Dealing With Depression (Part 3)

Saying things like “it’s not that big of a deal,” “you just need some fresh air,” or “it’s time to move on” rarely help.

It’s easy to tell someone you love “positive” things like this because you think you’re giving them hope and helping ease their pain, but to someone suffering from depression these kinds of simple, clichéd phrases often come across the wrong way – thoughtless, empty and essentially worthless.

The truth is phrases like these don’t address reality and only agitate the anxiety within, making a depressed person wish they were alone.  It’s like trying to strap a two-inch Band-Aid on a foot-long, gaping wound.

So what can you say instead?  Again, there’s no “one size fits all” answer.  Just be supportive. Here’s a rough idea of what you might say (maybe just not all at once):

-“I love you, and I’m not the only one.  Please believe me." 

-"Please believe that the people who love you are worth living for even when you don’t feel it."

-"Think about the good memories depression is hiding from you, and project them into the present."

-"Just take a deep breath." 

-"Be brave."

-"Take today just one step at a time." 

-"Exercise because it’s good for you even if every step weighs 900 pounds."

-" Eat even when the thought of food itself sickens you." 

-"Reason with yourself when you have lost your reason." 

-"I’m here now, and I’ll be here tomorrow too.  I believe in you.  We are in this together.”

Your words can have a positive affect on the people that need encouragement in times of depression. Ain't no room for negativity here. Speak positive, speak truth, and speak compassion. The power in your vocabulary may turn the tide.

1 Peter 4:11 "If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Dealing With Depression ( Part 5)

Depression exhausts and consumes a person, which is why you can’t take their behavior personally.

Relentless exhaustion is a common side effect of depression.  Just getting out of bed in the morning can be an overwhelming and excruciating experience.  Also, someone suffering from depression may feel OK one moment and feel completely depleted the next, even if they’re eating right and getting plenty of sleep.  This can result in them canceling plans, departing get-togethers early, or saying no far more often than you’d like.  Just remember it’s not about you and it has nothing to do with what you did or didn’t do.  These are just some of the prevalent side effects working through depression.

Do your best to never take anything they do too personally.  People can only give to others what they have, and depression takes almost everything away from a person.  All your actions and words should come from a place of love, but that doesn’t mean your depressed loved one will always be loving in return, and that’s OK.  When you do not take things personally, you liberate yourself and you open yourself to loving someone who truly needs you, freely, and without letting needless expectations get in the way of the immeasurable amounts of affection you are capable of giving.

People can only give to others what they have.  Remember, this applies to you too.  Caring for a depressed loved one can be fatiguing.  If you don’t properly take care of yourself, you cannot properly take care of them no matter how hard you try.  You may be able to be there physically, but if your mental and emotional reserves are depleted, you will have very little to give.

So set some love and care aside for yourself too.  Refill your bucket on a regular basis.  That means catching up on sleep, making time for fun and laughter, eating healthy enough to maintain peak energy levels, and otherwise making time for recovery from the pressures of loving someone through their depression. 

Dealing With Depression (Part 4)

Even when they’re pushing you away, you can still be there for them.

Depression causes people to desire to isolate themselves from others. Like a quote from a book comes this conversation often spoken by the one fighting these horrors:

“I don’t want to see anyone.  I lie in the bedroom with the curtains drawn and nothingness washing over me like a sluggish wave.  Whatever is happening to me is my own fault.  I have done something wrong, something so huge I can’t even see it, something that’s drowning me.  I am inadequate and stupid, without worth.  I might as well be dead.”

That quote reminds me of the desperate loneliness and despondency one feels when depressed.  But even though depression makes a person feel hopelessly alone, that’s often exactly why depression motivates a person to seek, more isolation.  People suffering from depression typically get frustrated with feeling like they’re a burden on their loved ones.  This causes them to isolate themselves and push away the very people they need the most.

If a loved one becomes distant through their depression, just do your best to remind them as often as possible that you’re still nearby, but don’t force them to socialize or talk about their feelings if they don’t want to.  Be patient.  Ease into it.
Keep in mind that even though they may want their space, this doesn’t mean they want to face their pain alone 24/7.  Schedule in time to spend with them.  Offer to take them to their favorite restaurant, or even pick up some tasty to-go food for them.  Introduce plenty of opportunities to create informal one on one time where you can break them out of their routine, even if it’s just for a few minutes.  Reach out to them at random intervals.  Be a present, living reminder that they are not alone. Your love and support can make the biggest difference in breaking the stranglehold depression has on them.

