I received the news today, that a young man I thought of as a son, died of an overdose last night. My heart is grieving for the loss to his family, and for him....He tried so hard to shake the monkey off of him. We would spend time talking about the Lord, and I prayed as he wrestled those demons.

I don't know what his last moments and thoughts were, I can't know, but God does. He gave his heart to the Lord about 8-9 years ago. His sister had died by her own hand, an overdose as well. He said he never wanted to go that way. He wanted to honour her life. And he tried, I know he did! I stood with him through it. He was smart, funny, and really intense. Creative and full of ideas. Would help anyone if he could.

I cried out to God for this loss. Did he cry out to the Lord as his life slipped away?

I am so thankful that I know the Lord. That He walks with me and He talks to me. I cold not bear this if I didn't have Jesus.

Any one of us could go at any minute, any hour, any day. We know not our appointed time. Are you ready? Do you know Jesus? Have you slipped in your walk with Him and felt discouraged? Has the enemy whispered to you how your destiny is gone? that you are useless to God? That you will never fulfill your journey and finish your race?

No, my friend, you are His...bought with a price beyond compare! Look to Him, throw off those bonds and yokes that are weighing you down. Put your hand in His and know that He will never leave you, even in those darkest moments.

You are one of a kind. Trust Him. He will bring you out of the darkest hours and the deepest pits. Don't let the enemy whisper his lies to your ears. Don't give up.

To my friend: I don't know where you are now DJ. I will miss you. My only prayer is that in your last moments, you whispered the name of Jesus. And He heard you. XO Goodbye my dear friend.