Brian "pb" Brijbag

New Series Starting Dec 2nd

Today’s QT – Psalm 77

If you are singing the blues in your life it may help to know that the Psalmist understood and wrote about it in Psalm77. The man we meet in this Psalm bore all the marks that would today be diagnosed as depression. He was looking at life through dark colored glasses. He felt forgotten and forsaken by God. He couldn’t sleep. He couldn’t articulate his thoughts because of emotional exhaustion. He was tired all the time. He lived in the past longing for a day that had passed by. He remembered when he was happy and had a song in his heart, but no more, and he couldn’t seem to get back there no matter how hard he tried.

He became so depressed that he even began to question God (7-9). “Has God rejected his people?” “Does God no longer care?” “Has God lost his compassion?” These are sharp piercing questions, but they were the questions that came from the Psalmist as he wallowed in despair.

He hadn’t reached such a place over night. There is always progression in such emotional experiences. Despair begins with a disappointment that is not handled constructively. The pattern is this: disappointment leads to doubt; doubt leads to depression; and depression leads to despair. Simple disappointment is the father of despair.

Some of you may be like the psalmist and questioning whether God has left you without help in your time of trouble. But he made a startling insight that saved him from his despair. We see it in verse 10, “This is my infirmity,” he says. He recognized that the problem was with himself and not with God.

He saw that his doubts were due to his own weakness, not God’s negligence. It was at this point that he determined to do something about his problem. Four times in verses 10 and 11 he says, “I will ….”

That is significant. We are not helpless victims of our emotions. We do not have to be hijacked by our attitudes. We can take action. Our thoughts govern our moods, therefore if we think right we will feel right. Most depression arises from faulty thinking and we do have within our power to change or control our thoughts. To deal with these harmful emotions we must be mentally tough. If you don’t handle your emotions they will handle you. You must make up your mind that you are not going to allow your circumstances defeat you.

How do we have that victory?

Concentrate on God’s greatness (11-12)
Give thanks for His greatness (13-14)
And consider what He has done for you in the past (19-2)

Many times God is at work in our lives when we can’t see his footprints, but he is nonetheless at work. He will never leave us nor forsake us.

TI Lunch Menu for Saturday!

2009 Teens Involved MENU at
1st  Baptist Church New Port Richey

 Salads -$3.00 (Will be like a small Chef Salad)
Barbeque Pork Sandwich – $1.50
Hot Dog – $1.00
Assorted Chips – $.75
Assorted Candy – $.75
Soda 20 oz. – $1.00
Bottled Water – $1.00

March Madness

We had a great time at March Madness down at Word of Life!

Thanks to all who went!  Pictures are up under my Facebook account!

Summer Camp Time!

Ok … well not yet but you better start thinking about heading over to Word of Life!

This is what they have to say:

“You’ll find enthusiastic counselors, dynamic and relevant Bible teaching, and contemporary worship at Word of Life Camp in Florida. Just outside Tampa, our 500 acre property has everything a teen could ask for in an awesome camp experience with comfortable cabins, great food, a paintball course, basketball and volleyball courts, climbing tower, zip line and enormous pool and Jacuzzi.”

Our dates are July 11-18 so get it on the calendar!  Go to www.wol.org for more info.

New at camp this year … a new waterslide!

FX Bible Quiz Blitz Teams Take 1st and 2nd Place at Word of Life!

Our 2009 Quiz Blitz Teams took 1st and 2nd place at the local Word of Life Teens Involved competition held last night at FBC New Port Richey!  The team that finished first was led by team captain David and included Stephanie, Kristy and Kaylee.  The team that finished second (by 1 point!) was led by team captain Niki and included Timmy, Rachel and Kaylene.  Both teams were coached by Pastor Brian.

The Team now prepares for the State level of competition to take place in Jacksonville sometime towards the end of April.

We would like to congratulate our students and thank our parents, our church family at FBC Brooksville, Word of Life (and especially Andy Anderson!) and FBC NPR for hosting (Thanks Pastor Brad!).