New Years Advice - Get Excited about meeting alone with your Lover ?

My New Year’s Advice….

Get excited about meeting alone with  your Lover ?

Matt 10:37-39

Now I know some might be thinking - Oh no Pastor Scott has lost it!

Its one thing to have an obsession for Burning Rubber for Jesus; but Pastor Scott has really crossed the line now. Well dear friend - before you commit me and send the men with the white jacket to get me, please hear what I have to say to you. Hear what I have to say about what God’s Word has to say. One thing I promise for those who do really care and listen and want to have a completely different year in 2017 then they had in 2016-  is found in what I will say - so well LISTEN UP !  So anyway here is my thought. Here is my message that I know will forever change your life in-Christ. Dear friends its all based on a question. Do you long for, get excited about, get impatient for- Your next encounter with Your God ? Do you get all excited and tingly thinking about what God has to say this Sunday? What God might reveal to you this Wednesday Night at Bible Study? What you might hear from your Creator when you go to prayer time or enter into devotion time. Well let me tell you this - if you DON’T feel this way when your getting ready to meet with your God and King and LOVER of your soul- well, you really cant know Him at least as you should, or even desire anything about Him.  Friends - I don’t know how to say this without sounding boastful or better then anyone else, because I’m not- I’m a wretched sinner yet one who Loves his Savior. See people - for example today Dec 31, 2016 I was getting ready to go to my prayer time at the beach which I have been lacking in doing. And as I was showering and getting dressed I started to get excited, impatient, all tingly inside knowing that I was going to meet my Lover - Thee Lover of my soul. I was going to have a close encounter with Him in a few short hours and I could not wait. What would He say, and what would I learn ? I couldn’t wait to thank Him for 2016 and give Him the desires of my heart for 2017.  What I would preach and teach and learn this new exciting year. Dear friends - IS THAT YOU ? Do you feel this way about meeting your Lord, King and Lover of your soul ? Do you feel the same way in going to meet God as you do when you are going to meet a dear friend you have not seen in a long time ? If you don’t then I am going to say something very bold and scary again - Then how  CAN you really love and  know this GOD and KING ? How could you, how could you not be excited for Church on Sunday and Prayer time on Thursday and Study time on Wednesday ? True love begins when a desire to be with that lover is all you think about all day. Dead empty relationships begin when you dread it !

Now I’m not saying I was always feeling this way but in 2016 I started to realize my spiritual walk was not up to par and I needed a change. I didn’t know what it was but I knew it was becoming fruitless to try to change myself so I knew I needed a deeper encounter with the One who could. Things have not be the same since. By the way - there is nothing wrong with meeting with your lover, if you are  married and In -Christ . We are the bride and Him the groom..should we not want to be very intimate and look forward to it ?

This New Year - PLEASE consider praying about one thing only  - no not giving up this or that or becoming a better person, but focus on one thing and one thing only - Making this year the year when all you desire is to Know this Creator God better. 

Now that’s a goal with magnificent results waiting..

S.R. Kraniak 

No - Depression and Anxiety doesnt go away for Christmas...HELP ME - Someone Please

The Worst time to be going through your Worst time

Of all the times I spent depressed and locked in debilitating agonizing anxiety I would have to say it was the times when everyone else was at their happiest. Like holidays, sunny beach days, parties and the like.  Its not that we are bitter of your good happy happy time ( well maybe sometimes we are ) but most of the time its just a slap in the face of how miserable we are.  To see people walking on the beach and laughing at parties. To see people all excited about Christmas and a new car or new love while your dying inside -well its a pain like no other.  In fact I would have to say that on days when I was feeling a little OK it would be the site of someone doing something fun and happy that would actually trigger my emotional manure. It was like my mind would say to itself -"hey what are you feeling OK about, remember your a mess and your not as happy as them nor will you ever be". Wow talk about a slap in the face.   See people who don't know our walk and struggle they can never understand how it manifests itself.  I remember one time leaving for a family vacation and road trip. Everyone was happy excited and the car was filled with enthusiasm. All hoping dad would just be a normal dad. So there we were leaving the confines of Long Island NY USA and then quickly pulling over to the side of the road and me saying to my wife - I cant go any further.  We would then turn around that day and head back home. My mind sinking faster and faster into depression as I kept ruminating the thoughts of a life that would always be like this. Who would want to live like this all the time? Not me !

So whats the point , answer and way out for happy times for THEM while we are in a living nightmare ? Well the answer is never simple but in reality it is if we can just - hold on.  People allot of the life of a person like us is HOLDING ON one day more. See we must hold on one day more and not just for our own sanity but for all of those we love and who love us. Friends I can only tell you what is the answer for me and what is the answer for you - It is the answer we don't like or find hard to believe in. Its the answer that because of the Reality of a loving God who sees our pain and sorrow that ONE DAY it WILL pass . Really it will pass and you will smile again , smell the flowers, walk the dog, go on vacation /holiday, enjoy life , have fun, and look forward to things.  It will happen but you and I MUST hold on one more day. We must believe that GOD is real and will always be real. Dear friends on this Christmas 2016 be you alone or with many I give you the only gift that is worth anything. It is the gift of Christmas which is the gift of NEW LIFE for 2017. Your only job is to except it, believe it and want it more then life itself. So anyway with all of that said here is His gift to you.

