Paradise Cafe Discussions - A Place For Bible Research And Christian Encouragement

We've gone thru some difficult times lately here on the board. I want to thank the administrators for sharing with us the reason some of our brothers and sisters are not with us at the moment. I truly hope and pray that they come back.

But in the meantime, we all need to pray for peace, for unity, for a healing. We need to return to our vitality and strength. We must remember thru it all that the Bible, our own personal letter direct to us from God, is the most wholesome, beneficial, nourishing, invigorating, sustaining, and yes, healing item we can ever have in our position.

But even more important to our spiritual well-being, yes- more important than the Bible- is our relationship with our God Jehovah, and our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Only they can truly make us WELL.

I can't pray that we all heal instantly over this situation, but I can pray that we all turn to Jehovah and Jesus, so that we can ask for healing from the Source of all healing.

So, here is a prayer with that in mind:

As I Go From Health to Illness


As I go from health to illness, Lord,
I am fearful that I will not be able to withstand
the journey.
Help me to trust in you completely,
and be my support and strength as I let go
of all denial and accept my situation
so that I can do something positive about it.


- Maureen Pratt

I apologize to the administrators for any stress or difficulty I presented by my last post. I apologize to all for not being here with prayers for all while all of this transpired. I will pray for myself endurance and discipline- so as not to leave here when I am weak, leaving everyone here without the only thing I am really good at contributing- prayers.

Much love to all of you,
Your Sister in Christ, by the Grace of God,
Micah
:neo:

Dearest Micah -
I appreciate your every contribution to this board, as this is the only way I ever hear from you - and I love hearing from you! :friends:

I love the prayers you post - and this one is excellent. I like the focus on trusting God, acceptance of our circumstances, and the determination to positive action. :pray:

I share your concern over the recent goings-on. May we all continue to pray for one another with the confidence that our loving Father hears and will answer according to His will. He won't disappoint!

:giverose:Peace to you, dear Micah.:hug:

With much love, Willa
:peace:

Good morning my dearest sis cali!:D:hibye::hug:

It HAS been tooooooooooooo long since you graced us with your loving and caring words ...:heartbeat::friends:

Thanks so much for your words above ... I am SURE that others feel the same and will be doing the same ... :grouphug:

I have been trying to think of a 'positive' illustration to go along with your words my sister and the only thing I could think of was this ...

When someone breaks an arm or a leg the pain can be excruciating can't it :shocked::(

Then 'healing' process may be shorter or longer depending on the kind of break and the healing ability of the person involved ... (some heal slower than others it seems)

However, the POSITIVE thing about a place where a 'break' is that WHEN IT IS HEALED it becomes EVEN STRONGER than it was before ... at least that is what my 'limited' knowledge on broken bones tells me anyway ...:giverose:

And I am sure you guess that I too pray that we will grow STRONGER from ALL of our experiences ... both sad :crybaby: and happy :D... as we continue to move ahead to Christian maturity as full grown men and women in Christ our Lord and as servants of the most high God Jehovah!!

LOVE YA SIS ...:siskiss::cheekkiss: as I do EVERYONE ...:grouphug: BR :sheepy: :bouncyhearts:

Growing pains, Cali we all experience them.. and only each of us can learn to recognize "where we have them"

Sis problems are only as big as we let them become. some chose to make a mountain out of things while others crush mountains under their feet. "with our Lords help of course"

All parts of a body are needed and your contributions are awesome.
sometimes it takes a splinter for us to recognize our skin.

Peace

Thank you TD, for those vivid descriptions- they were quite effective, I thought! You certainly have a picturesque way of expressing yourself. And your point came across loud and clear!

Thank you also to Willa! You are correct in saying we have to "accept our circumstances" - and even bless them- before they can change. And we MUST pray with confidence, otherwise, even the scriptures say there is no point in praying at all!

And Bruised Reed, you are so kind hearted, I am sure this recent situation made you feel a little like a flower in a hurricane- a little more bruised, a little more bent.

But as you said, after they break heals, it is that much stronger! And so all of us shall be!

Today's prayer is sort of a follow up to yesterday's prayer:

Prayer for Courage During Illness


O Lord, even as I suffer from my illness,
I believe in your might.
Even as I am besieged by armies of pain,
I seek refuge in you.
Help me to feel your presence even more firmly
in my life.
Give me courage to face anything, to endure everything
--with you by my side.


Maureen Pratt

I will continue with prayers for healing- till at least the end of the month, because as BR pointed out, some of us heal slower than others. :grouphug:

Much love to you all,:heartbeat:
Sis Micah
:neo:

Save the Afflicted



We beseech thee, Master, to be our helper and protector.
Save the afflicted among us; have mercy on the lowly;
raise up the fallen; appear to the needy; heal the ungodly;
restore the wanderers of thy people;
feed the hungry; ransom our prisoners;
raise up the sick; comfort the faint-hearted.


