tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4449799335048031917.post6719735321567142102..comments2024-01-23T03:32:55.662-05:00Comments on The Beautiful Gate: Faith versus "positive thinking"Mary N.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06618318192221168152noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4449799335048031917.post-4281293077494159082012-07-31T16:31:39.609-04:002012-07-31T16:31:39.609-04:00Mary...seeking you out today. How providential to...Mary...seeking you out today. How providential to come to this post. I am in the midst of a terrible bout of depression and insomnia and I can't see the light at the end of the tunnel. Meds are not working well at all. I know I probably need to see a doctor, but I want one that treats mind AND soul, you know? Anyway, I know you understand exactly what I am feeling. Thanks so much for this post when the bitterness is starting to take over.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4449799335048031917.post-21893426307093147542012-07-29T20:55:14.476-04:002012-07-29T20:55:14.476-04:00Hi Barb,
I don't think I've ever heard of ...Hi Barb,<br />I don't think I've ever heard of "Think and Grow Rich" but I'm guessing it doesn't work :) Good point about understanding our value in God's eyes - we are precious to Him. I liked all your thoughts on this subject!Mary N.https://www.blogger.com/profile/06618318192221168152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4449799335048031917.post-60927201260290226892012-07-28T17:30:42.772-04:002012-07-28T17:30:42.772-04:00Love this post, Mary. Odd that in the past few da...Love this post, Mary. Odd that in the past few days I've been very amused by the famous book title, "Think and Grow Rich" by Napoleon Hill, inspired by businessman Andrew Carnegie. It was written during the Great Depression and some Protestant ministers started using it claiming that it worked. Funny that I've been thinking most of my life and I'm far from rich. In the end, we do have to have a deep sense of our value in God's eyes - we can't be putting ourselves down - but also, as you say here, we have to be truthful. The truth is God has given each of us gifts to be used for His greater honor and glory, and if we are living the life He desires for us in submission to His will, in gratitude and peace of heart, we are richer than we can imagine. My take on the positive thinking stuff of these days is that it is New Age man-centeredness and that is more a recipe for disaster of the soul than anything else.Barb Schoenebergerhttp://www.sufferingwithjoy.com/blog/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4449799335048031917.post-91354315372473415652012-07-27T21:09:41.773-04:002012-07-27T21:09:41.773-04:00The book was a bestseller and she wrote two more t...The book was a bestseller and she wrote two more that I know of. They are very misleading. I'm pretty sure she comes from Downunder...lol!<br /><br />It's not exactly cool "up" here right now ;) We get a lot of humidity which makes it feel hot even when the temperature isn't too bad. <br /><br />I loved the newest pictures on your blog. (Didn't have a chance to comment on them yet over at your site - I kept getting interrupted.)<br /><br />God bless you too! Hey, you put the r in this time!Mary N.https://www.blogger.com/profile/06618318192221168152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4449799335048031917.post-37036709773628309392012-07-27T18:46:05.025-04:002012-07-27T18:46:05.025-04:00I haven't heard of "The Secret", Mar...I haven't heard of "The Secret", Mary. Those people must be a bit closer to the fire, here Downunder - I'm trying to find a cool spot, remember?! ;-)<br /><br />I'm glad you knew what I meant. Sometimes, I cringe after reading what I've written because what appears to be truth can sound so judgemental, at times.<br /><br />God bless, my friend:-)Vickyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10020095571963954615noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4449799335048031917.post-11728980094604358142012-07-27T17:57:54.973-04:002012-07-27T17:57:54.973-04:00Hi Vicky,
