Worry, Frustration and Discouragement

Recently, I did a lecture on Worry, Frustration and Discouragement to coordinate with a Bible Study our Women's Ministry is doing on the book: "Respectable Sins" by Jerry Bridges, NavPress. http://bit.ly/8GZLUT

In my research I was saddened to see how devastating anxiety has become in our culture. Twenty five years ago, I worked in marketing communications in health care when the first 'panic attacks' were presenting in Emergency Rooms. I helped some of my colleagues plan clinician-to-clinician educational seminars on how to help patients whose minds were so overwhelmed with anxiety that they couldn't stop their racing, anxious thoughts. In researching anxiety on the internet, including YouTube, it appears that anxiety attacks have become chronic conditions that devastate lives.

The "Respectable Sins" study addresses how readily these sins are accepted and perpetuated in Christians' lives. In that portion of my pre-lecture research, I found several Christian authors who admitted that these have been areas of struggle..... so I didn't feel so alone admitting these have been my areas of weakness as well. In fact, I embraced this assignment thinking, 'well, I have learned a lot about these sins over the course of my life and can share some of what I've learned.' .... and somewhere inside, I thought: 'God has a sense of humor to give me this assignment.....' But, I soon realized God does NOT have a sense of humor about these sins. He hates them. He wants us to rid them from our lives, because of the damage they do to us. He loves us, and offers a much better way of life than to be fettered with worry, frustration and discontentment. Jesus said, "I do not give as the world gives. I give you Peace..." In a culture that coddles, over indulges and feeds materialism, isn't it refreshing that Jesus came to set us free? That's what my teaching is about.... the freedom and peace we can have in Jesus, and I am willing to share it with whomever can use it. (This news is too good to keep to myself!)

But, before I go on, I just have to ask: Do you know Jesus? Perhaps you found your way to this blog while you were looking for relief from your anxiety. If so, I have such good news for you. God loves you so much that He is reaching out to you at this moment. Yes. God. The Creator of the Universe. The Holy One who was in the Beginning and will Be in the End. He sent his son Jesus to live a sinless life in the form of a man. Jesus is all man and all God. And, he lived on this earth 2,000 years ago without ever committing a sin.... no lies, no hate, no pride, no lust and no anxiety... He took the punishment we deserve for refusing to seek and obey God, our Creator. Jesus was crucified on a cross, suffered, and died. BUT, after 3 days, he rose from the dead to overcome sin and death forever. God's word says that when we put our faith in Jesus' payment for our sins, we can become God's child. Here it is in the gospel of John: "Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God."bit.ly/5pjhFp If you are fed up with your lack of peace and meaningless life and are willing to seek God with all your heart, you can become a child of God by praying to Him right now and asking to receive HIS free gift of salvation.... "God, I believe you love me and sent Jesus to pay for my sins. I want to seek you and place my faith in what Jesus did for me. I want to know you and learn your ways. Please LORD give me your peace. Let me receive Jesus the Prince of Peace... I ask you today to let me receive Jesus... Amen."

I will be glad to send you a free copy of the packet entitled: "Attaining to the Fullness of Christ's Peace: a study on Anxiety, Worry and Discontentment." It looks at the these sins from God's perspective, shows the heart issues that are at their root and how to appropriate Christ's peace. Use it for yourself or to help others. I have received positive comments from those, who were new to these topics. To receive your copy, email me at: suetomson@comcast.net. And, I also recommend the Respectable Sins book, which does a great job of opening our hearts to these and many other tolerated sins that the LORD wants to turn from.

Blessings!