“The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.” (Matt 7:25 NIV)

“For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.” (1 Cor. 3:11 NIV)

Sometimes life feels like you are losing your balance. Things that you have learned to depend upon over the years, have changed, or maybe even been removed. Like those towers you build from blocks and try to remove one without the tower falling down, it seems like the things you remove, or have removed, are making your life unstable.

Last year I had to make some changes in my life that left me feeling a bit lost in some ways. Things changed and would probably never go back to how they were, and I once again had to deal with losing things I had loved..

Living with chronic illness, means that we live with uncertainty in our lives each day. There are so many things you cannot depend on anymore, it makes all the difference to me to know that God is still the firm foundation in my life, the one thing I can always depend on. Only God can provide me the certainty that when I have to face the storms of life, He will always be there with me. Though all may seem to be washing away around me, He is still there and He provides the stable foundation I can always hang on to.

We all have times when we feel the storms of life threatening to overwhelm us, times when we would like to just hide away from everything. Sometimes that can almost mean we lose sight of the foundation of our faith and our very lives. God is still there and when the waves, or winds have passed, we will see once again, that life will go on. It may be different, but the foundation of our faith, will always be the same.

Prayer: Father, I pray that when we can’t see our way in the storm, you will comfort us in the knowledge that you are the foundation we can always cling to and depend upon. Amen.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Fiona Burrows lives in Melbourne, Australia. She is thankful for the difference God makes in her life as she lives with chronic pain. She enjoys finding time for writing, travel and photography.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11 NIV)

A fresh layer of fluffy snow covered the ground, the driveway had been plowed and Kathy was still at school. That meant the Escape was gone and the time was right to cleanse the garage floor of snow and those dirty chunks of who-knows-what that fall from wheel wells and make a mess if left unattended. So I squeezed into my twenty year old faded and torn snowmobile suit and stepped into the garage.

In early 2005, after several weeks of testing, several Mayo clinic neurologists agreed that I had spinocerebellar ataxia of the degenerative type. The word “ataxia” means “absence or loss of order.” Based on testing and my past history, they assured me the degeneration would be very slow.

Planting both feet firmly on the floor to secure my balance, I pushed the broom forward. At the same time, the ataxia decided a little “loss of order” was in order. Gazing up at the rafters, I took a quick inventory to see if anything was bruised or broken. Finding nothing, I explained to the Lord how much I did not appreciate what was going on.

In the midst of my upset, I recalled a line from the Christmas letter I received from Rosalee, a member of our writers group. She wrote: “Just because the stage is getting smaller, doesn’t mean the play has been cancelled.”

I’d be less than honest if I said that I’m happy to see my stage shrink. Each time loss comes calling I fuss, grumble, groan and complain. Each time my Father listens to my complaints, smiles, reminds me of His everlasting love and assures me my part of His show will never be cancelled.

Nor will yours, dear believer.

Prayer: Lord, sometimes it is easy to lose sight of Your plan and our part in it. We get confused when things change. Thankfully, we know, You never do. Amen.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ken Miller is a legally blind, cancer survivor with spinocerebellar ataxia. He lives in northern Minnesota with his wife Kathy. He contributes to two church newsletters and has published the first part of his memoir; Out of the Fishbowl. He can be reached at www.kenmillerbooks.com

“Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens. Our God is a God who saves.” (Psalm 68:19-20 NIV)

My daughters and I used to play the board game “Pilgrims Progress” based on the classic book of that title. We each had little plastic pilgrim playing pieces complete with knapsack burdens fastened to our backs. When we reached the cross on the playing board, we unfastened our burdens and left them there.

We then continued on to the Celestial City, using our armor and the Word to fight the attacks of the enemy along the way.

I carry many burdens on my own back, my physical ones being the heaviest. I can also become overwhelmed by current events and catastrophes, or by the struggles of others I know and care for. My shoulders are not meant to bear those weights. Jesus bore them on the cross and He is now in control of the outcomes.

What I may be viewing as burdens to be removed as quickly as possible are in reality opportunities for God to show His love, power, and might, working out His perfect will and building faith and trust in the process.

