Rita

[Laureltree]

Everyone please keep everyone in your prayers and pray the storm keeps changing course...love and prayers LaurelTree, I'll be back on after there is power and the storm is over.

[shanstress70]

Hi LT,

Your info says you are in UT... are you now in TX? If so, hope you stay safe!

Are there any board members who are in the way of this monstrous storm? If so, take care!

[Laureltree]

Yea we live in the houston area in a suburb called Humble...We have only been here for 4 months. I will post pictures of the huriicane so that people can see the before and after effects....We are blessed it has moved some and that we will not be hit head on...Thhe prayers have truly helped, god does listen

Love and Prayers

LaurelTree

[Setheus]

Originally posted by Laureltree@Sep 23 2005, 05:53 AM

Yea we live in the houston area in a suburb called Humble...We have only been here for 4 months. I will post pictures of the huriicane so that people can see the before and after effects....We are blessed it has moved some and that we will not be hit head on...Thhe prayers have truly helped, god does listen

Love and Prayers

LaurelTree

←

Does this mean he doesnt hear the prayers of those who are now in the path ?

Or does it simply mean your prayers were in unison with the Lord's will?

[Laureltree]

SETH,

No it means we were able to evacuate most everyone and its hittiing an erea that has not had much rain in 3 years.......Seth you always look for the bad in what people write...I suggest you look for the good. I have already started with the hygene kits so others will have them when it is time...We had prepared so well we were able to bless others who were not with water barrels, cases of water and food if it is needed. Seth this is how people work....We come together and give what we can and help in every possiable way.....We are opening homes up to those who are stranded and giving them shelter.......That is how the lord works seth....He does create natural desasters to hurt people, they just happen. He puts people in other peoples path to help them...He uses us as his instruments....." I will go and do the things the lord command" and I will stand as an example, "To do his will and be the example he would want me to be". I'm sorry my post upset you, it was meant for thanks, thanks that the many stranded in the open will be safer than they would have been, thanks for allowing the storm to minimize......I pray that all those in the path are safe and well............We will have power until around 2:00 pm today when the storm is expected to hit....PLEASE PRAY FOR THOSE IN THE PATH OF THE EYE OF THE STORM....THEY TRULY NEED IT !!! If you can make it to the temple...Please attend.....Love, Hugs and prayers....

I will update with pictures after the storm.If we have power.......

Love LaurelTree

[Jenda]

I had thought you were still in Utah, too, LT. :) I will keep you all in my prayers.

[StrawberryFields]

Originally posted by Laureltree@Sep 23 2005, 07:44 AM

SETH,

No it means we were able to evacuate most everyone and its hittiing an erea that has not had much rain in 3 years.......Seth you always look for the bad in what people write...I suggest you look for the good. I have already started with the hygene kits so others will have them when it is time...We had prepared so well we were able to bless others who were not with water barrels, cases of water and food if it is needed. Seth this is how people work....We come together and give what we can and help in every possiable way.....We are opening homes up to those who are stranded and giving them shelter.......That is how the lord works seth....He does create natural desasters to hurt people, they just happen. He puts people in other peoples path to help them...He uses us as his instruments....." I will go and do the things the lord command" and I will stand as an example, "To do his will and be the example he would want me to be". I'm sorry my post upset you, it was meant for thanks, thanks that the many stranded in the open will be safer than they would have been, thanks for allowing the storm to minimize......I pray that all those in the path are safe and well............We will have power until around 2:00 pm today when the storm is expected to hit....PLEASE PRAY FOR THOSE IN THE PATH OF THE EYE OF THE STORM....THEY TRULY NEED IT !!! If you can make it to the temple...Please attend.....Love, Hugs and prayers....

I will update with pictures after the storm.If we have power.......

Love LaurelTree

←

LT,

You have my prayers along with all who need to feel the love and comfort of Our Heavenly Father.

