Come on in, the coffee's hot

I also can't speak for everyone here, but I truly do care for those struggling with this, because I struggle with it as well 24/7...

suffering from this is most certainly never a picnic... it can be the most difficult thing a person could ever through for that person, and to one to say to another who's going through it "I really don't care"... it really convicts me in my soul.

I can't simply sit there and say, "I don't care"... the Holy Spirit within me will not let me say that, and I never want to say it, because I did live my life once that way... never caring about others, never giving people who struggle with what I have a second thought, because I thought the only person in the world that mattered was me, and screw everyone else.

It tears me up inside to see people go through this... there have been so many nights where I cried my eyes out for the people I knew that suffer from depression... I wanted to let them know so bad that there is hope and Love in this world, and He doesn't just give up on people.

these days, for me, not caring is not, and never again will be, an option.

It is always too soon to quit!

Super Kal said:

I also can't speak for everyone here, but I truly do care for those struggling with this, because I struggle with it as well 24/7...

suffering from this is most certainly never a picnic... it can be the most difficult thing a person could ever through for that person, and to one to say to another who's going through it "I really don't care"... it really convicts me in my soul.

I can't simply sit there and say, "I don't care"... the Holy Spirit within me will not let me say that, and I never want to say it, because I did live my life once that way... never caring about others, never giving people who struggle with what I have a second thought, because I thought the only person in the world that mattered was me, and screw everyone else.

It tears me up inside to see people go through this... there have been so many nights where I cried my eyes out for the people I knew that suffer from depression... I wanted to let them know so bad that there is hope and Love in this world, and He doesn't just give up on people.

these days, for me, not caring is not, and never again will be, an option.

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I think this is a very genuine post, thank you for that. We need more people like ya in the world.I guess I will concede and say that there are a lot of people on this part of the board that do seem to have some concern for the welfare of other posters. I reckon it may not be my place to question the motivates of everyone that posts uplifting words.

lmarie23 said:

I can't speak for everyone, and I don't post on this thread as much as I do the similar thread on the bipolar board, but I know that I do care about the people on the board. I've made some close friends through Christian Forums. I know I haven't met them personally but I do care about them. When they are struggling I am concerned about them and I pray for them. I admit, the people on the board that I don't know as well, I don't feel as strong feelings towards them. But the words I write are genuine, it's not about "winning points toward heaven" - I hope that the Christians on this board don't believe that you win points toward heaven by doing good deeds! It's not through works but through grace that we are saved. Maybe I don't know these people personally but when I read their struggles, particularly ones that echo strongly of my own struggles, my heart goes out to them. As a Christian, accepting God's love for me makes it easier for me to give that love to others. I don't find it hard to care about others, actually I tend to have the opposite problem, where it's like I care too much and I tend to take on other people's problems too much. Well anyways I am rambling. I just read your post and I wanted to respond - there are a lot of caring people on this board and on the Forums. There are probably some people who are just going through the motions but most seem genuine and I've made some good friends here. If you need a friend or just a listening ear, feel free to pm me. Not everyone is desensitized by the media.

Lynne

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Another post from the heart, thanks for that (Not being sarcastic). I will point out though that I believe good works should be just as essential, even more so then faith. Then again even Christian scriptures (James) proclaim that "Faith without works is dead" and Jesus supposedly said something to the extent that those that just profess their belief but don't do righteous works will not make it into the Kingdom of Heaven... so Good works are required for salvation.

ChildishFears said:

Another post from the heart, thanks for that (Not being sarcastic). I will point out though that I believe good works should be just as essential, even more so then faith. Then again even Christian scriptures (James) proclaim that "Faith without works is dead" and Jesus supposedly said something to the extent that those that just profess their belief but don't do righteous works will not make it into the Kingdom of Heaven... so Good works are required for salvation.

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Hi there!

I disagree with your analysis, because in my experiences people seeking to do good works just follow their conscious and not loving truth.

Indeed my position is that...

Doing 'good works' is usually a lot of bull!


I believe that faith in loving truth guides believers into action by changing their hearts - that is what James is saying - and this is what Jesus teaches - so please let's not go around motivating ourselves to do good works - as you suggest - but rather let Christ's love change us into a new way of life - actively growing in loving truth and get us out of our fallen human mess.

So loving humanity, yes, all Creation, as well as the Creator will be the outcome!

