Hello,

I wanted to discuss God’s sovereignty.

There is a scene in Jurassic World when they are in a helicopter, and one character says that the key to a happy life is accept you are never actually in control.

This is a good perspective Christians should have with God. In Roman 8:28, it says, “All things work together for good, for those who love God”. It does not say all things will be good, but all things work together for good. God has to be in control to make all things work for good.

Scripture makes this clear. One of the most incredible verses in Scripture is Revelation 17:17 which says, “For God has put it into their hearts to carry out his purpose by being of one mind and handing over their royal power to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled.” Think about what is being said here. Regardless of if you think Revelation should be interpreted symbolically or literally; or if it is in the future or in the past, it is saying God put the desire for the 10 kings to hand their power to the Antichrist until God’s word came to pass. Like a director, he is deciding how things play out. Like good actors, we are carrying out what is expected of us.

When we understand that the only thing we have control of is ourselves, and the rest is in God’s control we are able to deal with things easier. We need to understand that no matter what happens, God is in control.

I knew someone who was convinced God will not override free will. But if God does not at least occasionally override free will, how can we say He is sovereign over anything in this life? Because of this he was constantly stressed over what happened. But when Jesus says, in Matthew 6:34, “Don’t be anxious about tomorrow…” He was, in essence, saying, “Look, let God deal with those things, you deal with today and specifically how you are handling them”. This is something I agree on with the AA’s serenity prayer, “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.” We are to be proactive with our thoughts and actions, not reactive.

When we grasp that nothing happens to us or no one can say anything against us unless going through God first, this really calms us as to what is going on around us. When you read the story of Job, you see that it was God who first brought him up, and the adversary could not do one thing to him unless God let him (Job 1). This isn’t just his story but all of ours. Even in the book of Revelations, the angels could not harm the grass or plants or trees until the servants o….f God were sealed (Revelations 7) and the locusts from the 5^th trumpet were not allowed to kill unbelievers and could not touch the sealed servants of God (Revelations 9). Over and over Scripture shows God in control, but never us. I am disabled with Multiple Sclerosis. I have had a couple people say to me, “God doesn’t want you in that wheelchair”. So, your saying God is in heaven going, “Darn it Mike, I did not want you in that wheelchair or have MS”? And this is a God I am supposed to believe can save me for eternal life when He can’t even stop me from being in a wheelchair?

I think of life as a movie. The Father is the screenwriter, the Son is the director, the Spirit is the cinematographer, and I am the actor. The opening scene of D-Day was incredibly chaotic. But Tom Hanks did not need to worry about all that was going on around him. He only needed to focus on his lines and the emotions and actions he was to do. Spielberg, being the director, had to deal with everything that was going on. Hanks trusted Spielberg to handle everything else and he just focused on himself. The same is true of our lives. Focus on being who, as Christians, we are to be and let God handle everything else.

May God the Father bless you and enrich you. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Hello,

I wanted to discuss God’s sovereignty.

There is a scene in Jurassic World when they are in a helicopter, and one character says that the key to a happy life is accept you are never actually in control.

This is a good perspective Christians should have with God. In Roman 8:28, it says, “All things work together for good, for those who love God”. It does not say all things will be good, but all things work together for good. God has to be in control to make all things work for good.

Scripture makes this clear. One of the most incredible verses in Scripture is Revelation 17:17 which says, “For God has put it into their hearts to carry out his purpose by being of one mind and handing over their royal power to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled.” Think about what is being said here. Regardless of if you think Revelation should be interpreted symbolically or literally; or if it is in the future or in the past, it is saying God put the desire for the 10 kings to hand their power to the Antichrist until God’s word came to pass. Like a director, he is deciding how things play out. Like good actors, we are carrying out what is expected of us.

When we understand that the only thing we have control of is ourselves, and the rest is in God’s control we are able to deal with things easier. We need to understand that no matter what happens, God is in control.

