Over the Memorial Day weekend I went camping at a really nice mountain lake. There were lots of pine trees, chipmunks, squirrels and beautiful Mountain Blue Jays. We even managed to catch some trout. There had been a fire a year or two ago in the area around the camp and most of everything was burned. Some areas were worse than others. We didn't even see any of the little animals and birds that we saw in the camp where there had been no fire. There were signs up every so often that said "Fire Rehabilitation Area". In those areas they are in the process of cutting down and clearing out all of the burned trees. After they finish the clean-up they usually go in and plant new seedlings, trees. In some of the areas the vegetation was already coming up green. It's a slow process that will take a few years to complete. But...once it's done there will be new life, a beautiful forest once again. Just how God planned it when He created everything. Alive, green and full of little critters.
While I was thinking about all of this God reminded me that I used to be like that burned out forest. He also reminded me that there are lots of other people like that also. He didn't create us to be that way but because of the "fires" in our lives we become like that. Burned and all used up. We sometimes get so bad that we don't want to be around other people and they sometimes don't want to be around us. Just like the little animals in the forest left, we too are left alone. For us there is an answer for all of this. The answer is Jesus. All we need to do is turn our lives over to Him and He can begin to rebuild us. In a sense, you began a "Rehabilitation Process" just like the forest. A lot of our old ways have to be cut down and cleared out of our lives. Sometimes that could be friends as well as habits and addictions. Whatever it is that needs to go, you need to let go of it. Start reading your Bible and praying and going to church. That's how you get the new seedlings in your life. Before too long you will notice that your life is a lot "greener" than it used to be. He will put new friends in your life as well as give you healthy habits and addictions. Some changes happen quickly and some take a little more "rehabilitation" time. But...you have to make the choice to start the process and to see it through to completion. Once you start feeling life coming back in you won't be sorry that you made the choice. Just like He does for the forest He can do for you. God created us to be full of life and to live for Him so that one day we could live "with" Him.
I can tell you from experience that having Jesus in your life is the only way to go. You will never really start to live until you've found HIM. There is nothing that can make you feel like He can. Alcohol, drugs, other people, possessions, not one thing can do for you what HE can. Jesus is your only solution to your problems. Give Him a try. Ask Him to forgive you and to come into your heart. Find a Bible and read it. Go to church so that you can be around other people that love the Lord and that can help you when you need it. Remember...once you ask Jesus to forgive you and to come into your life He won't ever leave you.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him, (Jesus), shall not perish but have eternal life.
Hebrews 13:5 Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.
James 4:8 Come near to God and He will come near to you.
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Romans 5:8 God demonstrates His own love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
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