T.A.G. Ministries, International

Day 3 - Diary of Well Women - "The Preacher's Wife lost on Fantasy Island"

2010-06-24T12:37:00.003-05:00

DAY 3 - Diary of Well Women - "The Preacher's Wife lost on Fantasy Island"

Virtuous writes:

I was just curious. What makes women flock to preachers. What do they feel they will gain by throwing themselves at them or making sure they let the Man of God know that they are willing and available to do whatever they want.What is so exciting about these preachers. It doesn't seem to matter what they look like or have sometimes, they just want them. What makes the Man of God so weak and vulnerable to her advances? What makes them willing to take a chance and lose everything, the wife, kids, home, ministry. Their even willing to take a chance on losing their personal one on one relationship with God. Men of God, what is it? Women, what is your problem?

Virtuous
A Well Woman
_____________________________________________________________________

RESPONSE by Minister Tracy Curtis

Let me start with the women. The "fantasy" of being connected to a preacher is no different from the "groupie" mentality that many women exude when throwing themselves at celebraties.

Even if the preacher is not well known... the "idea" of being the "preacher's wife" is alluring to many women.

Unfortunately, this comes from a place of insecurity and misplaced identity or lack of identity and individuality. What I mean is, a woman must know who she is FIRST before she connects with any man or she will be a "ball and chain" that holds him back or a "leech" that sucks the life out of him.

It is as simple as the "groupie complex".

"I'm sure some women who have never followed thru with their fantasy have at least "fantasized" for a moment or many moments in their mind.

Welcome to the mind....fantasy island... the place where your fantasies come true."

Remember the word "fan" is short for fanatic.

***********************************

Now let's address what's happening with the men.

Not all preachers are easily lured / tempted. And not all succomb. But those who do... well it is as simple as this:

A person is tempted when he/she is lured and enticed by his/her own desire. (James 1:14)

A fish takes the bait because it WANTS something. Whatever that want or desire is will be the very thing that they will be tempted in and lured away from ministry, family and relationship with God.

Satan was unsuccesful in tempting Jesus' flesh because Jesus' desire was to please God.(John 4:34)

He could only be "tempted" into pleasing God more today than yesterday. LOL

When our hidden or secret desires are not dealt with, they become our own bait.

Going back to the fantasy island idea; some preachers are like Mr. Rourke. Their "desire" is POWER. They know how to attract persons who are not living in reality and then make that person's fantasies come true. This makes them feel powerful. They know they sit in a position of power and well, power can corrupt and absolute power can corrupt absolutely.

"I have the power to make you happy or sad"....
"I have the power to allow or even encourage you to follow me around"...
"I have the power to control how I feel about you while your emotions go out of control"
"I have the power to increase your desire for me by allowing you to do things for me that I shouldn't allow"

Instead of resisting, they allow far too many things to take place.

And just like Tatoo was always by Mr. Rourke's side, there is always the demon of pride next to the Man of God who is or is becoming consumed with his "power" that his position has given him over a person with uncontrolled desire for him.

God will only hold him responsible for his actions (what he influences, suggests and/or allows and his re-actions to the "bait" (woman.) He will cannot be held responsible for what they do.

BOTH the preacher and the woman are tempted/lured by their own lusts for pride and acceptance and both will be consumed by it if they don't identify it, confront it, and conquer it.

~Minister Tracy Curtis~
"One day, I also met Jesus at the well"

T.A.G. Ministries, International
Website: tagministry.ning.com

Day 2 - Diary of a Well Woman: "A Fatherless Father's Day"

2010-06-24T12:34:00.001-05:00

Day 2 - Diary of a Well Woman - "A FATHERLESS FATHER'S DAY"

Melissa says:

My father was not around when I was growing up. I was so jealous of the other kids who had dads that would come to school. Now, I'm an adult and I still don't have a father. I know it sounds weird, but even as an adult, I still yearn for a father...my father.

What should I do on Fathers day? I don't have a dad.

