Any “Christians” here???

[War_in_D]

So I pray and nothing happens. Then what? Pray more?

God hears every prayer, but it doesn't mean that God answers every prayer or that He will answer it in some obvious way or that there will be instant gratification. Can God do that? Sure He can. He can do anything, but sometimes the things we pray for aren't in God's will, or it's not the right time, etc.. I've also learned that you need to be careful about what you pray for, because you might get it and the answer to that prayer might not be in the form that you think it will be. Praying for patience, for example. God may not grant you patience instantly, but He may put you in situations to give you the opportunity to learn patience and it might not be the most ideal of situations that He puts you in. You just have to learn to trust that God's will, whatever that may be, will be done and it will be for your good, but it just might not be on your terms. Take your request for help, for instance. God may not answer that prayer directly in a blinding flash of light and thunder that's going to solve all your problems instantly. Instead, God may prompt some random person to start a thread on some random guitar forum that you happen to be on asking about how Christians "keep going" and they just don't "get it". Maybe that thread was a legitimate question, maybe not but that's not important. God can, and will use anything and anyone for His good. Then God prompts several people on that same forum to respond to it and share their story/testimony in the hopes that it would bring you (and anyone else that happens to read it) closer to Him and then He can start working in you/them. Maybe that is God's way or answering your prayer for help. By putting you in the path of some people that want you to find that help and peace that you're looking for, and are willing to share their story/testimony in such a way that it makes you curious to want to learn more. Just food for thought.

 

[billsbigego]

Prayer, fasting, prostrations, attending liturgy, living prayerfully i.e showing kindness to those who don't deserve it. Helping the poor. Visiting those who are sick and imprisoned. Forgiving those people who have wronged you.

Fuck, I'm out. LOL
Hey, I regularly hand transients a tenner or whatever I have on me as far as cash. Drives my wife nuts. I'd rather give to them than the government. At least I know where the cash is going. I don't harbor any hatred for anyone that has wronged me in the past. I fast daily, 19:5. I got everything except going to chooch. I just can't get myself to believe theres a man in the sky. I mean actually I don't believe there is no God. I just believe God does not give one single quark of a fuck about anyone or anything on this planet, due to the amount of suffering. To love something your whole life and then it just goes away. No contact thereafter. Nothing. That's fucking cruel man. And if there is this so called all loving God, he, she, or it can go FUCK RIGHT THE FUCK OFF. Jesus, this selective savior that saves some from disease, but not others. Hey, it works for you and some others, that's cool. Does not work for me. I'm too grounded in the physical and have seen too much suffering to believe there is a God that loves us.

 

[VonBonfire]

I mean actually I don't believe there is no God. I just believe God does not give one single quark of a fuck about anyone or anything on this planet, due to the amount of suffering. To love something your whole life and then it just goes away.

So when you hand out the dough is it just so you feel good about yourself, or is it for some other reason?

 

[billsbigego]

So when you hand out the dough is it just so you feel good about yourself, or is it for some other reason?

I enjoy the fact that they are elated that someone actually gave a fuck. Seriously. I think one of the greatest things in this life is when you can put a smile on someone elses face. I give $50 tips to waitresses all the time for a $50 meal. It's not like I'm loaded either. It makes me happy to know I made their day. Nothing to do with me. I even do shit like that anonymously. I dropped $100 in a womans bag that was on one of those fat people scooters at a store when she wasn't looking. Didn't say a word. I wish I was a millionaire. I'd spend my whole day doing that shit.

I have a carpentry side business. On a website I'm on locally there's always someone battling with a printer or some other simple bullshit. I regularly go and help out for free. It usually turns out they recommend me to someone else for work, but I don't really want the work, I'm tired.

I've read almost every single book there is on Near Death Experiences. Whether these people see Jesus, God, etc... the message is the same. The only thing that matters in this life is doing things for other people. I know in my dead black heart that is the truth because I feel it. I'm a selfish asshole. I've had anything anyone would or could want as far as material shit. It does NOTHING for me. But the things you remember is when you do something for someone else.

Last weekend, I bought my daughter *7 months pregnant* and her boyfriend a new soundbar and gave them a 4k 65" Samsung tv. Went out to their place and mounted it on the wall, cable hide system. Setup all their apps with my accounts. They were so stoked. Paying $2600 a month for a 1 bedroom apartment. Made me very happy to see how elated they were.

