http://bread-of-life.biz/blog unemployment, divorce, homelessness - Bread Of Life encouragement en-us hourly 1 Copyright 2012 - Bread Of Life A Custom PHP Script http://bread-of-life.biz/blog/you-dont-need-a-woman-to-be-happy.shtml Sat, 19 May 2012 00:00:00 +1000 Being alone is not something to shy away from. In fact there is much healing in listening to the sound of your own silence.<br /> <br /> Just like each relationship started one day each relationship will also end one day. It is a fact of life. Welcome to the real world. The issue is that as we seek out and foster new relationships some of our current ones may come to an abrupt end for no fault of our own. Obviously separation and divorce come blaring loud in our mind but may I suggest that each one of us will be called to widowhood. Unless both spouses die together in the same car or plane crash one will survive the other by 5, 10, 15, 20 years...<br /> <br /> Bad love is better than no love at all? I beg to differ. Leaning onto someone else instead of standing firm on your own two feet is called being co-dependant. It is the fastest way to ruin a relationship. You tend to attract people like yourself. So if you are out of balance you will seek solace with people who are also off kilter and the vicious cycle of misery repeats itself.<br /> <br /> Have you even considered that God Himself might be the one to pull the plug on your merry-go-round in order to get your attention and get you to address issues swept under the carpet all this time? God is in the character building business and He doesn't mind breaking a few eggs to make an omelette. There is a day of reckoning for each one of us. In order to be fit for eternity we have to undergo a refining process. Discipline is never pleasant at the time but in the end it produces the fruit that we can boast about. If you are currently undergoing a time of loneliness - don't fight it - embrace it. Learn how to make peace with yourself. Learn how to talk to yourself and forgive yourself. Learn how to improve the quality of your self-talk. People who talk to themselves are not cuckoo. They are the ones who can shut down the onslaught of nonsense coming out of the TV to take the time to have a good one on one talk in the mirror.<br /> <br /> Instead of running around aimlessly to bolster your self-esteem why don't you start at home? What you think about yourself will determine your future. You can rip out the batteries from your clock but time will still tick along. In fact there will be a day of reckoning where we will each individually have to give an account of what we've done with that precious amount of time we have been given on earth.<br /> <br /> There are three slices of our time: the past, the present and the future. The past is closed. You may have good memories of the good old days but you can't live in them. Photos and videos may still bear witness of things gone by but unless you are an historian you don't want to dwell there. Be thankful of what you enjoyed but have the courage to say goodbye.<br /> <br /> The future has a way of catching up on us. Ever wondered if you could freeze time and stop those bills from arriving in the mail? In fact people say: "Have you noticed how time flies on us?" What you are doing today is a direct result of what you did yesterday and last week and the month before and last year. It's all coming to fruition - today!<br /> <br /> So our lives are so ordained that today is where you should make things count. That's the perfect antidote to loneliness. Find something good to do today and you won't feel lonely! Find out what you are good at and do it with all your might. Then you will have friends who will appreciate you for who you are and what you stand for - not for what they can get out of you.<br /><br /><u>Bill Gregory commented:</u><br />There is so much pressure to conform and if you are single you are made to feel there is something wrong with you. Instead people should be empowered to do what you can do when you are not burdened by family ties.<br /><br /><u>Philip commented:</u><br />This is absolutely amazing, thank you http://bread-of-life.biz/blog/taking-a-relationship-compatibility-test.shtml Sat, 12 May 2012 00:00:00 +1000 You are in a relationship for what you can get out of it, right? Are there ways to ensure you will have a smooth ride?<br /> <br /> These days you can take up insurance on just about anything. Can you insure a new relationship will pan out as you would like? Can you find the perfect mule loaded with cash, who is dumb enough to stare at you always with pink sunglasses, but smart enough to bring lots of bacon home?<br /> <br /> What would such a test involve? How would you rate the resolve of Prince Charming to fight off the dragon and rescue you from the dungeon in your castle? Are there any clues as to how an elegant young man would behave if you could get his undivided attention?<br /> <br /> What about if you turn out to be the incompatible one? What about if a long lasting relationship was a two way street, give and take situation? What if you get out of it what you put into it? Like a love bank really. You can only draw out if you have made a deposit into the other person first. Oh, that's becoming personal... No more free rides...<br /> <br /> What if we have to redefine what love is? "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails."<br /> <br /> How long can you afford to crash-burn and move from one disaster to the next? Can you ever take responsibility for your actions and make yourself accountable to that someone special you have pledged to do life together?<br /> <br /> What would a compatibility test look like now? Trust needs to be earned. Your word is worth nothing until you have demonstrated you are prepared to go the extra mile. Bear in mind that different people have one particular way to receive affection as genuine. If you can't take the trouble to find out what is the suitable format to get through to that person, you will fail.<br /> <br /> Being in love last only for a while. What matters is how you can humble yourself to come to the level of your partner and meet their needs. Then and only then have you released them to also meet your needs. Someone has to start first. It might as well be you. Will you pass the test?<br /> <br /> To find out more about Christian values check out <a href="http://witness4christ.net/">http://witness4christ.net</a> http://bread-of-life.biz/blog/lonely-hearts-dept--anybody-out-there-to-make-me-feel-good.shtml Sat, 05 May 2012 00:00:00 +1000 Are you alone, lonely or lonesome? Being the only person living at your abode is not a death sentence. Maybe something on the inside needs to die first before you can move on with your life.