**************************

Minister Tracy responds:

Melissa, I know how you feel. I was raised by my mother and yearned to have a father present everyday. Although my father was alive, I was fatherless each Father's Day. It wasn't until I became an adult that I realized that I was never really without a father. It wasn't until I learned something so very very important that I was comforted. I will share some if with you today.

You know, this topic reminds me of a conversation that I had a friend about the difference between a dad and a father. People use those terms interchangeably. Whatever term you use it is more than the person who just "beget" or "sired" you. We, as humans, have the inner desire for the one who created us. Whether that is our biological parents or...our heavenly Creator or Father in heaven. And when either is or seems to be missing, then that longing is never satisfied.

But Melissa, only one of those I just described might leave you alone....

You may not have a physical father but God is a Father to the fatherless.

When you are feeling "fatherless" think of this scripture:

Psalm 68:5
A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling.

Listen to this song:

Father to the Fatherless" by Jason Upton

Melissa, have you ever felt as if your relationship with your father was like a game of hide and seek? You were seeking him, wanting his presence and it seemed as if he was hiding somewhere. Well our heavenly Father is not hiding from you. As a matter of fact, there is no place that you can go to hide from him. All those days and years that you did not have a physical father present your God, our heavenly Father was ALWAYS there. Always watching over you. There is no place you can go and be alone or isolated from His presence.

Psalm 139:7-12
7 Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?

8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.

9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,

10 even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.

11 If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,"

12 even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.

Not only that but a Father spends time with his child and KNOWS his child intimately. I know what it is like to seek the intimacy of a father and not have it. But Melissa, our heavenly Father knows us intimately!

Psalm 139:1-6
1 O LORD, you have searched me
and you know me.

2 You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.

3 You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.

4 Before a word is on my tongue
you know it completely, O LORD.

5 You hem me in—behind and before;
you have laid your hand upon me.

6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.

Sometimes our father's are not around because they have passed away or maybe they are workaholics and are there physically but not emotionally or maybe have gone off to war. With all of His choices, God choose to stay when He could very well have left after you were conceived and born.

Psalm 139:13-16

13 For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother's womb.

14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.

15 My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,

16 your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be.

He was there while you were moving around in your mother's womb and He has been right there with you all the time; even when you didn't think He was there...and He is there still.

So this week, activate your free will and CHOOSE to take this Fathers Day to not embrace the sadness of your biological father's absence. Instead, realize, celebrate and honor your Heavenly Father. Thank Him for using your biological father to create you.

Go make plans to celebrate with someone who has been a father figure to you. Surprise them with a father's day card. I remember one year I gave my mom a father's day card because she was both mother and father to me as a child. Be creative this Father's Day.

Know that the Father has heard you and hears you when you pray...

Listen to this song
Father Can You Hear Me?

Know that God will restore the years that you have lost. I am happy to say that I am getting to know my earthly father little by little. But, I never forget that my heavenly Father, loves me more than any mother or father could ever and in that I am always comforted whenever I remember my childhood.

Here are some suggested scriptures to think about this Father's Day:
Matthew 6:9, Romans 8:15, Galatians 4:6

Have a wonderful Father's Day weekend!

~Minister Tracy Curtis~
"One day, I met Jesus at the well too"

T.A.G. Ministries, International
Website: tagministry.ning.com

Day 1 - Diary of Well Women - "Jesus are you really real?"

2010-06-18T10:43:00.001-05:00

"Jesus are you really real?"

JACKIE writes:

Today, I woke up wondering, "Will today be like yesterday's yesterday?" Will I finally experience true happiness or will the cycle of dissatisfaction continue as my relationships seem like a hotel with a revolving door...people check in but they rarely stay.

That preacher was on TV last night talking about Jesus loves me. Why in the world would Jesus love me? Doesn't he know the things I've done? Doesn't he know what has been done to me? Doesn't he know who I really am? I'm like an emotional Nazi hiding in a country after my concentration camp was invaded. No one knows who I really am. No one knows my shame. No one knows my pain. No one knows that I'm wounded from the war within that has been raging since I was gang molested as a child. No one knows...

