Filling The Empty Life: Words Of Wisdom From The Preacher

A Study in Ecclesiastics

By Thomas Donelan

Filling The Empty Life

Table of Contents Introduction To 2007 Edition Introduction To 2004 Edition Saved From What? Burnout, Depression, & Anxiety, Oh My! Advice From the Preacher: Time Management Cultivate Friendships Do Not Forget God! Zip The Lip! Work! Enjoy Life! Assorted Advice Endnotes 3 4 5 9 11 11 12 14 15 16 16 18 20

2004, 2007 by Thomas Donelan Unto the Hills Ministries, Jacksonville FL www.brtom.net All scripture from KJV Bible

Filling The Empty Life

Introduction to 2007 Edition

When I first wrote this book three years ago it was with a sincere goal of helping others in the same situation: dealing with depression. I am still amazed by the attitude of a thankfully small numbers of Christians about the sickness that is depression. Just get with it they say, they really do not understand but I cannot get angry with them any more. I do not have the time to deal with them. But to those who suffer and those who love them I was led by God to rework this second edition of this book to expand some ideas and revise others based on what God has taught me as I have lived on my own these past three years. May God bless you as you seek to serve Him. The bulk of what I learned in this book came from my nearly two years at the Circle Of Love Ministries. The outline from Ecclesiastes flowed from and matched my experience (the Bible verifies my experience, not the other way around.). In order to keep this booklet to a reasonable length and keep cost of printing reduced, there are times rather than printing out a bunch of verses I just listed their references. I leave it to you to look them up and be as the Bereans who diligently searched the scriptures. Dont take my word or any other teachers word at face value, hold them up to the light of scripture to see if they hold true.

Br. Tom Donelan Unto The Hills Ministries. May 2007

Filling The Empty Life

Introduction to 2004 Edition

Vanity of vanities; saith the preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity. Ecclesiastes 1:2 Vanity-OT: 1892 hebel (hehbel); or (rarely) habel (hab-ale); from OT:1891; emptiness or vanity; figuratively, something transitory and unsatisfactory; often used as an adverb: KJV- X altogether, vain, vanity.i

We come from sundry backgrounds and took different routes to get to where we are in life. The fact is we are here (at The Circle Of Love) because something is missing in our lives. During our time together we will be talking about things like depression, burn out, and anxiety. I want to state one thing plainly: I am not a mental health professional. I do not speak as a counselor, professor, or therapist. I speak as one who has been to the edge, stared into the abyss and had the abyss stare back. I have suffered depression to the point of suicide. I have caused much pain to those I love most much pain and grief over the years starting with my misunderstanding of what Christianity is all about carrying it through isolation, guilt, and grief ending with failed attempts to take my own life. Under no circumstances is what I say to take the place of a qualified mental health professional, but I can speak through experience that understanding and implementing what we are going to discuss will make life easier, even better for you. And an important note here is never stop taking your medications unless your doctor tells you to! Let your healing once delivered be verified by a competent health or mental health professional. Before we go any farther we need to address our most basic need. We need salvation.

Filling The Empty Life

Saved From What?

