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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 25 of 25. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Spriggy on June 7, 2005, at 15:13:19
I am at such a weird place in my life right now.
God has never, ever required me to have such a faith in Him or trust Him more. Before all this began, I was actually praying to Him to "give me a faith to move mountains." I don't know why I was dumb enough to ask for that because obviously the only way to have that kind of faith is for Him to stick some BIG mountains in the way! And He has.
So since December basically the following has happened to me (which oddly enough, reading through my prayer journal, I started praying that prayer for faith in November!):
1) My dad was given 3-6 months
2) I became very sick; very depressed for the first time.
3) My autistic son started having some real challenges- physical aggression, etc..
4) my house flooded
5) I got diagnosed with; hypoglycemia, Bipolar 2, lupus and fibromyalgia
6) my husband lost his job at our churchGod has put me in a place where nothing in my life is certain right now except for Him. I have no clue how I will feel from one day to the next, I have no idea how my son will act, I have absolutely no idea where my husband will work or where we will live or how we will meet all the bills, etc.. I am in a place where I am backed in a corner and I either will trust the Lord and know He is in control, or I will likely have a completely nervous breakdown.
So I am asking God, " Lord why???" Why have you required so much from me at such a young age (I'm only 27! my word, give me a little breathing room! ha).
I was praying about it today and reading in the bible and I found the story of Elijah. God sent Elijah out into the middle of nowhere by himself to be near the Brook Kerith. The Lord told him that he could drink from the brook and the Lord would send the ravens each morning and evening with food for Elijah.. Eventually, after Elijah was there for a while, the brook dried up because there was no rainfall.
So then the Lord tells him to go to a city and find this widow that God had prepared to feed him. So Elijah goes out of obedience (and likely THIRST) to this city and he finds the widow..
But when he finds her and asks for food, she tells him that she only has enough food for one more meal for her and her son-- and that after they ate their last meal, she assumed her and her son would die of starvation..I am sure Elijah must be thinking at this point, "Okay God, why did you send me to a brook that dried up and now you send me to a widow with hardly any food?"
But what God did was supernatural. He showed up in a BIG WAY.
As the widow prepared the meal, God would continually multiply it so that she never ran out- Elijah could eat, she could eat, and her son could eat. No matter how many times she prepared a meal, there was always more left for the next meal.
It dawned on me that first of all, God NEVER sets us up for failure. But sometimes He will put us in a place where it looks absolutely impossible, and as we see how there is no possibility, He shows up and works His miracles.
So I am praying today that the Lord do just that in my life as He is requiring me to trust Him in new ways.
I know He is faithful and I know that as long as I am walking after Him, I can trust Him to provide for my every need and meet me at my own brook. :)
Posted by Lou Pilder on June 7, 2005, at 21:15:08
In reply to Does God set us up??, posted by Spriggy on June 7, 2005, at 15:13:19
It is written here,[...bible...Elija...][...either...trust the Lord...or...have a ...nervous breakdown...]
Does anyone here read that as having the following potential possibilities of interpretation?
A. If the Lord is not trusted, a nervous breakdown will happen
B. People that have a nervous breakdown are not trusting the Lord.
C. A person that has a nervous breakdown can have it reversed by trusting the Lord.
D. The Lord is the God of the Bible
E. There are only two choices...either trust the Lord or have a nervous breakdown.
F. Nervous breakdowns can not be reversed with psychotropic drugs because the person could be trusting the drug and not the Lord.
G. none of the above
H. a combination of the above
K. All of the above
L. something else.
Lou
Posted by TofuEmmy on June 7, 2005, at 21:48:04
In reply to Does God set us up??, posted by Spriggy on June 7, 2005, at 15:13:19
Spriggy - Your post was very powerful, and your faith is inspiring. Thank you for sharing your story.
emmy
Posted by Simus on June 7, 2005, at 22:33:31
In reply to Does God set us up??, posted by Spriggy on June 7, 2005, at 15:13:19
Hi Spriggy.
