Suicide rates are skyrocketing. So many people are depressed. How much more can you reach out to them? How do you KNOW when someone is hurting that much?! When if they hide it so well that you genuinely have no clue?
How do you carry the guilt of not telling them about Christ enough or not at all if someone you know commits suicide? These are all things that people I love are contending with right now in this very moment. Way too many people and one just hit very close to home.
Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2
If you are struggling with anything, you do not have to do it alone! There should be no shame in the struggle. Life is not perfect for anyone no matter how perfect mine or your friend's social media feed looks. Some of the people who appear to have it all together are the ones who need to unload or vent the most. They need a true friend that won't judge them. Reach out to your happy friends, too. We are to bear one another's burdens. So many people are carrying burdens and shame and too embarrassed to reach out to anyone about them. We are to bear one another's burdens.
Social Media
In this social media driven world, many are constantly comparing themselves to others. What they are doing, where they are going and wondering if are we doing enough, do we have enough things, do we look happy enough? We are living our lives through filters in this crazy fake virtual world. We are constantly being shown the highlight reels of people's lives making some feel like theirs isn't good enough. Remind yourself that you do not have to do what everyone else is doing! Being content has gotten a bad rap. Like something is wrong with you if you actually like having a simple, private, and quiet life. The Bible actually has a lot to say about being content: Being Content
When People Hurt You
Let me just tell you the hardcore truth. Lots of people suck! Sometimes we suck. There always have been and always will be people that suck. Try to find one or two that don't and hang on to those folks for dear life! But to go even further into the truth, even those one or two people you find can and will hurt you at one point or another.
If you are a child of God, you forgive just as our heavenly Father forgives us....even when people hurt us so bad it's unspeakable. Even for myself, that is hard to say. I have a hard time with it, too! But it's the truth. I will always try to speak the truth even when it's difficult.
People will fail you all the time. Even the ones you love.
YOU will fail you!!
𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐝𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐠𝐨 💯
Do not put your deep joy, hope, and peace in anything but your security in Christ. This is freedom.
Where does your 𝐉𝐎𝐘 come from?
Does your 𝐉𝐎𝐘 come from something that can be taken away?
My 𝐉𝐎𝐘 comes from the 𝐋𝐨𝐫𝐝 and that no man can pluck me from His hand.
𝐓𝐑𝐔𝐄 peace and joy does not come from:
My job. Not my family. Not food. Not another person. Not my husband. Not my children. Not a car. Not my home. Not the government. Not the president. Not my health. The list goes on.
𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈 𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐥 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞.
But the more I realize it to be true, the better I am at my job, for my family, for my husband, etc.
It's a DAILY work in progress and I see it to be true the older I get and every day I make every attempt to apply it.
"When your joy doesn't come from earthly things, your joy can never be taken away."
It's such a deep and powerful statement and I say it confidently in Christ! Because even the ones you love most will let you down. We are all fallible humans and the truth is, we've all hurt someone or been hurt by someone.
The things of this world will consistently disappoint you.
But when your true, deep hope and joy does not come from things or people in this world, your hope and joy can never be taken. That doesn't mean every day is easy and you are bouncing from cloud to cloud in bliss. You still FEEL things.
2 Corinthians 4:8-9 reminds me it's OK to FEEL.
𝐈𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭'𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐛𝐲 𝐚 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐭𝐨 "𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞".
Visualize that. Some situations warrant different emotions! There is such thing as toxic positivity.
Testify: It's ok to FEEL because we are not flippin robots.
I believe you have to embrace the good, the bad, and the ugly in order to make the right choices. Being a realist is not being overly optimistic OR pessimistic. I like to see things for how they truly are so I can pray and act accordingly.
Being 100% positive or negative alllll the time is kind of delulu to me. No offense to anyone.
Being well rounded and having the ability to live life outside the duality presented to us is key to 𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝 (2 Timothy 1:7).
These verses always remind me it's ok to FEEL. There are so many more, but these are the ones that stick out in my mind when it comes to this topic.
