I need a mentor

Held. Just got this little thought in an email from a dear friend. You'd asked about 'church attendance' and this is a parable, very much along the line of Saint's response earlier -- about being missed:

A member of a certain  church, who previously had been attending services regularly, stopped going. After a few weeks, the preacher decided to visit him.

It was a chilly evening. The preacher found the man at home alone, sitting before a blazing fire. Guessing the reason for his preacher's visit, the man welcomed him, led him to a comfortable chair near the fireplace and waited.

The preacher made himself at home but said nothing. In the grave silence, he contemplated the dance of the flames around the burning logs. After some minutes, the preacher took the fire tongs, carefully picked up a brightly burning ember and placed it to one side of the hearth all alone then he sat back in his chair, still silent.

The host watched all this in quiet contemplation. As the one lone ember's flame flickered and diminished, there was a momentary glow and then its fire was no more. Soon it was cold and dead.

Not a word had been spoken since the initial greeting. The preacher glanced at his watch and realized it was time to leave. He slowly stood up, picked up the cold, dead ember and placed it back in the middle of the fire.  Immediately it began to glow, once more with the light and warmth of the burning coals around it.

As the preacher reached the door to leave, his host said with a tear running down his cheek, 'Thank you so much for your visit and especially for the fiery sermon. I shall be back in church next Sunday.'

F&F - I also recently received the same story in an e-mail.  Yes, it's definitely a good one.

Held - my prayers are with you for a more peaceful, restful night.

I am struggling with blended family issues on top of my cancer battle.  Can anyone relate to that? If you are step-parent dealing with tensions from adult step-children (age 18+)  I would appreciate hearing from you.  Please PM me and maybe we could enter a chat together.  This situation has me really in the blues. 

Thanks and continued warm blessings to all! 

Diane: Heidi is a priority on our shared prayer list. She is blessed to have a caring sister in law like you, and she, as well as her little ones, are included in our circle of love and concern ...Granny.

Thank you so much! It seems I have lots of needs lately. Yesterday, dh told me that we are in serious arrears with the house payment and his employer has halted all overtime (and is closing down a couple of locations!). I'm trusting the Lord that whatever happens is his plan, but we could also use your prayers to help us get through. DH places so much pressure on himself and it's really beating him down.

I'll let you know about Heidi when I hear something! I am so very thankful to have you all in my corner!

God bless,

Diane

Diane. Adding my prayers to the others here, on your behalf. I'm so sorry that your husband has so much to juggle in the midst of your battle.

Held. Just my little thought, but I think that we can certainly send specific prayers for Diane and family to "make ends meet" in a specific prayer -- in the same way that we ask for sound sleep on your behalf.

All of that scripture about the sparrows and the grasses, in splendor and not concerned comes to mind. I personally feel that we can champion the causes of one another...... prompting angels to gather where they are needed.

Glad to hear that you've had some good sleep...... tho that post is from a little while back, hope that it is still 'true.'

Hugs around the thread..........

Chiming in with prayers on the go...... for all gathered round this thread and any who might be reading here as well. May angels grace each and all with the support and encouragement needed for the specific situation at hand.

