Prayer request

[MsDahl]

Would you pray for me to make wise choices when it comes to my child? Right now I am facing my evangelical MIL with the accusation that I am irresponsible because I am spending time with a woman and her daughter that I met in my area during a time of need. My MIL thinks Satan sent her to my life to destroy me and my family. I have sensed that this woman's spirit is broken and in need of the healing of Christ. My MIL says that when she encountered her, her spirit was overwhelmed with fear regarding my son's protection due to the "demons that surrounded this woman." I have prayed to God about this situation and I have received certain convictions for the time being (to always be present during all interactions between her and my child and to bear witness to Christ with the spoken word around her). The thing is I enjoy her company, my son enjoys playing with her daughter and my spouse has been away for 2 months now for training purposes. She has helped me out in some times of need during this time and it was very kind for her to do that.

I don't want to dismiss what my MIL is saying (however, for a while when she met me she believed me to be a witch when I very much was seeking Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior over my life although I was in bad standing with the Orthodox Church at that time). If she could believe me to be a witch and I know I wasn't, it is a bit difficult for me to believe this "spiritual leading". I have basically refused to stop spending time with this woman and now I am feeling doubtful of my decision because my spouse has expressed some concern over this newfound friendship. He asked me not to go to her home again until he comes home and is able to meet the family person to assess the situation for himself as he realizes that his mother can get a bit extreme in her reactions. Now my MIL has pulled away from me emotionally and it only reinforces my sense of insecurity over my choice.


Thank you for any prayers you may offer. I wouldn't ask for prayers for myself if I didn't feel insecure about this especially because it has to do with my child whom I am required to protect.

[Rindicella]

Would you pray for me to make wise choices when it comes to my child? Right now I am facing my evangelical MIL with the accusation that I am irresponsible because I am spending time with a woman and her daughter that I met in my area during a time of need. My MIL thinks Satan sent her to my life to destroy me and my family. I have sensed that this woman's spirit is broken and in need of the healing of Christ. My MIL says that when she encountered her, her spirit was overwhelmed with fear regarding my son's protection due to the "demons that surrounded this woman." I have prayed to God about this situation and I have received certain convictions for the time being (to always be present during all interactions between her and my child and to bear witness to Christ with the spoken word around her). The thing is I enjoy her company, my son enjoys playing with her daughter and my spouse has been away for 2 months now for training purposes. She has helped me out in some times of need during this time and it was very kind for her to do that.

I don't want to dismiss what my MIL is saying (however, for a while when she met me she believed me to be a witch when I very much was seeking Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior over my life although I was in bad standing with the Orthodox Church at that time). If she could believe me to be a witch and I know I wasn't, it is a bit difficult for me to believe this "spiritual leading". I have basically refused to stop spending time with this woman and now I am feeling doubtful of my decision because my spouse has expressed some concern over this newfound friendship. He asked me not to go to her home again until he comes home and is able to meet the family person to assess the situation for himself as he realizes that his mother can get a bit extreme in her reactions. Now my MIL has pulled away from me emotionally and it only reinforces my sense of insecurity over my choice.


Thank you for any prayers you may offer. I wouldn't ask for prayers for myself if I didn't feel insecure about this especially because it has to do with my child whom I am required to protect.

God bless you...I am praying for you tonight and will add you to my daily prayers.

I think your MIL, as delightful as she may be under other circumstances, is misled and under the "influence". I know we are not supposed to engage in "private revelations" but nonetheless, I get a very strong premonition that you are in the right on this. Please talk to your priest straight away on this and follow his advice, or your spiritual mother if you have one. I will be praying for you.

God bless you.

[jckstraw72]

Lord have mercy!

[Rindicella]

Okay, my curiousity is up: why on earth would she accuse you of being a "witch"? I'm a former occult member and I know a "witch" when I see one...How does SHE "know"?

God bless you...I am praying for you dear heart...

[Rindicella]

I may have used the wrong word. I said "premonition" but my reaction is more about logical deduction. The "spirit of discernment" (who is the Holy Spirit and NOONE ELSE) is NEVER wrong. Not even once. If your MIL was wrong before, about you being a "witch" there is no Orthodox reason for ANYONE to "credit" her current feelings about your friend. God bless you.

Lord, Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy....

