We Thought We Had No Gifts Under Our Tree This Year

For us, 2019 was an expensive twelve months. So, my wife and I decided not to buy Christmas gifts this year. Part of our thinking was since we already give gifts to each other and our children anytime, no need for the added expense of Christmas gifts right now. But we still put up a tree as we usually do in late November. 

And there it sat for days and weeks collecting dust without any gifts under it. I started feeling bad and having doubts about our decision, but in the end, we agreed it was the wise thing to do. 

We've had spectacular Christmases before with gifts galore and others with significantly less. This year was the exception—we had zero gifts. We just didn’t have the budget. 

However, beginning about three or four days ago, something special began to happen. My wife received a gift from a store owner she frequents. Then, gifts from family members started arriving. And last night (the night before Christmas), my father-in-law showed up from out of town with more gifts. 

Now we have a tree that looks like it did in years past. It reminds me of the spiritual side of Christmas and what the Lord did for us. 

1. Our Gift-Less Tree Is Our Condition

We couldn’t buy gifts because our finances were exhausted this year. Our barren tree was an image of our spiritual condition before God. 

The Bible tells us that we're all sinners (Romans 3:23); that none of us has any goodness (Romans 3:10). But God showed His love for us even when we had nothing to give by sending us His Son (Romans 5:8).

2. We Have Nothing to Give

Our empty tree was a daily reminder of our lack. We had nothing to give our children or each other. It was kind of sad, really, but what could we do. 

But from that image, I saw that God invites us to receive freely from Him . . . 

Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price (Isaiah 55:1).

Because of sin, our spiritual account is bankrupt. We have nothing to merit blessings. That means we can't buy gifts from God. But God’s in the perfect position to give to us. And why not, all things belong to Him (Psalm 89:11). 

Since we're all spiritually bankrupt, we live in a debtor’s prison from birth. But Jesus came to set the captives free (Luke 4:18). He came to pay our sin-debt—the perfect gift. 

God is our Gift-Giver

Ephesians 2:8 says, 

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.

God is quite pleased. But it isn't with us. It's with His Son (Matthew 3:17). 

Jesus Christ paid it all. When He died on the cross He said, "it is finished" (John 19:30). And He meant it, "once and for all" (Hebrews 10:10). 

God freely gives us the gift of eternal life by faith in Christ who paid for our sins and rose again from death so we could become holy in Him (2 Corinthians 5:21, Philippians 3:9). 

It Sounds So Theological

I know. Sometimes Christians talk like that. But it just means, we've all done or thought bad things, and God can't accept that in His holy Kingdom of Heaven. To make things right, someone had to be punished. 

Instead of us, God punished His Son (Isaiah 53:4-6) to the point of death. And Christ's sacrifice was perfect, so He didn't stay dead. By rising from the grave, Jesus showed the Father's acceptance of His Son's payment in full. 

There's no need to give anything to get this credit of holiness. Just be humble enough to acknowledge it, believe it, and receive it. 

Sadly, some people think the way to heaven is by working and working, paying and paying, and doing and doing enough to satisfy God's holiness. They couldn’t be further from the truth. Our currency’s no good with God.

3. We Do Not Deserve Gifts

Deep down, I know I didn't deserve anything under the tree anyway. I lost my temper several times this year and said things that shouldn’t be said by a child of God. I haven’t always followed God’s wisdom but followed my own. I’ve strayed from God and haven’t always been a good husband or loving father. So, I know I don’t deserve a gift under the tree. 

My wife and children felt similar. When we looked over the past year, we knew we had failures and shortcomings. But that’s the heart of Christmas. We give each other gifts even though we don’t deserve them. 

This year we pretty much failed totally in the gift department. But the beautiful part of our Christmas was God gifted us.

For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly (Romans 5:6).

Even though we didn't deserve them, and when we had no gifts for ourselves, we had gifts under our tree. It was a reminder of Romans 5:6. The Christmas we thought we had no gifts is the Christmas God showed us unmerited favor (grace) by giving them to us. 

4. God Gifted Us

We all know the verse, 

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16).