I knew someone who was convinced God will not override free will. But if God does not at least occasionally override free will, how can we say He is sovereign over anything in this life? Because of this he was constantly stressed over what happened. But when Jesus says, in Matthew 6:34, “Don’t be anxious about tomorrow…” He was, in essence, saying, “Look, let God deal with those things, you deal with today and specifically how you are handling them”. This is something I agree on with the AA’s serenity prayer, “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.” We are to be proactive with our thoughts and actions, not reactive.

When we grasp that nothing happens to us or no one can say anything against us unless going through God first, this really calms us as to what is going on around us. When you read the story of Job, you see that it was God who first brought him up, and the adversary could not do one thing to him unless God let him (Job 1). This isn’t just his story but all of ours. Even in the book of Revelations, the angels could not harm the grass or plants or trees until the servants o….f God were sealed (Revelations 7) and the locusts from the 5^th trumpet were not allowed to kill unbelievers and could not touch the sealed servants of God (Revelations 9). Over and over Scripture shows God in control, but never us. I am disabled with Multiple Sclerosis. I have had a couple people say to me, “God doesn’t want you in that wheelchair”. So, your saying God is in heaven going, “Darn it Mike, I did not want you in that wheelchair or have MS”? And this is a God I am supposed to believe can save me for eternal life when He can’t even stop me from being in a wheelchair?

I think of life as a movie. The Father is the screenwriter, the Son is the director, the Spirit is the cinematographer, and I am the actor. The opening scene of D-Day was incredibly chaotic. But Tom Hanks did not need to worry about all that was going on around him. He only needed to focus on his lines and the emotions and actions he was to do. Spielberg, being the director, had to deal with everything that was going on. Hanks trusted Spielberg to handle everything else and he just focused on himself. The same is true of our lives. Focus on being who, as Christians, we are to be and let God handle everything else.

May God the Father bless you and enrich you. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Is there a reasonably large site or forum where Christians discuss entertainment like movies, books, and games? I'd like a place where everyone shares the same faith, so I don't have to keep explaining that I'm skipping something because it doesn't fit with my beliefs. Ideally it would be somewhere I can see other’s recommendations, ask for and give recommendations, and also talk about what I enjoyed in specific movies, books, or games.

I was mentioning in a subreddit of one of my favorite online games, that I'm not a fan of the "Halloween event" this time around considering one of the quests in the game is to get your tarot cards read. And was met with downvotes and "GTFO". I know it's a game but it's still an occult practice, nothing changes that.

I’m not looking to argue my own position on these issues, but I’m curious to hear where others are coming from on certain topics. I’d like to hear what you, your church, or your denomination believe and why.

1. Where do you stand on infant baptism?
2. Is baptism regenerative?
3. Do you believe in the Real Presence in the Eucharist?
4. What’s your belief on justification?
5. How do you determine interpretive authority in your church?
6. Where do you stand on IVF?
7. Where do you stand on abortion?
8. Where do you stand on LGBTQIA+ issues?
9. Do you believe in Biblical literalism?
10. Where do you stand on Scriptural inerrancy?
11. What are your beliefs on the afterlife?
12. Are those outside of your denomination or sect saved?
13. What do you find the most challenging belief of your denomination or sect?

14. What’s your favorite and least favorite thing about your denomination?

15. Where do you stand on women’s ordination?

Answer as few or as many as you’d like! I want to be better informed on different Christian beliefs.

Thank you and God bless you!

Acts 1:8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Greetings beloved, i m sure we all know that after the Lord Jesus Christ resurrected, He was no longer seen or being visible to the whole world as one man, Jesus Christ of Nazareth that they used to know before His death on the Cross, but we hear of Him for a period of forty days said to be appeared only to the selected, very few of them which were His disciples during that time.

But now picture this, the news of His resurrection was spreading like wild fire, that the man was no longer there in the grave, He was risen, and we all know how he died at a pick of crowd pulling, which was one of major reason why the religious leaders pushed His death because they were being treatened by His doctrine and power which was contrary to them, but believed and pulling away many from them, not only by empty words that He was a Son of God, and by Him all who believe was getting eternal life which is the very life of God but also the undeniable evidence of those miracles which they all know, by no mans life or ability one was and is able to archieve and show case such kind of levels of miracles.

