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Author Topic: Lenten Thoughts 2018--Healing Forum--Only Peace and Love Allowed--Thank You  (Read 27261 times)
AgathaL'Orange
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« on: March 13, 2018, 05:36:42 pm »

In perusing the old threads in the healing forum, I came across a thread that made me so happy.  Remember when we used to share a thought during lent?  It was so wonderful!  We all came together from our various parts of Christendom and shared a thought now and then.

I'd like to recreate that.  Please be respectful and remember that this is a non-debate section.  I have no way of enforcing it.  I'm just asking you to respect that.  The idea is to share thoughts from our spiritual walk every day through Easter.  You can participate or just read.  It's not meant to be a "gotcha" thread pointed at any group or person.  Just, a lenten thread like the old days when we used to participate more here on de-com.

I'll start, and I'll lead with the Serenity Prayer, that good old faithful prayer for addicts and those who ache or mourn or struggle (so everyone!). Smiley


Here you go.

The Serenity Prayer

God, give me grace to accept with serenity
the things that cannot be changed,
Courage to change the things
which should be changed,
and the Wisdom to distinguish
the one from the other.

Living one day at a time,
Enjoying one moment at a time,
Accepting hardship as a pathway to peace,
Taking, as Jesus did,
This sinful world as it is,
Not as I would have it,
Trusting that You will make all things right,
If I surrender to Your will,
So that I may be reasonably happy in this life,
And supremely happy with You forever in the next.

Amen.
« Last Edit: March 16, 2018, 04:06:46 pm by AgathaL'Orange » Logged

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GodisFaithful
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« Reply #1 on: March 13, 2018, 08:50:56 pm »

I really liked a little sentence in a book I recently read called Killing Christians.

A Muslim Background Believer said, "I started reading the Bible and I fell in love with Jesus."

I did too, a very mixed up messed up missionary kid, 21 years old back in Africa to visit my parents.  A volunteer nurse in a remote mission station gave me a little New Testament. I started reading and I started falling in love with Jesus, whose name I had only used as a swear word. (yes, missionary kid) And when I came to the words, "Come to me" I did not have to read further, I felt Him beside me saying, "Come."

Come I will give you sight.

Come I will give you rest.

Come and I will take your burdens.

Come, I died on the cross, for YOU.

And I did come.  The Name above every Name.  Never a swear word again, but a Precious Name.

"I'd rather have Jesus than Anything..."


Thank you, Agatha.  I wasn't around in those olden days, but I'm glad I'm around now.

Have you seen that picture of a little girl on Jesus' lap, in heaven, and she says, "What happened to your hand??" Makes me weep and worship.



 
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AgathaL'Orange
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« Reply #2 on: March 14, 2018, 08:09:41 am »

Thank you, God is faithful.  These verses spoke to me today. 


I called on your name, Lord,
    from the depths of the pit.
56 You heard my plea: “Do not close your ears
    to my cry for relief.”
57 You came near when I called you,
    and you said, “Do not fear.”
58 You, Lord, took up my case;
    you redeemed my life.

Lamentations 3:55-58
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GodisFaithful
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« Reply #3 on: March 15, 2018, 08:20:13 am »

This is from Daily Light. Does anyone else read that?

For today, March 15

My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. ...And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

The pains of death surrounded me, and the pangs of Sheol laid hold of me; I found trouble and sorrow. Reproach has broken my heart, and I am full of heaviness; I looked for someone to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but found none. Look on my right hand and see, for there is no one who acknowledges me; refuge has failed me; no one cares for my soul.

He is despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.
_____________________

And my husband read a passage in Jeremiah today that just jumped out at him.  Very fitting for Lent, also.

"for I was like a docile lamb led to the slaughter. I didn't even know that they had devised plots against me: "Let's destroy the tree with its fruit; let's cut him off from the land of the living so that his name will no longer be remembered." Jeremiah 11:19

As if they could cut off the Name!  Haha! They were not expecting a Resurrection!

There is a song out there and I love the line that goes something like: Amazing grace, to think that my King would die for me.

What kind of King would do that?


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AgathaL'Orange
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« Reply #4 on: March 15, 2018, 09:00:53 am »

Thank you for sharing that.

I wanted to share a song that has meant a lot to me in some of my darkest moments.  

I don’t love the video imagery, so I often just listen to it without the pics.

https://youtu.be/gp-HTdyuzoA


It’s called “There is a River.”  And it’s by Jars of Clay.
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GodisFaithful
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« Reply #5 on: March 16, 2018, 09:24:53 am »

Thank you, Agatha. I agree, he has put a new song in my heart.

I am going to try something here.  Not  sure if I can pull it off, but trying.  For Lent, from obscurity to healed.

THE EAR

Cool! I get to be with a bunch of important, powerful, armed-to-the-hilt tough dudes tonight.

Our mission. Arrest, now what's his name...Jesus. I'm hearing that he is bad, dangerous! We're ready!

Should be a piece of cake. He has very few followers and I've heard they are wimps. I'm not one bit afraid. Well, not very.