But do we ever stop to think how it can be integrated into our Christmas? It's pretty clear every year, but I could see it especially this year. God sent His only begotten Son as our gift. And an unspeakable gift at that (2 Corinthians 9:15).

Blessings Received from Our Empty Tree

Having gifts appear under our gift-less Christmas tree blessed in obvious ways, but there were a few added blessings that came with them. 

The Loving-Kindness of God

First, God showed me His loving-kindness. By bringing gifts to our bare tree, the Lord brought to mind how loving and kind He is (Isaiah 63:7). It's hard to explain really, but it just caused me to be moved by God's warmth. 

A Father’s Love

Second, my children and my wife received gifts today. Despite my wife saying she doesn't mind and my children saying it's okay, as a father, you know it's not. So, seeing gifts arrive day after day under the tree blessed me as a father. God, my Father, showed, me His child, the love of a Father today. 

Another Reason to Glorify God

Thirdly, it gave me something experiential to share with my family during our Christmas devotion before opening our gifts. And that's pretty cool. I had something recent and real to share with my family and it proclaimed the glory of God on Christmas Day. 

In the End . . .

We began with nothing and ended up with much. I can only hope and pray that 2020 won’t be as expensive. But if God lets me see His loving-kindness each day as He did today, it might be more tolerable. However it plays out, I have a reminder that God loves me and cares about me and my family. 

As a result of our experience this Christmas, I say thank you Lord and glory to You. I can say with the angels, 

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men (Luke 2:14).

What can you say this Christmas? Share your blessings in the comments.

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Written by Jerry Smith 

Image source: Photo by Tj Holowaychuk on Unsplash

What Is Waiting on the Lord?

When writing Psalm 37, David was troubled on every side, yet he had the faith to understand that when things are troubling all around, when things are run by evil people, when it looks like the enemy is bringing you down, wait on the Lord and keep his way.

Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it... (Psalm 37:34).

Wait does not stand alone in this verse. It does not mean simply sitting around expecting the Lord to do something to change your situation. This is a command to be active while awaiting God's deliverance. 

David wrote wait on the Lord and keep His way. The two ideas are bound together. I am to patiently await the Lord, but to also be active in my observance of His word. 

To wait on the Lord and keep His way in the practical sense is to have the mindset that while I await God's answer to my prayers and supplications, by God's grace I'm going to...

Continue to pray 

Continue to read the Bible 

Continue to meditate on the word 

Continue to study the Bible 

Continue to share the Lord with others 

Continue to be open to His leading 

Continue to be open to His will 

Continue to yield to the Spirit 

Continue to be led by the Spirit 

Continue to die to self and live unto God 

Continue to minister to others 

Continue to desire God above all else. 

Waiting on God does not mean Christians should sit down but they are to keep the faith even in difficult times. And, as the rest of the verse says, God will make things right: He will deliver in His time. 

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Written by Jerry Smith

Feature image source: ben-white-292680-unsplash 

Open Bible with blue pen image source: rod-long-425679-unsplash

4 Ways to Pray Without Ceasing

Some Christians ask: How long do you pray every day?

People who ask this question may have the wrong idea about prayer. Some may see it as a religious duty—part of a daily checklist of responsibilities for good Christians. After that, they say:

Finished!

No more talking to God today! 

I did my Christian duty!

That smacks of religion. Christianity is different. 

God is not impressed with our hour-long, two-hour-long prayer times. In fact, He tells us: 

Pray without ceasing 

According to this verse, we should be praying all day! But how do we pray without ceasing? 

There are at least four ways to ensure you can pray without ceasing every day: 

1. Be 'fessed up.

The Lord tells us that if we regard sin in our hearts He will not hear our prayers. If you want to have an open line of communication and pray without ceasing, this is basic.

2. Be ready to 'fess up when needed.

Christians sin. We live in the world while struggling with temptation to sin. When we do fall, we must be ready to humble ourselves and admit our wrongdoing. Otherwise, we get stuck on number 1 above. 

