Choose Life!

O Lord, you have examined my heart

    and know everything about me.

 You know when I sit down or stand up.

    You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.

 You see me when I travel

    and when I rest at home.

    You know everything I do.

~Psalm 139: 1-3 (NLT)

     

     This month's blog will be a little different in that it's about two topics we sometimes avoid: Depression and discouragement. Many Christians feel that if someone admits to these things, it is because of sin in their life, not praying enough, lack of faith, or not being a true worshiper because the Word does say in Nehemiah 8:10 that "...The joy of The Lord is our strength", and it is.  But, what about those times when we can't seem to find the joy because of where we happen to be in life, or when life becomes overwhelming? Where do we go when there seems to be no one to talk to, or no one understands? 

God is our refuge and strength,

    always ready to help in times of trouble.

~Psalm 46:1 (NLT)

     Sometimes the hardest thing to do is to go to God when we are feeling our worst, but He is the One who can help us. Even if we call a friend or a trusted leader or professional, their ability to help us comes from Him. If all we can do is sit by ourselves alone, God hasn't left us. He's always available even when He seems distant. In the book of Psalms, David wrote about feeling that God had forgotten about him, being discouraged, alone, and feeling sad, and he was a great worshiper. We are no different.

     If you know someone who is feeling discouraged or depressed, the best thing you can do is to be a good listener. Don't try to change what they say, tell them how they should or should not feel, or preach at them.Never judge them. Let God lead you as to how to speak after you hear them out. Offer to pray with them, cook them a meal, do whatever you are able to do to assist. If your friend is talking about harming themselves, get them to a safe place and call 9-1-1 if needed. Take everything they say seriously. Remember, it's not your role to try to fix them, but as a friend to get them some help.

The Sovereign Lord has given me his words of wisdom,

    so that I know how to comfort the weary.

Morning by morning he wakens me

    and opens my understanding to his will.

~ Isaiah 50:4 (NLT)

     Lastly, if you are reading this blog and are feeling discouraged for any reason, there is help available. If you can't find anyone to talk to and just need to hear another voice on the phone, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline in the USA at: 

Hotline Numbers: 1-800-273-TALK or 1-800-273-8255

Crisis Text Line: Text "LISTEN" to 741-741

     You don't have to be suicidal to call, The Lifeline is a listening ear for anyone who calls, 24 hours a day. Please don't be ashamed. Discouragement and depression are not signs of weakness, they are signs that help is needed. Don't give up...Choose Life!

Lord, you know and see the person who is reading this blog post right now. Please give them grace and strength to walk through whatever season or circumstance they find themselves in. We ask that you would move every hindrance and stumbling block that is in their way and let them see the light that is in You. Restore the joy in their heart and be their rock and shelter. This is our prayer, in Jesus name. Amen.

No More Games!

Because of God’s grace to me, I have laid the foundation like an expert builder. Now others are building on it. But whoever is building on this foundation must be very careful.  For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have—Jesus Christ. Anyone who builds on that foundation may use a variety of materials—gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw.  But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s work has any value.  If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward.  But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames. ~1 Cor. 3:10-15 (NLT)

     Have you ever become discouraged because it looks as if mostly everyone around you seems to be progressing in their ministry endeavors, and you are still struggling? Does it look as if others have that "crowd appeal" when it comes to hosting events and conferences, and no one ever notices your efforts, or worse than that, only a handful of people even show up to your venue? Are you still trying after all these years, to make the right connections by casual name dropping, hard at work to create the strategic network circle that will get you noticed on the "friend" list of some highly recognizable name in social media, resorting to "liking" and posting an "Amen" every quote they put up, requesting to tag yourself in their pictures, or even giving sizable offerings that you can't afford,in an effort to gain their favor?  Well, I have one word for you: "STOP!" It's a waste of your time. Many of the people you are trying to emulate have worked tirelessly for years to get to where they are, and if you were to ever sit down and talk with some of them, their stories would be overwhelming. Those with genuine ministries have endured trials, tests, hardship, betrayal, rejection, discouragement, loss, grief, sickness, and all kinds of emotional pain. They had to wait, study, be trained, be brokenhearted, and still be faithful. No one gave them anything, they worked hard to achieve the status that you see them carrying. 

