Christian Response to the Covid-19 Pandemic

Sometimes people have to be confronted by something terribly bad. At regular intervals, certain people come to struggle terribly and have to learn by a hard lesson, being pulled down by an accident or serious disease.

Several people at a certain moment in their life got struck. Suddenly they become confronted by a longer period that they can not do the things they normally do. During that time of not doing anything, they are given time to think about the past but also the future. Then they can take time to meditate and to really start to reevaluate the value of things.

Before they got sick or bounded to the bed by their sickness or paralysation, they can have the film of their life repeated over and over again for days. At that time they have hours and days to think about all those things that kept them busy. Then they also realize that they had and still have so many dreams that they’ve had over the years and projects that they wanted to do.

From people who previously had serious accidents and diseases, we do know several people came in confrontation with the matter of a godhead, and started examining the Scriptures, coming to one conclusion, that there is Only One True Divine God, the Elohim Hashem Jehovah, Who is a loving God and not a cruel Being that would have His children being tortured or being burned forever.
It is then for them the time to recognise how so many churches or denomination lied to their flock and used fear to master them.

The devil, being spoken of in the Bible, is any or every adversary who walks on this planet. For sure there are many adversaries of God too, who would love people not to believe in the Divine Creator or have them keeping to the many false teachings, human traditions and heathen festivals.

But it are the real lovers of God who in such difficult times should show how they know for sure Who is behind everything and Who can be the helping hand in times of problems but also be a Guide in times when everything seems alright.

These days when there is a virus making many victims, those real followers of the son of God, should show the world how God has given the world a saviour and mediator, who paid the ransom for all the faults we as human beings have done.

Now is the time that all real lovers of God can show the world Who That real God is and how we as united lovers of God are not afraid of what comes upon this world but are willing to unite in prayer to protect all those around us, believers and unbelievers.

In the article of Janisha Jacobs, affectionately known as “Keela“,, the greatest hope is expressed that during this crisis more people will be drawn closer to Christ, the son of God. We only can hope and pray that more people shall come to see that in this time of fear there will be no other choice but for our faith to increase and to join hands spiritually. That in this time of not knowing what tomorrow holds we will learn to let God worry about tomorrow and focus on getting through today, with the knowledge that there shall come even worse days and even a more severe battle, with the third World War or Armageddon. Therefore we can look at this pandemic as a rehearsal for what still has to come and to make us stronger to be prepared for what is still to come.
Let us, therefore, pray not to false gods, like some many have taken themselves false gods, but learn also others to pray to the God Jesus also prayed too, namely his heavenly Father (and not himself) the One and Only True God, the Elohim Hashem Jehovah.

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To remember

• facing global Pandemic of Covid-19 virus #CoronaVirus.
• enough news surrounding panic > All across the world right now persons are facing panic, trauma & a lot of uncertainty because of the effects of Covid-19.
• Persons afraid, lost loved ones, +  wondering if they will be next.
• China, Italy, America, UK, etc. > unimaginable crisis.
• biggest question right now =  “when will it end?”
• for the church = also the question of “how do we react?”
• to get us to close down churches > building =/= church
• people = church
• via Zoom = enjoyable + more intimate than “pulpit and pew”
• try + prevent spreading virus => stay home
• response/reaction to world crisis & pandemic = faith, wisdom, compassion, forward thinking, leadership + most importantly prayer.

Keela's Chronicles

As most of you know, we have all been facing the global Pandemic of the Covid-19 virus #CoronaVirus. Initially I had no intentions of blogging about it, figuring that there is enough news surrounding the panic and I didn’t want to be one more person adding fuel on an already blazing fire. But, if you read my latest post you know by now that I decided to change my mind

All across the world right now persons are facing panic, trauma and a lot of uncertainty because of the effects of Covid-19. Persons are afraid, many have lost loved ones, some may not even know if their loved ones are still alive in places like Italy, some persons are sick and many others are wondering if they will be next. And all of these emotions and feelings are completely understandable but so very heartbreaking.

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Believe me! Everything is Possible

Once on our way in life we are confronted with lots of things, of which some seem difficult to tackle or which are disturbing us.

All of us search for the better life and have their goal put on marvellous things we dream of. Many people think a good life and happiness lies in gathering wealth, but they are mistaken.
Many think they have to look for luck by others around them and think the world can offer them peace within. They do hope to achieve great success, and some even can do so but in the end do not feel very happy. Several who seem to have reached the top within themself do not feel really satisfied or fulfilled despite becoming a multi-millionaire or a star. Oh, so many go looking for luck and happiness too far away out.

Too many people do forget that answers should be found within themself, becoming self-aware and having the right spiritual goal.

It might not always easy to accept we failed in something. But we should come to understand we better learn from any failure and go on avoiding it in the future by not falling in the same trap or by not choosing the wrong direction.

Lots of people do not want to know they are created in the image of their Maker. The majority of the world population even does not want to accept such Eternal Spirit Being would exist. But if they would learn more about Him and read His Words, they would be able to find the most valuable Guide for life (in His given Word: the Bible). That century assembly of books gives enough wisdom to mankind to find the best way to live and shows the path to true happiness.

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To remember

• Failure =/= failure < > brings a lot of experience + maturity in our brain and mind set = > a way towards success.
• willpower matters a lot
• believe in yourself + never give up > you “can do it”.
• Think Positive
• Trust in Hard Work
• Set your goal > set a milestone for yourself.  Every target and milestone has some requirements = think, find the story, model them, and then try to better them
• empower your will power with greatness you have achieved in your life.

Many opportunities given by God

I often did not have it easy in my life. Certain choices also made it that I got myself in more trouble than if I would have followed the mainstream.

Career Opportunities (film) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

First there was the choice of my profession. Having being brought up in the Old Roman Catholic church, having been an acolyte, wanting to be working for God, becoming a priest was a first option, but then I was not allowed to marry, and I loved to much women. I also loved very much musicals and wanted to be an artist, able to sing and dance. when I asked to study that I got a slap in my face and was told I could better become a garbage man than an artist. In secret I started lessons and worked in my spare time to pay for the study. It was a good thing about that time time Europe had to build itself up again and had to find its way to restore from the horror of wars and the political systems which brought Europe unto the swamp.

Being so much interested in God, having had to learn the Catechism, comparing to what was written in the Scriptures I soon found out that the Catholic Faith (be it the Roman, Charismatic or Orthodox) was not according to Biblical teachings. This made it again difficult for my parents and me, creating a conflict on theological matters now. After some church shopping, having looked at different protestant denominations, I chose for a non-trinitarian church (the Baptist Church at that time and when the Baptists moved more to Trinitarianism I, like thousands of my brethren and sisters chose for an other non-trinitarian group: the Christadelphians)

Concerned about the world I also stood on the barricades in 1968, hoping for a better world. Becoming a dancer I also more than once had to face the difficulties of my body which also more than once was pushed in the corner by accidents or by my autoimmune illness. Continually I had to prove myself and found that I had to restart my life again. Later the children sometimes asked “Why did you do not that?”  or asked “Why did you not get that role?” or “Why did he got that position instead of you?”. It looked strange for them that I made certain ethical choices and did not want to do certain things to get a certain position. At the end of the trail, now being retired I do not have to shame myself for everything I did. And looking back on my career I must confess that I have really being blessed, being able my whole life to do what I loved to do and having been able to refuse several jobs because I did not like them or did not find them appropriate for a Christian to do (or did not want to do what they hoped for, for giving me that role or position).

In the end I can see how I was blessed and how there was an Incredible Strong Hand that pushed me in certain directions or got me up again when I was in the trenches. I was very lucky to have done fantastic work and having worked with fantastic people, international stars as well as with incredible people who, like me would only be known by their stage name or be forgotten soon.

Under this (official civil name) name I am writing I often was bullied because I did not hesitate to say my opinion or to speak about my faith which was not according to the main Christian majority. Once more I felt the Strong Hand of God, Who guided me and gave me further insight.

We may encounter lots of moments of darkness in our life, but by the sun-rays which brake the darkness we should come to see the better end of it. I had some horrible experiences in my life, which I would not wish any body would have such ones. But they helped me to help others and they also helped me to become strengthened or to know I was on the right way to show others how they have to behave or not have to behave. (For one incident: Though I never know what happened to a gang of seven that once attacked me with a knife in Chiswick Park, I do know I came out alive of it by keeping calm and trusting God.)

Over the years I also came to see how God uses the different elements/groups or denominations in Christendom to bring people from those different parts of the Body of Christ together in unity with Christ. Though for some it might take many years. But God is patient and we as Christians should also be patient with those we want to bring to Christ, getting them to believe that Jesus is the Way to God and not God himself.

In the meantime God is also helping others of different faith to build up a life, so that they too shall come to see how God helps them in their life.

Today I also want to bring an other case than myself to attention.