But something that preacher said last night... I ... I just can't get it out of my head. He said Jesus loves me... the real me. It was as if he saw who I really was. As if... he knew everything that happened in my life. The things I have told no one.

Jesus... are you real? Are you really real? Can you hear my thoughts? I'm afraid to speak out loud...someone might hear me praying. Can you hear me?

I just need someone who can hear the words I don't speak.

I'm in pain Jesus. But I can't tell anyone about it.

It hurts, its lonely, its scary.

My happiness isn't really real. Its like a cold popsicle, it satisfies for a moment and then...its gone.

Is happiness real?

When I was a kid they told me about Santa Claus... but Santa aint real.

When I was a kid they told me about the Easter Bunny...but that bunny aint real

Jesus, are you really real?

~Jackie, Well Woman~

****************************************

Listen to the song: JESUS IS REAL

****************************************

RESPONSE FROM MINISTER TRACY CURTIS:

My dear Jackie, here is a bottle of water. You look thirsty. Go ahead. Drink up. While you are drinking, let me share something with you.

My sister, I can only tell you that Jesus IS real.

He is more than an experience.

He is more than a feeling.

He is more than just knowledge in your head.

Even though you don't understand gravity, even though you can't see gravity, the evidence of the existence of gravity is all around you. If you don't believe me, stand on a chair and jump off. You will never just float or fly away. You will always fall to the floor. That is the evidence of existence of gravity. Go ahead, try it.

The evidence of Jesus' existence is all around you my sister. He will remove the feelings of guilt from your past when you accept the fact that he has not only forgiven you of your past actions but has also forgotten what you've done. The painful memories your experience is you replaying those moments in your mind. You are choosing to stay in your past. Jesus wants to move you out of that place into fullness of joy. But he won't force you to do it.

You want happiness, Jesus offers you wholeness. Happiness is contingent upon events and feelings. Something goes wrong, you're not happy anymore. But with Jesus, wholeness provides an assurance, a confidence that even when something goes wrong, you know that he has total control and your life is in the palm of his hand...no one can pluck you out of his hand.

Unlike the people you've experienced, Jesus will never leave you nor forsake you. Your life is not a like a hotel to him. Once he checks in, he doesn't leave...he won't go back out thru the revolving door. He wants to come in and sup with you, abide with you, live with you for all eternity. Jesus is not only the truth but he is trustworthy.

He knows your thoughts before you even think them. So, yes, he hears your unspoken words. He sees the tears you cry when no one is around, he hears your silent screams.

Let him comfort your hurting heart. Let him show you the real you...the you that you hide from others. He sees past your representative ... the person that smiles to everyone but is crying and dying on the inside. He sees the REAL you.

Know this...Jesus is REAL and he sees, knows and loves the REAL you.

****************************************
Listen to this song: YOU ARE MY JOY
****************************************

~Minister Tracy Curtis~
"One day, I met Jesus at the well"

HOPE FOR THE HOLIDAYS: Spirit, Soul and Body

2007-12-29T09:19:00.000-06:00

This article is not to be used without permission from the Founder of T.A.G. Ministries, International
© 2007 TAG Ministries, International / Houston, Texas

__________________________________________________________

HOPE FOR THE HOLIDAYS: SPIRIT, SOUL AND BODY

In our previous lesson, we looked at a form of depression called Seasonal Affective Disorder (also known as SAD). SAD is marked by symptoms of depression profound enough to seriously affect work and relationships. This disorder may have its onset in adolescence or early adulthood and, like other forms of depression, occurs more frequently in women than in men. We began looking at the scriptures to understand WHERE the ROOT of your SADness and depression can be found. We learned that God created your spirit, soul and body to be as one. However, SIN has destroyed this unity. When mankind sinned in Adam, that oneness was broken and now our soul fights against the Spirit of God as Paul talked about in Romans chapters 6-7. As believers, our souls are in a constant warfare against our spirit. It is because of this “warfare in our souls that James tells us that our souls must be "saved" or renewed day by day (James 1:21).

