DEPRESSED

SURFING WITH JESUS
Pastor Gene A. Dasher, Sr.
gene@SurfingwithJesus
March 25, 2006 #415

DEPRESSED

Depressed, yes, I have a right to be depressed. I've earned it, I deserve it, and let me be, I am depressed. Have you ever had these thoughts? Have you ever been down and out over your weight? Have you ever been down and out over the lack of attendance at your church? Have you ever just wanted to say, yes, I'm depressed because the sun isn't shining on your Spring Break? Well, you are not alone, everyone wants to have a pity party and have a gloom and doom moment. It's our right and we just take time to do it. It even feels good and we take time to enjoy it.

The kids and young people have a program called WWJD. When we get to this please perhaps, just maybe, we should take time to do as our youngsters do when they simply ask "What Would Jesus Do?" One writer said in IIThessalonians 3:13 "...be not weary in well doing." Another writer put it this way, "Never tire of doing what is right."

When we decide we will give into depression we overlook the great strength we can find in the word of God. I will always believe that reading God's word and getting lost in His love is better than any remedy this world may offer us. With God's word you will find an answer when you allow His Spirit to touch your life, your heart, and direct your thoughts and actions today.

You want to sow seed? Sow it in the word of God, sow it in prayer and sow in your giving tithes on your time and finances in your local church and your local community. This week I shared a story with a childhood friend about a guest minister at our church. This man preached the most compelling story I have ever heard on tithes on our time.

There are 168 hours in a week. Tithes on your time would be 16.8 hours each week. Just think, how much time do you give to the Lord each week. Let's see, we go to church on Sunday maybe for 1-4 hours. We come to midweek service for 1-2 hours. We do a few things to help others for perhaps 2-4 hours. So, this leaves 6 hours plus to give to service to God.

What do you think would take place if we took the tithes on time and placed it into action for God? I believe we would have less time to engage in depression. I believe we would be fresh and do things anew for Jesus. I know the writer in Malachi 3:10 is referring to financial directions and blessings but just think if we took time to give tithes on our time and follow this verse when he said "Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

Wow! WWJD? What Would Jesus Do? There is no limit to what he will do. Depressed? Why? There is so much excitement in God's word; there is joy in serving Jesus. Take time to learn His word and see what the Lord has in store for you as you learn to lean on Him.

I John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

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