I learned many things when I too cried out for prayers to save a family member a year ago. The over all feedback that I received was that things happen because of the WILL of our Father In Heaven just as Setheus mentioned. Many don't feel that we can change the WILL of Our Father In Heaven through prayer. Yes, it was also disheartening to me as well when I learned this. Why was it disheartening? It was disheartening because that is was part of my foundation or testimony in the gospel. We have been taught since we were children that if we were in "trouble" we could go to the Lord in prayer and he could help us. I have even taught this principal to others in the church as a leader and to my own children. LT were you around when I was asking if prayer really works because I do believe that you believe that it does.

Setheus also needs our prayers because he is fighting his own on going storm while he is fighting for all Americans.

I am following this storm with a very heavy heart. It bothers me to see people have to go through so much.

[pushka]

You all know my stance on God, Religions and Prayer...but that doesn't stop me from hoping that you all manage to survive this latest storm, and thank you for being so well prepared and for offering help to your neighbours who are less prepared.

I wish you well...I have been very upset at the news reports of the recent storms.

[Laureltree]

I'm not sure strawberry.......But I thank you for all the prayers...

We moved here May 10th to be closer to an office for my husband...I'm thinking about moving back to CA now.............. earthquakes I can handle..this is just to much...I will give updates until the power goes out, I will try to get photo's as well. We truly are doing better than those on the highways, so please pray for them..They need the prayers more than I do......

Love , hugs, prayers LaurelTree

[pushka]

You know, it always staggers me that people actually decided to start building towns and cities in these highly dangerous areas...(not only in the USA but in the areas struck by other disasters, Indonesia, Italy etc.)...I mean, the stupidity of building along the Californian Fault Line, and building Pompeii at the foot of a volcano!!!

I know it's too late now to turn back the clock, but surely the people who inhabited those places and started all the building were aware that there had been natural disasters there for centuries? Or am I assuming they were more educated than they really were...?

Just my personal gripe at town planners/builders.

I have a programme that I use to look at satellite images of the world, some images in the USA are fantastic...for instance prior to Katrina I was able to take screenshots of the Superdome and the highways with cars on them, and other streets and buildings there...with the help of add-ons to this programme, I believe you can now see images of the same places following this disaster...there is another part of the programme, Rapid Fire Modis, where you can highlight areas which have been affected by fires, floods, storms and other disasters...I noticed that many of these areas were the areas which, until the likes of Columbus discovered them, would probably have had little population, and so less loss of life when these disasters occurred...If only we humans had just left these islands/continents alone and not interfered...

The programme I'm referring to is World Wind 1.3 and is available as a free download from the Nasa website...you might have to search a little to obtain it now, as I got it a few months ago.

[Guest Member_Deleted]

Originally posted by pushka@Sep 23 2005, 12:11 PM

You know, it always staggers me that people actually decided to start building towns and cities in these highly dangerous areas...(not only in the USA but in the areas struck by other disasters, Indonesia, Italy etc.)...I mean, the stupidity of building along the Californian Fault Line, and building Pompeii at the foot of a volcano!!!

I know it's too late now to turn back the clock, but surely the people who inhabited those places and started all the building were aware that there had been natural disasters there for centuries?  Or am I assuming they were more educated than they really were...?

Just my personal gripe at town planners/builders.

I have a programme that I use to look at satellite images of the world, some images in the USA are fantastic...for instance prior to Katrina I was able to take screenshots of the Superdome and the highways with cars on them, and other streets and buildings there...with the help of add-ons to this programme, I believe you can now see images of the same places following this disaster...there is another part of the programme, Rapid Fire Modis, where you can highlight areas which have been affected by fires, floods, storms and other disasters...I noticed that many of these areas were the areas which, until the likes of Columbus discovered them, would probably have had little population, and so less loss of life when these disasters occurred...If only we humans had just left these islands/continents alone and not interfered...

The programme I'm referring to is World Wind 1.3 and is available as a free download from the Nasa website...you might have to search a little to obtain it now, as I got it a few months ago.

