You cannot have a sincere faith without a time of doubt. There is no guilt in Christ, and it is only our self-criticism that brings us shame. We are no good to ourselves or God or anyone else when we waste time carrying a burden that is not ours to carry. Sin does separate one from God, but it is our choice. Sin is what we believe to be the affront to the nature of God. The resulting chasm between opposing forces is energy against itself. Something needs to give. Something will or the whole will suffer. The physical, mental, emotional, psychological and spiritual parts that make up our soul are interconnected. Our development is stunted when we are unable to achieve harmony between the faculty of our soul and the functions that soul expresses in life. You have done or thought or felt something that is contradicting another held belief. Only you can explore the contradiction and the opposing belief/action or belief/belief to validate whether or not it is enough to stir you into further considerations or changes. Either way, you will not be at peace until one of the contradictions or both give way to something new. You may forsake something or many things in life in order to gain new and more fitting systems of thinking. Growth requires almost constant evaluation and shedding of the old or useless skin we have outworn. The newer one emerges only when we have the nourishment in our being to produce it and the sensibility to wear it proudly.
The Greek root of the word shame is scham, which refers to a skin that is used to cover the exposed, vulnerable parts of a person, specially what is seen as shameful. When we shed some of our old assertions, we may feel exposed. Our new skin of belief has not yet been tested in the new day. Can the new you take the heat or will burn with shame? Shame is not sin, it is the belief that we are condemned. Who condemns you? If you believe in God, then believe that no other has the power or moral superiority to cast judgment and your shame is self-enforced. Some believe that shame is the face of suffering or injustice, but it is not so. Job suffered greatly and he was a good man in God's eyes. Friends eventually deserted and condemned Job, believing that he must have deserved his suffering for some offense against God. When Job cried out to God for an answer he got one we would not expect. God neither condemned him nor did he give him a reason for his suffering...He reminded Job that God was above questioning, but He also condemned Job's friends for trying to blame Job. God knew Job was blameless. The moral of the story is that God wants us to know that good people do suffer and that it is wrong to assume that they deserve it or that God is allowing it as a punishment. Why God allows seeming contradictions is not something He gives us an answer to. God apparently presumes he knows better than us...ya think? So, contradictions, questions, sin, doubt, pain, even if you feel shamed, anything in or of this world, does not separate you from God. You are not losing your God...your God is simply bigger than you once believed. Don't think you have avoided Him by hiding from a picture or keeping shut a book. God is bigger than you or I have the ability to contain him in our minds and worlds. If not then He is not God...maybe the idea you need to shed is that you or someone you knew had God in a jar. You were in that jar and now you want out...you don't have to worry about leaving him in that jar...Once out you may find you need to keep backing up in order to come closer to seeing him.

THANK YOU SO MMUCH!

"Being heard is so close to being loved that for the average person they are almost indistinguishable. To say something you value deeply to another and to have him or her value it equally by listening to it carefully and apppreciatively is the most universal way of exchanging social interest or demonstrating affection." David Augsburger, CARING ENOUGH TO HEAR AND BE HEARD.


All sincere persons will be given thoughtful examination and reply. Please be specific about your situation as it applies to your question, the applicable information and facts necessary for me to properly assess your situation and give you the benefit of my knowledge and experience, which includes: experience/education with mentoring, relationship study, self help, spirituality, poetry, literature, philosophy, psychology, color theory, teaching, parenting, and debate that will be used to your advantage. I am concerned with offering an objective and realistic perspective more than ratings, because this will help YOU. Artificial sweetness is found in diet soda, not in my advice. If you feel that I did not understand your question or need more specifics to help, please let me know, but while all truth is subjective, questioners should be mature enough to hear answers not necessarily agreed with. If you are only looking for someone to tell you just what you want to hear, then you may not be ready for my advice. I believe in personal responsibility, self and other awareness and your power and ability to recreate and redirect your own life. All our misery and joy begins and ends within ourselves, but our willingness to be open can bring the positive or negative energy we seek. If you or someone you know is open to positive help, the resources and caring individuals needed are available now.

http://www.coolnurse.com/

http://www.4woman.gov/violence/

http://www.childhelpusa.org/about/programs-and-services/childhelp-national-child-abuse-hotline-1-800-4-a-child

drug/alcohol abuse help go here: http://www.4drugabuse.com/addiction-treatment.html

http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/1800-273-TALK(8255)
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a 24-hour, toll-free suicide prevention service available to anyone in suicidal crisis. If you need help, please dial 1-800-273-TALK (8255). You will be routed to the closest possible crisis center in your area. With over 120 crisis centers across the country, our mission is to provide immediate assistance to anyone seeking mental health services. Call for yourself, or someone you care about. Your call is free and confidential. -----------------------------------

http://www.kidscrisis.com/

http://www.teenadviceonline.org/gethelp/numbers.html

You can call the National Sexual Assault Hotline, operated by RAINN, 24 hours a day, free & confidential. 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)

For info. on birth control etc.
http://www.plannedparenthood.org/

The Girls and Boys Town National Hotline is the only hotline that children and parents can call with any problem at any time:
Open 24-hours a day, every day at 1-800-448-3000

Spanish-speaking counselors available; translation services for 100+ languages

TTY line available for the hearing-impaired at 1-800-448-1833

Counselors can help find services and agencies in the callers' local community

Help at the End of the Line
Callers talk to highly-trained, professional counselors who listen and give "right now" answers. They're sympathetic people who have expertise dealing with these and other problems:

depression

suicide

running away

parenting problems

relationship concerns

physical, sexual, and emotional abuse

chemical dependency

mental health

anger

aggressive behavior

Toll Free
Operated by Father Flanagan's Boys' Home, hotline services are free of charge to every parent and child in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, U.S. territories, and Canada.

Toll-Free: 1-800-448-3000

http://www.sex-ed101.org/links.html

http://www.anorexicweb.com/anorexicweb.html

Report Child Abuse
Childhelp USA National Child Abuse Hotline
1-800-4-A-CHILD TDD: 1-800-2-A-CHILD



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All our motivations stem from two: Love or Fear. When in turmoil or indecision, ask yourself from which of these you are acting. If you want an honest response outside of yourself, you need to first be honest within yourself. Bless you on your journey!

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