WHAT do you rely on to get you through life's challenges? SPIRITUALITY OR RELIGION? OR WHAT ELSE?

i think all religions are spirituality gone bureaucratic.

Today, more than ever, I am relying on my faith. I hope all of you are as well.

I wish I could have the faith you all have. Every time I hear a doctor tell me "They don't know" and a new horrible symptom arises or becomes worse, I think about the moment when my Grandma was on her death bed. I'm 31 years old and I've been suffering from some mysterious illnesses for 4 years. We promised each other that who ever got to Jesus first would have a chat with him to tell him to quit picking on either her or me. Unfortunately, she got to go first. I haven't seen my Grandma in a dream yet or gotten any signs. I do know that since she has passed, I've gotten progressively worse at a much faster rate. My faith is all but gone. I want to believe, but I don't understand what I or anyone else I've known has ever done to have to suffer like this. No God of mine would want me to live like this for another fifty years.

Our faith is tested daily. I will admit it can be challenging to have faith and hope at times and then something will make me smile, like my grandson, and my pity party is turned around. I know, I am not the only person on this earth suffering and that some have it far worse so I try to cherish the things that mean so much more to me.

Hi sweetie I think that we all have the faith but at times challenges are put before us to test this. Try to rely on your inner strength and with the passing of your grandma remember the good memories sweetie. You know that she maynot come to you in your dreams but she will still be with you. I have recently been tested with my faith over the past few years especially these last six months and there is always light at the end of the tunnel sweetie even if it's a little one. With your health I don't know the problems that you have had but I so hope that you find the answers soon. Take care always here Piglit

Usually I tend to guffaw at a response such as yours as I tend to draw toward the negative, but I have been trying to heal myself; body,mind and spirit and it must be working because your response meant a lot to me. I know you don't know me or anything that has happened to me, but thank you for caring. It's more than I can say for the many doctors I've seen who have literally given up on me. I hope the best for you, too and I send to you positive, healing energy.

~amtb~

Hi thanks for the reply. I'm always here if you just need to talk and I do care and thanks for your kind words for me too. Please stay strong and let me know how you get along. Just take one fairy step at a time is one of my favourite sayings. Take care Annie

Prayer and faith have kept me strong!!!!! Please do not give up..

I have reallized the importance, the profound and essential value of believing in something more powerful than anything inclluding evil that protects and guides us daily… My faith was tested, almost lost it but I am here with all of you proving that we can get through anything!
Hugs,
Rox

Your faith was tested and you were challenged at times beyond belief but at the end of the day your inner strength has prevailed and yes you have proved that we can get through anything if we put our minds to it Sometimes in our lives we just have to face things head on and at the end of the day it will make us stronger Hugs Piglit

I have felt my lowest and now I feel my strongest! One cannot allow others to continue victimizing you…It is not okay to hurt others and I must say that although my faith has been tested for a VERY long time I still have faith..
Hugs,
Rox

I have felt like this too Rox and our faith can be tested at times but will always keep us strong to continue on throughout our challenges Hugs

Remembering my grammies teachings, my faith and my support system has really saved my life.
Thank you!

amen gurl. me two

I am going to need God when I return to work to look at pure evil

god is great 4all. u dont have 2b religious to appreciate him. He keeps me going

my faith keeps me going each and everyday Hugs x0

Hi,
My faith also keeps me going…especially this past year.

me 2

Some days..although tested as of late, my faith is all I feel I have.
Hugs

Our faith will help us all to get through the many challenges that we have to be faced with hugs x

This discussion has really made me do a little self inventory. Being humbled has also been a factor but I am proud because somehow, some place, some time ago, I lost my faith…
I am grateful

What brought you to that point? Am not sure I lost my faith as much as I have lost my faith in religion. I, too, am gratejul..

Life has a way of humbling us and when we are humbled we remember past obstacles that we overcame. We cannot lose our faith. I am not specifically into religion or shall I say hyper-religious but some family members are and one of them was my grammie who died this year. She believed in God and her religion until the very end. She was soooooo good to me and her teachings made sense as a little girl and as a middle aged woman.

Hang onto that. Faith means different things to us all. Whatever keeps u going and gives u insight; is the path u should follow. I am spiritual but not religious. Without something to believe I ii think makes us shallow inside. To me that means without a soul. Hugs and introspection. Your friend jodi,

My dear rox you have a lot to be grateful for and many people who care as I do for you and always will. We all feel at times that we have lost faith although I just think that at times it is tested more than we need it too and it never really went anywhere., we just swayed away a little while. At the end of the day it is still there sometimes we just have to pull on our inner strength more to feel it . Hugsx0

Thanks Piglit. I think that when we become so overwhelmed with life we tend to forget that we are strong and that our faith has carried us.
Hugs

Dear Friends,
I'm paying for my things at the store and the woman behind me taps me on the shoulder and asks if she can tell me something … I said yes!
She says "God loves you". I have goose bumps…
I thanked her but how ironic that my mind was off wondering what on earth has happened to my life???
Divine Intervention?

A very kind soul recognizing another one

I was not expecting it but it made me feel good.

it does when something special like that happens. Feel blessed

God is great! I am sooooo happy n need to get back 2 work.
Later

Oh yes he is. In the end, he reveals the truth!
Hugs,
Rox

He sure does, faith helps to get you through everything. You will find some work soon China so glad that your'e so happy You deserve to be happy we all do Hugs Piglit

Hi piglet I have been away but decided to return. How r things going for. U? Have u been sick? I am trying to get beck in touch and it sounded like you were ill. Be well my friend. ..God bless. Jodi

Hi Jodi. Glad that your back. I 'm not too well. Blood pressure is to high and so is my heart rate. Going back to the dr's today to get blood test results. How are you my dear friend and thanks so much for caring as you always do Hugs Piglit

Spiritual Reality Power of Meditation…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWttCv0p6WQ&am...