←

I have wondered the same thing.... LOL It seems so strange we don't use a lot of wisdom in our city planning...

We are out here in a desert... and they are over populating all the while yelling that water is scarce.... geeze...

[pushka]

I'm not wishing to turn this into a political debate...but that is one of the key reasons why I disagree with capitalism as it is today...(Sorry if I don't know enough about capitalist vs socialist societies...I learned a little at college many years ago, and have read up on it occasionally over the last few years), but I just feel that the whole of the world should work together to help those who live in countries which are so badly affected by inclement weather, natural disasters and such, and, to quote the organisers of Live Aid many years ago: FEED THE WORLD!!!

Let's not be so greedy folks?

[Jason]

Originally posted by pushka@Sep 23 2005, 03:39 PM

I'm not wishing to turn this into a political debate...but that is one of the key reasons why I disagree with capitalism as it is today...(Sorry if I don't know enough about capitalist vs socialist societies...I learned a little at college many years ago, and have read up on it occasionally over the last few years), but I just feel that the whole of the world should work together to help those who live in countries which are so badly affected by inclement weather, natural disasters and such, and, to quote the organisers of Live Aid many years ago: FEED THE WORLD!!!

Let's not be so greedy folks?

←

Trying....not....to....sing.....that....song.......Oh, why not!

"We are the world.....we are the children....we are the ones who make a brighter day so lets start givng......lalalala"

[pushka]

LOL...sorry Jason...I just sort of feel as if I'm on some sort of soapbox this week...can't help bringing out all the old cliches!!! :)

[Laureltree]

Here is a picture of the storm when it started.....sorry about the rain drops...its wet.....

[Guest Member_Deleted]

Originally posted by Laureltree@Sep 23 2005, 07:29 PM

Here is a picture of the storm when it started.....sorry about the rain drops...its wet.....

←

Where is the picture?

[Mahonri]

I have relatives in NW Houston, Missouri City and Pearland.

Grateful that the Lord answered my prayers and that the Hurricane fizzled and moved east.

M

[Guest Member_Deleted]

Originally posted by Mahonri@Sep 25 2005, 03:54 AM

I have relatives in NW Houston, Missouri City and Pearland.

Grateful that the Lord answered my prayers and that the Hurricane fizzled and moved east.

M

←

Thank the Lord.

[Laureltree]

I'm going to have my husband put the picture up, you cannot tell much it's just super windy and super dark.......................We missed the heart of the storm and feel blessed, now we are gearing up to help those it did hit really bad. There was minimal damage at our house, but we have a friend who's going to fix it this week.

Let's keep those people in our prayers all....They need it .....

Hugs LaurelTree

[shanstress70]

Originally posted by Mahonri@Sep 25 2005, 04:54 AM

I have relatives in NW Houston, Missouri City and Pearland.

Grateful that the Lord answered my prayers and that the Hurricane fizzled and moved east.

M

←

I don't want to beat this topic to death, but what about those who lived east from you who WERE hit? Do you think people there prayed as well? Sorry, but I can't understand these comments.

[Guest Member_Deleted]

Originally posted by shanstress70+Sep 27 2005, 06:28 AM-->

<!--QuoteBegin-Mahonri@Sep 25 2005, 04:54 AM

I have relatives in NW Houston, Missouri City and Pearland.

Grateful that the Lord answered my prayers and that the Hurricane fizzled and moved east.

M

←

I don't want to beat this topic to death, but what about those who lived east from you who WERE hit? Do you think people there prayed as well? Sorry, but I can't understand these comments.

←

Well when all is said and done... it is still the Lord's will and I trust He knows what he is doing...

Maybe the prayers are only answered by them receiving comfort.... after all He isn't Santa Claus...

Too bad most perceive God as someone who either gives or takes without a plan and ultimate purpose beyone granting wishes...

