Getting Back On The Horse When Depression Strikes

Our sanctuary was beautifully decorated with fall flowers and a reminder of cooler weather and the changing of God's seasons.

Mr. McCaine was celebrating a birthday. Wayne Johnson opened our morning worship service with prayer. Special prayers were requested for Darlene, Sandy, Janet, Abery, Norma and Dot's friend.

Jeanette Easter led us in the congregational reading, "The Way of Life," with scripture reference from Psalms, Proverbs and Matthew. Dot announced the Noel Women's Club Bake Sale on Oct. 8, and business meeting was held Sunday evening.

Rick Lett and Tyrel Lett served as offertory attendants, and Becky Johnson and Karen Gardner led the congregational hymns. Wayne and Karen's special music was "When The Saints Go Marching In."

Last Sunday, Bro. Mark spoke about "Going to Christ With Your Crisis," and Sunday's message was entitled "Getting Back On the Horse" with scripture reading from Psalm 42.

"There is a lot of failure in life," Bro. Mark told us. "It is hard to cope with failure in life, love and and in our jobs."

Bro. Mark looked at two things about failure that can bring on depression: the serious problem of depression and the spiritual provision of depression.

"Depression is like a cancer," he said. "It can kill you. It has no respect for age, gender or social standing. Some of the greatest men in the Bible dealt with depression at times."

Bro. Mark made reference to Moses in Numbers 11:11, Elijah in 1 Kings 19:4, the Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 1:8, John the Baptist in Matthew 11:2-3 and King David in Psalm 4:2.

Bro. Mark told us at times we can become obsessed with old memories of better times and fall into depression.

"One of the hard things about getting old is coming to grips with our diminishing abilities. We give into depression and then just do nothing. We give into overwhelming circumstances involving money, time and our jobs. We seem to never have enough time. In those times, we need to look within and analyze our heart, look up and recognize our help and look onward recognize our hope."

Bro. Mark made reference to Psalm 42:5-6, 8 and 11 and our memory verse for the week from Jeremiah 29:11-13: "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me, and I will listen to you."

Bro. Mark said, "Remember the letter to the exiles when you get depressed. God has not forgotten you. The trouble with God's plan is that it usually is not the same as yours. When you submit to His plan, it is better than anything you can imagine. It can lift the weight of the world off your shoulders. Remember this world is not your home. When you get depressed, down with life and down spiritually, think about plans for Heaven and who you will see there, including Jesus. We are only here for a while. Life is short, and eternal life is forever. It's not all about this life; it's about eternity. When we think about that, what we worry about here doesn't seem so important.

"Do you have that hope? Heaven as eternity? Focus on that hope, not just worldly things in this world that can cause us to be depressed."

Our hymn of invitation was "Reach Out To Jesus," and Rick Lett gave the benediction.

We invite you to worship and fellowship with us each Sunday morning at 11 at Mill Creek Baptist Church. Sunday school begins at 10 a.m. Everyone is always welcome.

Religion on 09/29/2016