THE DESPERATION OF DEPRESSION!

July 16, 2022July 16, 2022 / readyforafreshstart / Leave a comment

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.” ~ I Kings 19:4

THE DESPERATION OF DEPRESSION! ~ Do you know anyone who’s said, “I’ve had enough!” I don’t know many who haven’t. Often, we, who love like JESUS, work feverishly. (Luke 19:10) We burn the candle at both ends. The passion for our LORD and the souls for whom HE died drives us to take evangelism (sharing the GOOD NEWS of JESUS) very seriously and fervently. We know that at any moment some will die without CHRIST. Therefore, we give all that we have to reach these precious ones who so desperately need a SAVIOR. We pray, share, teach, preach, talk, coach, nurture, and weep.

Here’s where we burn out by caring too much. Gossip begins! People talk, and we take the painful criticism of others far too personally holding on to it much too deeply. It is in this moment that “marginal Christians” tell us to slow down, relax, and quit trying so hard. Some call us sinners and try to prove their relationship with CHRIST is alright by imagining that we work so hard to overcome some hidden sin or fault in our lives. Can it be that we just love JESUS! This gossip begins among those who were supposed to be on our side. These threats come from our trusted allies. It is in these character assassinating conversations we are most deeply hurt. Like Elijah, this is the moment many of us say to the LORD, “I have had enough.”

Pray for your pastor, your worship leader, youth minister, and church staff member. Pray for your Sunday school teacher, your children’s Bible study leaders. Pray for other believers who you respect because they truly walk with GOD. Pray for each other because we are attacked daily. (James 5:16-18) Finally, pray for me, as I have far too often told GOD, “I have had enough.” That’s the honesty of ~ THE DESPERATION OF DEPRESSION!

Living in THE SHADOW of the CROSS

Blessings in CHRIST

Pastor Wes

I Peter 3:15

There is an answer for depression & anxiety: HIS Name is JESUS! 🙂

THE BATTLE FOR THE SOULS IN A NATION!

July 3, 2022 / readyforafreshstart / Leave a comment

FRANKLY SPEAKING,

“O LORD, answer me! Answer me so these people will know that YOU, O LORD, are GOD and that YOU have brought them back to YOURSELF.” ~ I Kings 18:37

The Battle for the Souls in a Nation! ~ When you travel to Israel and reach the top of Mount Carmel, you’ll find a compass overlooking the surrounding areas and cities. It was atop this mountain that THE LORD GOD shocked the nation of Israel with consuming fire. Imagine waiting all day for something spectacular to happen as hundreds of people put on their very best show. For hours, the prophets of Baal were chanting, singing, and dancing. These magicians, dramatizers, and actors put on the best show they could muster for all the people of Israel. Around lunchtime, the show grew old.

At this point, The Prophet Elijah challenged these four-hundred fifty prophets of Baal and four-hundred prophets of Asherah by asking them where their god was. He asked if he was too busy to listen to them ~ not omnipotent. He asked if their god was too far away to hear them ~ not omniscient. Then, he asked if their god was asleep or merely daydreaming. Finally, he told them that their god maybe in the bathroom on the toilet ~ not a god at all. They did not take this humiliation well. These prophets began to cut their bodies and mutilate themselves until blood coated the altar. THE WORD OF GOD says that there was “no sound, no reply, and no response.”

“I believe in Christianity as I believe that the Sun has risen, not only because I see it but because by it, I see everything else.” ~ C. S. Lewis

As we celebrate our national freedom, let’s remember the cost of our spiritual freedom ~ JESUS! Make no mistake, GOD is at work just as HE was on Mount Carmel that day. HE is proving HIMSELF to you today. Be very careful! It’s easy to be like one of the Israelites who said they believed, but there was no living-proof of that belief. Real Christianity results in life-change! Remember, JESUS is the ONE WHO gave HIS life for you. HE is the ONE WHO is actively leading ~ The Battle for the Souls in a Nation!

Living in THE SHADOW of the CROSS

Blessings in CHRIST

Pastor Wes

I Peter 3:15

The Battle for the Soul of a Nation ~ https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/17/us/biden-trump-soul-nation-country.html

True North!

February 27, 2022July 18, 2024 / readyforafreshstart / Leave a comment

FRANKLY SPEAKING,

In those days Israel had no king; all the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes.

~ Judges 21:25

THE BOOK OF JUDGES! ~ FAILURE! Have you ever used a COMPASS CORRECTLY? In the northern hemisphere the needle of a working compass will always point north. If you are lost or confused on your journey, then a COMPASS will lead you in the right direction to get you where you need to go. You simply need to know where you are and where you need to go.

It may seem too easy. Of course, it should be. Before the nation of Israel had a king, GOD sent JUDGES or DELIVERERS to Israel to RESCUE the nation from the oppression and suffering they continually found themselves in because they failed to listen to GOD. It was a vicious cycle of disobedience, bondage, misery, liberation, and compromises. It is painful to watch as we read about them.

