Sabbath Psalms - Needing to Sleep

Psalm 127:2 In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat--for he grants sleep to those he loves.

God must love an awful lot of people on Sunday mornings, especially if He grants sleep to those He loves! Being a preacher, you get to see the whole congregation on Sundays, so sometimes watching folks fall asleep is a quick indicator that I'd better get the sermon finished and bring the message home quickly!

But sometimes people fall asleep because they feel safe, not bored. God's House is a sanctuary to them, a place where they can feel secure, loved, and welcomed. Sometimes people fall asleep because they've endured a grueling week - hard work, worries at home, stress - all those qualities of modern life. Whatever the reason, being cradled in Christ's arms at church is a beautiful thing and, after all, isn't our Sabbath supposed to be a time of rest?

After a tumultuous week for everyone, some folks may also feel depressed by the election results and just want to hibernate for a while. That’s okay, too. Disappointment is hard to carry at times, so quietly withdrawing and taking time to decompress is probably essential for their well-being. If you feel that way yourself, please just take time to be embraced by God and replenish your spirit. Know that you are dearly and divinely loved, cherished by Christ and supported by His Spirit.

Point to ponder: Have I used up all of my energy recently? Am I willing to seek God’s love to refresh me?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You know us as we are. You know all about our busyness, our energy highs and lows, our weary weeks and merry months. Thank You for accepting us as we truly are. Your Love touches our hearts, and we feel safe in Your arms. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is a Scottish Presbyterian pastor now living in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Spiritual Depression - Matthew 5:3

Matthew 5:3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (NIV)

            I’ve suffered from depression for as long as I can remember. Sometimes it gets so bad that I have to take medicine; at other times, I manage to get through on my own willpower and strength. It’s not something that you can predict will happen and because there is still such a stigma attached to it, you don’t want to broadcast it or burden others with your woes. You just have to get through each day and hope that the gloom will lift eventually. I find that the winter months can be the most grueling, which may have something to do with the shortened days and longer nights.

            When I think about depression, I have my own ideas. Firstly, I think that everybody goes through some form of depression in their lives. Secondly, and I know it will sound crazy, I wonder if we’re supposed to hibernate as mammals and slow down during winter. All our current busy-ness and hyperactivity seems to go against the natural order of things. Even Jesus took time off during the winter months from His ministry to either be at home with His family or with friends.

            In my bleakest moments – and believe me, there are some real dingers – I turn to the scriptures for help and comfort. Usually, a verse from the Psalms pinpoints what I’m experiencing, but overall, today’s highlighted verse from the lips of Jesus keeps me focused on getting better and holding on to my faith. I guess this verse appeals to me because depression personally feels like a time of spiritual poverty and emptiness in my soul that only God’s presence and compassion can fill.

            Perhaps you weren’t expecting this kind of confession from me, after all, I’m a pastor so I should be so full of the Spirit that depression should not be able to touch or affect me. But like many great characters in the Bible, I’m only human, so of course I can succumb to depression – just like Abraham, Jacob, Noah, Moses, Joshua, Samson, Naomi, Saul, David, Jonah, Jeremiah, Isaiah, Mary, Peter, Thomas, Paul, John Mark…the list goes on.

            Whatever you are going through today, please know this: you belong to God and His Kingdom, which means that you are loved eternally and embraced completely.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we all need to be reassured and loved. When depression overwhelms us, keep us safe in Your arms. When spiritual poverty besets us, enrich us with Your compassion and love. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to give feedback about today’s message, please send him an email to Traqair@aol.com.

Today’s image is one of John’s drawings of the Cross. It’s called “Celtic Sunrise.” If you would like to view a larger version, please click this link: Cross.

Blue Christmas Candle & Poem

Christmas can be a painful and lonely time for some people. At our candlelight service, we light a Blue Christmas candle for those who are grieving, hurting, or ill during the festive season. This prayer poem is recited as the blue candle is lit. It's a very meaningful and emotional time for some members in the congregation.

Blue Christmas Prayer

There’s no room at Christmas for sadness,
There’s no place for hearts that are blue.
All the world wants to hear
Is a word full of cheer,
Not a sigh, not a tear, not from you.

There’s no room at Christmas for loneliness,
There’s no place for your emptiness and grief.
All the world wants is peace,
Mistletoe and Christmas trees,
Not a heartache that mars its beliefs.

There’s no room at Christmas for sickness,
There’s no place or time to be ill.
All the world wants is health,
Prosperity and wealth,
Not a pain that can spoil its goodwill.

There’s no room at Christmas for Jesus,
There’s no place for His family, too,
All the world would not share,
No one seems to really care,
A stable will just have to do.

Silence……..

Yes, there’s room at Christmas for sadness,
There’s a place in God’s heart for you.
For He knows pain and loss,
Which He felt on the Cross,
So this candle is lit here for you…
*For Christ knows what it’s like to be blue.

* light a blue candle

Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville holds its annual Candlelight service on Christmas Eve at 6.30pm. The church is located on Lockett Road, just off Kingston Pike, across from Papermill Road. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Erin Church: Blue Christmas Candle

Christmas can be a painful and lonely time for some people. At our candlelight service, we light a Blue Christmas candle for those who are grieving, hurting, or ill during the festive season. This prayer poem is recited as the blue candle is lit. It's a very meaningful and emotional time for some members in the congregation.

Blue Christmas Prayer

There’s no room at Christmas for sadness,
There’s no place for hearts that are blue.
All the world wants to hear
Is a word full of cheer,
Not a sigh, not a tear, not from you.

There’s no room at Christmas for loneliness,
There’s no place for your emptiness and grief.
All the world wants is peace,
Mistletoe and Christmas trees,
Not a heartache that mars its beliefs.

There’s no room at Christmas for sickness,
There’s no place or time to be ill.
All the world wants is health,
Prosperity and wealth,
Not a pain that can spoil its goodwill.

There’s no room at Christmas for Jesus,
There’s no place for His family, too,
All the world would not share,
No one seems to really care,
A stable will just have to do.

Silence……..

Yes, there’s room at Christmas for sadness,
There’s a place in God’s heart for you.
For He knows pain and loss,
Which He felt on the Cross,
So this candle is lit here for you…
*For Christ knows what it’s like to be blue.

* light a blue candle

Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville holds its annual Candlelight service on Christmas Eve at 6.30pm. The church is located on Lockett Road, just off Kingston Pike, across from Papermill Road. Everyone is welcome to attend.