Galatians 5:13 "For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another."

Dealing With Depression (Part 2)

Depression is hard to wrap your mind around if you haven’t experienced it.

Some people may imply that they know what it’s like to be depressed simply because they have gone through a divorce, lost a job, or lost a loved one.  While these situations can lead to depression, they don’t create depression by default.  In most cases these experiences carry with them strong emotional feelings.  Depression, on the other hand, is often flat, hollow, and insufferable  literally sapping a person of emotion, hope and reason.

-You don’t feel like yourself.  

-You don’t even feel human.  

-You’re hopeless and paranoid and humorless and lifeless and desperate and demanding and no reassurance is ever enough.  

-You’re frightened, and you’re frightening, and you’re “not at all like yourself but will be better soon,” but you know you won’t.

The so-called ‘psychotically depressed’ person who tries to take their life doesn’t do so out of quote ‘hopelessness’ or any abstract conviction that life’s assets and debits do not square, and certainly not because death seems suddenly appealing.  The person in whom depression's invisible  agony reaches an unendurable level will take their own life often in the same way a trapped person will eventually jump from the window of a burning high-rise.

Make no mistake about people who leap from burning windows.  Their terror of falling from a great height is still just as great as it would be for you or me standing at the same window just checking out the view; the fear of falling remains a constant.  The variable here is the other terror, which is the fire’s flames. When the flames get close enough, falling to death becomes the slightly less terrible of two terrors.  It’s not desiring the fall, but the terror of the flames.  And yet nobody down on the sidewalk, looking up and yelling ‘Don’t!’ and ‘Hang on!’, can understand the jump.  Not really.  You’d have to have personally been trapped and felt flames to really understand a terror way beyond falling.

The flames of fear produces an atmosphere for depression to gestate and often our fears are many and uncontrollable; but heed the Word of the Lord:

2 Timothy 1:7  “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

 

Dealing With Depression (Part 1)

Psalms 69:20  “Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none.” 

God needs some comforters today to help folks who face many difficult circumstances. I believe the greatest weapon the enemy is using against God's people is depression. Hopefully I can share some things this week that will assist you in knowing how to minister to individuals who face this terrible affliction in their lives. We've all been there, but God was faithful.

If you love someone who is depressed, please resolve never to ask them why.  They don’t know.  Depression isn’t a straightforward, thought-out response to a tough situation, depression just is. Be mindful of the darkness, lethargy, hopelessness and loneliness they’re going through.  Be there for them, day in and day out, until they come through the other side.  It’s hard to be a true friend to someone who’s depressed, but it’s one of the kindest, finest and most impactful things you will ever do because depression is not something a person consciously chooses.

When you’re lost deep in those woods, it might take you some time to realize that you’re lost.  For a while, it’s easy to convince yourself that you’ve just wandered off the path and that you’ll find your way back any moment now.  Then night falls, again and again, and you still have no idea where you are, and although it’s agonizing, it’s time to admit that you’ve disoriented yourself so far off the path, so deep into the woods, that you can’t even tell which direction the sun rises or sets from anymore.

You’re not choosing to be where you are, but you can’t see a way out.  That’s how depression feels to people who are struggling through it this very day.

Depression is one of the most helpless and tiring emotional experiences a person can live through:

-Sometimes it’s feeling lost.

-Sometimes it’s feeling despondent, 

-Sometimes it’s feeling absolutely nothing at all.  

There are times when depression can leave you feeling completely dead inside, incapable of moving and doing the things you used to enjoy.  Depression is not just a bad mood, and it’s certainly not something you can just “get over” when you feel like it.  No one chooses to be depressed, and no one can turn it off or on in an instant whenever they feel like it.

Be the comforter God wants you to be. Help those that you can with prayer and a kind ear. You'll never know how much of a blessing you will be.

A Strong Tower (Part 2)

-His name provides the power of salvation.                          

Acts 2:21 “And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.”

Acts 4:12 "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."

-The church was commissioned in His name.                                   

Mark 16:15-18 “And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. "

-Prayers are answered in Jesus’ Name.                                                        

Acts 3:1-9 “Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple; who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms. And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, “Look at us.” So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God. Then they knew that it was he who sat begging alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.”

-Jesus' name is the hope of the nations.

Philippians 2:9-11 "Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

-Jesus' name is so powerful that the devil and his people will try to stop you from using it.

Mark 16:17, 18 "In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover." 

People curse and swear in the Lord's Name, but you never hear people cuss using the name of Buddha or Allah because the devil hates the powerful name of Jesus.