<br /> <br /> Do you need to connect with someone of the opposite sex to become somebody? Would you rather be self-sufficient in order to stand up on your own two feet? There are seasons in life which can be brought in by unforseen circumstances. God can bring the good out of a bad experience. Will you let Him this time or will you have to go through the experience one more time to learn your lesson?<br /> <br /> In fact you are never alone. Even in solitary confinement God is there. The problem it's hard to get His phone number or hang out at a coffee shop with Him. You have two choices: Either spiral down to a deeper pity party with yourself or rise up to His level.<br /> <br /> The fact that God loves you and cares for you should be great comfort to many lonely hearts. Maybe the one thing God wants you to learn this time is this: You are ready for a new relationship when you do not need a new relationship. Astounding isn't it? Another pet phrase to ponder about is this: It is more blessed to give than to receive.<br /> <br /> Now you've got it. The cure to loneliness is to turn the tables around. Instead of focusing on your own big fat self find an issue in your world you can become passionate about and give it your 110%. Then and only then as you freely give of your effort and substance with altruistic motives will you attract like minded people who will want to share the journey with you.<br /> <br /> There is a link between boredom, loneliness, lack of goals and self-esteem. You will find your identity by what you believe and that will manifest itself by what you do.<br /> <br /> So is God unfair by letting you be miserable in that pit of despair? Not at all. He looks at you from an eternal standpoint and sees the finished product in you. You only see the narrow slice of time where you are right now. The missing ingredient is faith. The ability to trust God to make you the person He created you to be - will you cooperate or will you rebel against His plan for your life? http://bread-of-life.biz/blog/the-rules-of-friendship--basic-etiquette-to-follow.shtml Sat, 28 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +1000 Don't you hate people who come across with a hidden agenda? What about those who give you an earful of their problems like if they never spoke to anybody for a year? Making good and reliable friends is not an overnight process. It is also a two-way street. Can you think of anybody who could benefit from your friendship?<br /> <br /> Friends are the next outer circle of relationships after family members. Unlike family who you did not choose, friends maintain an ongoing contact with you because they want to.<br /> <br /> You do life together as a family because you all live at the same address and have grown through the years together.<br /> <br /> Friendship develops through a common activity - work, school, sports, church, etc...<br /> Unless you have a reason to spend time with each other on a regular basis you will never get to know each other well enough.<br /> <br /> A bonding takes place out of sharing a common experience and seeing how each of you reacts differently to the same circumstances.<br /> <br /> Later you will explore how the other person behaves, thinks and feels in situations of their own. <br /> <br /> So what would be the dos and don'ts of good friendship?<br /> <br /> The relationship must be balanced. You cannot draw out everything you can out of somebody and remain secretive about yourself at the same time.<br /> <br /> The relationship must be based on self-respect. If you are from different ethnic background, religion, political persuasion you can certainly express curiosity about the other person's world but you must not present your views and lifestyle as a take-it-or-leave-it proposition. Like two good neighbours talking across each side of the fence there is no pressure for them to become like you or vice-versa.<br /> <br /> You cannot treat a person of the opposite sex like a friend of the same sex. But you can treat a woman like a sister and a man like a brother.<br /> <br /> Friends, especially those you have known for many years, are invaluable for seeking a second opinion or simply checking your motives or attitudes.<br /> <br /> Friends might be the only people on earth with whom you can still be transparent. Meaning being a sounding board for each other and getting some feedback about choices you are about to make.<br /> <br /> Just like separation and divorce there is the potential of being betrayed or hurt by a friend. The closer the relationship, the greater the damage. That does not mean you should avoid getting close with anybody. It means you should be mature enough not to become dependent on your friends. Instead of thinking of what you can get out of the relationship, you should be thinking of how you can invest in your friend's future and wellbeing.<br /> <br /> If you want to know a friend that will never turn you down, no matter what you have done <a href="http://witness4christ.net/">click here</a> http://bread-of-life.biz/blog/making-new-friends--six-tips-to-help-shy-people-make-friends.shtml Sat, 21 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +1000 It is so easy to lose friends, just do nothing, don't call back and the relationship dies a natural death. Making new friends on the other hand never happens by accident. It takes a concerted effort to build up trust and rapport. But it is well worth it.<br /> <br /> Shyness is defined as lacking self-confidence or being distrustful. If some poor encounter in the past has coloured your expectation of strangers, here is a recovery plan for you:<br /> <br /> One - The past is the past. Get over it. You might have been the ridicule of your class at school. You might have been embarrassed in some situation. You might have been turned down through dating. You might have missed out on being selected for your sports team - whatever the reason remember this: It's not what happened to you that matters. It's the way you handle it. You can continue to survive in that little prison of your mind or you can smash the walls and set yourself free. Today is the beginning of your new life.<br /> <br /> Two - Put yourself in situations where you will indeed meet strangers. I don't mean walking around a busy train station although you might take advantage of the situation of people waiting on the platform to strike a conversation. It is only in big cities that talking to strangers is a social taboo. Folks from the country will gladly converse with anyone in sight. When you spend your life in the open space doing animal husbandry, any human being is fair game to enquire and converse.<br /> <br /> Three - Practice small talk. While you are queuing at the checkout, compliment the person in front of you. Go to parties. Don't just stand there feeding your face. Without food in your mouth it's easier to volunteer a remark if someone you don't know passes by. Introduce yourself, ask for the other person's name. memorize it straight away. People will always be well dispositioned towards you if they find out you remembered their name.