Jon and I had a really interesting and good debate in the car yesterday on the way to Teen Challenge for a shoot. (Teen challenge is a great ministry by the way) We hashed through the whole "life sucks most of the time" issue... I still strongly disagree with Jon on the issue, but thats ok... it gets us both thinking.
found a verse (thanks to joyce meyer) this morning.
it goes to the amplified version (my favorite for study, because it brings in the original hebrew and explains it a little more)
Prov 15:15 All the days of the desponding and afflicted are made evil [by anxious thoughts and forebodings], but he who has a glad heart has a continual feast [regardless of circumstances].
after thinking about the issue more, I think that if you go around saying "Life Sucks" that when something bad happens, that you say, OHHH SEE I WAS RIGHT LIFE SUCKS... so if you constantly believe that life sucks, it will.
If you do your best to have a positive attitude despite the hard circumstances, - it will go a long way. There are tons... I mean tons of scriptures to back that concept up.
not that you cant be sad... the bible says there is a time for everything - but to dwell on one side (the sad side especially) is not right.
RO 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
2CO 7:2 in all our troubles my joy knows no bounds.
2 cor 8[2] Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.
GAL 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, [23] gentleness and self-control.
INTERESTING I dont see depression in the list of things the Holy Spirit gives us... This is a true sign of a Holy Spirit lifestyle... Joy despite the circumstances. Sadness for a time is ok... but if it becomes a lifestyle, and there is no JOY - I wonder how much the Holy Spirit is living there.
1TH 1:[5] because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake. [6] You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. [7] And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia.
and
LK 6:21 Blessed are you who hunger now,
for you will be satisfied.
Blessed are you who weep now,
for you will laugh.
LK 6:22 Blessed are you when men hate you,
when they exclude you and insult you
and reject your name as evil,
because of the Son of Man.
see even when men hate you, you are blessed. so you have something to be blessed/joyful/smiling about. And the luke passage admits that we need to weep sometimes... but it says you will laugh... and it says you are blessed when you weep now. really showing the heart of God is not to live in depressed, and life sucks attitude.
I said this to Jon, but I want to get it on the blog too -
Ill bet that people from other countrys look at us in disgust
can you imagine anyone in Afganistan, or rwanda or whatever, looking at Americans who get upset, and depressed with life, when they break up with their girlfriends??? These are people who live in fear for their lives, or in slavery, or in real hunger (few americans know real hunger), there are people who have had their towns devistated by bombs. Theyve lost Brothers, or cousins, or kids... They must think it is ridiculous for all the angst - mostly fired up because someone upset their day by saying an unkind word - or their favorite team lost - or something. (or like jon said - they couldnt get a table in their favorite restraunt) "the Real World" yeah right
found a verse (thanks to joyce meyer) this morning.
it goes to the amplified version (my favorite for study, because it brings in the original hebrew and explains it a little more)
Prov 15:15 All the days of the desponding and afflicted are made evil [by anxious thoughts and forebodings], but he who has a glad heart has a continual feast [regardless of circumstances].
after thinking about the issue more, I think that if you go around saying "Life Sucks" that when something bad happens, that you say, OHHH SEE I WAS RIGHT LIFE SUCKS... so if you constantly believe that life sucks, it will.
If you do your best to have a positive attitude despite the hard circumstances, - it will go a long way. There are tons... I mean tons of scriptures to back that concept up.
not that you cant be sad... the bible says there is a time for everything - but to dwell on one side (the sad side especially) is not right.
RO 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
2CO 7:2 in all our troubles my joy knows no bounds.
2 cor 8[2] Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.
GAL 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, [23] gentleness and self-control.
INTERESTING I dont see depression in the list of things the Holy Spirit gives us... This is a true sign of a Holy Spirit lifestyle... Joy despite the circumstances. Sadness for a time is ok... but if it becomes a lifestyle, and there is no JOY - I wonder how much the Holy Spirit is living there.
1TH 1:[5] because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake. [6] You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. [7] And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia.
and
LK 6:21 Blessed are you who hunger now,
for you will be satisfied.
Blessed are you who weep now,
for you will laugh.
LK 6:22 Blessed are you when men hate you,
when they exclude you and insult you
and reject your name as evil,
because of the Son of Man.
see even when men hate you, you are blessed. so you have something to be blessed/joyful/smiling about. And the luke passage admits that we need to weep sometimes... but it says you will laugh... and it says you are blessed when you weep now. really showing the heart of God is not to live in depressed, and life sucks attitude.
I said this to Jon, but I want to get it on the blog too -
Ill bet that people from other countrys look at us in disgust
can you imagine anyone in Afganistan, or rwanda or whatever, looking at Americans who get upset, and depressed with life, when they break up with their girlfriends??? These are people who live in fear for their lives, or in slavery, or in real hunger (few americans know real hunger), there are people who have had their towns devistated by bombs. Theyve lost Brothers, or cousins, or kids... They must think it is ridiculous for all the angst - mostly fired up because someone upset their day by saying an unkind word - or their favorite team lost - or something. (or like jon said - they couldnt get a table in their favorite restraunt) "the Real World" yeah right
posted by jeff @ 11:55 AM
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