How To Help Someone Who Is Suicidal

Raise your hand if suicide has touched your life. Has a friend, loved one you knew died by suicide? Or perhaps has died from suicides? Or perhaps suicedal ideation is something you deal with yourself.

Suicide Warning Signs:

The rate for suicide in America has grown 300% just in the last year.

  • Talking about wanting to die or kill oneself.
  • Looking for a way to kill oneself- such as searching online or strange buying habits.
  • Talking about feeling hopeless or having no reason to live.
  • Talking about feeling trapped or in unbearable pain.
  • Talking about being a burden to others.
  • Increasing alcohol or drug use.
  • Acting anxious or agitated
  • Behaving recklessly.
  • Sleeping touch or too little.
  • Withdrawing or feeling isolated.
  • Showing rage or talking about seeking revenge.
  • Losing interest in things or losing the ability to experiencing pleasure.
  • Giving all their valuables away, for no reason.

How To Save A Life

Don’t be naive enough to believe anyone in your circle of influence has even been suicidal. You can’t help anyone in a crisis if you haven’t done your homework. It is one thing to educate yourself about how to handle a suicidal friend or loved one, but it is another thing to put that knowledge to the test.

When I was suicidal, my husband would always “What would the kids do without you?” it was what I needed at the time to change my mind.

When happens once you have identified a crisis? What steps do you take to intervene and help save a life?

Here are five steps to help someone who is suicidal:

Initiate A Private Conversation. This is not a conversation you want to have at Starbucks. Invite your friend or loved one to a quiet place where they will feel safe enough to share there story. They need to know you care and your feelings for them will not change because they are considering suicide.

Be an active listener. This is the time to use your best listening skills. You will hear things that mat shock you. That shock should never show on your face. You must remain calm. Be an active listener, so you can ask follow up questions to help gauge the urgency of the situation. It is important to remember not everyone experiencing suicidal thought is in immediate danger.

Once you have listened and assessed the situation, express your concerns. This is not the time to shy away from convert about your friend or loved ones suicidal ideation. Talking about suicide does not lead to suicidal completion. They may even feel relieved that someone cared enough to ask the question. Do not pass judgment or guilt-trip them. You will have better results if you make it clear that they have your complete understanding and support.

Encourage them to seek professional help. It is great you are supporting b your friend or loved one, but remember you are not a mental health professional. This is the time to suggest they seek professional help. The first step toward help is the hardest. You can make that first step a little less daunting by helping them schedule an appointment and offering transportation to the appointment.

If the suicidal ideation escalates, take action. Once you have concluded that there is an emergency, here are your next steps:

Stay with them (as long as you are not in any danger)

Help then remove lethal means.

Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or text talk to the crisis text line at 741741. Help is available 24/7.

Bring them to the emergency room or call 91.

Do everything in your power to help your friend or loved one to get professional help, but remove yourself from any situation the endangers your personal safety.

Take Away.

I hope today’s post helps you internalize the importance of speaking up when you are face to face with someone who is contemplating suicide. It will not be an east convert, but it will be a necessary one.

Please keeps in mind that a suicidal crisis does not last forever. Your intervention can save a life. The person may be angry with you in that moments, but they will feel differently when the crisis is over, and they have received help.

What Is Important About Pentecost?

The significance of Pentecost.

Pentecost is a very important feast for any Christian Church. This is because it marks the descent of the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Blessed Trinity, on the Apostles and Mary, the Mother of the Lord Jesus Christ. Pentecost happens fifty days after easter every year.

If you recall in the Bible that before the Ascension of Christ to heaven, He admonished His disciples to wait patiently for the Holy Spirit, who would come the energize and embolden them and also remind them of all the things Christ had told them while earth. Who is the Holy Spirit? He is known as the giver of life that proceeds from the Father.

As the Bible tells us the disciples were in the upper room worshiping and praying, when something amazing happened. There was a loud noise and the Holy Spirit descended on each of them like tongues of fire they began to speak in different languages to the astonishment of all. Now armed with divine light that enables to know the Father, once timid disciples began to proclaim the gospel with renewed vigor, accompanied by signs and wonders.

Last night I was rereading the scriptures of Pentecost. While yesterday was terribly windy. I was complaining to God how much I hated the wind. He gave me a word it was “When do you hear my spirit in the wind? My answer was never, I never hear your spirit, I am to busy trying to get out of the wind and complaining about it.

I said my prayers and went to sleep, evidently, God was not finished with me. About an hour into sleeping God woke me up asking the same question, “When do you hear my spirit in the wind?” I immediately woke up, got out and I walked outside to list to the wind. I came back in sat down at my table and began writing:

When was the last time your heard the wind of my spirit roar and the fire light up this place? When was the last time you took me at my word and met together expecting of my spirit filling up this place and these lives with God’s Glory and Power?