John 14:13 "And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son."

A Strong Tower (Part 1)

Proverbs 18:10 “The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.”

The Lord Jesus Christ or Christ Jesus the Lord, or other combinations of the these words occur more than 80 times in the New Testament. Jesus' name is to us a source of strength and safety. It is, as the Wise Man says, a strong tower that we should run to. 

When we speak the name of the Lord Jesus Christ against evil spirits His name always prevails because there is no name like the name of Jesus. When the name of Jesus is spoken we declare to the devil all the things about Jesus that are true according to the Word:

-His eternal power. 

-His eternal wisdom. 

-His eternal knowledge. 

-His eternal purpose. 

-His eternal love toward to all creation.

-His eternal kindness to those who trust in Him.

-His readiness to forgive all sin and blasphemy when men ask Him. 

All of this indicates to us that God is totally for us, entirely with us, and everything that belongs to God is engaged to do us good and to give us safety. That is the meaning of this expression "the name of the Lord is a strong tower." 

There are some 200 names and titles of Christ found in the Bible. Here are just an example of some of the more prominent ones reflecting the power and authority of His name. He is the:

-Chief Cornerstone


-Firstborn over all creation 


-Head of the Church
-Holy One


-King of kings and Lord of lords

-Light of the World

-Prince of peace


-Son of God


-Son of man

-Word
-Word of God


-Word of Life


-Alpha and Omega

-Emmanuel


-I Am


-Lord of All


-True God

-Author and Finisher of our Faith


-Bread of Life


-Bridegroom

-Deliverer


-Good Shepherd


-High Priest


-Lamb of God
-Mediator

-Rock


-Resurrection and Life


-Savior


-True Vine


-Way, Truth, Life


Victim or Victor? (Part 3)

Believe God will do what He says.
1 Peter 5:8, 9 "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world."

The adversary is out to destroy you. He will use the most drastic means imaginable to make you believe that God is not there. But if you believe the Bible and have faith that God will do what He says He will do, then nothing in life can defeat you. Instead of telling God how big your problems are, start telling your problems just how big your God is! And start watching your victories multiply.

Don't ask why.
James 4:13-15 "Go to now, ye that say, Today or tomorrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appears for a little time, and then vanishes away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that."

Too often when tragedy strikes, you get so lost in the why questions that you struggle to remember that God is in control. You get so lost in the circumstances, so lost in trying to make sense of the senseless, that you lose sight of the One who knows what's going on from beginning to end. You become a victim to every circumstance you encounter. Instead of asking God why, ask, "Now that it has happened, what should I do to become a victor?"

Meet Every Challenge with Enthusiasm.
Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me."

Rise to the challenge, put your whole heart into it, and meet the challenge with enthusiasm!                                                                                                                      

Forgive Your Trespassers.
Matthew 6:14, 15 "For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."

OK. This is the tough one, especially for victims. And I'm not going to pretend that it's easy. In fact, in many cases it's downright impossible, if you try to do it on our own. But, if you'll rise above the tragedy, and genuinely forgive the perpetrators, you can turn the whole ordeal into a victory. You are no longer their victims; you become a victor.

Hang on to your victory!
The victory belongs to all of us if only we will grab hold of it and refuse to let go. In Christ nobody has to end up a victim.

1 John 5:4 "For whatsoever is born of God overcomes the world: and this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith."

 

 

Victim or Victor? (Part 2)

Your first step is to make a conscientious decision not to be a victim. Avoid any situation that might set you up to be victimized, either by another human being or sheer circumstance.

Ephesians 6:12 "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."

You're fighting against forces you don't even see. Your only protection against such a formidable foe is Christ. He is the difference between you being a victim and being a victor.

Be prepared through every day events for whatever comes your way.
Romans 8:37 "Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us."

Everyday life is filled with opportunities to help you prepare for the real emergencies in your life. You can use minor inconveniences and small tragedies to practice putting things in their proper perspective, and rolling with the punches. You have to keep our hand tightly in Christ's, and trust that He will see us through every circumstance.

Think positively.
Romans 8:38, 39 "For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Make this your motto: "I shall live each day knowing that nothing could possibly happen to me today that God and I can't handle together."

This too shall pass.
Luke 8:34 "And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm."

Sometimes, no matter how much you've prepared yourself to stand with Christ and keep a positive outlook, something happens to throw you completely over the edge. Even the disciples felt doomed when a storm came upon them at sea. And Jesus was right there in the boat with them!

Four simple words have given me courage in situations such as these: "This too shall pass."

