Admin Announcement Lets Talk About Blessings

[pdudgeon]

How do you know they won't participate?

because no one is forcing them to do so. it's that simple.

 

[Andrewofthetribe]

I'll reply to this one, since mine is similar "Servant of God" and some in my Church use "Handmaid of God".

I have actually worried what someone may read into it.

But after we are baptized, when we receive Communion, they say, "Servsnt of God ... " and I say "Anastasia" and then they say "receives the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ ..."

In our Church, it means we are baptized, and it's how we are referred to. There is nothing prideful intended in it - the opposite of fact. We claim no more than servanthood at this point.

So I use it because it has a particular meaning to me. Yes, I can see how it might be misunderstood. And I've seen some exceptionally bold labels around here in the past. But I figure that's between them and God. He knows their hearts and how to deal with them, and it's not my business with anyone except to love them and pray for them.

God be with you!

Fair enough I never realised you was baptised and have the right to bless people. I thought any one can push a button this end and bless somebody. I did say I was new to Christianity didn't I lol

 

[~Anastasia~]

Fair enough I never realised you was baptised and have the right to bless people. I thought any one can push a button this end and bless somebody. I did say I was new to Christianity didn't I lol

I didn't claim I had the right to bless people. I was answering your question. But words we speak can act as a blessing or a curse upon people. Why do you suppose foul language came to be called "cursing"?

And if you said you were new to Christianity, I didn't see it. Good for you.

God be with you.

 

[~Anastasia~]

You do realize it's just a point system? Lots of forums have them, and they can be used for various purposes.

They just call them "blessings" because this is a Christian site, and it's an appropriate name.

 

[Andrewofthetribe]

I didn't claim I had the right to bless people. I was answering your question. But words we speak can act as a blessing or a curse upon people. Why do you suppose foul language came to be called "cursing"?

And if you said you were new to Christianity, I didn't see it. Good for you.

God be with you.

Who has the power to bless or curse a man, surely only god should do those things!

 

[Andrewofthetribe]

You do realize it's just a point system? Lots of forums have them, and they can be used for various purposes.

They just call them "blessings" because this is a Christian site, and it's an appropriate name.

So the word blessing means nothing now it's just for decoration and feel good. Which words shall remain important for us Christians ?

 

[~Anastasia~]

Lol you enjoy this, do you? I'm afraid my time is limited.

Scripture is full of people giving blessings, and also some curses too. God didn't get offended.

 

[Andrewofthetribe]

Lol you enjoy this, do you? I'm afraid my time is limited.

Scripture is full of people giving blessings, and also some curses too. God didn't get offended.

How do we know God wasn't offended? Even with cursing? I enjoy all of my time amongst my Christians brothers and sisters, I sincerely wish I could spend more time with you too but I have other prior engagements this evening. I shall endeavour to understand the ways of the modern Christian in today's cyber world.

 

[~Anastasia~]

How do we know God wasn't offended? Even with cursing? I enjoy all of my time amongst my Christians brothers and sisters, I sincerely wish I could spend more time with you too but I have other prior engagements this evening. I shall endeavour to understand the ways of the modern Christian in today's cyber world.

It's easy to figure out from reading the Scriptures. Try a search of "bless" in the Bible. One example - Christ said in the Sermon on the Mount, "Bless those who curse you". This shows that people are able to both bless and curse. And since Jesus said do it, then it's not a problem.

 

[Andrewofthetribe]

It's easy to figure out from reading the Scriptures. Try a search of "bless" in the Bible. One example - Christ said in the Sermon on the Mount, "Bless those who curse you". This shows that people are able to both bless and curse. And since Jesus said do it, then it's not a problem.

Thanks for your reply, I really appreciate it, it's not so easy for my brain to figure out scriptures I'm guessing the scales haven't truly fallen from my eyes yet I'm still being reborn I think. So when Jesus says bless those who curse you what does he mean when he says bless? does he mean forgive them or does he literally mean give them some kind of blessing?

 

[pdudgeon]

Thanks for your reply, I really appreciate it, it's not so easy for my brain to figure out scriptures I'm guessing the scales haven't truly fallen from my eyes yet I'm still being reborn I think. So when Jesus says bless those who curse you what does he mean when he says bless? does he mean forgive them or does he literally mean give them some kind of blessing?

both; forgive first and then bless.

 

[~Anastasia~]

Thanks for your reply, I really appreciate it, it's not so easy for my brain to figure out scriptures I'm guessing the scales haven't truly fallen from my eyes yet I'm still being reborn I think. So when Jesus says bless those who curse you what does he mean when he says bless? does he mean forgive them or does he literally mean give them some kind of blessing?

both; forgive first and then bless.

Agreed.

