How to Beat the Blues

bluesElijah had just seen a great victory for the Lord (1 Kings 18). He stood against a large number of false prophets and, putting his faith in God, saw the evildoers completely defeated.

Then, remarkably, Elijah lost his nerve. After Jezebel threatened him, he ran for his life. Leaving his servant behind, he went off by himself. Exhausted, he said a prayer that pretty much indicated that he was giving up, and then lay down to go to sleep.

Suddenly God intervened in his life. An angel gave him something to eat. Then Elijah slept again. After that he got up and ate some more. At this point he was no longer ready to give up. He continued on with renewed strength (1 Kings 19).

What we need to beat the blues is often quite simple. First, we need companionship. If Elijah had taken his servant with him, he wouldn’t have felt so much alone. He probably would have received much-needed encouragement—perhaps a reminder of the victory that they had so recently experienced. When you’re feeling down, don’t go off by yourself. Allow a trusted friend to help you through the situation.

Second, sometimes we become more negative because we aren’t getting enough sleep. Slumber helped Elijah get back on track. It might be what you need too.

Third, we need to make sure that we are eating well. Lack of proper nutrition can lead to discouragement. A healthy meal or snack just might help improve your outlook on life.

Friends, rest and food—there is your prescription to beat the blues.

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Two-Part Talk

A couple of themes stand out in the writings of the apostle Paul.

First, he talks a great deal about Jesus. He is continually expounding on the crucified, yet risen, Christ. Paul’s most heartfelt desire is to make the gospel of Jesus Christ known to as many people as possible.

Second, Paul often gives his personal testimony. He tells the story of how Jesus changed him from someone who persecuted the church into a man who worked hard in the service of the Lord. His encounter with the resurrected Jesus turned his life around completely.

That sounds like a good strategy for any follower of Jesus—talk a lot about Jesus, and tell people how Jesus has changed our life.

Do you have your talk ready?

“Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.”—1 Timothy 1:15-16.

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Apparent Activity

hardly workingSomeone told me a few days ago that they heard that I was running for exercise. This confused me, since I haven’t really run for years. Then I remembered that I had indeed jogged for a few yards while out for a walk. Someone must have seen me for those few seconds, and assumed that I was running all the way. It seems that I have a reputation, at least in someone’s eyes, of being a runner, even though I only ran a few steps.

I suppose that people could catch us at a good moment and think that we are living all out for God all the time. They might see us going to church once and think that we attend all the time. They might see us do a good deed and assume that this is our regular practice. Or they might see us being generous on a rare occasion and think that we always have a big heart.

Let’s be careful that we aren’t building a reputation that is undeserved. Let’s really be active in serving God and our fellow man.

“…I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God.”—Revelation 3:1-2.

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Is Your Heart in It?

boy cryingA man once told me about a memorable experience he had while growing up in church. He had a speaking part in a Sunday morning Mothers’ Day program. While delivering his lines, he became visibly emotional, so much so that tears ran down his cheeks. People bragged on him after church, saying that he obviously cared a great deal about delivering his lines well and honoring the mothers who were in attendance. Actually, the man confessed to me that the emotion that he was expressing was anger. You see, he didn’t actually want to be in the program; he was forced to participate against his will. His heart really wasn’t in it.

Over and over in the Old Testament, God warned his people against merely going through the motions of worship. He wanted them to put their hearts into it.

That’s what he still wants from us today.

“Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.”—John 4:23.

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OK to Be Single

single ladyOne lady, desperate for a husband, began corresponding with a man who was in prison. She eventually worked up the courage to ask him what crime he had committed. He responded honestly, “I killed my wife.” “Oh, good!” she exclaimed. “You’re single!”

Many people believe that they can’t find fulfillment in life unless they are married. Why wouldn’t they think that? People tell them to be patient; they’ll find somebody. They hear that “there is somebody out there for everyone.” It’s no wonder that so many people think that they can’t be happy living as a single person.

The Bible does paint a beautiful picture of marriage, but Scripture also teaches us that it is perfectly all right to remain single.

Paul spends quite a bit of time in 1 Corinthians 7 talking about the benefits of being unmarried, and he encourages this lifestyle. Jesus says in Matthew 19:12 that some people “… have renounced marriage because of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it.”

Let’s not push marriage on people who are perfectly happy being single.

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Ungrateful Child

Rachel Canning

Rachel Canning

Rachel Canning, a high school honor student in New Jersey, has sued to get her parents to support her after she moved out of their home. She asked for $650 a week in child support, plus tuition to her private school and attorney’s fees. A judge has denied the girl’s initial request, cautioning that the case could lead to other outrageous lawsuits from ungrateful children who could leave their parents’ home and then ask for financial support.

It seems ridiculous that a child would refuse to live with her parents and still think that she deserves the financial benefits that come with being a member of the family.

Is it any less ridiculous for a person to try to live outside the family of God and still seek the blessings of the Parent that he or she is rejecting?

“Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father…”—James 1:16-17.

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Family Tree

tree-clipart-4There once was a fellow who was curious about his family history, so he paid someone $200 to research his genealogy. After looking at the results, he paid the man another $1,000 to keep quiet about it!

We shouldn’t be too concerned about questionable characters in our family tree. A look at the genealogy of Jesus shows some imperfect people. Abraham lied about his wife. Jacob cheated his brother. David committed adultery. Solomon was a womanizer. Rahab was a prostitute.

You have to get to Jesus before you find anybody who was perfect.

I guess that’s the point.

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Give the Bible a Shot

Rickey Wagoner

Rickey Wagoner

Rickey Wagoner, a Dayton bus driver, told Dayton police that he was standing outside his bus early Monday morning when he was shot 3 times. Fortunately, his injuries are not life-threatening. This may be due in part to the fact that two of the bullets struck a biblical booklet that Wagoner had in his shirt pocket.

The Bible can do more than protect us from bullets. Jesus once told a group of people, “You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life.”—John 5:39-40.

It may be a good thing to carry a Bible in your pocket. It’s an essential thing to read it, and to come to Jesus for the eternal life that only he can give!

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Hidden Treasure

California treasure found

California treasure found

A couple in Northern California made a remarkable discovery recently while walking their dog on their property. They found a stash of gold coins that had been buried under an old tree. The coins are dated from 1847 to 1894, and are in excellent condition. While their face value is a mere $27,000, experts say that the collection could be worth as much as $10 million!

This reminds us of a story Jesus told: “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.”—Matthew 13:44.

The treasure found by the California couple should last them a lifetime.

The treasure of the kingdom of heaven will last for eternity!

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The Danger of Following Jesus

danger aheadIt was Jesus’ idea for his disciples to take a trip with him to the other side of the lake. They got into the boat with him and set out for the opposite shore. Jesus promptly fell asleep. However, a terrible storm suddenly came down on the lake, and the disciples were in great danger (Luke 8:22-25).

Most of you know what happened next. The disciples woke Jesus up and voiced their fear of drowning. Jesus promptly calmed the storm and then questioned the faith of his followers.

We all know the moral of the story—Never fear when Jesus is with you, because he has the ultimate power to protect us. However, we might fail to notice that Jesus led the disciples into danger. Sometimes we get the idea that Jesus will keep us away from dangerous situations. Nothing could be further from the truth!

Peter, James, John, Paul and others would scoff at the thought that following Jesus keeps a person safe from danger. Hebrews 11 lists many men and women who suffered—and sometimes died—for their faith.

Following Jesus is not to be taken lightly. It can be a very dangerous undertaking.

“Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.”—Matthew 10:34.

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