So 2016 years ago a baby was born. A baby born to die. A baby born to die for you and I. A baby which was God come to earth for His creation. Come to earth to save us from ourselves and our biggest issue which was - not being able to feel God nor walk with Him because of a dirty little wall called sin. Our imperfections which would always leave us imperfect and separated and alone. See friends the coldness we feel is the coldness of being outside the loop of Gods light. So God knowing that we couldn't fix ourselves decided to fix the problem for us. So He offers you this gift. It cost nothing to us but everything to Him.  Its the gift of freedom, forgiveness, new life and one never to be alone again. So right where you are right now- PLEASE I beg you !  Please call out to God and ask Him to restore you to what you were made to be. Ask Him to forgive you and believe His love through His Son is the only thing you need. Want it and desire it and except it,  Believe that Jesus is GOD come to earth for You and I and decide to serve and live for Him this new year. Claim and call Him Lord and King and trust in Jesus dying for us and then rising for us !  Do this by faith not even seeing any proof or understanding how this all works. Just do it and wait for Him.  He will not let you down and will lead you down the path towards HIM.  

I did this one day and I am here and alive ONLY because of Him. Please except this gift. Not of religion or lies but of truth and Hope.  It is REAL !!!! Don't follow the lies of this world anymore follow Him... Wait and be patient and see the Salvation of the Lord . The Salvation for all who believe and seek Him.

S.R. Kraniak 
www.cbctruth.com

Depression Anxiety and the Child of God: The annoying comments we all get that drive us cra...

Depression Anxiety and the Child of God: The annoying comments we all get that drive us cra...: NO ! You have NO idea what I'm going through ! BUT You can learn how to help me if you really care Following is a list and...

The annoying comments we all get that drive us crazy - No; you have NO IDEA what I'm going through!

NO !

You have NO idea what I'm going through !

BUT

You can learn how to help me if you really care

Following is a list and a partial excerpt  from my book...

The things people say to us in an attempt to help us or try to understand us, yet they really have no idea.  Now in all do honesty and fairness most people don't understand and are trying to simply help. But its time we set the record straight ..

What is NOT going on in my life which is NOT my problem..

1- No I don't just need to cheer up and relax

2- No I'm not being lazy and just want to sleep all day 

3- No I'm not playing the system so people feel sorry for me

4- No I'm not a mental patient who needs to be in a hospital 

5- No I'm not a worry wort who just needs more faith in God

6- No I'm not reading too much into things

7- No I'm not over reacting to things 

8- No I'm not using my fear and depression to avoid life

9- No I'm not in some sin that God is punishing me for

10- No I'm not a looser who just cant handle life 

What will NOT help me by what you keep saying and doing 

1- No -your sending me Bible scriptures all day is going to help

2- No - you coming over with half the church and laying hands on me is going to help

3- No - telling me to pray more, trust God more or go to Church more is going to help

4- No - you sending me every Devotional self help book is going to help -( My Book set excluded - HE HE )

5- No - you telling me you have to listen to this CD, Sermon or Book is going to help me.

6- No - you sending me to a foot massage place or away on vacation or giving me  a bottle to chug is going to help

7- No - you telling me I need to look at the glass half full instead of half empty is going to help

8- No - you telling me that I can do all things through Christ is going to help me - It might be true but telling me over and over again is not the way

9- No - you telling me that all things work together for good is going to help me

10- No - you telling me that real Christians don't need medication is going to help me

11- No- you telling me that tomorrow is a new day is going to help me

12- No - you telling me that this year is my year is going to help me

13- No - you telling me that I just need to think positive and see all the good in my life is going to help me

14- No - you telling me that I have so much to offer and that I'm such a wonderful person is going to help me.

15- No- you saying I just need to smile more and see the good things in my life is going to help

AND NO !!!!

You telling me you understand how I feel and once you felt down and you trusted in God and all was well again.

So -

What WILL help me when I'm facing depression and anxiety ?

PLEASE DEAR Friend - DO THIS !!!!

1- Please pray for me all the time 

2- Please know that sometimes I just want to be left alone

3- Please don't ask me every time you see me how I'm feeling 

4- Please do come and sit with me when I ask for it and when you do - don't say anything but hold my hand and let me cry vent and weep on your shoulder

5- Please don't tell everyone all the things I shared with you

6- Please check in on me once in a while and just say hi

7- Please don't judge me if I have to go to a doctor and use medication

8- Please say very little but if you must talk say these words ( I have no idea what this must feel like or what you are going through)- it must be a nightmare !

9- Please keep an eye on me for suicide plans, and a way to know I might be planning it is when you see me suddenly saying all is well and I plan on going or doing something I don't normally do.

10- Please watch out for me when I become very secretive and irrational in my talking and actions.

11- Look for scars and cutting or me looking a mess and un-kept and un-showered 

Yes its hard to be a friend to someone who suffers with emotional issues but we really do need those who  really care. Those who care enough to try to understand the hidden silent scream and torments I go through on a daily bases.

See I can look find, act fine and carry on a days activities and yet be in debilitating  agony beyond your wildest dreams,,,

YES that's what a day in my life is like.

S.R. Kraniak 

Please check out my 2 book set on these very issues by one who has walked in your shoes...I know it all because I have been through it all and I'm still standing because God never gave up on me..