Great book for Christians.

[LovieDove24]

It's called "The ten prayers God always says yes to."

 

I am not very far along on my spiritual journey but I've found this book extremely comforting in my quest for a better spiritual relationship with my higher power. It does make references to Christ and to the Bible so if you're not Christian you may not enjoy it or benefit from it unless you are interested in its practices. But I truly truly recommend this book to anyone! Its a simple read and only about 100 pages.

 

Thats all! Happy reading!

[disgracian]

I'm curious. What are those 10 prayers?

 

Cheers,

D.

[wuggle]

Not trying to be antagonistic honest but have you read "The God Delusion" by Dawkins, just to get a balanced view ?

[LovieDove24]

Wuggle,

 

I began the first steps of my spiritual journey not by the help of the church, books or through preaching friends. I'd RARELY been to church in all my life and I did not know (and still don't) many religious people.

 

All that happened was one day I said "Hey what the heck, I'll give this a try." I prayed, and I felt something.

 

Because of this I do not need your book to tell me that God doesn't exist. Again, its just something I feel. Me reading what you suggested would be the equivalent of reading a book called "Your feelings don't mean sh$t."

[LovieDove24]

I'm curious. What are those 10 prayers?

 

Cheers,

D.

 

 

I'll only tell you a couple of them because I don't want to give away the book:

 

"Please give me peace."

 

"Okay: I'm afraid. God give me courage."

 

"God please bring some good out of this bad situation."

[wuggle]

Because of this I do not need your book to tell me that God doesn't exist. Again, its just something I feel. Me reading what you suggested would be the equivalent of reading a book called "Your feelings don't mean sh$t."

 

That's cool, honestly wasn't trying to be offensive, I too would always recommend going with what feels right to you.

 

My own spiritual path has always been guided by what I thought was right, I used to be a christian, that felt right for many years, then I spent several years looking at other major religions. Seemed to find elements of truth in most but nothing quite seemed 'right' anymore.

 

I'm happy with where I am , hope you are too. I think the fact that we at least think about this stuff is good.

 

Whatever works for you, good luck

[Eve]

Wuggle,

 

I began the first steps of my spiritual journey not by the help of the church, books or through preaching friends. I'd RARELY been to church in all my life and I did not know (and still don't) many religious people.

 

All that happened was one day I said "Hey what the heck, I'll give this a try." I prayed, and I felt something.

 

Yeah, I can really relate to your journey in faith. By trusting and following the direction this lead me to, I too have come across some excellent prayer books. So thanks for the book suggestion. I will look it up.

 

Heres one for you, its called 'Everyday I pray'. Its a bit longer than 100 pages but essentially captures the central prayers of the Author, Iyanla Vanzant at different times within her journey.

 

Have you tried writing your own prayers? Its amazing when one looks back and sees how the prayers have influenced change and broken through to new understandings.

 

Deep.

 

Thanks again.

 

Regards,

Eve xx

[disgracian]

I'll only tell you a couple of them because I don't want to give away the book:

It's okay, I'm not planning on reading it.

"Please give me peace."

 

"Okay: I'm afraid. God give me courage."

 

"God please bring some good out of this bad situation."

Each one is simply a state of mind. *shrugs*

 

Cheers,

D.

[Moose]

It's okay, I'm not planning on reading it.

 

Each one is simply a state of mind. *shrugs*

 

Cheers,

D.

You're totally wrong D.

 

Your wife is a Christian. She does what Christ/God/and and the Holy Spirit directs her to do.....

 

I pray that by her example you'll come to realize the REALITY of God's existance and why even intellects such as yourself should not dismiss it....

 

Later....

[disgracian]

Typing REALITY in all caps does not make it so. Also, it would be nice if you could refrain from telling me what my wife does or does not do, given that I'm in a much better position to determine this than you.

 

Also, I'm totally right until proven otherwise.

 

Cheers,

D.

[Moose]

Typing REALITY in all caps does not make it so. Also, it would be nice if you could refrain from telling me what my wife does or does not do, given that I'm in a much better position to determine this than you.

 

Also, I'm totally right until proven otherwise.

 

Cheers,

D.

The VERY same could be said from my point of view....so just agree to disagree....

[disgracian]

Not when you factor in that whole burden of proof concept.

 

Cheers,

D.

[Moose]

Not when you factor in that whole burden of proof concept.

 

Cheers,

D.

I don't know what other, "Proof" you need.....the very fact that Intelligent life exists should be enough for any intellectual.

 

Just my .02

[disgracian]

What do you mean, that the existence of intelligent life demands a creator? Elementary fail, my dear Moose. If that's your argument then a being of god's magnitude requires a creator even more badly than we do, and that being also requires an even greater crator, and so on and so on.

 

Invoking a god only creates more questions and problems than it solves, and there is no reason to do so, unless it's the conclusion you want to arrive at. Nothing actually points in that direction. I mean, really. Who looks at any physical object on this earth and thinks to themselves (free of any preconceptions) "My what a complex and incredible thing. It must have been created by an all-powerful god who created the heavens and the earth in seven days, and who loves humanity and sent his only begotten son to die for them!" You can't arrive at that conclusion by any rational means; you have to already be there.

 

Maybe you're just not sure what proof actually means. I don't know...

 

But let us not get into that argument here. It's not relevant to the topic and I've not the patience for it.

 

Cheers,

D.

[Moose]

What do you mean, that the existence of intelligent life demands a creator?

of course

Elementary fail, my dear Moose.

Yep, BUT on who's side?

If that's your argument then a being of god's magnitude requires a creator even more badly than we do, and that being also requires an even greater crator, and so on and so on.