No matter how bleak circumstances may seem right now, if I can just hang on a little longer and remain calm while the storm rages around me, I will get through this. Jesus is right here in the boat with me.

Victim or Victor? (Part 1)

 

1 Corinthians 15:57 "But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."

A victor is a person, nation, or army that has defeated an adversary in war or combat. A victor is the winner of any contest, conflict, or struggle. The word victor in Latin comes from the word, vincere, which means to conquer.

We are affected today by the victim mentality. What breaks the victim mentality?

-We have to learn to free ourselves for our future by letting go of our negatives and our past.

-Each of us everyday makes the decision on how we respond to life’s challenges.

-It's our choice to play the role of a victim, feel sorry for ourselves, seek pity, blame other, and become very angry or to achieve a victory through faith, trust, and the grace of Almighty God.

-We can choose to look forward to the positive things yet to come out from negative situations when they behind us.

Those who have been victims understand what I'm saying. You never forget the details, and you relive them again and again in your mind. Being a victim becomes a part of who you are. It influences your own perception of your self-worth and affects your response to everyday events for the rest of your life.

Jesus Christ was a victim. He carries the scars to prove it. His scars are in His hands and feet. But it was sin that left the biggest scar--right in the middle of His heart. The Bible says that He will carry these scars forever, to remind us that He too was a victim.

But there's something different about Jesus. While we avoid being victimized, He willingly came to this earth for the express purpose of being a victim. And those who loved Him most were also victims. They watched helplessly as the man they believed to be the Promised One surrendered His last breath on a cross. All their hopes were murdered with Jesus. They were so sure that He was the Messiah. Now He lay in a tomb. How could everything they believed in fall apart so quickly, so violently?

If the story were to end there, we victims would have no hope. Like Him, we would remain victims--some of us in graves, others walking witnesses to the tragedies in our own lives. People covered in scars with little chance of recovery, and no chance to overcome our circumstances.

But the story doesn't end there. On the third day Jesus Christ rose victorious from the grave. In that moment He won the victory over sin. Since the wages of sin is death, He also won the victory over death. And just as He was willing to come to this earth to experience our pain and our anguish, our death and our grave, He is willing to share His victory with us!

Once we realize that we don't have to remain a victim, our focus changes. We cling to His victory, and claim it as our own. The scars remain, and they continue to influence our actions and responses, but we need something to remind us that we are victors, and can remain victors in any situation.

 

Praise Your Way Out Of Your Pit (Part 1)

Genesis 37:23, 24 "And it came to pass, when Joseph was come unto his brethren, that they stripped Joseph out of his coat, his coat of many colors that was on him; And they took him, and cast him into a pit: and the pit was empty, there was no water in it."

When we read the story of Joseph there are some things that cannot be denied, because the scripture makes it clear that:


-Joseph was chosen by God.

-Joseph was anointed by God.

-Joseph had a destiny given by God.


-Joseph was favored by God.

-Joseph was favored by his earthly father as well.




Judging from those criteria it would look like Joseph had it made. But when we read the bible we find out that this same Joseph who had everything going for him, who was anointed by God, who was favored by his earthly father and had so many great advantages, one day found himself in a pit.

 If somebody told you when you became a Christian that all your problems would be over, and that you would never be hurt again, you would never cry again, you would never suffer again-they lied.



Psalm 34:19 says, "Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivereth him out of them all."

Christians have problems too:

-Christians get sick.

-Christians get in debt.

-Christians get divorced.

-Christians get their hearts broken.

-Christians get in places they shouldn’t be.


Sometimes you fall in, sometimes you jump in, and sometimes you’re pushed in; but regardless of how you got there or why you’re there, a Pit is a Pit and if you stay there you will die.


-Dreams die in the pit.

-Ministries die in the pit.

-Gifts, callings, marriages, die in the pit.

BUT there is a way out of the pit!

Your Turn-Around

Joseph’s turn-around in the pit happened suddenly.


Verse 28 "Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt."

One minute he was in the pit, one minute he was in the dark, one minute it was terminal, one minute it looked like the end, and suddenly everything changed.
 Suddenly he was standing in the sunshine and he was lifted out of the pit.

 God is saying that you are standing on the verge of a sudden turn-around that is going to change everything you ever anticipated or expected.



Peter fished all night and caught nothing, but in one act of obedience (suddenly) he went from nothing to too much.


-He went from empty nets to breaking nets.


-He went from an empty boat to a sinking boat due to the size of his catch.

-He from loss to profit.

-He went from weeping to rejoicing.