On the net you may find a blog which

“is a testimony of God’s goodness, protection and guidance over me and my family.” {Surpises: Bad news turned to Good!}

it’s from a person who is been working with for almost all of her tenure in the financial industry. She writes

Surprisingly, we lost the bid! Another bigger company took over the account, leaving our company with a devastating, disappointing news. {Surpises: Bad news turned to Good!}

She confidently,  was not affected by the bad news and is convinced that

God has gone ahead of this scene, He knew it would come. And He knew, that I would be the very first one to feel fearful among all my colleagues. Why? I have all the reasons why, I am not as competitive as they are – being in the sales industry, my achievements were not at par as what my colleagues had produced. I would be in the bottom list, definitely! {Surpises: Bad news turned to Good!}

Like I had certain feelings in my life the author of that blog also has the feeling God assured me of the things that may come to pass. She writes

Last year, the Lord has been very busy preparing me and my husband with so many things, including the planning and executions.

We have gone to the most “thriftiest” way we can save money, He gave us a house , He brought the desire of going back home, instead. He gave a new sustainable job for my husband, He increased our commission in ways that we can finish all our goals for 2016. And finally we come up to an answer, that hey, I will finish my job this March 2017. {Surpises: Bad news turned to Good!}

Please do read more about her experiences and her telling about their family’s life circumstances

We all had a fair share of life circumstances. 2014, we lost our dad due to cancer, my husband lost his lolo due to old age, we had 2 series of unemployments and some financial problems. 2015, it’s like the continuation of 2014, consoling our mom during our mourning season, separation and long-distance childcare, 1 unemployment and financial struggle. 2016, was a good year, God restored all that we wanted to pursue, those that we missed, savings goals, dreams, home acquisition, clearer goals and more. 2017, is still uncertain, we have expectations and even before we embark to this year, God already had confirmations of what to expect and we are excited with that.
Through it all, there is one important thing that God wants us to inhabit in our hearts, it is about “gratefulness”. {New Perspective: Gratefulness and Thankfulness}

And find that

we would learn how to cultivate a life of gratefulness and thankfulness. Learning to appreaciate every season in our lives, that we will not give up on ourselves because God never did, and even if there are some struggles and life- circumstances – God is always there so inclined and willing to help and guide us.

In all things, give God praise, not only for the gifts that He gives, but because we understand that He is the source of all things. Our giver and our Father. Learn to be grateful even in the little, so when the big one comes, we will be more grateful. 🙂
Be thankful, always! {New Perspective: Gratefulness and Thankfulness}

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Find the articles

• New Perspective: Gratefulness and Thankfulness
• Surpises: Bad news turned to Good!

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Preceding

What would you do if…?

Just be yourself…

Winter and Spring wonders of nature showing the Master’s Hand

Echo

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Additional reading

1. The Question is this…
2. Struggles of life

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Further reading

1. Under His Wings Part One
2. Day 36: Living above reproach
3. Dying to Live
4. Bad Habits
5. Life is Hard only half of the Truth
6. Of Gifts and Grace and Immeasurably More
7. – Laying Hold of the Hope –
8. How to Live When this World Seems in Chaos (Part 3)
9. Suffering, part 5; Mixed Bags
10. Treasures of the Heart
11. Seen Another Way
12. Do People Still Do Thanksgiving???
13. Happy Thanksgiving 2016
14. Just Thankful: My #24
15. a Thanksgiving meditation
16. A Thankful Heart at Year’s End 2016
17. When 2017 doesn’t look like you thought
18. Give & Take Away
19. Testimony Tuesday
20. goodness precedes knowledge in Christianity/ in the faith
21. Thank You
22. I See, God Is Good
23. God is good, in all the timing
24. God’s Goodness vs Seeking Safety
25. Only Goodness
26. Greatness in You
27. The Naked Truth
28. The Faultfinder
29. God’s goodness and Promises – By Laurence Torr
30. Praise The Lord For His Goodness
31. Just What I Needed
32. good
33. Today’s walk
34. God’s recycling program
35. The Battle Is Real
36. Creation reveals God’s goodness
37. If God guides, He will provide
38. When God Moved a Mountain
39. R.A. Torrey: Soul Winner
40. Fruit of the Spirit!

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Related articles

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• Justin Taylor Endorses Clarifying The Bible
• Historic Lebanon, NH Church Destroyed In Fire
• 160-year-old church closed for nearly 2 years sold to Marvin Sapp
• Who are the Christadelphians
• February 2015 got new little lights shining on internet
• Supreme Court ruling on limits of Indian church divorces simply reaffirms existing practice
• Project will digitize Catholic records of Boston Archdiocese
• ‘Everybody Will Be Muslim Because Of Our Stupidity’ Respected Catholic Archbishop Blasts ‘Weak,’ ‘Decadent’ Church, Moral Decay And Rise Of Islam And Paganism
• Rift grows between Pope Francis, ancient Catholic order

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Welcoming writing that can help to heal, to grow and to learn about ourself

In this world often people have to go to struggles and sometimes have to undergo big chocks to be placed in the reality of this life and to see and take an other crossroads.

For the founder of this lifestyle magazine it took two near death experiences before he at last came to concentrate even more on the more important spiritual matters of life. A parallelisation brought him to have enough time, lying flat on his back, having to be fed, he had enough time to once more in his life examine the Bible, his life, the way and the reasons of life.

Sometimes our whole life, our whole world has to fall apart before we come to change certain things in our life and come to know ourselves even better. Sometimes we also do have to go deep, but come to remember that joy more than once hid herself. How far and hard we do sometimes have to search to find her. {versplinterde drome}

Perhaps you too like Marcus Ampe and Liza Borstlap have to find ways to handle suffering. Though for the founder of this blog, he knew God already a long time and wanted to give the Divine Creator service already from early in his life, he also had to do a job to earn his living. He too had to make the best of his worldly life. Very often he was ‘put to the test’ and had to conquer many difficulties. That way he came to discover a greater desire for God.
Our newly joined writer also knows

Then everything, both good and bad, becomes redemptive. It moves us toward the God we desire.

and advices us

Enter your thirst. Feel your ache, the very worst ache that throbs in your soul. Face how you harm others, your spouse, your children, your friends. And face your disappointment with them. {versplinterde drome}

Life, Love & Pain (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Too often we are becoming blinded by the pains and difficulties we our encountering.

Danger  is that we too often let ourselves being carried away from the right track, because of our difficulties and pain.

says Marcus Ampe, whilst our fresh new author would add

When dreams shatter and pain is blinding, we’re prevented from moving ahead in our own light. {versplinterde drome}

she learned

that an awareness of inadequacy is neither a curse to lift nor a disorder to cure. It is a gift to be received, a gift that if properly used can make me powerful and strong and clear and wise. {versplinterde drome}

Our new author at her blog gives much of herself away. So if you would like to know her better, get to read her interesting blog “Heart prints”. At it she shows how she learned a lot in 2002 about the grace and wisdom of God. She learned about herself and saw with her own eyes how terrible things happened to her, but also how those turned later to make it to her advantage.

She also knows that there is an endurance that is too far for her to attain. Like the founder of this blog is aware we often need such battles in our life to end up in situations which make life worth living and give ourself a good reason to be here.

We do have to be kneaded and modelled, by time and many circumstances, having to build patience and endurance, to make life for something, and for not to loss a lot of qualities.

Rampton Parish Church Millennium Banner Displayed alongside the hymn board, it depicts (1) The Glory of the Lord appearing in the Cloud (Exod. 16:10); (2) The Fire of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (Acts 2:3); (3) The Tree of Life (Rev. 22:2); (4) Rampton Parish Church; (5) Man tills the soil (Gen. 3:23); (6) God so loved the world (Jn. 3:16); (7) The Tree of Knowledge (Gen. 2:16); (8) The Old and the New Covenant (Song of Songs 2:4); (9) The Advent Candle (Jn. 1:9) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The process of cutting away the ‘dead wood’ or nasty smudges may be a painful process, but by working and trying hard we may come to reach a goal worth looking at.

When we dared to look at the new author her blog to see what she wrote in her diary we found that

It sometimes feels like I’m standing on the shore and see people struggling in the waves.
People that I cared, “shared a life.
I can not help anyone, I do not have the ability.
But I hope that they will be tired of the nonsense and trivialities, that something will happen so they can experience the peace of God. {hardepad – Stukkies uit my dagboek 2002 ~ 2012}

That is also why we welcome her greatly and do hope she, like other authors on this blog, can share their hopes in God and in their fellow man. People coming along here willing to look at our blessings and the good things of life. Seeing themselves as miniscule elements always remembering how pointless a life without God is and how void. Knowing that when we find God and are willing to share His Grace we not only have to be so grateful for the peace here on the shore, in the fields and in the woods.

On this blog, many of the writers with her, have their heart going out to the man who had to endure so much. In the knowledge there is still so much to do, she with us want to bring thoughts, answers, and hopefully some clue of hope.