So I guess I'm not as bad as I think I am. I just hate this life and hate this planet and hate being a slave mostly. I hate suffering. I can't handle animal suffering especially. This planet could be good, but this so called all loving God, who supposedly created the universe can't intervene and allow things to be good and peaceful and end suffering? I say WTF to that. I don't get it.

 

[VonBonfire]

Whether these people see Jesus, God, etc... the message is the same. The only thing that matters in this life is doing things for other people.

Like dying for them?

So I guess I'm not as bad as I think I am.

If a person is not convinced they are sick, then they will not think they need a doctor.

This planet could be good, but this so called all loving God, who supposedly created the universe can't intervene and allow things to be good and peaceful and end suffering? I say WTF to that. I don't get it.

Our sins have contributed to the state of the planet as it is so instead of judging God for not being all loving by the standards of a very limited human perspective I would suggest instead we all take a good look in the mirror. Start with public enemy #1. Or at least, that is my thought process.

 

[billsbigego]

If a person is not convinced they are sick, then they will not think they need a doctor.

I know I'm sick. Just nothing can be done. I'm too far gone. I could care less about myself. I am a 1/2" from offing myself at any moment. I stay here because I don't want to cause the ones around me pain. Other than that, I have no use for life.

 

[VonBonfire]

I know I'm sick. Just nothing can be done. I'm too far gone. I could care less about myself. I am a 1/2" from offing myself at any moment. I stay here because I don't want to cause the ones around me pain. Other than that, I have no use for life.

There must be an echo in my empty head cause you sound like me and about half the orthodox church brother. It's a hospital, not a courtroom, and you will be welcomed there if you ever decide to heed the words of St. Andrew the first called apostle and "come and see". Regardless, you, and your family are in my prayers. I think you searching for the truth at all is something a lot of people never seem to do at all. Don't sell yourself short. God doesn't want the world's winners or the most talented or legalistically upright, he wants the dumpster trash, the prodigal son to return home to him. Be well.

 

[TheBiggestJerk]

 

[VonBonfire]

 

[NowYou'rePlayingWithPower]

So I pray and nothing happens. Then what? Pray more?

You'll only get misguided answers from those who listen to the words of humans or speak to God (and those that claim to).
None of them are spoken to by God, and until that point they don't have any advice to offer and after that point they will have even less.

 

[RGX_Custom]

Prayer, fasting, prostrations, attending liturgy, living prayerfully i.e showing kindness to those who don't deserve it. Helping the poor. Visiting those who are sick and imprisoned. Forgiving those people who have wronged you.

I think you would be pretty good on the fasting part...since you can't afford eggs.

 

[War_in_D]

So I guess I'm not as bad as I think I am. I just hate this life and hate this planet and hate being a slave mostly. I hate suffering. I can't handle animal suffering especially. This planet could be good, but this so called all loving God, who supposedly created the universe can't intervene and allow things to be good and peaceful and end suffering? I say WTF to that. I don't get it.

God gave us a perfect world in the form of Eden, and gave man dominion over that world but that was lost when humans chose not to obey God's word. It was one simple command, "don't eat from this tree" and we couldn't even get that right. It's just been a downhill slide from there. It's that pesky "free will" thing that keeps rearing it's ugly head and there are consequences to the choices that we make. We are worldly, after all. Everyone wants to blame God, either for all the bad stuff that happens or for allowing it to happen... when the real culprit is way more closer to home. Satan's influence on this world is everywhere.

You'll only get misguided answers from those who listen to the words of humans or speak to God (and those that claim to).
None of them are spoken to by God, and until that point they don't have any advice to offer and after that point they will have even less.

I respectfully disagree with the sentiment that God doesn't speak to us. Maybe not in the form of a voice, but He does through the Bible. The Bible are His words to us. Praying is our way of communicating back. That's how I think of it anyway.

 

[NowYou'rePlayingWithPower]

I respectfully disagree with the sentiment that God doesn't speak to us. Maybe not in the form of a voice, but He does through the Bible. The Bible are His words to us. Praying is our way of communicating back. That's how I think of it anyway.

I wasn't claiming that God doesn't speak directly to some of us, but for those of us who have spoken with and have heard God's words directly; do not even speak for or on the behalf God. No Saint, no Prophet, no Pope, no one.