<br /> <br /> Four - Show genuine interest in the values of others. Again that's another chance to juggle your memory. People will naturally talk about their interests. Be a good listener. Pepper the talk with pointed questions like; "How is that?" "How often do you do that?" "How long did it take you to learn that skill?" and so on...<br /> <br /> Five - Offer to help with no strings attached. Say something like: "I don't know if that can help you but in the past I have done this or that... I'll be happy to do it again." That would give you a reason to exchange contacts.<br /> <br /> Six - Not everyone is your cup of tea, but you will only find out if you try. Appearances are deceptive. An outgoing person can turn out to be a real pain-in-the-neck and an introverted civil servant can turn out to have a really warm personality. Don't let the experience reinforce what caused you to become shy in the first place. You have been delivered from that. Stamp it out if it tries to cling on you again...<br /> <br /> If you want to know a friend that will never turn you down, no matter what you have done <a href="http://witness4christ.net/">click here</a> http://bread-of-life.biz/blog/for-your-healths-sake--stay-away-from-hospitals.shtml Sat, 14 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +1000 This is the cream of some patient's reports written by the staff of the Glasgow hospital:<br /> <br /> 1. The patient has no previous history of suicide.<br /> <br /> 2. Patient has left her white blood cells at another hospital.<br /> <br /> 3. Patient's medical history has been remarkably insignificant with only a 40 pound weight gain in the past three days.<br /> <br /> 4. She has no rigors or shaking chills, but her husband states she was very hot in bed last night.<br /> <br /> 5. Patient has chest pain if she lies on her left side for over a year.<br /> <br /> 6. On the second day the knee was better and on the third day it disappeared.<br /> <br /> 7. The patient is tearful and crying constantly. She also appears to be depressed.<br /> <br /> 8. The patient has been depressed since she began seeing me in 1993.<br /> <br /> 9. Discharge status: Alive, but without my permission.<br /> <br /> 10. Healthy appearing decrepit 69-year old male, mentally alert, but forgetful.<br /> <br /> 11. Patient had waffles for breakfast and anorexia for lunch.<br /> <br /> 12. She is numb from her toes down.<br /> <br /> 13. While in ER, she was examined, x-rated and sent home.<br /> <br /> 14. The skin was moist and dry.<br /> <br /> 15. Occasional, constant infrequent headaches.<br /> <br /> 16. Patient was alert and unresponsive.<br /> <br /> 17. Rectal examination revealed a normal size thyroid.<br /> <br /> 18. She stated that she had been constipated for most of her life until she got a divorce.<br /> <br /> 19. I saw your patient today, who is still under our care for physical therapy.<br /> <br /> 20. Both breasts are equal and reactive to light and accommodation.<br /> <br /> 21. Examination of genitalia reveals that he is circus sized.<br /> <br /> 22. The lab test indicated abnormal lover function.<br /> <br /> 23. Skin: somewhat pale, but present.<br /> <br /> 24. The pelvic exam will be done later on the floor.<br /> <br /> 25. Large brown stool ambulating in the hall.<br /> <br /> 26. Patient has two teenage children, but no other abnormalities.<br /> <br /> 27. When she fainted, her eyes rolled around the room.<br /> <br /> 28. The patient was in his usual state of good health until his airplane ran out of fuel and crashed.<br /> <br /> 29. Between you and me, we ought to be able to get this lady pregnant.<br /> <br /> 30. She slipped on the ice and apparently her legs went in separate directions in early December.<br /> <br /> 31. Patient was seen in consultation by Dr. Smith, who felt we should sit on the abdomen and I agree.<br /> <br /> 32. The patient was to have a bowel resection. However, he took a job as a stock broker instead.<br /> <br /> 33. By the time he was admitted, his rapid heart had stopped, and he was feeling better.<br /> <br /> For the sake of your health - stay away from hospitals! http://bread-of-life.biz/blog/begetting-a-new-breed-of-humanoids.shtml Sat, 07 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +1000 What could threaten the integrity of your genes? Beyond the controversy about racial profiling a new danger is looming: under the guise of medical breakthroughs we are about to compromise the makeup of the human race and embark on a brave journey.<br /> <br /> Physical attributes do not have a one on one relationship with our genes. Rather a combination of genes expresses a particular feature. Some races are more affected by the spread of AIDS or have a different tolerance to alcohol.<br /> <br /> Farming body parts is just around the corner. Harvesting stem cells and growing them into whatever organ is needed is a brilliant medical discovery.<br /> <br /> Problem is - what would happen if you implant an organ grown from stem cells not your own? Remember the outrage when some parents walked out of a maternity hospital with somebody else's baby? Now babies wear an ID tag the moment they are born to make sure there is no confusion.<br /> <br /> Relating this on a genetic level what type of human beings are going to fork out of the mainstream by receiving implants which import a foreign set of genes?<br /> <br /> If you thought haemophilia was an issue confined to some royal families and the Amish communities think again. Right now we can grow mice teeth in a petri dish. Next time you go to the dentist they will grow a hybrid to be implanted in your jaw. Much better than a gold crown. Now how can you be sure the implant they give you was grown out of your own stem cells - not the drug addict who walked in the day before you?<br /> <br /> The emotional trauma of people born out of wedlock is one thing. Now our descendants will have to deal with parents who picked up some undesired genetic baggage simple by getting their teeth fixed... You thought the penalty for illicit sex was AIDS infection and venereal diseases. Now we have a whole new ball game.<br /> <br /> Do you know that burn victims are being treated with spray-on skin grafts with amazing results? Where does the spray come from? You guessed it - genetically engineered living material.<br /> <br /> So here is the challenge: on the premise of medical breakthrough we are about to compromise our very identity as human beings. If you were hatching a masterplan to destroy the human race as we know it you probably wouldn't come up with a better alternative!