Christianity Oasis Forum

[Zemirah]

When I was thinking about beginning this journal the song "step by step" by the late Rich Mullins kept playing through my mind. Sometimes the steps are very very slow ones; sometimes very tiny ones; sometimes a little quicker or a little wider; sometimes (although not so often) very quick and/or every wide.

[kimby]

Glad to see you here and posting!
It is good that you got back up...very good. But you are right. It gets absolutely exhausting trying to do it on our own. I look back and can see so many times I slapped His hand away while trying to get up all by myself. It is great that you are seeing this so early. Allow Him to help you up. When you fall look up to Him and take His outstretched hand. He will get your feet on steady ground and won't let go.
Looking forward to walking this journey with you, Carolyn!

[vahn]

Step by step indeed , one at a time .

I used to joke about the number of "problems" I had when I first decided to do something about my life (or whatever was left of it at that time ) ... used to say , "I had a hundred problems when I first got here , and now I don't ... I got ninetynine !!! " ... but , you know what ? one at a time , with each step I got closer and closer to my "goal" .

Easy does it , but do it

Glad to have you , you've gone through the hardest part already , you will never HAVE to feel this way again .


Luv ya
In Christ , our Lord
vahn

[Zemirah]

thanks for reading

[Lani]

Hello Carolyn

Glad to see you posting again sis
Never to late to seek the Grace of God, awesome step forward. Great truths have been shared through this step and I pray in doing so, the task ahead begins to feel more manageable.

Tricky how they can sprout flowers and appear less harmful as a result huh? Rather than seeing all weeds in the garden needing pulling, focus on just a few.... a little at a time. It is not said that ya hafta clear the garden of all of em at once. Some will require more work than others but one at a time, they will be removed by His work through you.

Whenever I feel like screaming out "I can't do this" I tend to let this song do so for me I call it... Yellin with purpose
Now, I must warn ya... it is a lil loud, so adjust speakers or mute computer and read lyrics.


Just cuz I like music.. here is another I like to reflect on in times of confusion or pain.


Both have lyrics on screen in case you are not able to listen for any reason. May His truth be felt and His peace comfort you this day.


Prayers remain always


Peace n Luv in Christ,
Lani

[Zemirah]

wow ... listening to that first song, and it's like having permission to say " I can't do this" and that it is actually ok to say that
not a cop out, not an excuse, not anything ... other than the truth
i can't do this by myself!!! only with God's help
seems like a massive relief somehow just to know it's ok to say i can't ................ because then in God, I can
thanks Lani!!!!
still listening to the first song at this point

[Zemirah]

God forgives me ...
not as something that is my automatic right, not because of anything I have done
but because of his great grace; because of His love and mercy
he forgives the sins I've committed against him ...... because really all sin is against God
by what right do i have then to hold unforgiveness against myself? none, and yet ....... sometimes it seems so easy to be angry with self, to be so totally consumed with self blame and hatred
because although we are forgiven there are still consequences to any sin
and so we get angry then at the consequences; and because of this anger get angry at ourselves because it is our fault that there are these consequences
and sometimes the consequences are forever at least in this life so somehow there is that need to both seek forgiveness for the sin and for bringing onto ourselves the consequences; where instead of the good gifts God longed to give us we have something different because of our disobedience
there is no value in this anger, no value, it does nobody any good and yet knowing all of this, it still remains

[Lani]

It IS Ok
Glad the song spoke to ya sis one of the things I luv about music!

to all that you have shared... Awesome!

As for "anger" well again, just how I process it but instead of allowing anger to be a negative... that is somethin that brings us down; Shift purpose, use that anger as fuel to continue forward. I know and have accepted that there will be times when I get mad, down right fumin (all things considered) and in an effort to break free, I found myself once saying "alright I am angry, now what do I do?" and that anger transformed into a driving force to keep me moving ahead. So, even now, when faced with a situation that makes me angry, I say "Alright Lord, now what?"

He is SO Good at finding a purpose for all of our pain.

Honored to be walkin this path with ya sis

Peace n Luv in Christ,
Lani

[Zemirah]

thanks Lani

I really like what you said there about using the anger as a driving force; I'm still getting stuck on being angry with myself but trying to find a way out of it. Please keep praying, meanwhile I guess I'm stuck on this step?

[Dora]

Carolyn you can continue on but keep in mind you'll need to keep working on forgiving yourself.

Don't give up. I didn't over come everything the first time through the steps or the second or the third or the fourth. We''re a work in progress. In His time, not ours. Be patient with yourself, He is.

God loves you and so do I!

[Lani]

Carolyn



Prayers will remain always sis.

If I may offer an alternative view on this matter

Sis, with regards to "stuck on this step". You are able to see the area needing work, you have acknowledged it and you are seeking ways to better hear His direction in this matter..... all of that says (to me) not so stuck!

He has shown you great truth, which you are attempting to work with! Awesome!


Ya don't have to be "completely healed" on the topics shared in each step to continue forward. Accept what He has shown ya and continue on to next step, where additional truths will be shed... ya may find the answer you are waiting for is there.... in a future step, waiting for you to uncover it.

Also, nowhere does it say this is a once and done deal. Take the truths you find this go around, work on what ya have been given and see the awesome truths further shared on next trip. I know of many souls here who have traveled this path of healing 2, 3 or more times. It remains as a reminder, source of strength, and opportunity to regain balance always.


One step at a time sis Honored to walk with ya!


Peace n Luv in Christ,
Lani

[Zemirah]

Alternative views are always welcome (and usually necessary ) .. thanks a lot for sharing yours lani

What you and Pine both shared (thanks Pine ) about it being ok to do the steps again helps a lot! It's easy to get stuck with the idea of needing to do things perfectly or otherwise give up which isn't the best recipe for success

I know I need a lot of ...... rebalancing right now