The reason I did not edit my post, above, is because I don't want anyone to "wonder" if I deleted anything. I haven't. My answer stands...talk to your priest. And pray for your MIL as I believe she may be listening but not understanding.

[Lukaris]

Lord have mercy.:crosseo:

[Chocolatesa]

:crosseo:

[Protoevangel]

http://pwlrecruiters.com/images/OrthoPrayer.gif

[MsDahl]

Thank you Rindicella, jckstraw, Lukaris, chocolatesa, Protoevangel for your prayers.

I was at my MIL's today and she unloaded all of her 'issues' with me and with this situation today. God gave me the boldness to test her premonitions as God asks us to test the spirits. I even reminded her of her "belief" that I was a witch when we first met and that I know I was a believer of Christ as Savior over my life. It was an ugly scene and I am so sad about this all. However, my MIL asked me to speak to my priest about this relationship I have formed with this woman. So, clearly she is very disturbed by her.

For those of you in big churches, how do you find a way to get in to your priest for a personal meeting? He tells me I should just stop by during the week but how do I do that with a 3 year old?

[MsDahl]

double post

[rusmeister]

:crosseo:

[GBTWC]

Genesis 2:24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
MARK 10:7 “FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER,
:pray:

[Lukaris]

Thank you Rindicella, jckstraw, Lukaris, chocolatesa, Protoevangel for your prayers.

I was at my MIL's today and she unloaded all of her 'issues' with me and with this situation today. God gave me the boldness to test her premonitions as God asks us to test the spirits. I even reminded her of her "belief" that I was a witch when we first met and that I know I was a believer of Christ as Savior over my life. It was an ugly scene and I am so sad about this all. However, my MIL asked me to speak to my priest about this relationship I have formed with this woman. So, clearly she is very disturbed by her.

For those of you in big churches, how do you find a way to get in to your priest for a personal meeting? He tells me I should just stop by during the week but how do I do that with a 3 year old?I cannot answer but does he live in a rectory & is he married (& with children)or widowed? Just trying to help grasp for ideas.

[Philothei]

Hey Mrs. Dahl .. .i am sending you a pm... need to think first but to be honest.. i would tell you straihgt out... Trust your MIL sometimes older people have intuition... ;)... the rest in my pm...

[Protoevangel]

However, my MIL asked me to speak to my priest about this relationship...
Well, it looks like she gave you some great advice, after all. :)

[Rindicella]

Thank you Rindicella, jckstraw, Lukaris, chocolatesa, Protoevangel for your prayers.

I was at my MIL's today and she unloaded all of her 'issues' with me and with this situation today. God gave me the boldness to test her premonitions as God asks us to test the spirits. I even reminded her of her "belief" that I was a witch when we first met and that I know I was a believer of Christ as Savior over my life. It was an ugly scene and I am so sad about this all. However, my MIL asked me to speak to my priest about this relationship I have formed with this woman. So, clearly she is very disturbed by her.

For those of you in big churches, how do you find a way to get in to your priest for a personal meeting? He tells me I should just stop by during the week but how do I do that with a 3 year old?

Dearheart,

God bless you...now you listen to an old bat like me (if anyone doubts my "youthful" age, make something of it! LOL) : sometimes we have something comforting to say:

Please do not be sad: she attacked you today (out of ignorance, fear and misunderstanding) and you defended yourself (in truth and in love). You stated, "she unloaded"...well, that's her perogative but that does not make her "feelings' or her "intuitions" (for lack of a different term) RIGHT or even remotely CORRECT. People make all sorts of incorrect judgements: "For the heart is deceitful above all else; who can understand it?" (Jeremiah...chapter 17 I think...hmmm)

Being old or "older" doesn't make her "wiser" or more correct either. I know plenty of cantankerous old fools, and that's all they are.

Just because she asked you to talk to your priest, does not give credence to her position...very often, it is a ploy to MAKE YOU AFRAID TO TALK TO YOUR PRIEST, FOR FEAR THAT HE MIGHT SIDE WITH THAT PERSON. It's sort of like when I was married to that old conniver I called "Jerk". He often used to say, "Yes, you are wrong...just ask your mother..." He used my own mother against me. I never did ask her anything because I feared he was right. I would have saved myself a lot of grief if I had called his bluff.