Lord challenge us with Pentecost. Do we believe that this was once an eternity experience never? to be repeated? That the Holy Spirit was poured out on your followers for a single purpose and ended His work at the instant? If so then maybe that is why the church seems so powerless in this age, helpless when faced with the needs both spiritually and physical, that we see the whole Lord as we meet together and celebrate once again the memory of the first Penticost, mat it is for us as it was for them a moment of empowerment, an awareness of the Glory in this dark world a life changing experience.

May everyone feel the Glory of Pentecost with a life-changing experience.

Happy Pentecost Sunday

Can Christians Have A Demon?

I once thought if you were a Christian there was no way you could have a demons.

A Christian can be oppressed, regressed, digressed, obsessed, suppressed, but never possessed. Many believe that Christians could have a demon oppressed but the demon could not be in the inside a Christian.

“How could Jesus and the Holy Spirit live on the inside of the same body in which demons reside?

Theology -VS- Experience

How are you going to face the problem of being confronted by people you know their a born again, spirit-filled believer who didn’t believe the demons were real inside them?

The fact is that experiences don’t add up to the theology. Is the experience wrong or is the theology wrong?

Christians still need to be ministered to ones that are sick in there bodies. If scripture says we are healed but people are still sick. Scripture has to be interpreted by the fact the we are healed legally by the stripes Jesus took on his back for us, but that does not automatically mean that every believer will never get sick.

I am not only convinced that a Christian can have demons, but I am convinced that there are demons that operate in the realm of theology that would have us endlessly arguing and debating over doctrine instead of meeting the needs of people who are hurting.

By his stripes we are healed. If we were healed, why would you pray for the sick.

Is it possible for believer who is baptized in the Spirit to have a demon?

Yes, the fact is that in spite of arguments that a born again believers cannot be possessed the dismaying fact that born again believers including leaders can have difficulties and problems which can find no solution in normal infirmities or endless conflict between the flesh and the Spirit. It is not secret that many have become discouraged and filled with awful despair.

God didn’t Dave us to have us arguing. He calls us to the ministry so that we help people who are hurting, wounded, and bruised.

I personally have seen demons in people. For many years I was oppressed and I felt a grotesque black figure following me. I also had an experience while I was working as a facilitator of a support group with a mental health agency. I received a call about 11:00 at night. The person told me there was a situation that needed attention and if I could come and help. I was expecting a suicide attempt. But it was a violence situation. I walked into a house where the lady was beating on her husband. The issue was the police had not been trained how to handle a mental health situation such as this. As I began talking to her her partner had gotten away from her. She started coming toward me, grabbing my arm, I actually seen the demon inside her, through her eyes, and the change of her voice tone. It was my first experience with demons. I have to say I was scared. As I spoke to her, in a calm voice, her recognize me from the support group and began it calm down. I knew nothing about casting demons out of anyone. It turned out she was diagnosed with PTSD and we were able to get her into the correct counseling area that expertise was PTSD, I ended up inviting her to church and her demon was cast out. I turned out to a happy ending.

Clearing The Confusion Over “Being Possessed”

One issue that can trip many up when thinking of Christians and demons is the idea of being possessed. Good ole Hollywood has painted a picture of demon possession that, while it is sensational and incorrect, leaves a graphic image in our minds. The word possessed is an unfortunate translation because it suggests ownership, and we know that the devil cannot own a Christian. It is somehow assumed that if you say a Christian can be possessed you are saying that a Christian can be fully owned and controlled by the devil and will manifest Hollywood -style with a spinning head and eyes popping out. They will have no control over themselves at all. That is obviously wrong. In the Bible, there is really is no difference between what has been translated as possessed and being oppressed, distressed, suppressed, obsessed, and so forth. They all simply mean that a person is, to some degree, under the influence of a demon.

Silence Is A Powerful Statement

“A wise man once said nothing.” What a great quote we should all make a note of. Silence is a powerful statement, a smart tactic, and many times a wise choice. A meaningful silence is always better the speaking meaningless words. Maybe we should give some serious thought to the fact that we have a mouth that we can close and ears we can’t close.

One of the biggest mistakes we make is speaking when we’re angry. There are a lot of people who have ruined their lives, whether on a personal or business basis by saying something foolish, thoughtless, mean, malicious, despicable, inappropriate, cruel condescending, hurtful, vicious, painful, and certainly uncalled for because we were angry.

A moment of silence in a moment of anger, saves you hundreds of moments of regret.

Anonymous

If you have to speak during a difficult situation:

  • Only speak what you know to be true.
  • Speak with integrity.
  • Never say anything about someone you wouldn’t say to yourself.
  • Avoid at all costs speaking when angry.
  • When in doubt, stay silent.

Mark Twain made a wise statement about staying silent, when dealing with idiots. He said “Never argue with an idiot. They will drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience.” The best thing to say to idiots is nothing… stay silent.

