So... my husband, myself and our oldest son are all very anti-covid vax (not vaccines in general, but this is not a vaccine, it is an experimental gene therapy, but I digress)
I’m not around people much, but my husband takes ivermectin prophylacticly, and my older son is around covid all the time (in hospitals) and has not gotten sick.
But my youngest son, is so stressed about covid. He is 19. Apparently, on social media he is getting bombarded with messages constantly about getting the vax. All of his friends were vaxxed with J&J with no issues. So, he has decided he is just going to take it. He won’t hear any reason on it - the fact that his chance of getting sick from the shot maybe more than his chance of getting severe illness from covid at his age. He has health issues that this may exacerbate. I am just sick over this, I told him my thoughts but at 19, it is his decision. I pray he will change his mind. He just wants to be done with it.
I am angry at the messaging that is making him feel he needs to do this. It is so misleading and wrong. He knows it is risky. He knows there is no undoing this. He just wants it “over with” so the ads or whatever stop bothering him and he can be free to do what he wants. He can in our state anyway, there are no mandates or restrictions around here. No mandates at work either. He has never been one to be pressured into anything, drugs, etc. This is social media brainwashing.
Long story short, please pray for him that God will make the right choice clear to him.
Last one!
We cannot expect what we want, also born of the flesh, but must put all Faith in the Father enacting His will.
Amen. Expecting/wanting are fine for children. Expecting/wanting take our focus off of our Lord. The old hymn reminds me to "Turn Your Eyes upon Jesus..." He has always provided and He always will. Giving Thanks must be my very joyous occupation; as I mature in the faith, so it shall be. GBY, flatissmooth! And, THANKS again!
I could afford to be much more joyous in my giving of thanks.
Just a continuous circle of awesome going on here!
Many Thanks! And of course thanks to the Father!
What a blessing you have been for me!
Oh, wait! Dear flatissmooth! Please let me tell you! Remember Psalm 22:3! Psalm 22 is an EXTRAORDINARY psalm anyway but verse 3 is just amazing!
This has been interpreted to me (and I have experience with it) as saying that "God becomes even more closely present with us in our sincere Praise and Thanksgiving". For instance, I don't have to be 'ecstatic' or even especially 'effusive' in my worship to invite The Holy Spirit to be "right there with me" - but sincere praise, sincere thanksgiving is almost 'magical' as a way for us to OPEN ourselves to the presence of God. In our praise, He 'inhabits' our lives! WHOA!
Of COURSE we are always in the Presence of our Lord but we get bogged down with the day to day of existence. And no, there IS NO MAGIC in the Christian life - but it is almost spooky how He 'shows up' when our praise/thanksgiving is sincere.
What? Is God some sort of egotist? Does He need something from us? NO! He LOVES us and this is a way HE HAS CREATED for us to REALLY reach out to Him, in ANY circumstances. Sincere praise. Sincere thanksgiving.
Feeling gloomy? Having a hard time connecting with God? Prayers not going even passed the ceiling? Start small. "Thank you Lord God, that YOU are God and not the evil one." That's one of my favorites (for more reasons that I have time to explain). And then maybe: "Thank you precious Father for my own dear, departed earthly Father and Mother" and even "Thank you Lord Jesus for your sweet provision in my life - for food, for shelter, for safety..." and on and on - your thanksgiving and praise just need to be sincere; not necessarily spectacular (but fireworks can happen; starting with just little sparks).
Build on this as you are able. HE WILL SHOW UP and your heart will be opened to Him like you can't believe. The health benefits are REAL. You probably will become accustomed to the 'joy' and you will want this, often. I can't say enough about it.
Remember the A.C.T.S. prayer model? It starts with 'adoration'. [Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving and Supplication]. Hah hah hah! News flash for some of your non-praying friends: God WANTS us to be blessed by our own prayers to HIM!
flatissmooth, I have to go but meet with someone else TODAY - if you can - to share some sincere, joyful prayer! HE WILL BE THERE and He LOVES you! GBY, dear Pede! MAGA-A!
A few moments ago I am asking for others to ask with me that He be known by all and here you are giving me the scripture that says He will!
He is wonderful, and quick to act!
You are wonderful! Thank you!