Has God ceased to be a God of miracles?
- Thread starter Saendy
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light upon light
Baha'i
Wow, that seems miraculous. Of course if we entertain the possibility of miracles, we must ask why God is so stingy and arbitrary in their distribution. How many people die each year from suicide without any miraculous intervention from God? So it is almost better to imagine that God cannot perform miracles. But that does sound very miraculous to me.
So, if God doesn't stop everyone from committing suicide, then God is not allowed to stop anyone from committing suicide?
Not sure I see the logic here?
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The same reason Cinderella's step mother is considered bad by most readers - parents should treat their children equally and not show favoritism.
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It may not be about favoritism at all, and I doubt very much it is.
The answer or a possible answer may lay in the fact that no one knows their date of expiry,
We know when we are born and that,s about it.
If we are alloted each a certain number of Days, when those Days have passed, that,s it.
No amount of medicine, therapy, kind thoughts, helping hand is going to change anything.
A story to illustrate,
A woman gave birth to girl, the girl was adored by everyone, she was a true ray of sunshine to all around her.
When she had passed 5yrs old, she passed on/away.
Her mother was devistated, she storm the heavens with prayers,
"Why O why?"
God answered her prayers and said,
"If I had asked you, if you were willing to give birth to girl who would be a Sunbeam to all around her, but she would only live until she was five,
What would you have answered?"
The woman said,
"I would have answered, no, no way, not a chance"
God replied back,
"I know, that is why I did not ask you."
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Arthra
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Since people are related stories I have one filed in my memory that while could be coincidental turned out near miraculous to me... Anyway I had this friend that lived in Riverside Ca. about forty years ago.. He was a Baha'i and well liked... turned out he moved to Arizona. No body heard where he moved to... I went on with my life and a couple years later my wife and I were in Arizona traveling to the Grand Canyon.. Well along the way we stopped by this restaurant for a bite to eat. I was talking with my wife about something and the guy who ran the restaurant asked if we were Baha'is.. not sure why he did.. so we said yeah we're Baha'is. In the course of the conversation I said something like yeah I had a friend that moved to Arizona named _______. He says I know him! I'll call him up and see if he's home... So we had this reunion with my old friend.
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That's an interesting story. It reminds me of something I've realized lately. As an atheist, I feel peace and excitement about the idea that my existence is temporary and irrelevant. That is true freedom! I don't care that other people might have "better" lives than me, because I am defined by my life. I can't "improve" my life without changing who I am. There is no "me" outside my physical existence and temporary life.
Religions with an afterlife are for the birds.
(Actually I like birds, so I would not punish them with that type of religion either.)
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That's an interesting story. It reminds me of something I've realized lately. As an atheist, I feel peace and excitement about the idea that my existence is temporary and irrelevant. That is true freedom! I don't care that other people might have "better" lives than me, because I am defined by my life. I can't "improve" my life without changing who I am. There is no "me" outside my physical existence and temporary life.
Religions with an afterlife are for the birds.
One sage (I Think) it is better than saying "someone once said", but I cannot recall who it was.
"One should choose the way that is most harmonious to oneself and one,s surroundings."
But depending on what you mean by, your existence is irrelevant,
Do you not know that only you can do certain things that no one else can do,
They may seem unimportant and everyday, but only you fit that role for that certain time, place
or whatever.
Reminds me of when Young I took an alarm Clock apart and tried to put it together again,
of course I had some bits and pieces over, so needless to say, it never worked again.
We are all needed, coz, God don,t make junk.