Today we will look at our spirit, soul and body to determine where depression takes residence.

1 Thessalonians 5:23

Now may the God of peace

Himself sanctify you completely,

and may your whole spirit, soul and body

be preserved blameless

at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

God is interested in all three portions of our being – spirit, soul and body. The Bible says concerning our Savior, "And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men." (Luke 2:52). This reveals the importance of our mental and emotional development, our physical prowess, our spiritual life with God of worship and communion, and our social interactions with others. God is interested in all of these, and the Bible gives us keys for our development in these areas.

The verse quoted above from 1 Thessalonians supports the view that God is interested in our sanctification – spirit, soul and body.

You are a spirit,

You have a soul,

And you live in a body.

Depression (S.A.D.ness) resides in your soul. Because of this duality within your body (spirit and soul), you must know how to address your sadness both spiritually and naturally. God’s word addresses the spiritual issue because your spiritual issues always affect your soul. Why because that is who you are…a spirit. Your body will return to dust but your spirit will continue to possess a soul for eternity. So, what is your “soul”?

Your soul, which consists of: your mind, your will and your emotions is what forms your personality. Your mind is the place of intellect, logic and reasoning. It gathers and stores information. Like the pantry in a person’s kitchen, some items are stored according to that person’s particular logic. Others have items just randomly placed seemingly no rhyme nor reason to it. Your emotions are based on your thoughts. What you think about a person or thing determines how you feel about a person or thing. There are times when your mind and emotions do not agree. You can have verbal confirmation from a person that they love you, but you may “feel” as if they don’t. So you constantly try to get them to prove their love or you seek their approval when no disapproval has been expressed. Your will is what you set yourself (often described as ‘setting your heart’) to DO something…to act or react.

WHICH IS IN CONTROL?

Your mind (or thoughts) can control your actions.

Your emotions (how you feel) can control your actions.

Or both your mind and emotions can control your actions.

Here’s an example:

You THINK and FEEL someone doesn’t like you based on one or more of the following pieces of information that is stored in your mind from experience (interaction with that person) or observation (watching how they act):

Your Mind – what you think

*a negative “vibe” – you hear the tone in their voice and watch their body language

*an exchange of hurtful words

*they seem to avoid you

*they look at you “funny” or have unpleasant facial expressions when they look at you

*someone told you that this person doesn’t like you

*the person told you from their own lips that they don’t like you

*you don’t like them so you think they don’t like you

*they’ve abused you (verbally, physically, sexually)

Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying abuse is all in the mind. It is actual and factual. I’m saying the incident is STORED there…in your memories. Stay with me, ok.

Your Emotions – how you feel

With this information now gathered and stored in your mind, you now FEEL rejected by that person.

Your Will – what you will do about it

Now you set your heart to DO…act or react to what you are thinking, feeling or both. Either your mind (or thoughts) will control your actions or your emotions will control your actions. And sometimes both may determine how you act or react to a person or situation.

Rejected, now you decide:

To prove yourself to the person – having approval addiction is a dangerous thing. Some will do anything to gain the approval of another. You may spend lots of money on them; have sex with them at their command; agree to engage in illegal acts; or simply try to pamper them with things you know they like, not just because you love them…but because you want buy their approval.

To defend yourself to the person – you are always on the defense around them. Every statement they make is followed by a statement of defense on your part. You over explain yourself constantly because you feel “misunderstood”. Or you may sulk and build a wall of resentment because you think they just don’t and won’t understand you.

