• The General Mental Health Forum is now a Read Only Forum. As we had two large areas making it difficult for many to find, we decided to combine the Mental Health & the Recovery sections of the forum into Mental Health & Recovery as a whole. Physical Health still remains as it's own area within the entire Recovery area.

    If you are having struggles, need support in a particular area that you aren't finding a specific recovery area forum, you may find the General Struggles forum a great place to post. Any any that is related to emotions, self-esteem, insomnia, anger, relationship dynamics due to mental health and recovery and other issues that don't fit better in another forum would be examples of topics that might go there.

    If you have spiritual issues related to a mental health and recovery issue, please use the Recovery Related Spiritual Advice forum. This forum is designed to be like Christian Advice, only for recovery type of issues. Recovery being like a family in many ways, allows us to support one another together. May you be blessed today and each day.

    Kristen.NewCreation and FreeinChrist

anyone have any insight?

faroukfarouk

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I remember when I was young reading John 15:18-27 it so pierced me that I asked God to so consume and fill me that those that hate Him would hate me for the God they see in me. Little did I know how many people would over the years have a "spiritual" (by their own admission) with me and when they reconciled with God the problem mysteriously went away.
And of course Paul says that all who live Godly in Christ Jesus in one form or another will suffer persecution.
 
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razzelflabben

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And of course Paul says that all who live Godly in Christ Jesus in one form or another will suffer persecution.
had other people look at my life and many times over say I was being persecuted...I wouldn't call it that in the face of brothers and sisters in some of these other countries but I get why they say it.
 
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faroukfarouk

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had other people look at my life and many times over say I was being persecuted...I wouldn't call it that in the face of brothers and sisters in some of these other countries but I get why they say it.
I was really referring to the spiritual principle about living in a hostile world, rather than comparing the lot of believers in one country as against another, I suppose.
 
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razzelflabben

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I was really referring to the spiritual principle about living in a hostile world, rather than comparing the lot of believers in one country as against another, I suppose.
I've been compared to Job a lot too, not sure how comfortable I am with that one either but yep, I get what you are saying.
 
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razzelflabben

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Job is highly commended for his patience! :)
lol ask anyone on these boards that wants to silence me and they will tell you that after days and days and pages and pages of patient corrections and clarifications and kindness I am impatient and rude...point being, so many people want to make things like patience and love and kindness a subjective thing rather than understanding simply what these things mean.
 
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faroukfarouk

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lol ask anyone on these boards that wants to silence me and they will tell you that after days and days and pages and pages of patient corrections and clarifications and kindness I am impatient and rude...point being, so many people want to make things like patience and love and kindness a subjective thing rather than understanding simply what these things mean.
I see what you mean; I guess I was referring also to the fact that if one is compared to Job, then Job is anyway commended for his patience (James 5.11).
 
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razzelflabben

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well whether anyone gets upset about this post or not, I'm posting...Mon. will be 7 years since our son died and it was that event that ultimately drove our children to various acts of defiance essentially destroying our family. I can't help it, I am crying again...just watched a "Heinz" commercial we made with the kids...oh how I miss my children.

Well, it will be a weepy weekend but that just shows the depth of love we have for such a precious gift from God. There it is said and anyone who doesn't like that I said it, please just don't respond at all. There is nothing at all wrong with saying I miss my beautiful son.
 
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faroukfarouk

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well whether anyone gets upset about this post or not, I'm posting...Mon. will be 7 years since our son died and it was that event that ultimately drove our children to various acts of defiance essentially destroying our family. I can't help it, I am crying again...just watched a "Heinz" commercial we made with the kids...oh how I miss my children.

Well, it will be a weepy weekend but that just shows the depth of love we have for such a precious gift from God. There it is said and anyone who doesn't like that I said it, please just don't respond at all. There is nothing at all wrong with saying I miss my beautiful son.
Isaiah 48.10: 'Chosen thee through the furnace of affliction'.
 
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razzelflabben

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Today I am feeling a bit...sorry for myself. I have been doing more research into my condition and it gets bleaker the more I research. In on article they are terming people with my condition "canaries in the coal mine"...the treatment is beyond our budget and not something that insurance (if we even had insurance) would cover. To make matters worse, no one gets what the problem is...in fact, I am currently as bad as I am because of depraved indifference from the time I was very young to today. Add to this the recent anniversary date of our sons death, every evil that resulted from that and I am just too tired to fight the feelings.

Why do we do these things to ourselves? (Rhetorical question) WE know better than anyone that we are blessed beyond measure and still we enter that self defeating emotion of self pity. I was talking to a woman once that said she didn't know why she was crying, she just randomly would cry. I told her she was probably just tired of fighting and that made all the difference in the world with her. Maybe I just need a good cry and yet when I come here and express frustration I get reprimanded. I'm just tired and need a good cry...constant pain will do that to you. Just part of life and our never ending journey in this world to trust our God in ever growing amounts.

don't need anyone to read or respond!!!!!
 
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razzelflabben

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I'm gonna start this post by saying that anyone who has a problem with me posting this needs to keep it to themselves. There is absolutely nothing wrong with me saying this and in fact it is very "healing".

