask for. 10 years ago I had 2 heart attacks that left me with walnut size damage to the back wall of my heart. My cardiac followup two months ago … no evidence of any cardiac damage, none. The report said that if it werent for the records on file, they would never have suspected a history of heart attack.<BR/><BR/>Today, “I know that God always provides for every need”, and that is my prayer. And God always does.COL55https://www.blogger.com/profile/07057765287988790129noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8383701632927065467.post-65026457666047862262008-10-03T13:28:00.000-06:002008-10-03T13:28:00.000-06:00But, in the asking it brings us in alignment with ...But, in the asking it brings us in alignment with God....butterflyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09684946870144030594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8383701632927065467.post-23050855699423173622008-10-03T12:31:00.000-06:002008-10-03T12:31:00.000-06:00Carl, does this mean my prayer for peace is no goo...Carl, does this mean my prayer for peace is no good, or the one I pray when severe weather is heading our way?<BR/><BR/>This makes me think of the time Jesus was in the boat sleeping and there was a great storm and the disciples feared for their lives. Jesus then tells the storm to calm down, I can't remember the exact words. <BR/><BR/>Another thing I recall from the Gospels is Jesus saying to "ASK and you shall receive. You have not asked yet." So, if you are saying that God already knows our needs then we shouldn't have to ask Him for anything?butterflyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09684946870144030594noreply@blogger.com