I was standing one morning at the bus station in downtown Jacksonville when a woman asked me if I was saved, which begged the question saved from what? Certainly not from people accosting me on my morning commute asking me if I am saved. However, I understood her concern and assured her that I am saved. But as I meditated on the thought What am I saved from? and I came across a few thoughts: Saved from Physical Dangers Saved: 2421 a prim. root [comp. 2331, 2421]; to live, whether lit. or fig.; caus. to revive: keep (leave, make) alive, certainly, give (promise) life, (let, suffer to) live, nourish up, preserve (alive), quicken, recover, repair, restore (to life), revive, ( God) save (alive, life, lives), surely, be whole.ii The law of first reference shows this is when Joseph put the plan into action to save Egypt by setting aside one-fifth of the grain to save the people alive. God is concerned about our lives and wants us to be safe and one of the things we are saved from is physical dangers and harm. Some other examples include: So the LORD saved Israel that day: and the battle passed over unto Bethaven. And they set themselves in the midst of that parcel, and delivered it, and slew the Philistines; and the LORD saved them by a great deliverance. 1 Chronicles 11:14 Thus the LORD saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib the king of Assyria, and from the hand of all other, and guided them on every side. 2 Chronicles 32:22 Lest you think this is just and Old Testament promise, here is a New Testament example: But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. 31And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt. Matthew 14:30-31 Think about it, you get a flat tire and you later find out about an accident that happened and if you did not you would have been there at the time it happened. Gods protecting you. A person misses a flight and it later crashes. Some people call it coincidences, some divine appointments but sometimes it is God keeping you safe. If it were not for Jesus protecting us many of us would have never made it alive till the time Jesus saved us, the devil would have killed us long ago.
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You may think that is cruel but God knows more than we do. Maybe one person was saved and God took him home while the other would have died and gone to a sinners hell, which death is more cruel? Maybe God has a work He desires you to finish and so He allows us to continue, who are we to judge God? Remember weeping last for a night but joy comes in the morning. What morning? When? More on that later. Saved from the Punishment of Sin When Jesus died on the cross He took the punishment for our sin. We may think this a cruel hoax. If I did the crime, it really is not fair that someone else should take my punishment. If we think in terms of crimes, punishment and jail it does seem fair but if we think in terms of a debt owed it makes more sense. I cannot pay a debt and a friend who has the means pays it for me. Jesus refers to it as a great debt forgiven in Matthew 18:25-35. Jesus paid a debt on the cross I could never pay. I would have to suffer in hell till the judgment and then spend and eternity in the lake of fire for my sin debt to God but Jesus on the cross became a curse for me and took my sin (and yours too). The reason He could is because He is sinless so He can be my Passover sacrifice. (cf. 1 Corinthians 5:7; Hebrews 4:15). Because of what Jesus did I have an eternal home in heaven and the payment of sins penalty is not mine to bear. Does this mean that I can just sin whenever I want and there are not any consequences? A Paul would write: God forbid. As a famous preacher named Spuergon once said: I can drink all I want, play cards all I want and go to the theater as often as I want but I dont want to! When God saved me he changed my wanter to desire what He desires. I still sin but I no longer desire sin. Secondly, while we are saved from the penalty for sin, we still have to deal with the consequences of sin. The alcoholic still has to deal with his addiction, the liar with the results of his falsehoods but the good news is that if we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us or sins and cleans us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9) and if we judge ourselves we will not be judged (1 Corinthians 11:31). The point here, as Martin Luther would say is to keep short accounts with God. Confess and forsake the sin, repent (turn away from) sin. If we judge ourselves God will not have to do it for us.