Now how hungry the world desired now to see Him even more, after hearing such great news, so that He may continue His works as He was doing before, and also now including many who were once spectical about Him before?, how much do all wanted to see Him for them to now truly fully believe, but the man was now no where to be found only news, and then His decision that now for Him to be witnessed and found it will be through those who were disciples together with those also who believed afterwards, when they heard this gospel of His resurrection, and this is were also you and me gets in.

Beloved, we were not just saved only to wait for the Lord one day to appear and then take us to heaven, no not all, but before His appearance, let us know of this very thing that the world is still looking for Him, they need prove of Him, that truly He resurrected and He is eternal life which He talked about and showed during His earthly ministry. And also we saw the first Apostles in the book of Acts, demostrate doing the same, including others like Stephen who were not of any Apostolic office as others may only think this was meant for the Apostles only, the man full of faith and the HolySpirit did signs, miracles and wonders till the religious leaders moved with jelous and put him to death Acts 6:8 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and signs among the people, them they did their part and its now for us to also continued on were they ended.

I tell you this, without us stepping out and being the very prove, witness of Christ resurrection and eternal life, the whole gospel may continue to be viewed as one of to those fiction stories, so as Paul did to young Timothy i also do to you by saying 2 Timothy 1:6 Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.

[7]For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind, beloved stir up that eternal life in you for the manifestion of godliness.

At one time after threated the disciples prayed and said Acts 4:29 Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word,

[30]by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.”

[31]And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness, it is also my prayer for you today that your hands seizes to be yours, but His, eyes yours but His, mind, heart as We are part of the body of Christ, and you shall not come near a sick person or demon possessed, even speaking a word in the atmosphere and causes no reaction, because we are witnesses not of our own human life again but His eternal life, the very glory of the Father forever and ever.

Thank you.

I am not having prosperity. Alas, people often do me wrong in a rather degrading wa.

I believe now God simply let it happen. He doesn't bless me in anything I ask for.

He sees my efforts and fights and doesn't care. But people who wrong me? Oh, that He allows.

I won't be praying to God for a longtime from now on. He doesn't invite me in His table. For He doesn't guard me, I may not care about Him watching or not.

I have asked Him what He intends for me, and the Holy Spirit told me nothing.

So be it.

Following the basic fundamental rules of anything will get you far. This includes getting closer to Jesus.

When starting a business, there are basic fundamental rules someone can follow everyday and incorporate those rules into their business plan and it will take them far. They may not be the best, but it sets up a strong foundation that will help avoid failure.

When fighting, it's the same thing, you have fundamentally sound fighters who are not the fastest, doesn't hit the hardest, but because their technique is fundamentally sound, it takes them to the championship level.

This goes for building a relationship with Jesus as well. When you wake up, I want you to think about something you're grateful for that happen today, yesterday, 10 years ago and praise Him with your heart and ask Him to join your day. Then start making a habit of this, but always start off by giving thanks.

Don't say it quick, talk to Him like Hes the Supreme Being of the Universe, talk to Him with reverence and give Him your emotions. I promise He will bless you the same way He has blessed me, even more because He's so generous and giving. Be very careful to understsnd you're not doing this because you want gifts, you're doing this because you want the Ultimate Supreme Being to be your friend, companion, Father, you want a relationship with Him.

When you talk in a job interview you don't say quickly, "I want this job because so and so" you go into detail. Well, go into detail for Jesus when you talk to Him. Just try this for 1 week, I promise your life is going to change. There will be added peace along with blessings. Yeah sure you're going to sin, lie, cheat, steal, fornicate, but don't let that separate you from Him. Tell Him you're weak and pathetic, He may have mercy on you and still answer your prayer like He has done countless times with mine.

Try this, open the gospel, find something you like that Jesus said, meditate on it and tell Him you believe He said it, and just think about it while telling Him over and over and over and over that you believe He said it and He was here 2k years ago. You're going to feel some kind of peace over you.