We can bless people in a number of ways. By forgiving them, by praying for them, by saying good things to them, by saying good things about them to others, by helping them or doing a good thing for them, as well as by an actual "blessing" which are good words spoken over someone.

If I say, "God be with you" ... that is a short blessing.

When people mistreat us in any way, we do, say, and think good toward them in response.

This is how we "love our enemies" which we are also told to do.

 

[Lulav]

Who has the power to bless or curse a man, surely only god should do those things!

This thread has gotton off topic but I'd like to reply to this.

If our words had no power it would not have been necessary for these words to be recorded in our Bibles.

Gen 12:3 3And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.

This is God speaking to Abraham.

IN Luke 6:28 Jesus is recorded as having said:

27 But to those of you who will listen, I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.

James spoke about the tongue, meaning our speech.

You can read the whole in James chapter 3 but a pertinent part is this:

8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
9 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.
10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

When coming into the promised land Joshua was instructed that the people should go atop two mountains, one was called the Mount of Blessing and the other the Mount of Cursing.

In Deut. 11 we read that Moses instructed the people

When the LORD your God has brought you into the land you are entering to possess, you are to proclaim on Mount Gerizim the blessings, and on Mount Ebal the curses.

In Joshua 8 we read

All the Israelites, with their elders, officials and judges, were standing on both sides of the ark of the covenant of the LORD, facing the Levitical priests who carried it. Both the foreigners living among them and the native-born were there. Half of the people stood in front of Mount Gerizim and half of them in front of Mount Ebal, as Moses the servant of the LORD had formerly commanded when he gave instructions to bless the people of Israel.-----

When you read about the blessings and curses you will see that the blessings were contingent upon obedience.

We may 'bless' another by doing something for them that is good, giving them something they are without, or showing an extra kindness, this is called sometimes, 'being a blessing'. Even just an acknowledgement of their existence can mean a lot to a person who is lonely or hurting. That is what these virtual blessings can do, show someone you were thinking of them.

A Proverb worth heeding 18:20-21

With the fruit of a man's mouth his stomach will be satisfied; He will be satisfied with the product of his lips.
http://biblehub.com/hebrew/4194.htm
Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.

 

[Brent W]

Since it is my thread I don't mind it going off topic. Good discussion

 

[Ada Lovelace]

This explains how my blessings plummeted from more than 4 billion to 26,000. I was in the habit of giving 5 million blessings to each new teen who joined the forum as a way of welcoming him or her since there are so few of us here. It had been a meaningful gesture to me when a lovely teen greeted me with blessings when I signed up in 2014, so I wanted to carry on that tradition after she left. I went to do that for a new member in our section and discovered that my blessings had been pilfered.

I am definitely appreciative of all that is done to keep this forum operating smoothly, but must admit that this change is disappointing. It feels more like a customer loyalty rewards system now rather than blessings - like the stamp cards you get at frozen yogurt shops or coffeehouses so that when you accrue enough stamps you've earned a free cup. It rewards quantity over quality. Participation over contribution. People who have the time to make hundreds of posts a day, even if they only consist of one word or a number, will receive more blessings than those who only have the time to write one or two, put the effort into those posts to try to make them a genuine contribution to the discussion. This is what I strive to do - not merely participate by logging in, but actually give a post of usefulness. Older members who joined the forum back when the teens were still in preschool are going to have far more blessings due to the longevity of their membership and their post count. If the blessings were going to be reset for an "even playing field", then everyone should have started out with the same amount. If blessings are given for "likes" then to me it cheapens them because it's no longer merely about sincerely liking a post.

Even though the blessings lacked tangible value before, they were one of the more endearing features of CF for me. Rather than it being based on how many posts you'd made, or how often you logged on, it was a gift from one member to another purely given with the intent of making someone smile. A way of welcoming, of congratulating, for showing appreciation for the person and what he or she gives to the forum, a way of giving care when someone is struggling.

Could the new "blessings" that can be used to purchase a membership be given another name, like loyalty rewards points or something, and our old blessings that were just for sentimental value please be restored to us?

 

[~Anastasia~]

Yes, I'm a little saddened that some I received were as gifts from friends who wanted to do something nice.

But I think I lost my banked blessings when we came to the new platform, and I've never kept a close eye on them, so ... Oh well.

 

[Jack of Spades]

Is there a way to turn the alert off for the daily 'logging in blessings'? I find that to be completely useless, sometimes even mildly annoying.

#Firstworldproblems.

 

[Brent W]

Is there a way to turn the alert off for the daily 'logging in blessings'? I find that to be completely useless, sometimes even mildly annoying.

#Firstworldproblems.

No. Your first world problems will continue

 

[Jack of Spades]

No. Your first world problems will continue

*outrage*

 

[teresa]

um.....bless me and send me hugs all you want please.