"It's not just another day, it's another chance."

Good morning and a happy Sunday ( tank fillin') day to all. I pray your day has started off with a smile and gets better as it goes along. The sun is just over the mountain now, blue skie, no breeze to speak of and 45 degrees...what a masterpiece of a day the Lord has made for us to enjoy and I am going to take full advantage! I apologize for not posting yesterday, I had a doctor appointment and then after went to help a friend in need! I did not do much but offer moral support but thanks to Wayde and John for the elbow grease and back strength they did give. All in all it was a productive day and I am so thankful that I got to spend it with people I love. 

In my morning chat with our heavenly Father I sat in the silence of my dark house allowing the spirit to envelope my heart and spilling my thoughts and feelings. Father God thank you for always having time for me, for allowing me to share my innermost, and for never making me feel unwanted or unneeded. I thank you for the loves in my life, my family...my friends...my wonderful husband...and the list goes on and on...I thank you for allowing me to know I am loved, for allowing me to feel that I am special and for taking time each day to show me the way. I ask you to bless those in need of vision today, to take their hand and gently allow them to see what it is you see in them so that they might begin to understand their value and worth here on this earth. I ask that you lead me today in the direction you wish for me to go, place me where I am most needed and allow me knowledge in what you wish for me to do. I ask that you bless each of us with peace in our hearts, calm in our minds, comfort in our bodies and love everlasting. In the name of Jesus Christ I ask these favors. Amen.

I came across this little writing and have seen the exact type of thing more than not...there is so much non-understanding, so much doubt and so much depression that is around us. I suffer depression at times and must say when I get way down it is so very hard to get myself back up...lets look to those who are down today and do what we can to assist them on getting back on track! You are loved....

"Whoopsy Daisy?"

Bob,

You said if you are feeling lost or disconnected. I was wondering if my being here on this earth was an accident maybe God didn't really intend to create me at all and a whoopsy daisy occurred. Because my life has no meaning I'm just alive I breath but I don't feel needed or wanted by anyone like I'm in the way. Is it possible that sometimes or maybe just one time a person gets created that was supposed to die at birth or be stillborn but yet somehow survived anyway? I need an honest answer to this ok it's important. 

I wanted so much more out of life than what I have I'm to the point that I wish I was no longer alive and God knows this but yet other people die and I'm still here is it bc He thinks I'm already dead He doesn't realize I 'm alive?

Please respond your best and it doesn't have to be biblical you can tell me the truth bc I think its bc God just doesn't care about me at all and that's why my life sucks so much! I really don't understand God at all and yet the bible says His love endures forever. I just don't know what to believe. How can his love endure forever, how?  Thank you, (name withheld)

This was my reply: (name withheld)

God NEVER makes mistakes. Imagine what faith would be like if we believed in something bigger than us who screwed up once in awhile? I don't think we'd believe for long. 

I was a second child in my family of two. I wasn't expected. When it came to light that my mom was pregnant, they wanted a girl. So, by those standards I was a mistake. I was what they called back then a "Blue Baby." 

That meant I needed a complete blood transfusion. I could have died. So, I guess I was trouble from the start. 

But I was meant to be. Just like you. Just like everyone else. 

In my lifetime I have come in touch with so many people and we both benefited from my views of life, their views and opinions, my love for people, my ability to sing, speak and write. 

Imagine if I thought I was a mistake and God didn't know I existed. I suffer from depression, too. That's right you and I are exactly the same. Low self esteem and an inability to see beauty in the world at times. We both feel unimportant, insignificant and useless at times. 

It's all lies. Pure and simple blind self destructive lies. 

During those dark days we see only what we choose to see. So, when we are down all we see are the ugly things of life. We twist our view to fit a poor image of ourselves. We take inventory of what we "have" and "don't have" and always come out short on the have list. 

We can't fit in anywhere and find our lives empty and without purpose. Lies all lies. 

