What's on your mind?

[Travelers.Soul]

They have no idea bud and probably never will.

Me and you only have to prove ourselves to God. God knows us, they don't.

Please do not make angry blanket statements but you are correct God knows you better than anyone else ever could. No one is asking you to prove yourself to us.

 

[Travelers.Soul]

It is unfortunate if you leave. I don't think anyone was thinking badly of you. As for those of us who agreed with certain posts, I can speak for myself that I was agreeing with the point about the power of words. It wasn't aimed at you.

I couldn't agree more.

 

[Paulie079]

I must have missed where Senkaku blatantly told anyone that they didn't have enough faith and that was their issue. It looked like most of his posts were about taking responsibility and doing what you can.

I think that depends on how much you trust God's ability to heal people.

Most of them were and I wouldn't take issue with them. It was this one ^ that I have a problem with. The only reason is that I don't want to see people here torn down, and the insinuation in that post can be a very discouraging and debilitating thought. That kind of stuff sticks and crops up when people feel stuck and wonder why things are so hard. "I guess it's because I don't trust God enough." And that becomes another basis for the person to beat themselves up. It can be extremely hard to trust God when things are hard, and it takes a very intentional decision to keep faith and keep moving forward. Any insinuation that someone doesn't have enough faith totally overlooks and overshoots what the person is walking through day in and day out. It's just very unempathetic. I don't doubt that Senkaku meant well and was trying to help, but that is why there have been some negative reactions. It wasn't to the other stuff he said so much as to that post in particular. It wasn't helpful at all. Unfortunately one wayward sentence can color everything else.

 

[Paulie079]

Honestly, all I got from Senkaku's post was, "Try harder!" which hurts me because I've been trying hard my entire life to change myself and still am going nowhere in life. It's exactly what I originally posted that Right Winged Christians talk trash about people like me because we are not as successful as them because we "Didn't try hard enough" when it comes to work, faith, or what have you. These are people who shouldn't display this kind of pride the pharisees had because of their status in life.

I try, I try, and I try but never get anywhere because of my mental disability and unfortunate environment. Telling me that I lack faith only made me feel worse and I only deleted my original post because another user privately gave me crap for it, told me that I'm playing victim again, and that I shouldn't have posted it.

Whatever though. It's crap like this that makes me think that the closer you are to physical/mental/social/emotional perfection, the more in God's image you are made in. Unfortunately, I do not fit the worldly Christian's definition of perfection and it's something I have to live with every day.

Wayholka, first of all, there aren't degrees to how we were made in God's image. We were just made in His image, period. You were made in His image, period. I was made in His image, period. Man looks at outward appearance, but God looks at the heart.
I think there is something to be said for the power of positive thinking. That is something I have worked hard on myself. Victim mentality or whatever aside, the truth is that you are a lovable, creative, treasured, valuable creation of God, and the best thing you can do is work on believing that and truly, sincerely loving yourself. And I know you are taking other steps to manage your mental health and your circumstances, and all you can do is to continue to make healthy choices, and when you stumble, get right back up and keep going. You have got this and God has got you.

 

[alsughasoughaiuyfygh]

Wayholka, first of all, there aren't degrees to how we were made in God's image. We were just made in His image, period. You were made in His image, period. I was made in His image, period. Man looks at outward appearance, but God looks at the heart.
I think there is something to be said for the power of positive thinking. That is something I have worked hard on myself. Victim mentality or whatever aside, the truth is that you are a lovable, creative, treasured, valuable creation of God, and the best thing you can do is work on believing that and truly, sincerely loving yourself. And I know you are taking other steps to manage your mental health and your circumstances, and all you can do is to continue to make healthy choices, and when you stumble, get right back up and keep going. You have got this and God has got you.

Intellectually, I know what you say is true but emotionally, I don't. I will keep trying to better myself like you said. I slipped today and need to get back up.

I sincerely apologize, everyone, for starting this discussion. I did not wish for things to get this downhill.

