Many scriptures discuss depression and other problems concerning the mind and problems that cause us to feel down.  I want to address one particular scripture this evening.  Psalm 42:11 [show]Psalm 42:11 [11]Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.
states, “Whay art thou cast down, O my soul? And why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise Him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.” (more…)

1ch 4:9 And Jabez was more honourable than his brethren: and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bare him with sorrow.
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1ch 4:10 And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested.

A powerful and popular prayer outside of the Lord’s Prayer is the prayer of jabez. (more…)

OH, HOW GREAT IS YOUR GOODNESS, WHICH YOU HAVE LAID UP FOR THOSE WHO FEAR, REVERE, AND WORSHIP YOU, GOODNESS WHICH YOU HAVE WROUGHT FOR THOSE WHO TRUST AND TAKE REFUGE IN YOU BEFORE THE SONS OF MEN–(PSALMS31:19)—-THE PHRASE, “BEFORE THE SONS  OF MEN” MEANS THAT IF YOU WILL NOT BE A CLOSET CHRISTIAN, BUT LIVE FOR JESUS OPENLY BEFORE OTHERS, GOD WILL STORE UP GOODNESS FOR YOU. MANY CHRISTIANS AREN’T COMFORTABLE TALKING ABOUT THEIR FAITH. WE ALL HAVE MOMENTS WHERE WE DON’T TAKE A STAND FOR GOD LIKE WE SHOULD. MAYBE WE ARE AFRAID OF BEING REJECTED, ISOLATED, OR RIDICULED. IT CAN FEEL AWKWARD TO SAY, I REALLY DON’T WANT TO HEAR A DIRTY JOKE. I’M A CHRISTIAN AND I’M NOT INTERESTED IN GOING  TO AN INAPPROPRIATE MOVIE, OR HITTING THE BAR AFTER WORK. THATS NOT WHAT I’M TALKING ABOUT. MY RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD IS TOO IMPORTANT TO ME. YOU SHOULD NOT BE LUKEWARM, WISHY-WASHY CHRISTIANS. WHEN YOU TAKE AN UNCOMPROMISING STAND FOR CHRIST, GOD WILL REWARD YOU OPENLY—BE BLESSED

AND I AM CONVINCED AND SURE OF THIS VERY THING, THAT HE WHO BEGAN A GOOD WORK IN YOU WILL CONTINUE  UNTIL  THE DAY OF JESUS CHRIST, DEVELOPING AND PERFECTING AND BRINGING IT TO FULL COMPLETION IN YOU. (PHILIPPIANS1:6)—–NONE OF US HAS ARRIVED. WE ARE ALL IN THE PROCESS OF BECOMING. IN ROMANS 7, PAUL SAID THE GOOD THINGS HE WANTED TO DO,HE COULD NOT DO, AND  EVIL THINGS  HE DID NOT WANT TO DO, HE , ALWAYS FOUND HIMSELF DOING. HE SAID HE FELT WRETCHED. YOU CAN PROBABLY RELATE TO THAT FEELING,( I CAN). WE ALL HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO, AND SATAN SEEMS TO ENJOY REMINDING US DAILY. IF YOU STRUGGLE WITH A CONSTANT SENSE OF FAILURE, ADOPT A NEW ATTITUDE. TELL YOURSELF, I AM NOT WHERE I NEED TO BE, BUT THANK GOD I AM NOT WHERE I USED TO BE .I’M OK, AND I’M ON MY WAY!–BE BLESSED

“Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judae’a in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men form the east to Jerusalem, saying, where is He that is born King of the Jews?  For we have seen His star in the east, and are come to worship Him.”  (Matthew 2 [show]Matthew 2 The Visit of the Wise Men [2:1]Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men(1) from the east came to Jerusalem, [2]saying, "Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose(2) and have come to worship him." [3]When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; [4]and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. [5]They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: [6]"'And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.'" [7]Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. [8]And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him." [9]After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. [10]When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. [11]And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. [12]And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way. The Flight to Egypt [13]Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him." [14]And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt [15]and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, "Out of Egypt I called my son." Herod Kills the Children [16]Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men. [17]Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah: [18]"A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted, because they are no more." The Return to Nazareth [19]But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, [20]saying, "Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child's life are dead." [21]And he rose and took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. [22]But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he withdrew to the district of Galilee. [23]And he went and lived in a city called Nazareth, that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled: "He shall be called a Nazarene." (ESV) Footnotes 1. [2:1] Greek 'magi'; also verses 7, 16 2. [2:2] Or 'in the east'; also verse 9
1:2).  The wise men were on a mission to welcome Christ into the world, so they (more…)

WE LOVE HIM, BECAUSE HE FIRST LOVED US. ( 1 JHON4:19)——MORE  THAN ANYTHING, WE NEED A REVELATION OF GOD’S LOVE FOR US.GOD’S LOVE FOR US IS THE FOUNDATION FOR OUR FAITH,OUR FREEDOM FROM SIN,AND OUR ABILITY TO STEP OUT IN THE MINISTRY TO OTHERS WITHOUT FEAR IN THE FORM OF INSECURITY.GOD MADE US WITH A LONGING IN OUR HEARTS TO BE LOVED.AND THE WORD ASSURES US THAT GOD LOVES US.YET MANY PEOPLE MISTAKENLY BELIEVE THEY HAVE WORN GOD OUT WITH THEIR FAILURES.YOU CAN’T CAUSE GOD NOT TO LOVE YOU.LOVE ISN’T SOMETHING GOD DOES—–ITS WHO HE IS (1 JOHN 4:8).AS YOU MEDITATE ON GOD’S LOVE AT THE END OF EVERY DAY,ACCEPT IT AND EXPRESS YOUR GREAT LOVE FOR HIM.THEN AS YOU GO ABOUT YOUR DAY TOMORROW—AND ALL YOUR TOMORROWS–SHARE THAT LOVE WITH OTHERS.—-BE BLESSED

DAVID WAS GREATLY DISTRESSED,FOR THE MEN SPOKE OF STONING HIM BECAUSE THE SOULS OF THEM ALL WERE BITTERLY GRIEVED,EACH MAN FOR HIS SONS AND DAUGHTERS. BUT DAVID ENCOURAGE AND STRENGTHENED HIMSELF IN THE LORD HIS GOD.(1 SAMUEL 30:6)——WHEN DAVID FOUND HIMSELF IN A SEEMINGLY HOPELESS SITUATION WITH NO ONE TO SUPPORT HIM,HE ENCOURAGE AND STRENGTHENED HIMSELF IN THE LORD.LATER ON,THAT SITUATION WAS TOTALLY TURNED AROUND( 1 SAMUEL 30:1-20).IF YOU DO’N'T BELIEVE IN YOURSELF,WHO IS GOING TO? GOD BELIEVES IN YOU,AND IT IS A GOOD THING TOO,OTHERWISE,YOU MIGHT NEVER MAKE ANY PROGESS.YOU CANNOT ALWAYS WAIT FOR SOMEONE ELSE TO COME ALONG AND ENCOURAGE YOU TO BE ALL YOU CAN BE.CONFIDENCE IS SOMETHING YOU DECIDE TO HAVE.YOU LEARN ABOUT GOD—ABOUT HIS LOVE,HIS WAYS,AND HIS WORD-THEN ULTIMATELY YOU MUST DECIDE WHETHER YOU BELIEVE IT OR NOT.YOU WILL NOT GO FORWARD UNTIL YOU DECIDE TO BELIEVE IN GOD AND YOURSELF.——BE BLESSED