[shanstress70]

Originally posted by Please+Sep 27 2005, 08:07 AM-->

Originally posted by shanstress70@Sep 27 2005, 06:28 AM

<!--QuoteBegin-Mahonri@Sep 25 2005, 04:54 AM

I have relatives in NW Houston, Missouri City and Pearland.

Grateful that the Lord answered my prayers and that the Hurricane fizzled and moved east.

M

←

I don't want to beat this topic to death, but what about those who lived east from you who WERE hit? Do you think people there prayed as well? Sorry, but I can't understand these comments.

←

Well when all is said and done... it is still the Lord's will and I trust He knows what he is doing...

Maybe the prayers are only answered by them receiving comfort.... after all He isn't Santa Claus...

Too bad most perceive God as someone who either gives or takes without a plan and ultimate purpose beyone granting wishes...

←

Am I one that you are speaking of here? I just think it sounds kind of selfish to say that God answered one person's prayer, while sending the hurricane on to another part of the country.

Perhaps it would be better to state that God's plan was not to hit a certain area in the beginning (if you believe that), than to say that he changed the course of it because someone prayed (since I'm sure that people were praying in the affected area as well).

[Guest Member_Deleted]

Originally posted by shanstress70+Sep 27 2005, 09:02 AM-->

Originally posted by Please@Sep 27 2005, 08:07 AM

Originally posted by shanstress70@Sep 27 2005, 06:28 AM

<!--QuoteBegin-Mahonri@Sep 25 2005, 04:54 AM

I have relatives in NW Houston, Missouri City and Pearland.

Grateful that the Lord answered my prayers and that the Hurricane fizzled and moved east.

M

←

I don't want to beat this topic to death, but what about those who lived east from you who WERE hit? Do you think people there prayed as well? Sorry, but I can't understand these comments.

←

Well when all is said and done... it is still the Lord's will and I trust He knows what he is doing...

Maybe the prayers are only answered by them receiving comfort.... after all He isn't Santa Claus...

Too bad most perceive God as someone who either gives or takes without a plan and ultimate purpose beyone granting wishes...

←

Am I one that you are speaking of here? I just think it sounds kind of selfish to say that God answered one person's prayer, while sending the hurricane on to another part of the country.

Perhaps it would be better to state that God's plan was not to hit a certain area in the beginning (if you believe that), than to say that he changed the course of it because someone prayed (since I'm sure that people were praying in the affected area as well).

←

So what you are saying... is... no one should be born with a disability.... and everyone should be rich.... and there should never ever be any inequity on this earth?

[shanstress70]

Originally posted by Please+Sep 27 2005, 12:40 PM-->

Originally posted by shanstress70@Sep 27 2005, 09:02 AM

Originally posted by Please@Sep 27 2005, 08:07 AM

Originally posted by shanstress70@Sep 27 2005, 06:28 AM

<!--QuoteBegin-Mahonri@Sep 25 2005, 04:54 AM

I have relatives in NW Houston, Missouri City and Pearland.

Grateful that the Lord answered my prayers and that the Hurricane fizzled and moved east.

M

←

I don't want to beat this topic to death, but what about those who lived east from you who WERE hit? Do you think people there prayed as well? Sorry, but I can't understand these comments.

←

Well when all is said and done... it is still the Lord's will and I trust He knows what he is doing...

Maybe the prayers are only answered by them receiving comfort.... after all He isn't Santa Claus...

Too bad most perceive God as someone who either gives or takes without a plan and ultimate purpose beyone granting wishes...

←

Am I one that you are speaking of here? I just think it sounds kind of selfish to say that God answered one person's prayer, while sending the hurricane on to another part of the country.

Perhaps it would be better to state that God's plan was not to hit a certain area in the beginning (if you believe that), than to say that he changed the course of it because someone prayed (since I'm sure that people were praying in the affected area as well).

←

So what you are saying... is... no one should be born with a disability.... and everyone should be rich.... and there should never ever be any inequity on this earth?