I knew what you meant. Norman Vincent P...Hi Vicky,<br /><br />I knew what you meant. Norman Vincent Peale came to my mind too as I was writing my comment to you. I think the difference between faith in God and "positive thinking" can be confusing for some people and you explained this difference very well in your comment. <br /><br />What really concerns me are books like "The Secret" which place self at the center of the universe rather than God.<br /><br />Wasn't that written by an Australian producer? You've probably heard of it I'm guessing.<br /><br /> God bless!Mary N.https://www.blogger.com/profile/06618318192221168152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4449799335048031917.post-27161179335829810722012-07-27T15:44:06.768-04:002012-07-27T15:44:06.768-04:00Sorry, Mary, my comment sounded like an attack on ...Sorry, Mary, my comment sounded like an attack on Protestants. I was thinking, in general, of denominations such as the Quakers who were successful in business through self-belief or positive thinking. And, also, the writings of Norman Vincent Peale (who wrote The Art of Positive Thinking). There seems to be a different view of the value of suffering here.<br /><br />God bless:-)Vickyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10020095571963954615noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4449799335048031917.post-53921329036547479572012-07-27T13:50:12.451-04:002012-07-27T13:50:12.451-04:00Hi Victor,
Thanks again for sending me more inform...Hi Victor,<br />Thanks again for sending me more information on St. Charbel. I really appreciate it!Mary N.https://www.blogger.com/profile/06618318192221168152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4449799335048031917.post-46084529704906175842012-07-27T13:48:34.945-04:002012-07-27T13:48:34.945-04:00Hi Grace,
I'm coming by to visit you in a bit:...Hi Grace,<br />I'm coming by to visit you in a bit:) I hope you are doing well! It's raining so we are hanging out at home today. God bless!Mary N.https://www.blogger.com/profile/06618318192221168152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4449799335048031917.post-83468673443280057582012-07-27T13:40:14.815-04:002012-07-27T13:40:14.815-04:00Hi Michael,
Thank you for your comment. I'm gl...Hi Michael,<br />Thank you for your comment. I'm glad you liked the post!Mary N.https://www.blogger.com/profile/06618318192221168152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4449799335048031917.post-41152978162021509092012-07-27T13:37:22.304-04:002012-07-27T13:37:22.304-04:00Hi Vicky,
Good point on the difference between fai...Hi Vicky,<br />Good point on the difference between faith and positive thinking. We want to stand on solid rock, not shifting sand. Self-will is actually what we are trying to RID ourselves of.<br /><br />There are a bunch of New Age books on the market regarding "positive thinking" and this is the type of positive thinking I mistrust. I think Protestants, at least those I know, are more inclined to think of it as God's provision and care for them as stated in the Bible. Maybe some go over the top in this area but in general I think they stand with Catholics on trusting in God and faith in Him versus self. Randy comes from a Protestant background (Baptist and Pentecostal) and he had a very good understanding of faith, the cross, and trusting in God before converting to Catholicism. He did have a friend who was a Baptist that tended toward this manner of self-reliance though - they used to argue about it a lot :)<br /><br />God bless you, too!Mary N.https://www.blogger.com/profile/06618318192221168152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4449799335048031917.post-67231164139623415972012-07-27T13:04:54.826-04:002012-07-27T13:04:54.826-04:00Mary, I agree 100%.
God bless.Mary, I agree 100%.<br /><br />God bless.Victor S E Moubarakhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04280638667651857296noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4449799335048031917.post-79520657030060639892012-07-27T12:54:11.403-04:002012-07-27T12:54:11.403-04:00Hi Madeleine,
Thank you :) They certainly have bee...Hi Madeleine,<br />Thank you :) They certainly have been huge stepping stones in my life!Mary N.https://www.blogger.com/profile/06618318192221168152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4449799335048031917.post-67672875793133909532012-07-27T12:50:20.797-04:002012-07-27T12:50:20.797-04:00Noreen,
Yes, He's definitely doing that!