The Bible is filled with people who faced great trials. I don't believe that the Lord "puts" these things in our paths, but I do believe that He can deliver us from anything that comes against us. I think you will like these verses:
Judges 6:12-16 "And the Angel of the LORD appeared to him, and said to him, "The LORD is with you, you mighty man of valor!" Gideon said to Him, "O my lord, if the LORD is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all His miracles which our fathers told us about, saying, "Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt?' But now the LORD has forsaken us and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites." Then the LORD turned to him and said, "Go in this might of yours, and you shall save Israel from the hand of the Midianites. Have I not sent you?" So he said to Him, "O my Lord, how can I save Israel? Indeed my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house." And the LORD said to him, "Surely I will be with you, and you shall defeat the Midianites as one man.""
Notice that the Lord said "I will be with you, and YOU shall defeat the Midianites..." Even still, things don't always go the way that seems most logical to us...
Judges 7:2 "And the LORD said to Gideon, "The people who are with you are too many for Me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel claim glory for itself against Me, saying, "My own hand has saved me.'"
I hope you read the whole account. God bless.
Simus
Posted by Phillipa on June 8, 2005, at 18:07:38
In reply to Re: Does God set us up?? » Spriggy, posted by Simus on June 7, 2005, at 22:33:31
Spriggy, As usual your humor shines through. I'm sorry about the job. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by Lou Pilder on June 8, 2005, at 20:25:00
In reply to Re: Does God set us up??, posted by Phillipa on June 8, 2005, at 18:07:38
> Spriggy, As usual your humor shines through. I'm sorry about the job. Fondly, Phillipa
Philllipa wrote,[...your humor...]
Could anyone list any statements in the post in question that are humorous?
Lou
Posted by Phillipa on June 8, 2005, at 21:09:53
In reply to Lou's response to Phillipa's post-yurhum » Phillipa, posted by Lou Pilder on June 8, 2005, at 20:25:00
Spriggy, I'm so sorry. Nothing you wrote is humorous. I feel for you. Please accept my apology and I recend my post. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by gardenergirl on June 8, 2005, at 21:25:41
In reply to Does God set us up??, posted by Spriggy on June 7, 2005, at 15:13:19
There is a "ha ha" in there. And despite difficult circumstances, the ability to laugh through your tears is very adaptive.
Spriggy, I have faith that you can cope with those obstacles, day by day.
gg
Posted by Lou Pilder on June 8, 2005, at 21:54:50
In reply to Re: Does God set us up??, posted by gardenergirl on June 8, 2005, at 21:25:41
> There is a "ha ha" in there. And despite difficult circumstances, the ability to laugh through your tears is very adaptive.
>
> Spriggy, I have faith that you can cope with those obstacles, day by day.
>
> gg
Gardenergirl,
You wrote,[...a "ha ha"...].
Could you clarify if any of the following could be what you mean?
A. A "ha ha" is the same as a humorous statement
B. A "ha ha" is only known by those that have experianced a "ha ha" .
C. The "ha ha" that you see in the post in question is something that you will tell us here.
D. A "ha ha" occurs in a post when there is nothing humorous in the post.
E. A "ha ha" is different from a "ho ho" or a "he he"
F. none of the above
G. a combination of the above
H. all of the above
K. something different.
Lou
Posted by Phillipa on June 8, 2005, at 22:18:13
In reply to Re: Does God set us up??, posted by gardenergirl on June 8, 2005, at 21:25:41
I guess it's just those of us who know and love Spriggy that hope it is a touch of humor still left. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by Dena on June 9, 2005, at 10:38:48
In reply to Does God set us up??, posted by Spriggy on June 7, 2005, at 15:13:19
Spriggy -
Thanks for being vulnerable and transparent - and sharing your real faith in action story!
I'm going through something similar... we've been trying to sell our beautiful, huge and well-located home for 13 weeks now, in a neighborhood where other houses have sold in a matter of HOURS!
We've been wondering what God is tellins us... we know He wants us to move (too many answered prayers about that), and the people in our new house are willing to wait it out with us...
But we so badly want to hear what He's telling us, and our faith has been soooooo challenged -- wondering if we've "been forsaken" while others have been blessed... but we're choosing to TRUST Him, no matter what it looks like to us on the outside. We know, from His perspective, this all makes perfect sense, that His timing is impeccable, and that He knows exactly what He's doing, and it IS working out together for our GOOD, no matter what we perceive with our limited perspective!!!