Filling The Empty Life

This is a wonderful part of being saved and is what most people think of when they think of the word saved. We know the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23) and this second death is the lake of fire promised to all those whose names are not written in the Lambs Book Of Life (Revelation 21:27) but we look at the word condemnation and see that it means a manatory sentence (NT 2361 katakrima, katakrimatos, to-damnatory sentence, condemnationiii) but praise God there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1) Saved from Physical & Mental Illness This may sound charismatic but it is true. Lets read what Isaiah said: But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. Isaiah 53:5 Healed: 1) to heal, make healthful 2) Of hurts of nations involving restored favour (fig) 3) of individual distresses (fig).iv I have always heard it taught this is spiritual healing but the definition does not anywhere mention a spiritual healing but is an actual physical healing and the other definitions are figurative. You say this is Old Testament, but we find this thought also is in the New Testament: Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed (NT: 2390 iaomai, iaoomai: to heal, to curev) . 1 Peter 2:24 I think it is because so many cannot understand that if God died for our physical why are we so sick? The truth is sometimes it is Gods will to heal now. I have had a Baptist pastor with Baptist deacons lay their hands on me with a serious infection where I was going to have to be hospitalized and was looking at a distinct possibility of losing the lower part of my left leg. The next day I went to the hospital and they sent me home. I did not have the infection anymore! Sometimes healings are delayed, but I promise you Christian one day you will be healed! When? More on that later. The great demonology hoax
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I feel a need at this time to expose a great truth, are you ready? Are you listening? Here it is: Here is a great truth, are you listening: Not everything is a demon I mean I have seen pastors and evangelist casting out everything from the demon of the toothache to the demon of cocaine. This Flip Wilson theology of the devil made me do it just does not fly all the time. I do not have the time or space to deal with it in detail here and now (one of my current projects A Brief Course In Demonology will deal with this subject in more detail) but there are a few points we need to be aware of here: The greatest power they have is the power of suggestion. (See Eve in the garden as opposed to Jesus in the wilderness) Some sickness can be demonic, most are physical illnesses. The Manic in the tombs and the woman with the issue of blood was examples of sickness caused by demons while the man with the withered hand and the man borne of the four to see Jesus were just plain sick. God can heal and God can deliver but I sometimes think we give the devil way too much credit for things we caused. We sow a habit and reap an addiction and asked to be delivered from the demon (as in alcoholism or drug addiction). No! We may be in bondage but it is of our own doing. The same is true for mental illness like depression, it can go either way. Christians can be oppressed by a demon not possessed. We have a strong man living in our house so a weaker one cannot come and kick him out. I have had personal experience in this area. I had a man lay hands on me and a demon jumped off him and onto me. Now I could not be possessed, the Holy Spirit is inside me but it was like I was wearing a helmet and my prayers were being hindered (this is why you dont let just anyone lay their hands on you. This is also why I feel the Bible admonishes us not to lay hands suddenly on any man or let them lay hands suddenly on you (1 Timothy 5:22) You need to know them and if your saved the Holy Spirit can guide you just ask Him). I went to another Spiritfilled Christian I knew. He took the afternoon to pray and when we got together he laid his hands upon me and it was like a helmet coming off my head. I felt free and when I prayed it felt like it was getting through again. Demons are real and they need to be dealt with but with caution and prayer. The End Result

Filling The Empty Life

Okay, a couple of time I said I would answer a question later, and here it is now. I said I can guarantee you will be healed and it is true. I said there is a day where we would have joy unspeakable. This also is true. But when? This is not always our choice. God has far more wisdom than I do, and even you. But there is coming a day: And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. 5And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. Revelation 21:4-5 This is a promise of God we can count on and if we do not get our healing not we will get it in the life to come. Our sorrows and pain will pass and God Himself will wipe the tears from our eyes! We can take great comfort from these words from our loving Saviour. If our lives are empty the first and most important step is salvation. God created us and without a relationship with Him we always have emptiness only He can fill. Nothing else will fill that void. Not money, success, or earthly relationships. The first step is to establish that relationship if you have not already done so, for what does it profit a man to gain the world and lose his soul? Admit you are a sinner: For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. -Romans 3:23 Acknowledge the consequences of your sin and the need of a Saviour: For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:23 Call upon the Lord to save you: That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. Romans 10:9 Call upon Him now. The promise is He will save you.

Burnout, Depression, & Anxiety, Oh My!