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fatboys
Senior Veteran
I have another experience that happened many years ago when I was on my missions in England. I had only been out a few months when the church had a multi regional conference. The prophet and apostles were going to be speaking and the conference was held in the royal Albert hall I think. It was a big place anyway which held thousands of people. I believe if my memory serves me there were in a excess of 15000 people. During the break my group of elders were out in the parking lot. We had brought our lunch and were eating it as were the thousands of members were as well. I was having a good time and then I heard my name called. Elder------ I turned around and in the distance I recognized my seeds and production professor. Last time I saw him was when I had taken the class. He came over to me in a panick. It was so crowded that he literally had to swim though people. He told me that his mother was having a heartattack and asked if I could help him give her a blessing. Of course I said yes. As we went over to his van I was thinking how on earth did he recognize me? Last time I saw him I had hair clear down to the middle of my back. I did not live the things I had been taught by my mother in those days. When I got there his mother looked in really bad shape. My doubts were really apparent. My professor ask me to have faith. As I laid my hands on her and anointed her head with the consecrated oil I felt the spirit go from me to her. As I finished my professor and I laid our hands on her head he he gave a very comforting and wonderful prayer. I don't remember much about what was said but do remember the feelings. I do remember than he told her that her pain would end and that she would be able to breath effortlessly. There was much more to the prayer but only remember that. When we took our hands off you could already tell she was feeling better. She looked better and her breathing came much easier. My professor thanked me and I asked him how he ever recognized me. I also asked him why he was there in a American Van. He said that he had been over to Saudi Arabia for two years for the government with his family and mother and was on his way home. He told me that when his mother started to have problems in the parking lot that he begin to pray to find someone to help him. When he got out of the Van he said he just followed the spirit and knew from the back of my head who I was. He also said that his mother had had a heartattack before but not as bad as this one. I ran into him many years later and asked him if he remembered the event. He said of course. I ask how his mother was and she said that she had died but had lived for fifteen years longer never having any problems with her heart. She died of old age.
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God certainly is creating miracles today. personal miracles.
The parting of the seas has a meaning we may not understand,
We don't understand The seas may be other than water.
Did you ever feel like you were drowning in your problems?
He comes to separate us from our worries through our awareness.
Make sense? Remember God works in mysterious ways.
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gord44
Well-Known Member
It could also depend more on the people then God. Let's say God is like an unchanging radio signal. Always there. Always constant. Always good. What if it's the people's job to tune into it, not the signal's job to find people to tune into?
Of course the 'signal' sends hints, tips and teachers along over time, but the responsibility relies on the person to seek and find.
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Re the splitting of the sea, one story goes something like this,
When they came to the sea of reeds with the Egyptians behind them,
They were in a little of a confusion perhaps because they had not reckoned with this,
They split up in Groups,
one Group wanted to surrender and return to Egypt,
Another Group wanted to stand and fight,
yet Another Group wanted to have a prayer meeting
there was Another Group, but I cannot remember what they suggested.
In any case, Moses told them they were all wrong.
"You are wrong, you are all wrong, God has said we shall go forward, and forward we shall go."
And with that when he first put his feet in the water did the sea open up and they walked across as on dry land.
When Moses asked what he should say when they asked, "Who has sent you?"
He was told, "I am who I am and I shall be what I shall be, and I shall be with them in this predicament."
The same applies today,
When they came to the sea of reeds with the Egyptians behind them,
They were in a little of a confusion perhaps because they had not reckoned with this,
They split up in Groups,
one Group wanted to surrender and return to Egypt,
Another Group wanted to stand and fight,
yet Another Group wanted to have a prayer meeting
there was Another Group, but I cannot remember what they suggested.
In any case, Moses told them they were all wrong.
"You are wrong, you are all wrong, God has said we shall go forward, and forward we shall go."
And with that when he first put his feet in the water did the sea open up and they walked across as on dry land.
When Moses asked what he should say when they asked, "Who has sent you?"
He was told, "I am who I am and I shall be what I shall be, and I shall be with them in this predicament."
The same applies today,
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Hi,
Always, when God does something, there are multple goodnesses that go along with the event.
You, only told us of one goodness, that of God caring so much for you and Your family, that He helped you learn how God thinks and feels about helping others, when you are in doubt. What else good happened? There should be one more goodnes, than the two you mentioned. The second goodness was giving the woman a reason not to commit suicide. Was the third, to show her that not all people are prejudiced?
LOVE,
...Mary., .... .
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Chicken Little
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I think Jesus is in everything and can use anyone to say what he needs us to hear.
and they may not even know what they did or said but you know it was what you had asked God to answer.
SO as an example .
so Like a few weeks ago I had been praying about how to give more to people around me. but I don't have much and what I do have most folks wouldn't want anyway. at least now days .. now if times get tougher thy might really like some vegetable seeds or some starter chicks or ducklings. but now everyone except a few guys under a bridge has at least as much as we do right now.
so I was praying to God about "what can I do, or what can I give"
even right now doing something is hard right now because I have very severe psoriasis and other auto immune issues .
as much as I love to do things for people , my skin screams and breaks and cracks and bleeds , so it limits me right now to really do things that I would consider significant.
Anyway this is always a ongoing prayer of mine to find what it is his has for me to do or give.
sometimes when I go into town by myself (which isn't often maybe 4 or 5 times a year. ) there is a little Asian shop I like to stop at and when I am there is when the most strange things happen to me . but they have the best
Chow mein , well the kind that is most like what my grandma would take us to dinner when I was a kid.. so it has this kind of nostalgic chowmein. and I always want it then I am not feeling good.