3. Whatever comes along, 'tell it to Jesus.' 

Living in this world we are plagued with cares (concerns). Why hold them to ourselves? God told us He cares for us. So, when something is bothering you, don't hold it inside, pray without ceasing by sharing your cares with our heavenly Father. 

4. Involve God in the major and minor decisions of life.  

Every day we make decisions, so why not exercise unceasing prayer by including God in those decisions. 

Start with something simple like, Lord, what would you have me wear today, as a way to be in touch with Him all day. 

By coming to God for even the simple decisions that we encounter each day demonstrates a reliance on God. 

Prayer

Prayer is an act of humility. By humbling ourselves and asking God what He thinks our choices and decisions ought to be, we exercise ourselves in unceasing prayer. 

Our days should be one long dialogue with God where we have open lines of communication: We tell Him what we think and tell Him our cares, as His Holy Spirit reminds us of His word in response. 

We need to have a dependence on God throughout the day; making requests; confessing; sharing our day with God. This is what we many believers are missing.

Conclusion

The Christian life is not about checking off boxes each day and saying, I'm done with that today, or doing our duty.

The Christian life is about a communicative relationship with Someone who loves you and is always with you. 

If you can practice these four points in your Christian walk, you will be on the right path to praying without ceasing. 

So, when Christians ask: How long do you pray every day?

My answer: All day!

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Checkbox image source: Aslan Alphan

7 Reasons Why Christians Do Not Need to Use an Ancient Hebrew Sacred Name for God

These days, some Christians believe there is special power, privilege, or meaning in using what they believe to be a Hebrew sacred name of God.

However, Christians have NO need to use an ancient Hebrew sacred name for God. They are unnecessary, not commanded, and are misleading. The following seven points will help explain why: 

1. In Matthew 6:9, Jesus specifically taught believers HOW to pray. He taught us the name of the Person we are to pray to: Our Father..., not Yahweh. Why would we disregard the Lord's teaching about prayer?

2. Jesus' High Priestly prayer in John 17 was to the Father not Yahweh. Why didn't the only Begotten Son of God honor His Father with a special Hebrew name during such an intimate time in which He wanted others to hear? He didn't, so why should we?

3. Jesus cried out on the cross, "Eli, Eli ... my God, my God" in Aramaic (Matthew 27:46), why not Hebrew? Why not an ancient Hebrew sacred name at such an ultimate beyond-words experience? Perhaps because the Hebrew names were not important?

4. Jesus taught us the name of God we ought to be praying to, "our Father" (Matthew 6:9, John 17:1).

"Our Father which art in heaven"

5. Hebrew names for God are more titles than names as we think of them (e.g. Adonai—Lord and master; Elohim— almighty God, Jehovah—self-existent one etc.). They are references to God, the Creator, the Almighty, Lord God. 

But Jesus taught us a new and living way (Hebrews 10:20), which is that in Christ, God becomes our Father (cf. Galatians 4:6). Why go back to the old way of ancient Hebrew names when Jesus has given us a new way? 

6. The specific term Yahweh has conspicuous similarities to pagan sources. Do we really know what we are saying when we use these sacred names?

7. Where is the command in the New Testament for believers to use some kind of special Hebrew sacred name? We are taught to pray to the Father in Jesus' name (John 15:16).

Hope this helps some who struggle with the topic. Let me know what you think in the comments. 

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Open Bible Image source: kelly-sikkema-275193-unsplash

Why Teach in Church

Paul wrote Timothy, and one of the points he raised in the first chapter was the proper motivation for teaching:

Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned: From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling; Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm (1 Timothy 1:5-7, KJV).

Teachers in church teach because they love the brethren and want to edify them. If that isn't our motive for teaching, then even though we think we understand the Bible, we really do not.

Questions teachers should ask themselves: 

• Why am I teaching in church? 
• Am I trying to show that I have knowledge? 
• Am I trying to show that I'm smart?
• Am I seeking to impress others?
• Am I teaching because I want to have a ministry?

If your answers do not reflect Christian love for the brethren, Paul says, you have the wrong idea, what you teach is just vanity, and you have no clue what you are saying or why you have been given an opportunity to teach. 