Where a massive amount of doors slam in my face.
Where roads immediately ends.
Here where all plans go wrong …
Where thoughts and words fail finally … {hardepad – Stukkies uit my dagboek 2002 ~ 2012}

We are happy she is willing to share thoughts of hope and wants to look with us at her, our and others their life and look at options we may have.

With utter despair?
Or with joy for the gift pack coming?

We do hope we all shall enjoy the words shared here and giving us fresh air, opening windows also to other writers, photographers, nice pictures and texts which can enlighten us and inspire us.

We would advice our and her readers to go with her and other presented authors here, looking at it when

All seems possible and feel now.
Today.
To breathe.
Arms open, lifting your head and going to meet the light.

This new author has felt, like many of us, emotional pressure, time constraints, and work-related issues that needed all her focus and attention.  She tried to hide the stress and realised that her  turmoil was visible.

Everyone could read it on my face.  The pressure was so immense that it felt as if I was captured in a boiler, and that the all-consuming fire below me brought the boiler to boiling point.

she writes in “As I unclutter my life, I free myself to answer the callings of my soul“.

As internal war can rage in ourselves, we can use some voices and reactions form others to get us free from our trapped, irritated self.

Our suitcases are filled with all kinds of dead weight: habits we need to give up, attitudes we’ve long since outgrown, and activities and possessions that no longer serve a reasonable purpose. (Nancy Twigg)

It is nice she now comes to open her suitcases here and is, like some other contributors here, willing to unpack her treasures of ‘findings’, her ‘gemstones’.
Like Mr. Ampe she also had to push the reset button to remind herself of her personal values.

The discord comes when I forget about my own values, and start living out other people’s values.  I subconsciously make other people’s priorities my own.  For me, the result is stress and misery. {As I unclutter my life, I free myself to answer the callings of my soul}

We are convinced just by willing to share experiences, by opening up to others, willing to show our weaknesses, but also our strengths, and showing others Who gives us the strength to face this difficult life, that lots of our stress and difficulties may also melt as butter in the sun.

By falling and getting up again we come to see, that no matter what happens in life, always there is  a wonderful dream available.

That if pursued will generate an unfamiliar, radically new internal experience. That experience, strange at first, will eventually be recognised as joy. {versplinterde drome}

You will see, sharing the dream is a nice experience, enriching us all and giving hope to more people.

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Find also to read

• ‘n memory…24 Mei 2011
• terloops…
• kronkelpad
• chronicles of an introvert
• As I unclutter my life, I free myself to answer the callings of my soul

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Additional reading

1. The longer you wait
2. Determine the drive
3. Suffering redemptive because Jesus redeemed us from sin
4. Preaching to an unbelieving world
5. Even in tough times remembering the blessings
6. Your struggles develop your strengths
7. We are to be joyful in the midst of our trials
8. Be not afraid of those trials which God may see fit to send upon thee
9. Faith and trial
10. A Living Faith #4 Effort
11. A Living Faith #5 Perseverance
12. A Living Faith #12 The Love for Jesus
13. A “seed” for the blessing of all mankind would come through the family of Abraham
14. God should be your hope
15. God is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him
16. The truth is very plain to see and God can be clearly seen
17. The first on the list of the concerns of the saint
18. Unconditional love
19. Remember there’s a light in the next day
20. Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience
21. The soul has no rainbow if the eyes have no tears
22. A man who cannot forgive others
23. The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands
24. Love will cure more sins than condemnation
25. Frank risks taking
26. If your difficulties are longstanding, try kneeling
27. Tapping into God’s Strength by Waiting on Him
28. Old Man of Prayer
29. A treasure which can give me everything I need
30. Patience is the ability to count down before blasting off
31. Careful what you sow, it might grow
32. Be kinder than necessary
33. Guard well within yourself that treasure, kindness

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Further of interest

1. Wisdom Not to Waste Our Trials
2. Endurance and Change
3. Things I’ve Learned About the Olympics via Facebook and Tumblr
4. “Race” Report (It’s long!)
5. The Race That Matters
6. Nine Days – Day Four
7. Both Sides Now
8. Training to Climb 8,000 metre peak
9. Cho Oyu Summit – Down, but not out!
10. Trusting Our Coach in Times of Stretching
11. Sunday S.O.A.P. – 21 Aug 2016
12. The Excellence of Patience
13. More than a Conqueror
14. May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same

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Related articles

• The Case for Treating Near-Death Experiences Like Acid Trips
• How ‘reckless’ driver crushed LASTMA official to near death
• ‘Proof of Heaven’: Neurosurgeon turns NDE into fascinating read for skeptics, believers
• Book Review – Evidence of the Afterlife – The Science of Near-Death Experience by Jeffrey Long, M.D.
• 10 Near-Death Experiences – Reblog…
• What do you think about near-death experiences?
• The Physics Of “Stranger Things” & The Paranormal Lab In Virginia Researching Real-Life Superpowers
• Near death experience book cover
• It Took a Near Death Experience for Tumor-Ridden Woman to Realize How Beautiful She Really Was
• Auto Accidents: Pain And Suffering How To Deal With It

The present for every sick person? Give time!

Thé present for every sick person? Give time!

Imagine that one day you are taken into hospital and put in a bed for months on end. You are lying there. Alone. Waiting. Connected to a drip, plastic tubes and beeping monitors, while your eyes are constantly turning towards the door of your room. Because there is no-one.
 
Specialists and nurses come to your bed every so often. They give you attention and take care of you. It is not always easy, because the work pressure is high. It is often a hurried care. There is not much time for other things. At the same time it is not necessary to talk to the nurses about living with uncomfort, pain and loss. They know, better than anyone, the hard and rough side of a hospital bed.

Let us be grateful that they ARE there and do what they DO.
Being a patient is under-estimated. To be seriously ill, feels life threatening. Illness throws you back, confronts and makes you dependent. Isolates. When something is seriously wrong with your body, your spirit follows. A lot of things happen. Questions about life, belief and other issues arise. They force you to look at things in a different way. Unasked-for your heart is put to the test, your spirit chastened.

It is the inside of life that knocks at the door, holds up a mirror and invites you to be different, to look for answers, to be receptive to new, until then, unknown insights.

Therefore, do not enter a sickroom in order to talk and talk. The sick suffer and struggle with a lot, fight against sadness and loss, live with uncertainty, confusion, fear and many unanswered questions.

Every ” And how are you ?”…
…is best followed by a respectful silence and listening. Give them the time to speak, the possibility to search for words or … to say nothing at all. In the context of drastic questions of life and death , silence is often suitable. Because when language is not enough, silence can be meaningful.

By ‘being there’ and listening, you give a sick person that which he needs most: presence. Or is it ‘being inside’?

Dutch original / Nederlands origineel: Hét cadeau voor elke zieke? Geef tijd!

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What would you do if…?

Lots of people encounter many struggles in life. Some get to learn how to cope with them, others get pulled down so much that they do not see any reason any more to live.

All have good and bad moments in life and whether we’re going through the worst of times or the best of times, history and our own experiences show us that life does go on and that we are just a very tiny atom in it

In this world there are people who, like Ray who grew up in London, moved away and travelled the world, ending up back where he started, are not able to raise their arm but found ways using other parts of their body to communicate or to move things, though at times it may feel for them like they might as well be trying to move the earth.

It is not the Most High Creator Who brings all that badness over us. But it is Him Who give us the opportunity to work around it and to become stronger, if we allow Him working in our midst.

We should not fear man nor fear worldly situations or diseases, but should fear God and come to trust and honour Him, putting our ‘tiny’ hand in His Big Hand, to be carried through life.

There are no rules to how life plays out. We have no control over it. The only thing we have control over is how we face those challenges. We are not so much a product of the challenges placed before us as we are a product of how each of us has faced those challenges. {To Live And Ride With ALS}

Please do find what Bill of Unshakable hope has to say and look how he manages to cope with the terminal disease called Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis or ALS or call it “Lou Gehrig’s Disease”.

He does not believe God causes trials and he doesn’t believe we will ever fully understand, at least not in this life.

But, whatever other reasons God has for allowing trials, I discovered two big things that He accomplishes through our trials; He helps us reset our priorities and forms our character. (Obviously He had a lot of work to do on me).

For sure he is not the only one to whom God has a lot of work to do. For the creator of this and some other lifestyle magazines had also to go through two near death experiences before he decided to work more for God. It does not mean, that took all the pain and frustrations away from him, but he gets encouraged by feeling the Hand of God at work in him … and that keeps him going….

One night, about a year before Bill was diagnosed with ALS, he and his wife Mary were up late watching “Nightline” on which Ted Koppel was doing three nights of interviews with retired college professor Morrie Schwartz who also had ALS and was sharing his life-lessons with Ted Koppel just as he had done previously with one of his former students named Mitch Albom who compiled these life-lessons and wrote a best-selling book titled “Tuesdays with Morrie.”

