Prayer request

MsDahl said:

Would you pray for me to make wise choices when it comes to my child? Right now I am facing my evangelical MIL with the accusation that I am irresponsible because I am spending time with a woman and her daughter that I met in my area during a time of need. My MIL thinks Satan sent her to my life to destroy me and my family. I have sensed that this woman's spirit is broken and in need of the healing of Christ. My MIL says that when she encountered her, her spirit was overwhelmed with fear regarding my son's protection due to the "demons that surrounded this woman." I have prayed to God about this situation and I have received certain convictions for the time being (to always be present during all interactions between her and my child and to bear witness to Christ with the spoken word around her). The thing is I enjoy her company, my son enjoys playing with her daughter and my spouse has been away for 2 months now for training purposes. She has helped me out in some times of need during this time and it was very kind for her to do that.

I don't want to dismiss what my MIL is saying (however, for a while when she met me she believed me to be a witch when I very much was seeking Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior over my life although I was in bad standing with the Orthodox Church at that time). If she could believe me to be a witch and I know I wasn't, it is a bit difficult for me to believe this "spiritual leading". I have basically refused to stop spending time with this woman and now I am feeling doubtful of my decision because my spouse has expressed some concern over this newfound friendship. He asked me not to go to her home again until he comes home and is able to meet the family person to assess the situation for himself as he realizes that his mother can get a bit extreme in her reactions. Now my MIL has pulled away from me emotionally and it only reinforces my sense of insecurity over my choice.


Thank you for any prayers you may offer. I wouldn't ask for prayers for myself if I didn't feel insecure about this especially because it has to do with my child whom I am required to protect.

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God bless you...I am praying for you tonight and will add you to my daily prayers.

I think your MIL, as delightful as she may be under other circumstances, is misled and under the "influence". I know we are not supposed to engage in "private revelations" but nonetheless, I get a very strong premonition that you are in the right on this. Please talk to your priest straight away on this and follow his advice, or your spiritual mother if you have one. I will be praying for you.

God bless you.

Lord have mercy!

Okay, my curiousity is up: why on earth would she accuse you of being a "witch"? I'm a former occult member and I know a "witch" when I see one...How does SHE "know"?

God bless you...I am praying for you dear heart...

I may have used the wrong word. I said "premonition" but my reaction is more about logical deduction. The "spirit of discernment" (who is the Holy Spirit and NOONE ELSE) is NEVER wrong. Not even once. If your MIL was wrong before, about you being a "witch" there is no Orthodox reason for ANYONE to "credit" her current feelings about your friend. God bless you.

Lord, Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy....

The reason I did not edit my post, above, is because I don't want anyone to "wonder" if I deleted anything. I haven't. My answer stands...talk to your priest. And pray for your MIL as I believe she may be listening but not understanding.

Lord have mercy.

Genesis 2:24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
MARK 10:7 “FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER,

MsDahl said:

Thank you Rindicella, jckstraw, Lukaris, chocolatesa, Protoevangel for your prayers.

I was at my MIL's today and she unloaded all of her 'issues' with me and with this situation today. God gave me the boldness to test her premonitions as God asks us to test the spirits. I even reminded her of her "belief" that I was a witch when we first met and that I know I was a believer of Christ as Savior over my life. It was an ugly scene and I am so sad about this all. However, my MIL asked me to speak to my priest about this relationship I have formed with this woman. So, clearly she is very disturbed by her.

For those of you in big churches, how do you find a way to get in to your priest for a personal meeting? He tells me I should just stop by during the week but how do I do that with a 3 year old?

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I cannot answer but does he live in a rectory & is he married (& with children)or widowed? Just trying to help grasp for ideas.

Hey Mrs. Dahl .. .i am sending you a pm... need to think first but to be honest.. i would tell you straihgt out... Trust your MIL sometimes older people have intuition... ... the rest in my pm...

MsDahl said:

However, my MIL asked me to speak to my priest about this relationship...

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Well, it looks like she gave you some great advice, after all.

MsDahl said:

Thank you Rindicella, jckstraw, Lukaris, chocolatesa, Protoevangel for your prayers.

I was at my MIL's today and she unloaded all of her 'issues' with me and with this situation today. God gave me the boldness to test her premonitions as God asks us to test the spirits. I even reminded her of her "belief" that I was a witch when we first met and that I know I was a believer of Christ as Savior over my life. It was an ugly scene and I am so sad about this all. However, my MIL asked me to speak to my priest about this relationship I have formed with this woman. So, clearly she is very disturbed by her.

For those of you in big churches, how do you find a way to get in to your priest for a personal meeting? He tells me I should just stop by during the week but how do I do that with a 3 year old?

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Dearheart,

God bless you...now you listen to an old bat like me (if anyone doubts my "youthful" age, make something of it! LOL) : sometimes we have something comforting to say:

Please do not be sad: she attacked you today (out of ignorance, fear and misunderstanding) and you defended yourself (in truth and in love). You stated, "she unloaded"...well, that's her perogative but that does not make her "feelings' or her "intuitions" (for lack of a different term) RIGHT or even remotely CORRECT. People make all sorts of incorrect judgements: "For the heart is deceitful above all else; who can understand it?" (Jeremiah...chapter 17 I think...hmmm)

Being old or "older" doesn't make her "wiser" or more correct either. I know plenty of cantankerous old fools, and that's all they are.

Just because she asked you to talk to your priest, does not give credence to her position...very often, it is a ploy to MAKE YOU AFRAID TO TALK TO YOUR PRIEST, FOR FEAR THAT HE MIGHT SIDE WITH THAT PERSON. It's sort of like when I was married to that old conniver I called "Jerk". He often used to say, "Yes, you are wrong...just ask your mother..." He used my own mother against me. I never did ask her anything because I feared he was right. I would have saved myself a lot of grief if I had called his bluff.

Now, as to talking with your priest, I recommend this: you should call him up, ask for an appointment. Take your 3 year old with you. Children belong in church, and most of the4 time, they are not listening to adults when they don't have to. Give her some crayons and ask her to copy an icon...that should keep her busy for at least 10 minutes, until you get all the important details out.

If everything else fails, I recommend the old fashioned method: You write everything out in letter form, and mail (yes, GASP!) MAIL IT .... post office box style, complete with a stamp on the envelope. And in your letter, you ask him to return the message by telephone by a certain date when you know you will be available.

Please do not doubt yourself dearheart...i don't doubt you one bit and I have never even had the pleasure of meeting you. God bless you...I am praying for you everyday....

Love always in Christ,
R. --- the youthful looking "babushka"

MsDahl said:

For those of you in big churches, how do you find a way to get in to your priest for a personal meeting? He tells me I should just stop by during the week but how do I do that with a 3 year old?

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Just wait until it's a good time for you and your child to go, and then head on over. It sounds like he's trying to give you the maximum opportunity to meet with him by not holding you to a specific time.

My advice, based on the little information I know, is to ask your priest what he thinks, but also don't completely disregard what your MIL says. She may be wrong, but it's better to error on the side of caution

prayers for you !

if you're like me, take your 3 yr. old along to speak with the priest. Its good modeling, and your 3 yr. old will hopefully grow up thinking that talking to your SF is just a normal part of life.

And though in an uncomfortable way, at least your MiL cares about you (and may be more vigilant while your husband is away). So thank God for that, and pray for her, too.

MsDahl said:

For those of you in big churches, how do you find a way to get in to your priest for a personal meeting? He tells me I should just stop by during the week but how do I do that with a 3 year old?

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You should call him first before you go to make sure he isn't busy with someone else.

Sorry of your situation. God will help.