Now, as to talking with your priest, I recommend this: you should call him up, ask for an appointment. Take your 3 year old with you. Children belong in church, and most of the4 time, they are not listening to adults when they don't have to. Give her some crayons and ask her to copy an icon...that should keep her busy for at least 10 minutes, until you get all the important details out.

If everything else fails, I recommend the old fashioned method: You write everything out in letter form, and mail (yes, GASP!) MAIL IT .... post office box style, complete with a stamp on the envelope. And in your letter, you ask him to return the message by telephone by a certain date when you know you will be available.

Please do not doubt yourself dearheart...i don't doubt you one bit and I have never even had the pleasure of meeting you. God bless you...I am praying for you everyday....

Love always in Christ,
R. --- the youthful looking "babushka"

[Matrona]

For those of you in big churches, how do you find a way to get in to your priest for a personal meeting? He tells me I should just stop by during the week but how do I do that with a 3 year old?

Just wait until it's a good time for you and your child to go, and then head on over. It sounds like he's trying to give you the maximum opportunity to meet with him by not holding you to a specific time.

[Soha]

My advice, based on the little information I know, is to ask your priest what he thinks, but also don't completely disregard what your MIL says. She may be wrong, but it's better to error on the side of caution :)

[Thekla]

prayers for you !

if you're like me, take your 3 yr. old along to speak with the priest. Its good modeling, and your 3 yr. old will hopefully grow up thinking that talking to your SF is just a normal part of life.

And though in an uncomfortable way, at least your MiL cares about you (and may be more vigilant while your husband is away). So thank God for that, and pray for her, too.

[Andrew21091]

For those of you in big churches, how do you find a way to get in to your priest for a personal meeting? He tells me I should just stop by during the week but how do I do that with a 3 year old?

You should call him first before you go to make sure he isn't busy with someone else.

Sorry of your situation. God will help.

[MsDahl]

Thank you to those of you who offered prayers and/or reached out to me in a PM about this situation. I do believe that prayer always helps :)

Basically, this woman is definitely in need of healing that only Christ can give. She was willing to come with me to a mom's group for spiritual fellowship that is centered on Jesus' teachings. She came once and hasn't returned again. She also misled me to believe she was a Christian who is anti-religion but still a believer of Christ (there are plenty of Christians like this in today's world). However, the truth (thankfully) has been revealed to me and she is a Buddhist. When I apologized to her for assuming she was Christian based on what we talked about, she explained that she calls herself a Christian Buddhist. :confused: She just doesn't think that Christ is THE way to eternity.

Anyway, I have decided to continue to be a vessel for Christ and show her what it means to live one's life with Christ as Lord and Savior over it. However, I am definitely wary that she deceived me so I have put in many more personal boundaries in our friendship (than I originally had in place). I believe that God has placed me in her life to love her in the way He loves her. It does not seem to be the 'sisterly' relationship I have been praying for ever since I moved to this area (a woman who is also a mom/wife experiencing similar things as me).

My relationship with my MIL, otoh, has been greatly affected by her irrational behaviors and outbursts towards me during this whole ordeal. I have intentionally pulled away from her due to her ridiculous treatment of this situation.

[All4Christ]

Just keep a wary eye on the situation. I had a friend who (at least with the surface details you gave me) seems very similar. She went to an Orthodox Bible study with me once - and went to Divine Liturgy with me once - and then I found out that she was lying in many many ways. I kept trying to be a supportive friend, as she desperately needed someone who could show her Christ's love and show her what faith in God should be - but eventually, the relationship between us pulled apart. I'm open to be there for her if she ever needs me - or accepts my help - but at the same time, I also need to watch out for my own spiritual well-being - as our friendship ended up hurting my spiritual walk as well.

Talk to your priest - and keep the situation in prayer. You, your son, your friend, and her child will all be in my prayers. :crosseo:

And - perhaps (though I don't know the full situation) stay open for your MIL in case she ever does decide to look into this more. However, your SF and/or priest should be able to guide you better with that more than I (or anyone else here on CF) could do.

[MsDahl]

Ok, wow, I was not expecting this and I don't know how to even do this from an Orthodox perspective buuuut this woman today asked me to pray with her. She called me earlier this week crying as she feels broken and ravaged and scared. I comforted in a secular way that day. She knows I am an Orthodox Christian so I didn't feel it necessary to push Jesus Christ on her.

