Salvation from past, present, and future sin, I believe, is my greatest rescue.

However, about eight years ago, my otherwise most memorable rescue occurred when I slowly recovered from a year and a half of depression - one of the worst, the doctors said, they had ever seen and for no obvious reason.

Symptoms: not wanting to get out of bed or dress; sitting in my same little corner all day every day, except for Sunday mornings when I put on my happy face (I came late and left early); feeling nothing including a reason to live; having facial tics; experiencing affected speech (I could not say words with more than two syllables); being devoid of every emotion except for crying constantly and never knowing why; reading magazines on anything, incessantly, from cover to cover, every word, even the ads, with no desire for books; having no appetite; not wanting to converse with anyone including my family; and I am sure there were other symptoms.

Cure: God put people in my life who could help me - a doctor, a psychiatrist, a psychologist, and more importantly a husband who didn't understand but cared for my every need, waiting on me hand and foot, cooking, doing laundry and housework (one day NeddieJoye Tolleson and Linda Edwards showed up loaded with supplies and rescued Blaine by cleaning the entire house), driving me to doctors, and shielding me from people. I only went to Ladies' class because of a commitment I had made that year to teach - facial tics, two syllable words, warts and all. Many of you experienced that with me, the horrible facial tics and speech difficulties, yet you never said a denigrating word.

Rescue: What a rescue! God helped me gradually to work myself back with meds into this world. I will always thank Him for that rescue as well as, in hindsight, learning wonderful lessons to be utilized in helping others.

Advice: If you find yourself sinking into depression, seek professional help.  Depression is often, as in my case, a chemical imbalance, but meds can help.  I will always be on a very low dosage to prevent recurrence.  Tell someone about your depression - a listener. Listeners won’t necessarily solve your problem, but talking to and trusting someone with your innermost thoughts is important. And always thank our greatest Healer for lessons learned to help others - perseverance, faithfulness (just talking to Him even if it's telling Him you don't want to talk to Him), knowledge to empathize with others in depression, tenderness, compassion, and strength to fight the rest of life's battles.

“…Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more. And where these have been forgiven, sacrifice for sin is no longer necessary. Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened up for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.”  –Hebrews 10:17-23

—Janie Totty

Light: The candle of HOPE

Read: A giant staircase to heaven, JSB p. 48 (Genesis 11)


Ask: Has anyone ever taken credit for something you did? How did that make you feel? Have you ever taken credit for something for which you shouldn’t have received credit?

Describe a time when God did something in your life you wouldn’t have been able to do on your own.  

Pray: Thank God for a way to heaven through Jesus.

Ask God to help you recognize the “heaven on earth” moments in your life.

Jesse Tree Ornament: Tower of Babel

Act: Make a list of the ways in which you see God in a friend or family member. Share your list with that person.

Play “telephone” as a reminder of how difficult it can be to understand one another even when we speak the same language.