We are troubled on every side, yet 𝐍𝐎𝐓 distressed;
we are perplexed, but 𝐍𝐎𝐓 in despair;
persecuted, but 𝐍𝐎𝐓 forsaken;
cast down, but 𝐍𝐎𝐓 destroyed;
2 Corinthians 4:8-9
We get sad, angry, annoyed, frustrated, scared, or anxious....but we do not unpack and live there. We take it to The Most High!
Six Times Jesus Chose Solitude Over People
To prepare for a major task Luke 4:1-2, 14-15. After Jesus was baptized He spent 40 days praying in the wilderness. After this He was tempted by Satan and then began His public ministry.
To recharge after hard work Mark 6:30-32. Jesus sent the 12 disciples out to do ministry. When they returned He encouraged them to separate from the people who were following them to rest.
To work through grief Matthew 14:1-13. After Jesus learned that his cousin John the Baptist had been beheaded, He went away by Himself. Yes, even the Son of God grieves.
Before making an important decision Luke 6:12-13. Early in His ministry Jesus spent the whole night alone in prayer. The next day He chose his 12 disciples.
In a time of distress Luke 22:39-44. Hours before Jesus was arrested He went to the Mt. of Olives and went a short distance away from His disciples to pray. He was in great emotional agony knowing what he was about to face.
To focus on prayer Luke 5:16. Many times in Jesus’ ministry He spent time alone in prayer.
Sometimes, we need alone time. We get so overwhelmed in this fast paced world.
If you are a giver, you have to set some limits. You can't pour from an empty cup. To be a blessing to others, you have to take time to take care of yourself, too. That is not selfish! Even Christ took much time to be by Himself to re-fill so that He could continue on about the Father's business.
Suicide
If you are thinking about it, please reconsider!
I have never had thoughts of suicide, so this is coming from a place of love. I pray I share something here that is helpful.
I'm not telling you that you are amazing to blow smoke up your rear. Maybe you aren't amazing by the world's standards, but God thinks you are pretty amazing because He made you.
You were knitted together by God in your mother's womb. A spark of life at conception. 💥
Uniquely you - God will use your quirks and idiosyncrasies and refine them for 𝐇𝐢𝐬 honor, 𝐇𝐢𝐬 will, and for 𝐇𝐢𝐬 glory.
(𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐬 for these statements: Psalm 139:13, 1 Corinthians 9:19-23, Philippians 1:6, Isaiah 43:7, John 1:4, Spark of life - several articles and scientific scholarly papers )
I have had it asked of me if you go to heaven or hell if you take your own life. My answer? I do not know for sure!
What I do know is God is the giver of life. He gives, and He takes away (Job 1:21).
Suicide, the taking of one’s own life, is ungodly because it rejects God’s gift of life. No man or woman should presume to take God’s authority upon themselves to end his or her own life. “My times are in your hands” (Psalm 31:15)
This will mean nothing to you if you do not have a healthy fear of God and His judgment.
According to the Bible, suicide is a sin. It is not the “greatest” sin—it is no worse than other evil, in terms of how God sees it, and it does not determine a person’s eternal destiny. And there are things that God hates. That's in Proverbs. This is a hotly debated topic among believers, but this is the stance I agree with the most...maybe because it's comforting?
I suggest you take it to the Lord in prayer and get into the Word.
Seek His face. Ask, Seek, Knock.
To be frank, I wouldn't risk God's judgment. Do not take your own life. Please! Suicide definitely has a deep and lasting impact on those left behind. The painful scars left by a suicide do not heal easily. May God grant His grace to each one who is facing trials today (Psalm 67:1). And may each of us take hope in the promise, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:13).
If you are considering suicide, please seek help now. Call 1-800-273-8255 or 988 Lifeline services, the national hotline, get yourself to a hospital if you can, call 911, go alert someone in your home, apartment, or workplace, or wherever you are, and do whatever it takes to get help.
