What's on your mind?

[RileyG]

Praise report: I was offered and accepted a job today. I start next Wednesday.

Thank you all for praying for me. I feel so relieved I will soon have money coming in Aaaaaand, I'm almost completely paid back my student loans, only less than 6k to go!

Thanks be to God!

 

[TheLastGeek]

Please say a prayer for me. I'm feeling very lonely tonight.

You are loved, Saucy.

 

[TheLastGeek]

Praise report: I was offered and accepted a job today. I start next Wednesday.

Thank you all for praying for me. I feel so relieved I will soon have money coming in Aaaaaand, I'm almost completely paid back my student loans, only less than 6k to go!

Thanks be to God!

Congratulations!

 

[GodDoesListen55]

Hmm... Are you stuck within a rumination cycle? Do you keep thinking about the same thing over and over, or are you just thinking a lot?

A combination of the two.

 

[Plenipotent]

Praise report: I was offered and accepted a job today. I start next Wednesday.

Thank you all for praying for me. I feel so relieved I will soon have money coming in Aaaaaand, I'm almost completely paid back my student loans, only less than 6k to go!

Thanks be to God!

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

 

[Plenipotent]

A combination of the two.

Hmm... I'd suggest forcing yourself to engage in an activity that helps you relax. Mine is driving. It forces me to pay attention to the road. It might not help the moment you stop your forced relaxation, but that brief period of calm you experience can give you a chance to breathe which can sort of remind you that you're capable of stopping the thoughts. Sort of reminds you that you can take control. It will require some effort on your part, even though relaxation is typically thought to be effortless. Your mind is likely to want to revert to overthinking mode, and you'll need to overcome that urge.

In my experience, these cycles often stem from a fear related to the thoughts. If that's the case, try to pinpoint the specific fear and entrust it to God. Understand that He is watching over you, that this will pass because He is listening and watching, and everything will ultimately be alright because you believe in Him. Keep reminding yourself that God is there for you, and place your faith and trust in Him.

Regardless of what you choose to do, I hope you're doing alright over there and I'll be praying for you.

 

[SarahsKnight]

Yes! He also wrote the Fear Street series and other books for young adults I love reading them just for fun. Even those I should probably read something more academic lol

That reminds me. I was on a short Fear Street craze way back when I first joined this community in 2014. I have a memory of giving the play-by-play to everyone here on one of those books as I was checking it out for the first time ... when nobody asked for it.

.... Yeah here it was ->

What's on your mind? (95)

Would love to see SEC get washed.

www.christianforums.com

 

[SarahsKnight]

Praise report: I was offered and accepted a job today. I start next Wednesday.

Thank you all for praying for me. I feel so relieved I will soon have money coming in Aaaaaand, I'm almost completely paid back my student loans, only less than 6k to go!

Thanks be to God!

Shoot you can have my job right now if you want. = P

(This past night at work sucked.)

 

[Plenipotent]

That reminds me. I was on a short Fear Street craze way back when I first joined this community in 2014. I have a memory of giving the play-by-play to everyone here on one of those books as I was checking it out for the first time ... when nobody asked for it.

.... Yeah here it was ->

What's on your mind? (95)

Would love to see SEC get washed.

www.christianforums.com

When nobody asked for it got me.

 

[Tranquil Bondservant]

Man every time I read God's speech to Sennacherib in 2 Kings 19:21-28 I'm blown away by how awesome and cool God is. Like imagine being Sennacherib thinking you're hot stuff and that nobody can stand against you, taking all of these cities and laying waste to your enemies as if they're nothing; only to hear the living God say:

"‘Have you not heard? Long ago I did it; From ancient times I planned it. Now I have brought it to pass, That you should turn fortified cities into ruinous heaps. ‘Therefore their inhabitants were short of strength, They were dismayed and put to shame; They were as the vegetation of the field and as the green herb, As grass on the housetops is scorched before it is grown up. ‘But I know your sitting down, And your going out and your coming in, And your raging against Me. ‘Because of your raging against Me, And because your arrogance has come up to My ears, Therefore I will put My hook in your nose, And My bridle in your lips, And I will turn you back by the way which you came."

Sennacherib's campaigns essentially amounted to a toddler knocking over dominoes to fulfill God's covenant and judge Israel for idolatry & wickedness (2 Kings 17:7–23). He ended up wiping out idolatry from Israel, taking away the offenders who would have had to suffer capital punishment (which was a mercy & allows them a chance to repent) and preventing an untold amount of future sin and suffering by doing so (e.g. people sacrificing children to Molech).

"And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." -Romans 8:28

 

[Plenipotent]

Something strange is happening tonight...

 

[GodDoesListen55]

Hmm... I'd suggest forcing yourself to engage in an activity that helps you relax. Mine is driving. It forces me to pay attention to the road. It might not help the moment you stop your forced relaxation, but that brief period of calm you experience can give you a chance to breathe which can sort of remind you that you're capable of stopping the thoughts. Sort of reminds you that you can take control. It will require some effort on your part, even though relaxation is typically thought to be effortless. Your mind is likely to want to revert to overthinking mode, and you'll need to overcome that urge.

In my experience, these cycles often stem from a fear related to the thoughts. If that's the case, try to pinpoint the specific fear and entrust it to God. Understand that He is watching over you, that this will pass because He is listening and watching, and everything will ultimately be alright because you believe in Him. Keep reminding yourself that God is there for you, and place your faith and trust in Him.

Regardless of what you choose to do, I hope you're doing alright over there and I'll be praying for you.