Me, I'm just a nobody. A slave, Malchus.

Bummer! They didn't trust me with a sword. I get to hold a lantern.

I'm kind of in the shadows, standing back a bit without looking like a coward. Hmmm...Jesus and the troops don't look very threatening.

Hey! Ouch ouch ouch, ahhhhhh!  Why pick on me, for Peter's sake!?  I'm gonna faint! The pain....

I'm dizzy, but did he just put my ear back on like Mr. Potato Head Game? Or is it a new ear? Can't figure this out.

His touch. My ear, it's fine, it's whole, I can hear, I'm not in pain. Now what is he saying? Did I hear, "I AM"?

WHOMP!!  I'm horizontal.  What is UP?Huh? We are all on the ground, like helpless ninnies. This is traumatic!

Ok, now he's cuffed. 

Wow. I am his enemy and he put my ear back on.

Jesus. Now he's dead.

What? I'm following the rumors. Everybody's talking. 

Peter, I'm Malchus. Remember me? We've met.

Malchus! That was a terrible night. It's a blur. But...He healed you! And He is alive!

Peter, I'll never forget it, never. He healed me, His enemy.

My ear. My ear. Now I can hear.





 

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AgathaL'Orange
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« Reply #6 on: March 16, 2018, 10:46:37 am »

Oh that's a cool perspective!  Smiley  Did you write that?

Psalm 4

For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A psalm of David.
1 Answer me when I call to you,
    my righteous God.
Give me relief from my distress;
    have mercy on me and hear my prayer.

2 How long will you people turn my glory into shame?
    How long will you love delusions and seek false gods?
3 Know that the Lord has set apart his faithful servant for himself;
    the Lord hears when I call to him.

4 Tremble and do not sin;
    when you are on your beds,
    search your hearts and be silent.
5 Offer the sacrifices of the righteous
    and trust in the Lord.

6 Many, Lord, are asking, “Who will bring us prosperity?”
    Let the light of your face shine on us.
7 Fill my heart with joy
    when their grain and new wine abound.

8 In peace I will lie down and sleep,
    for you alone, Lord,
    make me dwell in safety.

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« Reply #7 on: March 16, 2018, 11:26:33 am »

Agatha, yes I wrote it.

I teach Sunday School.  I love working with kids, 1st graders.

We put on a play of the arrest in the garden. Peter, Jesus, the mob, Malchus, the disciples. Lots of action and easy parts so it was fun.

So that is what inspired it.

I got to thinking, why is Malchus named in one of the gospels? And would he ever have forgotten the healing touch of Jesus?

And was he more curious about Jesus because of his personal encounter?

Did he remember it was Peter? Did he remember that Peter ran away that night but later was so bold? However...he was just a slave. Questions.
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« Reply #8 on: March 16, 2018, 03:52:20 pm »

I really love that Psalm you posted today, Agatha.

Precious.

All of it, but especially the line, "know that the Lord has set apart his faithful servant for himself."

What a beautiful promise. And the only reason we are faithful to Him is because he is faithful to us.

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« Reply #9 on: March 17, 2018, 10:59:00 am »

Christ with me,

Christ before me,

Christ behind me,

Christ in me.

                --St. Patrick
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AgathaL'Orange
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« Reply #10 on: March 17, 2018, 11:24:30 am »

Oh my goodness!  You read my mind!  I was going to post St. Patrick's Breastplate today!

I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through belief in the Threeness,
Through confession of the Oneness
of the Creator of creation.

I arise today
Through the strength of Christ's birth with His baptism,
Through the strength of His crucifixion with His burial,
Through the strength of His resurrection with His ascension,
Through the strength of His descent for the judgment of doom.

I arise today
Through the strength of the love of cherubim,
In the obedience of angels,
In the service of archangels,
In the hope of resurrection to meet with reward,
In the prayers of patriarchs,
In the predictions of prophets,
In the preaching of apostles,
In the faith of confessors,
In the innocence of holy virgins,
In the deeds of righteous men.

I arise today, through
The strength of heaven,
The light of the sun,
The radiance of the moon,
The splendor of fire,
The speed of lightning,
The swiftness of wind,
The depth of the sea,
The stability of the earth,
The firmness of rock.

I arise today, through
God's strength to pilot me,
God's might to uphold me,
God's wisdom to guide me,
God's eye to look before me,
God's ear to hear me,
God's word to speak for me,
God's hand to guard me,
God's shield to protect me,
God's host to save me
From snares of devils,
From temptation of vices,
From everyone who shall wish me ill,
afar and near.

I summon today
All these powers between me and those evils,
Against every cruel and merciless power
that may oppose my body and soul,
Against incantations of false prophets,
Against black laws of pagandom,
Against false laws of heretics,
Against craft of idolatry,
Against spells of witches and smiths and wizards,
Against every knowledge that corrupts man's body and soul;
Christ to shield me today
Against poison, against burning,
Against drowning, against wounding,
So that there may come to me an abundance of reward.