To villanize others - by constantly revisiting memories of the people in your past who have rejected you, the person in your present situation is now lumped in with them and you see them as a perpetrator or villain (sometimes assuming and declaring them guilty without and true conclusive evidence that they ARE like the people from your past). You think to yourself, “That comment he made is the same comment my father made…just before he walked out and left us”. Now the person in your present is…”just like your father”. So you build an emotional wall as if bracing yourself for this person to hurt you.

To become your avenger – this can be you avenging yourself of the actual or perceived offense of rejection. Some Christians take the word of God and yield it inappropriately. You may think to yourself, “I know they don’t like me so I’m going to kill them with kindness. After all the scriptures say it will reap hot coals on them…that’ll show ‘em!” Or you become like a double agent and smile in their face in order to seem in agreement with them but your fingers are crossed behind your back and while alone you scheme and think of ways to get back at them.

To victimize yourself or remain a victim - depending on the situation, you will gain a victim mentality either because you actually cannot get out of the situation or you think you can’t get out of it. Also, you may say such things as “I act this way because this person did this to me” instead of deciding to take both control and responsibility for your thoughts and actions. You may even become a victim of yourself by deciding to give in to thoughts that make you angry, jealous, guilty, resentful instead of loving, forgiving (yourself and others).

All of these emotions and actions can lead you to and leave you in a very dark place where you continually feel unworthy, unloved, rejected and disrespected….this dark place is called…depression.

If you have a history of rejection or abandonment in your life: Parental rejection, Peer rejection or Romantic rejection, someone dies and you feel abandoned, each time the holiday season approaches, in your mind, you think of all of these experiences; intellectually tabulating, making a list of the persons who rejected you with details of the rejections. You set your will according to what you are thinking –

“I don’t want to be around them because of what they did to me”,

“I don’t have anyone to celebrate the holiday with because of….”,

“My family never deals with real issues, we laugh and play and no one wants to talk about what is going on”

“Since dad died, the holidays just aren’t the same”

“Why did they leave me?”

Your personality may become passive – and you set your will (your action/re-action) to “not cause trouble”, “to avoid conflict”, “not be confrontational but ignore the problem”

Your personality becomes aggressive – and you set your will to “confront everyone about everything without tact or concern for others”, “self protect and attack before a perceived attack”

In both cases you are self-protecting, shielding yourself from dealing with the issue in a godly manner. How do you deal with depression in a godly manner?

Remember, you are a spirit, you have a soul, and you live in a body. Depression resides in the soul of man. With depression residing in the soul and the soul and spirit at war….there seems to be no way out of depression. It’s like fighting a losing battle. But be encouraged, the battle is not lost. There is deliverance from depression and Hope for the Holidays!

In our next lesson, we will conclude the series by taking a look at FALSE HOPE and TRUE HOPE and show you how to be delivered from depression.

___________________________________________________________

This lesson is presented by:

T.A.G. MINISTRIES, INTERNATIONAL
Evangelist Tracy Curtis, Founder

HOPE FOR THE HOLIDAYS: Getting to the Root of Depression

2007-12-21T08:49:00.000-06:00

This article is not to be used without permission from
the Founder of T.A.G. Ministries, International
© 2007 TAG Ministries, International / Houston, Texas

__________________________________________________________

In our previous lesson, we looked at a form of depression called Seasonal Affective Disorder (also known as SAD). SAD is marked by symptoms of depression profound enough to seriously affect work and relationships. This disorder may have its onset in adolescence or early adulthood and, like other forms of depression, occurs more frequently in women than in men. Whether you are a man, woman, teen or child, all of us can become SAD during the holidays. Seasonal Affective Disorder can sometimes progress to a major depressive syndrome so, please refer to our previous lesson for the symptoms of SAD. Talk therapy (or counseling) may be necessary to diagnose and treat this disorder. I recommend you seek advice from a Faith-Based (Christian) Counselor who will address this disorder from both a physical and biblical perspective.

