Today I sat on a bale of hay in the calving shed as my heart broke and silent tears filled my eyes and slowly made their way down my face. "God, why?" I whispered.

The things I had just learned about and the things I had just seen made me wonder how in the world we have fallen so far!! It's absolutely No wonder that we have kids losing hope. No wonder there are mass shootings. No wonder kids are so high on drugs they can't function. No wonder 'family' is non existent. No wonder kids don't have real friends and kids are bullied.

...Because the "good kids" are also giving in..

As I got up and made my way to check the heifers, I walked past the manure pile that I had just piled up with the tractor earlier this morning. It stunk. Really bad. Dirty brown water drained away from it and ran down towards the draw. Had I tried to climb to the top I would have sank to the bottom and never gotten out on my own.

To the kids I know who have been apart of my life and spent summers at our ranch, Kids and friends that I love so very much...

My message is this.

STAY AWAY FROM THE MANURE PILE.

You want to play "King on the Mountain". You want to be cool. You want everyone to look up to you and to like you! But as soon as you set foot... you will start to sink. You will be pulled in by others and by the devil himself and as soon as you get a little too far you will never get out on your own. You will drown yourself in your own mistakes and misery and the mud and junk will slowly close in around you. Oh there's plenty of others in there and they are calling you to join them. Run away. And also know that You can't save them... you will only bury yourself as you try to reach out to them.

If you do make it and somehow you get in and are able to turn around and work your way out..the mud and smell will be with you forever. The scars you get as you scramble will never wash off or fade away. The only way we could become clean is to be washed by the blood of Jesus Christ. The Lamb of God.

Fight apathy. Fight the ways of the world. Fight with the Armor of God! You. Must. Fight.

I've only lived 24 short years on this earth, but the things I have seen and the people I have watched waste away their lives and potential, has been overwhelming and has made me cry on more occasions than I can count. Don't give in. Don't give in to the muck and the mire of this old world. Leave the trash talk in the trash.

You. Were. Made. For. So. Much. More.

Build each other up! Quit tearing each other down and for goodness sake quit hanging out with the people that do. Reach for greatness! Resist the devil! Strive for victory. Quit settling for defeat!

Pray. Pray like you have never prayed before. Persevere. Persevere when your peers give in and call for you to join them! And Stand. Stand tall.

For you. Are different.

And different... Makes a difference in a world that has given up and given in and is falling asleep at the sound of the trumpet.

It is time for YOU to STAND UP and make a DIFFERENCE that only YOU can make.

You. Must. Fight.

{ Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— Ephesians 6:10-18}