Bible Study - Arms Wide Open

Let me start by saying we are SOOOO sorry for the inconvenience! We have let other things get in the way the Bible-study writing. Our greatest apologies to you all who are (hopefully) enjoying the Bible studies. :)
 -The Kingdom Warriors Team

Okay, now. Let's get down to business!

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       Have you ever had one of those days where NOTHING goes right? You burn your toast, get to school late, and then SURPRISE! you have a test in first period chemistry. You get frustrated, and yell at your friends, and then suddenly no one is on your side. Everything in the world seems to be screaming at you for anything you've EVER done wrong, and everything all just comes crashing down on you at once.  We all have those days when all you want to do is curl up in a ball and hide in a hole.Whether you like to admit it or not, it's true. Let me ask you, at that moment, when your world seems to go up in flames, where do you look?
     Sometimes, when we feel like (as a friend of mine so eloquently put it) a piece of crap on a highway, the very last thing we want to do is talk to God about it. We don't want him to know all of the things that we have done wrong. We are ashamed. We are afraid that God may no love us as much as he used to because of that thing we did wrong. But that is a lie. Romans 5:8 says this: "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." While we were STILL sinners. That means that he didn't sacrifice himself for a perfect, sinless version of yourself. He died for you while you were still the same exact you that you are now. God knows the choices that you are going to make even before you make them.  Psalms 139: 1-4 says this: "O LORD, You have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You understand my thought from afar. You scrutinize my path and my lying down, And are intimately acquainted with all my ways. Even before there is a word on my tongue, Behold, O LORD, You know it all." How many of you know that that does not just include your good thoughts. God knows all of your thoughts. And he STILL LOVES YOU! Imagine that! So when you are having a rough time, just remember that no matter what you do, it is never to late to come back to God. He has never loved you more, even in that moment when your entire world seems to have dropped out from under you.
     Another little thing that kind of relates to this. Have you ever witnessed someone you love suffering through a situation, but they don't seem to let anyone in to help them? You know you could help them out, but they refuse anything you try to offer them. It hurts. Not only does it hurt the person who is relying on their own failing strength, but it also hurts the person who wants to help them. I think that is the same way with us and God. It pains him when his children do not come to him for help. He wants to help us out because he loves us, and he knows all of the answers. He doesn't want you to suffer anymore than you do. So when you have a problem in your life, come to God. He's waiting for you with arms wide open.