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RE: Theophostic Ministry - 10/18/2009 11:03:55 AM
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teacher1982
Posts: 190
Joined: 10/11/2009
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Peloton - Thank you for that information. However, Dr. Smith is not related in any way to this older "society" as it is called. This is something that he explains was given to him through lots of prayer and Bible study. He is a Psychiatrist and also a Christian, who followed the secular concept of "treating" a patient's present emotional problems, hang-ups, behavior, and so on. He was concerned that he wasn't seeing the results that he felt Christians should received. It was with a lot of prayer and guidance through the Lord that he almost accidentally came upon the process of allowing the patient to go to the original abuse or traumatic situation and then remember the thoughts and feelings associated with it. At the time of abuse, the person's life is taken off the path that God intended for them and their lives. The devil fills their minds up with lies such as I described in an earlier post - mostly that they deserved that treatment, went along with it, asked for it, did something to cause it, and more. To be totally healed, these original lies must be recognized as just that - lies from the devil. Then there is prayer for Jesus to reveal these lies as lies from satan and nothing even remotely close to the truth. A young child does NOTHING to cause or deserve abuse. However, they believe the lies because there seems to be no other explanation to explain what happened to them. Once the person realizes that they were lies from the devil, Jesus can heal and restore them to the Truth. Theophostic Ministry as taught by Dr. Ed Smith has absolutely nothing to do with the occult, new age, visualization or trances.
As we all know, the devil has a "fake" for every "REAL" and oftentimes uses the same words, titles and descriptions.
To answer singpeace - No, they do not have a spouse. Part of the continual hurt is that they have been constantly rejected and abandoned by more than one spouse. Probably because they couldn't possibly understand, but MAINLY because my friend chooses weak, unstable people to connect up with as they feel they do not deserve any better. This has been part of the destructive behaviour caused by the lies they believed from the time of the abuse. Their entire life has been negatively effected by those beliefs they have about themselves. They are needy, yet have never been able to meet someone who is strong enough to support them with their needs.
Every rejection and every abandonment has only added to their low self esteem and feeling of worthlessness. They feel as though they are not lovable and are at the point in their lives to believe there is not hope, no future, no life ahead to look forward to, and no help available.
Again, I want to emphasize that this person is a born again Christian. I know this without a doubt. A Christian can definitely be tormented by the devil and if they already have such a negative feeling about themselves, it is almost impossible to overcome that.
Sometimes I even feel some frustration. Not with them, but with the entire situation. I have thought and thought, prayed and prayed for ways to help them and get them professional help through either a psychiatrist or minister or both. Even since writing this OP and reading the comments of everyone, I wonder why Jesus hasn't healed them. Without even going through the Theophostic Ministry, they are aware of the abuse and they are aware of their low self-esteem and feeling of worthliness. After reading about this ministry, I use the language that Dr. Smith uses, and call their feelings about themselves as the "original lies". I KNOW that they are not worthless, that they did not deserve the abuse, that they did deserve to be protected and not betrayed by their parents. I KNOW that they are a good person and of value. I believe they can have a good future and life ahead of them. When I explain all this to them, they know it also - in their minds, but not in their hearts. Overcoming such horrible abuse is not an easy thing and I believe it can only be done through the Healing Power of Jesus.
My question now is Why doesn't Jesus heal tjem? They can not heal themselves. This person wonders this also.
When you see someone struggle, hurt, fight, pray, seek God and do everything else that they know to do for years and yet they are still suffering, it makes even me wonder why.
Does the sick have to have faith before they can be healed? If yes, then they will never be healed. Not after all these years of begging and pleading for help from God and not receiving any. I think Faith is kept alive when a person sees some results - at least some progress. When the answer seems to always be No, how can a person maintain total Faith? They are truly at the point of wishing their life was over. They feel totally hopeless. (I do not worry about them committing suicide because our Church teaches that a person who commits suicide will go to Hell. They are so convinced of this that they would never take that action as their comment is that their life has been pure Hell on earth and they sure don't want to spend eternity in Hell.)