And when I waver in my faith, He's right there to give me more, in His infinite mercy!
I'm needing more right now, God...!
I pray for His mercy, His grace, His sufficient strengh, His guidance, His comfort, His supply, and His abundant love to carry you through this time, and always!
Shalom, Dena
Posted by gardenergirl on June 9, 2005, at 16:12:30
In reply to Lou's response to gardenergirl's post-ahaha » gardenergirl, posted by Lou Pilder on June 8, 2005, at 21:54:50
I'd have to say F.
gg
> > There is a "ha ha" in there. And despite difficult circumstances, the ability to laugh through your tears is very adaptive.
> >
> > Spriggy, I have faith that you can cope with those obstacles, day by day.
> >
> > gg
> Gardenergirl,
> You wrote,[...a "ha ha"...].
> Could you clarify if any of the following could be what you mean?
> A. A "ha ha" is the same as a humorous statement
> B. A "ha ha" is only known by those that have experianced a "ha ha" .
> C. The "ha ha" that you see in the post in question is something that you will tell us here.
> D. A "ha ha" occurs in a post when there is nothing humorous in the post.
> E. A "ha ha" is different from a "ho ho" or a "he he"
> F. none of the above
> G. a combination of the above
> H. all of the above
> K. something different.
> Lou
>
>
Posted by Lou Pilder on June 9, 2005, at 16:39:48
In reply to Re: Lou's response to gardenergirl's post-ahaha » Lou Pilder, posted by gardenergirl on June 9, 2005, at 16:12:30
> I'd have to say F.
>
> gg
>
> > > There is a "ha ha" in there. And despite difficult circumstances, the ability to laugh through your tears is very adaptive.
> > >
> > > Spriggy, I have faith that you can cope with those obstacles, day by day.
> > >
> > > gg
> > Gardenergirl,
> > You wrote,[...a "ha ha"...].
> > Could you clarify if any of the following could be what you mean?
> > A. A "ha ha" is the same as a humorous statement
> > B. A "ha ha" is only known by those that have experianced a "ha ha" .
> > C. The "ha ha" that you see in the post in question is something that you will tell us here.
> > D. A "ha ha" occurs in a post when there is nothing humorous in the post.
> > E. A "ha ha" is different from a "ho ho" or a "he he"
> > F. none of the above
> > G. a combination of the above
> > H. all of the above
> > K. something different.
> > Lou
> >
> > g,
In your reply to me, you wrote,[...F....none of the above...]
> Could you clarify ,since C is not one of the choices that you mean when you write,[...there is a "ha ha" in there...]if any of the following are what you mean as to,[...the "ha ha" that you see in the post...will tell us here...]?
A. I will not tell what I mean even if Dr. Hsiung asks me to do so, as to what in the post in question [...is a "ha ha" there...]
B. I will email you with what a "ha ha" is in relation to the post in question
C. I will referr you to a link that defines a "ha ha" as is there.
D. I have reconsiderd and there is no "ha ha" there.
E. The is a "he he" or a "ho ho" there and I will tell what in the post that it is.
F. none of the above
G. all of the above
H. a combimation of the above
K. something else
Posted by gardenergirl on June 9, 2005, at 17:45:23
In reply to Lou's reply to gardenergirl-ahahanonabv » gardenergirl, posted by Lou Pilder on June 9, 2005, at 16:39:48
In reading the post in question again, it looks like there is only one "ha".
And I can't be sure, but are you asking another question of me?
gg
Posted by Lou Pilder on June 9, 2005, at 18:02:21
In reply to Re: Lou's reply to gardenergirl-ahahanonabv » Lou Pilder, posted by gardenergirl on June 9, 2005, at 17:45:23
gg,
You wrote,[...looks like there is only one "ha"...]
Could you clarify what you mean? It is my understanding that you wrote,[...there is a "ha ha " there...].
Now I have read where posters here have used [...hehehehehe...] in their posts in a humorous manner. I guess that if I asked them about what it means to them in their usage of such, I do not see if the number of "he"s is relevant or not, but could it be?
So I hope the you can see my perspective here because if a "ha ha" is the same as a "he he", then I feel that a clarification could be benifitial to the forum because of the poster's description of the potential of what she /he wrote to mean that the father has 3-6 months to live and the poster has been diagnosed with lupus.
