Saturday, January 18, 2020

We do not achieve that thing we want to do without hope

Understand that hope is what keeps all of us going

Wounded Times
Kathie Costos
January 18, 2020

There comes a time when you begin to understand that hope is what keeps all of us going, not just in our time, but since time began.

You cannot read the Bible and not see what it was like for people of faith to struggle in their lives. The thing that all of us need to remember, is that faith means we do not struggle alone. We do not fight our battles all by ourselves.

We do not achieve that thing we want to do without hope, or even try without it.

Corinthians 13:13 GOD’S WORD
So these three things remain: faith, hope, and love. But the best one of these is love.
Think about if what you wanted to do, was because you loved. If it was based on love, like the type of love Jesus had, then you may wonder why you are suffering. You missed the part where Jesus suffered too for not just those He loved, but for all generations to come into this world.
John 11:35-36
 Jesus wept.

 Then the Jews said, “See how he loved him!”
Faith does not mean we will have a great life with no problems at all. It means we are not alone and can hope for better days. If we love, it does not mean that we will not suffer for love, but it does mean that Jesus does understand what we go through and is always by our side.

All of the following came from a time that began with pain, but they clung onto hope.

Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

Isaiah 40:31
but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Romans 15:13
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

John 15:13
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
If you are suffering because of the job you did, willing to lay down your life, not just for your friends, but for the sake of total strangers, then know, you are understood, you are loved and you can heal. What you needed to do your job, was already inside of you and what you need to heal, because of your job, is already in there too.

You did not fight those battles alone then...and you do not have to fight alone now.

This is from the new President of Point Man International Ministries.
When I came home from Iraq in November of 2003 I did not know anything about PTSD. I definitely did not think I was affected by it, but others around me could see that something was very different about me. After I was referred to the clinic that diagnosed me with it, I struggled and things didn’t feel quite real. My wife is actually the one that searched and reached out to Point Man and while I was going through the process of getting out of the Army, one of the outpost leaders here in Oklahoma rode down on his motorcycle to visit with us. He was a Vietnam veteran and I was out training when he made the trip, but his visit planted a seed that would grow. After I got out I became friends with several more leaders through Point Man that were also veterans of other conflicts but they had all been down the path that I was winding my way through, and I realized that we had a common bond that transcended my time in Iraq. They were my friends, brothers, mentors, and they helped me to forge my way through the chaos that was all around me that I was not able to comprehend on my own.

Most veterans are used to working with a team, squad, or platoon; Yet for some reason when we separate from that life we try to take on the struggle on our own. We are not meant to take it on by ourselves, the men and women of Point Man Ministries are here to “walk point” with you whether it’s a veteran with a phone or one of our groups around the country. Point Man outposts and homefronts are here for you and have the desire to help veterans and families dealing with PTSD to find the peace they are looking for.

If you are dealing with PTSD and would like to know more about PMIM, reach out and join us in our journey. We weren’t meant to carry this load alone, and with Christ's help we don't have to. Our nation is grateful for your service and sacrifices. Whenever and wherever you served, welcome home! We look forward to hearing from you!
Marcus King (President of PMIM)
Contact Point Man to find the way toward hope of a happier life. 1-800-877-8387
UPDATE
Benefits of Faith Based Counseling - Enlighten Yourself
By Featured Articles January 18, 2020
(Newswire.net -- January 17, 2020) -- Have you ever heard about the great benefits of faith based counseling? It is a therapy approach, which improves your relationships and mental status, and helps you cope with all kinds of life challenges. Christian counseling combines psychology principles and faith. It encourages Christians to accept God's will, even if it is not their will. Faith based counseling can be quite beneficial, because it aids you go through devastating events like the death of a loved person, health problems, financial troubles or relationship issues. A resilient faith is going to help you get back on your feet, and move on with your life.

Benefits of Faith Based Counseling
Christian counseling provides support for different problems such as mental illnesses, parental challenges, grief and loss. We all know deaths are always heartbreaking, but faith is what makes the grieving period less painful. Christian counseling is also beneficial for various marital problems and addictions. Sometimes people just need a little courage to admit they have a problem. Fortunately, faith counseling can make you take the first step to recovery, and change your life for the better. Now, let's take a more profound look at these enormous Christian counseling benefits.

Accepting Loss and Recovering From Grief
When you lose someone, the grief is excruciating, but this is the right time to lean on your faith. Many people think it is impossible to move on afterwards, but Christian counseling can be the salvation. It teaches people to accept reality and loss, honor and remember their loved one, and eventually heal from the pain.