-He went from a loser to a winner.

And it all happened suddenly. Just like that at the lowest point in Josephs life physically and spiritually, God stepped in.

Psalm 27:5 "For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock."



Acts 16:16-26 “And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation. And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour. And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers, And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city, And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans. And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them. And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely: Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks. And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed.”

One minute in prison, but the next set free. God is the master of turn around. Will you let Him do it for you?

Praise Your Way Out Of Your Pit (Part 2)

One man was responsible for Joseph’s pit and it was his brother Rueben. 

Verses 21, 22 "And Reuben heard it, and he delivered him out of their hands; and said, Let us not kill him. And Reuben said unto them, Shed no blood, but cast him into this pit that is in the wilderness, and lay no hand upon him; that he might rid him out of their hands, to deliver him to his father again."

It was Rueben, the eldest brother, that suggested they throw Joseph in the pit rather than take his life. Rueben was there when Joseph was thrown into the pit, but he was not there when he was lifted out.



Verse 29 “And Reuben returned unto the pit; and, behold, Joseph was not in the pit; and he rent his clothes.”

Rueben was surprised and shocked because he saw him go into the pit. He saw him struggling and begging to be delivered from the pit, but now he’s looking into that same pit expecting to see Joseph full of fear and confusion crying and begging to be delivered only Joseph wasn’t there.

 There are some people who saw you in the pit. There are some people that even helped put you in the pit, and they have watched you struggling, and pushing, and scratching and clawing trying to climb your way out.  When they left you were in the pit and the last time they saw you were in a mess.



I don’t know what that pit is for you today:


-It may be a pit of debt. 


-It may be a pit of sickness.


-It may be a pit of bondage or addiction.


-It may be a pit of despair or depression.


-It may be a pit of marriage problems that looks so deep and so dark and impossible that you feel like giving up.


-It may be a spiritual pit and you just don’t feel God like you used to, and you’re dry. 

-I don’t know what your pit because they come in all different shapes and sizes.


-I don’t know what that pit is for you; but I want you to look at your neighbor and tell them I’ve spent my last night in the pit.



Psalm 30:5 “Weeping may endure for a night but joy cometh in the morning.”



Rueben came back to the pit where he last saw Joseph and Joseph wasn’t there. He was distraught because he thought the worse had happened and that Joseph was dead. 

There are some people that thought they knew you pretty good. They thought they knew where to look for you. They even talked about your pitiful condition to other people. But that was yesterday.


-Yesterday you were in the pit.


-Yesterday it looked like you were going to die in the pit.


-Yesterday you felt like you were going to die in the pit.



Hear a Word from God.


-You hear Joseph say: Don’t you dare die in the Pit.


-You hear Joseph say: The fall doesn’t have to be fatal; it just delays the blessings.



-Don’t quit dreaming.


-Don’t quit believing.


-Don’t quit trusting.


-Don’t quit expecting.



It looked like Joseph was going to die in the pit, and it felt like Joseph was going to die in the pit, but through a turn of circumstances in a matter of minutes Joseph was up out of the pit on solid ground.
 I want to tell you God is going to turn it around:


-I don’t know how He’s going to do it
,

-I don’t know when He’s going to do it
,

-I don’t know who He’s going to use to do it

, 

but God’s going to turn it around. 

If you learn anything from the Bible it is that God is a God of the turn-around. From Genesis to Revelation God is always turning things around for those that trust in Him. 

Proverbs 3:5, 6 "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."

When You Are At The Bottom Of The Well(Part 2)

When you are in a well the best view is up. You can look at the mud at the bottom of the well, but that’s just plain depressing. You can focus on the barren walls that have no foothold and that is discouraging. But looking up can help you see a lot of things. It helps you to see God. You know too often God is an afterthought in the good life. When everything is going well, you have a great job, healthy kids, a loving spouse, you kind of figure that you deserve it. After all you are a nice person, you’ve worked hard. But when things take a turn for the worse, you lose your job, your kids get sick, or your marriage starts to fail then it’s a horse of a different color. Then you have God on speed dial. 

Sometimes it takes a turn for the worse in order for us to discover the truth that David acknowledged in Psalm 121:1, 2 when he said, "I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth."

And so if being at the bottom of the well teaches us to rely on God then it’s a cheap lesson. But looking up also causes us to see beyond the present reality to a preferred future. It’s easy when you are in the well to look around at the dark walls and the murky bottom and think: this is it, it will never get any better I might as well just give up and die. But if you look up you see the blue of the sky above. You can look beyond the bottom of the well and beyond the walls and see where you could be and should be. Visualize what it will be like to be out of the pit, walking around enjoying the sunshine and getting on with life. You can’t dwell on the negative forever, so look up. Things will change is you trust God.