Thank you so much for the advice! I write a lot of poetry, so that's definitely my escape. I totally agree with you. You have been very helpful. Thanks for the prayers, as well. You have been very caring towards me, and I truly appreciate that! God bless you!

 

[TheLastGeek]

Something strange is happening tonight...

You can't leave us hanging!

 

[RileyG]

Congratulations!

Thank you!

 

[Plenipotent]

Lately, I've found myself increasingly compelled to get gifts on behalf of others, even though it's not my business to do so. At the time, it feels like a great idea. I'm thinking, "This would bring joy to them, and everyone's happiness will multiply!" Random warm and fuzzy feelings. However, as time passes, I start questioning it, wondering if I should seek permission before taking any action and then feeling strange about it. In the moment, I'm so focused on everyone being happy that I forget that it's not my place. Only after I've got the gift and sit with it for a while do I go 'this is weird...'.

Currently, I'm sitting in church, awaiting a meeting, with a bouquet of flowers and chocolates intended for someone else's girlfriend. I saw them at the grocery store and thought, "You know... She'd REALLY love that. Just randomly receive flowers and chocolates for no reason. I think that would make her very happy, and then he would be happy too because she's happy!" But it's not my place to get gifts on his behalf. "Hey, I bought this for your girlfriend. Give them to her from you." What? What am I doing...? What if he misunderstands my intentions? I just want to see her happy, which would make him happy, and I'd be happy for both of them. Yet, it still feels like it's not my place to do it. So, I'm caught in this internal struggle, going between thinking it's not a big deal and feeling like I should immediately throw the flowers and chocolates in the parking lot and forget about it.

Edit: I have yet to give the other gifts to the people I've deemed to be the giver, so this will be the test of whether or not it is received well, but I'm nervous that I'm going to offend someone.

 

[TheLastGeek]

Lately, I've found myself increasingly compelled to get gifts on behalf of others, even though it's not my business to do so. At the time, it feels like a great idea. I'm thinking, "This would bring joy to them, and everyone's happiness will multiply!" Random warm and fuzzy feelings. However, as time passes, I start questioning it, wondering if I should seek permission before taking any action and then feeling strange about it. In the moment, I'm so focused on everyone being happy that I forget that it's not my place. Only after I've got the gift and sit with it for a while do I go 'this is weird...'.

Currently, I'm sitting in church, awaiting a meeting, with a bouquet of flowers and chocolates intended for someone else's girlfriend. I saw them at the grocery store and thought, "You know... She'd REALLY love that. Just randomly receive flowers and chocolates for no reason. I think that would make her very happy, and then he would be happy too because she's happy!" But it's not my place to get gifts on his behalf. "Hey, I bought this for your girlfriend. Give them to her from you." What? What am I doing...? What if he misunderstands my intentions? I just want to see her happy, which would make him happy, and I'd be happy for both of them. Yet, it still feels like it's not my place to do it. So, I'm caught in this internal struggle, going between thinking it's not a big deal and feeling like I should immediately throw the flowers and chocolates in the parking lot and forget about it.

Edit: I have yet to give the other gifts to the people I've deemed to be the giver, so this will be the test of whether or not it is received well, but I'm nervous that I'm going to offend someone.

Yes, that does feel inappropriate to me. Why not just give her something from YOU?

 

[Plenipotent]

Yes, that does feel inappropriate to me. Why not just give her something from YOU?

I certainly could! It's just not my first thought. One of the gifts is impossible to pass off from me though. It says 'for grandma' on it, but I think that one will be fine.

 

[TheLastGeek]

I certainly could! It's just not my first thought. One of the gifts is impossible to pass off from me though. It says 'for grandma' on it, but I think that one will be fine.

I hope these gestures go well. I would personally find it very weird and a little uncomfortable for someone to give another person a gift "on my behalf", because it's not from me at all. I had no part in it.

 

[LoveDivine]

Lately, I've found myself increasingly compelled to get gifts on behalf of others, even though it's not my business to do so. At the time, it feels like a great idea. I'm thinking, "This would bring joy to them, and everyone's happiness will multiply!" Random warm and fuzzy feelings. However, as time passes, I start questioning it, wondering if I should seek permission before taking any action and then feeling strange about it. In the moment, I'm so focused on everyone being happy that I forget that it's not my place. Only after I've got the gift and sit with it for a while do I go 'this is weird...'.

Currently, I'm sitting in church, awaiting a meeting, with a bouquet of flowers and chocolates intended for someone else's girlfriend. I saw them at the grocery store and thought, "You know... She'd REALLY love that. Just randomly receive flowers and chocolates for no reason. I think that would make her very happy, and then he would be happy too because she's happy!" But it's not my place to get gifts on his behalf. "Hey, I bought this for your girlfriend. Give them to her from you." What? What am I doing...? What if he misunderstands my intentions? I just want to see her happy, which would make him happy, and I'd be happy for both of them. Yet, it still feels like it's not my place to do it. So, I'm caught in this internal struggle, going between thinking it's not a big deal and feeling like I should immediately throw the flowers and chocolates in the parking lot and forget about it.

Edit: I have yet to give the other gifts to the people I've deemed to be the giver, so this will be the test of whether or not it is received well, but I'm nervous that I'm going to offend someone.

Eat the chocolates and put the flowers in a vase in your room haha. I'd be very confused if someone gave me that kind of gift. It's very thoughtful of you, but it would be odd to receive it

 

[RileyG]

I have a huge collection of books and it's just getting bigger. Is that wrong, fellow Christians? I'm an avid reader.