Dealing With Mental Health Problems
People, who suffer from mental conditions like anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, etc. usually have low self-esteem and self-love. Christian counseling helps them learn they are children of God just like everybody else. The greatest thing about faith is that it provides you with support, comfort, and solace when you need them most. (click link for more)

More than 2,800 chaplains across the U.S. military, not enough to serve those who serve

Recruiting Challenges for Chaplains Mirror Other Military Jobs


Department of Defense
BY C. TODD LOPEZ
January 16, 2020
"Less than 1% of American youth actually have somebody in their immediate family who has served at any time in their lives." Lernes Hebert, Deputy Assistant Defense Secretary for Military Personnel

With more than 2,800 chaplains across the U.S. military, representing dozens of faith groups, maintaining adequate manning is a challenge. Those challenges are not unique, however, in that they match those faced by recruiters for other officers and enlisted personnel as well.

During the annual Armed Forces Chaplains Board endorsers conference today at the Pentagon, Lernes Hebert, the deputy assistant defense secretary for military personnel policy, spoke with chaplains and chaplain endorsers. He addressed the complexity of recruiting chaplains from a population of Americans that are today more unfamiliar with the military than they have ever been in the past.

"Somehow you have to communicate to an American population who is getting further and further removed from its military," Lernes told endorsers, who are the civilian representatives of faith groups responsible for helping chaplains into the military.
"It's about caring for their brothers and sisters, it's about caring for individuals who have dedicated themselves to public service, and sacrificing things the American people typically don't fully appreciate."
read it here

Disabled Veterans facing longer wait times for appointments outside the VA

VA inspector general warns long wait times could continue with Mission Act reforms


STARS AND STRIPES
By Steve Beynon
Published: January 17, 2020
The inspector general said the number of patients seeking community care will increase from 684,000 to 3.7 million, now that the eligibility for veterans to seek private care has expanded under the Mission Act.
ANDREA VILLARI/STARS AND STRIPES


WASHINGTON — Department of Veterans Affairs patients seeking private sector health care saw a nearly two-month delay for medical appointments in 2018 and the problem could worsen under the new Mission Act, the VA Office of Inspector General reported Thursday.

The inspector general’s report based its conclusions on the region of VA hospitals that includes 1.6 million veterans across Florida, south Georgia, Puerto Rico and the Caribbean. VA officials in that region referred more than 206,500 requests in 2018 for community care at clinics outside the VA network, with veterans facing a 56-day wait on average before receiving care, according to the report.
read it here

Friday, January 17, 2020

Female Veteran “There wasn’t anything out there to help me. I had to figure it out all on my own.”

Female veterans face separate struggles than their male counterparts


Denver 7 News
By: Alicia Nieves
January 17, 2020
“There wasn’t anything out there to help me. I had to figure it out all on my own,” said Del Gaudio.

Women typically have less support in the veteran space and struggle to transition at disproportionately higher rates than their male counterparts.
NEW YORK, N.Y. – A board game created by graduate students at the School of Visual Arts in New York City is providing insight into the veteran life experience, particularly the female veteran experience.

The game is called “Military Game of Life.” Jiani Lin, Teng Yu, William Crum, Kevin Cook, Antriksh Nangia and Alexia Cohen were the students behind the game. They were able to get insight needed by teaming up with the Manhattan VA Medical Center and interviewing veterans there.

In the “Military Game of Life,” when you are a character and you roll the dice, you eventually land on an “XP" space. “XP” allows you to pick up an experience card, relative to the gender of your character. You learn, through the cards, some experiences are the same for male and female service members, but some are not.
read it here

Vietnam veteran James Nicoletti called crisis line...and blue angels showed up!

Vietnam War veteran gets unexpected help from Berwyn community after calling crisis hotline


ABC 7 News
By Cate Cauguiran
January 16, 2020

CHICAGO (WLS) -- A Vietnam War veteran got help from an unexpected source when he needed it the most.
With little more than the clothes on his back, James Nicoletti called a hotline for help after moving back to his hometown in suburban Berwyn last week.

Police officers in Berwyn responded to his call, which started a series events that have changed his life.

"I had a hundred dollars in my hand when I arrived here in Chicago," said Nicoletti, a U.S. Army vet.

He hadn't eaten for days and was trying his best to hold on to the last bit of cash he had.

"I had to sleep in a bathtub. That's where I slept," he said. "I put blankets there on the bottom so I don't get cold."

He said his life was going down the drain, and that's when he decided to call a veteran crisis hotline looking for help.

"I thought, 'It's over. You know what? They're going to put me away,'" Nicoletti said to himself when Berwyn police officers showed up at this door.

That fear was quickly replaced by hope after responding Officer Ed Tovar and his colleagues embraced the veteran. They pooled together their own money to get Nicoletti a few groceries and toiletries.
read it here