So yesterday morning at church after a really rough weekend, a little boy was sitting in front of us and acting just exactly like our son would have done at that age. I couldn't keep from crying...but it was a good cry of sorts. After church I talked to his mom and told her and she smiled because the stories I told of our son so reminded her of what her son would do. He was such a cutie and gave me an awesome high five before he left.

bitter sweet moment in a rough weekend. And if me saying so bothers you, go somewhere else. The pain in our hearts never goes away but that doesn't mean that our souls are not content and solid in Christ. Like Job, we can praise the Lord in the midst of grief.
 
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faroukfarouk

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I'm gonna start this post by saying that anyone who has a problem with me posting this needs to keep it to themselves. There is absolutely nothing wrong with me saying this and in fact it is very "healing".

So yesterday morning at church after a really rough weekend, a little boy was sitting in front of us and acting just exactly like our son would have done at that age. I couldn't keep from crying...but it was a good cry of sorts. After church I talked to his mom and told her and she smiled because the stories I told of our son so reminded her of what her son would do. He was such a cutie and gave me an awesome high five before he left.

bitter sweet moment in a rough weekend. And if me saying so bothers you, go somewhere else. The pain in our hearts never goes away but that doesn't mean that our souls are not content and solid in Christ. Like Job, we can praise the Lord in the midst of grief.
Job is indeed a very searching book.

'Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him' (Job 13.15).
 
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razzelflabben

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Like it or not I'm gonna say this....sometimes I really hate people...just saying. Tired of manipulation, not caring, etc...enough said, no details I don't want this post to upset any of the lurkers who come here to try to tell me I shouldn't feel anything.
 
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razzelflabben

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I haven't said much here for awhile because so many people seem to get upset when I talk about some of the struggles around here. I do not wish to cause anyone distress. Life is difficult at best and we have had more than our share of difficulties...I am tired and beyond tired, ready for a rest that does not seem to be coming very quickly. That being said, God is good and I will continue to testify to that fact. He never promised things would be easy in this life, in fact He promised just the opposite.

As we prepare to face another Christmas I would like to say this to anyone who might read this and struggle. When our son died his favorite song was "How Many Kings" by downhere. Every single time I hear that song I am reminded that God will never ask more of us than He already gave to bring healing and comfort to us when we suffer great difficulties and sufferings. Take heart if you are struggling this Christmas, God knows the pain and is sharing it with you or it would be worse. He knows, He has been there...He suffered so that He could comfort you...Be tired, be sad, be depressed, be angry, hurt, disappointed, etc. but never forget that one so much greater than you or I have gone before us and knows the pain intimately and in that He holds you in His arms and breaths into you life and strength to endure no matter how tired you get.
 
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Weathering Storms

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Wow. A lot of condemnation here. As someone who has studied the Word of God for many years, including seminary, Let me say this without hesitation.

GOD DID NOT TAKE YOUR SON AS A PUNISHMENT.

This is not the God I know from scripture. I can't give you an exact "why." But I do know that as much as we love our children, God loves them more. God has specific things He wants us to do while we're here. But He loves us so much that as soon as we are finished, He gathers us into His arms. Perhaps your son had completed his mission, and God chose to reward him by bringing him home quickly.

But never, ever think that God cannot or will not protect His children. No demon killed your son. Look at Job. Satan couldn't touch Job until God gave him permission. Even then, God limited what Satan could do.

Now, there is NO CONDEMNATION for those who are in Christ Jesus. NO CONDEMNATION. I am sure you will understand all when you get home, and see your son waiting for you at the gate of Heaven. Until then, keep working on whatever God gives you to do. You'll see your son again.
 
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razzelflabben

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Wow. A lot of condemnation here. As someone who has studied the Word of God for many years, including seminary, Let me say this without hesitation.

GOD DID NOT TAKE YOUR SON AS A PUNISHMENT.

This is not the God I know from scripture. I can't give you an exact "why." But I do know that as much as we love our children, God loves them more. God has specific things He wants us to do while we're here. But He loves us so much that as soon as we are finished, He gathers us into His arms. Perhaps your son had completed his mission, and God chose to reward him by bringing him home quickly.

But never, ever think that God cannot or will not protect His children. No demon killed your son. Look at Job. Satan couldn't touch Job until God gave him permission. Even then, God limited what Satan could do.

Now, there is NO CONDEMNATION for those who are in Christ Jesus. NO CONDEMNATION. I am sure you will understand all when you get home, and see your son waiting for you at the gate of Heaven. Until then, keep working on whatever God gives you to do. You'll see your son again.
oh we knew all that from the start...just because others accuse otherwise doesn't make it so but the question is why would they accuse such a thing especially in the midst of our grief.
 
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oh we knew all that from the start...just because others accuse otherwise doesn't make it so but the question is why would they accuse such a thing especially in the midst of our grief.
Because people by nature are looking for someone to blame, someone to be mad at. Since it's frowned upon by everyone (except God, strangely enough) to be mad at God, sometimes we make other people the subject of our anger.

But God understands our anger and hurt. I wrote a short story once, where someone was so angry with God, and He told them, "I understand your anger. Go ahead and beat on my chest. You do so from the shelter of My arms. When you are tired, I will hold you and give you My peace."

Having been here, and felt the sorrow of losing loved ones He does understand our need to pour out our hurt, and sometimes anger, and it doesn't make any difference to His love for us.
 
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