If I’ve broken an oath or swear to God that I wouldn’t do something but did it am I screwed and damned for good?

I know it’s not so black and white, OCD and impulse was a factor, but God is ever knowing and knows the truth. It’s not like I can lie and say it was an accident, I could’ve been stronger or found a better way.

Regardless though, am I screwed? I do believe that Jesus died for our sins and were forgiven as long as we believe I God and Jesus in our heart truly but I’m not very educated or well versed other than face value.

Please any advice? This has been tearing my mind up for months….

​

He is a COMPLETE narcissist that NEVER EVER reflects on his own actions. EVERYTHING he says is COMPLETE nonsense, he keeps blaming me for everything and acting like the victim, I tried so hard to communicate peacefully with him but he just keeps repeating the same nonsense "bad attitude, high volumes" etc, when he's the one spitting complete nonsense, he NEVER thinks from other people's perspective and thinks that he's right all the time, avoiding questions that makes him look wrong. He's always abusing his status of a "dad" to show how "superior" and "right" he is. He never cares about my situation or anything, all he wants is just my obedience. And he also CLAIMS TO BE A CHRISTIAN, YET HE'S THE MOST PRIDEFUL PERSON IVE EVER SEEN, and he has 0 empathy, none at all, not even exaggerating.

I'm 15 and I'm so tired of this crap.

I struggle with knowing the difference between moral ocd and conviction. I give my myself stress headaches over fearing whether or not I am sinning or offending God. I’m looking for biblical, godly advice for a current struggle. My mom buys my groceries. She has been buying g my groceries for several years. I struggled with an eating disorder, and to get me back on track, she began buying them for me. Several years later, she still does, as I told her I cannot comfortably afford to spend what she spends. Realistically, I could, but that would be very risky financially for me right now, as my husband and I are trying to get out of our current living situation, and feel it is wise to set aside for emergencies and our future. I’ve told this to my mom, and she says that when I decide that it is more important to set aside money for the same groceries she gets me than it is to set aside for emergencies, housing, taxes, etc, then she will stop buying them. She will only stop when I promise to spend what she currently spends. I can’t promise her that. I want her to stop, but if she were to stop, I would be buying ramen and would me more than content and happy to live on that. I feel morally wrong taking from her. She is newly separated from her husband and has less income now than a few years ago, which makes me feel even more evil for taking from her. But she insists. Help? This has plagued me for quite a while now. I don’t want to disobey God and make him angry by taking advantage of her, but I can’t agree to her terms. Help?

Bible chadavali , manchiga telusu kavali ani chala unnadi but i don't understand how people understand it ani nenu ex Hindu but now I'm into Jesus Christ. I started with New testimony mathew, luke avi anni untadhi kadha so while reading sentences ardam avuthayi but malli ardam avavdu gurthu undadu after closing it idk why this is happening only to me or is there anyone who suffered with this? malli malli first nuchi fresh ga start chedamu ani try chesta middle lo motham pothadi anduke mostly testimonies, ila short videos, bible stories chusta , daily verses chusta i don't understand how people remeber all verses, Psalm with numbers and exact sentance i remeber only the conclusion so konchem evaruayina help CHESI cheppandi ela chadavali ala bible consistency and antha deep ge telsukovali ani

Thanks and sorry for ignoring non telugu people because in all spots I talk in english I'm just tired i just wanna talk with telugu people for better understanding and I can communicate easily so they can get my problem exactly : )

Praise God ✨!

Hey everybody, I just wanted to make a small update and send a thanks to everyone who took there time to reply to my post and pray for me.

I’m not going to say I’m ‘better’ but I am growing and learning. I still have these thoughts but I’m working on becoming more comfortable in my god given body.

There were a few people who messaged me to say being trans was valid, and that I was not a sin for these feelings. But to those people I do want to say thank you. You are all caring and didn’t have to message me but did. So again, thank you. Your opinions are valid to me, I am not hateful towards the lgbtq+ community. But due to some of my family’s beliefs and my Christianity that’s just not who I am.