Bill has one vivid memory from watching those interviews

having to rely on his wife + caregivers for virtually all of his needs = helpless he was

Bill turned to Mary and told her

I would rather just go to heaven than live trapped in my own body like him.

a year after making that statement = diagnosed with same “trapped-in-your-own-body” disease

=> hastily-made statement began to haunt + taunt me

=> change view + began trying to do best to live one day at a time <= grace of God in me, urging me to keep going

Hastily-made statements carelessly uttered by healthy people = spoken out of pride = cannot comprehend grace of God <= self-reliant, self-righteous + just plain selfish

Trials cause us to reexamine hastily-made statements we’ve made before the trial, when we so carelessly said what we’d do if this thing or that thing happened to us.

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Preceding articles

The Greatest Fear

Fear in your own heart or outside of it

Fear, struggles, sadness, bad feelings and depression

Phantom Of Dreams

How to Find the Meaning of Life and Reach a State of Peace

Watch out

Walking in the Light of Life

See the conquest and believe that we can gain the victory

When the world rages, let it rage, but let us not fear it

Those steady drips, those small steps!

My tales will be beautiful

For those Christians who say they are the Victim

Christians remaining hidden not sharing the gospel

How To Get Started In Sharing Your Faith As a Christian

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Additional reading

1. Struggles of life
2. Pain and Suffering is inevitable but Misery is optional
3. Good and bad things in this world
4. Your struggles develop your strengths
5. A way to prepare for the Kingdom
6. Not holding back and getting out of darkness
7. Science, scepticism, doubts and beliefs
8. If there is bitterness in the heart
9. Emotional pain and emotional deadness
10. Evil in this world not bringing us down
11. Dying or not
12. Life Goes On
13. Trouble is coming
14. End of the Bottom Line
15. A small trouble is like a pebble
16. She who sows thistles will reap prickles
17. Do not be so busy adding up your troubles
18. Do the appropriate for a friend
19. A Breath for tomorrow
20. Shelter in the morning
21. Luck
22. Rejoice even though bound to grieve
23. From pain to purpose
24. Faith because of the questions
25. Hope by faith and free gift
26. 1 Corinthians 15 Hope in action
27. May reading the Bible provoke us into action to set our feet on the narrow way
28. You God hold the future
29. Gaining Christ, trusting Jehovah
30. God is my refuge and my fortress in Him I will trust
31. Trust God to shelter, safety and security
32. Songs in the night Worship God only

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Further reading

1. ALS Awareness Month
2. Pesticide Use Linked To Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s & ALS
3. Why Me?
4. Having the Right Perspective
5. To Live And Ride With ALS
6. To Live And Ride With ALS (Part ll)
7. The Preamble
8. The Sacred In The Mundane
9. Don’t give up!
10. The Bread Of Affliction
11. I Can’t Resist A Good Challenge!
12. I’m Sorry
13. Cape and Tights – My Grandmother’s Struggle with ALS
14. 2016/05/09/ Repost
15. Mother With ALS Paints Again
16. Kirkus Review of My Perfect Imperfections
17. The Reason I Run, Chris Spriggs – a review
18. The Walk
19. Army vet starts ‘#22kill push up challenge’ to help other veterans
20. One man’s poison is another man’s….
21. The Story So Far…
22. Can you see it?
23. The Woman Behind The Blog
24. The Privilege of Growing Old
25. How Famous Researchers Work: Stephen Hawking
26. Advocates for Rare Diseases

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Related articles

• Why I Read, What I Read
• Our spouses and our children are off bounds
• Ditched in love? Chill, you’ll find a better one
• Villager’s chance encounter with ‘angel’ inspires her after ALS diagnosis
• For millions in donations, just add cold water
• Donations vs. Deaths: Giving to “Celebrity” Causes
• The haunting true story of a man who spent 2 years in a self-contained ‘Biosphere’ and nearly fell apart
• Former Philadelphia Eagles fullback Kevin Turner passes away at age 46
• Former Patriots player dies after battling ALS
• Breath Of Life

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Unshakable Hope

One night, about a year before I was diagnosed with ALS, Mary and I were up late watching “Nightline.” Ted Koppel was doing three nights of interviews with a retired college professor named Morrie Schwartz. Morrie had ALS and was sharing his life-lessons with Ted Koppel just as he had done previously with one of his former students named Mitch Albom. Mitch later compiled these life-lessons and wrote a best-selling book titled “Tuesdays with Morrie.”

I hate to admit this, but even after seeing the three nights of interviews and reading the book, I cannot remember most of the life-lessons that Morrie taught. But, I do have one vivid memory from watching those interviews; it occurred while listening to Morrie describe his daily routine – having to rely on his wife and caregivers for virtually all of his needs. After hearing how helpless he was…

View original post 541 more words

Phantom Of Dreams

 

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Related articles

• The Greatest Fear
• Stop Living in Fear: Free eCourse for Narcissistic Abuse Survivors
• The Art of Asking
• Tantra: facing your fears – high anxiety
• How to Reject the Fear of Rejection
• Choose Your Own Destiny
• On Leadership and the Dangers of the Internet of Things
• Good-bye Fear Friend ~ March 21, 2016
• Blind Louis Braille Gave Reading to the Blind
• Does God forgive and forget? Should we?

sheetal sharma

My struggle. My endurance .my perseverance
in the face of all kinds of demons.
Some within. Some without.

Like a dandelion up through the pavement, I persist.
as with everything in life, I get to assign meaning
so i assign Strength. Healing. Forgiveness.

no more shall i show you my Fears. Tears .
with unflattering honesty to only myself
you have lost the right to hear

voices in my head urged to tell you at my lowest
I did… Now with knowing …my showing weakness
makes you feel i can’t undertand yours …
this breaks my heart …
but dearest your don’t yet know me
I am a phamtom of broken dreams
who rises above after every fall

View original post

How to Find the Meaning of Life and Reach a State of Peace

Lots of people wonder why they live and have to struggle so much. More people do think they can enrich their life with several gadgets and do think when they live without caring about the rest they may enjoy it most.

The materialistic mind shall not find peace and a state of peace is far away from those who only think about themselves.

We should not go to try to find meaning behind every bit and piece of the day. We should be aware that we do live in a time system which shall always be imperfect. No government shall be sufficient to bring everything all right for every body. Only the governing system that shall come after World War III or Armageddon shall bring relief. though we do not know when that final point of the world-system would come, at the time that the master rabbi Jeshua (Jesus Christ) will return, we can already work on a better system to take into account every creature and to give it the full respect it deserves.

The world is created out of chaos and the void but got turned over by mankind and filled with a lot of rubbish, trash defiling nature. In case we work at it to get again some order we also will find a better way of living.

Peace is in every bodies hand. It is there to make easily when the person wants to put aside his own individual egoism. when we let go of all the bothering things, the struggles we have in us and we do encounter each day, than we shall find ‘soulavement’ mitigation of all inner and outer pains, alleviation of ‘ourselves’.

It was material desire and greed which brought sin in the world. This materialism has grown unto unseen proportion; But this also means we are coming closer to the end times and to the point that some may think there is reached the point of no return, but at the other hand where is reached the point that more people their eyes shall be opened and who will find the way to a better life, making the relation of the in God’s image created human being back into a good relation with the rest of the creation.

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Preceding articles:

Less… is still enough

Less for more

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Additional reading:

1. Fear, struggles, sadness, bad feelings and depression
2. Finding Beauty Amongst the Trash
3. Watch out
4. What Are You Seeking?
5. A bird’s eye and reflecting from within
6. Walking in the Light of Life
7. True happiness, love and perfection
8. Getting fate in your change to positiveness
9. Lose a little inner peace
10. Not holding back and getting out of darkness
11. We all have to have dreams
12. Walking in the Light of Life
13. Guard well within yourself that treasure, kindness
14. Peace Takes You
15. Humbleness
16. Being Religious and Spiritual 4 Philosophical, religious and spiritual people
17. Looking for True Spirituality 1 Intro
18. Looking for True Spirituality 8 Measuring Up
19. Hope is faith holding out its hand in the dark
20. Faith is knowing there is an ocean because you have seen a brook.
21. The World framed by the Word of God
22. Scripture about Creation and Creator Deity
23. Coming to the creation of human beings in the image of God
24. Forbidden Fruit in the Midst of the Garden 2
25. God’s wisdom for the believer brings peace
26. Trusting, Faith, Calling and Ascribing to Jehovah #16 Benefits of praying
27. Cry out to Yahweh
28. Give your tears to God
29. Looking forward to the return of Jesus
30. Israel, Fitting the Plan when people allow it

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Related articles

• A New Life (birdchirp.wordpress.com)
  The putting on the new man is the counterpart of the putting off the old man, and what that is Paul explains when he says, ‘that ye put off concerning the former conversation–that is, concerning your former way of life–the old man, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind’ (Eph. 3:22, 23). Our old ways and character are to be laid aside, and therefore to put on the new man is to assume a new character and new ways. To put on the Lord Jesus Christ is to make our own His character.” – Marcus Dods, D.D.

