"Don't Give Up!"

Today is not a normal day. It is an exceptional day! Today (Good Friday) marks the day that we as Christ-followers have been given a New start to come as Jesus was nailed to the cross, barren, broken, and stripped from everything to the world. But, in reality, it was the start of God's plan for redeeming the world. Through the Blood of Jesus being shed on the Cross.

 You see, until this time, a complicated system of sacrifices had atoned for sins. Sin separates people from God, and only through the sacrifice of an animal, a substitute, could people be forgiven and become clean before God. But people sin continually, so frequent sacrifices were required. Jesus, however, became the final and ultimate sacrifice for sin. The word finished is the same as "paid in full". That is so awesome! Jesus came to finish God's work of salvation (John 4:34-“My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work."), to pay the penalty for our sins. With His death, the complex sacrificial system ended because Jesus took all sin upon Himself. This now allows us to freely approach God because of what Jesus did for us ( Hebrews 4:16-"Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."). Those who believe in Jesus' death and resurrection can live eternally with God and escape the penalty that comes from sin.

I know that we all face trials in life. Some seem to have more trials than others. But remember this, "every trial has a time limit".  Jesus went through the ultimate trial...death! By Jesus dying, "He gave up His life, so we could keep ours". That is a profound thought. So, I leave you with one thought: Don't give up, He promises to never give up on you!

"My Only Option"

"I sit here and wonder will I change,

It seems that everyone I'm around, I drain,

I don't like the ways I've been pulled in,

It all seems to real and I so bad want it to end,

So, Jesus I look to You to help me see,

The areas in my life You need to clean,

I give all those places in my heart,

Even those ones that seem so dark,

Only You can take the dark pain away,

Only You can see the space in my heart to change,

I've hurt the persons I've loved most,

And because of my actions the distance isn't close,

There is no one to blame but me,

I have no one else but You to cling,

When we are in trouble and no end in sight,

Lord Jesus, I cry out to You with all of my might,

No words spoken can fix any solution,

Only You God, have produced Jesus, the Right Resolution."