How differently I would handle the cares of this world if I maintained the Biblical view of trials – that they are good and positive tools, protecting me from my controlling nature and keeping me totally reliant upon and trusting in God.

This fallen world will never be free from burdens. I need to lay mine down at the foot of the cross daily – sometimes hourly or more. The Lord Himself then picks them up and takes care of them, every day. Why do I keep picking those knapsacks back up and hauling them around when I can walk in freedom? O Lord, set me free from my prison that I might praise Your name (Psalm 142:7).

Prayer: Gracious and loving God, may I have the self-discipline to give you my burdens daily and leave them there. Save me from my cares, and let me say with the psalmist, “I run in the path of Your commands, for you have set my heart free” (Psalm 119:32).

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Bronlynn Spindler is a wife and mother of three grown daughters and lives in Fredericksburg, VA. God’s grace and strength give her the ability to deal with chronic back pain, depression, headaches, and fibromyalgia. You may contact her at spindler@cox.net.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” (Hebrews 12:1 NIV)

I recently viewed photos of a former student, now a young woman. She had just completed running a marathon. Victory smiles were appropriate. 

Although  I can smile, I am no longer able to run. I thank God that I can walk. I’ve friends who need a wheelchair for aiding them in their mobility. I know others whose daily needs require full-time assistance. Am I to take this Scripture literally?

What is the race marked out for me? I must reorganize my thoughts around the word “race.” This Scripture continues on to exhort me to look to Jesus who completed the task set before him when upon earth. He never questioned the course his Father ordained.

I listen to others who daily face physical challenges say, “I no longer feel productive.” I have known this struggle, yet it  leads me to ask, “Productive to whom?” There was a time when my productivity was more tangible and visible. Yet, who has set my race before me? Who recorded my days even before I was born?

The word “race”, in this context, need not mean a competition, but an acceptance of the life course God has for me. The afflictions I face are no surprise to God. He has promised to give sufficient strength to help me complete all that he has asked of me. A cloud of witnesses who have reached their finish line are cheering me on. They have received their reward  for persevering. 

If I compare my yesterdays to today, I can get entangled and not adequately face the part of my race that is for “now.” I can easily get thrown off track if I am not careful. I want to stay hydrated with God’s grace so I can  keep my eyes on Him.

Prayer: Lord, I know I’m not alone to face the course you have mapped out for my life. Thank you for accompanying me and encouraging me onward. Amen.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Lynn Severance is a retired elementary classroom teacher. She lives in Lynnwood, Washington. She writes to encourage others as God has encouraged her during 26 years of living with daily physical challenges.

“I will sing to the LORD all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live”. (Psalm 104:33 NIV)

In churches today, music always seems to be a point of controversy. There are people who want only new style music and others who miss the old hymns we used to sing.

Recently as I listened to a beautiful rendition of an old hymn I was reminded that not only are the hymns full of great words, even if the language may seem dated, they are such well written music. With a choir and musicians, the sound is wonderful.

When I was a teenager, a man at our church decided our youth should be encouraged to practise and play their instruments, for God, not only for our music lessons. He started a youth orchestra. Some wanted to be there and others were probably there because their parents said they should be! He managed to have us playing together, in tune (mostly) and to be producing a fair sound. We started on a number of arrangements of old well known hymns. They had wonderful instrumental parts making them interesting and producing great sounds as the instruments blended together. We played choruses as well as the hymns. He was a wonderful gift and he not only encouraged and taught us, he shared his love of music, and of God, with us.

Being a youth orchestra we were asked to play at our youth services once a month. The music included some of the great old hymns, along with modern choruses. Hymns like “Are You Washed”, “Great Is Thy Faithfulness”, “When We All Get To Heaven”, “It Is Well”, “The Old Rugged Cross”, and others.

I enjoyed playing, but I also loved the sound of the orchestra and the church full of people singing together, raising music and voices in praise to our Heavenly Father. For me it was a preview of what I believe Heaven will be like one day. Whether we sing hymns or choruses, I’m sure it will be beautiful music and music sung from hearts full of love for our wonderful Father God. Even if I can’t sing and play now, I will again, “when we all get to Heaven”.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Fiona Burrows lives in Melbourne, Australia. She is thankful for the difference God makes in her life as she lives with chronic pain. She enjoys finding time for writing, travel and photography.

