OUR DAILY BREAD                     Monday, March 27, 1995
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READ:  Philippians 1:15-26

                A WINNER EITHER WAY

           "For to me, to live is Christ,
                 and to die is gain."

                                -- Philippians 1:21

Lois had just undergone cancer surgery and was alone with
her thoughts.  She had faced death before, or so she
thought, but it had always been the death of people she
had loved -- not her own.

Suddenly she realized that losing someone she loved was
more threatening to her than the possibility of losing her
own life.  She wondered why.  She remembered what she had
asked herself before her operation, "Am I ready to die?"
Her immediate answer had been, and still was, "Yes, I am.
Christ is my Lord and Savior."

With her readiness for death secure, she now needed to
concentrate on living.  Would it be in fear or in faith?
Then God seemed to say, "I have saved you from eternal
death.  I want to save you from living in fear."  Isaiah
43:1 came to mind:  "I have redeemed you; I have called
you by name; you are Mine."

Now Lois testifies, "Yes, I am His!  That's the reality
that is more important than doctors telling me I have
cancer."  And then she adds, "I win either way!"

Lois' insight is a convinced echo of Paul's words in
today's text, "For to me, to live is Christ, and to die
is gain."  Let's pray that those words may resonate in
our hearts.  That confidence makes us winners either way.

                                -- Joanie E. Yoder

        Safe in the Lord, without a doubt,
             By virtue of the blood;
         For nothing can destroy the life
          That's hid with Christ in God.

                                -- Anon.

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          THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
-------------------------------------
           We can really live
        when we're ready to die.
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THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:   2 Samuel 16-18

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Our Daily Bread, having originated from his distribution to the 
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