Let's Reach Success

I’ve heard many answers to the existential question about the meaning of life.

And as with everything else, each individual has his own view according to his beliefs and experience, things he wants and is going through right now.

But there is one problem – he puts meaning in every little detail of his average day and sometimes that affects his version of his mission in life, and eventually his actions.

Life is about more than the daily worries, fears, people that come and go, and things we pay too much attention to.

And in this – finding meaning in life – we’re all equal, because the goal is one.

Peace of mind.

Life is about finding peace inthe chaos, silence in the noise, meaning in every event and wisdom in hardships and grief.

Because peace is the highest happiness.

It’s hard to find with all the distractions around…

View original post 575 more words

Fear, struggles, sadness, bad feelings and depression

Do you feel like having “the blues”?

From time to time people shall feel sad or shall have downswings in mood. We should not fear this being an abnormal reaction to life’s struggles, setbacks, and disappointments. Many people use the word “depression” to explain these kinds of feelings, but depression is much more than just sadness.

Depression 2 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

We shall have to start worrying when the normal ups and downs of life let us feel more sad than we should do or would bring us out of balance. When getting the “the blues” brings us in a stadium where we do have no control any more, than we should start to worry.

When emptiness and despair have taken hold of your life and won’t go away, you may have depression. Such a negative state of mind can make it tough to function and enjoy life like you once did and should do. When you become so ‘depri’ that you do seem to loose any control and that you are just getting through the day is overwhelming, you could find yourself in a situation where others should come to help you.

Depression 6 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Always you should know, no matter how hopeless you feel, that there is a solution for you and that you can get better. Understanding the signs, symptoms, causes, and treatment of depression is the first step to overcoming the problem. When you hear other people talking and get to know they where depressed at some time, never think your depression should be like theirs. Every depression is different, but every different case has ways to come out of it.

Depression varies from person to person, but there are some common signs and symptoms. It’s important to remember that these symptoms can be part of life’s normal lows. But the more symptoms you have, the stronger they are, and the longer they’ve lasted—the more likely it is that you’re dealing with depression. When these symptoms are overwhelming and disabling, that’s when it’s time to seek help. {Depression Symptoms & Warning Signs}

signs and symptoms ptsd (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

When you start like losing interest in things you enjoy, you should start worrying and going to look out for people who really can help you. But do know that you yourself have enough inside you to bring yourself up again. But than you have to start believing in yourself first. Yeah, believing in yourself is the main gate to recovery. Because of the darkness in you it may be difficult to find that door to rescue. But if you are willing to look carefully you shall be able to find a tiny light which can become brighter if you are wiling to open your eyes more.

Symptoms of Stress (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

You may feel weak but do know that depression is a medical illness, not a sign of weakness. And it’s treatable. If you think you might be depressed, don’t try to tough it out. Make an appointment with a doctor or therapist. Perhaps many persons would like to set you on medical drugs straight away, but it would be safer to use the many other effective, proven ways to relieve depression.
For most people, the first treatments a doctor will try are antidepressants and psychotherapy. Some studies have found that combining therapy with medication works better than medication alone.

You should know there are a lot of options, and nature provides many of solutions which do not poison your body with synthetic drugs. Walking in green areas may already be a very simple solution, letting your eyes wonder over the beauty of creation and letting it perhaps go chaotic for the time walking, bombarding you with all sorts of ideas. Daring to let all those ideas coming out of your mind will help you.

When you feel that you are taken by depression look for reading material about the decease. Keep reading to learn more about antidepressants, therapy, and healthy habits that can help

When you have severe symptoms that interfere with your ability to work, sleep, study, eat, and enjoy life and doctors find it better to take some medication, you may consider such a help. Check if there are previous histories in your family. However, depression can occur in people without family histories of depression too.

Scientists are studying certain genes that may make some people more prone to depression. Some genetics research indicates that risk for depression results from the influence of several genes acting together with environmental or other factors. In addition, trauma, loss of a loved one, a difficult relationship, or any stressful situation may trigger a depressive episode. Other depressive episodes may occur with or without an obvious trigger.
Certain medications, and some medical conditions such as viruses or a thyroid disorder, can cause the same symptoms as depression. A doctor can rule out these possibilities by doing a physical exam, interview, and lab tests. If the doctor can find no medical condition that may be causing the depression, the next step is a psychological evaluation.
Talking with a psychiatric doctor may bring you on the way to find solutions for your unpleasant condition. Some people shall be advised to ad may physical exercises to their daily routine, or to take homoeopathic or phytotherapeutic treatment to work on that what is weakened or not working so well in the body system, others need more drastic drugs which go to work in the brain directly, working on brain chemicals called neurotransmitters, especially serotonin and norepinephrine..

Depending on the medication, antidepressants may cause increased appetite and weight gain, low sex drive, insomnia, jittery feelings, dry mouth, blurred vision, and fatigue and drowsiness.

These side effects don’t affect everyone, and if they do, many times they eventually fade. But if they don’t, your doctor can change your medicine or dosage or talk with you about how to manage side effects so they don’t bother you as much. {Antidepressant Side Effects}

Alcohol and other substance abuse or dependence may also co-exist with depression. Research shows that mood disorders and substance abuse commonly occur together. In such instance the patient has to be prepared to look for solutions to get rid of those disorders as well. Though if they are willing to tackle already one problem, they shall find out that treating the depression can also help improve the outcome of treating the co-occurring illness.

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Find additional reading:

1. What Is Depression?
2. Depression By John M. Grohol, Psy.D.
3. Symptoms & Types of Depression
4. Depression Treatment
5. Christadelphian Life Solutions – Home

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Related articles

1. What is life?
2. The world is but a great inn
3. A time for everything
4. Subcutaneous power for humanity 5 Loneliness, Virtual and real friends
5. Lonely so lonely
6. ~ Sink or Swim ~
7. A Glory followed by Despair
8. When discouraged facing opposition
9. Where is the edge
10. What If you’re only driven by stress?
11. Depression Is and When
12. Depression, Anxiety, Pressure and megachurches
13. A Glory followed by Despair
14. I said God it hurts
15. Building up the spirit of the soul
16. Daily portion of heavenly food
17. Fear of failure, and fear of the unknown
18. Fear knocked at the door
19. Fear and protection
20. Uncertainty, shame and no time for vacillation
21. Stronger than anything that wants to destroy
22. Breathing and growing with no heir
23. Some one or something to fear #1 Many sorts of fear
24. Some one or something to fear #2 Attitude and Reactions
25. Some one or something to fear #3 Cases, folks and outing
26. Some one or something to fear #4 Families and Competition
27. Some one or something to fear #5 Not afraid
28. Fearing the right person
29. 8 fears caused by the fear of Man
30. Importance of parents 1
31. Kitty Werthmann her account of grewing up in Austria under Nazi regime
32. Materialism, would be life, and aspirations
33. Ageing and Solidarity between generations
34. Belonging to or being judged by
35. More-Letter-Words
36. No fear in love
37. Control and change
38. Wondering
39. The Paradigm of Instinct, Intuition and Intention
40. Fear not tomorrow. God is already there
41. Look for your Refuge by God
42. Only the contrite self, sick of its pretensions, can find salvation
43. Praying and thinking positively
44. Believe What You Will
45. Getting out of the dark corners of this world
46. See the conquest and believe that we can gain the victory
47. We all have to have dreams
48. Peacefulness
49. Trusting, Faith, Calling and Ascribing to Jehovah #8 Prayer #6 Communication and manifestation
50. Trusting, Faith, Calling and Ascribing to Jehovah #16 Benefits of praying
51. Condemnation of the World and Illustration of Justification
52. Remember there’s a light in the next day
53. A little ray of sunshine.
54. Searching for fulfilment and meaning through own efforts, facing unsatisfaction and depression
55. Thanksgiving wisdom: Why gratitude is good for your health
56. Joy: Foundation for a Positive Life
57. Be an Encourager
58. Aligned