And to those who took your time to prey for me, thank you.

“But god commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” Romans 5:8

I‘m turning 21 soon, got baptised when I was 18.

I live a pretty happy life; got a lovely boyfriend whom I’m looking forward to marrying one day, I’ve nearly finished my teaching degree, I’ll be hopefully moving into a lovely little granny flat next year, got good friends and a great church community.

Amidst all that however, I’ve been struggling with anxiety (diagnosed with OCD), my parents had a toxic marriage and recently split (instead of going to therapy they both separately trauma dumped on me), and so a lot of the time my mind isn’t in a good place. I’ve been dealing with a lot of insecurity.

My latest insecurity is about my weight. I don’t smoke or vape, and I only drink at birthdays, but I stress-eat. And I’ve got a sweet tooth. I’ve gained weight, and I’m often feeling really tired, and I suspect my diet has something to do with it. Because I’m tired I can’t always bring myself to exercise, and because I’m stressed, I eat. Not a good cycle.

I’ve been trying to pray more, and I’m listening to a few chapters of the bible a day - was advised by the pastor’s wife to take it like daily bread, allow it to sustain me.

My church (Baptist in New Zealand for context) in all its years, have never once talked about fasting. Not taboo or discouraged or anything, just hasn’t been brought up. And it doesn’t seem to be a practice any of the congregation takes. In terms of mental health, the lines between fasting, skipping meals, then eating disorders seem a bit thin.

But I’m curious about it. I’m thinking it will help me lose weight maybe, and I’ve heard it brings one closer to God. However, I’ve never had it described to me how it is done, and since my weight is on my mind, I’m not sure I’d be doing it for the ‘right’ reasons. It would be nice to be closer to God though.

How does fasting work? Would it be suitable for me?

Hi guys

I lost my boyfriend a few days ago. I’m struggling to sleep or eat. I can’t stop thinking about him. He was more than just my boyfriend he was my friend. We had so much beautiful plans together and just like that he is gone. He was a very kind and gentle soul. We really really loved each other and we had future plans together. I can’t help but think that maybe God hates me. Why did he have to take my boyfriend away from me. What really hurts me the most is that my boyfriend loved God more than anything.

I wasn’t a religious person until I meant him, he would encourage me to go to church and pray every time I was going through something. Why didn’t God protect him? I’m struggling with suicidal thoughts. I feel like life is not worth living anymore. I’m sad, miserable and I’m always crying 24/7. I don’t think I’m ever going to feel better again. I guess some people are just not meant to live a happy life. It really hurts a lot.

Hello! I'm new to the faith, and I'm looking for advice on which Bible translation to get.

Ideally, I'd like a “general-purpose” translation that I can use for daily reading, in-depth study, and long-term use. The reason is pretty simple: I just like owning one thing! 😂

I understand that comparing multiple translations can be helpful, but personally, I feel like owning several would be a little cluttered. I also travel a lot for work, sometimes to places with unreliable internet access, so I'd prefer to have a single physical Bible that I can rely on wherever I go.

I asked a youth pastor about this, and they recommended the NIV since I'm new to the faith and English isn't my first language. I checked it out briefly, and while it was certainly easy to understand, I found the writing a little simpler than what I personally prefer. It just didn't quite resonate with me.

So naturally, I may have overcorrected and checked out the KJV instead. 😭 I struggled to understand much of it and barely made it through a few chapters. It's a beautifully written translation, but it most certainly isn't for me. The NKJV wasn't quite what I was looking for, either.

Earlier today, I asked someone else at our church for recommendations, and she suggested either the CSB or the ESV, saying they might be right up my alley. I haven't had a chance to check either one out yet.

With all that in mind, what would you recommend as a “do-it-all” Bible translation? I'm looking for something that's readable without feeling oversimplified, suitable for serious study, and worth growing old with.

My grandson is 22, and has considered himself an atheist for some years now I beleive, apparently long before I knew. He's on the autism spectrum, fairly high functioning( not nonverbal, very intelligent) but not the most social. He's also very liberal, and I have know he wanted to support his friends in the LGBT community and was generally pro-transgender.

