The Lord Looks Down & Shakes His Head

[HAMel]

Too many are playing church.

The other day our Pastor asked if there were any special prayer requests. A hand went up asking for prayer for a family member who in her early 30's laid down and died one morning after dropping her children off at a Day Care Center and just prior to leaving for work herself. That evening, the Center had to call the father of the children as they had not been picked up.

He picked up the kids and went home only to find her passed away. A massive heart attack was the cause.

While those in attendance were still pondering this matter one of the deacons raised his had asking for prayer for a family right down the road who a week before had purchased a rather expensive dog. The dog had fallen ill and was expected to be put to sleep.

His request? Pray for the DOG!!!!!!!

I know the Lord must look down on us and just shake His head at times.

 

[donnA]

whatever concerns us concerns Him, nothing in my life is too trival for God to care about what I care about.

 

[Marcia]

whatever concerns us concerns Him, nothing in my life is too trival for God to care about what I care about.

I agree. And I don't think we should demean or look down on anyone's prayer request unless someone is praying for something wrong (like asking the Lord to make them a better bank robber, a request unlikely to be heard in church I would say).

I can see the huge difference here between the sick dog and the family that lost the wife and mother but we don't know how God sees each person's heart and we know He cares for all His children adopted through Christ. He wants us to go to him with every request and burden.

 

[abcgrad94]

I don't think the Lord looks down and shakes his head at any of his grieving children, especially when they come to him in prayer, no matter how "trivial" the grief or request may be to someone else.

 

[Mexdeaf]

I have prayed for my dog before. God answered also.

 

[paul wassona]

I think he meant the triviality of asking prayer for the deceased mother and there wasn't a request to pray for the family. In the case of the dog, sure, pray. But it seems very few requests are made for lost people and spiritual concerns is his point. One thing is certain, his words were immediately twisted around and turned against him. Now I'm shaking my head.

 

[Mexdeaf]

I read the OP very carefully and it was very clear what the OP was saying. No one twisted his words.

 

[paul wassona]

I read the OP very carefully and it was very clear what the OP was saying. No one twisted his words.

Yes, he said nothing about any lack of concern about the grief of a family, nor did he say it was wrong to pray for a dog. Several posts addressed the OP as if he did. I see what probably prompted the OP as a lack of raying for spiritual needs and you don't. Perhaps HAMel can clarify. I see the same ones treat posts like his just as you all did. Maybe instead of zeroing in on the OP, one should look at the responses and consider who replied positively and who did not?

 

[Mexdeaf]

HAMel,

Would you kindly clarify the meaning of your OP?

Is it wrong in your opinion for one to pray for a dog?

Thanks!

 

[JMSR]

If the Lord is shaking his head about anything, it's that some people don't want to bother him with the trivial stuff. I was raised on a cattle farm. You better believe we prayed for sick animals.

 

[Aaron]

An expensive pet is a vain luxury. Asking the church to pray for a family's vanity is out of order. If the kiddies are worried about their dog, then they can pray at home.

 

[Aaron]

If the Lord is shaking his head about anything, it's that some people don't want to bother him with the trivial stuff. I was raised on a cattle farm. You better believe we prayed for sick animals.

That's because the cattle were your livlihood.

 

[Tom Bryant]

An expensive pet is a vain luxury. Asking the church to pray for a family's vanity is out of order. If the kiddies are worried about their dog, then they can pray at home.

Because some things are just too trivia to pray for at church. Great lesson to teach children: The church gathered only prays for BIIIIG things, not the little things which are too unimportant for church.

I agree that after asking for prayer for a family who has lost their wife and mom it sounds trivial to ask about a pet. But apparently it wasn't to the person requesting it. Maybe God does indeed care for trivial things, or is He too busy also?

 

[Mexdeaf]

An expensive pet is a vain luxury. Asking the church to pray for a family's vanity is out of order. If the kiddies are worried about their dog, then they can pray at home.

Or it might be an investment. Do you know how much a good hunting dog is worth? To you that might be vanity but to someone else it might be something totally different.

To me a car is an investment. To most folks a car is just transportation. Neither idea is wrong IMHO.

 

[HAMel]

I personally considered the attitude of this man (Deacon) to be quite callus and uncaring considering the tragic news that had just been presented.

A young mother had died leaving two young daughters; a husband; an extended family; obviously, a bad day for all.

Quite clearly, the Lord knows what He is doing but as the situation unfolded it was quite the tragedy never-the-less. Those who know the family were taken aback. Bewildered; ; Didn't want to believe it.

Without skipping a beat as in military cadence, "Hup.. two.. hree.. foor.. pray for the dog before we go".

The request to pray for a dog seemed to be quite cold and uncaring considering the news. He could have just as easily have raised to ask if anyone wanted to buy a pick-up truck. Same effect. I think his timing was way off.

 

[JMSR]

You don't request prayer for the effect you get from the audience, rather the effect you get when you pray.

 

[FR7 Baptist]

An expensive pet is a vain luxury. Asking the church to pray for a family's vanity is out of order. If the kiddies are worried about their dog, then they can pray at home.

What would you if you were at church and a lady asked the church to pray for her dog?

 

[Mexdeaf]

I personally considered the attitude of this man (Deacon) to be quite callus and uncaring considering the tragic news that had just been presented.

A young mother had died leaving two young daughters; a husband; an extended family; obviously, a bad day for all.

Quite clearly, the Lord knows what He is doing but as the situation unfolded it was quite the tragedy never-the-less. Those who know the family were taken aback. Bewildered; ; Didn't want to believe it.

Without skipping a beat as in military cadence, "Hup.. two.. hree.. foor.. pray for the dog before we go".

The request to pray for a dog seemed to be quite cold and uncaring considering the news. He could have just as easily have raised to ask if anyone wanted to buy a pick-up truck. Same effect. I think his timing was way off.

HAMel, thanks for clarifying.

Granted, the man lacked tact at the best and was uncaring at the worst, but there is no sin in praying for an animal. Perhaps he needs someone to talk to him and explain how it came across to others. Nothing wrong about you sharing it here but posting about it on the BB will not help him unless he happens to me a member.

 

[Aaron]

What would you if you were at church and a lady asked the church to pray for her dog?

Nothing. Why?

 

[FR7 Baptist]

I personally considered the attitude of this man (Deacon) to be quite callus and uncaring considering the tragic news that had just been presented.

A young mother had died leaving two young daughters; a husband; an extended family; obviously, a bad day for all.

Quite clearly, the Lord knows what He is doing but as the situation unfolded it was quite the tragedy never-the-less. Those who know the family were taken aback. Bewildered; ; Didn't want to believe it.

Without skipping a beat as in military cadence, "Hup.. two.. hree.. foor.. pray for the dog before we go".

The request to pray for a dog seemed to be quite cold and uncaring considering the news. He could have just as easily have raised to ask if anyone wanted to buy a pick-up truck. Same effect. I think his timing was way off.

Now that I've read that, I agree that his timing was tactless and off.