 

[TheGirlOnFire]

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” – John 8:12

 

[Paulie079]

Intellectually, I know what you say is true but emotionally, I don't. I will keep trying to better myself like you said. I slipped today and need to get back up.

Intellectually is a start The more you preach truth to yourself, the more it will take root in your heart.

 

[TheGirlOnFire]

Intellectually, I know what you say is true but emotionally, I don't. I will keep trying to better myself like you said. I slipped today and need to get back up.

I sincerely apologize, everyone, for starting this discussion. I did not wish for things to get this downhill.

We all have days were we feel low about ourselves.

But you seeked support and also took what people have said on board.

It won't happen over night, changing our thoughts, or undoing damage.

Its day by day.

You can't change until you face what your story is, and that is what you are doing

 

[Saucy]

Judges 4:21
“But Jael, Heber’s wife, picked up a tent peg and a hammer and went quietly to him while he lay fast asleep, exhausted. She drove the peg through his temple into the ground, and he died.”

 

[Travelers.Soul]

I don't doubt that Senkaku meant well and was trying to help, but that is why there have been some negative reactions. It wasn't to the other stuff he said so much as to that post in particular. It wasn't helpful at all. Unfortunately one wayward sentence can color everything else.

Be that as it may, the negative responses started before that quote. The very first post he made was meet with an immediate negative response. But I am done with this topic, because I do not wish to respond to anyone out of anger. I mean no disrespect toward you and I am not angry about what you said but about what I have just read elsewhere.

 

[Citanul]

I've never had eggnog :-O

I haven't either. It does seem to be very much a North American thing.

 

[leothelioness]

I haven't either. It does seem to be very much a North American thing.

I'm American and have never had it.

 

[Miss Spaulding]

I'm American and have never had it.

Same.

 

[leothelioness]

Same.

I think it's more of a Northern thing. I've never heard of anyone here ever having it.

 

[Miss Spaulding]

I've only skimmed through some of these posts, but I can attest to how unhelpful and deeply insensitive someone remarking (despite how well meaning they intend it to be) "You just need to have more faith."

I went through an extremely dark depression some years back. So dark that on the worst day of this depression that I can remember I actually thought about what it would be like to simply not be...as in just being dead. I didn't really contemplate suicide because in spite of it all I never fully lost my ability to reason, but I did sit there and think of what it would be like. To finally not be ravaged with the dark, tormenting thoughts. I, too, was told to "just have faith"... It didn't help. In fact, it just felt like such a slap in the face and only escalated the 'lies' in my mind. I never took offense though because I understood the heart of the one who said it, but that didn't lessen how terrible it made me feel.

As others said, words are indeed powerful. I don't necessarily find that telling someone to "have faith" is wrong, but certainly the question of faith is a delicate issue and thus should be spoken with equally delicate and nourishing words. Bottom line: Such a statement as "you just need to have faith" has a very hollow ring to it, so unless you're exceptionally gifted with words and can make such a statement sound encouraging rather than foreboding, then I would strongly suggest you simply don't say it at all.

That's how I see it.

 

[Toro]

I'm American and have never had it.

Same.

I think it's more of a Northern thing. I've never heard of anyone here ever having it.

Well I was born and raised in the south and I LOVE eggnog.... but hate eggs, go figure.

As I have said before though, it depends on the eggnog, some is amazing, some is nasty.

 

[Saucy]

I'm so excited! I have a major opportunity work-wise. Prayers appreciated

 

[sunshineforJesus]

I'm so happy my Un christian friend has recently turned to God in prayer over
some difficulties in her life,and even asked me to pray for her.

 

[alsughasoughaiuyfygh]

I'm so happy my Un christian friend has recently turned to God in prayer over
some difficulties in her life,and even asked me to pray for her.

That's great! The Bible says that each time a person turns to Christ, there's rejoicing in Heaven.

I'm proud of you.

 

[sunshineforJesus]

You're proud of me? It was her decision to turn to God though I have been encouraging her to do so.