Christian Chat

@ENKELI It's getting easier day by day but I still have urges and cravings, I just keep thinking of the pros of the version I am now being clean and sober and focusing on my mental health recovery.

A big congrats on quitting cigarettes as it's a tough one. I'm yet to quit vaping but that's next on my list.

@DownMoreThanUp thank you for supporting me and sharing the Lords word. I'm still learning as i'm a born again Christian.

One verse that resonates with me on my journey is

Psalms 34:18 "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."

I'm connecting with my inner spirit again and the spirit of the Lord.

I've turned to the Lord to guide me with strength during this journey of Mental health and addiction challenges.

Psalms 46:1 - 3 "God is our refuge and strength , an ever present help in trouble."

😊🙏

In regards to fighting my addiction was to have willpower and visualising myself as a better version without drugs or alcohol.

Finding the Lord recently has helped me be more in control of my urges and cravings knowing that I am a better person now and I have the love, guidance and forgiveness he has blessed me with.

I'll watch your link also. Thank you for sharing my friend.

@REDLINEZ750 @DownMoreThanUp @ENKELI @Appleblossom @tyme

Thank you @REDLINEZ750 for the support, 50 days is huge to me. I'm happy i'm getting my numbers up now.

It's all freedom from here.

I hope you all have a great weekend.

@Moose123 Psalm 34 happens to be one of my favourite psalm, one i love to share with brothers and sisters down deep, it is so very good. From beginning to end really. For how true is it that those who call upon The Lord are blessed His Good Life?

Dine on The Word my friend, this is how you will receive The Bread that will grow you your new life. i know that when we eat down here it has cost and effort involved.

However the good thing about Heavenly Manna is that He is for free, and comes down into us while hiding in our hiding place, it is there The word of God feeds us Christ's eternal truth, love and goodness to eat. Where we are fed we never die again, that is how The Living Word overcomes our bad life, taking thus up to Him, one by one. (Isaiah 27:12-13) Until in all of our 144,000 chosen have died His love and truth, and we are raised to rule our life with Him God's Kingdom of love and peace. Just like Scripture promises.(Revelation 7)

So, as you are doing with your life stuck with that horrible spirit of demand and addiction, do lay down all life within that is wrong and hurtful to you. For i learned to understand that it are not the objects of our addiction you we need to overcome, but those crappy 'spirits' controlling those goodies through our emotions gone wrong, which are the problem.

So let God's merciful loving truth have you born Anew His Kingdom a free person. Alive in His love and truth forever, and in your whole life, every minute of your day, my friend. For such a life is truly liberating. And is what i know Jesus is aiming for, for all those who dare let Him take control over their lives so they may come and rule life in and with Him.

Glad to hear you are seeing a path forward. @Moose123 Sometimes it really is just step by step and a few good routines. I have lived in 2 drug capitals in this land. One when I was a kid and one when I was much younger, working and surrounded by it. I got off by taking a trip back to the “Cross”, and looking at it all hard in the eye, and remembering my innocent 9 year old self walking those streets, lol, not. lol…Oh dear, there are too many puns in my life… so many layers of irony and meaning…

love your picture with the rocks and the view…

@REDLINEZ750

@tyme

@ENKELI

jeez @DownMoreThanUp I can imagine you can be a feisty devil. lol and a bit challenging. Recently, I have had more contact with the intensity of manic energy. I do wonder if you intensify your inner turmoil and wonder if you are able to be kinder and gentler to yourself. Maybe summon some of the spirit like you cared for the homeless.

My experience of mental illness was different when I was young. Schizophrenia, shame and extreme poverty. Not much spare energy or money for big verbal statements. Not many church goers have had understanding or compassion, mostly it has been awkward contempt, and I move away or be silent. I do treasure the few sporadic good moments. Always have been grateful, cos it was very blooming obvious how much worse life could be, in the places I grew up. Eg , the nuns were kind in the first orphanage when I was 6.

tbh I have difficulty with too many “God is good” statements , and tend to just be quiet and reflective. I have seen too many loved ones suffer.

I do understand the importance in having hope in God’s goodness for human beings to help navigate hard times.

I used to really love singing a hymn Come as you are, but that church was struggling with the Pell situation and forgetting who Jesus Christ was. I guess I need to take their bad behaviour as their problem. I was pushed out 10 years ago. Yes, of course, I had helped the homeless in the CBD in many ways over many years. I grieve the good things about the Catholic tradition.

I am in another denomination and place now. I now have a beautiful picture of St Francis feeding the birds on my wall. My son bought it for me from a garage sale for $10. It has a soft bronzed battered feel. Nothing new or expensive would have been better.

you do have a real talent for poetry @DownMoreThanUp and its cool how ive seen you use scripture entirely in stanzas

yeah more a calling or a reminder maybe, i am born again actively and right here right now im proclaiming it and he knows my heart and this is worship as more than i are praising his his name so im always encouraged when it comes to the last covenant of salvation through the blood of Christ its been a year since had nose into scripture and my NIV is always right there in full view

@Moose123 I was borderline alcoholic and knew I could possibly become addicted as my grandfather and father were both alcoholics.
One day I just didn't feel like drinking anymore and now I I probably have a drink once or twice a year at most.

I know God took the desire to drink away. He saw what was happening to me and also my health. I am ever so grateful.

I doubt anyone would judge you for vaping at the moment, that you gave up other addictions is amazing and you know you'll be able to quit vaping when the time comes. Again it was with the grace of God that I was able to quit. I had the quit smoking medication for about a fortnight, maybe 3 weeks and then I just stopped all together. I'd tried at least 4 times before without success so this time I asked God to help.

I'll keep you on my prayer list, and again congratulations, such an amazing achievement!

@REDLINEZ750 I struggle with motivation so doing Bible study is near on impossible. Last night I decided I was going to listen to a book each night for a month and then choose another book the next month. I am currently listening to Mark and while I was surprised at how much I already knew, I was also a little less impressed at how much I didn't know.

@Appleblossom @DownMoreThanUp @Moose123 @tyme @Shaz51 @avant-garde do you have any tips for studying the Scriptures?

Hope y'all are having a lovely day 🫂

@Appleblossom your picture of St Francis sounds like a real treasure. Worth more than a priceless painting.

I am not Catholic but I have always liked St Francis, especially being the patron saint of animals.