The ...Noreen,<br />Yes, He's definitely doing that!<br /><br />The puppies are doing well. My carpets on the other hand...<br />Good thing they are such sweet dogs other than the carpet issue!Mary N.https://www.blogger.com/profile/06618318192221168152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4449799335048031917.post-10283954219111627112012-07-27T12:46:06.900-04:002012-07-27T12:46:06.900-04:00Hi Nancy (S),
You're welcome. Did you recover ...Hi Nancy (S),<br />You're welcome. Did you recover after chasing around your grandchild? Lol.Mary N.https://www.blogger.com/profile/06618318192221168152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4449799335048031917.post-51914380665935190462012-07-27T12:39:40.538-04:002012-07-27T12:39:40.538-04:00Hi Nancy,
I'm glad this post spoke to you. The...Hi Nancy,<br />I'm glad this post spoke to you. The world is kind of upside down right now but God has things well in hand. People might be "out of control" but He's not. I sincerely believe that He brings good out of everything and He is the source of all hope!Mary N.https://www.blogger.com/profile/06618318192221168152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4449799335048031917.post-24792232086634029252012-07-27T10:20:31.275-04:002012-07-27T10:20:31.275-04:00Thank you Mary for sharing. Blessings.Thank you Mary for sharing. Blessings.Just Be Realhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15815210059310140144noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4449799335048031917.post-77366750845690745962012-07-27T09:22:02.239-04:002012-07-27T09:22:02.239-04:00Mary - this is an important and spot-on reflection...Mary - this is an important and spot-on reflection. (Not always easy to remember, of course!)<br /><br />God Bless.Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11166363205001461183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4449799335048031917.post-28681742519920226202012-07-27T08:00:05.594-04:002012-07-27T08:00:05.594-04:00Mary, I wonder if one of the differences between f...Mary, I wonder if one of the differences between faith and positive thinking is that faith implies sole trust in God, whereas people often take positive thinking to mean self-belief. With faith, I think we submit to God's will but, with positive thinking, it seems that we will our own desires and become self-willed. <br /><br />It seems that, historically, Protesant faiths have been more inclined to positive thinking, often seeing nothing wrong in willing material success, whereas Catholics, in general, were less prone to see positive thinking as an antidote to suffering.<br /><br />I agree with what you say about suffering, Mary. We all have a choice over whether we allow our sufferings to embitter us or sanctify us.<br /><br />I might have gone off track here, Mary, but I was nodding as I was reading this post because I've thinking about this, too.<br /><br />God bless, Mary:-)Vickyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10020095571963954615noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4449799335048031917.post-13325019919065630712012-07-26T22:54:05.280-04:002012-07-26T22:54:05.280-04:00Love this!
Love how you put it, trials, etc., &qu...Love this! <br />Love how you put it, trials, etc., "can actually be HUGE stepping stones to God"<br />Great post!Denim Journal, Scarlet Lenshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02130977323404866494noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4449799335048031917.post-7018098188809481052012-07-26T21:37:05.112-04:002012-07-26T21:37:05.112-04:00How are your puppies doing?How are your puppies doing?noreenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11512311149461187879noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4449799335048031917.post-52016026884017769272012-07-26T21:36:34.974-04:002012-07-26T21:36:34.974-04:00Hi Mary,
The state of the world is causing us to ...Hi Mary, <br />The state of the world is causing us to choose to pick up our cross or just go with the flow. It's harder now to stand firm for christian values than in decades past. He is separating the wheat from the chaff.noreenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11512311149461187879noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4449799335048031917.post-2053842246352128172012-07-26T19:44:41.603-04:002012-07-26T19:44:41.603-04:00Thank you for writing this important message.Thank you for writing this important message.Nancy Shumanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05584199691076992017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4449799335048031917.post-59624772370426359102012-07-26T19:16:40.064-04:002012-07-26T19:16:40.064-04:00So very true, Mary. The "state of the world&...So very true, Mary. The "state of the world" has been on my mind a lot lately. I've been feeling very defeated and hopeless. But your post reminds me that there is hope in Christ and that the trials of life WILL bring us closer to Him, if we let Him. God has really spoken to me through this post. Thank you!Nancyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08703752271069054710noreply@blogger.com