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A Perosnal issue between me and me (and my FOC, but he doesn't know it)... :(
i don't feel close to him...
Comments
Afterall you seem to be one of the grown up sisters in Christ on this board.. But dont take this from as if its from God how can I know when God is speaking through me or the devil? but it is something to think about maybe?
I hope I dont sound harsh to you. But Christ always loves you and is longing for you to join Him in Communion so you can bear more fruit and He wants you happy. He wants to give you life and give it most abundantly... right?
Pray for me a sinner.
I just wanted to tell you to hang in there. I know what you’re going through must be tough, and it’s a stumbling block that you are faced with, but remember that these little blocks can either make us stronger in our faith or weaker, your choice. Patience is a virtue and it really it is.
“For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.” Romans 15:4
“knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.” James 1:3
“Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.” Rev 14:12
Here’s a story that I heard once that really helps me out when I feel frustrated, I hope it helps you too.
There was an old man that lived in a monastery in Alexandria. The monastery was being remodeled and it was pretty hectic. One day an engineer was in a hurry, and he came up to the old man and told him, “Sir can you give these paper to the Bishop, please don’t leave without giving them these papers in his hand.” So the old man humbly said, “I promise to not leave without giving the papers to the bishop.” The old man went to the bishop first thing in the morning and told him “father, father” the bishop replied, “Yes, yes in a minute.” The man went to the corner and sat on the floor quietly. The bishop walked by him 8 hours later and saw him in the same spot. So the bishop quickly apologized for leaving, he forgot that the man was there and got occupied throughout the day. Then the bishop asked him what he wanted, so he answered and said “an engineer wanted to give you this paper, its very important.” The bishop was surprised and said, “that’s it you stayed here for more then 8 hours to give me a paper, why didn’t you get mad and leave after a couple of hours”? The man warmly smiled and answered, “why would I leave, this time was a blessing I just finished reciting all of psalms.”
I know this story is a little long, but it really teaches us that patience is a virtue and those who posses it will be blessed.
In His Name
Just a suggestion!
Mark
Why dont your try ringing your confession father and confessing over the phone? When I lived in London I had a friend who used to ring his confession father in Sydney and Confess by Phone. Then he would receive absolution over the phone. (I don't think there is a distance limit for God).
Just a suggestion!
Mark
Yea my friend did that once..I thought it was wrong but if two priests did it, I guess not...
i really dont understand...
Marina
Believe me, he'll take u seriously....
May God be with you...(by the way..use this time to clean up yourself even more...what we call tadkeek in confession)
Confession is critical, yet flexible as it can be seen from this post here
RFZ
pray 4 me guys
Pete
and no2 that is actually sooo true coz lyk 1nce i was planning on confessing for a heeps long time and i went and he sed he was busy and stuff and during that that week something happened that i needed to talk to him about so i actually done it the week after so it was better coz its not my normal church so yar i think that is pretty kool
GB ALL
+FROG+
GOD IS GREAT!!
What's important is...well...tell Him that you really want to confess and prepare urself a bit more...being a bit more truer to urself...or maybe for some other reason...
Whoever wants to confess will do....whoever wants to live out the Christian life will do, except everything goes on in God's good time...
RFZ
GB ALL
+FROG+
GOD IS GrEAT!
Mayb u shud just try writing a letter or sumthin cuz i live in o-town and go 2 church here 2 but i stil confess 2 my abouna in daytona. He isnt always free but most of the time hes the 1 that tells me that i am welcome into his office whenever i find it conveniant. try callin him and scheduling a time. if i dont see abouna issac (daytona abouna) in a long time then i just call his house phone and confess over the phone. good luck. may god b w/ u.
[move]Monica[/move]
GB ALL
+FROG+
GOD IS GREAT!!
basketball
it is awsome that God gave you to feel that way, so many others, including myself, won't feel bad if they didn't confess for a while.
In any event, Here are some relvent points that I heard from Clergy on different occaions concerning the same topic.
During the Liturgy, the priest prays 3 abolutions.
1) During Vesper and morning Insence (Absolution of sins)
2) After offering the lamb (Absolution for the servants)
3) Inaudibly before communion (Absolution for communion)
If any of you would notice that the first one is the same that gets said during a confession session. So if it is useless, why would the church put it to be repeated twice for every liturgy? The explanation I got was Our spiritual life is going thru these cycles of up sinning and repenting. while we may sin and repent everyday, it is near impossible to confess everyday. So the absolution is read for those who truely repented but have not gotten a chance to confess yet. This absolution is sufficient since it does involve the repentance and the priest would spread his hands kind like taking the sin of the poeple and offering it on the alter.
This DOES NOT replace repentance. In repentance we recieve a solution and an absolution. If we have a presistant sin, we may repent and fall again and go thru that cycle over and over. A priest would be able to give us advice on a more individual basis on how to stop. Also, its a chance that we sit down with ourselves and go over our sins and transgressions so that we may repent and confess on them all.
Again the above stment does NOT mean we shouldn't confess or as long as I attend morning raising of incense I am ok. I still need that individual session.
Marmar, another piece of advice, a priest may postpone a few things cuz he doesn't have time or he is busy, Things like a sunday school meeting, servants meeting, an outing, etc... But two things that a priest CAN NOT put off till later. Baptisim and confession. In most sacrements, a priest has to be fasting to perform the sacriment (communion, recieve priesthood, etc..) However, the church allowes that a priest may not be fasting to perform the repentance and confession sacrement. He will be held responsible if God forbid somethin happens to someone who wanted to confess and he brushed him/her off. Lets remember one thing though, while it is his duty to perform the sacrment, it is our RESPONSIBLITY to make him aware of it. Be presistant, our father Jacob said to God (I will not release you unless you bless me) Do the same, wait by his car, (may be slash his tires or somethin, then confess about it later lol just kidding) But make known the fact that your desire to confess is far stronger than he can brush off.
One last thing, a story about this saint who went and preached to this woman (I believe she was Saint Mary the Egyptian) and she repented and he was taking her back to confess when night fell. In the morning he found out that she passed away. He was upset thinking that she may not be saved but God appeard to him in a dream and assured him that He accepted her repentance but it was her time. So remember God is merciful and Just. He knows your works.
Just my 2 cents.
god bless!
laura
[move]Monica[/move]
P.S. Sry 4 any misunderstanding
GB
C.A.P. :-*
batikha-basketball :)
Peace and God Bless!
batikha-basketball
MA.