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Related articles

• Antidepressants Make Things Worse in the Long Term (madinamerica.com)
  The authors propose the term “tardive dysphoria” to describe this condition.  Tardive means delayed; dysphoria means unhappy or depressed.  The idea is that just as prolonged ingestion of neuroleptics causes tardive dyskinesia, so the prolonged ingestion of antidepressants causes tardive dysphoria.  It’s a nice idea, but the name hasn’t caught on – at least not yet.
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  “In…patients who have developed TDp [tardive dysphoria], ongoing attempts to treat the depression with antidepressants perpetuate the TRD, and may ultimately make the chronic depression permanent.”
  +
  • Overtreatment, Bereavement, and Antidepressants
  • Type of Treatment for Depression is Less Important than Engagement
  • Antidepressants/Depression
• Treatments for Depression (sarahmireles4.wordpress.com)
  There are many ways to treat depression without taking medications. Different types of therapy are available to relieve symptoms of depression.  Therapy teaches practical techniques on how to reframe negative thinking and employ behavioral skills in combating depression. Among these are cognitive behavioral therapy, interpersonal therapy, and psychodynamic therapy.
• Scientists “Fingerprint” A Culprit In Depression, Anxiety, & Other Disorders That Could Lead To Treatment Breakthroughs (publichealthwatch.wordpress.com)
  According to the World Health Organization (WHO), such mood disorders as depression affect some 10% of the world’s population and are associated with a heavy burden of disease. In fact, the WHO recently reported that depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide. That’s why numerous scientists around the world have invested a great deal of effort in understanding these diseases. Yet the molecular and cellular mechanisms that underlie these problems are still only partly understood.The existing antidepressants are not good enough: Some 60-70% of patients get no relief from them. For the other 30-40%, that relief is often incomplete, and they must take the drugs for a long period before feeling any effects. In addition, there are many side effects associated with the drugs. New and better drugs are clearly needed, an undertaking that requires, first and foremost, a better understanding of the processes and causes underlying the disorders.
• 7 Ways Depression Differs in Men and Women (livescience.com)
  “We have known about sex differences for years when it comes to depression, and they are absolutely essential to understanding the illness,” said Jill Goldstein, director of research at the Connors Center for Women’s Health and Gender Biology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.In one of the largest depression-related differences between the sexes, women have about twice the risk of developing the condition as men, Goldstein said. This results in part from biological reasons, such as hormones and genes that get disrupted when brain regions are developing in the male and female fetus, she said.These biological changes during fetal development lay the groundwork that creates a vulnerability to mood disorders, such as depression, she said.
• Antidepressants and Youth: A Decade since the “Black Box” (psychologytoday.com)
  Ten years ago, the Food and Drug Administration mandated that all antidepressants carry a prominent “black box” warning to alert prescribers of the potential danger in children and adolescents of these medications leading to new suicidal thoughts or actions.  The warning came in the midst of passionate debate about the potential risks and benefits of using and not using these drugs.  A decade later, this discussion has largely disappeared from the public eye and evaded media headlines.  Nevertheless, antidepressants continue to be prescribed and research into their use has continued.
• Does depression require hospitalization? (sciencedaily.com)
  A new study has analyzed the difference between day hospital and inpatient stay in depression. Depending on the severity of depression, patients may be treated at different levels of care with psychotherapy and/or antidepressant medication. While several previous studies compared the efficacy of different levels of care for psychotherapy of personality disorders, sufficient data is lacking for the comparison of day-clinic and inpatient psychotherapy for depression. The current pilot study evaluates the feasibility of randomization in a routine hospital setting and compares preliminary efficacy for day-clinic and inpatient psychotherapy for depression.
• Types Of Depression Medications (howtocuremaledepression.com)
  There is much misconception regarding male depression and there are many of them that make out that they fully understand what it is and the effect that it can have on people, but really if the truth be known they don’t have a clue or real understanding of the illness. If you are one of those who are unclear about the disorder and think that it is a disorder but rather an excuse to get attention, it does however goes deeper than that. Depression in men is not something you want to mess with or ignore, because if not put in check it is not only discouraging you from carrying out certain tasks and living a normal life, it is killing you.
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  Depression is actually a disorder that has an effect on your entire body, your mind and also your mood. This illness has an effect how you eat your food and sleep at night. It can also have a major effect on your attitude about certain subjects and people, and more essentially about your own being. Depression is not just a dark mood swing that is going to snap out of in a few minutes. Click Here! for lots more practical information.
• You and Your Antidepressant (annecwoodlen.wordpress.com)
  While all prescription medications have side effects, antidepressant medications appear to do more harm than good as treatments for depression. We reviewed this evidence in a recent article published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology (freely available here).
  The widespread use of antidepressants is a serious public health problem, and it raises a number of ethical and legal issues for prescribers (physicians, nurse practitioners). Here, we summarize some of the most important points that prescribers should ethically tell their patients before they prescribe antidepressant medications. We also discuss the ways that prescribers could be held legally liable for prescribing antidepressants. Finally, we implore practitioners to update the informed consent procedure for antidepressant medication to reflect current research and exercise greater caution in the prescription of antidepressants.
• ‘Overreaction’ To Warnings About Teen Antidepressant Use Leads To Spike In Youth Suicide Attempts (publichealthwatch.wordpress.com)
  A few years ago, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued warnings that children and teens who took a common kind of antidepressant might experience suicidal thoughts. The point of the warning was to make sure that parents and doctors paid closer attention to kids taking these medications. But the plan may have backfired.As the public took the Food and Drug Administration’s 2004 warning to heart, adolescent attempted suicides increased and antidepressant use dropped, according to research published in BMJ. Meanwhile, attempted suicides among teens rose 22 percent. Among those ages 18 to 29, attempted suicides increased 34 percent.The effect of a regulatory warning that gained wide attention in the media shows the need for better communication by public health professionals, said Christine Lu, the study’s lead author. The drop in antidepressant prescriptions among adolescents and young adults probably means depression went untreated, she said.
• When Antidepressants Aren’t Enough | How Counseling Can Help With Depression (safeharbor1.wordpress.com)
  Those who are curious about alternative ways to treat depression or are not getting enough from their antidepressants may want to consider counseling. There are many ways that counseling can help individuals cope with and overcome depression, including:
  • Pinpoints Targets of Depression
  • Provides Support
  • Helps Others Understand+
    Whether you have felt that antidepressants are not the answer for you or you want to explore additional paths for treating depression, there are many trained counselors available to assist you through the journey.

Watch out

Expectations have to be build on hope, believe and faith. Without believe in him or herself a person shall not be able to get somewhere hoped so easily.

Believing in yourself is the first requirement to get forwards. Having a positive attitude and willingness to dream is the second requirement to get somewhere. Every human being shall have to face difficulties. It is how he or she can cope with it which is going to influence his or her life in the positive or negative way. Going through quite a lot of struggles even can make somebody stronger, more resistant. What is important then is ‘to never give up!’

Others may consider you to be a clown, a swaggerer, a dreamer, or a loony or stupid one. Let no negative reactions stand in the way and go for what you want to achieve. Without dreams nothing can be build up.

If things would not go how you want it, you should try to adjust them so that they can work for you. No matter what you try, how it works out, how negative reactions may be, keep trying, keep going forward trying to pursuing your dream.
Whatever happens try to see the positive in it and always be ready to pursue your happiness. That is the positive lesson in our life where we should keep at.

There always have to be motivation to may the dreams work, but some kind of realism is also necessary to not fall to deep in a well. We always should be careful not pursuing our goal out of greed or lechery. Leering at something materialistic can bring us in a spiral where we do not have an eye for the human thing and spiritual matter. A person can become overtaken by the power of money by the desire to have financial gain, more than spiritual gain.The desires of the flesh can break a person instead of building him up to become a better person. We always have to be careful where we want to set our priorities in life.

Today we can find more people who love wealth and modern gadgets? Wealth has become their biggest motivation. when they are young it may be working very well, and they can love it to swim in their fulfilling dreams of material wealth. But what about their spiritual wealth? Are they interested in that also?

It is not by going to have the latest model of phone or pc tablet a person is going to find the real luck and staying happiness. Soon the phone shall be an old model and the person shall be feeling again not so happy because he has not the newest model any more.

It is good to see and to know you need your “best friends” for ever, around you, because they will be there at the more difficult times and they shall be ready to catch you when you fall down. Because each person has to grow up and learn things by falling and standing up again. And that last bit is very important. Never to get so frustrated that you do not want to get up any more. Everybody can mess up things. To start over again is what you have to dare. Do not stand still by what happened, but get up to try again and go every-time in a new adventure.
You have to keep believing in your dreams and aspirations, no matter what negative things may happen or others may say. But never forget also to be realistic and be taken in account others around you. Never go over death bodies to reach your goal and always stay honest to make it come true.

The biggest difficulty to conquer when trying to build up a financial wealthy life, shall be the ‘sharing bit’. Without willing to give also to others, without allowing others also to have part of what you have, no real happiness shall come into your life. Around the corner shall always be the material egoism and the avarice, which by some even can turn in the acquisitive and stingy. We always should be careful not to become so greedy or money-grubbing. That is not going to bring happiness, though it may be very attractive at a young age. the jealousy of others can also bring bullying with it, making you feeling so alone, being cast out. And people do need other people.

