Don't Give Up, There's A Way With Jesus.

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   Lately I haven't been looking at the news very much. When I do look at news it's from SteveQuayle.com, Trunews.com, or other Christian watchmen sources. I do listen to Internet radio broadcasts and preaching throughout the week. Yet, I still know all the madness is going on out there, especially in the bigger cities. I used to read the stories every day on the Drudge Report and just be in shock at the perplexing madness that is pervading this country. If you found one odd story, there were related ones at the bottom, and then more on the bottom of those. Basically the madness is never ending in these cities in America alone. I can't even fathom the immensity of the dilemma encompassing the whole world.

   The problem is sin, but Jesus is bigger than the problem. I know that Jesus is the answer so many people need to hear about. They are searching for an answer everywhere except Jesus it seems. They think they already know what this Jesus is about. Truth is they don't know anything, if they don't know Jesus is the truth, the way, and the life. The second part of that verse is very important as well, because it says no-one comes to the Father but by him. That is the part people like Oprah want to refute. They think there is many ways, even though this makes no sense at all. (John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.)

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The Good Shepherd Jesus

   There is a cold dark shadow growing over the land more and more. The coldness is cutting people off from the warmth of a loving God. There are so many people in need, but God has me where he wants me, doing what he wants me to be doing. I trust this is true, even though it may not seem like I'm doing much when I mow lawns for a living. Still, people like an 85 year old woman (my customers), who needs to be edified by the preaching of the cross again, this is important to God. Jesus loves all of us equally, one is not more important than another. So, he puts each of us on assignment to help those he sees are in need. I'm only one person living a small life, but he uses me every day I submit to His will. (James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefor to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.)

   As my wife and I sanctify ourselves and set our lives apart for the Lord, we are starting to grow in the grace and love of God. I feel my insides un-thawing from the warmth of God's love. Even when I have people who make me out to be the worst enemy to humanity who has ever wrote an article, even when people are so sure I'm an ignorant fool who is insecurely hanging on to a fantasy called the Holy Bible – even then, and especially then, can I see what I have is so very special. See, none of it moves me, and all I do is grow more compassionate and warm towards others. I care more about people, strangers, friends, family, and even enemies than ever before. Even when I see the willingly ignorant foolishness that pervades America and the world, I'm still growing in the grace of Jesus. (Colossians 1:23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;)

   At times I get this sad feeling, this burdened feeling, and I start to think about how certain people are feeling in my family or with friends. I even think about general types of people, and begin to empathize with their plights as if it were mine. I see people walking and I see the pain in them, and I sense this cold embrace they are struggling with. I realize how cold this world can be when there is no-one there to love us and we don't know God.

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   Beyond my own experience in life, I imagine the experiences others have. I really try to imagine the intricacies that make up their life, whether good or bad. I begin to understand why they are the way they are to some small degree I start to empathize with them. At this point I start to feel that burden thinking about the young person who has experienced such a cold life void of love from their parents or guardians. The young are in danger because they don't know there is a better way, they are engulfed in their own self perception without the experience of living life and gaining confidence in overcoming obstacles. It's as if they are so distraught they don't think they can even begin to overcome the obstacles of life in front of them. The future looks so bleak and the support they have is so non-existent, they can't find the courage to even try. This kind of fatalistic mentality in a teenager can't be understood by the generations of the Boomers or older. Only the X generation and younger can understand this bleakness. There are exceptions of course in every generation.

   I worry about these young people, but I also worry about the older people who have failed so many times and hurt so many people, they now want to end it all and be done. They feel there is no reason to continue and that their life is a failure anyway. They may think no-one cares about them, and that they are basically useless anyways, so why not be done with it all. How utterly dark and cold this world can be without the warmth and light of the Love of Jesus! (John 11:10 But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him.)

   Can I encourage you friends, can I say to you that I have love for you. Will you accept that I care, and would you believe me if I told you that God loves you and there is a better way with Jesus? This is the good news that you need to hear. It's news for you, news that you want to hear, cause this world's news isn't going to make you better, this world's advice isn't going to fill you with love and warmth. This world isn't going to care about you when you are down and out, or not in your right mind anymore. Have you ever noticed worldly people scatter when we become useless to them. I know, I've been homeless before and down, living in the bushes. No-one was rushing over to be my friend, but that was OK, because I only wanted real people around me anyway. (2 Corinthians 7:10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.)

   The real people are the born-again Christians, this is what I've found to be true. Not because we need each other to validate our fantasy we believe in with desperation and naiveté. It's because we care about people, cause our God created people and loves them enough to send Jesus Christ, His Son, to die for our sins, so we can be saved from hell and the lake of fire. We are real people because we see the reality of the world without the world's perspective blinding us to their lies. We are real people because we find a way to have joy and be unselfish in a world that thrives off being selfish and hateful. And we are real because we are single minded. ( John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.)

   We were not always like this though, we born-again Christians were once lost and blind like many are now, in despair, in that cold embrace the world leaves us in when we are not worth their accolades. You can be warmed in God's love, you can have a friend that sticks closer than a brother, Jesus is this friend. He is a present help in times of trouble. If you call on him, and invite him into your heart, believe that he is the son of God, then you will be warmed and loved by Jesus as we have been. ( Psalms 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.)

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   I just want to encourage you, the people who think they're invisible and under everyone's radar, the people who can't think straight because of the pain and trauma caused by those who were supposed to love them. I want to encourage you, to shed light upon you, to speak clearly to you – that you have a purpose in this life. Your purpose is as great as anyone, God made you for a reason, and if you allow God to love you then you will find this purpose and live a life you thought was impossible.

   The reason I'm writing this post is to reach out to those who are thinking about ending it all, who are thinking about giving up, who are discouraged enough to let destruction take them over. Whatever problems you are facing, God can solve them, whatever pain and trauma those who were supposed to love you caused, God can heal you. That cold embrace the world has shown you, is not what God's plan is for you, because he wants you to have hope and love through his Son Jesus Christ. God has a plan for each of our lives if only we look towards the light, and then walk with Jesus in his love the rest of our days. It's not hard to accept a wonderful gift like this, give God your burdens, let go of your pain, and embrace the love God has for you.

( 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; 18 While we look not at the things which are seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.)