Mike's Spot On The Wall

• Busy Yet Fun
  It has been very busy at work. I'm working on an e-commerce interface for our college bookstore and there's a lot of work.
  
  In the evenings I'm reading the Gandalara Cycle. It's a great series that has quite a story around it as well as in it. The original author who began the series contracted meningitis but worked out the plot details with his wife who completed the series after he passed away. In spite of that I find the story quite moving and beautiful.

Mike's Walk

• Dealing With Sorrow
  
  Today is a long one but worth it. I warn in advance, some of this is hard teaching and not all of it will aply to where you are, but read it.
  
  I'm often subject to depression. Sometimes it seems so deep I cannot escape it.
  
  Many people in the bible had to deal with it also: David (Ps. 6:6; 13:2; 38:9), Jeremiah (Lam. 1:12), Jesus (Isaiah 53:11). So what can I do about it?
  
  I can remember:
  
  
  
  
  • God sees it
    
    Ps. 10:14; Exodus 3:7
  
  
  • God regulates the measure of afflictions
    
    Psalms 80:5; Isaiah 9:1; Jeremiah 46:28
  
  
  • Determines the continuance of
    Genesis 15:13,14; Numbers 14:33; Isaiah 10:25; Jeremiah 29:10
  
  
  • Does not willingly send
    Lamentations 3:33
  
  
  • Man is born to
    Job 5:6,7; 14:1
  
  
  • Saints appointed to
    1 Thessalonians 3:3
  
  
  • Consequence of the fall
    Genesis 3:16-19
  
  
  • Sin produces
    Job 4:8; Proverbs 1:31
  
  
  • Sinners corrected by
    Psalms 89:30-32; Isaiah 57:17; Acts 13:10,11
  
  
  • Always less than deserved
    Ezra 9:13; Psalms 103:10
  
  
  • Good results of:
    Genesis 50:20; Exodus 1:11,12; Deuteronomy 8:15,16; Jeremiah 24:5,6; Ezekiel 20:37
  
  
  • Tempered with mercy
    Psalms 78:38,39; 106:43-46; Isaiah 30:18-21; Lamentations 3:32; Micah 7:7-9; Nahum 1:12
  
  
  • To be expected
    John 16:33; Acts 14:22
  
  
  • Comparatively light
    Acts 20:23; 24; Romans 8:18; 2 Corinthians 4:17
  
  
  • Temporary
    Psalms 30:5; 103:9; Isaiah 54:7,8; John 16:20; 1 Peter 1:6; 5:10
  
  
  
  • Joy under
    Job 5:17; James 5:11
  
  
  
  • End in joy and blessedness
    Psalms 126:5,6; Isaiah 61:2,3; Matthew 5:4; 1 Peter 4:13,14
  
  
  
  • Often arise from the profession of the gospel
    Matthew 24:9; John 15:21; 2 Timothy 3:11,12
  
  
  
  • Exhibit the love and faithfulness of God
    Deuteronomy 8:5; Psalms 119:75; Proverbs 3:12; 1 Corinthians 11:32; Hebrews 12:6,7; Revelation 3:19
  
  
  
  • I can fight it with the oposite spirit:
    Isa 61:3
  
  
  
  • And God will make it better:
    Ps. 30:11; Re 7:17