If anyone knows of another national resource, please let me know in the comment section below. 🖤
Many of the folks that have visited my site are located across the world, so I did not list sources local to me. If you are local to me, or know me personally and need guidance, I do know of a great resource for mental health. Reach out. 🖤
Even in the darkest of times, we praise God.
Nothing can take our praise.
In the spirit of heaviness put on the garment of praise! Isaiah 61:3
🎶 ♪ ♫
Praise and Worship
My playlist is below if you would like to listen to what I turn up in the spirit of heaviness!
I went from listening to very dark and angry music to listening to praise and worship. The transition began a few years ago. Funny story....it began with me overhearing a co-worker making fun of a Christian radio station and how cheesy the music sounded. I had no idea there was even Christian music on the radio. I asked her what the station was and started listening!
Well, I'd like to thank her; because that simple act of changing what music I was feeding my soul changed everything. I do not say that lightly. I was curious about the lyrics I heard in this praise and worship music I was listening to and I began to dive into God's Word and there's no turning back! Your mind believes what you tell it. So feed it faith, truth, and love!
Link to my "Christian Music Testimony" and more details on the story I mentioned about my coworker.
If someone tells you a song is important to them, you should turn it up and listen to it! Close your eyes and really listen.
Even if it's long. At the end of it, you will know that person just a little bit better and maybe get a glimpse of what's inside their heart.
One of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard.
I see shattered You see whole I see broken But You see beautiful And You're helping me to believe You're restoring me piece by piece
There's nothing too dirty That You can't make worthy You wash me in mercy I am clean There's nothing too dirty That You can't make worthy You wash me in mercy I am clean
What was dead now lives again My heart's beating, beating inside my chest Oh I'm coming alive with joy and destiny 'Cause You're restoring me piece by piece
There's nothing too dirty That You can't make worthy You wash me in mercy I am clean There's nothing too dirty That You can't make worthy You wash me in mercy I am clean
Washed in the blood of Your sacrifice Your blood flowed red and made me white My dirty rags are purified I am clean Washed in the blood of Your sacrifice Your blood flowed red and made me white My dirty rags are purified I'm clean, I'm clean Washed in the blood of Your sacrifice Your blood flowed red and made me white My dirty rags are purified I'm clean I am clean I'm clean Oh You made me You wash me Clean Oh You made me clean
Some of my favorite quotes that have stuck with me.
(I don't have all the sources wrote down. Google them if you want to know.)
"I am the daughter of a King who is not moved by the world.
For my God is with me and goes before me. I do not fear because I am His."
"Beware of destination addiction. This is a preoccupation with the idea that happiness is always somewhere else. The next place, the next job, the next partner.... Until you give up the idea that happiness is "somewhere else", it will never be where you are." (Whoa!!!!)
"If they made a monster out of you because you walked away from their drama, so be it. Let them deal with what they have created. Be at peace and stay out of the conflict."
"You were not created to live depressed, guilty, condemned, ashamed, or unworthy. You were created to be victorious in Christ!"
"Don't forget it's okay to have a meltdown, just don't unpack and live there! Cry it out and then refocus on where you are headed."
"You cannot make everyone think and feel as deeply as you do. This is a tragedy; because you understand them, but they do not understand you."
"The kindness you give is not always the same thing you get in return; sometimes it's more, sometimes it's less - even worse, sometimes you get none at all. Just remember, God tells us this, "The one who willingly gives is always more blessed than then one who receives."
"Do what you can. Where you are. With what you have."
"You've never gone too far that God can't redeem, restore, forgive you, and give you a second chance."
"The grass isn't greener on the other side. It's greener where you water it."
"I am in competition with no one. I have no desire to be better than anyone.
I am simply trying to be better than the person I was yesterday."
"There is no hope apart from Christ."
"It's not that my life is perfect.
I just choose to dwell on my blessings and praise God for them! No matter how small!"