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6 Steps That Led Peter to Deny Christ and May Lead Us Too

We know from the Gospels that Peter was a transparent man. He would ask Jesus the obvious questions, showed his feelings, and even boasted that he would stay with Christ to the end. However, that boasting did not last very long at all: 

...she looked upon him, and said, And thou also wast with Jesus of Nazareth. But he denied, saying, I know not...(Mark 14:66-68).

SETTING

Jesus had just been arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane after the Last Supper and taken to the house of the high priest, Caiaphas. 

Peter said earlier in the evening that he was ready to die for Christ, but when Jesus was arrested, the disciples scattered—including Peter. 

Peter followed from a distance and ended up warming himself at a fire before the house of the high priest. 

When a servant girl pointed out Peter as one of Christ's followers, he denied that he knew Christ, just as the Lord had foretold. 

FAITH LESSON 

To deny knowing someone is to refuse to acknowledge a connection with them. In Peter's case, he refused to acknowledge that he was a disciple of Christ. 

Since Christ is no longer physically walking on earth today, Christians can deny knowing him in their attitudes, behaviors, words, actions, and even lifestyles. 

People tend to give steps to the Christian life: steps to a closer walk with God, steps to a more fruitful Christian life, steps to more ministry effectiveness, steps to a better prayer life, etc. 

But how about approaching things from a different angle: steps to denial—steps to denying Christ. 

If Christians follows the steps listed here (1-5) they will likely end up denying Christ in their lives outright (6) as Peter did; they will in essence be telling the world, I do not know Him.

1. Confidence in Self (Mark 14:29, 31)

Peter was sure of himself—that he would fight for Christ to death, but things did not play out the way he imagined. He was confident in his own ability instead of trusting Christ.

Perhaps we too are confident in something such as our own physical strength, our employment, our finances, or our know-how. But, will these things hold out when the time comes? 

Confidence in ourselves will lead to the next step. 

2. Lack of Prayer (Mark 14:37, 40-41) 

Instead of praying with Jesus, Peter was sleeping. He wasn't thinking about how he needed God's help in his life. The Lord warned him to watch and pray so as not to enter into temptation—wise counsel from our God who knows our frame, that we are but dust. 

Confidence in ourselves brings a proud slumber upon us. We neglect the humble reliance upon God that we need from day to day (Give us this day...). 

From a lack of prayer, the next step is even worse. 

3. Not Heeding God's Word (Mark 14:47) 

Peter tried to fight the arresting officers but Jesus' arrest was needful to complete His ministry on earth. He had already indicated that. 

Peter spent nearly three years learning at the feet of Jesus but on this night, as he progressed down the steps to denial, his mind was not on the words that Jesus spoke. 

As Christians, when prayer time suffers, so does time spent in the word. If we rely only on a simple, quickly-read devotional or half-listened-to sermon on Sunday morning, we too are not really paying attention to what the Lord is telling us. 

When we do not heed God's word, the next step is a natural progression. 

4. Hanging with the Wrong Crowd (Mark 14:54) 

Peter was standing with the people outside of the house instead of with the disciples encouraging one another. In his isolation from God's people, he was eventually put on the spot, and verbally denied Christ (Step 6). 

Confidence in self, failure to humbly rely on the Lord, and missing the word of God, will inevitably lead to hanging out with the wrong crowd. Christians not walking as they ought to find more comfort with the world than in church with God's people. 

Are we hanging out where we should not be? Are we spending time with the people of the world instead of the people of God? If so, it would be a good time to examine ourselves in the light of Steps 1-4, to avoid the next plunge to Step 5. 

5. Back to Old Habits (Mark 14:71) 

Peter started cursing. Something he would not likely have been doing in the presence of the Lord. Peter's progress to the next step reminds us that the more spend time with the world, the more the world influences us. Psalm 1:1 paints an excellent picture of this. 

If we have confidence in ourselves, fail to pray, fail to be in the word, are hanging out with the world instead of believers, and going back to old habits, it is quite likely to lead to the sixth and last step of denial. 

