What do you do for people in need...OTHER than pray for them?

Question

seems to me people use "prayer" as a crutch, to do something easy and meaningless with the only real effect being making themselves feel as if they have done something important and meaningful.

try this out: for everyone you would normally pray for, why not also actually DO something...
instead of praying for the troops...send a few some anonymous gift baskets (if the Pentagon will mail them)

instead of praying for hungry children...give UNICEF or some reputable missionary group some money to feed them, or volunteer at a local soup kitchen for the homeless

instead of praying for politicians or presidents...send them a letter praising or berating them

whatever you do, don't JUST close your eyes and mutter under your breath and go on BELIEVING you have done something of any consequence...

Answer 1

When i lived out east some friends and i would routinely take some of the bums to get a shave and a haircut, buy them sleeping bags, take them leftovers, etc. Prayer has actually been proven to make medical conditions worse when used in hospital/surgery situations . . .all that false hope leads to a let down that leads to an immune deficiency. Google "prayer study in hospitals". Im too lazy right now.

Anyone know where to send said gift baskets? My little bro is over there but his responses are few and far between, is there a general address to ship to? But too many of our soldiers get little to no mail at all and it gets even more depressing for them. Feel free to email me w/ the info.

And in any case, actions ALWAYS speak louder than words.

Answer 2

I do all that and then some, sweetie. I won't go into detail. However, I have actual experience that PRAYER FIRST IS THE MOST POWERFUL FORCE around in my life. It may seem wishy washy to some, or a 'crutch' to others. If so, that's ok with me.

I'm wondering what it was that set you off so, you sound sort of upset. Did you have a need that was not filled? Or watch someone who could have been helped who wasn't? This does happen sometimes. People can forget the compassionate part of what humanity is all about. Pray AND get busy. People helping people. Sometimes folks are doing the very best they know how, and it may not feel like that to those in need. Been on both sides of this coin myself.

My life is about service. And that's the way it is for me. And it takes prayer work for me to continue to give and give and give and give and give and allow others their free-will choices that might not be in line with mine.

There are global things that do make a difference along with local community places to volunteer:
Oprah's $1 per person to feed the world
Wayyyyyy back in the 1960's 'we' almost did a global community of holding hands across the entire world {promoting peace, may not seem like much now, but it was a gigantic movement then}
Dallas TX church spearheaded feeding the people in the stadium

Acts of charity go on all the time unnoticed.

I'm sorry that you feel the way you do about prayer and those who pray. But I'm not out to change your mind or berate you for feeling the way you do about it. That is your right and privelege. So I hope you find interesting answers here that help you.

I applaud those who are beginning to 'close your eyes and mutter under your breath and go on BELIEVING you have done something of any consequence', it is a start. In time they will come to do more than that as well.

Blessings for your Q. Star to you. :) {This has been edited by me}

Answer 3

I couldn't agree more! I live my life this exact way. Even if I can't afford a monetary donation of some kind, I try to do small things...work a soup kitchen at the holidays, buy a hamburger for a homeless person. I feel that God, karma, the higher power, etc. rewards these acts. Even though my life gets tough like everyone else's at times, I find that I repeatedly receive little pieces of happiness as well.

Answer 4

Prayer is an excuse, a cop out. It's just another way of saying "I'm sorry" but does not care for the root of the problem. Which is, we sincerely don't give a shiiiite about each other, unless they are in our "clan." That clan can be anything from racism to nationalism, to just our hatred for people we choose not to understand.

There is one concept that is the foundation of all religions, the Golden Rule. Yet we make exceptions to it and do the most inhuman deeds to each other. From exclusion, to mass murder.

If the Golden Rule was followed, war would be rare, if not unthinkable, and helping our fellow man would be normal. Instead, we got it reversed, and that my friend, is sickening.

==========
Life is so simple, but we insist on making it complicated.

Confucius
551-479 BC
==========

Peace

Jim

.

Answer 5

People who pray believe that prayer is a source of power. Also, it comforts some people to know they are being prayed for.

But, while praying God often shows us that WE can be the answer to prayers for helping people. In church lingo it's called "putting feet to your prayers." Where do you think the motivation for all the church soup kitchens, clothes closets, orphanages, etc. comes from?

Edit-you asked what I do. Have been a foster parent twice, hosted a Russian child for a summer so she could get medical care, crochet baby clothes for indigent families, donate to a Central American children's home..typical church lady stuff.

Answer 6

I haven't prayed in years, as I have never seen it produce the results that offering a helping hand does.

I donate clothes, coats, blankets and bath stuff to the local shelters. My monetary donations usually got to the Red Cross or Doctors without borders.

Answer 7

costly Lord and father i decide to thank you on your many advantages. thank you Lord for making a fashion whilst there look no way. Father as i come to you presently interior the call of Jesus Christ i pray which you will furnish me this one request. I ask Father which you will touch the existence of Max Gilpin. Father you be attentive to what he is going via staggering now and what may be executed to make him properly returned. I pray which you will deliver divine healing to him. touch his suggestions physique and soul and placed across him peace in simple terms now. provide him the ability to look to you in the present day because of the fact the author and finisher of his faith. i be attentive to Lord that if he places his have confidence in then you definately all will artwork at the same time for his reliable. cover him under you shadows now and communicate peace to this occasion interior the call of Jesus i pray. Amen Love and advantages † Dvoted2Jesus Prayer Warrior †

Answer 8

A person who needs something I will help if I can obtain that or come close or even a little sustenence in the meantime. But a person in "need" can also be a person who needs no help to be that way and is so because he wants to be. I see no reason to let my heart bleed over this as it has nothing to do with others. Why cry over or try to help someone out of something they dont want to get out of...

Answer 9

I take homeless people to lunch when I have time; and also play chess with them (and get my *** handed to me).

I kindly turn down the Thunderbird that I'm offered, though.


Edit: Oh, and I'm an atheist. I don't need the promise of some magical reward to help other people out.

Answer 10

I do do things for others. but I plead the 5th on what act of kindness I do for others because I'm trying to follow the "don't let your left hand know what your right hand is doing" scripture. I do try to help others, beyond praying, but I am not to speak of what I do; I can talk about the good others do, just not myself.