Restoring God’s Power
31 Mar 2009 1 Comment
in Devotionals2 Tags: daily chronic pain illness devotionals, daily meditations, dorthea, hopekeepers, invisible illness, rest ministries
“I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint.” (Jeremiah 31:25 NIV)
The combination of pain medicine and muscle relaxers leave me feeing groggy in the morning. I move slower. My eyes are heavy and tired. My thoughts seem clouded. If I’m in the midst of a flare, the day becomes a battlefield before I’m out of the bed.
These are the days when I know that God must carry me, or I will succumb to the overwhelming desire to give up. I’m so grateful that God never quits on me and that He is always present.
I thank Him for promises like today’s verse because it reminds me that I can look to Him for strength, energy, and clarity of thoughts.
It is not an easy time, but if I go through the day moment by moment, it becomes less daunting. My refreshing comes when I shift my focus away from the physical hardships that try to bog me down and seek the help that God so lovingly offers to me.
Although I’ve walked this path of chronic illness for many years, I realize that I need constant reminders of God’s faithfulness. I praise Him for His patience with me.
So, when I feel like I’m swimming against the current, I can seek God’s help to bring peace into my heart. When my thoughts seem scattered, I can look to God for clarity, wisdom, and a sound mind. When the fatigue settles down into my bones, I can trust God to renew my strength.
My challenge is a daily one: to keep God’s word in my heart; to trust Him to keep His promises to me; and to count on Him to be the source of my endurance for this day. Just today – not tomorrow, next week, or next year.
Prayer: Father, help me to keep my eyes lifted to You, my help and my strength. Help me to focus on this day and not to worry about tomorrow. Refresh me as I seek you. Guide me as I seek to live to the best of my ability, as I try to cope with the limitations that come my way.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dorothea lives in California with her husband and their two teenagers. Although she has endured the challenges of several chronic conditions for over 20 years, she trusts in God’s sufficient grace to help her get through each day. She writes with the desire to encourage others and to remind them of God’s unfailing love.
God Will Deliver
30 Mar 2009 1 Comment
in Devotionals2 Tags: chronic pain, daily chronic pain illness devotionals, daily meditations, hopekeepers, illness impact affect on family, invisible illness, rest ministries, sandra platt, trials and chronically ill
“I sought the Lord, and He answered me; He delivered me from all of my fears.” Psalm 34:4 (NIV)
Are you afraid dear friends? In our area of Kentucky we recently had ice storms that took away our heat and power for days. Other areas we hear of in the news have wildfires, floods, or droughts.
Suddenly our world seems crazy and we realize that we are not really as much in control of our lives as we thought. I could not cook hot food. Normally our home is nice and has heat, air conditioning, an electric stove! But I was powerless and left to the elements of nature. It was humbling and scary to bee so cold and there was nothing I could do about it!
Maybe your fear is financial. Many of us with chronic illnesses cannot work. We cannot contribute financially to our families, or supply our own needs like we feel we should. Many healthy, normal people we know personally are afraid for their jobs. Our health insurance may change or be taken away. The recession has hit close to us in a hurry! And we realize that once again we are powerless.
Dear friends, I am right with you in this fear. So I am writing down some verses to tape up around my kitchen. Psalm 34:7 “The angel of the Lord encamps around those that fear Him, and He delivers them.” Psalm 46:1 “God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in times of trouble.” Deuteronomy 33:27 “The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.” Zephaniah 3:17 “The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He takes great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over You with singing.”
Dear ones, I hope and pray that the wonderful Word of God will calm you, and bless you, and bring greater faith and trust in His mighty love. Amen
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sandra Platt is a Minister’s wife and mother of two college aged kids. She has multiple chronic pain conditions, but praises God that they have drawn her closer to Him. She is blessed by the many friends that she has made through Rest Ministries. You may visit her in the Sunroom.
Lights Of Hope
29 Mar 2009 3 Comments
in Devotionals2 Tags: alice ervin, alone, chronic illness, daily, darkness, fear, fibromyalgia, God, hopekeepers, light, Multiple Chemical Sensitivities, pain, rest ministries
“No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead he puts it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light.” (Luke 11:33 NIV)
With all the power outages in our country due to winter storms lately, people are rushing out to buy candles and flashlights.
This brings to mind thoughts of when I was little and we would lose our electricity. Oh, that feeling of fear and alone-ness I would experience until someone would finally light a candle, or turn on a flashlight. It is amazing how that feeling would lift as I could see faces and familiar things. Even though it was a small light, it showed me that I wasn’t alone.
