What's on your mind?

[RileyG]

I am sad

May God comfort you

 

[bèlla]

Please pray for a family from our church body. They loss two boys (12 and 16 years old) in a construction accident a few days ago, and the funeral is this Tuesday. I posted it in the prayer section of the forum. Their father was injured as well, but is doing better.

I saw the post you referenced. I’m sorry for your loss. How are they doing? What about you? Any felt needs that should be lifted up?

 

[.Mikha'el.]

I saw the post you referenced. I’m sorry for your loss. How are they doing? What about you? Any felt needs that should be lifted up?

That is a very sad thing indeed. I'll be praying.

 

[RileyG]

I’m sorry you’re hurting and pray for healing and peace on your behalf. The three things you mentioned are all related: alcohol, loneliness and anxiety. They’re fueling one another. The only way to resolve it is to deal with the strongman.

You have to pray against rejection. That was the catalyst for the sorrow and loneliness. Which exacerbates anxiety and lead to coping mechanisms to silence the hurt.

You begin with forgiveness and must forgive everyone who hurt and abandoned you. Every single person. You cannot break the hold spiritually without doing.

Then follow with confession. Pour out your heart about those experiences and the things you’ve held onto and ask for forgiveness and repent for your wrongs and unforgiveness related to your experiences and coping mechanisms.

Then rebuke rejection, unforgiveness, bitterness, addiction, heaviness, obsessive and compulsive spirits, lust and loneliness. In that order in Jesus’s name.

Ask the Lord to remove them and all helper spirits and for a fresh infilling of his presence. Fill that space with love. Pray 1 Corinthians 12 aloud for 90 days without ceasing. Every day.

You’ll begin to loosen things in the spirit realm. Start sleeping with the word in the background. Use an audio bible or find one on YouTube. It ministers to your spirit while you rest. You’ll feel lighter when you wake.

Keep doing it for the rest of the year. You need to saturate yourself and your environment. Spiritual bondage has an impact on your home. The air is thicker. But it will change as things fall away.

If you do as I suggest you’ll break it. Talk with the chaplains here as well. You need accountability and a trusted ear to share your burdens.

Keep your eyes fixed on God. Not on your problems or lack. Start your day with the word and end it the same. You’ll overcome this. It seems unlikely now but its not the end.

Start praying the divine office. Morning or evening are best. You’ll learn a lot of scripture by doing so. Always pray aloud.

Thank you for your abundant wisdom bella.

I will add this to my spiritual routine.

God's blessings upon you!

 

[bèlla]

Thank you for your abundant wisdom bella.

I will add this to my spiritual routine.

God's blessings upon you!

You’re welcome Riley. I gave @Vinter similar suggestions several months ago. Read his testimony. He’s in a different place now. You can do it!

 

[sampa]

I’d like something seasonal if possible. The body’s needs change as the year unfolds. I’ve been working on it off and on. I’m reluctant to tier meals to a specific day. Like meatless Monday. It puts you in a box.

Sounds like you have some kind of plan in the works and know the direction that you want to take. That's important.

 

[sampa]

I took a personal day to catch up on some stuff. But unfortunately,at the same time and encouragement, the guy that is far ended up wanting to talk to me by video chat for his lunch break. Unfortunately we ended up liking each other a lot more. I feel so comfortable with him and I know I make him smile a lot. I reminded him that it is not the same as meeting in person and that it's very impractical with both of our lives and the distance of four and a half hours. It's the first time I had a real hard time hanging up. Both of us. But somehow the texting still continued and he ended up calling me again. It's really hard when you do finally after a long time find that connection, and to try to remind yourself that life goes on and you have to make tough choices. His physical appearance reminds me of a best friend I had in the Army in 1992. He's definitely taking care of himself... But he also did talk about a transformation. It sounds like he physically has gone through a transformation and also spiritually and mentally.

It at least gives me hope that I can find someone who is a Christian and godly and still have a healthy attraction. We both know that we cannot be friends like we are with others of the opposite gender. It would be foolish. We both have communicated that we see each other more than friends.

 

[bèlla]

Sounds like you have some kind of plan in the works and know the direction that you want to take. That's important.

I’ve been dragging my feet and the extra food forces the issue. I don’t have a big appetite by default. But poor consumption causes other problems. I have to do my part and take care of myself.

It sounds like you had a good chat. Sometimes situations like that remind you he’s out there. Maintaining a connection can be difficult when both desire more and it isn’t possible. I’ve done it before and we suffered because of it.

