When Jesus told us that we should have a child-like faith, I took him at face value. Because I am a doubting Thomas so much of the time, I rely on signs and miracles to confirm God’s presence in my life.
But so do a lot of people.
On the combox of my post “Dear God: Come, Holy Spirit,” several Beyond Blue readers shared their stories of signs and miracles, too. Here are some of them …
Frank:
We do need assurance and it comes in the ways that God directs/allows/encourages to reach and touch us. Personally, I like the miracles and the mysteries. They don't give me goose bumps nor do I slap my forehead and say, "I could've had a V8!" But they get to me, spiritually and draw me closer. I try to find those moments as often as possible.
Jim:
I have a ring with a cross on it that my father gave me and I turn it after every prayer.
Myra:
I too need to see those mini-signs to keep me grounded. But I feel very often that they may not be visible. They are "gut feelings". Our extended family seems to be going thru lots and lots of aging and health issues as of late and we are praying for some White Doves in our lives to let us know that our attempts at intervention to help each other through these trials are the Godly things to do.
Darvella:
I can really relate to your asking God for signs and wonders because I do the same thing and he always delivers.
Kathryn:
I have had "signs" of things happen. The events that took place after my mom's death are mysterious, but spiritual to me and my family. My mom was a lover of birds. She'd feed by hand all the birds in her yard every day. Within days after her funeral, we had a group of birds that congregated on the ledge of our family room's large window. Some were pecking the glass as if they wanted in. Mother died in September, and that Christmas a bird entering the room along with my son. We watched as the bird circled the tree and sat atop, on the angel. To this day, I believe the significance of the bird is related to my mom.
And this one by Beyond Blue reader Patriese totally floored me because I think she is referring to my piece, “A Shower of Roses”:
I had a similar experience. I had just read an email sent to me from Beliefnet about a woman asking for a sign from God and it was presented in a rose. That very moment I asked God for a sign that he had heard my prayer and that the answer was on it's way.I left home to go to the pharmacy and lo and behold in the middle of the busy roadway was a bouquet of flowers, which some one had thrown out and had been driven over by vehicles and the only thing left untouched was a beautiful rose which I took home and placed in a vase.
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L.
Now ...
What if you found out with absolute certainty , that there WAS a Higher Being?
YES there is a Heaven or Hell.
Would that knowledge change the way you live your life?
V.
I hesitated to write the following Epilogue respectfully and with humility because I know the discussion of religion are intensely personal....
IMHO:
Generally speaking all religions have in common the following:
1.That "God" exists, that man's allegiance belongs to "God."
2. Some version of "The Golden Rule."
3. A moral code of right and wrong.
4. A detailed system of ethics and a world view which each person can relate themselves to others and to the world and can understand his own significance.
5. A set of writings considered to be inspired, that support their faith and practice.
6. All regards man's self-centendness to be the source of his troubles.
All great religions have done service to humanity. It is the foundation to help us reach further for our own personal morals. We cannot blame religion for man's behavior.
IF you're answer's to the above two questions were different; as mine were; I'd like to look at the most overlooked and forgotten one: # 6.
Man is a social being and develops his character in relation to the society in which he belongs, so whatever he does, leaves its impression not only on himself but also on that society.
The elementary rules of conduct is self-discipline. We must learn how to live as harmless and gentle human beings. How to live without disturbing the peace and happiness of others. It means the rights of others to exist. If we believe the world was created solely for our own beliefs then we take from it whatever we want indiscriminately without caring what happens to other living beings and the environment. A moral person has a clear respect and concern for the well-being of every other being on the planet.
Morals need to be based on the humanistic values of love, compassion and serving others. These are qualities for maintaining peace and happiness.
If you believe that a supreme being is going to punish you if you misbehave, it is like being permanently threatened into behaving. In addition, if you believe there is some good, great reward for behaving well, then your motive for good behavior are potentially selfish.
We must train our minds not to do harmful things.The motivation for upholding this precepts is NOT the fear of punishment or reward, but understanding that they are morally wrong.
Carl Jung said:
" Your vision will be become clear only when you look into your heart. Who looks outside, dreams. Who looks inside, awakens."
Look within and find what you seek from without.... and continually give that away to others.
Then, while you are living in this world you can experience heavenly bliss. * But, there is no finish line to be crossed. It is gradual and never ending.
And, speaking from personal experience, my two answers are closer today than when I began.
* You weren't really expecting me to say they were a perfect match, were you? :-)
You are not right.
A few moments later, and releasing http://toazter.ch/blog/index.php?blogId=23 >lucy pinder topless her body. Her mouth. Leigh andpushed open the.
Nelson was that she came out of the woods where he walked to http://muttersprache.org/index.php?blogId=18 >inuyasha kissed kagome have plenty.
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