By changing yourself to fit in for others it never is going to work. A person has to stay his Own. You have to believe in yourself, accept yourself for who and what you are. Without the love for yourself you can not give the right love for the other. Also be sure that in case the others only would become your friend because you changed yourself to their way of thinking, than they would not be the right friends. Good friends are those who are willing you for what you are and respect your own personality, your real ‘I’.
Adapting to people is not the right way and shall not bring the solution. Trying to impress people is what many today try, with their gadgets, their capital gain, their way of clothing and their loose way of living. Presenting their world better than it really is. Look at so many Facebook postings which try to present ‘the would like to be’ people and would like to be ‘friends‘. Always try to stay your own self, being honest to yourself and being honest to others, respecting them, also if they do not fit your plan or dreams, or would not agree with your personality. By time they will turn by and get to know your true self and shall come to respect you too.

Without dreams, hopes and aspirations no new worlds can be build, so keep dreaming, keep going forwards, and above all always stay positive.

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Please do find also:

1. Greed more common than generosity
2. Misleading world, stress, technique, superficiality, past, future and positivism
3. Intellectual servility a curse of mankind
4. Gender connections
5. Within despair
6. Preparedness to change
7. Getting fate in your change to positiveness
8. Helping to create a Positive Attitude
9. With Positive Attitude
10. Not holding back and getting out of darkness
11. Your struggles develop your strengths
12. Pain and Suffering is inevitable but Misery is optional
13. Your struggles develop your strengths
14. When discouraged facing opposition
15. Begin your day by, Living your positive attitude
16. Science, scepticism, doubts and beliefs
17. How we think shows through in how we act
18. Don’t be the weakest link
19. Be a ready giver
20. 30 things to start doing for yourself – #6 is vital.
21. Count your blessings
22. God should be your hope
23. Always set a place in your life for the unexpected guest

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Other articles of interest:

1. Celebrating diversity by looking the same?
2. Gender Roles & Self Sacrifice
3. If you can dream it, you can achieve it.
4. Positivism and The Quantity Theory of Money
5. If you’re afraid to do it, do it afraid.
6. Positivism for Millennium 3

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Related articles

• Global education and the ‘American Dream’ (universityworldnews.com)
  Put most simply, the ‘American Dream’ is the belief that everyone has a reasonable chance – although not a guarantee – of achieving success through means under their own control. It is the assurance that personal qualities such as hard work, frugality, honesty and self-discipline can make for a good life, however you (or I) may define that.
  +
  Poorly conceived, however, global education, like the American Dream itself, can overemphasise the pursuit of material wealth and leave learners ignorant of how systemic and structural inequalities in most, if not all, societies frustrate so many dreamers and so many of their dreams.
  +
  The recent movement by some scholars to calculate the gross domestic happiness of a country, in contrast with a simple financial measure, both expands the universe of goods constituting success and allows for cultural variety within this expanded universe.Other cogent criticisms of the American Dream focus on the socio-economic and institutional obstacles to the achievement of success by disadvantaged or disenfranchised groups, which may include women, racial, ethnic or religious minorities, the poor or their children.

  From this perspective, the American Dream offers a false promise of fair and equal opportunity to achieve success by ignoring the many ways in which the social order fails to recognise and reward merit.

• What is your dream job ? (beautiful69.wordpress.com)

  Most people I know have a dream. In fact, I’ve asked hundreds, if not thousands, of people about their dream. Some willingly describe it with great detail and enthusiasm.
  Others are reluctant to talk about it. They seem embarrassed to say it out loud. These people have never tested their dream. They don’t know if others will laugh at them. They’re not sure if they’re aiming too high or too low. They don’t know if their dream is something they can really achieve or if they’re destined to fail.

• A Journey Toward Your Goals (robertjrgraham.blogspot.com)
  Too many of us assume if we just have a larger goal in mind and work towards it then success will follow. Well, guess what?! This rarely works in practice. All of us have dreams, but to be truly effective at goal achievement we need to focus on the path toward the goal and let the ultimate dream be our motivation.
  +
  Set realistic goals. This doesn’t mean that you should not aim for the stars. However, keep a realistic state of mind, taking into account your level of talent and capabilities, as well as, your individual situation. If you presently don’t possess the talents or qualifications to reach your goal, make sure that one of your short-term goals is to acquire some of those skills so that you can reach your long-term goal.
• Sebastiano Serafini 030 – Dream a little every day – (sebastianoserafini.wordpress.com)
  In order to live our lives without limits we must be willing to never let our imaginations die, and we must never forbid ourselves from dreaming at least a little bit every day. Without our dreams we have nothing in our lives to reach for or to go after.
• 10 Habits Of People Who Follow Their Dreams (theunboundedspirit.com)
  People who are true to their purpose and are really successful didn’t always get there because they had the financial means to do so or were just lucky enough to have been brought up in a confidence boosting environment. There are actually a few common habits that have helped them get to where they are.
  People who are true to their purpose and are really successful didn’t always get there because they had the financial means to do so or were just lucky enough to have been brought up in a confidence boosting environment. There are actually a few common habits that have helped them get to where they are. The best part is that these are habits that anyone can attain! – See more at: http://theunboundedspirit.com/10-habits-of-people-who-follow-their-dreams/#sthash.lfFd7SzI.dpuf
• Greed is Wrong, But What About Wealth Itself? (palamas.info)
  Is it morally wrong to pursue wealth? The question was asked because both of my conversation partners had heard from different priests that in fact, yes, the pursuit of wealth is wrong. Christians especially, we are frequently told, should not seek to become wealthy but focus our lives on more noble goals.  On the one hand I agree with this. Wealth is not an end in itself and to make becoming wealthy the sole, or even central, goal of one’s life is not compatible with a wholesome human life much less the Gospel. While granting that working to become wealthy simply for the sake of becoming wealthy is immoral, does this mean that is it morally wrong to pursue wealth? In other words, it is sinful to want—and so to work to become—wealthy?
• Virtuous egoism (profitableandmoral.com)
  Egoism is virtuous because it makes possible the achievement our long-term well-being and happiness without initiating physical force on others. The moral justification of egoism is that it makes it possible for us—who don’t have automatic knowledge about the goals we should pursue and about the means to reach them—to achieve our values in the long-term: to survive and to be happy. It is a moral code for living and flourishing.
  Starting from the premise that the pursuit of self-interest is moral and necessary for our well-being and happiness, Ayn Rand identified seven egoist virtues—principles that define the actions required to achieve long-term self-interest: rationality, independence, integrity, honesty, justice, productiveness, and pride. Rand and others have written much about these virtues, so here I focus only on rationality, the primary virtue on which the others rest. Rationality guides us to use reason—to adhere to reality through observation and logic—as “our only means of knowledge, our only judge of values, and our only guide to action.”
• Chasing Your Dreams (landeniv.wordpress.com)
  

  “Go after your dream, no matter how unattainable others think it is.”

  “Every morning you have two choices: continue to sleep with your dreams or wake up and chase them.”

  “It’s not enough to dream your dreams. You’ve got to pursue your dreams.”

• Don’t Give Up On Your Dreams (sarahcolevaondemand.wordpress.com)
  Every day you are faced with a choice and that is, do you pursue your dream with determination and zeal or do you sit and wait for that dream to materialize by itself?  I believe in taking action steps every day in order to be a participant in the realization of our dreams.
• Pursuing the Guyanese dream (guyanatimesgy.com)
  Hundreds of Guyanese are now in a position where it is possible for them to pursue the Guyanese dream, regardless of their socio-economic circumstances, ethnicity or political beliefs.The Guyanese dream refers to a situation in which nationals possess the ability to access equal opportunities to work and recreation. It also refers to the ability to achieve prosperity and a higher standard of living through hard work and determination.

  The Guyanese dream is founded on the principle of a realistic society where there are high levels of religious, political and social tolerance. It contemplates a situation where a largely mixed, plural and diverse cultural and ethnic society can co-exist with little or no conflict.

Anthony's au pair experience

I realized something.
It came to me rather slow.
I was pursuing a thing,
I barely even know.

Living up to people’s expectations.
Doing what others think is best.
Handling a lot of limitations.
Maybe this was all a test?

I must say, by all means,
Realizing this is not the way.
Living other peoples dreams,
While mine are slowly fading away.

Missing out on opportunities.
Missing my life because others take it away.
Being part of all those communities.
Being part of something where I have nothing to say.

Time to step up my game and live my life.
Not the one other’s tell me to live.
Time to step it up and go all in on my thrive.
Believe me, I have a lot to give.

My motivation is enormous,
My dedication is grand.
Watch out for my performance,
‘Cause everything is going as planned.

You can be…

View original post 128 more words

Walking in the Light of Life

Much more people should come to see the value a belief in God may bring them. The seed implanted in all man, every person has the ability to come to see the light the Divine Creator has given humankind.

It is only for each individual to make the right choices. God has given His only beloved son to the world to bring salvation from struggles, pain and death. People should come to see that beacon of light, and go to it in trust, finding peace and comfort.