"Being told you are appreciated is one of the most uplifting things a person can hear." Tell someone today how much you appreciate them!
"If material things are what you're talking about when you say "I'm blessed",
you have have no idea what a blessing is."
"If God shuts a door, quit banging on it!
Trust that whatever is behind it is not meant for you."
"Don't get upset with people or situations;
both are powerless without your reaction."
"Your greatest test is when you are able to bless someone else while
you are going through your own storm."
"When you do not seek or need the approval of other people,
there comes a peace with that!"
"Maturity: When someone hurts you, try to understand their situation instead
of trying to hurt them back."
"Always pray to have eyes that see the best in people, a heart that forgives the worst, a mind that forgets the bad, and a soul that never loses faith in God."
"Don't get mad when people talk behind your back;
they are behind you for a reason."
"Confidence is not walking into a room thinking you are better than everyone.
It's walking into a room and not having to compare yourself to anyone."
"Treat everyone with respect. Greet the janitor with the same respect
you would great the CEO with."
"Overthinking: The art of creating problems that weren't even there."
"You can't change someone who doesn't see an issue with their actions."
"A few bad days do not make it a bad life. Get up. Keep moving forward." To every thing there is a season,
and a time to every purpose under the heaven. Ecclesiastes 3
"You NEVER look good trying to make someone else look bad."
"Keep your mind active. Don't stay idle in your thoughts and overactive mind.
Educate yourself. When something sparks your interest, read about it.
Watch films and documentaries.
Read. Read. Read. Study. Learn.
Stimulate your brain!
Educate that beautiful mind of yours."
"Confidence is not "I hope they like me." Confidence is "I'll be fine if they don't like me."
Integrity: Doing the right thing even when no one is looking.
"𝑊𝑎𝑙𝑘 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑒𝑙𝑦 𝑖𝑛 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑔𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑦."
𝓟𝓻𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓻𝓫𝓼 10:9
"You are under no obligation to make sense to anyone."
"Submit yourselves therefore to God.
Resist the devil and he will flee from you!"
"Jesus said, "Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened,
and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28
"Someone is watching your journey and being inspired by it.
Do not quit."
"Most people do not listen with the intent to understand;
they listen to the intent to reply."
"Begin each day realizing that people will inconvenience you. They will sin against you, get in your way, and try your patience.
Be ready with this knowledge beforehand and take it to the Lord.
Let Him teach your heart how to respond to people and situations with patience and love so that He can use these opportunities to exhibit the Gospel rather than display a complaining, graceless, natural/carnal, irritated response of the flesh!"
"Fear is contagious. So is hope."
"A mistake that makes you humble is better than an achievement that makes you arrogant!"
A rule of mental health:
"Learn to distinguish who deserves an explanation,
who deserves only one answer, and who deserves absolutely nothing."
"On Christ the solid rock I stand, ALL other ground is sinking sand."
Jesus Heals a Man Let Down through the Roof of a House
17 On one of those days, as he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem.
And the power of the Lord was with him to heal.18 And behold, some men were bringing on a bed a man who was paralyzed, and they were seeking to bring him in and lay him before Jesus,19 but finding no way to bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down with his bed through the tiles into the midst before Jesus.
20 And when he saw their faith, he said, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.”21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”22 When Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answered them, “Why do you question in your hearts?
23 Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’?24 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the man who was paralyzed—“I say to you, rise, pick up your bed and go home.” 25 And immediately he rose up before them and picked up what he had been lying on and went home, glorifying God.26 And amazement seized them all, and they glorified God and were filled with awe, saying, “We have seen extraordinary things today.”
Defeating Satan in Spiritual Warfare begins with exposing his lies.
This video will reveal his great lie, will prepare you for victory in spiritual warfare, and will strengthen your walk in Christ’s holiness.
The Whole Armor of God - What is it?
The Battle for the Mind - A collection of thoughts that are very important for times such as these. Your spirit is collateral damage if you are not armored up.
𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐓𝐨 𝐁𝐞 𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈𝐬 𝐇𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞
By Rodney Norman
Rodney is just a man. But he's a very special man that has a way with words. I pray you understand the depth he's trying to bring to the table. May it help you to not feel so alone.
“You’re nothing special,” is probably one of the most misunderstood pieces of advice that I have given. If you understand it, you know that it is an extremely empowering statement. If you don’t understand, you think it is mocking and belittling to the hearer.
The point I am trying to make is that everyone goes through much of the same trials and tribulations. The details may change, but the feelings and struggles are mostly the same. The universe hasn’t singled you out for special treatment.
At some point we will all face a situation where we feel alone – we will feel like the only person who has ever had to face what we are facing. While it may be true that the specific details of our situation are unique, it doesn’t mean that our reaction is. When we understand that others have faced the same feelings we are struggling with, we can take comfort from the unity.
Being nothing special means that there are others in the world who can and will understand us. It means we are not alone in our struggles. By the same token, we are not alone in our successes. Everything we face can be understood and shared with someone else who has traveled the same path.
Knowing we are not alone is one of the most comforting and empowering feelings we can have. When we feel alone, we feel like the world has turned against us. We feel like every action by another person is directed at us specifically.
The truth is that everyone is too busy worried about themselves to worry about us. Think about it – are you more worried about someone else’s situation, or are you more concerned with their reaction to your situation? When you show understanding to someone else in a similar situation, you not only give comfort, but you receive the same.
You’re nothing special. Life is a journey and sharing that journey with others is what gets us all through to the next part. 🖤
This world is temporary.
People’s approval is fickle.
Our bodies are fragile.
Life is but a vapor.
So, what is its purpose?
Where is a sure source of joy?
What provides hope beyond the temporary?
******
The purpose of life is the glorification of God (Col. 3:17).
The presence of God is fullness of joy (Psalm 16:11).
Life is offered through the gospel, a truth that cannot be erased or shaken (Rom. 10:9-10).
Not even by disease (1 Cor. 15:42-44).
Not even by death (2 Tim. 1:10).
Praise God!
- Brooklyn Salisbury
Living to be happy is the leading cause of depression. Confused? Hear me out!
See the comments below for more.
May God's grace be your peace today.
𝐍𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐦 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐮𝐦𝐚: Hot topics/memes for the past couple years for a reason. Many 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐬, 𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐬, 𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐬, and relationships in general are struggling and there's an explanation for ALL OF IT. It is written (example: (2 Timothy 3, Romans 1). This short message was 𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐡𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐥𝐞, 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐮𝐥, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠.
It's two years old, but still very timely if you are interested in listening. It may help you in your relationship struggles! I'm not pulling your leg. 🖤 Take notes. 📖
Supplemental Bible Reading (for the times we are in):
2 Timothy 3, Romans 1, Matthew 7:7-12
Ask, Seek, Knock!
God's grace and peace be with you all! 🕊️
“IKEA Christianity”
Many years ago, I went to a Christian bookstore and browsed through the shelves offering multitudes of self-help books on numerous subjects. I left with the impression that Christians must be the most dysfunction people on earth to need so many self-help books that guaranteed you success in marriage, child-raising, leadership, church life, managing your money – you name it. There is a vast crowd of consumers willing to shell out money to get a quick-fix formula for self-help. All you had to do was follow their easy-to-use steps and how to's. Back in the 80's, I too published a number of counseling booklets doing just this. What's left of them is now gathering dust in a church…
4 Ways to 'Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled' during Seasons of Uncertainty
God help them. The world is in such a mess. This is why I say so, so often that '𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝' 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐬. The answer is found in the One that made our hearts and knit us together in our mother's womb. Pray for God to send you a helper. Don't give up! If you have breath to breathe, He has a purpose for you and wants you here. His strength and glory is 𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 when He uses weak and broken people! That's His specialty! 🙌
If you are like me, you don't have many people to reach out to because your level of trust has been destroyed by insecure, paranoid, & gossiping people.
Speaking…