I am a 32 year old Hispanic American currently residing in Austin, TX. I was born in Stamford, TX and grew up in Corpus Christi, TX. I am the oldest of six children and the proud uncle of seven nieces and nephews. I graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a major in English and a minor in Accounting. I consider myself a Christian and look to Jesus for guidance, strength, and purpose in my life.
Favorite Scripture
"For God so loved the world, as to give his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him, may not perish, but may have life everlasting."
Original Prayer Request (posted 2 Years Ago): Over the last year or so, I have slowly pulled away from my family so they would not be able to see the unhappiness and anguish in my life. I did not want to burden them with my problem so I stayed away. In doing this, I may have been responsible for how far apart we have all grown and how complacent towards one another. Please pray the Lord gives me the wisdom, strength, courage and humility necessary to start putting our family back together again. Thank you.
Thank you all for you prayers. It was nice to see each of you caring enough for my concern to pray with me. May the Lord bless each of you and keep you in his benevolence. Amen.
Original Prayer Request (posted 3 Years Ago): Please pray with the coming year we find a renewed sense of compassion, tolerance, and brotherhood as we attempt to live in peace and harmony with one another as brothers and sisters united through our faith and devotion to our Lord.
The gift of free will certainly casts some doubt on anything preordained. The simple fact we were given choice in our lives increases the risk and danger involved in just surviving much less trying to fulfill some preordained plan. Getting into Heaven becomes a complex myriad of choices where one misstep could be catastrophic.
When I was younger, I was surprised on how much we cared for each other. Our elders were respected and never neglected. Our children were looked after by our friends and neighbors making sure they were out of harm's way. We paid attention to one another and everyone's problems were a concern to us all. Now, when I look around, I see people who are doing too many things leaving the elderly and the young to fend for themselves. I see people so obsessed about how they will benefit in any circumstance that the problems of friends and neighbors are never considered. I see people wanting more money, more things, more anything without any real need or appreciation for what they have. I see people making so much fuss about what they don't have or what they want and their possessions making so much noise that we don't remember what quiet is. And, I see people with such a need for uniformity, order, and control that God is driven from our schools, communities, and homes. It would seem we are a country so intent on making sure everyone's religion is represented and equally so that we would rather remove it from our daily lives than deal with alienating anyone. I believe we are moving in a direction that can only lead to darkness and despair. Very simply put: people have stopped caring for others and started caring solely for themselves leaving the teachings of Jesus scattered about like trash on the floor. There seem to be less and less caring people left in the world and the remaining few who practice these teachings of Jesus can not do it on their own. So, we lose a grandmother who can not care for herself and a child is disappears never to be seen again. These losses should be looked at with grave alarm, but they become so common we no longer make the effort. This can not continue if we hope to survive as a people. So, I ask you: What can you do to change the growing tide of greed and pride which keeps us from reaching out to help one another? How are we as a Christian community going to take back what we have lost? When are we going to stand up and say, "No, you will not remove my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ from my daily life!" and start insisting He be a part of all that we do? There is nothing we can not accomplish with our Lord by our side. So let's start talking about how we can go back to caring and then put our thoughts into action. Who wants to be first to dazzle us with your brilliance?
We should leave the percentages to the mathematicians for no good can come from further dividing Christians into the saved and the unsaved. Well, unless your goal is to lead a crusade to ensure all Christians are saved. My faith in His Word casts doubt in my mind those who are saved number so few. Not all Christians can shout His Word from the mountains and not all Christians have the gift to effectively pass His Word on to others. Some Christians show us the way by leading their lives in perfect, quiet, reflective obedience to His teachings. With humility and quiet strength, they convey what the spoken and written word can not. We sometimes go unnoticed and lead our lives in quiet devotion, but these things do not make us any less of a Christian or change the truth of our salvation. I will pray each day that of the 75% who claim to be Christians that 75% shall receive salvation. Some would call this naive, I call it faith.
This guy I know online is going though a lot right now.. from friends dying and other friends committing suicide, family falling apart, and a girlfriend who recently hurt him. He's admitted more then one thoughts on suicide, and today said he really, really thought about it. So please pray for him, he know's God exists and that he loves everyone, but does not believe.
thanks
I feel for your friend as it would seem the entire world has chosen to challenge him all at once, but the Lord does not put in front of us what we can not overcome. Our faith is tested and sometimes we struggle to find the courage to keep fighting, but in our darkest hour we will find all that we need to move forward by trusting our Lord. I pray our Lord reach down into your friend and stir his spirit to belief in His truly awesome power. A power which nurtures and protects all who praise His name. May your friend find the courage to put these seemingly impossible circumstances in the Hands of the Lord. For He has the power the calm the raging storm of grief, loss, and turmoil and bring a peace and serenity to his life the likes of which he has never seen. Our Father will never abandon us who have hope and faith in his benevolence. Amen.
