Comments on: Saturday November 16, 2019: Pray Like Your Life Depends On It

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 21 Nov 2019 12:15:27 +0000

After reading your post I now have Garth Brooks ‘Unanswered Prayers’ running through my head.

By: Anonymoose

Anonymoose — Tue, 19 Nov 2019 06:54:12 +0000

Nice! I am impressed. Thanks.
Although I did have to google the meaning. Quyanaituq is of the Aluutiq language. Our language is Yup’ik.
Adore Jesus!!!

By: John Ciribassi

John Ciribassi — Mon, 18 Nov 2019 21:04:30 +0000

quyanaituq Anonymoose

And don’t change your name. Its great. I just need to pay more attention. 🙂

John

By: Anonymoose

Anonymoose — Mon, 18 Nov 2019 07:36:17 +0000

Thank you, John.
It does help and makes total sense. Fr Mike is great to watch and learn from.
(I guess I should change my name from Anonymoose to something else. I just chose that name because I am in Alaska and moose is part of our diet.:)
Quyana.
Adore Jesus!!!

By: John J Ciribassi

John J Ciribassi — Sun, 17 Nov 2019 23:20:29 +0000

Hi anonymous. I have had similar struggles with making decisions that I hope are directed by God and not just in my own mind. This video by Father Mike Schmitz I think does a great job of giving very practical steps to arriving at good decisions:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ct494vm0iEc

I have found that good decisions…God decisions…are easy. When you take those small testing steps, everything just seems to go well. And when your steps seem to always be running into a brick wall…then maybe it is time to reconsider. I found that out with dating. Before I met my wife, I had some great relationships but these always seemed to have some baggage to them. Always some struggle. But when a met and started dating my wife, it just flowed. It just seemed to be right. On our wedding day, there was no “cold feet” or doubts. I think it is the same with most decisions. Taking small steps allows you to evaluate you choices. If things seem to be working out, then keep moving in the same direction. If not, rethink your plan. This, I believe, is the Holy Spirit at work leading you to where you should be.

Anyway, hope that helps.

By: Anonymoose

Anonymoose — Sun, 17 Nov 2019 03:25:07 +0000

Thank you very much, John.
What I struggle with is listening for God. And discerning whether my thoughts and ideas in my head are of God or answers to my prayers or just what I want/expect to receive as far as guidance on which decisions or paths to choose. Quyana (Thank you).
Adore Jesus!!!

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 16 Nov 2019 17:05:40 +0000

Hey John,

Not all of the Bible is uplifting, neither are Jesus’ parables. Some of them can be rather shocking and some can leave you wondering what the point of it was.

Today it seems to end with a twist. We start with a judge who seems indifferent to everything but himself. He’s concerned about his wellbeing, but from someone who he shouldn’t give two hoots about, he fears a Jewish widow! And getting punched by her! Really!?

Obviously the point is beautifully expressed by shocking the listener, the judge relents because of her persistence. Persistence pays off.

But wait, there’s more!

The last line, which seems to come out of nowhere, is also shocking in a depressing way. Jesus’ point, and what you echo in your answer, of the other parables is look what will happen if you aren’t persistent with your faith. He is giving us examples.

Today’s last line is different. Jesus appears to be questioning Himself and if His teaching will actually take hold.

A prophetic question considering the trend of the young people leaving the church today.

Mark

By: A

Sat, 16 Nov 2019 16:48:04 +0000

Kelly in LP, you took the words right out of my fingertips. You are absolutely right, God always answers prayers, and you gave the three answers He gives. I’m glad you agree with her, John, because she clarified it well. Also, when I feel down about some prayer, to which the Lord said “no,” it helps me to bring to mind the most infamous prayer, which He also refused to grant. As you said it, John, He said “no” to Jesus asking that the cup of suffering be removed from Him. If God says “no” to His own Son, to Himself, really, then who am I to expect that my suffering/pain/problems be removed? I am being tempered in fire.

Additionally, did anyone else looking at John’s picture and reading his description of it think of the prayers of the Pharisee and the tax collector? We had that reading recently, so it was quite accessible.