[__ Prayer __] pray for my parents, please

[Christ_empowered]

They're --wonderful-- people. I'm just now to the point where I can see...wow, they had a rough run of things. This town hasn't been good to them, I was a horrible offspring, on and on it goes...

...and yet, they now support me and protect me. When I got in legal trouble, they even sprang for bond money and a good lawyer. Made a world of difference, that's for sure. I got saved on bond and the lawyer was able to get what started as a (bad) felony down to a serious misdemeanor. I've now been off of probation over 6 months, Praise God!

They clearly love me and care for and about me, despite....who I was, what I did, all the nastiness that went along with the old me. I see now that they were stressed when I was growing up, and they didn't have family or real, genuine friends nearby, so...yeah. That happens, I see that now.

I want them to get genuinely, truly saved. They were both raised Calvinist which...is what it is, I guess, LOL. My dad pops in at a local megachurch now and then, which is...well, again: it is what it is. Not everybody believes the same way, of course.

They're just...so kind, compassionate, especially now that The Lord has changed me so much, since He moved on my heart and I got genuinely saved, a bit less than 5 years ago. And they've been burned by "church people," too, especially my mother. I didn't -get it- growing up, but now I suspect that there were lots of social class and lifestyle issues going on at the church I went to till I hit 13/14 (my parents stopped going and stopped taking me), plus church politics, etc.

So...yeah. I'm finally able to appreciate my parents and love them more and more as I should, which is not really "progress" so much as it is...a clear sign of God-given transformation. I pray that The Lord will lavish His blessings upon them and I also pray that He will bless and guide them into genuine repentance+salvation.

Thanks.

 

[Pegasus]

Heavenly Father Almighty God we ask CE's parents will call upon the Holy One and Just Jesus Christ. The Prince of Life Whom You raised from the dead and in Whom we proclaim our Lord and Savior. We pray his parents will through faith in His Name will be washed clean and The Holy Spirit fill them.

Yes this faith, we pray, which comes through Your Son will give them perfect soundness.

We ask You give CE's parents the godly sorrow leading to repentance and salvation. We pray for them to be converted that their sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come to them by Your presence dear Lord.

In Jesus Name we pray.

Amen.

 

[Eugene]

They're just...so kind, compassionate

Brother Christ_empowered, I can only read of your experience with your parent’s background, but I can draw upon scripture as to its effect in their lives. Regardless our difference in doctrine, it’s apparent by their works in love, God has received them (Rom 14:3).

They were both raised Calvinist

Rom 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
And there's an old saying that the proof is in the pudding, I praise God with you for them.
Jas 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
Jas 2:18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

 

[Christ_empowered]

thanks for the prayers+replies.

I think mama's retirement is part of God's work in her life. There's still distance between us, which...well, its a miracle that The Lord has willed so much reconciliation here, already. I see that now, and I'm increasingly grateful.

Now that she's not working a high stress job w/ all kindsa politics going on, I'm thinking it'll be easier for The Lord to speak to her heart and bring her to saving faith in Christ. Hoping+praying so, also.

My dad...I dunno. Not to sound too judgmental, but this megachurch place scares me. They have a new head minister in now, cuz the old dude got fired for drinking and some other behaviors. Ugh. I just...I never found anything challenging or even other-worldly about what they taught, and sometimes...it seems like any other megachurch in anytown, usa: big church, big parking lot filled with big SUVs, etc.

Point is...I guess I'm just going to pray that God will move on their hearts directly, as I believe He did mine. I was lost and hopeless, and then --boom-- ...things looked terrible, Jesus saved me, and I've never been the same since (in good ways, at long last...).

OK. Thanks again.

 

[Eugene]

I never found anything challenging or even other-worldly about what they taught, and sometimes...it seems like any other megachurch in anytown, usa

Hi CE, have you considered finding an assembly you believe to be preaching truth, and attending it regularly? Your faithfulness might be the very thing that sets the standard for your family's faith to be raised. Although not seeming to satisfy your wants for their lives, some things, and I can't remember what they were, but I got the idea they were truly saved. It may have been the very trials of their high stress jobs that moved them to call upon God (Rom 10:13-14), and now they just need to resolve doubts they may have as they grow older and grow in faith (There remains many things when aging to bring them to seek God even more.). Do not doubt the quality of God's continuing work in their lives (Php 2:13), and you may be given the privilege seeing miracles there too.

 

[Christ_empowered]

thanks, Eugene.

I think I just get too...pessimistic, maybe? I dunno. Not about my parents, but about the megachurch. I dunno.

But, yeah...you're more than likely spot on. They --have-- faith in Christ and knowledge of Christ. As The Lord began working in my life, I saw an open book of Calvinist theology on my mama's table. The book was opened to a chapter on "Regeneration."

OK. Thanks, yet again. Maybe the megachurch isn't so, so, so terrible? The --big-- thing is to find a church we can all 3 more or less agree on, go to, and grow in, both individually+as a family. I --am-- blessed beyond measure that they've gone so far above and beyond with me...and I'm just now beginning to see that 99.xyz% of American parents wouldn't have done 1/10th of what they've done, and they sho nuff wouldn't be supporting and protecting me now, either. God is good! I am --blessed-- to have my parents, I see that now, much more clearly than ever before.

((finished, for now))

 

[Christ_empowered]

me, yet again, LOL.

So...here I am, stressing about my relationship w/ my parents at times...and mama knocks on my door. She's baked up some jalepeno poppers. She put some on a plate for me, with sour cream on the side and some kind of herb as a garnish. I am...--so-- thankful for my parents!

I see now that relationships involve...well, --my-- behavior, also, LOL. By the grace of God, I've been transformed. Work-in-progress? Absolutely! But I do think about other people much more now. I even got my dad a lil pint of ice cream today (this brand had a flavor I thought he'd like...he's all about cherries lately...).

So...yeah...they clearly love me and care for me, and they take good care of me, too. Most 33 year old dudes w/ backstories like mine....errrr....aren't even --alive-- , much less living comfortably, in peace+safety. I see that now, I certainly didn't for a long time there (did I mention too much electroshock???).

God is good! I don't know about church tho. My mom likes Pentecostals, but I don't think she'll go to a Pentecostal church. They tend to be very conservative. My dad...liked the Pentecostals when I went to a Pentecostal program, but he seems to veer more towards the megachurch, and against anything related to his Calvinist upbringing.

We shall see, I suppose. At any rate...GOD IS GOOD!