<br /> <br /> Bringing it up to a spiritual level it is written that the enemy comes only to steal and kill and destroy but Jesus Christ came that we may have life, and have it to the full.<br /> <br /> So here are your options: you can put your hope in the sorcerer's apprentice or you can seek divine healing at a church near you. http://bread-of-life.biz/blog/destroy-your-addiction-or-it-will-destroy-you.shtml Sat, 31 Mar 2012 00:00:00 +1100 Don't want to let go of you coping mechanism? Deluding yourself you are the only one who knows you have a problem? Well, do nothing about and it will surely blow-up in your face at the most inconvenient time...<br /> <br /> Addictions are like weeds. Unless you pull the root out, you are only dealing with the symptoms. You need to ask yourself what unfulfilled inner need of yours has created the opportunity for the addiction to set in. <br /> <br /> Some trauma, some rejection, some unmet expectation caused you to look around for consolation in the wrong places. You know very well that your method will never address your issue but you continue using it because it is better than nothing. More to the point it is the addiction that is using you to take control of your life in an ever downward spiral of failure and shame.<br /> <br /> What started out as a quick fix is now a monster taking over your very own identity. How did it get that bad? Just one word: deception. You were lured by the instant gratification but it only lasts for some time. Since the root cause has never been addressed and since you feel powerless to change your situation, you reluctantly press the same hot button knowing this full well: In the long term you are being reduced to an animal existence with no contribution to society. Your problems are so huge in your sight that you don't mind instead being a burden to others.<br /> <br /> Only one person out of twenty will succeed in a weight loss program. Why? It is not eating too much that is the problem - the problem is: What is the unresolved issue and lifestyle which manifest by pigging out on food? <br /> <br /> Now is the time to shed some light on the spiritual significance of addictions. Because you and I were created in the image of God, Satan has an unfathomable hatred towards us. There are two ways he will seek to destroy us: by throwing sickness at our body or by attacking our mind. If you have a compulsive behaviour then something must be rooted out of your mindset. But you need to be willing. Friendship with the enemy does not make way for a clean departure. Remember the words of Jesus: "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." (John 10:10 NIV)<br /> <br /> So how do we deal with the issue? You need to go back in time to the trauma or accident that opened the door for the enemy to torment you. You need to repent of making a wrong choice or forgive the person(s) who did you harm. Then we pray that you would experience the love of God to heal the wound in your soul. As you grow in your relationship with Christ you will ensure that the door which left Satan invade your life is still securely locked. "Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." (James 4:7 NIV) http://bread-of-life.biz/blog/beware-who-you-agree-with.shtml Sat, 24 Mar 2012 00:00:00 +1100 I once saw a man walking down the walkway talking to himself with great empathy. Poor fellow, he just flipped over the edge. Then he turned around and I noticed he was wearing a Bluetooth earpiece presumably linked to his mobile phone.<br /> <br /> Everyone hears voices... even if you don't call it that. You are in constant dialogue with the voice of your conscience. Otherwise you wouldn't be able to do any reasoning. <br /> <br /> When you are spiritually attuned you will learn to recognize 3 voices. The voice of God ( the Holy Spirit), your own conscience and the voice of the devil - demons who seek to plant in your mind thoughts not your own.<br /> <br /> With a bit a practice you can easily recognize them because of their bias. The Holy Spirit may convict you of something that needs attention especially in terms of your relationships with other people but by and large he will indicate things that are uplifting or revelatory. God does rarely speak to us audibly or even in full sentences. He is the Creator and likes to paint on the screen of your imagination pictures, concepts or keywords that you could not conceive on your own.<br /> <br /> Your own thoughts are - well, just that, as it may. Your mind monitors the dashboard of all your bodily functions and you need to do what you have to do. You can raise the stakes by pondering about an event, guessing the outcome of the next situation you are about to walk into, etc...<br /> <br /> The voice of the enemy - once you've trained yourself to recognize it - is utterly predictable. The devil has no imagination or creativity of his own. He comes to kill, steal and destroy while Jesus came that we might have life and have it to the full. Demons are experts at masquerading ideas as if they were your own. The moment you agree with those thoughts you are empowering the enemy to wreck havoc in your world.<br /> <br /> The words that come out of your mouth have a lot of weight - either for good or for evil. Proclaim targeted scriptures over your situation and you will bring about a ray of sunshine to break through the oppressive darkness seeking to smother you. Likewise fall in the trap of taking ownership of thoughts not your own and you get caught in a vicious circle of bitterness, envy and unforgiveness.<br /> <br /> Whenever something discredits the goodness of God you should immediately recognise where that's coming from. God does not always explain to us what is going on. He wants us to exercise faith and approach Him with praise and thanksgiving - particularly in the midst of adversity.<br /> <br /> So next time there is turmoil in your head, or next time you feel worn-out and over-powered remember that there is peace in the secret place. The devil wants your destruction but he is not such a fool to chase you where you dwell in the presence of God. Slapping on a worship CD might be all that it takes to take the gloom away... http://bread-of-life.biz/blog/how-do-you-put-up-with-imbeciles.shtml Sat, 17 Mar 2012 00:00:00 +1100 You are sure to have met some along the way. But who decides who is an imbecile and who is not? Furthermore, what about if you featured prominently on somebody else's imbeciles list?<br /> <br /> We are all grown-up well balanced adults now and so we have passed the name-calling stage of our development - so it seems. What is it that is so comforting by putting tags on people? Back stabbing is a national sport in corporate offices around the world. The best way to damage someone's reputation is to spread rumours about that person.