I am having so many questions now myself, that honestly, I am beginning to think that I have taken on too much myself to try to find a solution to help them. Yet I love them so much, I would do anything I could.
So many questions - and no true answers.
< Message edited by teacher1982 -- 10/18/2009 11:11:37 AM >
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RE: Theophostic Ministry - 10/19/2009 12:16:45 PM
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DaveW
Posts: 3795
Joined: 4/12/2005
From: MD suburbs of Washington DC
Status: online
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quote:
My question now is Why doesn't Jesus heal them? They can not heal themselves. This person wonders this also.
When you see someone struggle, hurt, fight, pray, seek God and do everything else that they know to do for years and yet they are still suffering, it makes even me wonder why.
Does the sick have to have faith before they can be healed? If yes, then they will never be healed. We live in a fallen world. That is why we need healing in the first place. Why does not God immediatly heal every one? No one has the definitive answer to that. In some it may be a lack of faith. In others it may be that the time is not yet come.
I do know that the gift of healing is listed in 1 Cor 12 as a gift to the body. God wants congregations and members to serve and minister to one another. It keeps us connected to each other.
_____________________________
Avatar is my daughter Laura and SIL David on their wedding 9/20/09 ====================================
Our CD is now available here:
http://cdbaby.com/cd/dswaggoner
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RE: Theophostic Ministry - 10/19/2009 9:38:33 PM
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teacher1982
Posts: 190
Joined: 10/11/2009
Status: offline
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quote:
God wants congregations and members to serve and minister to one another. I agree, but honestly I am becoming kinda exhausted from my research to try to find a way to help my friend. I know that prayer is the answer - lots of prayer and lots of study of God's Word. Yet I don't feel qualified to try to counsel my friend. I want to help them, but other than giving advice, listening and supporting with prayer, I feel so limited in being able to truly help.
The Bible says to bear one another's burdens and I will say that this is a heavy one! I want to do good and help, but feel like my hands are empty if you know what I mean.
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RE: Theophostic Ministry - 10/20/2009 11:14:34 AM
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Elena1030
Posts: 2104
Joined: 6/21/2006
From: Music City, USA
Status: offline
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quote:
ORIGINAL: teacher1982
quote:
God wants congregations and members to serve and minister to one another. I agree, but honestly I am becoming kinda exhausted from my research to try to find a way to help my friend. I know that prayer is the answer - lots of prayer and lots of study of God's Word. Yet I don't feel qualified to try to counsel my friend. I want to help them, but other than giving advice, listening and supporting with prayer, I feel so limited in being able to truly help.
The Bible says to bear one another's burdens and I will say that this is a heavy one! I want to do good and help, but feel like my hands are empty if you know what I mean.
My heart goes out to you and your friend.
I wonder if just a regular Christian counselor would help -- another resource for your friend... and someone who is trained to deal with particular issues that humans are wont to having to deal with.
May God lead you to a solution that you feel confident recommending to your friend. And may he/she use that resource and find healing.
_____________________________
Prayer thread for singles who desire to marry someday
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RE: Theophostic Ministry - 10/20/2009 11:33:07 AM
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Liveloved
Posts: 1813
Status: offline
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quote:
ORIGINAL: teacher1982
quote:
God wants congregations and members to serve and minister to one another. I agree, but honestly I am becoming kinda exhausted from my research to try to find a way to help my friend. I know that prayer is the answer - lots of prayer and lots of study of God's Word. Yet I don't feel qualified to try to counsel my friend. I want to help them, but other than giving advice, listening and supporting with prayer, I feel so limited in being able to truly help.
The Bible says to bear one another's burdens and I will say that this is a heavy one! I want to do good and help, but feel like my hands are empty if you know what I mean.
I hear you. Yes, these burdens are heavy at times. That's why Jesus tells us to come to Him and He will give us rest. Are you not believing He is the answer? Are you looking for some other remedy? A way of thinking or humanly 'fixing' your friend's situation?