Image by Martin_Heigan via Flickr

“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” (John 14:18 NIV)

Did you know that we are in a very large family?

As a child I used to think how wonderful it would be to live in a very large family with lots of brothers and sisters. I unfortunately lived away from my 2 brothers, and wished many times that we would all be together someday.

The world we live in today has many people that feel isolated and many have the loneliness of literally having no family members. Maybe their parents have passed away, or maybe they were an only child. Perhaps they were raised in an Orphanage or they were in Foster Care and some how got stuck amidst all the red tape of being pushed from one family to another.

In the dictionary the word orphan means being without a mother or a father.

One thing that is so special about being a “God’s kid” is we always have a wonderful Heavenly Father that is always here for us and will never leave or forsake us.

Also no matter where we go we will run into brothers and sisters in our walk with the Lord. Whether it be in church, through the Internet, taking a stroll in the park, or sitting in the doctors office… we can always tell who they are. There’s something different about them that stands out that says… F-A-M-I-L-Y. You can see it in their smile and in their walk.

There are No Orphans with God. We are not alone friends. Look around and take someone’s hand. You might just be surprised. A bother or sister, an Aunt or Uncle just make take your hand and walk with you on your journey.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Pastor Nancy Dittert (Founder & Overseer of Fibro/Chronic Pain Support Ministry) lives in a berm home in Rural Central Iowa with her husband & soul mate Patrick, 5 cats and a Lab/ Sharpei dog. Nancy & Patrick are both pastors, retiring early because of illness. Nancy lives with Severe Fibromyalgia, Absence Seizures and Neuropathy, and her husband had a brain tumor that left him disabled. They are still actively involved as Christian freelance writers and work full time in Chronic Pain Ministry through the Internet and local Cable TV. Write Nancy at nancierose@msn.com and visit her Chronic Pain Web Site at http://Fibromyalgiahelp.homestead.com/index.html

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“The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.” (Matt 7:25 NIV)

“For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.” (1 Cor. 3:11 NIV)

Sometimes life feels like you are losing your balance. Things that you have learned to depend upon over the years, have changed, or maybe even been removed. Like those towers you build from blocks and try to remove one without the tower falling down, it seems like the things you remove, or have removed, are making your life unstable.

Last year I had to make some changes in my life that left me feeling a bit lost in some ways. Things changed and would probably never go back to how they were, and I once again had to deal with losing things I had loved.

Living with chronic illness, means that we live with uncertainty in our lives each day. There are so many things you cannot depend on anymore, it makes all the difference to me to know that God is still the firm foundation in my life, the one thing I can always depend on. Only God can provide me the certainty that when I have to face the storms of life, He will always be there with me. Though all may seem to be washing away around me, He is still there and He provides the stable foundation I can always hang on to.

We all have times when we feel the storms of life threatening to overwhelm us, times when we would like to just hide away from everything. Sometimes that can almost mean we lose sight of the foundation of our faith and our very lives. God is still there and when the waves, or winds have passed, we will see once again, that life will go on. It may be different, but the foundation of our faith, will always be the same.

Prayer: Father, I pray that when we can’t see our way in the storm, you will comfort us in the knowledge that you are the foundation we can always cling to and depend upon. Amen.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Fiona Burrows lives in Melbourne, Australia. She is thankful for the difference God makes in her life as she lives with chronic pain. She enjoys finding time for writing, travel and photography.

“And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge–that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 3:17b-19 NIV)

Have you ever wondered if God’s love is really all you need? Is it really enough to get you through those very tough times in your life? Is God’s love a constant? Is there anywhere that God’s love cannot reach?

There are times when I struggle. I struggle to make sense of what is happening to me, or around me. Struggle knowing what is the right thing to do in the circumstances. Wondering if there is anyone who really understands or knows how I am feeling.