I have always wanted to meditate but unfortunatley haven't got the concentration to do it I dont think

No worries dear just feel better

i.m trying

Faith is all we have some times. Even if I still have to occasional why? I have to remember my grandmothers teachings…

Faith is why i'm here today it gives me the ongoing strength that I have needed since being a little girl of 3years old a long time when I've just turned 55

Faith in a presence greater than my being has made the difference between life and death. Praying for "God's Will" was the most courageous 'walks' I'd ever taken in my existence. Please, know you are never alone.

How are you?

Amen…Thank You

God is good. I am home with my friends and fam.

I have to be honest. I'm praying that mom breezes through her surgery Monday without incident.
Rox

I hope she'll make it through allright. I'll be thinking of you and your mom.

Where have you been Claire? Enjoying summer I hope.
Hugs

Thank You Dear…
Hugs,
Rox

everythiing will be fine Rox Hugs Piglit

I cannot wait for that day Piglit…
Hugs

stay strong my sweetie it's closer than you think xo

I am trying to remain positive…no news yet
Hugs,
Rox

Hugs and love to you and your mum. xoxo

Keeping you in my thougths and prayers, still, and I did so all day, hoping to hear from you tomorrow…love, hugs and prayers are flying their way to you and your mom.

I don't understand why people feel like they MUST go to church, or temple, or masque, or what you call your place of worship to believe in their religion. Those are just physical buildings. It our spirit that matters.

I agree with you 100% my dear friend
Hugs,
Rox

I so agree with both of you too Hugs Piglit

and too if you look about it God(or the Creator) made our world so isn't our earth a sanctuary?

Hoping my grammie can see all this and guide me in the right direction.
Hugs,
Rox

Grammie is with you Rox and always will be by your side xo

I hope she's watching over the family…

Grammie is my dear Rox and always will

Thanks Piglit…

hugsxo

Pray everyday . God will guide u.

I have not read all of the many posts on this question. I must begin by saying that my spirituality and faith have kept me alive, without them I would not have survived my childhood. I have known of God and Jesus since I was a little girl being raised by parents who were members of not only an organized (the Episcopal) church, but more importantly to them was the satanicc cult which I was raised in and which they believed in as the real truth, organized religion was merely for show. Being blessed by angels and Jesus I lived through that which should have killed me, and was given many blessings from God the Father and Jesus, I have known the feelings of the presence of the Holy Spirit for as long as I can remember., I believe that we each come to earth with free will and can choose what we believe and what path we choose to walk. I respect all who have a belief system and follow it, be it Christian like me or otherwise, as long as no one is hurt in the practice of whatever belief system one lives by. I do not believe that the God who created this earth wants us to hurt ea ch other, I believe that respect and love for all are needed for anyone to know happiness while on this earth journey. I do not believe that God or Jesus caused any of the suffering I have endured, I believe that when we come to earth it iiswith free will and that God, or Jeus, will not interfere. There will be a day of judgment for each of us, and those who hurt others will have to answer for their actions on that day. I believe in forgiveness. I believe that alll I have been through has been for my own growth, and because I have had the rather Pollyanna like view I have always found something to be glad about in my life.

Without my faith I would be nothing. Without my faith I would not be alive. Without my faith I would be a bitter woman, filled with anger at the horrific life I have been forced to live. It has not been a life filled with love, it has been filled with pain and illness due to the abuse of the first twenty plus years at the hands of my parents and the cult. But somehow, Jesus has always been with me, I have always known him and that He loved me and did not want for me to be in the pain I was and am in. He gave me the gift of DID so that I could survive my childhood. He gave me the gift of intelligence to understand my illness and heal from it. He gave me the gift of good therapists and doctors who have taught me about the invisible disabilities which I have lived with. It is faith which has given me the strength to keep on going when all logic said to quit. I hlave been given angels in my life so that I have always known at leas one person who loved me and cared for me and seemed to know that I was in need of extra love and attention. I learned at an early age to see the beauty of the earth and find joy in the sound of birds, the wind, in flowers and trees, and I have always known that when I could not speak my feelings I. could expresss them in music. The Lord has filled my life with goodness while the world has filled it with a great deal of pain and discomfort. I have been told that my faith has inspired others to no t give up when a challenge came into their lives. I have learned that the dragons (challenges) of life can always be conquered with the blessings of the Lord (which I see as butterflies) if I keep my faith in the Lord and do all that I can do to keep myself from becoming bitter and angry at my life situation, We a re all children of God and therefore we are born and created out of His great love. We should respect each other and always treat others in the loving way which leaders such as Christ, Gandhi, Mother Theresa and others have taught. By the way, my doctors say that the number of people who have survived to live a fairly normal life after the chldhood I knew is so few that they see my life as a miracle, and I must agree with them.

How are you my dear?
Hugs,
Rox

Sweet. Loving the lord n proudest when with family.

God or whatever you call the creator has kept me going too

Im thinking the very same today because I often wonder how I'm still standing.
Hugs,
Rox

Your inner strength and faith is doing this for you my dear Rox

Thanks Piglit. It's really miraculous.
Hugs,
Rox

should be either not wither xo