<br /> <br /> It takes place very casually at the water-cooler: "Did you notice anything about so-and-so?" "A bit of a pusher isn't he?" And so the word of mouth spreads...<br /> <br /> What about when you are at the receiving end of such compliments? Vengeance is a dish best served cold... the problem you're not really sure who is doing all that dirty work behind the scenes... Dr Watson would say: "Who profits from the crime?" And so we have a brood of innuendos and vibes (all of them negatives, you would have guessed...). But on your resume you bragged about the fact you were a great team player who got things done with a minimum of fuss...<br /> <br /> What if you have more than one enemy and they play a game of ping-pong trying to wear you out by constantly shifting the goal post of what is required of you? Who is next in line for advancement in the office? Will a new position be created soon? Are we going through a period of restructuring? Can the position be filled internally? Who will be on the selection panel? Is someone taking credit for your achievements? <br /> <br /> Some people can be downright obnoxious and un-cooperative. They know how to pander to the boss. They are so caught-up in their own career path. To them, using anything and everything along the way to further their goals is fair game.<br /> <br /> Introducing a novel idea: "Love your enemies!" Yes you read right. Not "Kill your enemies" not "Ignore your enemies" but "Love your enemies".<br /> <br /> Maybe we need to define what love is in this context: Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.<br /> <br /> So you have it. This is the Christian way to deal with the situation. Quite novel isn't it? But don't try to do it in your own strength. You need to have Jesus inside first... http://bread-of-life.biz/blog/overcoming-depression--are-you-up-to-it.shtml Sat, 10 Mar 2012 00:00:00 +1100 Feeling trapped in a situation you cannot control? Lacking a reason to press on with life and live to the max? It's your call. Obstacles are only there to test your metal.<br /> <br /> Depression creeps on you like a bad smell. You may have noticed some erratic sleep behaviour, some apathy, loss of appetite, loss of sex drive, unkempt appearance, many physical ailments. On the emotional side you may experience loss of affection, sadness, an involuntary tendency to cry, hostility, irritability, anxiety, fear, worry, hopelessness.<br /> <br /> The triggers that can bring a depression are disappointment, lack of self-esteem, unfair comparisons, being trapped in an intolerable situation, sickness, an improper reaction to a traumatic experience, lack of worthwhile goals.<br /> <br /> Here is a list of 20 questions to see if you suffer from the condition known as "depression":<br /> <br /> Are you tired much of the time?<br /> Are you unable to find activities that really interest you?<br /> Do you have difficulty making decisions?<br /> Do you withdraw from sex?<br /> Do you dislike the way you look?<br /> Do you blame yourself when something goes wrong?<br /> Do you doubt your circumstances will improve in the future?<br /> Do you think about killing yourself?<br /> Do you have difficulty sleeping?<br /> Do you cry for no apparent reason?<br /> Do you find it difficult to sleep at night?<br /> Does your work bore you stiff?<br /> Do you worry about circumstances beyond your control?<br /> Do you worry about the decline in your physical appearance?<br /> Do you get no satisfaction from everyday activities?<br /> Do you dislike going out after work or on weekends?<br /> Do you get irritable with family and friends?<br /> Are you sensitive to criticism?<br /> Are you really unhappy?<br /> Do you dislike being around other people?<br /> <br /> If you answered yes to more than a third of these questions and this is going on for more than two weeks you need to climb out of that hole you're in.<br /> <br /> If you current condition is not the result of grieving the loss of a loved one, divorce, loss of a career, loss of your life investment, a move to a foreign city, etc... then you need a medical examination to uncover a physical condition.<br /> <br /> Depression can also be a very convenient cover-up for the lack of guts to face up to a new challenge in your life. You need to have a good self-talk in the mirror and get over it. Depression could also be God induced. Your Creator is calling you to account as there is a God-shaped hole in your heart that nothing else cal fill up. Sometimes He would allow you to go way down to experience how hopeless you are on your own so you can truly appreciate the redemptive work for you of Jesus Christ at Calvary. http://bread-of-life.biz/blog/hopelessness--have-you-resigned-yourself-there-is-no-way-out-of-your-situation.shtml Sat, 03 Mar 2012 00:00:00 +1100 Hope is a most precious virtue. By finding a purpose for living some have survived incarceration, torture, disastrous accidents at sea, in mining shafts, etc...<br /> <br /> Hopelessness is probably the reason so many turn to drugs or alcohol. It is also the reason people commit suicide. You have heard the word: "He is a no-hoper!"<br /> <br /> There is no reason to go through life moaning and groaning. Whatever your circumstances might be, you can always find someone else worse off than you are who is still pulling through. Therefore, without demeaning your situation, the problem is not with your environment but with your outlook. It's not what happened to you that matters, it's the way you are handling it.<br /> <br /> Hope has two sisters called Faith and Love. Together they not only will pull you out of your hole but also will keep you on track on the straight and narrow path.<br /> <br /> Faith is having the insight that you are not an accident but that you are precious in God's sight and that He has a plan for your life. You know that you know that you know there is a way out of this. You just don't know what it is yet. That's the challenge of the adventure you are embarking on.<br /> <br /> Love is the currency in so short supply. In order to love others you first have to be able to love yourself. You have to convince yourself that you are gifted with certain abilities and knowledge. It will allow you to do things that no other person can do - you are unique, there is only one like you.<br /> <br /> Opposition is part of life. But people have learned to sail a boat against the prevailing wind. You just have to tack that's all. What doesn't kill you will make you stronger.<br /> <br /> Listen to what comes out of your mouth. Stop repeating the same defeat stances and start proclaiming your breakthrough. Then realise that you have been given one mouth but two ears. Use them in that proportion. Listen to what other people have done. Study different ways of tackling your problem.