God did not save us to live defeated lives, but how can we defeat the flesh? How do we battle unseen enemies like depression? Just saying to buck up you can beat this! is of no use and well meaning but misinformed people saying hey, youre a Christian, you dont get depressed, just get over it! or incomplete advice like sow the Word is a best incomplete, at worse devastating.
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There is a story of a man that fell in a hole. A doctor walked by and the man yelled up help me! and the doctor wrote a prescription and threw it down and walked on. Later the mans priest walked by and he yelled up help me1, the man wrote down a prayer and threw it down and he walked on. Later still the mans best friend walked by, he yelled up again help me! and his friend jumped down the hole. The guy said what are you doing, now were both stuck down here! The friend replied Yes, but I have been here before and know the way out. We need advise to see how it is done. Fortunately someone much wiser than me had a similar problem, let us look at his take on life. Solomon was the wisest man who ever lived. Yet as we read what he writes and see how he feels about life: all is vanity (Ecclesiastes 1:2): He tried wisdom but found it vain, empty, like trying to grasp the wind: And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith. 14I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit. Ecclesiastes 1:13-14 He tried pleasure and found it futile: I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is vanity. 2 I said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What doeth it? Ecclesiastes 2:1-2 (Mirth-OT:8057 joy, mirth, gladnessvi) He tried riches but found no profit in it: made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards: 5I made me gardens and orchards, and I planted trees in them of all kind of fruits: 6I made me pools of water, to water therewith the wood that bringeth forth trees: 7I got me servants and maidens, and had servants born in my house; also I had great possessions of great and small cattle above all that were in Jerusalem before me: 8I gathered me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces: I gat me men singers and women singers, and the delights of the sons of men, as musical instruments, and that of all sorts. 9So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me. 10And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour. 11Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun. Ecclesiastes 2:4-11 By the standards of the world he had it all: fame, wealth, wisdom but it did not satisfy. The devil has sold us a bill of goods that is not worth anything and we
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have brought into it: The worlds philosophy of he who dies with the most toys wins. Yet we keep trying and coming up empty. Whether we try church, religion, drugs, alcohol, and immoral relationships. We keep coming up empty. We get saved, delivered and keep falling back and we end up like Solomon: He hated life. Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit. 18Yea, I hated all my labour which I had taken under the sun: because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me. 19And who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool? yet shall he have rule over all my labour wherein I have laboured, and wherein I have shewed myself wise under the sun. This is also vanity. 20 Therefore I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labour which I took under the sun. 21For there is a man whose labour is in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in equity; yet to a man that hath not laboured therein shall he leave it for his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil. 22For what hath man of all his labour, and of the vexation of his heart, wherein he hath laboured under the sun? 23For all his days are sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity Ecclesiastes 2:17-23 He hated his life, his work and found each days to be sorrows. Sounds a lot like depression to me. So what can be done? The worlds wises man has some advice for us.

Advice From The Preacher

Time Management To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: 2A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; 3A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; 4A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; 5A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; 6A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; 7A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; 8A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 The main thought here is that if we do not control our time someone or something else will. While we do not want to go to the extreme of compartmentalizing each hour of our day not allowing the Holy Spirit the flexibility to guide us. However, if we do not make allowances for the most important things, we will do the things that require the least amount of energy (like watching TV).