This year has been a year of growth and acceptance thanks to the grace and generosity of my Lord and Savior. I have discovered my voice and how sweet the sound when praising the Lord. I have found the peace and tranquility that only exists in the quiet and peaceful contemplation of His Words. I have learned the true nature of humility and how humbling yourself to the people you love can heal and restore what was once broken and lost. I have learned how to let go of loss, sadness, guilt and hatred by releasing them into the Lord's care. All these lessons made clear when I put my faith in the Lord and let Him show me the way.
Prayer has become a place I go whenever I need to feel the Lord in my life. It's a place where I draw strength, courage, wisdom, peace, serenity, and love. I speak with Him every day and put my hopes and fears in His Hands. I remember a time when everyday seemed to be a fight and a struggle to overcome. Misery seemed my only companion and I felt detached from the Lord. Then I began to pray and commune with Him and found the more of myself I showed to Him the less I had to fight. I learned I no longer have to struggle. For in giving my life over to the Lord, no fight nor struggle can stand against Him.
Ok we all know what the Bible says on same-gender marriages, but it's kind of hard to fight this topic in today's world because it's a "Free world" you know?
I mean sure it's a freedom but as a Christian, it's wrong. So when I hear about anti-gay places I sort of cheer because of people standing up for what they think is right, but at the same time all the world is complaining because it's anti-freedom.
And I do not support people bulling and name-calling gay people either. I hate it in fact. I hear people (read it online actually) making fun of gay people. wrong. we're supossed to love them.
just saying going to bed now night :p
It is not for us to cast judgment upon others for their sins nor is it for us to tell someone the path they follow will not lead them to salvation. We are followers of Jesus Christ and must follow his teachings by their application to our own lives thus serving as an example for others to follow. Are we so full of pride we dare to say we know God's plan where homosexuals are concerned? I have a belief that God makes no mistakes when creating us, His children and we are all made for a purpose that only He knows. What if homosexuals are a test meant to see how we treat our brothers and sisters in the face of scripture? Do we cast judgment and try to change them into what we believe is a good Christian? Or do we love them and fight for their rights leaving judgment in the hands of the Lord? Where equal rights and treatment are concerned, I doubt Jesus would be opposed to fairness and equality. If you look at the marriage issue, the underlying issue is not marriage, but the rights and benefits our laws bestow upon people who are married. Give homosexuals these rights and benefits and the questions about violating the sanctity of marriage become irrelevant. We would then be justified in protecting this religious institution from intrusion upon by homosexuals. However, we continue to see these two issues as one divisive issue that puts Christians at odds with one another. Regardless of how we feel about our homosexual brothers and sisters, it is our duty to ensure they are treated the same as we are because at the very core we are all Christians and no Christian should ever have to stand alone when fighting for basic rights. What hurts my brother hurts us all and we are all less because of it? We gain nothing by turning our backs on homosexuals because we lose the strength of their numbers and harbor guilt leaving them alone. By embracing them and fighting for their equality, we show the world that even when we disagree, we are one people, once voice through Jesus Christ who would never deny His love to any of God's children.
I am really, really struggling right now. I am facing a lot of temptation, and I can see myself slipping further and further from God. I see it happening, but I don't know how to stop it. I know that I am already disobeying my mom, and if I continue in this, I will be completely disobeying my parents AND God. The likelihood of going through this and getting back out pure and whole is very, very slim.
Part of me wants to flee from the temptation, but the other part is drawn to it. The persistence of the other party doesn't help...
When you remove emotion and judgment from the issue, you are left with a choice: to sin or not to sin. With one choice you are a good Christian for not falling victim to temptation. With the other choice, you show your weakness by sinning and know you must try harder to be a good Christian. Either choice, remember this truth: Jesus will still love you whatever choice you make and even sinners can be saved through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Now to help you before you have to make the choice, you must pray, pray, and, then, pray some more. And beyond prayer, you must commune with Him away from where we gather to praise His name. When you are waiting in a doctor's office or when you are sitting inside watching the rain, talk to Him. Tell him what your going through, what help you need, why you are sad, why you are happy, and why you are angry with Him. He will not fail you and you will hear His voice guiding you, strengthening you, lifting you up, and showing you His love.
When I have a problem I am having difficulty with, I ask for His help and have faith He will find a solution. No one can stand against Him and with Him fighting for me and defending me, nothing can defeat me.
Please Login Here