<br /> <br /> Once your self-esteem is rebuilt you can also love others. You have to be the first member of your fan club before others can join in. One indirect way to solve your problem is to solve someone else's problem beforehand. Is there anything in your power to make someone else's life easier? What about sharing your meal? What about listening to someone ramble on about their problem? They just need a listening ear, a chance to get it off their chest... could you just stand by that person for that purpose?<br /> <br /> Life is an adventure, an obstacle course, a discovery, a challenge, a pilgrim's progress. What do you want to be remembered for? http://bread-of-life.biz/blog/christians-against-global-warming.shtml Sat, 25 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +1100 Global warming is a term that didn't exist in our newspapers 20 years ago and obviously it won't be found in the scriptures. Remarkably the bible makes specific references to a convergence of events which unmistakably match what we call today global warming or consequences thereof. Earthquakes, Tsunamis, Epidemics, Famines, Eclipses. To this list you can add another one not related to the natural events: Financial Crisis.<br /> <br /> The bible specifically refrains from telling us the exact time and date where those events will culminate. Instead it gives us a stark warning to always keep our house in order and to be ready.<br /> <br /> So we have a choice to make. We can delude ourselves and think that things will keep on going merrily as before. Or we can take note and consider where we want to spend eternity.<br /> <br /> Even Christians are not immune and must keep on their toes. If Christ the Messiah returns this week then our problems are over as we are being raptured with Him. But if He doesn't come in our lifetime we have a problem or rather a challenge. We have to keep on living a life worthy of our calling. How you live as a Christian points people to Christ more than a lot of preaching.<br /> <br /> And so the Christians are going to be on show. When everything around us is falling apart those who have a solid relationship with Christ will shine forth with a composure and a demeanor that will be the envy of those who will be caught up in panic and fear.<br /> <br /> "Please don't bring me this gloom and doom - I've got a nice superannuation stashed away and I want to enjoy my retirement." Very well then - but why are you so attached to this world that is obviously falling apart? I'm not talking just about global warming now - I'm talking about moral and social decay also.<br /> <br /> Global warming is a cute phrase to hide our ineptitude at fixing something which is well beyond our abilities. Although politicians are keen to raise taxes on this pretext - "Without money, you can't fix anything right?" Tagging a label on something which we know nothing about shows that we are in charge. It is better than talking about the bogey man or things that go bumping in the dark. We are adults after all.<br /> <br /> By the way although it is commendable to protect the environment God has spelled out what He is going to do about it. He is going to trash it and start all over again with the people of His choosing. After all He is the Creator isn't He? http://bread-of-life.biz/blog/is-internet-dating-for-you.shtml Sat, 11 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +1100 Is it worth your time conducting a conversation with a stranger only to find out the other party is not interested in meeting you face to face or worse they are projecting a false persona on purpose?<br /> <br /> The internet is your oyster as the saying goes - but what sort of pearls are you likely to find out there? No doubt there must be some success stories for the manager of dating sites to brag about - but is it the exception rather than the norm?<br /> <br /> If you are autistic then internet dating is probably your patch. For the rest of us who rely on non-verbal clues in our communication this is quite a bind. The voice intonation, the body language, the way people dress, the table manners and so many other details make face to face contact a rich experience.<br /> <br /> Being led astray for too long by a stranger who is holding you at mouse length is not a joyful experience. One has to ask the question: Why would you resort to such an artificial social interaction if you live in a city? What has the person got to hide? Are you being groomed by a monster? Is the person hiding a major disability? Is it a massive fear of rejection? Are there loads of emotional baggage? Are we dealing with a victim of rape or incest?<br /> <br /> What happened to the matchmakers of old? That is more to the point. Since the systematic attack on the family divorcees are shunned from social interaction. People do not entertain strangers in their homes anymore. People do not organise parties in order to get unrelated folks to cross paths. We do not care about someone else's welfare anymore. Let alone their emotional and social needs. Look at the crowds on the platform at the railway station. Do they talk to each other? Do they acknowledge each other as human beings or do they behave like animals with a herd mentality?<br /> <br /> No wonder the casualties of broken homes are being treated like outcasts. The cycle of abuse repeats itself. More rejection causes people to behave in such a way as to be rejected again. They either confirm their prejudice that nobody cares about them by being rude or they are just posers as to blend with the wallpaper. Someone has to break this vicious cycle somewhere! If you are on your own practise the art of breaking a conversation with strangers - compliment them of something you see about them. If you belong to a group watch out for those hovering on the periphery - invite them in, make them feel accepted. The more you practise spotting out a newbie the more chances you will be spotted as the attraction of the party. http://bread-of-life.biz/blog/give-your-heart-a-home.shtml Sat, 04 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +1100 I hear your hollow laughter your sighs of secret pain<br /> Pretending and inventing just to hide your shame<br /> Plastic smiles and faces blinkin' back the tears<br /> Empty friends and places all magnify your fears<br /> <br /> If you're tired and weary, weak and heavy laden<br /> I can understand how it feels to be alone<br /> I will take your burden, if you'll let Me love you,<br /> Wrap My arms around you, Give your heart a home<br /> <br /> It hurts to watch you struggle and try so hard to win<br /> But trade your precious birth right for candy coated sin<br /> Wasting precious moments restless and confused<br /> Building up defenses for fear that you'll be used<br /> <br /> If you're tired and weary, weak and heavy laden<br /> I can understand how it feels to be alone<br /> I will take your burden, if you'll let Me love you,<br /> Wrap