MEETING REAL LIFE ISSUES

Depressed Saints? A Recording by Pastor James Striggles from the PCAF-ICEA “Things I Have Learned” Series


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PCAF – International Christian Ed. Aux. (ICEA).
The “Things I Have Learned” Series

Instructor Pastor James Striggles taught a session for ICEA’s “Things I Have Learned” session. The following is his recording on the topic of “Depressed Saints?”

Our times can bring with it many difficulties and often people become overwhelmed with challenges of life. People experience depression. Should saints experience depression? Listen to what pastor Striggles has to say.

Request the recording at ICEA’s e-mail:

iceaquestions@att.net

We will reply to your e-mail request promptly.
Simply click on the text in your e-mail to hear the recording.

International Christian Education Auxiliary (ICEA)

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How? – (Short Inspiration from the Scriptures.)


“And in the desert you saw HOW the Lord your
God carried you, like one carries a child. And he
has brought you safely all the way to this place.”
(Duet. 1:31 – NCV)

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“How…?” is usually a question we ask or ponder that seemingly has no foreseeable answer. The Israelites questioned Moses many times about the way things were unfolding in the wilderness. Many of them murmured and complained or just simply did not believe that God, through Moses, was able to bring them to their destination. What we do see is a great and loving God, who provided for an estimated 2 million people for approximately 40 years! Our God is God!

God doesn’t give us any details in the scripture above as to HOW He preserved Israel from all the dangers in the wilderness and HOW He kept them from becoming extinct as a nation. We do understand from the scripture that He preserved them by carrying them and brought them to their promised land! “How” is God’s business; our business is to trust!

Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest
the desire of every living thing.
(Psalms 145:16)

You may be asking “how…?” today. Know this…God has a track record and history that those who belong to Him have been sustained. The old are often overlooked in our society, but look to those who are old and righteous and ask them about His power to provide (Prov. 16:31). King David, in the Bible, had come to a long and fulfilled life and his words remind us of God’s faithfulness: I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.  (Psalm 37:25)

Look back on your life and see where God has brought you from and, right now, GIVE HIM THE PRAISE! Then…from there…there is nothing else to say but this: Trust God!

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Happy “Renew” Year!


ICEA – “Church at Study”

Throw off your old sinful nature and your former way
of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception.
Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes.
(Eph. 4:22-23, NLT)

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Can you count the number of times you have been wished a happy new year during the beginning of this year? Have you ever really thought about what a happy new year looks like? For many it would be 365 days filled with things that would fulfill every appetite.  If we were somehow granted many of the things we thought would make us happy, it would…no doubt…be to our detriment.

There is a way which seemeth right unto a man,
but the end thereof are the ways of death.
(Prov. 14:12)

God has shown us that every 365 days has with it challenges. For many of us adults, each year is not too different from years gone by. There are struggles – things we wish we could change, but, we eventually come to realize that everything will not change just because we make certain yearly resolutions.

As it is written, the just shall live by faith.
(Rom. 1:17)

If we are honest, there are things we have “commanded” (through sheer determination, year after year) to “be” or “not to be,” only to find those things either evading us or stubbornly persisting in our lives. Frustration often follows on the heels of Sheer determination. A frustrated new year does not look like a happy new year. The two are different. Many of us remember…our days prior to salvation were days we spent in pursuit of pleasures, that eventually led to lives of frustration.

For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient,
deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice
and envy, hateful, and hating one another.
(Titus 3:3)

Anyone who seeks to please the flesh, saved or unsaved, will face the same conclusion – that happiness is not found in expectation of fleshly grasping something newly pursued after. (How does your new year look so far?)

The harvest is past, the summer is
ended, and we are not saved.
(Jer. 8:20)

On the other hand, happy new years are happy “renewed” years. Most who are truly happy are those who have renewed and continual relationships with God. They don’t necessarily look forward to a certain day or expectation of a coming year to find their satisfaction. They live their lives in the present (Matt 6:25, 34). (Notwithstanding…they are people of faith!) These are the people who have true faith in the precious promises of God. They have claimed those promises that they might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust (II Peter 1:4). They  don’t “nullify” the grace of God by greedily “commanding” premature blessings…not yet intended for them! (James 4:3.)

He that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast.
(Prov. 15:15)

“God…please grant us happy days – with things that
truly matter most – family, friends, and relationships!”

According to scripture, being truly happy has little to do with how much a person has or possesses.

And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of
covetousness for a man’s life consisteth not in the
abundance of the things which he possesseth.
(Luke 12:15)

Let’s not look back on the years and see wasted times and opportunities — along with lives of regret. Let’s allow God’s Spirit to renew our thoughts, attitudes and relationships. With God’s help, we can truly make this year a happy “RE-NEW” year!

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Tis the Season for Forgiving!


Then said Jesus, Father, forgive
them; for they know not what they do.
And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
(Luke 23:34)

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Does the holidays have you stressed out because you don’t seem to have much to give?  Why don’t you give someone a wonderful gift this holiday season that may be valued more than money? Give forgiveness! This great gift that you have can, no doubt, bring joy to some troubled soul today. You may very well have the power to release someone of past offenses done to you or levelled at you. Release them and in turn, release yourself. You may find it to be the best gift you ever gave.

It is true that some people don’t accept gifts to well, but still give it in the spirit that Christ would (St. John 1:11). All of us have given quality gifts we thought people would like only to find it didn’t suit them, and that’s okay…but, give anyway!

There has never been a better time when Christmas and Easter come together so beautifully. We celebrate both Christ’s birth and resurrection as well as reflect on His death. His birth is a season for giving. His death is a time we reflect on Him giving himself for those who humiliated and wronged Him. They planned and schemed. They lied in wait for Him and finally, beat and put Him to death. Here is a quote from Luke 23;34, “Father forgive them; for they know not what they do.” In His humility, Christ was a VICTIM who became the world’s greatest OVERCOMER (Phil. 2:8-9)! He gave to those who hurt Him the most. His example is the true spirit of giving this holiday season!

Why don’t you, by the Spirit of the Lord, call someone and tell them you are sorry for what happened in the past and ask for forgiveness or maybe you need to tell them you forgive them. These make great gifts this time of year!

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War and Conquerors!


Satan orchestrates demonic attacks, and demons attack many times when we are not expecting it. They take aim directly at us and swiftly shoot their arrows, attempting to penetrate any weakness in our spiritual armor. They launch cleverly designed thoughts into our thoughts, and attempt to set in motion one fiery thought succeeding another. Their design is that we accept the outcome of what is being projected on us.

Accepting defeat is not an option for a child of God! Godly warriors fight! They draw near to God and resist the devil. They look to their Captain, our Lord Jesus Christ, and understand the seriousness of the moment they are confronted with! They defend themselves with the shield of faith! God’s warriors go on the offense, quoting the word of God for every moment they are under intense attack!

They soon see the battle turn toward their favor!

We are more than conquerors through Him that loved us! Every temptation that the children of God face is common…and in every situation, God will make a way of escape. We are to stand, therefore, with the armor of God spoken of in Ephesians, chapter 6. If we do these things we will come away from the intense battle more than conquerors because of our Lord Jesus Christ!

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