Love, Loss, and Victory

My husband, Jake, looked at our kitchen clock and said, "It's 5:30. The closing must be done by now."

"The closing" seemed to reference more than the sale of his late parents' house, the home Jake and his siblings had grown up in.

Earlier that day, Jake had walked through the house for the last time.
Instead of family racket, only the faint echo of his boots sounded on the bare wooden floor.
Empty closets.
Empty rooms.
An empty space. 

It held no trace of his parents, or the family they'd raised there.
Jake left the keys, and walked away.

Did Jesus followers feel that emptiness when he was condemned to die?

For three years they'd followed him--the preacher, the prophet, the healer, their friend.
With Jesus' death, emptiness seeped in.
Empty hearts.
Empty dreams.
Empty hopes left at a blood-stained cross.

photo courtesy of dan@freedigitalphoto.com

But victory came three days later.
Jesus rose from the dead.
He left an empty tomb.

That empty grave equaled victory, not only for them, but for us as well.

Jesus rose to fill our emptiness;
to give us victory in place of despair.



Instead of an empty life, Jesus offers us a new life filled with his love.
And it's available to anyone who'll accept it.


New love.
New life.
New beginnings.

If you're tired of the emptiness,
If you want a fresh start, 
If you need a new beginning,
Pray this simple prayer,

"Jesus, please forgive my sins, and be my savior."

 Giving your life to Jesus is the start of your new life.
A life of hope.
A life of love.
A life of victory. 

If you want to know more before taking that life-changing step, please go to Billy Graham's "Find Peace with God" website.

If you've just prayed that prayer, please let me know. We'll celebrate your new life, and your new victory!

Gain Victory Today

                --I wish I could...
                           --If only... 
                                --Maybe one day...

                 Great news. "One day" is here.

                              Today's our Victory Day.

• Maybe it's putting out the cigarette before the final drag.
• Or turning off the TV before the next show starts.
• Or putting away the bag of Cheetos before it's empty.
• Or signing up for that class.

No matter how large, no matter how small, today let's celebrate every victory. 

Let's lift each other up, not beat each other up.

And that includes our spouses, children, friends...and ourselves. We're often our own harshest critics. Instead of focusing on what we did wrong, let's celebrate what we're doing right.



Feel like you're doing nothing right? Each moment is a new beginning. Start
fresh right now.

"But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."  Lamentaions 3:21-23

Still feel like there's nothing to celebrate? Grab hold of this awesome promise: 

 God has said, "I will never leave you or abandon you." Hebrews 13:5

The God who created the universe loves us so much he'll stick with us always. That's something to celebrate.

What victories spark your world today? I'd love to hear. 

My victory is walking away from the chocolate covered strawberries.

Update: I ate them all as I went to put them away.

Ok, my NEW victory is being honest about eating all the strawberries.

How about you? What will you celebrate today?

Photo of girl under the trees courtesy of PhotoKanok @freedigitalphotos.net

Ode to Holiday Feasting

photo courtesy of Apolonia @freedigitalphotos.net

 

My pants are size four.

I'm not anymore.

I know a quick fix.

I'll buy a size six.




photo courtesy Mister GC @freedigitalphotos.net

 

The sixes were great

'Til I over-ate;

And at this new weight

I now need size eight.

 

I did it again.

I'm up to size ten...
No-wait. That's not right!

My tens are all tight!





photo courtesy of Serge Bertasius Photography @freedigitalphotos.net
 

Cookies, cakes and pies galore,

One bite always leads to more.

What can stop this upward roll?

Oh, that thing called self-control.

We're our own harshest critics. We beat ourselves up over perceived failures. But we can break free from the things that hold us back, and hold us captive.      

 

In my next post I'll confess what I'm struggling with.

 

And share my plan to finally overcome it.

 

What's in it for you? An opportunity to break free yourself.

 

What challenges do you face? Is there a habit you haven't been able to overcome?

 

In my next post I'll share a way we can link together to break the chains. 

Meanwhile, here's some encouraging news:

 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control." Gal 5:22-23.




photo courtesy of Danilo Rizzuti @freedigitalphotos.net


God's got our backs. We don't have to do it alone.
Please share this with your friends who are struggling, because I see victory in our futures. As for the niggling little voice that just told you, "Maybe for someone else, but not for me." Tell that liar to sit down, because YOUR victory is at hand.