      

. . .Instead, we commend ourselves as ministers of God in every way. We did this with our great endurance through problems, disasters, and stressful situations.  We went through beatings, imprisonments, and riots. We experienced hard work, sleepless nights, and hunger.  We displayed purity, knowledge, patience, and generosity. We served with the Holy Spirit, genuine love,  telling the truth, and God’s power. We carried the weapons of righteousness in our right hand and our left hand.~ 2 Cor 6:4-7 (CEB)

     Don't allow the enemy to deceive you into thinking that the "way to the top" in ministry is to have what the world calls "Game" or "Hustle" because although there are many who have chosen this way, in the end, it will only come to ruin. The Bible says that every one's works will be tested by the fire of God when we stand before Him, and His fire will reveal the intention of the works that we have done. It goes on to say that we will still be saved, but all of the worthless things we invested our all into in this life to achieve greatness that God didn't even recognize will all be destroyed. What a humiliating experience that would be, for the Almighty to destroy our hustle and game! If you're unsure of what hustle looks like, here is a brief definition in context:

To convey forcibly or hurriedly; to obtain by energetic activity; to sell something to or obtain something from by energetic and especially underhanded activity*

     Does that look like anything you have been trying to do, to make your ministry happen? if so, you can turn it around, ask God for forgiveness and help you to go on the right path to do things His way. Everyone will not have a large dance/worship arts ministry, an extensive conference schedule or long mailing list, but everyone can do God's will. Maybe in your efforts to attain these things, you have found yourself being tempted to push others aside to make room for yourself, or even sacrificed some friendships to become more appealing to the people you are trying to impress. It's not too late to change your course! Go back and get direction from God, and if what He is leading you to do seems small for now, be faithful with that and do it with a pure heart. And remember the old song that says: Only what you do for Christ will last!

Selah . . .

Footnote: *www.m-w.com

Don't Give Up!

"...Yet I will preserve 7,000 others in Israel who have never bowed down to Baal or kissed him!”

~ 1 Kings 19:18 (NLT)

Have you ever felt like giving up, or walking away and never looking back from the worship arts ministry due to all of the competition, compromise, and other ungodly behavior that you have witnessed?  Do you feel that participating in dance, drama or music ministries is just not worth it anymore because of being mistreated, taken for granted, disrespected, or intimidated?  What about being:

• persecuted
• ostracized
• criticized
• exploited
• lied on
• talked about
• excluded
• humiliated
• threatened
• etc...

Guess what...you're in good company! Elijah the prophet was on a mission from God. He challenged the prophets of Baal to see who the true and Living God was, and destroyed them and their altars. When Ahab's wife, Queen Jezebel learned of this, she threatened him with death...and Elijah went on the run. Queen Jezebel's goal was to overthrow the worship of God, and would destroy anyone who got in her way:

When Ahab got home, he told Jezebel everything Elijah had done, including the way he had killed all the prophets of Baal.  So Jezebel sent this message to Elijah: “May the gods strike me and even kill me if by this time tomorrow I have not killed you just as you killed them.”

 Elijah was afraid and fled for his life. He went to Beersheba, a town in Judah, and he left his servant there.  Then he went on alone into the wilderness, traveling all day. He sat down under a solitary broom tree and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life, for I am no better than my ancestors who have already died.” 1 Kings 19: 1-4 (NLT)

Imagine for a moment, what Elisha must have been feeling. He had done everything that God commanded, and was now running from Jezebel's threats. He knew that she was very capable of making good on them, and went to find shelter in a cave. But look at God's response:

[...And a voice said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

 He replied again, “I have zealously served the Lord God Almighty. But the people of Israel have broken their covenant with you, torn down your altars, and killed every one of your prophets. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too.”

 Then the Lord told him, “Go back the same way you came, and travel to the wilderness of Damascus. When you arrive there, anoint Hazael to be king of Aram.  Then anoint Jehu grandson of Nimshi to be king of Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from the town of Abel-meholah to replace you as my prophet.  Anyone who escapes from Hazael will be killed by Jehu, and those who escape Jehu will be killed by Elisha!  Yet I will preserve 7,000 others in Israel who have never bowed down to Baal or kissed him!"~ 1 Kings 19: 13-18 (NLT)