Each year, depression affects about 6 million American men and 12 million American women. But these numbers may not tell the whole story. Because men may be reluctant to discuss male depression with a health care professional or a counselor, many men with depression may go undiagnosed, and consequently untreated. Children and teens also suffer in silence to depression. Peer and parental pressures can create expectations on our youth that can be perceived as being unrealistic and unfair. Oftentimes this is a true perception produces a fear of disappointing parents and not being accepted by peers. This can send our youth spiraling down depression’s dark path; and for some, this path may lead to suicide.

BUT, be encouraged,

There is HOPE FOR THE HOLIDAYS:

Isaiah 61:1-3

1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me,
Because the LORD has anointed me
To bring good news to the afflicted;
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to captives
And freedom to prisoners;
2 To proclaim the favorable year of the LORD
And the day of vengeance of our God;
To comfort all who mourn,
3 To grant those who mourn in Zion,
Giving them a garland instead of ashes,
The oil of gladness instead of mourning,
The mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting
So they will be called oaks of righteousness,
The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.

In order to get to the root of depression, it is important to understand who you are both physically and spiritually.Knowing that depression can come upon any of us (men, women, teens and children), let’s go back to Genesis to review the creation of mankind.

Genesis 1:25-27

25 God made the beasts of the earth after their kind, and the cattle after their kind, and everything that creeps on the ground after its kind; and God saw that it was good.

26 Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth."

27 God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

Our “kind” is not beasts nor insects nor birds. Our “kind” is patterned after God Himself. The word “kind” here is the Hebrew word “miyn” (pronounced “mēn”). It is a masculine noun usually defined as “species”. Unlike animals we (mankind) having been made in God’s image are of His species. What species is that and what image…what do we look like?

In this lesson series, I want to take time to go through the scriptures and share some things with you because I want you to understand WHERE the ROOT of your SADness and depression can be found. So have patience as we rightly divide the word of truth.

SPIRIT, SOUL, BODY

Three equals One (3 = 1)

1 Thessalonians 5:23

Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit, soul and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

You are a spirit,

You have a soul,

And you live in a body

God is a spirit; and in His spiritual image was mankind’s “species” created. God is a Father, a Son and a Holy Spirit, but all three exist as one in unity (3=1). Since we were created in God's image, our spirit, soul and body is a similar trinity (3=1).

God created your spirit, soul and body to be as one. However, SIN has killed us and this unity. When mankind sinned in Adam, that oneness was broken and now our soul (flesh) fights against the Spirit of God as Paul talked about in Romans chapters 6-7. As believers, our soul (flesh) is in a constant warfare against our spirit. In addition, there are outside forces or satanic influences (firey darts) that are contrary to the Spirit of God. (2 Cor 10:3-5) Hence the warfare is in our souls, which is why James tells us that our souls must be "saved" or renewed day by day (James 1:21).

But there is good news, if any man be in Christ he is a new creation – a newly created spirit. (2 Cor 5:17) Now, only our recreated spirit in Christ can renew our souls. Our spirits are born again and therefore "perfect" (Heb 12:22-23) at the point of our confession of faith. BUT, our souls must be renewed daily by God’s word. After salvation, your renewed spirit is a done deal. Salvation is a finished work.

What do you mean our souls must be renewed daily?

What is our soul if it is not our spirit?

Why do I get depressed?

I’m saved, shouldn’t that all be taken care of?

Isn’t a life as a Christian supposed to be joyful?

And why do I keep having these bad thoughts?

Those are very good questions. In our next lessons we will look at what influences our thoughts. Where does depression come from? And how do we deal with those depressing thoughts and feelings.

Information Sources: The Holy Bible, “The Heart of Man & The Mental Disorders”-Thompson, “Caring for God’s People God’s Way”-Clinton/Hart/Ohlschlager, Mayo Clinic, Healthline.com, Christinyou.net, the5foldman.com, Christian-faith.com, Dr. Richard Boyum, “Lord, I Want to be Whole”-Omartian, “Competent Christian Counseling”-Clinton&Ohlschlager, “Christian Counseling”-Collins

___________________________________________________________

This lesson is presented by:

T.A.G. MINISTRIES, INTERNATIONAL
Evangelist Tracy Curtis, Founder

HOPE FOR THE HOLIDAYS: Why Am I So Sad?