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We are talking about having a balanced life. A time to work, a time to play(and adults need some playtime too), a time for family, and most importantly, a time for God. All these things are important. A best selling author wrote: Time is our most precious gift because you only have a set amount of it. You can make more money but you cannot make more timethe best use of life is love, the best expression of love is time, the best time to love is now.vii We need to manage the time we are given by God to the best advantage and that advantage is to let the love of God shine through us to those we love, and to the world. Cultivate Godly Friendships Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. 10For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. 11Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? 12And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 After being out on my own for three years the single greatest thing I learned is no man can do this alone. I have had one great friend by my side since I left the Circle of Love, he went through it with me and we give each other support and strength. I have a least five men I can count on as my friends in times of need and I hope they know they can count on me. A friend in the time of fire can help keep you from falling. However we need the right kind of friends, the godly kind. The verses say a threefold cord is not easily broken. Who is the third person in every Christian friendship? Jesus is: For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in the midst of them. Matthew 18:20 If youre like me, you think it is a good idea to cultivate Godly friendships, but I have pretty much blown each of my previous relationships. So how do we do this right? By studying the Bible we can glean some principles of friendship: Be friendly. This sounds simple but is basic to having friends; Nobody wants to be around a standoffish grouch. Solomon says: A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. Proverbs 18:24 Be kind give honor to you friends. In a word, give them respect. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; -Romans 12:10
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Kindly Affectioned: from 5384 and (cherishing ones kindred, especially parents or children); AV - kindly affectioned 1; 1 the mutual love of parents and children and wives and husbands.viii Honor- of the honour which one has by reason of rank and state of office which he holds; deference, reverence.ix Do not judge them: Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. Romans 2:1 Learn all you can about your friends. Take and interest in their interest. A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels. -Proverbs 1:5 It is also a good thing to get godly council if you are not sure what to do. Be gentle with them. They have had a hard time too and your gentleness can make their day. And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient. 2 Timothy 2:24 Live in peace with them as much as possible without compromising your position. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Romans 12:18 Reach out and restore them: Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Galatians 6:1 Keep your word. Do not promise what you cannot deliver. We need to be people of integrity. But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is Gods throne: 35Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. 36Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. 37But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil. Matthew 5:34-38 Do what is good for your friends in word (what you speak) and deed (what you do): Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it. Proverbs 3:27 Pray for your friends. We need to be prayer warriors for those we care about. We need to be the intercessor that stands in the gap for our friends (Ezekiel 22:30) for their needs, their deliverance, their health, etc. We need to bless our friends. Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way: -1 Samuel 12:23

