Luke 9:22-27 KJV
22 Saying, The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day.
23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.
25 For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?
26 For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels.
27 But I tell you of a truth, there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God.

The power to live is the power to remain true to the cross of Jesus. We all face death sooner or later, but we all must come to the grips that pain and suffering may or may not be part of it. Who has the right to choose you, your government, your doctor or the world how much you take in this life. God has ordained your cross. His date set for time of death, your date set on how much pain and suffering you have to bear. Yet medical science and government wants to help you choose to die, as well as allow you to choose to die. Our constitution in America says you have the right to pursue happiness. However with suicide are you pursuing happiness, or laying down your cross to bear a much hotter cross in the pit of hell. Will you go to hell if you lay your cross down. That the question someone has to deal with. Baptist claim once saved always saves, and gives verses for this, while the option says faith is a daily cross, and life is a daily cross. It is interesting that Christ in Luke 9:22-27, in the same chapter goes from talking about his own suffering to come and talking about taking up one's cross daily. Never did Christ lay his cross down. We are to follow in Christ footsteps so it means we bear the cross of Jesus, whether through illness, death, persecution, and even torment and pain. Most would agree at the time of hardest part of our cross we bear it is difficult for one not to beg God to deliver one from their cross. Even Christ had to say Lord not my will but yours be done. He did this teaching those nearest to him the point of going to the cross, and following God's will for your life. It is recorded for us in scripture(Luke 22:42). Yet do we grasp what it means to bear our cross and to take it up daily.

Over the thirty years of my marriage, the pain of my wreck, my illness to come and then the severity of chronic pain was enough to ask, could I carry my cross. I lied in bed, and wished to die as even many Psalmist had. Yet I did not want to die by my own hand. I beg God to take me. I believe God has page with my name on it. He knows the hour and the day. I thank God for this. Why because blessings have come and gone sense my healing, before my healing, and during the darkest hours of the night when I felt no hope. This is the worst month for suicide mainly do to people's depression. Yet it is also the worst month for many things. Yet the question comes as a believer in Christ do you have a responsiblity to carry our own cross in life for Jesus?

I remember a story of a patient, I do not remember his illness, put the cross of Jesus in front of him, with Christ on the cross, and he would look at the picture to remind himself someone else knew how he felt. I have made the statement some people have experienced more pain and suffering then our Lord in the flesh. Though it maybe true, he knew what pain and suffering is. When we take up our cross to follow in Christ example, it is by the power of the Holy Spirit within our hearts to do so. There is time when man/woman feel alone, quietly thirsting for our Lord as a deer panteth for water. The word seems empty from our hearts and yet God still there. God is in the morning and in the evening, God is there all through the day and night. Yet in our suffering we struggle to hear his word of comfort and his grace for us. Our own humanity, as Christ humanity prayed in the garden. Yet God is able in that stillness, and in our torment to hear us, to bring us comfort.

Paul talks about his own cross and running the race, and yet are we willing to bear our cross in the race? The questions are not easy, but the answer is. The believer must pick up the cross and follow Jesus, because his cross took him where through the grave, and eventually into eternity. Disciples seen Christ taken up into the clouds, knowing there was hope beyond the grave. That our suffering was only in this life time.

What is our burden, what is our pain, but a short time period before the hope of glory. Hope of glory seen by the believer that takes up that cross and follows Jesus. When I was growing up we were told don't cop out when playing a game, or working on something. Life is a journey, we need not to cop out. Do you know you may get the cure of illness before your death. You may get treatment before your demise. You may live to see a beautiful sunset and sunrise. You may see your children grow into old age. You may live to see God do a miracle in your time. You may live to see the hope of a bright future. This is suicide prevention month for my website. But it is also the story of taking up the cross as Jesus did, even living the example of living daily for God the Father and Holy Spirit. There power in taking up one's cross, but the power of doing so is in need of the Father's help, from the first breath we breath to the spiritual birth, through faith in Christ Jesus, to the cross that leads to final death, by the will of the Father. Are you hanging to the ledge, jumping from a plane, or are you allowing God to bridge the road to him through the cross. Whose cross Christ cross and the cross beside him, what do we say to the person on his cross, Jesus owed the world nothing, and yet he dying for you and me, stop mocking him and follow him. He was unworthy of the cross, but he paid the price of his human life for you and me. Only for Christ to say one day you will be in paradise with me. The thief on the cross told all he knew about Jesus to the other thief in regards of this man did not deserve his suffering as they did. Perhaps, if it means one day I will suffer again, I will fight the good fight of faith and bear my road.

Dear Heavenly Father, help us to bear our road in life, no matter what it brings. Help us to live for you because your Son died for me. In Jesus precious name, Amen.

Continual Scripture Study: Psalm 42:1-11 KJV
1 To the chief Musician, Maschil, for the sons of Korah. As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.
2 My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?
3 My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?
4 When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday.
5 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.
6 O my God, my soul is cast down within me: therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar.
7 Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me.
8 Yet the LORD will command his lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life.
9 I will say unto God my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?
10 As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me; while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God?
11 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.

Luke 23:39-43 KJV
39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.
40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?
41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.
42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.