This is much better than trying to be a goodie- goodie, or hiding behind a concept called faith doing stuff all - such brings all to often just a bad taste in my mouth and feeds that Beast called religion and not a living faith.

Don't you agree?


Gerry

I just need someone to talk to. Glad this thread is here because I don't feel like making one just to talk about this.

At this point in my life I am completely isolated. I have NO friends to talk to at all. I had to cut out the few I had in my life because they were of no good. They'd keep me around just to demean me and talk about me behind my back. I never understood why, sometimes I sit around and think, why do they do this to me? What did I do to them?

I only have one so called friend that I keep in contact with. We've known each other since high school (10th grade), we're both now in our early 20s. Do you know that the entire time we've known each other and kept in contact we've only hung out two or three times in our entire friendship.

Sure, she'll invite me to her church which is good--but I felt a bit slighted when she stated that the church we visited is not her home church the one that she frequents. Being that we're supposed to be friends and all, I'd think she'd invite me to that one. Oh well, I didn't make a big fuss about it.

Occassionally, she'll invite me to one of her colleague's wedding or something like that. But if I happen to call her on the weekend to see if she wants to go to the movies, the mall, out to eat she has a ton of excuses as to why she cannot go. Sometimes she'll claim that she is broke, so I'll even OFFER to pay for her movie ticket and food then she'll say she has a list of laundry that she has to do all day.

The next time that I hear from her, she'll mention how she hung out or was at a party wth someone

I don't get it. I once asked someone about this and they said it may be a female competition type of thing, that she may be threatened by me.She never wants to really go out in public with me, like she'll invite me over to her house and we'll watch DVDs.

I did notice that when we were at a wedding reception, a guy had approached me and she had gotten noteably irritated as if she was jealous. She made a remark that the guy talks to any girl who is "new".

I have enough self esteem problems myself to be burdened with someone else. In retrospect, I do remember tons of signs that she may secretly resent or be a bit jealous of me, like if someone pays me a compliment she'll immediately knock it down. One of her guy friends said that I look like I could dance and she quickly said, "oh she cannot dance!" Things like that.

I don't know sometimes it's hard for me to see her for who she truly is. When I speak to her, she talks about God and seems so supportive but then this other side of her kinda contradcts that. I dont' know I'm just rambling. I just wish I had some real friends right now. I am incredibly lonely and tired of doing everyting by myself

LaManda,

I'm sorry to hear that you're lonely. I didn't have any true friends until college so I can understand a bit where you're coming from. In high school the people I called my friends made fun of me a lot. I was the "class genius" so people didn't talk to me much. I finally made a good friend my senior year, but she got me into bad situations, I think I was just convenient to have around or something.

In college I discovered what true friendship really is. I've been so blessed in the past 8 years with friendships. I feel like I'm still learning how to relate to people well but it's been really nice. And I definitely never take my friendships for granted because I didn't have them growing up.

Anyways, my story in a nutshell, so you can know that you're not alone.

This friend of yours that you described, she doesn't seem very true to you. I'm sorry about how she's been putting you down and won't hang out with you. Have you tried to meet new people? The people I've befriended in the last few years, they are from the college/career group at my old church and now from my new church. Church is a good way to meet people. You can join a Bible study or small group at a church and that's an even better way to meet people. I go to a small Bible study and we've become very close, they are like my family. My new church is also very personable, we have potlucks and spend a lot of time getting to know each other. It's a small church that's very focused on volunteer work and evangelism. In the past I've also gone to a single's ministry at a church and met some great people there but they were all older than me. I'm in my mid-20s.

I know it can be nerve-wracking to try to make new friends, especially when you have a low self-esteem, like you and i both do, but it sounds like you need some. Joining a group is an easier way to make a friend than others, I think. Or you can join a club or something. I don't know, just some thoughts.

If you want a friend to write to, feel free to pm me. I also post a lot on the coffeeshop thread on the bipolar board, there is a small group of us that post on there a lot and support each other. I know you're not bipolar, but if you joined us we wouldn't mind.

Lynne

I have the pregnacy blues I believe ,I've been feeling so low lately and relatives are making this experience worse for me.I don't think I want anything to do with any of my relatives.Im sick of being around dysfunctional family members.Im also depressed because Im about to bring a baby into all of this family drama from hell...I just pray I can hold it together for my babys sake...please keep me in your prayers