Clement of Rome (1st Century)

I want everyone who reads this prayer to consider the following:

This prayer was written by a Christian in the first century. What was happening with Christians in the first century? They were being persecuted- beaten to death, fed to the lions, jailed for preaching. Paul said it best at 2 Corinthians 11:23-28:

"Are they servants of Christ? (I am talking foolishly) I am more so; I have had more experience of hard work, of prisons, of blows more than measure, of death. Five times the Jews gave me forty blows but one. Three times I was whipped with rods, once I was stoned, three times the ship I was in came to destruction at sea, a night and a day I have been in the water; In frequent travels, in dangers on rivers, in dangers from outlaws, in dangers from my countrymen, in dangers from the Gentiles, in dangers in the town, in dangers in the waste land, in dangers at sea, in dangers among false brothers; In hard work and weariness, in frequent watchings, going without food and drink, cold and in need of clothing. In addition to all the other things, there is that which comes on me every day, the care of all the churches." BBE

This is what all of our 1st century brothers and sisters were going thru at that time. We, on the other hand, get upset if our internet connection fails.

This post is not to criticize our modern day comforts or our despair over lack thereof. This post is to remind us that we are not better than our first century counterparts. What they suffered, we will suffer. The slave is not better than the master. If the master was beaten and killed, so too the slaves can expect to be beaten and killed.

And yet, thru it all, they stayed together, they stayed strong, and they prayed for each other. If we can't pray for each other now, while things are good, how do we expect to be able to pray for each other when things are bad?

We don't want to be the converted atheist in the foxhole, do we?

So again, read the prayer for today:

Save the Afflicted



We beseech thee, Master, to be our helper and protector.
Save the afflicted among us; have mercy on the lowly;
raise up the fallen; appear to the needy; heal the ungodly;
restore the wanderers of thy people;
feed the hungry; ransom our prisoners;
raise up the sick; comfort the faint-hearted.


Clement of Rome (1st Century)

Much love to you, my bretheren.

Your sister,
Micah
:neo:

I received another email, this time telling me I was incorrect in my assumptions.

This is, of course, this person's opinion. What he seems to be missing is that we ALL have opinions, and are entitled to them.

As for myself, it doesn't matter to me what the fracas was about, or that those who have been banned are unhappy with the results. I don't think it is any of my business. What matters to me is that we keep the discussion board a place for "research and Christian encouragement."

As for my saying that this board is a "refuge"(I never used the word oasis, nor did I ever compare the board's facilitators with Moses.)- I was comparing this board to the temporary camp of Israelites, after they have been released from captivity in Egypt, but before they made it to the Promised Land.

I stand by that statement, because we have left the captivity of false religion, and we haven't yet made it to the New System. But we are travelling together. Hopefully towards the same goal. It is in this respect that I likened this board to a refugee camp. We are all here, having escaped, but still traveling towards Paradise.

And yes, sometimes peoples' feelings will be hurt. But that doesn't make them any less our brother or sister- whether the hurter or the hurt-ee.

So with all that in mind, here is a prayer for ALL OF US:

In Time of Illness



Lord Jesus, you came into the world
to heal our infirmities
and to endure our sufferings.
You went about healing all
and bringing comfort
to those in pain and need.
We come before you now
in this time of illness
asking that you may be the source
of our strength in body,
courage in spirit
and patience in pain.
May we join ourselves more closely
to you on the cross
and in your suffering
that through them
we may draw our patience and hope.
Assist us and restore us to health
so that united more closely
to your family, the Church,
we may give praise and honour to your name.
Amen.

Much love to you ALL,
Sis Micah:neo:

I think this one is pretty self-explanatory....

Prayer for the Ill


O Great God Jehovah, through the passion of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, I beseech Thee to watch over and guide all those who suffer from illness. Grant to us the courage to face our situations so that others may see Your perpetual light shining through us, as a beacon of strength that overcomes setbacks, and reaffirms Your Precious Love for ALL the sheep among Your flock. We are all Your children in spite of our situation, and Your Loving Son shepherds those of us who believe. Grant us the spiritual and mental strength to endure so that we may live in Your Divine Shadow. In the name of Jesus Christ, King of Kings, please hear and bless this prayer O Heavenly Father.

Amen

With much love,
Sis Micah :neo:

Our dear Justicia has been injured seriously.....will need much time in recovery. Many prayers will sustain you Justicia. May Jehovah come to your aid in Jesus dear name. Amen.

...

What happened??? :(

Quote from Justicia:
'
"...i try to post in such a manner as to not embarrass myself in the future when all my conclusions are disproven. good post iso...deserves better than this response, but i am seriously injured in mva

justy"

from:

http://www.paradisecafediscussions.net/s...p?tid=2005

As I understand......Justicia does not wish to go into the details in public.

Christian love and prayers to all injured ones...(yes, you too, Vicky)

gogh

well tell her hello, and we are thinking of her... and my prayer will be for a speedy recovery.