Christ with me,
Christ before me,
Christ behind me,
Christ in me,
Christ beneath me,
Christ above me,
Christ on my right,
Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down,
Christ when I sit down,
Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.
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GodisFaithful
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« Reply #11 on: March 17, 2018, 11:59:19 am »

Love it, Agatha!!

That is so powerful.

Worth pondering all the days of my life.
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AgathaL'Orange
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« Reply #12 on: March 18, 2018, 11:33:28 am »

Matthew 4:25-5:12

Great multitudes followed Him – from Galilee, and from Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan.

And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him.

Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.

Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you."




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Linda
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« Reply #13 on: March 18, 2018, 01:15:24 pm »

An encouraging song.
Come All Ye Pining
Red Mountain Music

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgmTYeLU7eA
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« Reply #14 on: March 18, 2018, 01:55:52 pm »

Ephesians 3:17-19

17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love,
18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,
19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Psalm 84:12

12 Lord Almighty, blessed is the one who trusts in you.
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AgathaL'Orange
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« Reply #15 on: March 19, 2018, 09:28:00 am »

Thank you, Linda and Searching!


Psalm 8
For the director of music.  A psalm of David.

1 Lord, our Lord,
    how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory
    in the heavens.
2 Through the praise of children and infants
    you have established a stronghold against your enemies,
    to silence the foe and the avenger.
3 When I consider your heavens,
    the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
    which you have set in place,
4 what is mankind that you are mindful of them,
    human beings that you care for them?
5 You have made them a little lower than the angels
    and crowned them with glory and honor.
6 You made them rulers over the works of your hands;
    you put everything under their feet:
7 all flocks and herds,
    and the animals of the wild,
8 the birds in the sky,
    and the fish in the sea,
    all that swim the paths of the seas.
9 Lord, our Lord,
    how majestic is your name in all the earth!




And a song.  A beautiful rendition of Agnus Dei by Michael W. Smith

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=HPBmFwBSGb0



This is an icon of Christ Pantocrator.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e0/Christ_Pantocrator_%28Church_of_St._Alexander_Nevsky%2C_Belgrade%29.jpg

This is what the image represents and the history behind it as well as other examples.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christ_Pantocrator

The earliest example dates back to the mid sixth century!


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« Reply #16 on: March 19, 2018, 11:05:11 am »

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

I am the good shepherd. I know My own sheep and they know Me...  I lay down my life for the sheep.

This is why the Father loves Me, because I am laying down My life so I may take it up again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down on My own. I have the right to lay it down, and I have the right to take it up again. I have received this command from My Father.

My sheep hear My voice, I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish--ever! No one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand. The Father and I are one.

--words of Jesus, John 10

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted,
   yet he opened not his mouth;
like a lamb that is led to the slaughter ,
   and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent,
so he opened not his mouth.

...Out of the anguish of his soul he shall
   see and be satisfied;
by his knowledge shall the righteous one , my servant,
   make many to be accounted righteous,
and he shall bear their iniquities.
                                                  --words about Jesus in Is. 53

"Worthy is the Lamb who was slain,
   to receive power and wealth and wisdom
and might and honor and glory and blessing!"

And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth
   and under the earth and in the sea, and all
that is in them, saying,

"To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
   be blessing and honor
and glory and might forever and ever!"

--from the words of The Revelation to John

I WORSHIP YOU, JESUS: SHEPHERD, LAMB, AND KING!!!!!
   
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AgathaL'Orange
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« Reply #17 on: March 19, 2018, 04:07:02 pm »

Beautiful!  Thank you.


Here's some comedic relief. A "Two-fer" post day for me.  Smiley

Verse for Everything Grin Grin
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzEL4h1vq7o

The Millennial Missionaries
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XqFZVajMycI

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Linda
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« Reply #18 on: March 20, 2018, 08:33:27 am »

Give Me Jesus
Fernando Ortega

https://youtu.be/9rZ8k9m2hwo
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AgathaL'Orange
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« Reply #19 on: March 20, 2018, 10:22:34 am »

Isaiah 40:18-31

To whom then will you liken God? Or what likeness will you compare to Him?

The workman molds an image, the goldsmith overspreads it with gold, and the silversmith casts silver chains.

Whoever is too impoverished for such a contribution chooses a tree that will not rot; he seeks for himself a skillful workman to prepare a carved image that will not totter.

Have you not known? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth?

It is He who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers, Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them out like a tent to dwell in.

He brings the princes to nothing; He makes the judges of the earth useless.

Scarcely shall they be planted, scarcely shall they be sown, scarcely shall their stock take root in the earth, when He will also blow on them, and they will wither, and the whirlwind will take them away like stubble.

“To whom then will you liken Me, or to whom shall I be equal?” says the Holy One.

Lift up your eyes on high, and see Who has created these things, Who brings out their host by number; He calls them all by name, by the greatness of His might and the strength of His power; not one is missing.

Why do you say, O Jacob, and speak, O Israel: “My way is hidden from the Lord, and my just claim is passed over by my God”?

Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable.

He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength.

Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall,

but those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.
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