NOT if He's alwa ys existed..from time through eternity....we can't understand this as finite as we are....next....

Invoking a god only creates more questions and problems than it solves, and there is no reason to do so, unless it's the conclusion you want to arrive at.

Again, false, (MY OPINION), it SIMPLIFIES everything and allows me to study His creation from a different point of view.

Nothing actually points in that direction

I think that's where you and I must agree to disagree until God feels it is your time to "wake" up and smell and the roses...

Who looks at any physical object on this earth and thinks to themselves (free of any preconceptions) "My what a complex and incredible thing.

Innate properties even within yourself made you ask that question, Tell me where THAT come from and I'll answer you....everything else you said in post I feel is negate...

[disgracian]

If you really care, take it up in PM. This is not the thread for it.

 

Cheers,

D.

[LovieDove24]

Yeah, I can really relate to your journey in faith. By trusting and following the direction this lead me to, I too have come across some excellent prayer books. So thanks for the book suggestion. I will look it up.

 

Heres one for you, its called 'Everyday I pray'. Its a bit longer than 100 pages but essentially captures the central prayers of the Author, Iyanla Vanzant at different times within her journey.

 

Have you tried writing your own prayers? Its amazing when one looks back and sees how the prayers have influenced change and broken through to new understandings.

 

Deep.

 

Thanks again.

 

Regards,

Eve xx

 

Writing my own prayers thats a great idea actually. Up until this point I've used prayer guides written by others to help me but I think the more comfortable I become in my faith, the easier writing my own will be. And thanks so much for the book suggestion!

[LovieDove24]

It's okay, I'm not planning on reading it.

 

Each one is simply a state of mind. *shrugs*

 

Cheers,

D.

 

If you are in such disbelief, try suspending that feeling and truly trusting in God for a few weeks. It may be forced but he promises to show himself to you in ways that will strike you as more than a coincidence. However it cannot be done as a "test" it must be done in full trusting faith. I've spent much of my life disbelieving and it takes just as much energy to remain on either side of the coin. I urge you to just try it. Try asking for God to show himself to you (don't expect a flash of light, a floating "angel" or the like, it will be particular to YOU and could be something like your child bringing home a painting of God for example when normally he or she paints baloons) Again, equal amounts of energy and at worst all you have is a few weeks lost on your hands.

[disgracian]

If you are in such disbelief, try suspending that feeling and truly trusting in God for a few weeks.

What you are describing is willful self-deception, and I've been down that path before. No thanks.

It may be forced but he promises to show himself to you in ways that will strike you as more than a coincidence.

Because, as a result of the first step, you are convincing yourself of something you otherwise know to be false. Do you see the self-fulfilment? Do you see the circular logic?

I've spent much of my life disbelieving and it takes just as much energy to remain on either side of the coin.

Speaking from past and current experience, it takes no energy at all to side with what all your experiences and understanding points to. If it does take constant energy and effort to maintain a belief, then warning bells should be going off in your head right now, it's a pretty good sign that you're fighting against something.

 

I will politely decline your your offer. I prefer reality as it is: unaltered and unfiltered.

 

Cheers,

D.

[Eve]

What you are describing is willful self-deception, and I've been down that path before. No thanks.

 

Because, as a result of the first step, you are convincing yourself of something you otherwise know to be false. Do you see the self-fulfilment? Do you see the circular logic?

 

Speaking from past and current experience, it takes no energy at all to side with what all your experiences and understanding points to. If it does take constant energy and effort to maintain a belief, then warning bells should be going off in your head right now, it's a pretty good sign that you're fighting against something.

 

I will politely decline your your offer. I prefer reality as it is: unaltered and unfiltered.

 

Cheers,

D.

 

Have you appoached God before? May I ask what happened? Its ok if you do not want to say. I am just curious.

 

Take care,

Eve xx

[Eve]

Writing my own prayers thats a great idea actually. Up until this point I've used prayer guides written by others to help me but I think the more comfortable I become in my faith, the easier writing my own will be. And thanks so much for the book suggestion!

 

Cool.

 

I found writing my thoughts down helped to form prayers in the early days. Great to look back on now as well ...

 

Take care,

Eve xx

[disgracian]

Have you appoached God before?

To cut a long story short, I found nothing. Ultimately I wasn't able to pull the wool over my own eyes and suspend my disbelief in order to "jump that chasm".

 

It was, however, an overall positive experience and I am a better person for it. I describe that part of my life as "taking a vacation from myself". Upon returning I had a little more perspective and was able to make a few personal changes that I otherwise would not have.

 

Cheers,

D.

[quankanne]

another spiritually positive book is Going the Extra Smile by George Foreman. Honest!

 

he talks about how a change in attitude helps bring you more closely in tune with what God's got in mind for you: He talks about going from an egocentric, angry young fighter to someone who had a spiritual conversion after a big fight, and how learning to embrace others showed him God's greater glory. Great stuff.

[quankanne]

ltimately I wasn't able to pull the wool over my own eyes and suspend my disbelief in order to "jump that chasm".

 

that's an interesting way of putting it, D – as a believer, it feels as the veil has been pulled away from my eyes and I can see things more clearly because God has fine-tuned the focus! I guess it really is all a matter of personal perspective

 

xxx,

quank

[disgracian]

Indeed it is. Some people (well, a lot of them actually) really do believe all that stuff, so for them it's easy and they probably can't understand why anybody wouldn't. I'm just not one of them.

 

Since my aforementioned vacation, whenever somebody asks me to try or pretend to believe for a day/week/month whatever, I agree on the condition that they pretend to shed their beliefs for the same length of time. They never agree. I guess they consider it an unreasonable request. Go figure.

 

Cheers,

D.