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 When we rebuke, take care as even a rebuke in love still hurts, but as Christians when we see something wrong that will hurt them. Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful. Proverbs 27:6 Be sincere with your friends: He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it shall be counted a curse to him. Proverbs 27:14. This verse speaks of a false, vain flattery done publicly for show. It will arouse suspicion. The Amplified bible says it this way: The flatterer who loudly praises and glorify his neighbor, rising early in the morning, it will be counted as cursing him [for he will be suspected of sinister purpose].x One final thought: choosing the right friends improves our own lives: Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend. Proverbs 27:17. We can be made better or worse. Our friends will sharpen or bring out what is the best in us or what is the worse. We need to choose our friends with care. We need to choose those who will change us for the better and we need to take care that we bring out the best in our friends with our words and our actions. Do Not Forget God It is amazing, but so true that when we get in trouble that for some reason we tend to run form God rather than towards God. We desert His church, stop reading His Word, and we stop praying to Him. This just makes us weaker. We need to run to God with our problems, not away from Him, as Peter admonishes us: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. 1 Peter 5:7 Solomon sums it up in two verses: Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil. Ecclesiastes 5:1 Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them. Ecclesiastes 12:1 The Amplified Bible says it this way: Remember [earnestly] also your Creator [that you are not your own, but His property], now in the days of your youth, before evil days come or the years draw near when you say [of physical pleasures]. I have no enjoyment in them.
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So simply put we are to keep going to church and listening. We need to keep developing that personal relationship that comes through prayer and Bible study. We need to draw to God now, before our hearts become hard and our outlook becomes jaded through troubles and hard times. Turn to Him while our hearts are tender. You can do it later, but why? It just becomes harder and we just go through more pain. Zip The Lip Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few. 3For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fools voice is known by multitude of words. 4 When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed. 5Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay. 6Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands? Ecclesiastes 5:26 When we are depressed, burned out, angry, upset or just plain walking in the flesh we tend to say things we would not normally say. We can hurt those we love the most. We make promises we cannot or should not keep. We can also cultivate or give life to our problems by dwelling on them, thinking about them and speaking about them (Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. Proverbs 18:21) we must use discernment when we speak. As mother use to say: if you cant say anything nice, dont say anything at all. That applies here. We do not ignore our problems, we work them out but we dont have to give them life by dwelling and thinking on them all the time. We need to change our mindset. There are a few things we can do to facilitate this: Pray first, last and always. Ye have not because we ask not James tells us. Take each thought captive: Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ 2 Corinthians 10:5. This means went a wicked or evil thought comes in your life we do not dwell on it, ponder it, or keep it in our hearts. We need to cast it out in Jesus name before it can take root. One of my favorite things to do when this happens is to replace the though with a good thought from the Bible. (cf Philippians 4:8-9)
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 Meditate on Gods Word and praise God. Good and evil cannot dwell together, so start praising God and those thoughts will flee: Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. Colossians 3:16 This is not the end all, be all conclusion of the matter, but it is a good start. Work Ever since mans fall in the Garden of Eden, when God commanded man to earn his bread by the sweat of his brown he has need to work. I know in my case when I am not working, I do not feel fulfilled. I feel lazy and unhappy and I find I have trouble sleeping. That is not surprising as the Bible tells us: The sleep of a labouring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep. Ecclesiastes 5:12 A workingman will feel a sense of satisfaction at the end of the day, that he accomplished something and his reward will not just be the fruit of his labor but a sweet sleep. The Bible gives us some guidelines to having a good work ethic: Work hard when you work. The question is: How hard are you work when your boss is not looking over your shoulder? Remember your work is not just unto but to God: Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; 6Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; 7With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: -Ephesians 6:5-7 Work early when you are fresh, and enjoy outdoor labor when possible. If you have to work indoors, take a walk outdoors on your break (but mind the time, do not steal from your employer!). In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good. 7Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun. Ecclesiastes 11:6-7 Enjoy Life Behold that which I have seen: it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he taketh under the sun all the days of
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his life, which God giveth him: for it is his portion. 19Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God. 20For he shall not much remember the days of his life; because God answereth him in the joy of his heart. Ecclesiastes 5:18-20 It is OK to enjoy life. One my biggest problems is I though a broke life and a sick broken body were two of the requirements to please God. The only part of the body God wants broken is our hearts, in repentance. We are to work and enjoy the fruit of our labors. It is a gift from God, as John Wycliff puts it: There are not many enjoyments in life, but such as there are should be sought for the pleasure they will provide. This will then cause life to pass pleasantly by, for God will allow a man to be absorbed by these things, and forget the difficulties of life.xi We need to enjoy life where God has us, whether married or single. If we are married, we are to enjoy the life God gave with the wife God provided. Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity: for that is thy portion in this life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun. Ecclesiastes 9:9 This is a gift from God that you enjoy each others company for life. I know if your life is anything like mine, your well meaning married friends feel obliged to help you along the road to the state of matrimony. They are well meaning but misguided. We are not weird just because God called us to a life of singleness for this time and some may never be married but that is ok as long as you are in the will of God. We can celebrate our singleness and the privileges of serving Jesus (But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord: 33But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife. 1 Corinthians 7:32-33) and if you read the next few verses you see this applies to women as well as men. In addition, we are not to spend all our time alone but as the Bible encourages us, we will cultivate friendships.

