The Best Sort of Peace

I'm sure that only a tiny minority of people oppose peace between nations and ethnic groups. When world leaders broker peace deals between bitter enemies, almost everybody cheers.

We Christians are in the peace-making business too. We never receive any prizes or global recognition but we do help to bring rebels to our Lord. 

Romans 5:1 and 2 (Bible in Basic English) shows the good result of evangelism. "For which reason, because we have righteousness through faith, let us be at peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ; Through whom, in the same way, we have been able by faith to come to this grace in which we now are; and let us have joy in hope of the glory of God."

When people surrender their wills to Christ, they experience what Philippians 4:6 and 7 (BBE) promises. "Have no cares; but in everything with prayer and praise put your requests before God. And the peace of God, which is deeper than all knowledge, will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."

We should be the most confident people on the planet. After all the hundreds of verses which reassure us of our lord's love and protection, nobody should still be doubtful. Let's remember the words of Jesus in Luke 12:29 and 30 (BBE). "And do not give overmuch thought to your food and drink, and let not your mind be full of doubts. For the nations of the world go in search of all these things: but your Father has knowledge that you have need of them."

Now I recognize that some people suffer chemical imbalances which cause depression. But most of us merely experience the blues on occasions. That's why Psalms 42:5 (BBE) reminds us,  "Why are you crushed down, O my soul? and why are you troubled in me? put your hope in God; for I will again give him praise who is my help and my God."

This is why we, whom Christ has rescued, must remember to whom we belong and what he promised us.

And if the promise of Christ's return isn't fulfilled by Saturday, I hope to post about the fragility of life and a great song by The Human League.

Why Let Discouragement Rule You?

I'm sure we all experience spells of discouragement from time to time. This usually happens because of false expectations in events and other people. But it isn't healthy to stay in a slump.

As Psalms 42:5 (BBE) reminds us, "Why are you crushed down, O my soul? and why are you troubled in me? put your hope in God; for I will again give him praise who is my help and my God."

Our spiritual leaders especially need encouragement as they bear the responsibility of Christ's flock. Moses knew this burden all too well. When he handed the reins of power to Joshua, he told the Israelites in Deuteronomy 1:38 (BBE) that, "Joshua, the son of Nun, your servant, he will go into the land: say to him that he is to be strong, for he will be Israel's guide into their heritage."

God also encouraged the exiles in Babylon that he hadn't forsaken them. Jeremiah 29:11 and 12 (BBE) reads, "For I am conscious of my thoughts about you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you hope at the end. And you will go on crying to me and making prayer to me, and I will give ear to you."

Furthermore, doubt is a sin in that it makes people believe that God won't help them. Peter learned this lesson when he walked on the water. But he became concerned about the raging waves and he began to sink. Matthew 14:31 (BBE) tells what happened next. "And straight away Jesus put out his hand and took a grip of him, and said to him, 'O man of little faith, why were you in doubt?'"

Trusting in Christ is mandatory if we're to follow him. When the disciples gathered for the last Passover, our lord reminded them of this. John 16:33 (BBE) reads, "I have said all these things to you so that in me you may have peace. In the world you have trouble: but take heart! I have overcome the world."

Though there are chemical imbalances and medical conditions which can make a person chronically depressed, we often get the blues when we forget whom we belong to. It's why Bible reading is a crucial practice.

On Saturday, if Christ doesn't return first, I hope to post about a great song by Ian Thomas.

Saturday Song: Chillowack, "Lonesome Marry"

I'm so glad that society is recognizing the devastating effect which chronic depression has on people. While we all get the blues from time to time, clinical depression renders its victims unable to do much of anything. Even feeding and dressing oneself can become too big a chore.

Chillowack, a band from the town of the same name in British Columbia, sang about a depressed woman back in 1971. Even she didn't know why she wept all the time.

Here "Lonesome Marry" here.

Even in biblical times, people suffered from depression. The psalms are filled with anguished cries to God. As David wrote in Psalms 42:5 (KJV), "Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance."

Some writers of the scriptures had valid reason to fear and feel downcast. Jeremiah 4:19 (KJV) says, "My bowels, my bowels! I am pained at my  very heart; my heart maketh a noise in me; I cannot hold my peace,  because thou hast heard, O my soul, the sound of the trumpet, the  alarm of war."

