January 19, 2025
“This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”
~ Psalm 118:24 (NIV) ~
MISERABLE MONDAY
As I write this today, this coming Monday will be Miserable Monday!
Several years ago British psychologist, CliffArnall, came up with a mathematical formula to determine the most depressing day of the year. In 2005 it was January 24. In 2006 It was January 23. 2007, January 22. This year it will be January 20. Sounds like it’s closing in on us, doesn’t it? Actually, it’s always the third Monday of the New Year.
Arnall says six factors come together to make us especially miserable on this day: bad weather Christmas debt the loss of Christmas cheer broken New Year’s resolutions low levels of motivation and a desperate feeling that you need to take action to improve your drab existence.
The solution he says, is to stop complaining, focus on the good that is in your life, stop seeing those you don’t like, tart saying ‘No’to unreasonable requests, and start helping others by doing volunteer work.
An interesting sentence in the article in the Daily Mail: “Blue Monday may be compounded by the fact that, according to other research, many people get their worst night’s sleep on Sunday because they dread the prospect of going back to work the following day.”
“Because they dread the prospect of going back to work” it says. In a little bit of radical honesty here I guess for some pastors this would apply to Saturday night as well as Sunday night. I can say that in almost 50 years of preaching and teaching on Sundays, I have seldom felt that kind of dread or despair. I typically cannot wait for Sunday morning to come. Unfortunately, I have known
pastors who do dread most Sundays. I hope if you are a pastor reading this, it doesn’t apply to you. If it does, I pray that it soon passes.
The standing (bad) joke among pastors is that they always have their resignation letter prepared in their desk drawer ready to be tendered on Monday. That is the power of Miserable (Blue) Mondays!
My New Year’s prayer for all of you (it’s not too late to offer one, is it? It’s still January, after all.) can be found in the words of King Solomon.
“I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil this is the gift of God.”
~ Ecclesiastes 3:12-13 (NIV) ~
To love your job, to be able to help people, to be able to eat and drink (i.e. to have enough to live on), he says. This is the blessing of God.
I must admit that as your pastor, I have the greatest job in the world. It may not always feel that way, and though others may not always remember how important the work is God hasn’t forgotten. I want you to know that God has not forgotten the work you do either. If you’re lagging from the leftover effects of Miserable Monday next week, take a moment to thank God for the good things in your life, the privilege of your salvation and the honor of serving Him.And don’t hesitate to ask for the blessing that Solomon talked about.
Blessings on your week. May we not give in to Miserable Monday.And if we do remember, God will have a Terrific Tuesday coming. I do look forward to seeing you this Sunday, as we look at ACrash Course on Radical Honesty.
Pastor Terrell
P.S.
Keep in mind, it was God who created the days of the week. It was God who said everything He created was very good. We don’t have to fear any day even the third Monday of every January. Instead we can echo King David and proclaim every day as a day we can find reason to rejoice and be glad!
ScheduleforSunday,January19,2025,SanctityofLifeSunday
The Saints Class @ 9:00 AM Room #201
Ruth Class @ 9:00 AM Room #202
Prayer Room open @ 9:00 AM Room #206
Preschool Worship opens in KID CITY 10:15 AM
Sunday Morning Worship @ 10:30 AM in Worship Center
Kidz4Christ K-6th dismissed during Morning Worship
Schedulefortherestoftheweek:
Monday@ 10:00 AM in Fellowship Hall - GriefShare
Tuesday@ 10:00 AM in Fellowship Hall - IMMERSE: Kingdoms Women’s Bible Study
Tuesday@ 10:00 AM in Room #202 - IMMERSE: Kingdoms Men’s Bible Study
Wednesday@ 6:30 PM in Cabin - Youth Group
Thursday@ 6:00 PM in Fellowship Hall IMMERSE: Kingdoms Bible Study
Meeting in Fellowship Hall Mondays
10:00 AM - 12:00 Noon
pre-register @ griefshare.org OR walk in anytime
Contact: Rick Baskin 928-910-9344
IF YOU NEED HELP OR ASSISTANCE
Deacon of the Week: Gene Moore 928-350-8789
got questions?
Gospel Conversations since 2021 Total : 49,487
Women’s - Fellowship Hall
Thursdays @ 6 PM
Open to all - Fellowship Hall
Morning Worship at a Glance
“Come, Now is the Time to Worship” “Take Us to the River”
“God is Good All the Time”
Welcome & Offertory Prayer EVERY HEARTBEAT
Kidz4Christ dismissed
“Revival” “The Power of Your Love” “His Eye is on the Sparrow”
KINGDOMS
Immersing Our Lives in God’s Word A Crash Course on Radical Honesty
1 Samuel 3:1-21/page 95/paragraphs 1ff
“Cry of My Heart”
Offerings and Connection Cards will be collected in the Offering Boxes located just inside the two main entrances into our Worship Center, as well as in the Office Hallway.
2820 N. Pleasant View Drive Prescott Valley, AZ 86314
928-772-7218
fsbcpv@firstsouthernpv.org
www.firstsouthernpv.org
Church Office Hours: Monday - Thursday, 8:30AM - 2:30PM
Senior Pastor Terrell Eldreth: 619-244-6265
PastorTerrell@firstsouthernpv.org
Worship Pastor Bart Young 928-254-8713
PastorBart@firstsouthernpv.org
Advancing the Kingdom of God one heart at a time.
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