Anyway I went to that little store and there is people lined up to order and in long lines to eat as usual and I finally got up in the line and gave my order. and tried to find a place that was out of the so people could move past me .
Anyway from out of the corner of my Eye and from the direction of the restrooms walked a Hulk of a human who talking to himself.
and I didn't look at him but he had a sort of a familiar look and could easy have passed for one of my cousins.
but he wasn't a cousin.
all of a sudden Mr Hulk , I mean he is huge ( i am 5'8'' and with 2 1/2 clogs ) and i didnt even hit his shoulders ) he was huge. . says
"excuse me , I can't get help with my coat, the zipper wont catch. can you help me" . it was at that time I realized he had no left arm or it was was broken and in a sling under his coat" I couldn't tell.
Now if you are zipping your own familie's coat up isn't that big a deal . you can be all up into your own families
"personal space" and not think anything of it .
but getting into the personal space of Mr hulk (who talks to himself ) and then having your hands down around places you have to have your hands to snap a coat up and then try and zip it. and it wasn't latching easy and wasn't zipping easy . and even bend over a little ( like a Bow) to snap and zip a coat. puts you way far into someone personal space.. this is very difficult for me because I didn't know him!!.
anyway I joked about something and snapped and zipped it a little and then asked
him " if that is OK like that " and then I walked away.
But as I got my food I noticed him staring strait at me and adjusting his coat and I think his Left Arm was under there . and he was protecting a sling with his coat. it was really cold and slushy outside . so I am glad I helped him . but it was not easy for me.
I am not going to say this was an angel or if it was just another (say Veteran who lived under a bridge and talked to himself and doesn't eat rice or vegetables and only ate General Tsaos chicken ), or if it was the Lord himself , because I don't know and I really don't care who it was !
it isn't important what Mr hulk was or wasn't .
What was important was how God spoke to me in all kinds of ways and still is revealing object lessons in what happened during that very silly little goofy uncomfortable( for me ) few seconds.
Was it a miracle? NO ! ..
was it a warning of something coming that happened to me about a week later? yes.
was it directions for attitude adjustments God wanted from me in the long run , yes.
But the most important part was it was a personal message to me from the most unlikely and uncomfortable for me situations that God was going to be with me when stuff out of my control happens.
and that he was going to protect me in it .
It sure has been an interesting and on going Joke in my prayer life.
mostly because Jesus is such a joker. why it had to be a giant dude who talked to himself and not a sweet little old lady who talked to herself .
You know the Spirit stretches us and he molds us to make us who he needs us to be. the Lord likes to tells us what is coming to help heal the shock or pain because if we know that he already knows and was already there for us before a thing happens then you know he is going to be there past that thing happening ..
the only thing I could think of when I walked out was how the situation answered my prayers at that time. which was "well I guess Lord you are saying if I got two hands help those with only one hand when they ask, so thank you lord I have two hands.. but next time a nice little old lady would be easier! " . which in itself is an interesting object lesson. but that wasn't the only message or answer to my prayers for me that day.
was it a miracle ? NO !!! . was it normal and common maybe for everyone else in the world for all I know , but it wasn't common for me . but it was a massage and someone was a messenger to me that day. It was exactly what I needed to know for that day and for a few more days that were still ahead.
and they may not even know what they did or said but you know it was what you had asked God to answer.
SO as an example .
so Like a few weeks ago I had been praying about how to give more to people around me. but I don't have much and what I do have most folks wouldn't want anyway. at least now days .. now if times get tougher thy might really like some vegetable seeds or some starter chicks or ducklings. but now everyone except a few guys under a bridge has at least as much as we do right now.
so I was praying to God about "what can I do, or what can I give"
even right now doing something is hard right now because I have very severe psoriasis and other auto immune issues .
as much as I love to do things for people , my skin screams and breaks and cracks and bleeds , so it limits me right now to really do things that I would consider significant.
Anyway this is always a ongoing prayer of mine to find what it is his has for me to do or give.
sometimes when I go into town by myself (which isn't often maybe 4 or 5 times a year. ) there is a little Asian shop I like to stop at and when I am there is when the most strange things happen to me . but they have the best
Chow mein , well the kind that is most like what my grandma would take us to dinner when I was a kid.. so it has this kind of nostalgic chowmein. and I always want it then I am not feeling good.