Today I saw her in person and she was very out of it physically. Just drained and I kept getting this urge to tell her about Jesus and how she can drink from the water that she will never thirst again but I didn't say anything. Then when she asked me to pray with her, I didn't know what to say but I knew God wanted me to do this. I started innerly praying the Jesus Prayer and I explained to her that if I pray with her I don't want her to feel uncomfortable because I pray only to the Christian God. She said she wanted it. So we prayed and I did my best to do so from an Orthodox perspective but I don't have enough prayers memorized. She prayed the Jesus Prayer with me and she said she wants to come back with me to that women's group. We were both in tears by the end of this and I am so thankful that God has been able to use me to help her find Him.

I need help now. I plan on helping her get started on her walk with Jesus but I don't know which direction I should head in from an Orthodox perspective (I've done this in the past from a heterodox perspective before I reconnected with the Church). I'm open to pointers :)

[Gwenyfur]

I'll leave the pointers to those who are more wise than I...but I will keep the entire situation in my prayers :crosseo:

[MsDahl]

Thank you Gwenyfur.

I came across a site called Orthotracts (http://orthotracts.org/index.php). Would anyone know if that is a good one to get some information?

[Lukaris]

Let me first state that I bow in humility to the inspiration you are reflecting in bringing a soul to Christ in His holy church. Since you mentioned that she is (was?) a Buddhist then perhaps focus on the ultimately most important & yet most basics of our faith. The 2 great commands (Mathew 22:37-40), the golden rule (Mathew 7:12), the 10 commandments, prayer, fasting (go slow there), and alms giving, the Beatitudes etc. These are much of the basic framework of a catechism I possess and are prominent in the Didache so reflect the basic pattern of apostolic instruction (as far as day to day living). Pondering these and reflecting on what our Saviour says, "Jesus answered and said to him, "He who has my commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves me. And he who loves Me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him." (John 14:21) A Buddhist should appreciate our Saviour's desire for us to ponder His love, compassion, and mercy. Theology can come later or may become easily understood when studied if the commandments are received and practised first (and with some people it is inherently so, they just need Christ to fulfill them). Lord have mercy and God bless you.:crosseo: also see short article from 20th c martyred St. Mother Maria (Skobtsova) http://www.berdyaev.com/skobtsova/pauperes_spiritu.html

[MsDahl]

Lukaris, thank you for that basic framework. It gives me a great place to start this process. She is having extreme difficulty sleeping at night as her anxieties are keeping her awake (she also suffers in other areas healthwise). So, I gave her the Prayer of Sick person to recite. I also provided her with a Bible (she didn't have any in her home). I need to stop being lazy with my own walk, I don't read Scripture every day as I should :-( I want to lean on my Orthodox teachings to help guide her, sadly, though, my understanding of our faith pales in comparison to many of the regs here. :blush:


Prayer of a Sick Person (http://www.transchurch.org/sguide/prayerbook.asp#Prayer%20of%20a%20Sick%20Person)
Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior, You became man and died on the cross for our salvation. You healed people of sickness and affliction through Your love and compassion. Visit me, Lord and grant me strength to bear this sickness with which I am afflicted, with patience, submission to Your will and trust in Your loving care. I pray that You will bless the means used for my recovery and those who administer them. Grant that my sickness may be to my spiritual benefit and that I may live the rest of my life more faithfully according to Your will. For You are the source of life and healing and to You I give praise and glory, now and forever. Amen.

[HandmaidenOfGod]

I want to lean on my Orthodox teachings to help guide her, sadly, though, my understanding of our faith pales in comparison to many of the regs here. :blush:

The most wonderful thing is that you can start learning right here, right now. We are all here to help you. The most wonderful thing about the Orthodox faith is that it doesn't just tell you to "live the faith," it also provides you with the tools to do so.

I would recommend speaking to your priest about this woman, asking for him to pray for her, and perhaps even introducing her to him. After all, what a better way to teach her about the faith?

You are doing the right things though. You've set up personal boundries, and you are praying with her. Keep it up, and good things will follow.

[ArmyMatt]

Lord have mercy my sister!