 

[Niels]

Congratulations! Well done. You mentioned starting something else when it ends. Are your plans still the same?

Thanks, Bèlla. It's complicated. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like we got the grant. We were, however, awarded a different grant to turn one of our apps into a training tool. Others may follow, including the application that I was lead developer on. If that happens, I'll probably be involved. In the meantime, I have backup plans. The skills that I brought to the last project were largely acquired by working on my own. I may also take a class or two. Either way, I plan to use the time for personal development.

I like to have multiple backup plans. Although the specifics have changed somewhat, I'm still on the same course.

That's amazing brother! Congrats! (Sorry I missed this earlier)

God is good. This is all him. As much as I'd like to take more of the credit, I feel like I've been brought along for the ride.

I'm glad that it turned out well and I pray that you can get the ketchup time and rest that you need.

So far, so good. I'm looking forward to taking a stay-cation at some point in the near future.

 

[RileyG]

Day 1 sober

 

[sampa]

.

 

[Saucy]

Day 1 sober

You got this!

 

[Jonaitis]

I saw the post you referenced. I’m sorry for your loss. How are they doing? What about you? Any felt needs that should be lifted up?

They are doing much better. I have attended and hosted many funerals in my short-lived life, and the mood is night and day between Christian and non-Christians funeral. Everyone was in good spirits, including the family, but of course there was a tear here and there, and I am sure there was a lot of emotions held inside.

I can't think of anything that I need, but thank you sister. But if there is anything that comes to mind, don't hesitate to remember me before the Lord.

 

[bèlla]

I totally get that. I actually have a meal prep book I have to crack open from the library yet. I also come on the last couple years eat a whole lot less, and can go without eating more. But I've also suffered it when I've been running.

Same here. But it messes with my metabolism and B-12 levels if it goes too far. Sometimes I forget to eat. The body is adaptable and grows accustomed to feeding patterns. The less I eat the less it registers hunger. But I pay on the other end as you shared. I get tired and need a nap.

Also I think at our age we are better at communicating not only how you feel about another person emotionally, but even physically. I can say in the past that there are guys that I dated that I didn't even consider touching.

There are people who sound good on paper. But the chemistry isn’t there or you’re not inspired for lack of a better word. Connections like that typically grow over time through various stages of friendship which lower the barriers. But that was never my approach.

We just are going to have to figure out how we can distance ourselves from each other... It's crucial at this stage since it's early. It's much harder later.

It’s difficult but less painful in the run. We kept talking and when I met someone he didn’t take it well although he had another. We didn’t speak for months and I reached out recently and its still there. The Lord told me to minimize my contact. He can’t accept it and He doesn’t want me discussing my circumstances.

Sometimes you can rekindle a connection later on when you’ve had some distance and found what you sought. But there are instances when you’ll always be the one that got away and there’s no way forward in that scenario. You’re stuck in a cycle.

 

[bèlla]

Day 1 sober

Amen!

Here’s an affirmation for you. Say it every time a craving comes. By Jesus’s stripes I’m healed. I’m not an alcoholic. I’m the temple of the living God.

 

[bèlla]

In the meantime, I have backup plans. The skills that I brought to the last project were largely acquired by working on my own. I may also take a class or two. Either way, I plan to use the time for personal development.

I’m sorry to hear about the grant. What about your music? You haven’t mentioned it in awhile.

 

[sampa]

.

 

[sampa]

Oh my gosh! It's 96° here. No wonder I feel exhausted stepping out into the heat.

 

[Sophrosyne]

Feeling the urge to donate stuff; Hmm, I wonder if I even have anything.

Donate some donuts..... to me

 

[bèlla]

E.M. Bounds on Prayer…

“Importunity is a condition of prayer. We are to press the matter, not with vain repetitions, but with urgent repetitions. We repeat, not to count the times, but to gain the prayer.

We cannot quit praying because heart and soul are in it. We pray ‘with all perseverance.’ We hang to our prayers because by them we live. We press our pleas because we must have them, or die.”

“What a study in importunity, in earnestness, in persistence, promoted and propelled under conditions which would have disheartened any but a heroic, constant soul. [Jesus] teaches that an answer to prayer is conditional upon the amount of faith that goes to the petition.

To test this, He delays the answer. The superficial pray-er subsides into silence, when the answer is delayed. But the man of prayer hangs on, and on. The Lord recognizes and honors his faith, and gives him a rich and abundant answer to His faith evidencing, importunate prayer.”