6. Outright Denial (Mark 14:71) 

Peter denied the Lord outright, saying clearly, "I don't know Him!" 

Steps 1-5 are subtle denials of Christ, but Step 6 is an direct denial of Him. 

If we continue down the path of the steps of denial, we will eventually come to a point where either our words, our attitudes, our actions, our behaviors, or our lifestyles will directly deny Christ. 

People will look at us and not know we are Christians. In that sense, we deny the Lord who died for us, who should be glorified in us, and proclaimed to the lost by us. We keep His light under a bushel and say that we do not have His light. 

Denying the Lord is a frightful thing. It does not mean one has lost his/her salvation, but it does mean that we have sunken so low that we are no longer doing what the Lord asked us to do: enjoy your relationship with Me and let that lead you to share Me with others. 

Nevertheless, there was hope for Peter. After the Lord's resurrection, prior to His ascension, Jesus restored Peter in love. He asked Peter thrice if he loved Him—the same number of times Peter denied Christ. Peter answered three times, but each time, it became more intense for him, until he finally broke down. 

SELF-EXAMINATION

Follow these six steps and you will head for a great fall, an ineffective testimony, lost rewards, and or shame before the Lord. One way to avoid these griefs is to ask yourself a few questions: 

1. Am I being confident in myself or the Lord? 

2. Am I relying on the Lord or my own power? 

3. Am I spending time discovering what the Lord is teaching me in His Word? 

4. With whom am I spending my time with? 

5. Am I growing in grace or doing the same old things I used to do? 

6. Do people know I am a Christian in attitude, word, behaviors, deeds, lifestyle? 

If you have denied Christ in some way, confess it to Him, forsake it, and move forward with Him, trusting His forgiveness and His love. He is always ready to forgive and is the God of second, third, fourth, ... chances.

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Written by Jerry Smith from an idea based on the the Ryrie KJV Study Bible (1994), notes on Mark 14:72.

Feature image source: Good News Productions International and College Press Publishing 0151http://www.freebibleimages.org

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4 Biblical Motivations for Christians to Marry

Marriage is the fundamental social unit for humans in God's creation. The Bible shows us that it is a lifelong commitment that God takes seriously. 

But what are the motivations for a Christian marriage? 

Borrowed from an article written by myself at blogos.org, there are at least four reasons identified in the Bible why Christians should still marry.

1. For companionship (Genesis 2:18, 24). 

God made Eve a companion for Adam—from Adam, saying that it was not good for man to be alone. 

This shows that marriage is the norm for mankind rather than the exception, and that men and women do not feel complete unless they are married. 

Wanting to share your life with someone of the opposite sex is in line with God's plan for marriage and a great way to combat the loneliness of being a Christian in an increasingly God-denying society.

2. To raise godly children (Genesis 1:28; Ephesians 6:4). 

God commanded Adam and Eve to multiply and fill the earth. For some, the motivation to marry may be based simply on a couple's desire to obey God's commands. 

Since God has never commanded that marriages cease producing and raising children, the motivation to simply obey God lines up with God's plan for marriage and an excellent testimony to the value of a child in the face of constant debate about abortion versus childbirth.

3. To avoid sexual impurity (1 Corinthians 7:8-9). 

Paul was saying that to avoid fornication, it is better to marry (1 Corinthians 7:2) where sex is honorable and the bed undefiled (Hebrews 13:4). 

A couple may be motivated to marry to avoid the struggle with sexual urges, lust, and temptation (Colossians 3:5; James 1:15). Wanting to be married to avoid sexual sin and to exercise God-ordained sexual relations within the bounds of marriage is also in line with God's plan for marriage. 

In a culture where premarital sex is celebrated, especially in movies and television series, marriage to avoid it is a testimony against worldly thinking.

4. To emulate and reflect the glory of the relationship between Jesus Christ and His church (Ephesians 5:25, 32). 

Paul writes that marriage reflects the relationship between Jesus Christ and the church. 