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Assorted Advice
There are some other things the Preacher advises us to do that do not fall under a major category. Nevertheless they are important. These include: Be Clean. Let thy garments be always white; and let thy head lack no ointment. Ecclesiastes 9:8 Proper hygiene and keeping yourself neat and clean not only makes you feel better but easier to be near to. This is kind of a benchmark for my depression. If I find myself slipping in this area it can be a beginning of a problem with the depression coming back. It is good to have a very close friend who you can confide in if you have a problem in this area so he can just speak with you on the side if you start to slip. Be Serious. This does not me we cannot have a sense of humor or cannot laugh but is a warning against foolishness. Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour. Ecclesiastes 10:1(Folly-5531 cikluwth folly, foolishnessxii) With a little foolishness we can lose a lifetime reputation for wisdom. It is like a rotting fly in a jar of ointment, it makes the whole thing stink. What then is considered foolish? I find two things in the Bible: o Atheism: The fool has said in his heart there is no God. Psalm 14:1 o Greed. And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: 17And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? 18And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. 19And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. 20But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? 21So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God. Luke 12:16-21 (And you know your in trouble if God calls you a fool) Be Generous. Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days. 2Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth. Ecclesiastes 11:1-2 It has been said the best way to forget you own problems is to become involved in someone elses. Being generous is not just with money, although we are commanded to give (Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Malachi 3:8) but it is more important in my opinion that we need to get our hands a little dirty as it were. Just giving money to a mission organization or bringing some old clothes to Good Will (and they are usable
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clothes, arent they? Or are you just cleaning out your garbage and trying to make yourself feel better? A good rule of thumb on giving away your used stuff: If you would not wear it or eat it dont give it away!). We need to go further than this and get personally involved. Jesus did not say when I was hungry you sent me to a soup kitchen, or when I was naked you sent me to a clothes closet, I was cold and you sent me to a shelter. He said: Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 36Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. 37Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? 38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? 39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? 40And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Matthew 25:34-40. Jesus could have just told the leper he was healed but Jesus touched him as well. People need to know you care. This can only be done in a personal one to one way. People will listen to what you have to say when they know you care. This is one of the most effective ways to spread the gospel is to show people the love of Jesus before you tell them about it.

The Conclusion Of The Matter

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. 14For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil. Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 3372 yare- to fear, be afraid; to stand in awe of, be awed to fear, reverence, honour, respect.xiii This is accepted as being in a reverential awe of God not a fear of what he can do, although there is only one degree of separation here (the main definition is to fear, the secondary is to be in awe of. Him). We may start out moving in fear to obey as a child does not want to displease his father. This child will do just enough to avoid his fathers wrath. We eventually learn and grow and are motivated by love and awe and not fear. We need to obey God out of a desire to please Him and this child will do as much for his father as we can and this is the beginning; of wisdom and wisdom is the principle thing to be seeking (Proverbs 1:7, 9:10, 4:7)
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We also see we will be judged according to our works. The redeemed at the judgments seat of Christ where we will give an account of ourselves for what we did with our lives after salvation. This is for our rewards (2 Corinthians 5:10-11). The unsaved will be judged at the great white throne judgment. There they will have their degree of punishment determined (Revelation 20:11-15). God has put before you today the choice of life or death. Choose life: I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live- Deuteronomy 30:19 It is up to us, God will not impose His will over ours. We can choose life and the blessings or death and the cursings that go along with it. Personally I have chose live and that more abundantly with my Lord, Jesus Christ. How about you? Endnotes
Biblesofts New Exhaustive Strongs Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright 1994, Biblesoft and International Bible Translators, Inc ii New Strongs Guide To Bible Words, 1996 Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, TN in the Nelson Electronic Library, The Ultimate Bible Reference Library. iii The Online Bible Brown Driver & Briggs Hebrew Lexicon, Copyright 1993, Woodside Bible Fellowship, Ontario, Canada. Licensed from the Institute for Creation Resarch. iv New Strongs Guide To Bible Words, 1996 Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, TN in the Nelson Electronic Library, The Ultimate Bible Reference Library. v The Online Bible Brown Driver & Briggs Hebrew Lexicon, Copyright 1993, Woodside Bible Fellowship, Ontario, Canada. Licensed from the Institute for Creation Resarch. vi Enhanced Strongs Lexicon, (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.) 1995. vii Warren, Rick, The Purpose Driven Life, Copyright 2002, Zondervan Publishing House, pp. 127-128 viii Enhanced Strongs Lexicon, (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.) 1995. ix Enhanced Strongs Lexicon, (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.) 1995. x The Amplified Bible, Copyright 1965, Zondervan Publishing House. xi The Wycliff Bible Commentary, Electronic database. xii Enhanced Strongs Lexicon, (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.) 1995. xiii Enhanced Strongs Lexicon, (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.) 1995
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