I discovered something this week that provides a shot in the arm for the prayer life. But to benefit from this medicine, one must be a reluctant flyer. That’s what I am. This week, for the first time in about 10 years, I flew on an airplane.
Intercessory prayer. The crew; the plane; the maintenance; the other passengers; myself. We rely on so many people, each properly carrying out their individual callings, to get us from point A to point B. Atheists, Christians, gays and straights, Muslims and Hindu. God uses them all as he provides for his creation, whether they know it or not. So, everyone gets my prayer when the plane starts taxiing down the runway.
When you run out of words, and the deep groans begin, then like a blind beggar, all that remains to be uttered is, Lord have mercy. Nothing fancy, just the poverty of realizing that our lives are like vapor.
Jean,
Most weeks I fly to another state to work. It’s never occurred to me that someone may be on the plane praying for everyone.
Thank you for doing that.
Xenia, when i come to the Lord in a prayer time, i am keenly aware that my pleas are just whispers compared to the warriors – the ones who understand beyond ritual the value of prayer and, unknown to most of us, see that the Church is held up to the Throne of God 24/7
there will be foot washing in Heaven, i suspect – i’ll be in the soap and towel brigade for sure
Yesterday, I understand that thousands of faithful marchers gathered in DC in bad weather for the annual march for life demonstration on the anniversary of Roe v. Wade. The leaders of Orthodox and RCC were there and one of the Ortho bishops (?) gave a powerful prayer in defense of life. It was broadcast on the radio.
It’s too bad that more of the American Christian community was not represented officially. But I was proud of my Catholic and Orthodox brothers and sisters for their public witness.
Anonymouse is concerned that one half of an engagement is not being faithful to the other half and wonders what, if anything, needs to be done. It was a romantic kiss, I am assuming. He wonders if the person is capable of being faithful to his future spouse. He has a dilemma. Should he/she interfere and maybe save people from a lot of grief down the line or should he/she mind his own business. I am sure he/she knows more details which has him/her very concerned. I don’t have any advice other than to tell the culprit to come clean and confess it to his financee.
Thanks, Xenia.
I’d make very sure I knew the whole story before I said anything…people in my church kiss and hug each other when they arrive every week.
Not scandalous.
A kiss to an ex lover, not a “holy kiss”, not a South American greeting kiss.
I’ve heard pastors say it is common practice if a MARRIED partner confesses adulterous stuff or porn that they need to tell the spouse in X Amount of time or they will–I’m wondering if this is equivalent.
I know that for my husband and I, we both engaged in “stuff” that was unfaithful to one another before we became Christians and then once Jesus washed us, redeemed us forgave us, we both knew that we needed to confess to one another our faults. The devil had a hey day in both of our minds and hearts. There were literally times of torment for me, fear, tears of how my husband would take it, if he ever found out….fears of what my church would do if they found out about my past. It actually took a few years of fear and torment on both of us, (from the accuser of the brethren…a very real spiritual battle) before we finally broke down and told one another and allowed Jesus to truly SET US FREE. There were no more secrets, no more issues that Satan could use to accuse us and set fear in our hearts over our relationship with one another or the church. If he/she if “feeling guilty and condemnation,” I say he/she should confess and get it all out in the clear if he/she knows that the kiss was one of betrayal to his/her beloved. If he /she is still drawn toward the other person he/she needs to not betray that fiance’ and break the engagement off. Satan still accuses me of my sordid past, but now I stand, washed in the blood of Christ, hand in hand with my beloved and we are both free! To confess and be free was the release of a 1000 burdens from my heart and mind. However, I will not say “my way” is the only right way. God deals with His children in personal and unique ways.
It’s all yours today…
I discovered something this week that provides a shot in the arm for the prayer life. But to benefit from this medicine, one must be a reluctant flyer. That’s what I am. This week, for the first time in about 10 years, I flew on an airplane.
Intercessory prayer. The crew; the plane; the maintenance; the other passengers; myself. We rely on so many people, each properly carrying out their individual callings, to get us from point A to point B. Atheists, Christians, gays and straights, Muslims and Hindu. God uses them all as he provides for his creation, whether they know it or not. So, everyone gets my prayer when the plane starts taxiing down the runway.
When you run out of words, and the deep groans begin, then like a blind beggar, all that remains to be uttered is, Lord have mercy. Nothing fancy, just the poverty of realizing that our lives are like vapor.
Jean.
“Lord have mercy” covers all the bases…
Jean,
Most weeks I fly to another state to work. It’s never occurred to me that someone may be on the plane praying for everyone.
Thank you for doing that.
interesting ponder from Jean and London… the whole world does benefit from the prayers of the Believers in Christ? hmmm
Em, that is the main purpose of monasteries, to pray for the world.