Anyway I went to that little store and there is people lined up to order and in long lines to eat as usual and I finally got up in the line and gave my order. and tried to find a place that was out of the so people could move past me .
Anyway from out of the corner of my Eye and from the direction of the restrooms walked a Hulk of a human who talking to himself.
and I didn't look at him but he had a sort of a familiar look and could easy have passed for one of my cousins.
but he wasn't a cousin.
all of a sudden Mr Hulk , I mean he is huge ( i am 5'8'' and with 2 1/2 clogs ) and i didnt even hit his shoulders ) he was huge. . says
"excuse me , I can't get help with my coat, the zipper wont catch. can you help me" . it was at that time I realized he had no left arm or it was was broken and in a sling under his coat" I couldn't tell.
Now if you are zipping your own familie's coat up isn't that big a deal . you can be all up into your own families
"personal space" and not think anything of it .
but getting into the personal space of Mr hulk (who talks to himself ) and then having your hands down around places you have to have your hands to snap a coat up and then try and zip it. and it wasn't latching easy and wasn't zipping easy . and even bend over a little ( like a Bow) to snap and zip a coat. puts you way far into someone personal space.. this is very difficult for me because I didn't know him!!.
anyway I joked about something and snapped and zipped it a little and then asked
him " if that is OK like that " and then I walked away.
But as I got my food I noticed him staring strait at me and adjusting his coat and I think his Left Arm was under there . and he was protecting a sling with his coat. it was really cold and slushy outside . so I am glad I helped him . but it was not easy for me.
I am not going to say this was an angel or if it was just another (say Veteran who lived under a bridge and talked to himself and doesn't eat rice or vegetables and only ate General Tsaos chicken ), or if it was the Lord himself , because I don't know and I really don't care who it was !
it isn't important what Mr hulk was or wasn't .
What was important was how God spoke to me in all kinds of ways and still is revealing object lessons in what happened during that very silly little goofy uncomfortable( for me ) few seconds.
Was it a miracle? NO ! ..
was it a warning of something coming that happened to me about a week later? yes.
was it directions for attitude adjustments God wanted from me in the long run , yes.
But the most important part was it was a personal message to me from the most unlikely and uncomfortable for me situations that God was going to be with me when stuff out of my control happens.
and that he was going to protect me in it .
It sure has been an interesting and on going Joke in my prayer life.
mostly because Jesus is such a joker. why it had to be a giant dude who talked to himself and not a sweet little old lady who talked to herself .
You know the Spirit stretches us and he molds us to make us who he needs us to be. the Lord likes to tells us what is coming to help heal the shock or pain because if we know that he already knows and was already there for us before a thing happens then you know he is going to be there past that thing happening ..
the only thing I could think of when I walked out was how the situation answered my prayers at that time. which was "well I guess Lord you are saying if I got two hands help those with only one hand when they ask, so thank you lord I have two hands.. but next time a nice little old lady would be easier! " . which in itself is an interesting object lesson. but that wasn't the only message or answer to my prayers for me that day.
was it a miracle ? NO !!! . was it normal and common maybe for everyone else in the world for all I know , but it wasn't common for me . but it was a massage and someone was a messenger to me that day. It was exactly what I needed to know for that day and for a few more days that were still ahead.
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Consider making a one-time or monthly donation. We appreciate your support!
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That's an interesting story. It reminds me of something I've realized lately. As an atheist, I feel peace and excitement about the idea that my existence is temporary and irrelevant. That is true freedom! I don't care that other people might have "better" lives than me, because I am defined by my life. I can't "improve" my life without changing who I am. There is no "me" outside my physical existence and temporary life.
Religions with an afterlife are for the birds.
Is there Life after Life?
How does that work?
I have Heard of after ski,
and after eight
but Life after Life?
If the body returns to dust
and the soul returns to it,s source,
then the soul does not die,
that which is dead is dead,
that which is alive is alive.
Though in the resurrection the body will be reconstructed.
When the the soul enters the body again the body will become alive.
But the body is not you,the you is in the body.
A glove is lifeless until you put your hand in it and start moving your hand,
then the glove will follow with the movements.
Or is it bedtime for me, the Clock is over Three in the morning again, hehe.
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light upon light
Baha'i
You can't treat your children exactly the same. Different children need different things. That isn't favoritism, that's wisdom and compassion.
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light upon light
Baha'i
How old are you?
Do you have children?
What "works" psychologically at one stage of life and set of circumstances might not be as appealing at another.
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light upon light
Baha'i
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