My arms around you, Give your heart a home<br /> <br /> Take My yoke upon you and walk here by My side<br /> Let Me heal your heartaches, dry the tears you've cried<br /> Never will I leave you, never turn away<br /> Keep you through the darkness lead you through the day<br /> <br /> If you're tired and weary, weak and heavy laden<br /> I can understand how it feels to be alone<br /> I will take your burden, if you'll let Me love you,<br /> Wrap My arms around you, Give your heart a home<br /> Wrap My arms around you, Give your heart a home<br /> <br /> <a href="http://songoffaith.com/mp3s/Albums/BeautifulToMe/BTM_GiveYourHeartAHome_DonFrancisco.mp3">Listen to this song</a> from <a href="http://www.rockymountainministries.org">Don Francisco</a> http://bread-of-life.biz/blog/will-you-pass-the-boredom-test.shtml Sat, 28 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +1100 As we mature in Christ we are being refined in the furnace. More resolve is expected of us - not less. The devil is there to tempt us - to see if we would bite his bait. Or whether we would rise by our spirit to a higher level and claim the promises God has for us instead of settling in for the make-me-feel-good-right-now kind of cheap alternative. <br /> <br /> For job hunting you wrote your resume - well and good. What about a spiritual resume? What about writing down on a piece of paper the date you were born again, the date you were filled in the Holy Ghost, the date you brought someone to the Lord for the first time, the date you had your first setback in the faith, the date you overcame sin in your life, the date you learned how to be led by the Spirit, and so on and so on... <br /> <br /> Obviously you are keeping a journal of what the Lord is revealing to you through His Word. You have documented the words of prophecy that were uttered over you, not striving to bring them to pass - yet not twiddling your thumbs in idle expectation either. <br /> <br /> The life in Christ is supposed to be a joyous adventure. - yet some of us are bored out of our wits; never bringing the fruit that is expected of us. We think we missed our opportunity. "It might work for others but not for us." Little do we know we are just around the corner from our final breakthrough. With the wrong attitude, that breakthrough is still further and further away. Dying to self is never a glamorous thing people would brag about. Yet the Lord is more patient that us in this matter. Joseph was in prison for no fault of his own thanks to the lies of Potiphar's wife. Eventually at the right time somebody remembered he could interpret dreams. Virtually overnight he was promoted second in charge in Egypt. (See Genesis chapter 39). <br /> <br /> There are angels all round you who know what your specific calling is. Yet they are waiting for a declaration from your lips in order to move in your circumstances. We need to build up some solid traits of character - something that will pass the test of time - something we can take with us into eternity. To God, it is as precious as pure gold refined in the furnace of the vicissitudes of life. He is patiently waiting for us to cover the distance we have to travel to get to our destination in Christ. There are no shortcuts, no formulas. We each have to carry our own cross - not somebody else's. Don't be surprised at the tenacious opposition you are facing. Jesus told us that in this world we would have trouble. Just persist at it and remember that each day you are one day closer to your destination. <br /> <br /> If you are bored, frustrated, disappointed - maybe it's a good thing. This can be the fuel to motivate you to action. Instead of thinking about your own big self, think about how you could bless someone in your sphere of influence. I can guarantee you that once you get used to that you won't get bored - ever!<br /><br /><u>Kodur commented:</u><br />We are debt free except for our home which we are due to close on this month. We have been debt free for 10 years. My hubby & I are both self employed & when our home caught fire & burned 2 years ago, we lost our only way of making a living (we both worked from home). We were homeless & income-less for 5 months. Had we had any payments to make outside of our groceries, etc. we could not have made it. It's worth it, guys. It's a pain to cut things back & not get the stuff you want when you want it. I make our laundry detergent from scratch, we use coupons (massive amounts of coupons), we combine trips to town to save gas, we barter services (I am a photographer & often barter for haircuts & even dentist work.) If you focus on away to make it happen, you'll find a way. If you say Woe is me, I'll never be able to get out of debt. then you won't. Whether you think you can or whether you think you can't, you're usually right. http://bread-of-life.biz/blog/female-repellent.shtml Sat, 21 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +1100 I have discovered the magic powers of a little device that keeps me safe.<br /> <br /> It has come to my attention that some members of the female gender scan my ten knuckles for the presence or absence of a wedding ring. In case it is missing it sends them a powerful green light that I am fair game for their prowling adventures.<br /> <br /> They fire a barrage of questions like "Where do you live?" "Do you have children?" "What work do you do?" "Do you have a generous health plan?" "Do you have a good superannuation?"<br /> <br /> The deal is that they want to land a reliable source of supply in exchange for cooking my breakfast, doing my laundry and keeping me warm in bed at night...<br /> <br /> Thanks, but no thanks...<br /> <br /> I thought women wanted to be independent like men and do their own thing... It appears that only applies to married women. Those that are out in the cold have second thoughts about feminism.<br /> <br /> I have known only one woman for 20 years and that ended up being a bad experience; a breach of trust, a breaking of the marriage vows, a broken promise. I don't think I can trust a woman again.<br /> <br /> Now I am free of all home and family ties. My children have vanished, spirited away, abducted by their own mother and raised by an unknown step-father (who apparently does a good job at that).<br /> <br /> Never use children to spy on what's happening in the enemy's camp. My past is behind me and I intend to leave it there.<br /> <br /> I wasn't the perfect husband - otherwise I suppose she would have stayed. Yet again I thought we were in it together for better or for worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health...<br /> <br /> The thought of linking up again with someone who had their own past and picking up the pieces where someone else has left (literally) is repugnant to me.