←

No, that's not what I'm saying at all, although it would be nice! Let me try to put it into other terms...

You say that if there is a hurricane coming toward me, and I pray enough, it may go somewhere else IF it's God's will, right? Well, it it's God's will, then wouldn't that still happen, even if I didn't pray for that to happen?

If xxx is praying that the hurricane will miss them, then it misses them and goes east, xxx says that God answers prayers. But yyy who got hit by the hurricane was also praying that it miss him. yyy is going to wonder what happened there.

So did it miss xxx because they prayed, or because God never intended to send it there anyway? It just seems like a coincidence to me, unless one is blessed and the other cursed.

I don't think God picks and chooses who He is going to help.

(Personally, I don't think God 'sent' the hurricane anyway, but these examples are just to make a point.)

[Guest Member_Deleted]

Originally posted by shanstress70+Sep 27 2005, 12:13 PM-->

Originally posted by Please@Sep 27 2005, 12:40 PM

Originally posted by shanstress70@Sep 27 2005, 09:02 AM

Originally posted by Please@Sep 27 2005, 08:07 AM

Originally posted by shanstress70@Sep 27 2005, 06:28 AM

<!--QuoteBegin-Mahonri@Sep 25 2005, 04:54 AM

I have relatives in NW Houston, Missouri City and Pearland.

Grateful that the Lord answered my prayers and that the Hurricane fizzled and moved east.

M

←

I don't want to beat this topic to death, but what about those who lived east from you who WERE hit? Do you think people there prayed as well? Sorry, but I can't understand these comments.

←

Well when all is said and done... it is still the Lord's will and I trust He knows what he is doing...

Maybe the prayers are only answered by them receiving comfort.... after all He isn't Santa Claus...

Too bad most perceive God as someone who either gives or takes without a plan and ultimate purpose beyone granting wishes...

←

Am I one that you are speaking of here? I just think it sounds kind of selfish to say that God answered one person's prayer, while sending the hurricane on to another part of the country.

Perhaps it would be better to state that God's plan was not to hit a certain area in the beginning (if you believe that), than to say that he changed the course of it because someone prayed (since I'm sure that people were praying in the affected area as well).

←

So what you are saying... is... no one should be born with a disability.... and everyone should be rich.... and there should never ever be any inequity on this earth?

←

No, that's not what I'm saying at all, although it would be nice! Let me try to put it into other terms...

You say that if there is a hurricane coming toward me, and I pray enough, it may go somewhere else IF it's God's will, right? Well, it it's God's will, then wouldn't that still happen, even if I didn't pray for that to happen?

If xxx is praying that the hurricane will miss them, then it misses them and goes east, xxx says that God answers prayers. But yyy who got hit by the hurricane was also praying that it miss him. yyy is going to wonder what happened there.

So did it miss xxx because they prayed, or because God never intended to send it there anyway? It just seems like a coincidence to me, unless one is blessed and the other cursed.

I don't think God picks and chooses who He is going to help.

(Personally, I don't think God 'sent' the hurricane anyway, but these examples are just to make a point.)

←

Okay... lets say both are praying.... but are both listening to the answer? What if the Lord intended the storm to go where it ended up.... but expected those who were in its path to pray in order to find out His will? and then submit to it...?

If the storm turns as prayed for by person #1 saving them destruction at this time.... but person one believes it is just because they prayed.... receiving no revelation that the storm would turn.... just waited to see by chance if that prayer was answered according to what they prayed for..... then they have really not understood the proper purpose of prayers.... the proper purpose being the reception of revelation....

and person #2 prayed and was righteous enough to receive and listen to the revleation that the storm was coming towards them anyway... that it was the Lord's will and to do all they could to protect themselvs.... and person #2 submits humbling to the reality that this is God's will and does what they can.... feeling a peace because they have the Lord with them giving them comfort... no matter what happens... even suffering and death... knowing that what ever happens is the Lord's will...

then which one really had their prayer answered according to the true reason for praying?