I once read a story that now stays with me everyday.
There were these two boys, Jake and Matt, who were best friends all their lives. Jake grew up in a Godly home and was saved. Matt had a terrible home life and lived ungodly. But Jake and Matt always hung out. They played ball together, went fishing together, turned 16 together. One night, Matt was out partying with some other friends and on their home, the car crashed and Matt died. Jake knew he wasn't saved. And he knew he never shared with him. One day Jake received a letter. As he opened it and began to read it, he realized it was from Matt...
Dear Jake,
As I sit here, I get madder and madder by the minute. We spent our whole lives with each other and not once did you ever tell me about this horrible place. Not once did you tell me about Hell! Its terrible here! Why didnt you tell me? Why didnt you tell me that all I had to do was give my life to the Lord and I could missed this place. I could have went to heaven. Why?
Your friend,
Matt
Wow! Everyday we have the opportunity to share the good news of Jesus Christ with those around us and we don't. I am guilty of this. Its that fear that maybe they will be mad, or they will think I am crazy. But over the past few months, this has really been an issue on my heart to make sure that people know. We, as children of God, cant live our lives everyday the best we can and hope that just by that, people will get saved! We have to reach out to those around us and make sure that when that time comes, they have made the right choice or at least had the opportunity to.
Today, I am reminded of what my Savior did over 2000 yrs ago.
JOHN 1916...So they took Jesus away.
17 Carrying the cross by himself, he went to the place called Place of the Skull (in Hebrew, Golgotha).
18 There they nailed him to the cross. Two others were crucified with him, one on either side, with Jesus between them.
19 And Pilate posted a sign over him that read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.”
20 The place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek, so that many people could read it.
21 Then the leading priests objected and said to Pilate, “Change it from ‘The King of the Jews’ to ‘He said, I am King of the Jews.’”
22 Pilate replied, “No, what I have written, I have written.”
23 When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they divided his clothes among the four of them. They also took his robe, but it was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom. 24 So they said, “Rather than tearing it apart, let’s throw dice for it.” This fulfilled the Scripture that says, “They divided my garments among themselves and threw dice for my clothing.” So that is what they did.
25 Standing near the cross were Jesus’ mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary (the wife of Clopas), and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother standing there beside the disciple he loved, he said to her, “Dear woman, here is your son.” 27 And he said to this disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from then on this disciple took her into his home.
The Death of Jesus
28 Jesus knew that his mission was now finished, and to fulfill Scripture he said,
“I am thirsty.” 29 A jar of sour wine was sitting there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put it on a hyssop branch, and held it up to his lips.
30 When Jesus had tasted it, he said,
“It is finished!” Then he bowed his head and released his spirit.
31 It was the day of preparation, and the Jewish leaders didn’t want the bodies hanging there the next day, which was the Sabbath (and a very special Sabbath, because it was the Passover). So they asked Pilate to hasten their deaths by ordering that their legs be broken. Then their bodies could be taken down. 32 So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the two men crucified with Jesus. 33 But when they came to Jesus, they saw that he was already dead, so they didn’t break his legs. 34 One of the soldiers, however, pierced his side with a spear, and immediately blood and water flowed out. 35 (This report is from an eyewitness giving an accurate account. He speaks the truth so that you also can believe.) 36 These things happened in fulfillment of the Scriptures that say, “Not one of his bones will be broken,” 37 and “They will look on the one they pierced.”
He gave His life for me! He died a horrible death just for me. His blood, on that day, covered every sin that you and I could ever commit. It doesn't matter what we have done, all we have to do is ask for forgiveness.
John 3: 16-17~16"For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him."
The great and wonderful news is that Jesus rose from the dead!
So today I am asking you...ARE YOU SAVED? You may think, well what exactly does it mean to be saved. To become a child of God, means to realize that God made a way for you to escape the horribleness of Hell. Why? Because He loves you that much!!! He made way through His son who was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, died on the cross, and rose from the dead. The blood that He shed for us washes away every sin ever committed "if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." (Romans 10:9) After becoming a child of God, you then live your life through the Word, The Bible. Once you make the decision to truly change your life, you strive live a life that is sinless.
God is God of Love. He loves each and every one of us and desires to have a relationship with us. But He will never force us to make that decision. Its up to us. We have to want it. We have to want to go to heaven, to have a life of peace and joy. Becoming a child of God doesn't mean that your life will instantly becoming problems free, but it does mean having Him fight your battles. And with Him by my side, all things are possible. And even in the hardest time, I have the faith to know that He is working things out on my behalf.
I love you all! I hope this weekend is the best of your life!
Are you saved? If you died in 5 mins, would go to heaven or would you go to hell!
JOHN 19
Brianna was so excited to get her purse!!
Ethan and Noah
Me and Maddie 