Ephesians 5:21-33 presents a wonderful parallel of the relationship between husbands and wives and Christ and the church in terms of submission (Ephesians 5:22), respect (Ephesians 5:33), sacrificial love (Ephesians 5:25), and unity (Ephesians 5:31). 

Reflecting the glory of Jesus Christ and His church through marriage is a testimony to the world that there are two genders, and that these two genders are to dwell together in love and unity.

Whatever the motivations, whether those mentioned here or others, we must remember that there is no command to marry (1 Corinthians 7:6) just as there is no command not to marry. We should not judge anyone for their choices. 

However, these are biblical reasons to marry that can help Christians resist the influence of the worldly culture around them and reflect the glory and beauty of Jesus Christ.

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He Must Increase but I Must Decrease

John the Baptist wore clothing of camel hair, a leather girdle, and ate locusts and wild honey. He was a thundering, odd-looking, prophet at the onset of the New Testament, but what can we learn from him today? 

One important statement he made was a demonstration of his humility. 

"He must increase, but I must decrease" 

(John 3:30, KJV).

Historical Context

John was replying to his disciples's concerns that the disciples of Christ were baptizing more people than John.

This would be a normal concern of any disciple in that day, in that their rabbi, i.e. teacher, was being outdone.

But John was not concerned about that. John understood who Jesus Christ was, and humbled himself saying that his own fame was not as important as Christ's exaltation. 

Faith Lesson

John's example reminds us of how we should view ourselves in light of Christ. 

As Christians, he showed us that what we do is not about us, but about magnifying Jesus Christ in any endeavor. 

Do we seek the glory of the Lord in what we do or do we tend to take the glory for ourselves when praise is given?

How often do we become tempted to glorify ourselves or protect our own images so that people will look upon us with admiration? 

John the Baptist showed us that it is not I but Christ who is more important.

Reflection

What things are you proud of in your life?

What things do you like others to see about you?

What things do you like to receive credit for?

What things do you like to use to impress others—to get them to look at you and say, "wow, you're good"?

Where/when do you fail to magnify the Lord?

Where can you decrease so the Lord may increase? 

Sharing

What are the personal implications of this message for you?

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How can going to church, praying, and helping others help fight depression?

Depression is looking inward at yourself. A person spends their time thinking about how bad things are for themselves. This persists to a point where they are pretty much consumed with their problem(s). Depression can isolate a person from the world and draw them into feelings of despair and hopelessness.

However, God did not create us to be alone but to live with others. So depression is a condition that contradicts God’s best for us. To help fight depression, God has given Christians these activities.

(1) When we look outside of ourselves by way of prayer to God, we naturally move from inward to outward. Praying is an opportunity to share your burden with God. The God of the Bible is the Creator of the universe (Genesis 1:1, Exodus 20:11) who not only cares for us (1 Peter 5:7), but with whom nothing is impossible (Genesis 18:14, Jeremiah 32:27, Luke 18:27). 

(2) When Christians go to church, they are surrounded by fellow believers who also struggle with similar problems. This is why we are called to fellowship with one another (1 John 1:3, Philippians 3:10). Fellowship implies a bond between people. The bond between believers is not only in and through Christ, but a bond of fellowship of sufferings in Christ (John 16:33, 1 Peter 4:12–13). 

When we are together in church, others can encourage us in our hardships (Philippians 2:3-4, 1 Thessalonians 5:11). It is also in church where we can hear the word of God taught and preached which may be used of God to build up our faith, encourage us, strengthen us, refresh us, and or give us the grace to continue on. So God tells us not to forsake church (Hebrews 10:25). 

(3) Finally, when we minister to (serve or help) others, we are naturally looking outside of ourselves at the needs of others. When we look at the needs of others, we are no longer thinking about ourselves. In fact the Lord tells us that when we do good to others we are doing good to ourselves (Proverbs 11:17). 

If you feel however, that your depression has you thinking about harming yourself or others, and you are a Christian, please communicate immediately with your pastor, church clergy, or biblical counselor. If the urge is overwhelmingly strong, contact an emergency hotline for assistance.

Written by Jerry Smith

Feature image source: nik-shuliahin-251237-unsplash