“It’s better to remain silent and be thought a fool that to speak out and remove all doubt.” President Abraham Lincoln

“Speak when your angry-and you’ll make the best speech you’ll ever regret.” L.J. Peter

“Silence is the ultimate weapon of power.” General Charles De Gualle

“Silence is golden when you can’t think of anything to say.” Leonardo de Vinci

“Silence is the best way to a fool. Anonymous

“Never mistake silence for ignorance.” Anonymous

“Nothing strengthens authority so much as silence.” Leonardo de Vinci

“The ability to speak several languages is an asset, but the ability to keep your mouth shut in and language is priceless. Anonymous

Plato one said, “Wise mean speak because they have something to say, fools speak because they have to say something.”

The best thing to do when you are confused, angry, not sure, dealing with difficult people or if you want to frustrate, intimate, or irritate someone, is to stay silent. Have the maturity to know that sometimes Silence is more powerful than having the last word.

Why Does God Test Our Faith?

God works through trials.

The last few weeks I have reflected on the trials and challenges of my past. I was asking myself:

1. Why did God make me go through my childhood neglect and physical abuse? I have asked God over and over this question. And was never satisfied with what I felt like He was telling me. Finally, I was drawn to James 1:1-13. The first 13 verses give usan understanding of the purpose of trials that come our way.

When we think about it. What was the good that has come from trials? I know from my childhood, I became very independent at a young age. I learned to watch people, instead of talking. But I was angry for a lot of years for Him allowing this to happen in my childhood.

What comfort does our past trials have given us? I know because of the trials I have lived through I am comfortable in most situations and when I’m not I have a right to back away from the situations that come my way.

I think about how many times I tried to kill myself and never succeeded. Why? Didn’t taking a bottle of morphine end my life. Why didn’t injectioning an entire bottle of insulin kill me? I used to pray to God to not let me wake up in the morning, pray I would be dead in the morning. I really don’t know why, except God has a amazing purpose for me.

When difficult times come into our lives and we find ourselves unable to comprehend the enemy is quick to throw doubts and questions into our minds..

We find ourselves questioning God’s goodness and wisdom in allowing these things to happen.

We may even be bitter and angry with God for allowing these things to happen.

We may even be bitter and angry with God for allowing things to happen to us and wonder if He even loves or understands us.

But God’s word confidently reminds us that God does love us and understand us.

Things don’t just happen haphazardly to a follower of God. Things have a purpose. God is in control as Paul reminds us nothing can separate us from God’s love. (Romans:8) even in the most difficult trial to mold us, to mature us. So that we will be more like Jesus Christ our Savior.

Isaiah the prophet said in trying to comprehend God’s ways: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts. Neither are your ways my ways, said Jehovah.” For the heaven scare higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts are not your ways. (Isaiah 55:8-9)

God would have us trust Him in the difficult trials.

Even though we cannot understand He loves us and His is in control.

He will use our trials to help us grow spiritually and to help us mature and become more like Jesus.

God not only has purposes in trials but He also gives us wisdom in our trials.

Yes, I have had a trial-filled fill, and I had to grow up very fast. Through my trials I have chosen to be a bridge in other people’s trouble-filled lives.

The World In Crisis

We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed.

There is an old saying by Benjamin Franklin that says there are only two certainties in life “death and taxes.” Of all the people who’ve ever lived or will ever live on this earth. 100% of them will die.

Everyone will spend their eternity somewhere. But many don’t really consider this truth while living on earth. Some think life in the here and now is why we’re here. They think this is their home. But as followers of Jesus, we know this isn’t our home. The apostle Paul tells us that our “citizenship is in heaven” (Philippians 3:20). We weren’t made for earth but to dwell on earth temporarily for God’s glory.

It feels odd to say that a person’s life is a temporary time frame, doesn’t it? Surely, someone who lives to be 80 or 90 years on this earth has lived a good, long life. My grandmother lived to be 104 years, she loved the Lord more than anyone I’ve ever met. When you measure that next to eternity, it not long at all. So, how long is eternity? Very long. It’s actually something way beyond our mental grasp. It’s like infinity with numbers and it keeps going and never sttopd. That’s eternity.

For the person who has accepted Jesus as their Savior and made Him Lord of their life. Eternity in heaven with God is an awe-inspiring and hope-filled reality. Yet, even with the joy of eternity in our future the current stresses and worries in this world can often sidetrack us and we keep our eyes on what’s happening in the here and now. In 2 Corinthians 4:17, Pual us that our “present troubles are small and won’t last very long.” And then a verse later he goes on to say that we should “fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen, ” which is our future in heaven, because the “things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.” What hope that should bring us.

One of the most popular Christian hymms in Amazing Grace. The fina, verse of the song says:

When were been here ten thousand years, Bright shining as the sun we’ve no less days to sing God’s praise, than when we first begun.

Imagine that! After 10,000 years into our eternity, we haven’t even scratched the surface of what’s ahead. It’s absolutely mind-boggling! What’s happening in the here and now is just a small portion in our lives that won’t even be noticeable once were 10,000 years into our eternity.

So let’s adjust our sights from the earth’s struggles to the hope of heaven for when we do, all else will be pale in comparison to what God has in store for those of us who call Him Lord, Lord.