He's been growing more distant from me and his father for the past few years. I see him very occaisionally now. Other than thanksgiving and christmas, I believe the last time he saw his father was before he was hospitalized due to depression.

He came out to me last week. He came to my house wearing a pink blouse with a white skirt, and a face covered in makeup. He wants me to use "they/them" for him which is not happening. He said he is willing to keep a relationship if I am, but he won't tolerate me denouncing his identity.

I have been trying to pull him to christ. Sometimes I think I see a curiosity within him. I know he befriended a local preacher, who he describes as a very smart and kind man. He reads the preacher's articles on some sort of blog sharing website. I'm forgetting what it's called. I don't know how tolerant this preacher is of my grandson's gender identity but really, above all else I want him to be pulled to Christ. I want him to join me in Heaven when we've both passed.

I don't want to push him further away by chastizing him. I do fear this as its him going further and further into the secular world. I have seen self-damaging behaviors from him, and I am worried about losing my Grandson, in a time where he needs me and especially the Lord the most. He doesn't have a job. He doesn't have any ambitions. I want to bring him to the Lord but I don't know how. As a Christian, I also don't know how to accept this radical change in him without endorsing it and sinning myself. I don't know what to do as his grandmother.

These past couple months has been…a lot. I’ve strayed from the Lord for some time..still had desire and prayed for the fire I had when I was a babe in Christ and half of me is in shock in the season I’m going through. He did exactly that.

Husband and I have been going through marital problems with not seeing eye to eye, arguing, feel unheard, recurring issues, and Christ called me back…radically. I’ve been praying for my husband before all this started. Not the way I’m praying and fasting nowadays.

When I tell you the Lord has been putting a mirror in my face these past couple months and is first fixing things within me…the things I so desired in my husband the Lord has been doing in me first. And I won’t get into detail. These past couple months and been an awakening. Changing the way I carry myself, reverence to my husband, denying my flesh!! Man, I can go on and on the way the Lord is transforming and reforming me and it’s been a long time coming as a wife.

When I was strayed I didn’t have the intensity of attacks I have now..literally everyday I’ve been being attacked in my sleep and strong sleep paralysis. Attacks in my mind and strong overthinking. I am under spiritual attack..

When we were going through our regular marital issues, yes I prayed, but I didn’t go into war the way I am now. My husband has recently been back sliding. Lately I haven’t been being heard, I crave that meekness and softness from him. I’ve realized in order to get my husband to treat me the way Christ treats me is to push him towards Christ. Scripture says you can win your husband by the way you conduct yourself. Genuinely sometimes it feels like I’m just giving giving giving and nothing in return. I could be furiously angry and still call to deny and no reverence evil for evil. Not saying I should burn out myself but using discernment.

I’ve surrendered controlling the atmosphere, checking his phone, when I tell you I’ve had lash outs of his recent behaviors, they’ve ceased on my end. I’ve surrendered to the Lord and living my life to honor him despite what I crave from husband. (There is absolutely no cheating, no abuse involved! We both live at peace with one another and there is plenty of love in our marriage!)

Hubby & I got married in the faith. A couple years later he started questioning why things are the way it is. Why did God do this? Why not this? Etc etc. it’s not bad to have questions. But lately it’s been more of a combat in my eyes. And started back sliding claiming he’s not convicted or feel as if certain things are a sin. He doesn’t understand the spiritual world and the influence the enemy has on people.

I’m weary. I’m tired. Truly. All of this is all just a snippet of what’s behind the curtain it’s much more intense than this. I’m constantly in prayer, constantly in the presence of like minded women, constantly watching supportive sermons and peoples testimony, constantly in fasting.

Nothing is to big for the Lord and must keep walking by faith and not by sight, but truly this is a huge mountain I cannot move on my own. I feel as if my husbands heart is hardened towards me with conversations, the church, and God. Nothing I tell him gets past though his head. I’ve been learning more and more to keep silent. It’s hard when I just want him to understand!