No, my friend, God doesn't make mistakes. God doesn't create and forget. The pure fact that you are here means that He wanted you. He is also waiting for you to take care of yourself. 

God feeds the birds but He doesn't throw the food into the nest. He created them to fly, to seek out and live their lives to their fullest capacity. Bees do what they do. Birds, do what they were created to do. A bird can't be a bee nor can a human being become a giraffe. Each has a design and purpose within the great plan. You were created to just be you. You may become the leader of a nation, a street sweeper, a clerk in a store or a great athlete. It all begins with you. 

I see two doctors. I am on anti-depressants because my body is chemically out of balance. Yours is, too. I can tell. You see it isn't natural for anyone to think the way we do sometimes. Our bodies aren't producing the good stuff that helps us think clearly and see the right and wrong in the world. 

You need to see a doctor and get on some medication that helps bring you up to speed. Then you need to begin reading some things that will help you to get back on track. You know, the stuff that clicks with you so that you can make a plan for the rest of your incredible life. Go to the local library and browse through the sections of inspirational books. Norman Vincent Peale, Zig Ziglar, Robert Schuller and Og Mandino to name a few. Look for a good Bible study that's easy to understand, too. 

Thumb through those pages until you find a style you like or words that jump off the page for you. 

This will be and I'm guessing has been a life long struggle for you. It has been for me, too. And yet, I'm almost 62 and still here. 

People around you just don't understand. They think they do. They say things like, "Cheer up!" "It's not all that bad." "Let's go out for a few drinks and have fun." "Get over it!" 

This is depression. Clinical depression. That means your body is malfunctioning. While that is happening you are thinking you are unworthy of any joy, love, or happiness. So, thoughts of ending it all plague you everyday. 

It makes sense to you and it did to me until I asked for help. Am I dancing on the ceiling and skipping through life now? No way! You see, your problems don't go away, but your perception of them does. I can see the problems in my life that made me unhappy and now I 

must work hard to make the changes necessary to correct them. So, that means I have good days and bad. 

But that's the good news. Everyone does. Everyone has good and bad days. 

Today is a new beginning. Right now where you are you can begin to make the changes in your life that will help you to enjoy living again. It's like a brand new start. I get up and begin to reconstruct my life. I am recreating myself. Every morning I wake up is an affirmation that I can start again. 

"It's not just another day, it's another chance." 

So, what's your priorities now? Get some help. Even if you are broke there are programs available to help you. Wash away any image of being weird or people thinking you're a mental case. That's just more lies. Forget any mental health stigmas. You, my friend, will stand out above all those who want to judge you because you will be taking charge of your life again. They have bought into the lies. 

Do you know who the great liar is? Satan, the evil, ugly one who is responsible for flooding your mind with negative images. 

I mean, think about it. Admit it. You asked me if God makes mistakes? You asked me if God has forgotten you because you somehow slipped into this world without Him knowing. 

When you can see those thoughts as lies and impossible, then you can declare your "break through." 

I won't throw a bunch of Bible quotes at you, but I will offer you this one line. It's a phrase that a friend many years ago offered me when I was doubting everything. 

Each and every time you start thinking bad thoughts about yourself or your life simply repeat, "He that is in me is greater than he that is in the world." Say it again and again. 

God is in you so how could He ever deny you? Satan, the devil, the ugly evil one is in the world, of the world and wants to distort your view of life. 

First get help. You can do that by going to a doctor your regular physician and he/she can direct you. If you can't do that then go to a church and ask for help. Often times they have staff or church members who are professionals and volunteer their time to counsel people.

You are worthy, you are loved, you have a great life

ahead and you are a magnificent creation of God.

God doesn't make mistakes. 

Get up now, go get help today.

God is waiting to show you the real you. 

As Dr. Robert Schuller always says,

"God loves you and so do I" !

Please pray for this wonderful person

and for all who live with depression.

Keep me updated. I love good news and happy endings.  Bob 

"I believe in you!" 

"I wish you enough!"

J

~ Bob Perks ~