Real Life

Please take a few moments to view the slideshow,,,,,,,,,,

Jesus said He came that we may have abundant life, but the slideshow depicts something very different, doesn't it?

These painful images portray people of all ages, from all walks of life, in all forms of personal pain and despair, caused by a variety of reasons, maybe known only to them. And all the while they try to cope,,,,, hoping to get answers and find solutions,,,, trying to be free of the guilt and shame,,,,, trying to overcome the emptiness within,,,,,,,,,,,, or maybe thinking about ending the pain.

Perhaps your situation, or feelings, or pain, or past is depicted in some of these photos,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Are you hurting? Are you lonely? Are you addicted to something? ,,,,, drugs, alcohol, tobacco, gambling, swearing, pornography,,,.

Are you addicted to yourself? Your mirror? Your selfies? social media? Are you addicted to someone? Are you co-dependent?

Is your marriage crumbling? Is your spouse cheating on you? Are you having an affair? Are you in a sexual relationship with someone and know you shouldn't be? Are you struggling with an eating disorder? Are you being bullied? Are you in an abusive relationship?

Are you unemployed? Have you lost your job? Are you in debt and under financial stress? Are you pregnant? Are you remorseful about having an abortion? Are you struggling with the guilt and shame of your past? Are you struggling with your sexuality? Have you been diagnosed with a terminal illness? Have you lost a loved one? Are you grieving? Are you afraid of the dark? The future? Are you suffering from anxiety attacks? Do you suffer from depression? Are you suicidal? Do you feel empty,,,,, hopeless,,,,,, lost??????

As we go through life, trying to do the best we can, struggling with pain, fear, desires, temptations, lusts and all the sinful pleasures this world offers, we sometimes find ourselves under an enormous weight and trying to manage an impossible burden.

As the old saying goes,,, Life deals us many hands,,,, doesn't it? Some good and some bad,,,, some we choose, some we don't. Some we deserved,,, some we didn't. Some we can handle,, some we can't. Nevertheless, they happen and we try the best we can to deal with them. However, as we all too painfully learn, it is how we deal with them that matters. So often, the more we try to deal with things by our own strength, the further we sink into trouble, despair, guilt, shame and hopelessness.

This is real life, isn't it? ,,,,, every day,,, everywhere,,,,,,,, and the weight of it crushes down on us. The problems and symptoms are very real and the list is endless. Is this you? If you have read our stories, you will know some of these scenarios have been in our lives.

We have felt the weight, the pain, the guilt, and the shame. Are you barely holding on? Does life seem hopeless?

Are you wondering how you ever got here? You are not alone,,,,,,,,,,,,

Is this you? Are you weary and burdened? Do you need peace and rest in your heart? In your life? in your soul?

Jesus said: "Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."

Jesus really did come to give us life and that more abundantly than we can imagine!

He promises to lift our burdens, forgive our sins and restore us to new life when we turn to Him for help.

That would be wonderful if that was the actual case ,,,,,,,,,,, however the Bible tells us differently.

The Bible says that, regardless of the 'status' of your life, without salvation through Christ, you are lost.

Have you ever considered you just might be lost? Spiritually? Ever wonder what that means?

Being 'lost' means you can neither know the things of God here in this life, or spend eternity with Him in the next.

In the Bible, a religious man named Nicodemus asked Jesus about these things.

Jesus simply told him: "unless a person is born again, he cannot even see the kingdom of God."

Nicodemus was a highly regarded religious teacher, and yet Jesus told him he was still lost and needed to be born again.

You might ask why do I need this? There is a one-word answer,,,,,,,,, sin.

The Bible tells us that sin separates us from God and the wages of that sin is spiritual death. Sin is a destructive force that, although pleasurable for a season, leaves us empty, keeps us away from God, ruins our lives and eventually leads us to Hell. Sin comes in all shapes and forms and it shows no favoritism. No one is exempt, rich, poor, young, old, religious or not. We were born into sin, live in it regardless of how 'good' we are, and must be cleansed of it to be in right standing with God.

If you have never believed in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, turned to Him for the forgiveness of your sins, and received salvation by being born again, you are in a "lost" state and separated from God.

Jesus came to Earth to save the 'lost', to save you from your sin, and offer you a free gift of salvation. He is the only One who can save you and you must turn to Him for this. Then and only then, will you experience the forgiveness of God and be cleansed of your sin.

Maybe the slideshow doesn't relate to anything in your present situation in life. Your life doesn't have to be messy or broken. It can seem to be in good order and in complete control. If that is the case, be thankful it is, but without Christ, you are still lost, regardless of who you are and where you think you stand with God. You may be good, moral, ethical, educated, religious, or all of the above,,, but,,,,

you are still lost and you need a Savior.

If you find yourself in one of the following categories,,,,,,,,,,,
1. no Church background,,, no knowledge or understanding of the life and forgiveness of Christ,,,, never heard of any of this before,,,
2. good, moral, even religious person,,,, maybe attend church,,, know about God but never asked forgiveness,,, not born again,, no personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
3. prodigal,,,,,, once followed Christ,,,, but drifted away to worldly living,,, no hunger for God or the Bible,,, lukewarm at best,,,

,,, then you are in a dangerous position,,, not in right standing with God,,, and you need to turn to Him,,,, now,,,