Discussion Board

Re: thread name

It will be September here in less than five hours!

Proposal: Let's call our thread "Strength for the Journey, September, 2010". Then we can change only the month on the first of each month.

As we say in Chinese: "haobuhao"--is this OK?

I've been thinking that we should either include the word "Christian" in the name of our thread (e.g., "Christian support - Strength for September") or make it clear that that's what it is (e.g., "Strength thru Christ"). It just recently occurred to me that many Christians or seekers might not know what the word Koinonia means, and if they came to the religious forum looking for Christian support they might not easily find it. Many times when I am looking for info on a healthy vegan diet it is surrounded by New Age, humanistic, or atheistic practices and beliefs, and I think we need to make it clear that there are Christian believers following this lifestyle, and doing it for the glory of God and with His help. Just my $.02.

Thanks for all the great and encouraging posts recently. It sounds like many health issues are getting resolved. If not, do share with us so we can keep you in our prayers. It's hard to believe another month has flown by. I need to remember to look for the new thread starting tomorrow (for most of us; today for pinkrose!).

If we are looking for a consistent label, I like Tex Gals idea, using "Christian support" as the prefix, and having the opportunity for variety in the month suffix part.

Christian support- Strength for September,
Christian support- Joy in July,
etc.

Having said that, I like creativity and variety myself, but it's certainly not necessary though. Frankly, I'll go along with any of the ideas that have been listed, so perhaps someone should just make the decision and we're good to go. Sounds like everyone is pretty flexible, and most of the suggestions are fairly similar.

Blessings to each of you this day.
Jubilee



Blessings to each of you.

Hi Friends,

Whatever everyone else wants will be fine with me! I do like texgal's idea of identifying it as "Christian". I like variety too - but as Jubilee said - someone, other than me make a decision and go for it.

I agree with pinkrose that you had a very good post Matt with lots to AMEN about.

To me, it's just so wonderful to read God's word everyday, and always feel like I have learned something new, and know that I will never even scratch the surface of the depth's of God's love, grace, wisdom, comfort, and guidance. God is soooooo good!

Love and blessings to ALL

Dear McDougallers,

Not sure if this will be a blessing to anyone, but hopefully so. Mostly I'm just thinking out loud here...

I've been chewing on Matt 21:21-22 lately as I'm studying the commands of Christ-
Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

Sometimes I question the effectiveness of my prayers when I don't receive just what I asked for. Last night I prayed for a laboring mom who was not progressing though she'd been at the hosp. for a long time. I prayed that she would progress and deliver naturally. Less than an hour later I heard that they were taking her in for a C-section because of distress to the baby. I was sad for her, and disappointed. What happened? Was my faith insufficient? Many, many times God has given me those specific answers to big prayers and I'm so grateful for that. But certainly not always. I know that God does ALWAYS answer my prayers, but that sometimes the answer is no. And I know that whatever He answers, it's the best, and comes from His infinite love and mercy. I have no trouble understanding that. God is good, all the time. And I thank Him for answering my prayer as He saw fit. However, I still wonder if there was something lacking in my faith that could have changed His answer. That's where I doubt and waver (James 16).

This whole passage in Matt. 21 is a promise, based on one condition- having faith. Faith is defined in Heb. 1:1 as the substance of things hoped for and evidence of things not seen. Substance and Evidence. Those are tangible and usually can be held and seen, but here it's "hoped for" and "unseen", held only in our hearts not hands, and seen only with our spirit, not eyes. Do I have this kind of "substance" and "evidence"? Where does it come from? As a believer, I can say that I have (or have been given) enough faith for salvation (Eph. 2:8-9), (Rom. 5:1-2), and enough faith to come to Him in prayer (Eph. 3:12). But do I have this mountain moving answers to prayer kind of faith? 1 Cor. 12: 8-10 tells me that it comes as a gift (also Gal 5:22), and certainly the best source of that kind of faith is described in Rom. 10:17- "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God". It can be increased (2 Cor. 10:15), but it is not as great as love (1 Cor 13:2,13). "..and hearing by the Word of God".." Not being diligent and responsible in my Bible reading would be one of the biggest hindrances to having mountain-moving prayers. Other reasons come to mind as well, but I'll stop here.

Is your prayer life fruitful? Do you see mountains moving when you pray? Is there something preventing you from hearing the Word of God that is limiting your faith? And in those times when you don't see mountains move according to a prayer, like mine last night, does this mean that our faith is weak?

Just something to ponder and pray about...

May you all have a blessed day as you serve and love those around you, in Jesus' love.
Jubilee

I'm pondering Jubilee.......