2007-12-19T11:31:00.001-06:00

This article is not to be used without permission from
the Founder of T.A.G. Ministries, International
© 2007 TAG Ministries, International / Houston, Texas

__________________________________________________________

In America , the most joyous holidays are celebrated at the end of each year: Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years. Families and friends come together for fanciful feasts, to frolic outdoors and to express their faith in God. Homes are beautifully decorated denoting both the change in weather as well as the change in holidays. There are beautiful fall colors for Thanksgiving; Christmas lights illuminate living rooms and lawns; and party hats, streamers and confetti are at the ready to ring in the New Year. Kitchens come alive with the aroma of savory sensations that makes your mouth water as soon as you walk through the front door. Dining tables are adorned with desserts so delightfully delectable you are tempted to sneak a sample of each sweet treat. (Go ahead; Mom won’t see you taste the frosting.) As each holiday approaches not only do you look forward to the food that will fill your belly, but you anticipate the fun-filled moments you will have as you are surrounded by family and friends. Laughter will fill the air as children are outside playing with each other and adults are inside playing various games of friendly competition; some families go hunting together; some will be singing others will be dancing; all of this will create memories for the next year.

But what about those who experience “un-happy holidays”? For them, Thanksgiving through New Years is the worst time of their lives. During this season some experience a SADness that seems to engulf them and despite how much they want to be happy…there seems to be no hope for the holidays.

Do you feel depressed around the holidays?
It could be a sign of seasonal
affective disorder
also known as S.A.D.
SADness is a form of depression.

Depression may be described as feeling sad, blue, unhappy, miserable, or down in the dumps. Most of us feel this way at one time or another for short periods. But, true clinical depression is a mood disorder in which feelings of sadness, loss, anger, or frustration interfere with everyday life for an extended period of time.

Depressed children may not have the classic symptoms of adult depression. Watch especially for changes in school performance, sleep, and behavior. If you wonder whether your child might be depressed, it's worth bringing to a counselor or doctor’s attention.

What is SAD?
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a form of depression that occurs in relation to the seasons, most commonly beginning in winter.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is marked by symptoms of depression profound enough to seriously affect work and relationships. The disorder may have its onset in adolescence or early adulthood and, like other forms of depression, occurs more frequently in women than in men. But note, most people with the "winter blahs" or "cabin fever" do not have SAD.

Physicians and counselors say that the cause of SAD is not known, but is thought to be related to numerous factors including body temperature, hormone regulation, and ambient light. A rare form occurs in the summer.

Symptoms of SAD

Depression with the onset of fall or winter
Lack of energy
Decreased interest in work or significant activities
Increased appetite with weight gain
Carbohydrate cravings
Increased sleep and excessive daytime sleepiness
Social withdrawal
Afternoon slumps with decreased energy and concentration
Slow, sluggish, lethargic movement

Medical Treatment
As with other types of depression, antidepressant medications and talk therapy can be effective. With the change of seasons, symptoms oftentimes resolve themselves without any outside assistance.

Expectations (prognosis)
The outcome is good with continuous treatment, although some people have the disorder throughout their lives.

Complications
Seasonal affective disorder can sometimes progress to a major depressive syndrome.

How does the Bible address depression?
Talk Therapy (counseling) alone or medicine alone is NOT the answer to depression. The suggestions above are a “natural” solution to treat mental and/or physical issues. These are the solutions prescribed by the world’s system. But what do the scriptures say about such things? How does the Bible address depression?

In our next lesson, we will take a look at depression or SADness from a biblical perspective. For it is in the Word of God that we will find Hope for the Holidays.

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This lesson is presented by:

T.A.G. MINISTRIES, INTERNATIONAL
Evangelist Tracy Curtis , Founder