Season's Greeting

It’s more than just the stuffing.

It is the end of another year here at Tim Hamner Ministries, and I thank you for your continued support throughout 2010. This time of year, many of you are preparing for the year-end holidays such as Christmas, Kwanza, Hanukah or even New Year’s Day. You are planning and attending activities and/or parties to celebrate the season. Solomon says this in Ecclesiastes 3:1, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven.”

During this time of year, many people are happy, joyous, and cheerful, they delight in the festivities of the season. But there are others who believe this is the worse time of the year Frustration, loneliness, fatigue, or even depression are a few of the symptoms some people experience during this season. Many factors contribute to these feelings. According to the National Mental Health Association, reasons for feeling blue around the holidays are numerous. They range from fatigue – a result of all of the increased holiday activity – to financial limitations and family tensions. Experts say one of the fastest routes to holiday depression is unrealistic expectations.”

Dr. Jill Rachbeisel, Director of Community Psychiatry at the University of Maryland Medical Center says, “people often hold on to what they remember as the perfect holiday from years past. There is also the expectation around the holidays that “everything must be perfect” in order to have a good time. When these things don’t fall into place, this may trigger signs of mild to full blown depression.” According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), some of the signs and symptoms of depression are:

• Persistent sad, anxious or "empty" feelings
• Feelings of hopelessness and/or pessimism
• Feelings of guilt, worthlessness and/or helplessness
• Irritability, restlessness
• Loss of interest in activities or hobbies once pleasurable, including sex
• Fatigue and decreased energy
• Difficulty concentrating, remembering details and making decisions
• Insomnia, early–morning wakefulness, or excessive sleeping
• Overeating, or appetite loss
• Thoughts of suicide, suicide attempts

I care deeply for those people who may be lonely, overwhelmed, or even hurting this time of year. The good news is that Jesus Christ died on the cross for you because he loves you. We know that Jesus loves us because he willingly laid down his life for us (1 John 3:16). Each day, the scriptures provide us assurance and comfort in knowing that we are never alone and that we can have lasting joy. Zephaniah 3:17 reads, “The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.” Matthew 28:20 reads, “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Psalms 23:4 reads, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and staff, they comfort me.”

Looking for more?

Are you hungry for more inspirational scriptures with light music? Do you need Bible Study Resources for your weekly studies? Would you like to start a daily devotionals? Our web site will point you into the right direction with online resources that is available to every believer the has an internet connected computer. We are linked to some of the world's riches resources on the internet today.

You can use these resources online or use them offline as downloaded software to your computer. Visit our web site here at Tim Hamner Ministries Learn more about this...