I keep the intimate part of what he is back sliding to confidential, but just giving you a general idea.
All this to not boast, but to get true insight from anyone willing to give me advice or encouragement. I really do need it right now. I know it is the Lord’s battle, but I am still a vessel in the war.

my brain is so messed up without taking my ADHD meds. i stopped taking them a year ago because it caused my anxiety to be too severe even though it helped me. my brain is so low on dopamine and it causes me to binge eat, or forget to eat, drink alcohol, over drink caffeine, scrolling etc. i know it may just sound like im lazy and undisciplined but it genuinely feels unbearable going through life most days. i cannot remember ANYTHING and am constantly forgetting things. i cannot give people directions when we are going somewhere because i forget im giving directions every 45 seconds. my mind flip flops between thoughts and i feel like i can never focus or think straight. i cant take stimulants because my body is too sensitive to it and i get palpitations and anxiety chest pains etc. my anxiety is a whole other story. i drive and randomly feel like i cant breathe, i have to take pills for it and my psychiatrist is making me taper off of it for no reason. this all was an issue for me before i was a christian and now my final hope is God will heal me and my neurochemistry to work like a normal brain and that i can have better baseline dopamine levels. i try to work out but then i get anxiety that if i go too hard i’ll have a heart attack. ive been a hypochondriac for like 6 years now since 2020. im only in my 20s and dont wanna keep continuing on this way into the next year of my life. my birthday was yesterday and i woke up and just started crying because i feel like a failure. i relapse on porn a lot recently after. i repented of sexual sin and drinking. im just tired and sad. because i feel like such a mess. anyways thats all i just needed to vent a bit. God bless.

Hi everyone, looking for some biblical perspective and advice.

​Today, a very close friend and I got into an intense discussion around faith. We love each other deeply, but lately I’ve been feeling conflicted about where they stand spiritually. There are moments where they profess to know God and talk passionately about faith, but other things make it feel more like lip service than genuine fruit (passages like Titus 1:16 and Matthew 15:8 have been weighing heavily on my mind).

​After things got a little heated, I reached out to express my love and explain that my passion comes from caring, and while they responded that they weren’t mad, I recognized that I personally needed to step back and take a pause so emotions didn’t take over.

​My question for the community: How do you balance loving a friend with patience and grace while also using spiritual discernment? If you’ve ever had to take space from a close relationship over spiritual differences or someone professing faith without living it, how did you handle it biblically without turning bitter or judgmental?

​Any scripture, personal experiences, or prayers would be greatly appreciated.

To my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, I have a question. For the last couple of months, I’ve been getting closer to the Lord since the loss of my baby boy. I have read scriptures here and there, but there’s one thing that I struggle to understand. I know it says that God has plans for us, not to harm us. Now I am trying to understand if the loss of my baby was part of his plan to get me closer to him. I’m stuck in the middle because some people say since God created life, he can take them away too, and others say that it’s the bad that causes death. I haven’t gone too deep into the Bible, but I want to understand if any of you guys have any words or thoughts on this? I also want to note that I am asking because I sincerely feel like my son brought me closer to the Lord more than I have ever been in my life. Also, I saw a sermon where a bishop said God can take away or give you a sickness if he sees that it draws you closer to him.

Isaiah 9:6-7 has been burning in me:

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder... Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end."

I used to think government meant church leadership. But I see now — it's THE government. All governments. Systems, technologies, networks, even AI — all of it was meant to be upon His shoulder in the beginning.

Colossians 1:16 says all things were created through Him and FOR Him. So if a tool is not on His shoulder, it's out of place. It's not the tool that is evil, it's that it's not under His government.

In the world, sons of this world are wiser — Luke 16:8 — they quickly put every new tool under their government for their purpose. But sons of light, we are slow to put those same tools under HIS government for HIS purpose.

Jesus said in Mark 7 we can make void the word of God by holding tradition of men. Could holding to old ways of doing things stop the increase of His government?

I'm learning that evangelism is not just saving souls from hell, but bringing all things back under His shoulder where they belong.