*

In this message:

• claiming to have fellowship with him and yet walking in the darkness = lie + do not live out the truth.
• having fellowship with one another => blood of Jesus, God his Son, purifies us from all sin.
• claiming to be without sin = liar = we deceive ourselves +> God his word not in us + truth not in us.
• confessing sins => the Faithful and Just will forgive and purify from all unrighteousness.
• do you see light in the dark?
• need to see where we are going = crucial to our safety and comfort.
• Let God light your way today and always.

+

Additional reading:

1. Your struggles develop your strengths
2. Trust God to shelter, safety and security

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Related articles

• God Makes a Promise (kenwinton.wordpress.com)
  In the Old Testament, God was primarily revealing sin and the requirements of the Law needing to be fulfilled. In the New Testament, God is primarily revealing His love that covers our sins and the fulfilled Law, through Jesus. In the Old Testament, if you touched a leper you became unclean. In the New Testament, if you touch a leper, the leper becomes clean.
• “If we claim…” (inchristus.wordpress.com)
  Denying how we act and who we are affects our relationship with God. Therefore, having fellowship with God depends an honest view of God and of ourselves.
• Walking in the Light (smallstudentbiggod.wordpress.com)
  When I rededicated my life to Jesus, people seemed to think I had become perfect. No drugs, no partying, back to school… awesome stuff. What they didn’t know was that I struggled with pornography. I had since grade 5, and had done a seamless job of keeping it secret. Don’t get me wrong, I tried to stop immediately; I just failed, and the sin went even more underground than it had been.

  It tore me up inside. When I should have been growing with Jesus, I was sacrificing that intimacy for cheap pleasure. The real problem was this: I didn’t tell anybody. How selfish I was! I would pray to God for deliverance, and always I would be faced with this Scripture: Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. (James 5:16a) All of me would scream, “NO!” when I read it. I wanted to break out of my addiction, but not bad enough that I was willing to humble myself to that point. People thought I was so clean and godly for my age! They would think me disgusting then!

• Confession and Forgiveness (james1948.wordpress.com)
  Denial of sin poses a great hindrance to a close walk with the Lord, and it does not change the truth that we do, indeed, sin.
  To God, sin looks much like the little boy who was covered in mud after he played in the mud puddle.
• If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (hiswordforwisdom.wordpress.com)
  The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us
• The King Is Coming Soon (kyrian777.wordpress.com)
  You put on Jesus Christ when you are sanctified through the Truth. – John 17:17.
  +
  You do not have to mourn as one without a hope. Don’t mourn about your portion in this dispensation.
• Daily verse (donnyprevette.wordpress.com)
  God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.

Jennifer K Cook

I have a history of depression and anxiety.  Really…I get anxious…then when it gets unbearable I get depressed.  This is more common in people than you think!  I have found many that struggle with this sort of thing among some of my closest friends and family.

Now…what does God’s Word have to say about this?  Plenty!  Today I found this…

1 John 1:5-10

⁵ This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.⁶ If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth.⁷ But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all^[a] sin.

⁸ If…

View original post 142 more words

“Prayer 2” – Child Abuse

Being in the teens and having to been confronted with such ‘abhorrence’ should be avoided.
That is why such a prayer shall need to be held in our minds still for years to come, until we may see an end on this present world-system.

At the moment many shall still have to be patient and should have the courage to come out the darkness covering this sun not letting them bring it in blindness. We all should help others to see light in the dark and bring faith in their souls.

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Preceding articles:

Responsibility for children who were molested by clergy

Getting out of the dark corners of this world

Darkness’s Pain

sinking world….

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Find articles:

 

1. about Blindness
2. End of the Bottom Line
3. Walking alone?
4. Stand Alone
5. What loneliness is more lonely than distrust?
6. Companionship
7. Determine the drive
8. Running away from the past
9. Doubting the reality, genuineness and effectiveness of God’s love
10. God’s Comfort
11. Pain and Suffering is inevitable but Misery is optional
12. Your struggles develop your strengths
13. The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands
14. Aligned
15. Shelter in the morning
16. Emotional pain and emotional deadness
17. Meaning of life 
18. Suffering
19. Offer in our suffering
20. God helper and deliverer
21. God’s instruction about joy and suffering
22. God’s promises to us in our suffering
23. Suffering – through the apparent silence of God
24. Suffering continues
25. Suffering leading to joy
26. Surprised by time in joys & sufferings
27. From pain to purpose
28. Fragments from the Book of Job #4: chapters 27-31
29. Luck
30. 1 Corinthians 15 Hope in action
31. Trusting, Faith, Calling and Ascribing to Jehovah #16 Benefits of praying

 

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Related articles

• A Screwtape Letter on Prayer (concordiakoinonia.com)
  Whenever they are attending to the Enemy Himself we are defeated, but there are ways of preventing them from doing so. The simplest is to turn their gaze away from Him towards themselves. Keep them watching their own minds and trying to produce feelings there by the action of their own wills. When they meant to ask Him for charity, let them, instead, start trying to manufacture charitable feelings for themselves and not notice that this is what they are doing. When they meant to pray for courage, let them really be trying to feel brave. When they say they are praying for forgiveness, let them be trying to feel forgiven. Teach them to estimate the value of each prayer by their success in producing the desired feeling; and never let them suspect how much success or failure of that kind depends on whether they are well or ill, fresh or tired, at the moment.
• The Light of Christ Breaks Through the Darkness When we Pray. (csahm.com)
  Sometimes it takes darkness to realize how much we need prayer in our lives. I learned this lesson during the lowest of lows in my own life. It was springtime in 1997. It should’ve been a happy season for me as I had recently given birth to my second child, a son. But instead of feeling joy, I had an overwhelming sense of despair that I couldn’t shake off without a true, divine intervention.
• Little Springtime Prayer by Helen Rice (snowwhitedove.wordpress.com)
  For how can man feel any fear or doubt 
  When on every side all around and about
  The March winds blow across a man’s face
  And whisper of God’s power and grace?
  Oh, give us faith to believe again
  That peace on earth, good will to men
  Will follow this winter of man’s mind
  And awaken his heart and make him kind…
• A Prayer A Day – 4/10/2014 It’s All His and He’s Got You! (dailyprayerprayertogod.wordpress.com)
  When we pray and ask the Lord to give us His kind of faith.  When we pray and ask the Lord to give us determination to live a life that is pleasing and holy to Him.  When we pray and ask the Lord to keep us on the path of righteousness and holiness.   When we pray and say to the Lord, “Lord I want to fulfill my purpose and my destiny in you”.   We better get ourselves prepared for the shaking that will take place to remove all the dead things from our lives.  We better get ourselves prepared for the shaking that will take place to cause us to stand upright.  We better get ourselves prepared for the shaking that will take place to get everything lined up in our lives to do the will of the Father.
• On Soft, Tender Knees: A-to-Z Blog Challenge (gurrlontherise.wordpress.com)
  I cast my eyes downward,
  unwilling to see Your magnificent
  presence,
  for shame riddles my body,
  and the devil
  whispers his wants to me,
  taunts my weaknesses,
  tells me You could never love me
  now that I’m
  stained.
• Prayer (barelyherenorthere.wordpress.com)
  Grant me the patience to see things through, to wait it out, to count to ten.
• Italy’s bishops pass Vatican-backed rule that child molestation does not have to be reported (sott.net)

Grant me the courage to say no, to say yes and follow through ’til the end.

Grant me love so that I may care and so that I may see and that I may do.

Grant me sleep, deep and joyful, and honest, with dreams that may come true.

• A Prayer A Day – 4/13/2014 Oh, How I Love Jesus! (dailyprayerprayertogod.wordpress.com)
• Concessions Which Excuse The Muslim Male From Attending Salaah In Congregation (uzairibnnasser.wordpress.com)
• Hadith on Jummah Day (yaallah.in)
  Italy’s bishops have adopted a policy, with backing from the Vatican, that states they are not obliged to inform police officers if they suspect a child has been molested. The Italian Bishops’ Conference said the guidelines published on Friday reflected suggestions from the Vatican’s office that handles sex abuse investigations.

 

 

fallen angel 5193

(I wrote this when I was in my teens)

Dear God…

 

Please help this wretched soul.  She feels so empty, so sad…

She things she is worthless being, who only has the power to hurt the people she loves.

She is so afraid and lonely.

She has no one to turn to because she chooses to distance herself from people.

She is afraid to let anyone get too close, because then she’ll care, 

And soon or later she’ll hurt the person, or she’ll get hurt…

And soon or later they all leave…

 

She cannot stand the pain.  

The pain comes suddenly to her heart, stabbing, twisting, digging in deeper.

Such pain… such misery…

The pain won’t let her breathe.  The pain stops her heart from beating.

She struggles in the blackest sea, to keep her head above water.  

She screams for help but nothing but the freezing water answer…

View original post 171 more words