<br /> <br /> There are good reasons why you should not interfere with a divorced woman - a good one is that as opposed to a widow, her former husband is still alive and may still reclaim her... Or else in a fit of anger, he might pay you both a visit with an axe in the middle of the night.<br /> <br /> I am thankful my wedding ring is still here and that I have found a new use for it.<br /><br /><u>Fred K. commented:</u><br />This is both pathetic and very insightful. Most men hide their feelings. Yuou have chosen to wear them on your finger... http://bread-of-life.biz/blog/no-such-thing-as-a-license-to-remarry.shtml Sat, 14 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +1100 There is a very good reason why the marriage vows include a clause that says "till death do us part". In other words only a widow or a widower has the option to remarry. The text people today choose to ignore is this: <br /> <br /> Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery, and the man who marries a divorced woman commits adultery. (Luke 16:18 NIV) <br /> <br /> You will face enough problems in this topsy-turvy world that you don't need to meddle into somebody else's family. Further we will all finish up in loneliness unless both spouses die together in a car or plane crash (a rare event). If that's the way life turned out for you - why not get used to it now? Do you want to become another statistic? The failure rate of second and subsequent marriages seems to increase in geometric progression... <br /> <br /> If your marriage didn't work out and whether one or both are the guilty party why do you want to repeat the same mistake? You should realize by now that marriage is not for everybody. You had your chance. Just move on. Can't you see the freedom of not having any family ties? Why being enslaved again? <br /> <br /> A woman is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, but he must belong to the Lord. In my judgment, she is happier if she stays as she is--and I think that I too have the Spirit of God. (1 Cor 7:39-40 NIV) <br /> <br /> Being a stepfather sounds like replacement therapy. Just like organ rejection in the body, children will smell a rat and reject you as not being the genuine article! And you thought that you would find love and harmony with a second marriage... <br /> <br /> There are scores of good roles models where an uncle stepped-up to the plate and provided guidance and love to his nieces and nephews. He can do that out of sincere concern for his extended family without ulterior motives. <br /> <br /> God doesn't negate His word and there will be a time of reckoning in the church where this issue will have to be dealt with. Then maybe the church will regain its place in society as a beacon of righteousness.<br /><br /><u>Phil P commented:</u><br />This is quite a dogmatic stance but if you're looking for what might grieve the Holy Spirit in the western churches and why we barely see any miracles of healing - that could be the reason...<br /><br /><u>bergeroz commented:</u><br />A license to walk in grace - Our faith in God includes him as the God who heals, restores, redeems, and as with Jonah and many others He is the God of the second chance. Job had a much better family the second time around. Though the statistics of wounded hearts and undealt with baggage carry a tragic litany either God is able to deal with and guide us through the storms - or His is not God. Our failings, hurts, sins, etc. should not limit God. The new testament covenant of grace is freedom and joy to live in obedience to God and to love one another - regardless of the past that is dead at the Cross of Christ (but not naive to consequences that need to be dealt with), and able to do all things through Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit. http://bread-of-life.biz/blog/not-all-divorcees-are-equal.shtml Sat, 07 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +1100 If you are considering a relationship with a divorced person it might be useful to find out which role your potential new partner was playing.<br /> <br /> You either had your marriage blow-up in your face while you never saw it coming (mostly men) or you carefully planned your exit strategy waiting for the right trigger to make your move (mostly women).<br /> <br /> To use the insurance lingo you can either be a no-fault divorcee (the one who had the divorce forced upon against your will) or the one who filed for divorce (let me get out of here fast).<br /> <br /> Before God you can be both wrong but you can't be both right. I won't deal here with cases of physical abuse, drunkenness or other highly dysfunctional house situations. Financial stress remains a major cause of divorce. If the man is no longer the provider he is expected to be and if love has gone cold there is a strong inducement to take the bait of over-zealous government welfare agencies. If you can prove you lived at two separate addresses for 3 years divorce is just a formality. Just take the children as hostages and seek emergency housing. He has paid taxes all his working life - you might as well get something for it. If he can't keep up the mortgage repayments he will be forced to sell and you can get your share of the equity. Plus you get maintenance payments for the kids for the next 5, 10 or 15 years! What a great plan! How come you never thought of it before?<br /> <br /> Of course the marriage vows say: "for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, till death do us part..." The supposedly lifelong commitment is wearing thin in our suburbs. But how can you take somebody at their word and how do you know they will not reoffend? <br /> <br /> Apart from marital unfaithfulness you cannot seek a divorce and marrying a divorced person is tantamount to adultery. So here is the conundrum: if my wife leaves me while I am faithful to her and she marries another man she commits adultery. But if after waiting in vain for reconciliation I also remarry a widow then that's OK.<br /> <br /> What about if I remarry a divorcee instead? Then I have to be inquisitive of her ex-husband and the circumstances of the fallout - not a bright subject on the dating scene... I'd rather prefer a widow to a divorcee. No danger of someone paying you a visit in the wee hours of the night with an axe... But even widows can have some emotional baggage. Think about being haunted by those endless hours in the hospital or the few minutes before that tragic accident...<br /> <br /> The devil is running amuck destroying the institutions of family and marriage. Forgiving is not enough. Loving your enemies is not enough. You foremost have to rebuild your self-esteem and fill your gaping wound with God's love so that you have enough to sustain yourself and plenty to shed abroad. Discovering who God is in the midst of your crisis will empower you to take on the enemy. I am still working on it.