Philippians 4:8 "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."



There are worse places to be then at the bottom of the well. When you look down and see the ground let it remind you that you are still on the right side of the grass. I tell people if when you look in the mirror in the morning and there’s someone looking back that’s not a bad way to start the day. 

Matthew Henry was an English preacher and Author in the late 1600s one day while travelling he was robbed and I love what he said in response to his misfortune “I thank Thee first because I was never robbed before; second, because although they took my purse they did not take my life; third, because although they took my all, it was not much; and fourth because it was I who was robbed, and not I who robbed.” 



Remember it could always be worse.



While Jeremiah’s at the bottom of the well no doubt wondering if anyone cares about him there is someone who is going to bat for him. Ebed-melech a high official in the court heard what had happened to Jeremiah and goes to the king and says you can’t allow this to happen, and the King arranges for Jeremiah to be pulled from the pit. It’s when you are down that you find out who your friends really are. 
 It’s always disappointing to find out who doesn’t stick with you, but at least you know where you stand. But it is so refreshing to know that there are people who will stick with you through thick and thin. And if there are no friends waiting for you at the top of the well keep in mind Jesus’ words in John 15:15 "Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you."

At The Bottom Of The Well (Part 1)

Jeremiah 38:6 “Then took they Jeremiah, and cast him into the dungeon of Malchiah the son of Hammelech, that was in the court of the prison: and they let down Jeremiah with cords. And in the dungeon there was no water, but mire: so Jeremiah sunk in the mire.”

Jeremiah was born in a small village about an hour's walk from Jerusalem. He was called as a young man to speak for God. During his life Jeremiah saw Israel turn from God and in turn it was defeated internally by immorality and externally by military might. He saw Jerusalem captured and pillaged and its residents forced into slavery or exile. He tried to warn Israel of their fate, yet they ignored Jeremiah’s warnings and pleas to turn back to God.



Now the problem with being a prophet is that it doesn’t necessarily make you the most popular kid on the block. You see the prophet’s message is not one of motherhood, apple pie and lower taxes. Prophets preach turn or burn messages, prophets don’t preach feel good sermons. After one particular sermon that Jeremiah preached the powers that be decided that he wasn’t doing a great deal for public morale and so they decided to do something about it. 

Here's what he preached:

Verses 2, 3 "Thus saith the Lord, He that remaineth in this city shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence: but he that goeth forth to the Chaldeans shall live; for he shall have his life for a prey, and shall live. Thus saith the Lord, This city shall surely be given into the hand of the king of Babylon's army, which shall take it."

Now in the church tradition of today if you don’t like the preacher you call the Head Bishop and ask for a change. Obviously this was a different time and different place because they threw him into an empty cistern, which is like a well. It wouldn’t have been right for them to kill a prophet of God, but if he was at the bottom of a well without food and starved to death, then whose fault was that?

So Jeremiah looks up and all he could see was a circle of blue. He looked down and watched the mud squish between his toes. And he wondered how he had ended up at the bottom of a pit hated by the very people he wanted to save.

Some people know what it’s like to look at the world from the bottom of a well.

-Maybe it was your fault and maybe it wasn’t that you ended up there, but that doesn’t change the fact that the bottom of the well is not a nice place to be.

-Maybe you did all you could to better things, but you still became a victim of circumstance.

-Maybe others made promises that people expect you to fulfill, but you just don't have those abilities and instead of understanding you received rejection.

Pardon the grammar, but it ain't no fun at the bottom of the well. All you can hope for is mercy and that someone will reach down and pull you up and out.

When you've fallen into the mire at the bottom of the well and you can't go any lower than you already are there's someone who can help you. His name is Jesus.

Jeremiah 33:3 "Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.

Count Your Blessings

Psalms 92:1 “It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High:”

Gratitude fosters true forgiveness, which is when you can sincerely say, “Thank you for that experience. It makes no sense to condemn or regret an important life lesson. Gratitude makes sense of yesterday, brings peace to the present, and creates a positive vision for tomorrow.

You never need more than you have at any given moment. The highest form of prayer is giving thanks.  Instead of praying for more things, give thanks for what you already have been blessed with. When life gives you every reason to be negative, think of one good reason to be positive.There’s always something to be grateful for and God can help you find it even in the worst situation.

