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Worship: For Heaven’s Sake The solution to depression is Jesus. Depression comes sometimes because we are walking a course Jesus never set for us, says Pastor Flemons. Jesus provided in nature St. John’s wort and kava kava for depression. But more than that, He wants us to trust Him through His word. “Happy is that people who’s God is the Lord” (Psalm 144:15). (Read more below.)
Wellness: For Health’s Sake Pastor Flemons, a doctor of biblical wellness, briefly reviewed a PubMed article that supports the use of St. John’s wort and kava kava for mental illness. He also suggested other practical ways to deal with depression and general mental illness. (Read more below.)
(NOTE: Before following any advice given here, please read our disclaimer on this page.)
QTQT Pastor Flemons responded to a question about earthing. He briefly discussed what earthing is and warned that its tentacles reach into the occult.
Special Prayer was offered for call-in listener 0272. Please pray for Wanda, her family, and for her friend, who is only 31 and on medication for high blood pressure.
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FaceBook – Depressed and Walking with Jesus (The Walk to Emmaus)
FaceBook – Overcome Depression the REFRESHING Way
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TOPICS THIS WEEK – August 6 – 12
Worship Sunday – The Lord Is Risen; Monday – Why Weepest Thou? – Tuesday – The Walk to Emmaus; Wednesday – Peace Be Unto You; Thursday – By the Sea Once More; Friday – Go Teach All Nations ; Saturday, the Sabbath – To My Father, and Your Father [All topics per Desire of Ages by Ellen G. White.]
Wellness Sunday – Neem Oil; Monday – Why the Devil Causes Male and Female Cancers; Tuesday – Overcome Depression the REFRESHING Way
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Words of Encouragement
Psalm 19:8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
Colossians 3:23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men.
For Heaven’s Sake…
“Late in the afternoon of the day of the resurrection, two of the disciples were on their way to Emmaus, a little town eight miles from Jerusalem. These disciples had had no prominent place in Christ’s work, but they were earnest believers in Him. They had come to the city to keep the Passover, and were greatly perplexed by the events that had recently taken place. They had heard the news of the morning in regard to the removal of Christ’s body from the tomb, and also the report of the women who had seen the angels and had met Jesus. They were now returning to their homes to meditate and pray. Sadly they pursued their evening walk, talking over the scenes of the trial and the crucifixion. Never before had they been so utterly disheartened. Hopeless and faithless, they were walking in the shadow of the cross. DA 795.1
“They had not advanced far on their journey when they were joined by a stranger, but they were so absorbed in their gloom and disappointment that they did not observe him closely. They continued their conversation, expressing the thoughts of their hearts. They were reasoning in regard to the lessons that Christ had given, which they seemed unable to comprehend. As they talked of the events that had taken place, Jesus longed to comfort them. He had seen their grief; He understood the conflicting, perplexing ideas that brought to their minds the thought, Can this Man, who suffered Himself to be so humiliated, be the Christ? Their grief could not be restrained, and they wept. Jesus knew that their hearts were bound up with Him in love, and He longed to wipe away their tears, and fill them with joy and gladness. But He must first give them lessons they would never forget. DA 795.2
“Strange that the disciples did not remember Christ’s words, and realize that He had foretold the events which had come to pass! They did not realize that the last part of His disclosure would be just as verily fulfilled as the first part, that the third day He would rise again. This was the part they should have remembered. The priests and rulers did not forget this. On the day ‘that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while He was yet alive, After three days I will rise again.’ Matt. 27:62, 63. But the disciples did not remember these words. DA 796.2
“‘Then He said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into His glory?’ The disciples wondered who this stranger could be, that He should penetrate to their very souls, and speak with such earnestness, tenderness, and sympathy, and with such hopefulness. For the first time since Christ’s betrayal, they began to feel hopeful. Often they looked earnestly at their companion, and thought that His words were just the words that Christ would have spoken. They were filled with amazement, and their hearts began to throb with joyful expectation. DA 796.3
“Beginning at Moses, the very Alpha of Bible history, Christ expounded in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself. Had He first made Himself known to them, their hearts would have been satisfied. In the fullness of their joy they would have hungered for nothing more. But it was necessary for them to understand the witness borne to Him by the types and prophecies of the Old Testament. Upon these their faith must be established. Christ performed no miracle to convince them, but it was His first work to explain the Scriptures. They had looked upon His death as the destruction of all their hopes. Now He showed from the prophets that this was the very strongest evidence for their faith.” DA 796.4
(This study is based on Luke 24:13-33 and chapter 83, “The Walk to Emmaus” in The Desire of Ages (DA), by Ellen G. White.)
For Health’s Sake…
Depression is rooted in unbelief in Truth. Likewise, healing for any kind of depression begins with relying on God, the first letter in the acronym REFRESHING. Relying on God is established by praying for trust in God as we read through His word.
Eating a plant-based diet of various whole foods helps maintain sufficient minerals and vitamins in the body at appropriate levels, which includes seratonin. Low levels of seratonin is associated with depression and anxiety. Eating a diet of animal flesh and byproducts (like dairy) causes imbalances that affect seratonin levels. TOR’s Happiness tea and tonic are designed to help with proper seratonin levels. It contains herbs that relax anxiety, ease circulation to the brain, and improve seratonin levels that improve mood, while depressing mood swings. These include ginkgo biloba, gotu kola, kava kava, and St. John’s wort.
Fresh air provides mood enhancing properties: negative ions. When enough negative ions attach themselves to the positively charged “particles of mold spores, pollen, pet dander, odors, cigarette smoke, bacteria, viruses, dust and other hazardous airborne particles,” the air is cleared. That is why fresh air during periods of resting and exercising is so critical. It is an antedote to depression and necessary for good health, as Pastor Flemons frequently reminds listeners. Higher levels of negative ions exist near oceans and other large bodies of water.
Adequate rest is gained when bedtime is at a regular hour and no later than 9:30 p.m. The hours prior to midnight are twice as beneficial as those afterward. Regular periods of sufficient rest and exercise every day counteracts depression, anxiety, and other forms of mental illness. Simply walking is the best form of exercise there is, as it involves every muscle in the body.
Exercising self-control in avoiding alcohol, caffeine, nicotine, and other harmful substances that depress the mind and changes the mood is key to sound mental health. All the other principles in the REFRESHING Way lifestyle help strengthen the power of the will. Will power is the foundation upon which self-control is built. You do what you really want to.
H2O, or water, help cleanse the entire system of toxins that hinder good health, including mental health. Drink half your body weight in ounces every day. Watch your urine. If it is clear, you are drinking adequate water. If it is not clear, drink more.
Sunlight heals. Being in the sun only 20 minutes every day makes a healthy difference in everyone’s life. Vitamin D is found to be an antidepressant. And it’s only naturally found in sunlight.
Never giving up and giving to others enjoin the biblical principle of never being weary of well-doing. For we will reap the reward “in due season,” if we faint not. Continue in well doing and persevere, both for yourself and for others. God, through the prophet Isaiah in chapter 58, details the connection between the practice of blessing others and receiving blessings. Read it.