How are you seeing His government increase in your daily work, online, in your tools?

Looking for encouragement and stories of any similar situations and how you’ve found and maintained strong ongoing Christian friendships.

I figured starting at church/events where fellow believers meet is the best bet.
I’ve attended many YA/young adult groups and events over the past couple years.

I’ve had some instant Christian friend connections where she’s hugging me and asking me to exchange numbers by the end of the worship service, promising to hang out soon, only for me to be ghosted when I try to make plans and told weeks later “I just wasn’t in a good place to be with friends” even though I saw her posting photos hanging out with her friends during that time.

I’ve been intentionally cared and prayed for and hugged at the door and enthusiastically told “text me” only to eventually get ghosted after only one reply back.

Meanwhile, I’ve had multiple agnostic friends initiate daily, detailed conversations, follow up and ask me intentional questions, make plans, actually hang out multiple times, and consistently tell me they like talking to me because it feels safe and “there’s something different about you”

I enjoy my time with my friends so much and then I realize they’re not saved and it hurts my heart for them to not know Jesus 🥺

I wishhhhh I could have Christian friends who communicate, show up, and follow through like my agnostic friends do. I’m trying to not let it discourage me from still searching because I have to believe that good, consistent, loving and caring Christian friendships exist.

I’m wondering if anyone has had a similar experience with having agnostic friends “treat them better” and if when and where you’ve found consistent Christian friendships :)

Thank you

So I basically never really developed breasts, I’m talking about AA a tiny handful at most. I have always felt very self conscious and it doesn’t really fit my body/ looks a bit underdeveloped since I’m curvy in other places. seems to be genetic as most of my sisters are flag as well. I’m not a terribly insecure person otherwise but this thing has bothered me for years. I’m married and my husband likes me as I am but I know he likes boobs haha and would prob not want to say anything to upset me, I have the finance and I follow Jesus closely I’m just so afraid of proceeding with this in case I’m sinning or ruining Gods plans for me. or that I’m being vein? I have a Catholic background where my dad talked a lot about sin and I think it made me hyper aware of it when I’m decision making. Help

From a commentary on the gospel of John by Saint Cyril of Alexandria, bishop

(Lib 12, 1: PG 74, 707-710 )

As the Father sent me, so I am sending you

Our Lord Jesus Christ has appointed certain men to be guides and teachers of the world and stewards of his divine mysteries. Now he bids them to shine out like lamps and to cast out their light not only over the land of the Jews but over every country under the sun and over people scattered in all directions and settled in distant lands. That man has spoken truly who said: No one takes honor upon himself, except the one who is called by God, for it was our Lord Jesus Christ who called his own disciples before all others to a most glorious apostolate. These holy men became the pillar and mainstay of the truth, and Jesus said that he was sending them just as the Father had sent him.

By these words he is making clear the dignity of the apostolate and the incomparable glory of the power given to them, but he is also, it would seem, giving them a hint about the methods they are to adopt in their apostolic mission. For if Christ thought it necessary to send out his intimate disciples in this fashion, just as the Father had sent him, then surely it was necessary that they whose mission was to be patterned on that of Jesus should see exactly why the Father had sent the Son. And so Christ interpreted the character of his mission to us in a variety of ways. Once he said: I have come to call not the righteous but sinners to repentance. And then at another time he said: I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me. For God sent his Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.

Accordingly, in affirming that they are sent by him just as he was sent by the Father, Christ sums up in a few words the approach they themselves should take to their ministry. From what he said they would gather that it was their vocation to call sinners to repentance, to heal those who were sick whether in body or spirit, to seek in all their dealings never to do their own will but the will of him who sent them, and as far as possible to save the world by their teaching.

Surely it is in all these respects that we find his holy disciples striving to excel. To ascertain this is no great labor, a single reading of the Acts of the Apostles or of Saint Paul’s writings is enough.

RESPONSORY

John 15:16, 8

You did not choose me, but I chose you

to go forth and bear fruit

— that will last forever.

My Father is glorified when you bring forth fruit in abundance.

— That will last forever.