Is your life hard? God said, "I'll carry your burdens."

Are you lonely? God said, “I'll never leave you.”

Do you have questions about life's meaning? God said, “I have a book that answers them.”

Are you looking for a lasting relationship? God said, “Get to know My Son, Jesus.”

Is guilt getting to you? He’ll take it away.

Do you want to live after you die? God can handle that.

                  God loves you as His child, and wants you to enjoy a relationship with Him. He is the answer to your search for that ultimate relationship. He will fill the hole in your heart. He is the one Creator of the universe and all it contains, including you. You won't be complete inside until you have a personal relationship with the God who created you.

                  How do we know all this is true and possible?  God oversaw the writing of the most important Book of all time, The Bible, His "Owner's Manual" for a Human Life. In His Book are all the answers we need to live life and find God. And face, "The Problem..."

                  And this is the problem:  finding peace with God.  Being at peace with God is not automatic, because by nature we are separated from God. This separation is the "something wrong" that is at the root of our selfishness, loneliness, and dark feelings. Through many immoral and amoral acts, thoughts and attitudes, we keep moving away from God, not toward Him. ALL of us do this, no matter how moral and upright we may seem on the surface. If you search your own heart honestly, you already know this is true. This has caused a split between us and the One Who made us and loves us. This split is called sin.

                  How Do We Know This? In the Bible it says: “God looks down from heaven on the sons of men to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. Everyone has turned away, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one." Psalm 53:2-3.

                  So how DO you get to God then? Because He loves you, God cannot stand to allow this split to remain. But because He is perfect, He cannot allow our sin to go unpunished without ceasing to be perfect, because he would then cease to be God. The sin-bill must be paid. Religion and good living cannot pay it. So God designed the perfect solution. He sent His Son, Jesus Christ to earth. The Bible tells His story. He was both God and human. He lived a normal life, but lived it as God.

                  Jesus loves people. He talked with them, healed them and made them promises. He even submitted to an unjust death sentence for people. But that wasn't the end. After three days, He rose up out of His grave. Alive! God saw the death of His Son Jesus as payment for your sin. Jesus took your place on a cross over 2000 years ago. That's how God sees it. Then Jesus overcame death, actually came back to life to show His divine power. And His power over sin and death is yours. Free. But there's more.

                  How Do We Know This? The Bible Says: “She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."  Matthew 1:21  Jesus is the Greek form of Joshua, which means the LORD saves.

                  Ever since Jesus came to earth, people have had questions. But the most important decision you will ever make in your life is what you decide about Jesus Christ. God is looking for two things:

                  1. Will you turn your life over to your Creator and believe that Jesus Christ is that one Person, that one relationship you need?

                  2. Will you admit you need Him and confess your wrongdoing?

                  If you will, then you cross the bridge into God's family when you turn to God by asking Christ to be part of your life. God has done His part when His Son died for you, now it's your move. Turning to God means you are also turning from something. If you turn to the west, you must turn from the east, since you can't face two directions at the same time. It's the same with Jesus and sin. As you turn to Him, you "repent", which means you realize you cannot give yourself to Jesus while hanging onto the sin He died for. That means turning your back on "my way" choices such as lying, sexual immorality, anger, etc. to begin doing things God's way. So how do you turn toward God?

                  1. Admit your spiritual need. Admit you are a sinner.
                  2. Believe that Jesus Christ died for YOU on the cross.
                  3. Receive Jesus Christ into your heart and life, by choosing this relationship over your current life of sin and separation from Him.
                  4. Repent and be willing to turn from your sin.

                  The Bible says: “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name." John 1:21  You can belong to God from today on if you will tell Him with all your heart. Your prayer should be your own, from your own heart where you are. Here is a sample of what you might say to God:

                  “Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and need Your forgiveness. I was made for You, but I've been living for me. I want to begin a relationship with You now. I believe that You died in my place, to pay the penalty for my sin, and rose again for my salvation. I want to turn from my sins. I invite You to come into my heart and life as my Lord and Savior. In Jesus' name.”

                  If you say (or pray) words like these and mean them with all your heart, something has changed for you.  You’ve committed your life to Christ and He’s forgiven your sins.  So what happens now?

                  First know that you are a child of God.  The Bible says: "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name." John 1:21.
                  Also, you have everlasting life.  The Bible says: "For God so love the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:16.

                  If you're comfortable, please let us know of your decision. We would love to help you in any way we can, and to pray for you.  Write a quick note to Pastor Daryl at ddiddle@wfmc.net.