3 Up!

The roots of my raising run deep, and I thank God I was surrounded by family who knew God's Word and lived by it! My childhood, in the hills and hollers around Eureka Springs, Arkansas, was one that would undoubtedly be envied by most. Family get togethers were very frequent, sometimes several times a week. Sundays provided especially fond memories of family get togethers at Granny Clark's house, after we had all attended church services at "The Little Chapel." The Little Chapel (That was it's name, really!) was a non-denominational, full gospel church in downtown Eureka Springs. It's still there today, although church services are no longer its function, but rather it serves as a food bank to help the needy.

Most of the family has passed on to be with Jesus, and many of us have moved away from that ancestral center of a few decades ago in search of a "better" way of life, including myself. I haven't found it yet, but I will when Jesus returns! Five generations of my family have been laid to rest in that general area, but some of their qualities live on forever through the lessons of life and love they shared with others. In the hustle and bustle of todays life it becomes quite easy to be discouraged by even the least obstacle that comes our way, but, in these instances, I often remember one such lesson given to me, and others, by my Uncle, Bud Clark.

My Uncle Bud was as close to God as any man I've ever known. He always wore a smile and was forever optimistic. He loved everyone, and that love was reciprocated back to him. He was a true Bible scholar, and an awesome teacher of the Word. I don't think he was ever ordained by man to preach the Word, but he was definitely ordained by God. He went to be with Jesus in 1983 when I was 25 years old, never once showing an inkling of discouragement about anything to me, and probably not to anyone else. I always felt honored to be in his presence because of his uplifting attitude and his love for God, and the love he had for everyone around him.

One Saturday evening when I was about 8 or 9 years old, I spent the night with my cousin, David (Bud's boy). The plan was to get up Sunday morning and go to church, and after Sunday dinner at Granny's I would go home with my folks. As we drove to church that Sunday morning in Bud's old 51 Chevy, one of the tires went flat and Bud pulled off to the side of the road. Bud got out to inspect it, and with his ever present smile, he loudly exclaimed, "Praise God, we still got 3 up!" That's a moment in time that, praise God, I'll never forget! Now, more than 40 years later, that memory still helps me get through the pitfalls of life. It's a lesson we all can learn from.

Whatever stumblingblock comes our way, our first reaction should be to praise God. We all know we're in a battle, and we know we are the victors. We must give God praise in all things because of that. Sometimes it's really hard to see the bright side of our setbacks, but if our initial response is praise to God, He illuminates the situation before us immediately. As long as we have a breath of life within us, faith the size of a grain of mustard seed, and the belief that Jesus is our redeemer, we have 3 up! Be blessed!

Depression - Illness or Gift?

When people discover that I suffer from depression, they quite often see a bright smile on my face, and say things like, "You don't look depressed." Hmmmmm, Interesting! Is there really someone who knows what depression looks like? Another thing they often ask is, "What is causing your depression?" Hmmmmm, I think if I knew the answer to that, I could find a way to end those feelings. Then there are also the well meaning eternal optimists who simply say, "Get over it." Obviously, that's exactly what I want to do, but are you going to tell me how?

There seems to be different levels of depression. Some depressed episodes do have catalysts, and are usually short-lived. These are definitely the most common forms of depression, which occur in most everyone's life. Illness, divorce, a loved one's death, and financial problems, are prime examples of occasions where depression occurs, but are normally remediated with the passing of time.

Others of us live our lives in a perpetual state of depression. Have you ever considered how a man like Albert Einstein could be so brilliant, while at the same time there are many people whose intelligence is more comparable to the fictitious Forrest Gump? We all have different minds and different mindsets. Perhaps it is genetics that causes this, because most people who suffer major depression are diagnosed as having a chemical imbalance.

I suffer from major depression, yet I have a smile that I love to share with the world. Both are family traits. Would I change either or both if I were able? Most people that suffer from major depression would instinctively say yes, but I say NO! Herein lies the key to the victory that God has given me over depression. God has blessed me by allowing me to have a chemical imbalance that tends to cause me to see the sadness of this world we live in. Let me repeat that; God has blessed me by allowing me to have a chemical imbalance that tends to cause me to see the sadness of this world we live in. In changing my view towards this illness from one of detriment to one of thankfulness I have gained victory over it, although I still suffer.

When sorrows are shared with me, I become empathetic towards those who are saddened. I truly feel their sorrow within me. There is a constant sadness within me, regardless of whether it's my own sorrow, or that of anothers, that burdens me. But I no longer view that as a bad thing, because Jesus wants us to be burdened for others. However, some may say that Jesus doesn't want us to carry our own burdens. Yet, when Jesus was praying in the Garden, didn't He ask God to let his cup pass Him by if it were possible?. I don't know if these words I'm sharing will be beneficial to others or not, but I pray that they will.

In conclusion, I have to say that we are all different. Depression is a formidable opponent. Some say it is incurable, and I agree. But in Hebrews 13:5, Paul teaches us to be content in such as we have, and in Ephesians 5:20 he teaches us to always be thankful to God. I know I'm different, and it's not easy being me, but I'm thankful for who I am. Be blessed in the Lord.

Do We Matter?

Do we matter? It's human nature to think that what we do matters to those around us. Every one of us loves to get a little pat on the back now and then from our friends, family, co-workers, etc. It lifts our spirits. It makes us feel productive. It gives us a feeling of belonging. It gives us a sense of pride. It increases our self confidence. It encourages us to do even more. Yet, more often than not, we are not recognized as being important to others. So I ask again, do we matter? In the grand scheme of things we are mere pebbles of sand in the sea. Occasionally someone will perform extraordinarily and will stand out in the crowd. For example, the heroism of Captain Sully Sullenberg setting his plane down in the Hudson River and saving his crew and passengers. Or a more recent example, the extraordinary voice of Susan Boyle on the British TV show, "Britain's Got Talent." Do these people matter more than we do? I would say the answer to that depends on who we want to matter to. Have you ever noticed how quickly Satan starts telling us we DON'T MATTER when we do something for Jesus? Or is it just me? In today's internet culture, I find that my Christian ethics, thoughts, and words do not matter to most individuals, but they sure seem to agitate the devil. I know God is pleased when I share His Word and/or His love, and He is the only one I should be concerned about whether or not I matter to. Yet the devil tells me I am wasting my time, I am not making a difference in anyone's life, I'm too much of a sinner to try to be pleasing to God, and I just plain old Do Not Matter. Yet, instinctively, I want to matter to others. We all do! It is human nature. But we all need to be very careful about whom we want to matter to. When we see someone striving to do good, we should let them know that their actions matter to us. Hebrews 3:13 tells us to exhort one another on a daily basis, lest we be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. Let those around you, who share God's love, know that they matter to you, and do it today. They all need encouragement. And above all else let God know that He matters to you. God bless