 Back in Middle School, I had a friend that I knew pretty well. He was a great person to be around, was very smart, and had an excellent sense of humor. He was also a hardcore Atheist who scoffed at the very notion of God – much less a loving one. He knew I was a Christian, but thankfully that didn’t effect our friendship. We’d always crack jokes to each other about our beliefs, and teased and joked, but it was all in fun. He was a great friend.
I remember this so vividly; one day he came to me at lunch really down. He said he didn’t understand anything about what was going on with himself or his life, and everything was just coming down around him. As a Christian, I knew the only one who could help him was Jesus. He needed him badly, but I had tried so many times before to earnestly tell him about the love of God, and not what he had been taught. So, in this instance, I just assumed he was depressed, like we all get, and just said ‘Sorry man,’ and continued with lunch.
This was on a Friday. I found out on Monday, he had tried to kill himself over the weekend. Thank God he failed, but the very fact he tried shook me to my core. I had given up on him, too. I was maybe the last glimpse to God he had, and I gave up on him.
I haven’t talked to him much since then. Things just were never the same, but every time I think about him, I think about how I was a quitter – I gave up on him, and he gave up on God… and even tried to give up on life.
Maybe you have a friend like this, or know someone who just needs someone to talk to. It might seem like the last straw – YOU can’t take it anymore! It’s like they don’t want help, so you give up. I tell you the truth, the most selfish thing I, or anyone, ever did was give up on someone because they were too big of a challenge. I was a coward, and I was weak.
Friends, I urge you to stay strong, even when it seems like you’re fighting and loosing, uphill battle. You could be someone’s last hope. I often think ‘What if my friend had succeeded?’ I pray that none of you ever have to think of that.
“Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” (1 Corinthians 15:58)
That’s so true. It’s not in Vain. Never think it is.
Thanks for reading,
Lots of Love,
-Matt
written by Matt
\\ tags: control, Giving Up, Help, Hope, Jesus, life, Loss, Love, Problems, Regrets, Story, Struggle, Suicide, Worry
 So we all agree that the world could use a little TLC, right? There’s a lot of violence on the planet. There’s a lot of war, hate, discrimination – all that. And it could be better. But how?
It all boils down to each one of us.
“Be the change you want to see.” It’s the lyric from a Newsboys song, and it’s very true. If every one of us showed a little more love towards one another, that little bit would at up to quite a bit.
A friend of mine once said “If we don’t show our love, do we even love at all?” Think about that.
written by Josh
 Along with the vast amount of celebrities passing away just recently, I have a lot of friends who are also experiencing the passing of loved ones and friends.
When our loved ones pass away, our initial response is to mourn. And there’s nothing wrong with that. But we must realize in the end that God has a place for His people, and if we accept Him into our lives while we’re here on earth, we have the pleasure of spending eternity with Him. And really – what could be better than that?!
As Christians, when we pass away, we are going home. Finally – after our hardships here on earth, after our struggles, our triumphs and everything else, we are finally getting the chance to go home and dwell in the House of the Lord forever.
It’s really a time of celebration!
Here are some verses taken from the good book:
After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.
I Thessalonians 4:17
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. We live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.
2 Corinthians 4:16-15:8
And of course, who could forget this one:
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
Psalm 23:1-6
written by Josh
 Here’s a quick post I’ve been thinking about doing for a while. Not to take the place of the Predestination one and the Sheltered Kids one I mentioned, but something real quick to leave you with before the weekend.
Do you think you have what’s called ‘Forgivness Syndrome?’ That’s when you KNOW that your sins have been forgiven and paid for, so you think ‘Hey – I’m forgiven! I can do whatever I want now!’
Even to a lesser extent, you think ‘I know this is wrong… but the temptation is too great… I’ll give in this one time. I’m already forgiven, aren’t I?’
Today, in the bible, we’re going back to Romans.
1 Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace? 2 Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it?
I know a lot of us, myself included begin to think ‘I know this is wrong, but I’m forgiven.’ This, according to the bible – to God – is wrong. I think we get into the mindset that ‘Sin is something the God doesn’t want me to do’ rather then ‘Sin is evil by nature.’ Which it is; sin, in it’s very essence, is rebellion against God, who is the greatest good, and therefore, moving away from that is going towards evil.
It’s simply critical that we understand that Jesus DIED so you wouldn’t have to pay your debt; he did not die so you could continue to add to it. It’s like someone paying your bail when you’re in jail, and you go right back out and commit more and more crimes. That’s wrong, and some people are going to take advantage of God’s continuious forgivness, but we must not take it for granted.
Thanks for reading,
Lots of Love,
-Matt
written by Matt
\\ tags: Christ, Forgiveness, Forgiveness Syndrome, Jesus, Questions, Romans, Sin, Struggle
 Maybe you’ve been driving on the highway going one way really fast. You haven’t even bothered to notice, or care about, the exit signs. You stay on the highway and your speed increases as you go. The music in your car is blasted. You’re having a good time, still speeding, still going one way and staying there, on the highway. And then you crash.
It’s a crash we all experience one time or another in life. If you’re in a midlife crisis, going through a hard time, or if you’re just not sure what’s becoming of yourself. Sometimes these crashes can be pretty severe. Who is going to help you out of your crashed car?
Only one person can – and he can heal your injuries, wipe the dirt from your eyes, and give you a fresh start. His name is Jesus.
I use a lot of metaphors when I write. But if you’re still on that highway and you haven’t crashed yet, maybe you should try getting off on one of the exits. You never know where it will take you.
written by Josh
\\ tags: control, crisis, God, Jesus, life
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