Merry Christmas and Happy Birthday Jesus

I want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and safe and prosperous New Year.  I also want to say Happy Birthday to our Lord Jesus Christ.

Wishing for everyone who is in a depressed state to know that it is ok.  The holidays are hard.  They have been for me.  My Christmas spirit has been missing.  However, tonight I went to a beautiful and simple Christmas eve service.  It brought me to tears because the message is so simple.  There is joy in the knowledge of His purpose.  I realized tonight, more than ever, it is my pupose to spread the joy of Jesus' birth and life and death and resurrection from death to cover our sins.  So there is joy in our journey.

Again very Merry Christmas to all. M.

Insomnia

Hello again friends.  I know its been a while since I posted.  I want to talk tonight about another sign of clinical depression: insomnia.  Obviously as I write this it is on my mind since I have it now and cannot sleep regardless of how tired I feel.  Insomnia can cause more anxiety and more time for your mind to "run", instead of resting. I don't have an answer for this except to say there is a verse in the Bible (I can't find it right now) that assures us of a good night's sleep/rest.  So on a positive note, I will stand on God's promise to give me a good night's sleep.  I will go back to bed and know that sleep will come. 

When sleep doesn't come, I have found the best use of that time is to be in prayer or to read the Word.  There is a sense of peace that comes over you when you spend time in the word and prayer, communing with God.

Hope everyone gets a good night sleep.  Good night, M.

Peaceful Sheep

One sign of clinical depression is a lack of patience, which is really a lack of inner peace.  I easily get irriated these days with small things like a crowded store, several people in a line, my kids bickering amongst themselves.  It is as unpleasant a feeling for me and I am sure it makes people around me uncomfortable as well. 

On a positive note, I heard a study on sheep.  I can't remember the name of the show I heard it on, but it really got me thinking about sheep.  Sheep seem to me to be very calm and peaceful animals.  When I think of sheep, I think of their white fuzzy shapes on a hillside or in a field grazing peacefully.

Sheep are commonly thought of as dumb animals.  However, sheep know the sound of one voice, their shepherd.  Their shepherd is their savior.  He keeps them safe.  He leads them to food and water and leads them into the safety of the sheepfold at night.  When they hear his voice, they move to him.  I want to be like a sheep; follow my Shepherd's voice.  I know God will lead me to green pastures and cool water and to safety.

Later on that day, I found a wool sweater with sheep on it at a local thrift store.  I bought it to wear and remind myself to follow Jesus like a sheep.

Peacefully, M.