Have you ever thought that the 'struggle' is the glue that sticks you and your friend to Jesus? Have you cried out in thanksgiving because this burden causes you, forces you, impels you to come to Jesus and cry out for His help? Is this messenger of satan God's love heaped upon your friend and upon you?
Oh, we seek and search for answers. We want to understand. We want to know the meaning and have clear insight into these things. I know your struggle and bless you as you seek and search. My questions are not to hurt but to help. Are you seeking an answer rather than The Answer, Jesus? Is the 'cure' more important than the Curer? Can we find rest apart from 'our' understanding? I pray so. Yes, I pray so. LL
_____________________________
Liveloved
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13
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RE: Theophostic Ministry - 10/22/2009 11:16:01 AM
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teacher1982
Posts: 190
Joined: 10/11/2009
Status: offline
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quote:
I hear you. Yes, these burdens are heavy at times. That's why Jesus tells us to come to Him and He will give us rest. Are you not believing He is the answer? Are you looking for some other remedy? A way of thinking or humanly 'fixing' your friend's situation?
Have you ever thought that the 'struggle' is the glue that sticks you and your friend to Jesus? Have you cried out in thanksgiving because this burden causes you, forces you, impels you to come to Jesus and cry out for His help? Is this messenger of satan God's love heaped upon your friend and upon you?
Oh, we seek and search for answers. We want to understand. We want to know the meaning and have clear insight into these things. I know your struggle and bless you as you seek and search. My questions are not to hurt but to help. Are you seeking an answer rather than The Answer, Jesus? Is the 'cure' more important than the Curer? Can we find rest apart from 'our' understanding? I pray so. Yes, I pray so. LL
No, the "remedy" through Theophostic Ministry IS through Jesus Christ, the Holy Word of God, and prayer. Nothing else. The counselor does no more than a Preacher/Pastor/Teacher/Minister does in church, except on a one-to-one basis and gives a lot more time and attention to the needy person than a pastor can.
Theophostic ministry is NOT new age, does NOT use visualization, and all the other negative accusations given here by people who have no experience, but only read what they find on the Internet that is against the ministry.
In the last month I have read everything that I can find about the Theophostic Ministry, including purchasing two books on Amazon. I have read the manual written by Dr. Ed Smith that thoroughly explains the ministry and there is no mention whatsoever in any of these practices it is accused of using. All I read is someone who cares for troubled people, counsels and prays with and for them, and uses the Word of God to advise and help them.
I was hoping to hear from a person who had actually been through Theophostic Ministry/Therapy due to problems similar to my friends. I have met two, but not on this Forum. Both had very positive things to say. Their lives have been changed; they are no longer tormented by abuse they suffered as a child and the lies surrounding that abuse; they have been set free - free in Jesus; they have a whole new outlook on life and can handle things that life deals out a whole lot better. I have been impressed by their testimonies. Not only was one person set free of the effects of abuse, but was also healed of cancer at the same time.
And No, they are not associated with the ministry in any way other than having been patients. They do not teach it or preach it or counsel using it. And they are not paid by someone in the ministry to give positive testimonies.
The best testimonies that a person can hear are from people themselves that have been there. Not those who have no idea what kind of pain my friend has gone through all of her life.
I felt like I would get answers from people with real personal experiences if I searched long enough and I thank God for them stepping up and confiding to me and my friend.
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RE: Theophostic Ministry - 10/22/2009 4:07:34 PM
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Liveloved
Posts: 1813
Status: offline
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quote:
No, the "remedy" through Theophostic Ministry IS through Jesus Christ, the Holy Word of God, and prayer. Nothing else. The counselor does no more than a Preacher/Pastor/Teacher/Minister does in church, except on a one-to-one basis and gives a lot more time and attention to the needy person than a pastor can.
Theophostic ministry is NOT new age, does NOT use visualization, and all the other negative accusations given here by people who have no experience, but only read what they find on the Internet that is against the ministry.
teacher1982,
I was in no way implying anything regarding theophostic ministry. That is a totally separate issue. I am sorry if you took my questions that way. I will bow out. I do not mean to offend. LL
_____________________________
Liveloved
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13
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