Lou
Posted by Phillipa on June 9, 2005, at 18:31:20
In reply to Lou's reply to gardenergirl-olyoneha » gardenergirl, posted by Lou Pilder on June 9, 2005, at 18:02:21
It's just Spriggy. She has a wonderful sense of humor no matter how bad life gets. It helps with her pain. And I know she has a Faith stronger than a lot of people. I'm not refering to those who post on the Faith Board. Just an observation of what I have seen and heard others say in the outside world. You might want to google some of her posts in the past for clarification. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by Spriggy on June 9, 2005, at 18:42:36
In reply to Re: Lou's reply to gardenergirl-olyoneha » Lou Pilder, posted by Phillipa on June 9, 2005, at 18:31:20
I've been busy and haven't been online so I had no clue I had created so many questions.
First of all, to everyone, I wasn't offended by anything anyone has written.
I do find that I MUST keep a sense of humor no matter what life throws my way in order to try and keep perspective and my sanity in tact.
I love you all very much and hope that clarifies things!
Posted by Phillipa on June 9, 2005, at 19:43:17
In reply to OH MY... *turns red*, posted by Spriggy on June 9, 2005, at 18:42:36
Spriggy, I'm so glad to hear from you! You're a "gem" Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by messadivoce on June 9, 2005, at 23:56:36
In reply to Does God set us up??, posted by Spriggy on June 7, 2005, at 15:13:19
Spriggy, I read your story in your original thread and I wanted to tell you that I really admire your faith and your ability to see God's hand in your life. I lurk around the faith board and don't post much b/c I would rather my posts not come under huge scrutiny when I am sometimes very unsure about my faith. But you have always been an inspiration and I think you must be a very strong person to have God allow you to take so much on.
Voce
Posted by Spriggy on June 10, 2005, at 14:17:42
In reply to Re: Does God set us up?? » Spriggy, posted by messadivoce on June 9, 2005, at 23:56:36
Posted by Jai Narayan on June 10, 2005, at 14:56:33
In reply to Re: Lou's reply to gardenergirl-ahahanonabv » Lou Pilder, posted by gardenergirl on June 9, 2005, at 17:45:23
you don't have to say another word.
you have that right especially because it's your birthday..
you get one wish...
blow out the candles.I surround you in love and gentle birthday candle light.
every year is so special.
Jai
Posted by gardenergirl on June 10, 2005, at 18:02:16
In reply to happy birthday...dear GG, posted by Jai Narayan on June 10, 2005, at 14:56:33
Your post is comforting. :)
gg
Posted by Declan on July 30, 2005, at 7:27:56
In reply to Does God set us up??, posted by Spriggy on June 7, 2005, at 15:13:19
I dunno, Spriggy. Your story brings Job to mind to me. And, well I know there will be disagreement but....God set Job up. God sees Satan, says what are you up to? Satan says 'walking up and down the earth', God says 'Take a look at Job' It seems to be a wager between God and Satan about whether Job's faith is dependant on his good fortune. And to test his faith everything Job has goes ('only do not touch him'). I know he gets it all back, new animals and maybe children, is it? Still, it's not the same. And the final answer that God gives Job is not reassuring to rationalist ears ('Where wast thou when I created heaven and earth?') Anyway my favourite book in the Bible, after Ecclesiastes.
I didn't know you had an autistic son. My brother is autistic.
What you say about God requiring you to trust him in new ways sounds like radical acceptance, ie maybe transformative
Declan
Posted by FredPotter on August 15, 2005, at 15:25:33
In reply to Re: Does God set us up?? » Spriggy, posted by Declan on July 30, 2005, at 7:27:56
If Life's a journey or a lesson in love etc etc are we screwing it up my taking medications? Like sitting in class wearing ear-plugs?
Posted by Declan on August 17, 2005, at 7:56:48
In reply to Life's a lesson, posted by FredPotter on August 15, 2005, at 15:25:33
Hi Fred
It is said that a lot of pain is caused by trying to avoid it. Isn't that an idea that crops up again and again?
Weather nice and brisk where you are?
Declan
This is the end of the thread.
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