But knowing the love of God, is what makes it possible for me to go on. Knowing that God will be there with me to face whatever today, or tomorrow brings and knowing that God’s love cannot be lost by any mistakes that I make, makes me able to get up and face a new day, each and every day.

As humans we show love to one another, but we also do things to other people that aggravate, hurt or upset them. Because we are human, we will keep on doing that. Our relationships with other people are always flawed, even though in our own way, we may love them.

God loves us no matter what we do, we cannot be outside of God’s love. His love is all-encompassing and we cannot escape from it.

I love Renee Bondi’s book, The Last Dance but Not the Last Song, where she says about the above verses :

“God’s love is complete.

It is wide – covering all our experiences and reaching out to the whole world.
It is long – continuing the length of our lives.
It is high – rising to the heights of our joy and celebration.
It is deep – reaching to the depths of our despair and hopelessness.

When you feel cut off or alone, remember that you can never be outside of God’s love.”

God’s love is truly complete.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Fiona Burrows lives in Melbourne, Australia. She is thankful for the difference God makes in her life as she lives with chronic pain. She enjoys finding time for writing, travel and photography.

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“A merry heart does good like medicine: But a broken spirit dries the bones.” Proverbs 17:22

When we laugh we let a little sunshine into our days. It warms us and helps us to feel just a little bit healthier. God’s word tells us that it is good medicine.

For the last eight years I have had a little basset hound dog named Sassy. Well she actually isn’t very little. She is quite the rolly polly, but as cute as she can be. She has been a constant companion to me. She has very long ears, and those sad hound dog eyes, and knows just how to get her way, and what works best with me.

There hasn’t been a day that she doesn’t do or show something that will make me smile or laugh. Sassy seems to have that affect on others as well. She has learned to take her walks with me using my wheel chair, and now can see other people every day.

You can see people smile as the watch her waddle down the street, or wag her tail happily to every one she meets. I enjoy that she can bring a smile to some one that is somberly driving along, or maybe make a child giggle. She is just a little ray of sunshine that God has blessed my days with. I am thankful for her.

Our true joy and happiness is found in Jesus Christ. He is our light, and gives us hope and peace. He gives us joys in our lives, and wants us to have a merry heart.

Do you have something or someone that brings sunshine into your life? We can’t always control the things that happen in our daily lives. But we can control how we react to them. A smile, a little laughter, is good medicine for each of us.

Heavenly Father, Thank You for the joys and sunshine you let into our lives. Your warmth comforts us and gives us a merry heart. Amen

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Margie Scott lives in Arizona. She strives daily to trust God’s grace will always provide, as challenges arise due to heart problems, Parkinson, fibromyalgia, and spinal stenosis. You can reach Margie at mscott123@cox.net

Image by joaquimb via Flickr

“As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease.” (Genesis 8:22 (NIV)

Fall is one of my favorite times of the year. When we were pastoring a church full time we would have a special Fall Harvest Celebration at our church.

All the children would dress up as Bible Characters, or a pumpkin, or a cartoon character, but no monsters, demons, etc.

We would have a Pot Luck and have Apple Bobbing, and fun games. It was a great time. The home made pies were always delicious. Home made soups and stews showed the pride of all the delicious vegetables that were the last of the years harvest.We always had prayers centered around God’s abundant harvest.

How blessed we are to be able to know God made the Seasons for our pleasure and enjoyment.

He has provided the good soil and seeds that grow into the wonderful foods we eat.

God also has provided for us in other ways, the sun to warm us and to help with the growing of the food we eat, the moon and stars at night to light our way. How glorious are His mighty ways!

Indeed God has a bountiful harvest for each of us, bountiful in his love and the giving of His precious Son Jesus who died on the cross to save mankind.

Thank you Heavenly Father for all your good provisions. We give you all the glory and praise. Amen.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Pastor Nancy Dittert lives in a berm home in Rural Central Iowa with her husband & soul mate Patrick, 5 cats and a Lab/ Sharpei dog. Nancy & Patrick are both pastors, retiring early because of illness. Write Nancy at nancierose@msn.com and visit her Chronic Pain Web Site at http://Fibromyalgiahelp.homestead.com/index.html