Held, I too will listen.  A mentor?  Well if God chooses that then I will do his bidding.  If it was not for my faith and God, I would have gave up along time ago.  You see 2 years ago Christmas Day the Lord called my Dad home, which in turn left my Mother ( who had never lived alone) completely alone, They had 4 children including myself and I was never the favorite in Mothers eyes (Not that she was mean to me) but, when it came to someone staying and taking care of her, I was the one Blessed with that opportunity almost 2 years later I am still Blessed with it (honestly bout over it lol) during that almost two years well actually about 2 weeks after Daddy died my Moms mother passed as well as a friend of mine then a few months later I was diagnosed with BC, talk about overload, I had it however, I never asked why? although everyone else did and couldn't understand why I did not, as I have been through so much in life and I was always the one who handled everything, I told them I do not ask WHY ME LORD???? I ask WHAT AM I TO LEARN FROM THIS??? and have I been angry? YES!!!! just not at God Angry at the CANCER, Weird I know, but this is how I see Good truly does come from our trials God Allows, not causes to happen. How is this believeable you might ask, Well you see Yes! I lost my Daddy, No warning just Boom and me and Daddy were close, so close in fact that maybe I never gave Mom the chance or maybe it was a jealousy thing since I thought Daddy was Awesome and from that tragedy, I heard for the first time since I was very little I love you come out of my mothers mouth, I was 42 years old, it meant everything to me so you see Good does come. . Then my diagnoses, Who was there for me besides God ??// My whole family even my brother whom I was close to when younger but, had grown apart as we got older and also my Little sister (by 15 years) who we had all spoiled and she takes me to every Chemo and every drs appt and everything else. So see God has done so much through my trials he has not only shown his love for me but, also shown me the love of others that I never thought I would have and he has shown me all of the women on this board, who get together and chat and support each other, I am not saying I don't get sad mad or angry I just don't get that way with God and also if someone is going to pass judgement on you for asking questions or being angry with God or anyone, then I think they need to be doing what we are doing Looking for the answers the right way.!!! I hope this helps and know that you can contact me at anytime about anything and even though Daddy named me from the book of Judges (DEBORAH) I will never judge you. Also on the praying issue just act like you are having a conversation with one of your friends there is no right or wrong way to pray cause the neat thing about God is that he knows whats truly in our heart and what we really mean to say even if we say it wrong, all he wants is for us to come to him, trust in him and love him and there is no wrong way in him.

Hugs and Prayers, Non Judgemental Deborah (Debbi)

Just chiming in with a different persepective----in recent years I have learned that much of what we want or think we need may not be what is best for us, so my prayers may have seemed to go unanswered, initially, when I prayed for something specific. Later the answer would be very clear & NOT what I prayed for at the time. When I am too specific I may miss the answer cuz it comes in diferent wrappings than what I was watching/waiting for-does that make sense?? I believe you can/should ask for specifics, especially if you are asking for blessings on someone else's behalf. My prayer is always that we know God's presence in our lives & trust that we are never abandoned. I pray for us to know peace & calm in the midst of the storms. Personally, I don't do well with just leaving it to "god's will"     but then-I tend to be a control freak!! Mets sure does give me lessens on letting THATgo!

Re the news about Heidi: HALLELUJAH! Thank You, Lord! HELD: I have heard you say that you have nothing to teach others. In my mind you have the same teaching style as Bible prophets, not afraid to ask hard questions and able to express your thoughts to others. You help keep us thinking, praying and encouraging each other in our struggles.  Please, Held, don't stop... much love to all, Granny.

This is a great thread. I am so glad to find it... 

Tracey - I am glad I am not the only one who hears "God in my head". I've heard many tthings so I started writing them down!!! I look at the list from time to time to remind myself...

Saint - I agree with everything you wrote. Esp about God as a loving father and our own (that is human kind's own) free will getting us into these messes, like cancer. I don't believe God would give us cancer. What kind of God would that be? I also beleive that he never promised us bad things wouldn't happen, but he did promise we would never be alone. And I've found that to be true for me.

Held - You are Brave! You are Honest!  You are Spiritual! Just talk to God like a person, he can handle everything you have in you.The good, the bad, the ugly. You won't hurt God. And don't be afraid. He is just waiting there for whever you are ready, and he will wait as long as it takes you.

I will pray for you right now. 

Springtime.

EWB; I think this is a great place to ask/discuss.  Thanks to Held who started this thread. I come and read and get very inspired. I think that God will truly bless you in helping others. It is away of serving our Lord. Church is not for everyone. It  took me a long time to find a church. I finally did. It was not a easy journey and churches are still going to have issues. I think you can be a christian if you do not go to church. That you can believe with all your heart. God loves you. For you are his child. Do you believe in God? Do you believe that he is there in the mist of it all? May you have a blessed day! May God praise you daily for your good works in him.

In God's Grace; Elizabeth

My sister, who is deeply spiritual, and believes in God,  but does not go to a church, says, "Religion / churches ruin God for people".

I am glad to have a church where I feel part of a community of faith, and where I belong, and have girlfriends who have cared for me through all this. But, I think that is the icing on the cake, to have that fellowship and relationship. God is the cake. 

Because churches are filled with humans, they also are filled with "human stuff" - and it can sometimes be very discouraging. However, some of that "human stuff" is also really really good. It's sort of like any family, for me, you take the good with the bad, and do a lot of forgiving... have patience, etc... 

Springtime