Whatever you appreciate and give thanks for will grow stronger in your life. The more you are in a state of gratitude, the more you will attract things to be grateful for. Be grateful for what you have, and you’ll end up having more. Focus on what you don’t have, and you’ll never have enough.

Being happy won’t always make you grateful, but being grateful will always make you happy. It’s nearly impossible to sincerely appreciate a moment and frown about it at the same time. To be happy right now doesn’t mean you don’t desire more, but it means you’re grateful for what you have and patiently waiting for what’s yet to come.

Always count your blessings. You will find out they out number the things you don't have by a mile.

Yesterday

Psalms 90:4 “For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night.”

Whatever you do, don’t live with yesterday’s stress,  just live past it.  

-You cannot change what has already happened, but you can let it make you stronger and more determined in the new day ahead.

-The journey to emotional clarity requires that you review the events in your life to find the wisdom and purpose they contain and then press on.

A time will inevitably come in your life when in the midst of all your hesitation and frustration you stop dead in your tracks and somewhere the voice inside your head cries out, “ENOUGH!”  This is the turning point that ultimately leads to healing and growth from yesterday's disappointments and the promises of a new tomorrow.

So as you begin each new day, close the door on yesterday, open the door to your future, take a deep breath, take a step forward, and start a new chapter in your life.

Ecclesiastes 3:15 “That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past.”

Amazing Things

Isaiah 44:21 “Remember these, O Jacob and Israel; for thou art my servant: I have formed thee; thou art my servant: O Israel, thou shalt not be forgotten of me.”

Easy days don’t exist when you’re doing amazing things.  

-God's goals require hard work. Your work for God may be enjoyable, but there will always be unexpected obstacles.  Expecting otherwise just leads to unnecessary headaches and heartache.

-You don't waste time. Each day you cherish the moments you rise above your difficulties and conquer goals of any magnitude for the Kingdom of God.

-You dream of the strength you find within yourself that allows you to achieve what once seemed impossible. Your hopes become reality as your faith increases. Every battle prepares you for the next one. With each conflict your spiritual strength grows larger as your trust in God becomes more anchored.

So don’t do what’s easy-anybody can do that. Do what you’re capable of today.  Astound yourself with the greatness God has placed in you. 

Philippians 4:13  “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

Pleasing God

Colossians 1:10 “That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;”

Many people have meltdowns over very small inconveniences and only want what's best for them.  You will end up very disappointed if you expect people will always do for you as you do for them. Not everyone has the same heart as you do or the same mindset. Yet even the most unfortunate situations you face don't have to steal your happiness or pollute your spirit.

Let go of the needless stress weighing you down from trying to be everything to everyone. This is a new hour of your life and life will continue to surprise you with changes, one way or the other.  So you might as well make positive transitions going forward and realize the one you have to answer for at the judgement is yourself and you alone.

Aren’t you tired of dealing with the same type of headaches and heartaches over and over and over again trying to measure up to other's expectations? If you are then:

-Focus on purging any negative habits as you begin anew for your benefit not to please others.

-Focus on learning from your mistakes rather than be conquered by them.

-Focus on letting your errors be of commission rather than omission.

You ultimately become what you repeatedly do.  If your daily habits aren’t helping you, they’re hurting you. So from this day forward  press forward praising God. Love Him, love people, and do the best you can in spite of what people do to you. One day you'll be glad you did.

Steps

Psalms 37:23 “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way.”

Isn’t it strange how life works?  

You want something and you work for it and wait for it and work for it and wait for it, and you feel like it’s taking forever to arrive.  Then it happens and it’s over and all you want to do is curl back up in that moment before things changed.

So, how can you avoid these feelings of loss and confusion?

-By being more present every step of the way. Pursue your goals and dreams while at the same time enjoying the journey of getting there.  God has ordered your steps.

-Embrace the steps you’re taking, even when you feel like you’ve lost your footing. Sometimes your road gets bumpy.  Every step doesn’t have to be comfortable or perfectly placed.

-By letting go of what “should” happen or what “could” happen every step of the way, you free up your life to what God has in store for you.  You may not lead the exact life you desired, but you will lead a meaningful, miraculous existence, guaranteed because God is with you and guiding your steps.

Life is often difficult, but it’s not a chore.  It's an adventure, so feel good about the steps you’re taking right now as directed by God. Do so and you’ll smile all the way to eternity.

Psalms 17:5 “Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not.”

“Bridges That Don’t Exist”

                                                            Proverbs 12:25 "Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad.