Whatever is causing us to feel depressed, we can rest our minds on the truth that God cares for us. Even when the entire world seems to be going sideways, our Lord is still in charge.

So, what do you think of the song and what I wrote? Please leave me your opinion below. But if you'd rather not, have a fun weekend.

Monday's post will be about Jesus and people's opinions of him verses what the Bible says.

Saturday Song: Chillowack, "Lonesome Mary"

I'm so glad that society is recognizing the devastating effect which chronic depression has on people. While we all get the blues from time to time, clinical depression renders its victims unable to do much of anything. Even feeding and dressing oneself can feel like too big a chore.

Chillowack, a band from a town in British Columbia with the same name, sang about a depressed woman back in 1971. Even she didn't know why she wept all the time.

Here "Lonesome Marry" here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVLqaGNJ2wE

Even in biblical times, people suffered from depression. The psalms are filled with anguished cries to God. As David wrote in Psalms 42:5 (KJV), "Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance."

Some Scripture writers had valid reasons to fear and feel downcast. Jeremiah 4:19 (KJV) says, "My bowels, my bowels! I am pained at my  very heart; my heart maketh a noise in me; I cannot hold my peace,  because thou hast heard, O my soul, the sound of the trumpet, the  alarm of war."

Whatever causes us to feel depressed, we can rest our minds on the truth that God cares for us. Even when the entire world seems to be going sideways, our Lord is still in charge.

So, what do you think of the song and what I wrote? Please leave me your opinion below. But if you'd rather not, have a fun weekend.

On Monday, I'll examine the fact that making something clean dirties something else. Think about it.

Saturday Song: Klaatu, "Hope"

Did you know that there are two kinds of hope? The first is a wish for something good. The second is an assurance of good things from God Almighty. The first is based on wishful thinking but the second is based on the Lord's faithfulness.

A Canadian band called Klaatu wrote a song about hope. It's part of a concept album about a lighthouse keeper on a devastated planet. The last of his kind, this alien spent the last day of his life coming up with a universal prayer. Hope was the only idea which fit his criteria.

Listen to Klaatu's song here.

The Bible has much to say about both kinds of hope. One example of the first kind of hope, or the lack of it, is Job 7:6 (KJV). "My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle, and are spent without hope."

But we have the experiences of thousands of years of faithful believers that the trials of our lives aren't in vain. Psalms 31:24 (KJV) reminds us, "Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD."

Our hope is an abiding trust in our heavenly Father and his good plan for us. Psalms 38:15 (KJV) expresses this well. "For in thee, O LORD, do I hope: thou wilt hear, O Lord my God."

And like the psalmist wrote in Psalms 42:5 (KJV), our hope in our heavenly Father can lift us out of even the deepest depression. "Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance."

The Apostle Paul, persecuted and on trial, held onto the hope promised to Israel and all who would believe in the Saviour. Acts 26:7 (KJV) says, "Unto which promise our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night, hope to come. For which hope's sake, king Agrippa, I am accused of the Jews."

This hope is more than a wish, it's a work of sanctification. As 1 Peter 3:15 (KJV) reminds us, "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:"

So, what do you think of Klaatu's "hope" and what I've written? Please feel free to comment.

On Monday, I'll be posting about who the real child of promise was.

Saturday Song: Chillowack, "Lonesome Marry"

I'm so glad that society is recognizing the devastating effect which chronic depression has on people. While we all get the blues from time to time, clinical depression renders its victims unable to do much of anything. Even feeding and dressing oneself can be too big a chore.

Chillowack, a band from a town in British Columbia with the same name, sang about a depressed woman back in 1971. Even she didn't know why she wept all the time.

Here "Lonesome Marry" here.

Even in biblical times, people suffered from depression. The psalms are filled with anguished cries to God. As David wrote in Psalms 42:5 (KJV), "Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance."

Some writers of the scriptures had valid reason to fear and feel downcast. Jeremiah 4:19 (KJV) says, "My bowels, my bowels! I am pained at my  very heart; my heart maketh a noise in me; I cannot hold my peace,  because thou hast heard, O my soul, the sound of the trumpet, the  alarm of war."

Whatever is causing us to feel depressed, we can rest our minds on the truth that God cares for us. Even when the entire world seems to be going sideways, our Lord is still in charge.

So, what do you think of the song and what I wrote? Please leave me your opinion below. But if you'd rather not, have a fun weekend