Victory Is On The Otherside Of Through

Often after the death of a loved one,a serious illness or injury,or an

emotional trauma such as can be caused by divorce or job loss,the healing doesn't

come as quickly as we wanted or expected.We may feel trapped,stuck in a particular

stage of the grief process,as we continue to feel the pain of the loss as if it just

happened.The good news is,there are some ways to help the process along.

1.) Take a good long look at what your fears are.

2.) Adjust your expectations.

3.) Move from anger to acceptance.

4.) Seek spiritual healing.

5.) Learn the value of patient waiting.

Winning Is Not Everything If It's In Jesus

Winning is important to most people in the world today.We want to win sports

contests, cards games,and arguments.In business we to be the boss and to make the

most money.Our greatest desire to win may lie with politics and religion.Human

beings will use almost any means of coercion to achieve their central and winning

place in the world.We will humiliate our opposition; threaten them;and on some

occasions kill them,if necessary,to see to it that our side has its way.

The religious and political authorities in the Bible ,and some in the world today

believed that they had defeated Jesus. By means of their overwhelming political

power,he was derided,made to suffer,and executed.In the eyes of the world,he was

a loser and they were winners.Christians,however,have a different take on the events

of that horrible day and time.In fact,in our annual commemoration of that day,and

time ,we call it "good."

Roadside Monument's

Along the highway on the Big Island of Hawaii, to the town of Waikoloa are lava

rocks used by visitors to inscribed their names as vacationers to the island.These

rock memorials stands as a monument to them. When I think of the highway memorials,

am reminded of the Hebrews children's journey. In Hebrews chapter 11, it lists some

of those hardy souls--- Gideon,Barak,Samson,Jephthah,David,and Samuel,to name a few.

But there are other more recent pilgrims:my mother,my father in-law,my fifth-grade

school teacher,my brothers,my old pastors,my friends mother,my mentor and god father,

my god sister,and a host of others I could name.They may not have inscrbed their

names on rocks,or on the roadside of life,but they're written in our memory.The

author of Hebrews reminds us to remember "pilgrims" who have gone before us ,

especially those "who have spoken the Word of God to us and to consider "the outcome

of their conduct" (Hebrews C-13:v7).And ,most important,he encourages us to follow

their faith. Lord,help us live a godly life of faith and love and purity so those who

follow what we do will grow in their maturity.