NKJV “Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, but a good word makes it glad.”

CEV “Worry is a heavy burden, but a kind word always brings cheer.” 

The Message “Worry weighs us down; a cheerful word picks us up.”

We often cross bridges that haven’t been built over waters that don’t flow through valley’s that don’t exist!  In fact, search the Internet using the phrase “Americans worried.” Immediately you will discover pages of insights into the things that keep American’s stomachs tied in knots!  Americans are worried about cybercrime, retirement, corporate wrongdoing, homeland security, health care coverage, nursing shortages, money and personal safety. There is no shortage of worry! 

In a survey of 1000 adults, researchers studied people who lose sleep because of worry. Over a two week period, these sleepless souls spent 22 hours worried about money and 9.5 hours worried about national security.  Also among those who couldn’t sleep, 15.5 hours was spent worrying about the safety of family members. American’s need the freedom from worry that God’s grace can provide!

We are easily burdened down with the worries of this world.  In the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego we find three men who could face the worst situations with a personal peace.  If we can apply these four lessons we will learn from their experience to our personal lives, we too can have God’s personal peace.We need this personal peace instead of worrying about bridges that we may never have to cross.

-We must make decisions based on principles, not practicalities or personalities.                                                                                                                       Daniel 3:16 “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter.”

What if these three men had made decisions based on practicalities and personalities?                                                                                                                          

Their decision to stand tall was noble, but not practical. King Nebuchadnezzar was a formidable figure to stand against and a fiery furnace was nothing to laugh about.                                                              Had these three made their decision based on practicalities or personalities, they would have bowed with the rest of the crowd. So when the “heat was on,” the three men had no decision to make, only a decision to act upon.

The Bible is a book of principles. If we learn and apply biblical principles we will be freed from the worry of “heat of the moment” decision making.

-We must die to self so that we can deal with the worst reality rather than a make-believe monster.

The three men were believing in a miracle that would save their lives: Daniel 3:17 “If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king.” The three men had prepared themselves for God choosing a different outcome by dying to self in advance of the crisis.  Having died to self, they were prepared to die for God’s honor.Daniel 3:18 “But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”

-We must learn to walk in the presence of God in good times so God will walk in your presence in bad times.

The outcome of this story is amazing because of the presence and power of God:                                                                                                                 Daniel 3:26, 27 “Then Nebuchadnezzar went near the mouth of the burning fiery furnace and spoke, saying, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, servants of the Most High God, come out, and come here.” Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego came from the midst of the fire. And the satraps, administrators, governors, and the king’s counselors gathered together, and they saw these men on whose bodies the fire had no power; the hair of their head was not singed nor were their garments affected, and the smell of fire was not on them.”

-The presence and power of God was with the three men long before they were in the fiery furnace;                                                                                       

Daniel 1:17 “As for these four young men, God gave them knowledge and skill in all literature and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.”

Do you expect God to be with you in the tough times when you do not rely on His presence in the good times?

-We must make it our desire to give the praise and glory to God.

The three young men were willing to die for God’s glory:                               

Daniel 3:28 “Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, who sent His Angel and delivered His servants who trusted in Him, and they have frustrated the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they should not serve nor worship any god except their own God!”

A desire to give God glory will enable you to trust God in the midst of great adversity.

David had this desire:                                                                                            1 Samuel 17:46 “This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.”

Paul had this same desire:                                                                                                                   1 Corinthians 2:2 “For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” 

Remember these 5 simple things about bridges that don’t exist:

(1) You are not alone in facing them. 


(2) Always make choices concerning situations based on principle, and not on people or appearances.


(3) Avoid making hasty decisions. Don’t hurry yourself. Remember that making the right decision at the wrong time is as bad as choosing the wrong alternative at the right time.


(4) Look with the eyes of faith before making a molehill into a mountain.


(5) Accept that you are not a perfect person, and that you cannot perfectly handle every situation; but you will make an attempt to trust the Lord in every way possible to help you through. 

When You’re Down To Nothing

When you're alone and down to nothing, Just what then can you do?
You can totally know this for sure, Now God can take care of you!

When you yourself, can get you out, No need for God to show.
It's when you're down to nothing, That's when He helps you grow!

There is one thing you can depend on, You must always be obedient.
If He says, "Do this, or do that." Better do it! - It's expedient!

After you've done your very best, But you still need lots of aid.
Don't let fear rule your heart, There's no need to be afraid!

God is always there to show up, Just when you're most in need.
If you're really down to nothing ...Here comes you rescue - Yes, indeed!