seeking help

SEEKING HELP

SEEKING HELP FROM CORRECT THEOLOGICAL UNDERSTANDING

UNDERSTANDING GOD'S WILL

Not everything that happens in our lives or in the world is GOD's will.

GOD does not always stop human decision to sin or human mistakes and failings which endanger themselves, others and the rest of creation.

Reminder: “Taking responsibility of our own life”



Human beings are “made in the image of GOD” and one of the characteristic of GOD’s human creature is the capacity for freewill and

the responsibility which comes with it.

If GOD always over-rules human freewill, then there is in fact no freewill nor human decision which is independent of GOD’s will.



if we have no freewill, then a human being cannot and will not be held responsible for what s/he does.

If GOD always prevent and stop all wrongful human decisions, then there would be no sin amongst human beings and in the human world.



If we have no freewill, then we will be less than the human being GOD has created us for and to be; human beings will then be mere mechanical robots.



ROMANS 8. 28 We know that in everything GOD works for good with those who love him, who are called according to his purpose.

Unlike His human creatures, GOD is omnipresent,

omniscient and omnipotent.




Unlike his human creatures, GOD is omnipresent, omniscient and omnipotent.

Therefore, although GOD does not always stop human decision to sin or human mistakes and failings, GOD’s own ultimate purposes

will not be thwarted but will be upheld.




Unlike his human creatures, GOD is omnipresent, omniscient and omnipotent.

Therefore, although GOD does not always stop human decision to sin or human mistakes and failings, GOD’s own ultimate purposes will not be thwarted but will be

upheld.

In the short-term human sin will have ill and undesirable effects but in GOD’s own scheme, GOD’s will ultimately always be fulfilled.



NO it is not necessarily GOD’s Will that

children should die in Gaza and Israel because Hamas and Israel are at war

MH 370 and MH 17 should be brought down and

loved ones should be inconsolably bereaved and MAS aircrew should be demoralised and fearful



NO it is not necessarily GOD’S Will that

relationships should fail

children are intentionally and knowingly abused by caregivers,

priests, pastors, teachers and parents or relatives

girls, boys and women are raped …



Therefore, don’t blame GOD for

human sin and cruelty

human weaknesses

human crime against humanity

human infidelity


UNDERSTANDING HUMAN WEAKNESS

ROMANS 8 22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning in travail together until now; 23 and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have

the first fruits of the spirit, groan inwardly as we wait for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what

we do not see, we wait for it with patience.


UNDERSTANDING CHRIST’S SALVATION & DELIVERANCE

ROMANS 7 18 For I know that nothing good dwells within me, that is, in my flesh. I can will what is right, but I cannot do it. 19 For I do not do the

good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I do. 20 Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I that do it, but sin which dwells within me. 21

So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. 22 For I delight in the law of GOD, in my inmost self, 23 but I see in my members another law at war with the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin which dwells in my members. 24 Wretched man that I am! Who

will deliver me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to GOD through JESUS CHRIST our Lord!...

SEEKING HELP FROM SABBATH REST

UNDERSTANDING THE SABBATH

Genesis 2 1Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. 2 And on the seventh day GOD finished his work which he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had done. 3 So GOD

blessed the seventh day and hallowed it, because on it GOD rested from all his work which he had done in creation.

SEEKING HELP FROM SABBATH REST

APPLYING GOD’s SABBATH RULE

Sabbath rest is anything wholesome, restful and relaxing, replenishing our

body, mind and spirit:

entertainment

leisure and recreation

fellowship with friends

spending time with family

with grateful awareness of GOD’s Presence and Goodness.

SEEKING HELP FROM GOOD COMPANY

GOD PROVIDES US WITH FAMILY, FRIENDS, COLLEAGUES

we can learn from

relax with

share things with

SEEKING HELP FROM WITHIN MYSELF

KEEPING COMPANY WITH MY OWN SELF

getting to know my own self

knowing how I myself think, feel, like

solving and resolving things within me

but always knowing that GOD is always present, never absent,

does not go missing on me.

SEEKING HELP FROM A TRAINED COUNSELLOR

A COUNSELLOR'S CODE

A counsellor is bound by the ethics of his/her profession to

receive requests for help from all quarters, creed, need or profession; a Jew or Palestinian; a terrorist or priest; a sex worker, ‘gay’ or ‘straight’

not have to be in agreement in creed or lifestyle preference of the counselee but receive anyone who is just a human in need who wishes to confide and

consult with a skilled listener


A COUNSELLOR'S CODE

A counsellor is bound by the ethics of his/her profession to

provide a trained listening ear to another human being in need

guarantee confidentiality to what s/he hears from the counselee and won't tell unless clearly requested to by the counsellor.


A COUNSELLOR'S OBJECTIVE

A counsellor does not tell you what you should do

A counsellor helps you to discover for yourself within yourself what you yourself should decide to do in given situations

because unless you can learn to be able to independently manage your life, you will be dependent on others through most if not all of your life.



A counsellor facilitates his/her counselee to protect him/herself from self-imposed harshness, exaggerated self-accusation

A counsellor facilitates his/her counselee to protect him/herself from other people’s exaggerated, overstated and overly-harsh description of him/her.



A major counselling objective is to help counselees subscribe to

a win-win mind set, because

marriages, families, workplaces and societies are under threat and siege from players who insist only in their own way and suppress the views, needs

and aspirations of others.



A counsellor protects a counselee from exaggerated, overly-harsh views/opinions/judgements and criticisms from parents, friends or foes

A counsellor protects a counselee from self-imposed harshness,

exaggerated self-accusations …


AN ANONYMOUS FIRST STEP TOWARDS BEING LISTENED TO

[email protected]

RECEIVING HELP FROM OUR HEAVENLY FATHER

THE BEST PAIR OF LISTENING EARS BELONG TO GOD

Prayer is our time alone with GOD

Prayer is the freedom to speak to GOD; to be yourself,

to feel as you feel before GOD (no need for pretence or play-acting)

Prayer is to touch base with GOD

Prayer is feeling and hearing GOD and being educated and healed by GOD.

RECEIVING HELP FROM OUR HEAVENLY FATHER

MATTHEW 7 7 "Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For every one who asks receives, and he who

seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or what man of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? 11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to

your children, how much more will your Father who is in Heaven give good things to those who ask Him!”

seeking help

Spiritual

seeking help

human beings

human creatures

human world

independent of gods

shortterm human sin

image of god

wrongful human decisions