Xenia,
We now have an Orthodox church in our little town.
Opened up in a discount strip mall…surprised to see it there.
Xenia, when i come to the Lord in a prayer time, i am keenly aware that my pleas are just whispers compared to the warriors – the ones who understand beyond ritual the value of prayer and, unknown to most of us, see that the Church is held up to the Throne of God 24/7
there will be foot washing in Heaven, i suspect – i’ll be in the soap and towel brigade for sure
Michael, go make the acquaintance of the priest!
From their FB page I see that Fr. Stephen Freeman, who I admire very much, is giving a talk there on Feb. 10th.
Fr. Stephen has a great podcast, “Glory to God for All Things.”
Yesterday, I understand that thousands of faithful marchers gathered in DC in bad weather for the annual march for life demonstration on the anniversary of Roe v. Wade. The leaders of Orthodox and RCC were there and one of the Ortho bishops (?) gave a powerful prayer in defense of life. It was broadcast on the radio.
It’s too bad that more of the American Christian community was not represented officially. But I was proud of my Catholic and Orthodox brothers and sisters for their public witness.
https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/orthodox-christians-take-high-visibility-role-in-the-march-for-life
That was Metropolitan Jonah!
No, my mistake. That was a a few years ago, sorry.
Metropolitan Evangelos of the Greek Orthodox Church.
It was Met. Evangelos, I think.
Glory to God!
Right!
https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/2016-march-for-life-heats-up-blizzard-stricken-washington
Christians really should learn to work together when their beliefs coincide. Cootie really are a myth.
So if a couple in your church is engaged and one party kisses another person than their fiancé, shoukd someone say something to the spurned fiancé?
Should someone direct the offender to confess? What if they refuse to?
I will let the pastors reflect on the procedure of discipline, But cancel the cake and flowers right away. That one is over.
the kiss – what kind of kiss? maybe, confront the kissers first?
Anonymouse, are the the kisser or the kissee or an interested bystander?
Even faster than Jean’s prayer is one I learned from Anne Lamont:
“Help!”
2 others I learned from her:
“Thanks”
“Wow”
A black Pentecostal youth choir singing “Lord Have Mercy” in Old Church Slavonic.
A grieved observer.
i don’t understand the question about the kissing…
Anonymouse is concerned that one half of an engagement is not being faithful to the other half and wonders what, if anything, needs to be done. It was a romantic kiss, I am assuming. He wonders if the person is capable of being faithful to his future spouse. He has a dilemma. Should he/she interfere and maybe save people from a lot of grief down the line or should he/she mind his own business. I am sure he/she knows more details which has him/her very concerned. I don’t have any advice other than to tell the culprit to come clean and confess it to his financee.
(forgive confusion of pronouns.)
Thanks, Xenia.
I’d make very sure I knew the whole story before I said anything…people in my church kiss and hug each other when they arrive every week.
Not scandalous.
A kiss to an ex lover, not a “holy kiss”, not a South American greeting kiss.
I’ve heard pastors say it is common practice if a MARRIED partner confesses adulterous stuff or porn that they need to tell the spouse in X Amount of time or they will–I’m wondering if this is equivalent.
I Appreciate Y’all
I’d have a conversation with the kisser…
He wasn’t saying much:
“Against Thee only have I sinned”
?
I have a way of making people choose to converse…his fiance needs to be part of the discussion if he chooses not to deal with it.
Thanks.
I know that for my husband and I, we both engaged in “stuff” that was unfaithful to one another before we became Christians and then once Jesus washed us, redeemed us forgave us, we both knew that we needed to confess to one another our faults. The devil had a hey day in both of our minds and hearts. There were literally times of torment for me, fear, tears of how my husband would take it, if he ever found out….fears of what my church would do if they found out about my past. It actually took a few years of fear and torment on both of us, (from the accuser of the brethren…a very real spiritual battle) before we finally broke down and told one another and allowed Jesus to truly SET US FREE. There were no more secrets, no more issues that Satan could use to accuse us and set fear in our hearts over our relationship with one another or the church. If he/she if “feeling guilty and condemnation,” I say he/she should confess and get it all out in the clear if he/she knows that the kiss was one of betrayal to his/her beloved. If he /she is still drawn toward the other person he/she needs to not betray that fiance’ and break the engagement off. Satan still accuses me of my sordid past, but now I stand, washed in the blood of Christ, hand in hand with my beloved and we are both free! To confess and be free was the release of a 1000 burdens from my heart and mind. However, I will not say “my way” is the only right way. God deals with His children in personal and unique ways.
Got up this morning and was lead to repost this great message on the blog…
http://shekinahfellowship.blogspot.com/2016/01/freedom-in-christ-not-legalism-or.html