Do you remember, Deborah, Gideon, and Samson? Each of these BIBLE characters were renown throughout our Sunday school classes in years past. Each tale is filled with GOD’S rescue plan for the nation during the JUDGE’S reign. However, each shows a horrible weakness in the lives of those GOD called to be JUDGE. Barak’s failure leads to Deborah’s Song. Gideon’s Fear leads to GOD’S great victory. Samson’s pride leads to Israel’s fall. ☹

Despair naturally follows disobedience. It’s so much easier to follow the LORD. It makes us think, “Why didn’t they just do better?” “Why didn’t they just honor GOD and follow HIS rules?” Every day, I find myself asking as I watch people struggling to hold it together and look up: “Why don’t they just honor GOD and follow HIS rules?” “What’s wrong with them?”

Then, in my quiet time with GOD after days of busyness it hits me: “Why don’t I just honor GOD and follow HIS rules?” “Why don’t I meet with GOD more often and pray and read HIS WORD?” Henry Blackaby tells us that when GOD speaks to us, HE is inviting us to join HIM. Then, we must adjust our lives to follow HIS PLAN. Remember, your BIBLE is your COMPASS! 😊

Living in the Shadow of the Cross

Blessings in CHRIST

Pastor Wes

I Peter 3:15

A journey of ***EXPERIENCING GOD*** by Henry Blackaby & Claude King

OUR PASSOVER!

January 23, 2022 / readyforafreshstart / Leave a comment

FRANKLY SPEAKING,

6 “Therefore, say to the Israelites: ‘I AM THE LORD, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. I WILL FREE you from being slaves to them, and I WILL REDEEM you with an OUTSTRETCHED ARM and with MIGHTY ACTS of JUDGMENT.’” Exodus 6:6

THE BOOK OF EXODUS ~ What comes to mind first? What about Charlton Heston in the role of MOSES in the movie, THE TEN COMMANDMENTS. Could it be Israel in bondage to the Egyptians for over 400 years? Maybe, it’s MOSES chosen by GOD to be the DELIVER. What about the animated movie, PRINCE OF EGYPT? You might think of the parting of the RED SEA, the PILLAR of FIRE by night and the CLOUD by day. How about MANNA and QUAIL? What about the encounters MOSES has with GOD at the BURNING BUSH or atop MOUNT SINAI? GOD writing THE TEN COMMANDMENTS as MOSES watches, and then MOSES destroying them. Let’s not forget how often ISRAEL COMPLAINS and the GOLDEN CALF. GOD walks by and covers MOSES’ face with HIS HAND leaving MOSES with such SHEKINAH GLORY that the people cannot even look at MOSES. Then, there are these moments, MOSES in a basket in the NILE RIVER, THE TEN PLAGUES, AARON’S ROD, THE ARK OF THE COVENANT, THE TABERNACLE, THE LAW, and so much more.

Which is your favorite? Considering all these mighty acts of GOD it is hard to choose just one. Nevertheless, none of these is the most amazing part of EXODUS to me. In EXODUS, we discover GOD’s PLAN for a PASSOVER LAMB. The entire BOOK of EXODUS points to GOD as DELIVERER of HIS people for all time! As the death angel was to PASSOVER the homes with BLOOD on the doorposts, GOD will withhold HIS judgment on those who have been to the CROSS and received the BLOOD of the LAMB as payment for their sins. My friend, THE BIBLE is not sixty-six separate books, nor is it two editions or volumes. THE BIBLE tells the story of JESUS as our ONLY way to heaven from beginning to end! Where does JESUS fit into your story? 😊

Living in the Shadow of the Cross

Blessings in CHRIST

Pastor Wes~ I Peter 3:15

Forgiven & Faithful

May 25, 2014December 12, 2021 / readyforafreshstart / Leave a comment

FRANKLY SPEAKING,

“Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments…” I John 2:3

FORGIVENESS & FAITHFULNESS! Years ago, I met a man who tried to convince me that aliens were coming to take him away. He was sure that they were coming soon, and he assured me he was ready because he was one of them. I am confident that he believed he was an alien. The way he spoke to me made no sense whatsoever. In fact, he was not rational at all. It seemed to me that his imagination had somehow gotten the better of him. Oh by the way, I was wearing a badge at the time. So, when I began to explain to him that he was in danger of being arrested for criminal trespass and being mentally unstable he quickly changed his tune and left. Truth and consequences have a way of restoring reality very quickly.

Every day I deal with children who get caught doing something wrong, and yet they deny doing the wrong thing while still in the act. I recall a very young child was reaching into other children’s backpacks taking money. I confronted her several times. However, it was not until I walked in on her while she was stealing that her imagined deniability became reality. She cried and begged me not to turn her in. However, I explained that I had no choice. The mother of the child whose backpack was being pilfered had already met with me. It was too late for her because she neglected to do the right thing when confronted.

I find this is true in the church as well. Many of us just keep right on doing whatever we want with no fear or respect of the consequences. We really believe that because we were baptized, we prayed, and we attend church that we can get away with sin. That’s a lie! Sin always has consequences. Here’s one of the sayings I have heard all my life… “Sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you can ever afford to pay.”

True religion or more accurately true Christianity always leads to a dramatic life change. We cannot walk with Christ and stay the same. We are changed over time just by walking with Him daily reading the Bible. Daily prayer changes us as well. We can’t stay mad at the people for whom we are passionately praying. It just won’t work! When we receive real forgiveness it always leads to faithfulness! If anyone says anything else ~ they are liars! (I John 2:4) Remember, JESUS offers FORGIVENESS for all our sins & His expectation is FAITHFULNESS!

Living in the Shadow of the Cross…

Blessings in Christ,

Pastor Wes

I Peter 3:15