Love is not just in laying down your life for someone, it's living for them. The entire Bible is grounded on and showing God's love affair with His people. All unwanted by the world, all outcasts, all aliens are we, destined to become fellow heirs in God true Kingdom, living eternal life.

Jesus paid the price for us all, living and dying for us to a greater than any father on earth could. He willing took on terrible pain and suffering, becoming separated from God and the Holy Spirit for three days. Something He nor God nor the Holy Spirit ever knew.

Other people have died for you too, some did not know you, but all loved you, and fought for your survival. Even my father's parents were changed, becoming Christians, never to dream of doing such a thing again.

Some will lead us astray, but God will loves us, and bring us back into to fold if we let Him. He promised Jesus none will perish. The Gospel redefines this fact, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him."

If you want to know more, read on.

Revelation 22:12-20. "Behold , I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. {13} I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. {14} "Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. {15} Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. {16} "I , Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star." {17} The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life. {18} I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. {19} And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book. {20} He who testifies to these things says, "Yes , I am coming soon." Amen . Come, Lord Jesus."

Acts 16:16-34. "Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. {17} This girl followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, "These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved." {18} She kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so troubled that he turned around and said to the spirit, "In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!" At that moment the spirit left her. {19} When the owners of the slave girl realized that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to face the authorities. {20} They brought them before the magistrates and said, "These men are Jews, and are throwing our city into an uproar {21} by advocating customs unlawful for us Romans to accept or practice." {22} The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten. {23} After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. {24} Upon receiving such orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks. {25} About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. {26} Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody's chains came loose. {27} The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. {28} But Paul shouted, "Don't harm yourself! We are all here!" {29} The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. {30} He then brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" {31} They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved--you and your household." {32} Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. {33} At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized. {34} The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God--he and his whole family."

John 14:23-29. "Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. {24} He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me. {25} "All this I have spoken while still with you. {26} But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. {27} 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. {28} "You heard me say, 'I am going away and I am coming back to you.' If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. {29} I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe."

Just as we often are, Paul was also discouraged. But in his teachings he admonishes us all to not accept stress -- defeat from the world into our lives, our bodies.

Paul teaches us how to cope with fear and feelings when all manner of things go astray.
Fear in itself, if not righteous, is sin! We can cut a tree down -- a sinful nature, denying our bodily desires, but the stump and all its roots remain, and fear wells up within until it burst into life again.

Have you ever seen a full grown tree coming up from a stump.  I have and there are types that can come up seven times more, after having been cut down. That's the way many Christmas trees are grown.

To get rid of the root fears we harbor we must ask Holy Spirit to dig among the remaining roots, cutting them, leaving the stump free to be removed when the proper time comes.

Sometimes if we refuse God might send a bulldozer, taking the stump and all, for it must be done before we can become fertile ground for planting.

2 Corinthians 2:10,11. "If you forgive anyone, I also forgive him. And what I have forgiven--if there was anything to forgive--I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes."

1 Peter 4:12-16. "Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. {13} But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. {14} If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. {15} If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. {16} However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name."

1 John 4:1-6. "Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. {2} This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, {3} but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world. {4} You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. {5} They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. {6} We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood."

Galatians 5:7-8. "You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth? {8} That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you."

1 Timothy 4:1. "The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons."

Acts 19:13-16. " Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, "In the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out." {14} Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. {15} <One day> the evil spirit answered them, "Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?" {16} Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding."

This we too must remember, there are consequences to everything we do, both good and bad. One of David's sons died, another raped his half-sister, while another rebelled against his authority so much he attempted to overthrow David's throne. David's greatest desire, to build God's temple was refused to him and  he could only gather the materials, much like Moses.

God revealed to me that part of our inability to deal with close relationships is caused by materialism. We buy new items frequently, using them until newer models come out, getting tired of the old, discarding them when we desire. We really have ten times what we need, maybe a thousand times. This applies to almost all aspect of our lives.  It is only reasonable that we do the same with people, discard them, especially those closest, wives, husbands, best friends, jobs, etc.

We have an obligation to deal with our problems, if we don't grow or change we soon what? Stagnate! Or begin dying.

Matthew 12:43-45. "When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. {44} Then it says, 'I will return to the house I left.' When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. {45} Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that man is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation."

Scripture tell us not to give Satan a foothold, but rather, in Ephesians 6:11,12. "Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."

2 Corinthians 2:11. "...in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes."

John 16:13,14 Jesus says, "When he, the Spirit of truth comes, he shall receive mine, and shall show it unto you. He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said to you."

1 Peter 5:8. "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour."

We are promised to receive the power of Jesus, through the Holy Spirit. Luke 10:19. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.

2 Timothy 1:7. "For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline."

Mark 16:17.  "And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues;"

Revelation 12:9. "The great dragon was hurled down--that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him."

So what must we do? James 4:7. "Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."

Colossians 3:5-9. "Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. {6} Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. {7} You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. {8} But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. {9} Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices."

Ephesians 5:4. "Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving."

Galatians 5:19-21. "The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; {20} idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions {21} and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God."

Remember, we agreed we've got an obligation to deal with our problems.

Joel 2:32. "And everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved; for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be deliverance, as the LORD has said, among the survivors whom the LORD calls."

Okay,  I believe God showed me that stress comes from a short circuit process involving three or more emotions. I have nothing to base this on except a revelation from God, and I wrote it down several weeks ago. Remember emotions are feelings and emotions like fear, envy, and anger together spell stress. That goes for any three emotions. I have not examined this under the microscope, I merely accepted the theory; superficially looking at it, it makes sense.

We can handle one or two problems, but think about it, when stress becomes involved we are short-circuited, sort of whack, on a road of destruction.

The only way to remove the stress, other than through some sort of new-age or common sense stuff, is to defuse or take it apart one at a time through Christ and the Holy Spirit.

2 Corinthians 5:17. "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!"

Galatians 5:22, 23. "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law."

Colossians 3:12, 13. "Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you."

Philippians 4:8,9. "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me--put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you."

If you desire to know more about this Jesus Christ who loves you, and you want to ask Him  into your heart, receiving His Saving Grace please click on this Salvation Prayer