Post by LiLi Pham on Aug 15, 2014 21:10:51 GMT -5
KEY BIBLE VERSE:
"The servant grew up before God—a scrawny seedling, a scrubby plant in a parched field. There was nothing attractive about him, nothing to cause us to take a second look. He was looked down on and passed over, a man who suffered,who knew pain firsthand. One look at him and people turned away. We looked down on him, thought he was scum. But the fact is, it was our pains he carried— our disfigurements, all the things wrong with us. We thought he brought it on himself, that God was punishing him for his own failures. But it was our sins that did that to him, that ripped and tore and crushed him— our sins! He took the punishment, and that made us whole. Through his bruises we get healed.We’re all like sheep who have wandered off and gotten lost. We’ve all done our own thing, gone our own way. And God has piled all our sins, everything we’ve done wrong, on him, on him" (Isaiah 53:2-6 MSG).
SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT:
"I'm worthless. Nobody cares about me. What is there to live for anymore? I wish I hadn't been born. I’m hurting so much. Nobody will notice if I’m gone.” These…are some of the thoughts that run through a suicidal person’s mind. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), on average, a person commits suicide every 16 minutes and suicide rates among homosexuals are five times higher than heterosexuals. The other day, I thought about the suicides I’ve heard about recently and tears started rolling down my face just thinking about the pain they were going through.
Jesus knows the pain you are going through day in and day out. When he was alive as a human, he was looked down on, passed over, seen as unattractive, mocked, betrayed, persecuted and crucified because he was different from the Jews though he was a Jew himself. It is the demands, expectations and pressures of society that create these thoughts of low self-esteem and worthlessness. The pain becomes more than we can bear or cope with and many see taking their own life as the only way to end the pain. However, Jesus wants you to know that you don’t have to take your own life because he gave up his own life for you. By his stripes (the whip lashes he took on his back) and by his wounds (the nail piercings in his hands and feet) you are healed! By his resurrection, tomorrow is a brand new day, a fresh start and another chance to live! You are not alone in your pain. Jesus is alive today and so are you as you are reading this. Allow him to give you the life you deserve.
Are you losing hope? Can you no longer see the light at the end of the tunnel? Turn to God’s hope:
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to giveyou hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11 NIV).
“Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully”(1 Peter 5:7 AMP).
“Have not I commanded you? Be strong, vigorous, and very courageous. Be not afraid, neither be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9 AMP)
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18 NIV).
“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned;the flames will not set you ablaze” (Isaiah 43:2 NIV).
“I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer[take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. ” (John 16:33 AMP).
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27 NIV).
“The Lord watches over you— the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day,nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all harm—he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore” (Psalm 121:5-8 NIV).
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30 NIV).
"The servant grew up before God—a scrawny seedling, a scrubby plant in a parched field. There was nothing attractive about him, nothing to cause us to take a second look. He was looked down on and passed over, a man who suffered,who knew pain firsthand. One look at him and people turned away. We looked down on him, thought he was scum. But the fact is, it was our pains he carried— our disfigurements, all the things wrong with us. We thought he brought it on himself, that God was punishing him for his own failures. But it was our sins that did that to him, that ripped and tore and crushed him— our sins! He took the punishment, and that made us whole. Through his bruises we get healed.We’re all like sheep who have wandered off and gotten lost. We’ve all done our own thing, gone our own way. And God has piled all our sins, everything we’ve done wrong, on him, on him" (Isaiah 53:2-6 MSG).
SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT:
"I'm worthless. Nobody cares about me. What is there to live for anymore? I wish I hadn't been born. I’m hurting so much. Nobody will notice if I’m gone.” These…are some of the thoughts that run through a suicidal person’s mind. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), on average, a person commits suicide every 16 minutes and suicide rates among homosexuals are five times higher than heterosexuals. The other day, I thought about the suicides I’ve heard about recently and tears started rolling down my face just thinking about the pain they were going through.
Jesus knows the pain you are going through day in and day out. When he was alive as a human, he was looked down on, passed over, seen as unattractive, mocked, betrayed, persecuted and crucified because he was different from the Jews though he was a Jew himself. It is the demands, expectations and pressures of society that create these thoughts of low self-esteem and worthlessness. The pain becomes more than we can bear or cope with and many see taking their own life as the only way to end the pain. However, Jesus wants you to know that you don’t have to take your own life because he gave up his own life for you. By his stripes (the whip lashes he took on his back) and by his wounds (the nail piercings in his hands and feet) you are healed! By his resurrection, tomorrow is a brand new day, a fresh start and another chance to live! You are not alone in your pain. Jesus is alive today and so are you as you are reading this. Allow him to give you the life you deserve.
Are you losing hope? Can you no longer see the light at the end of the tunnel? Turn to God’s hope:
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to giveyou hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11 NIV).
“Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully”(1 Peter 5:7 AMP).
“Have not I commanded you? Be strong, vigorous, and very courageous. Be not afraid, neither be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9 AMP)
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18 NIV).
“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned;the flames will not set you ablaze” (Isaiah 43:2 NIV).
“I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer[take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. ” (John 16:33 AMP).
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27 NIV).
“The Lord watches over you— the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day,nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all harm—he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore” (Psalm 121:5-8 NIV).
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30 NIV).