Thanks!

recopied from general religion chat --- http://mingle2.com/topic/439564?page=1

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Psalm 136:1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good.His love endures forever. 2 Give thanks to the God of gods.His love endures forever.3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords:His love endures forever.

James 5:15 - And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

Isaiah 29:14 Therefore once more I will astound these people with wonder upon wonder; the wisdom of the wise will perish, the intelligence of the intelligent will vanish."

Mark 8: 17And when Jesus knew it, he said to them, Why reason you, because you have no bread? perceive you not yet, neither understand? have you your heart yet hardened? 18Having eyes, see you not? and having ears, hear you not? and do you not remember?

Isaiah 6:9 "Go!" he responded. "Tell this people: "'Keep on hearing, but do not understand; keep on seeing, but do not perceive.'

Acts 16: 31They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”32And they spoke the word of the Lord to him together with all who were in his house.

Matthew 11:28Come to me, all you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke on you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and you shall find rest to your souls. 30For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

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I've met some people who actively reject the idea of God in the face of science and logic. Evidence, they say is still trumps faith. But what is faith if not an obviously evident belief in God?

Sometimes we don't see the workings of an invisible God because we remain short-sighted and short-changed by what we visibly see. We desire something tangible in life. Some material assurance to hold on to. An explanation for everything.

Love knows no bounds when given in good faith and with good intent. Prayer is often overlooked as simply a request for God's intervention in what we want, instead of a sign of humility and acceptance of what He has already provided.

Below are some translated stories/blogs/testimonies i found that speaks of evidence of a God that hears and answers. I hope you have something to share as well.

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"Skeptics"

Tonight, I was called up by my mom telling me to rush to the hospital. Apparently, my grandmother'�s blood pressure had dropped (80/40) and couldn't recover for about 4 hours. She also had blood in what little urine that was coming out of her catheter. My mom told me that my grandmother had been asking to see me and I should come immediately.

When I arrived in the hospital, several of my cousins were inside the room while my mom and her siblings were in the waiting area with worried looks. An aunt was discussing with the cardiologist, the surgical resident, and nurses about her condition and the lack of urine output.

I went to my grandmother'��s bedside and she immediately took my hand in hers. Though she seemed partly relieved to see me, more than that, I saw that she was afraid. She looked pale and her hands were cold. When I asked her how she was, she was distracted and didn't answer, her eyes were frantically scanning her surroundings. I asked her if she wanted me to pray with her. The first couple of times, she didn'��t understand me. When I asked her the third time, she said an emphatic yes and immediately closed her eyes.

I told her to ask God to help her body become strong, and to help her not be afraid. She nodded and started praying in Chinese. I joined her in prayer, myself in Filipino. After a few minutes, I asked her if she felt better and if she wasn'��t afraid anymore, she smiled and said yes.

Her BP had risen to 90-110/60 and she wasn't pale any longer. She began to ask about her great grandson and was more conversant. At this time, an uncle came in and I told him what had happened. He said that that'�s good and that "Amah" had faith in God.

I went out and told our other relatives what had happened. Someone said that it was simply because of my presence that made her feel better. Someone said that having someone to talk with made her feel better. Someone said that having me available to explain the medications being injected to her allayed her fears. I'��m pretty sure that the explanation of improved blood pressure will be attributed to the medications being given to her.

I'��ve seen patients deteriorate. I'��ve seen the looks they have when they realize that they could die at any time. I know the effects of medications to the body'��s physiology. I also know the limitations of the body despite medications.

My grandmother is 84 years old, she has 30+ years of uncontrolled diabetes along with ALL the complications, she has had double mastectomy, repeated leg amputations because of diabetic foot. She had been admitted twice in the past year for uro-sepsis. Her most recent amputation a couple of days ago was done with her heart having half the normal ejection fraction, not to mention chronic bronchitis from years of smoking. The mere planning of her surgery was a production number because of the risks involved.

She had just had 4 hours of hypotension with poor urine output, everyone was already preparing for the worst. I don't believe that it would be fair or right for me to take credit for her sudden recovery. I also don't believe that neither medication nor the mere presence of an individual will ever take away the fear in a person'�s heart in the face of death, in the face of the unknown.

Everyone stayed for a while longer. I was happy that my grandmother began telling people that she had prayed, I was happier to see how it helped her. I knew she was never a devoted or otherwise believer in God. I wasn'��t even sure if she considered herself as Buddhist, Catholic, Christian or atheist.

I went home to get some things to bring back to the hospital. I called her up and reminded her that she should give thanks and praise God for answering her prayers and told her that she need never feel alone and to trust in God. She agreed with her voice very happy and enthusiastic. I was joyful for having been given the opportunity to serve my God in this small act of prayer and succeed in helping my grandmother. I hurried back to the hospital afterwards as I was expected to return so that everyone else can have the chance to go back home.

Right now, she is still recovering from what had happened. A lot of medications are still being dripped or injected. She sometimes felt afraid to sleep and is worried about things but doesn't discuss them much. Her two watchers (myself included) are alert to her every move. Tonight, a battle was won, but a war continues on.

My grandmother lived a difficult life, one filled with much anger and hate. She was always at odds with her family, her husband, even her children. She was stubborn and always wanted things her way, regardless how it affected others. For whatever reason she was given a chance to continue with life, I will never truly know. All I know is that on that night, she didn't die afraid. On that night, she was given a chance to have peace in what little time she was granted to find it. For that I give my thanks.

----author wishes to remain anonymous

Has anyone told you lately you are beautiful?
If not, I shall.
I have a feeling I know who is the author!!

Whisper it in my ear ladywind, and i shall answer you.

xie xie nin.

Mei guan xi

http://youtu.be/jSFLZ-MzIhM

Rainbow Connection - kermit


Why are there so many songs about rainbows
What's on the other side?
Rainbows are visions, but only illusions
And rainbows have nothing to hide

So we've been told and some choose to believe it
I know they're wrong, wait and see

Someday we'll find it, the Rainbow Connection
The lovers, the dreamers, and me

Who said that every wish would be heard and answered
When wished on the morning star?
Somebody thought of that and someone believed it
Look what it's done so far

What's so amazing that keeps us star gazing
What do we think we might see?

All of us under its spell
We know that it's probably magic

Have you been half-asleep and have you heard voices?
I've heard them calling my name
Is this the sweet sound that calls the young sailors?
It may be one and the same

I've heard it too many times to ignore it
It's something that I'm supposed to be

La la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la

http://youtu.be/E2VCwBzGdPM
What a wonderful world --Louis Armstrong

I see trees of green, red roses too
I see them bloom for me and you
And I think to myself what a wonderful world.

I see skies of blue and clouds of white
The bright blessed day, the dark sacred night
And I think to myself what a wonderful world.

The colors of the rainbow so pretty in the sky
Are also on the faces of people going by
I see friends shaking hands saying how do you do
But they're really saying I love you.

I hear baby's cry, and I watched them grow
They'll learn much more than I'll ever know
And I think to myself what a wonderful world.
Yes, I think to myself what a wonderful world.

Hi Tilly.

I remember YOU and I miss you!

I am very sure that you too are also here in Mingle
Just hearing your voice last monday after all these years
made me roar with laughter and thought of these









Please remember 6th grade & senior year








See you soon.
I hope for your sake,
I can be the friend now
you deserved to have
years ago.

Thread Bump*****