Everyone get's angry sometimes.  The key, though, is understanding why, working on it, taking the time and effort to not bottle things up...and doing our best to move forward in peace with everyone we meet.

The road back is never without opposition or danger or problems...whether they're from our own making or not.  When we are recovering from grief, starting a new life, or returning from an exile...the important part is not "being seen as right" or "having things how we want," but instead to love God and love others, to live that out in the way we act, the way we treat others, the way we live.

Often, we are told (or tell others) how, when, and how long to grieve...but it's something that is different for everyone and every situation.  More than that, it's an important time to come to terms with yourself, with what you're grieving, and to learn from God.

As much as I wish I could say otherwise, you WILL face tragedies, defeats, failures, and heartache along the way.  However, hitting "rock bottom" is not an end, but a chance at a new beginning.  It may take time to deal with it, to mourn, to re-plan, but as long as there is life, there is hope.

Even after witnessing so many amazing miracles of God, the Israelites still turned from Him when it became too hard to wait.  In our own lives, we often live in an "out of sight, out of mind" way, too...but even when God isn't in our sight, we are in His...completely and totally loved.

We each have a limited amount of time on this earth, but more than that we have a limited amount of time in other people's lives.  Since we don't know when either of those "times" are up, we should all do our best to always seek to make a difference FOR GOOD.

We often feel like what others receive (or even have) diminishes what we already have...but that's not the case at all.  Instead of focusing so much on the lives of others, focus on how you can be more like Jesus in your own life, helping others to see the way towards heaven.

Forgiveness is a difficult concept for most of us, because we tie it so closely to "forgive and forget" and "you have to earn it." Forgiveness, though, means that you are letting yourself off the hook of holding grudges...beginning the process of healing.  It doesn't mean letting people run all over you, just that you are moving forward.  

The thing most missing in the world, not just today but throughout time, is often the ability to put ourselves in other people's shoes.  It's vital that we treat others as we'd want to be treated, to help those who need it, and to always stand for what's right, regardless of what it means politically.

God loves everyone, regardless of race, belief, sex, etc....everyone.  And nothing can ever separate any of us from that love.  For those of us who accept it, who believe and follow Jesus, it's vital to show that love to everyone, whether or not we agree with or like them.  Love God. Love Othersr.