Today, when I think about the darkness of living with chronic illness, I am reminded of how Jesus told us we were to be “salt and light” to others. When we walk in His light, we radiate a tiny bit of that light to others. Sometimes during a time of our own darkness. God has shown me His light of hope so many times as I read your devotionals. And, sometimes I get a phone call or card from someone just when I need it. Even the smallest things give me the hope of knowing I am not alone.
I keep a small recorder beside my favorite chair. At times when I am having a really bad day, and all I can do is sit, I have started leaving a diary/stories of my life on this recorder for my children, grandchildren, etc. It doesn’t take much effort to do this, and I feel at some point, it might bring a bit of God’s light to someone even years from now. Especially when some of my stories tell how the Lord helped me cope through living with chronic illness.
My friends, I pray you will keep sharing the light of Jesus, even though, like me, there are times you don’t feel you can even sit at the computer. By doing this, you remind others to pray for you, and I, for one, can feel the prayers of the saints. And, I am thankful that you care.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Alice Ervin lives with Fibromyalgia, Multiple Chemical Sensitivities, and various other chronic illnesses. Her life has been hurtfully changed in so many ways in the last few years, but she is grateful the Lord still allows her to be a usable vessel for Him.
The Pilgrimage of “Becoming Real”
28 Mar 2009 2 Comments
in Devotionals2 Tags: Bipolar Disorder type 1, daily chronic pain illness devotionals, daily meditations, Dilated Cardiomyopathy, God's faithfulness, hopekeepers, invisible illness, kay decarlo, Post-Traumatic Stress, rest ministries, velveteen rabbit
“Blessed are those whose strength is in You, who have set their hearts on pilgrimage.” (Psalm 84:5 NIV)
I am sure that many of us are familiar with the story of “The Velveteen Rabbit” and his quest for becoming “real.” “‘What is Real?’ the rabbit asked the wise Skin Horse. ‘Real isn’t how you are made,’ he answered,’ it’s a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become real.”
Becoming “real” can be a painful process, sometimes it does hurt. When living a life faced with chronic illness and pain, reality sets in and we are forced to face what we live with daily. Yet, there is so much more to us than our ailments. Yes, it easy to get caught up in them, and when this happens, it is important to remember to turn your worries and your cares over to God and seek His help.
Handling our pain and our distress on our own is too much for us, but not too much for God. God. “‘I am the LORD, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me.’” (Jeremiah 32:27 NIV) God is the One Constant that never changes. God is real and He can and will help you, if you only reach out to Him. “Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and His Understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.” (Isaiah 40:28 NIV)
Allow the reality of God’s love set deep within your heart and soul and allow Him to make you real. “‘I will give you a new heart and put a spirit in you. I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh”
“As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you; and you will be comforted over Jerusalem.” (Isaiah 66:13 NIV)
Set your heart on a pilgrimage to becoming real. Allow God to transform you. You will be strengthened and blessed, I promise you.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kay DeCarlo, 46, Devotion Coordinator for Rest Ministries lives with her husband, Joe and two sweet dogs, Daphne Mae and Alice in beautiful Connecticut. As a survivor of Hodgkin’s Disease, Congestive Heart Failure and other life challenges, Kay has never lost sight that God is bigger than any trial or circumstance she faces.
Kay lives with Dilated Cardiomyopathy, (a form of congestive heart failure), Bipolar Disorder type 1, Post-Traumatic Stress, Panic Disorder and Insulin-Dependent Diabetes.
Let God Comfort You Once Again
28 Mar 2009 3 Comments
in Devotionals2 Tags: Bipolar Disorder type 1, congestive Heart Failure, daily chronic pain illness devotionals, daily meditations, Dilated Cardiomyopathy, hopekeepers, insulin-dependent Diabetes, invisible illness, kay decarlo, Panic Disorder and Post-Traumatic Stress, rest ministries
“Though You have made me see troubles, many and bitter, You will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth You will bring me up, You will increase my honor and comfort me once again.” (Psalm 71:19-21 NIV)
Do you ever wonder why we suffer with our ailments? Why does God permit us to live with chronic illness and/or pain? Do you feel that you are barely hanging onto hope as your faith is quickly fading away in the God of all Love and Mercy? Beloved, remember we live in an imperfect world. Heartache and tragedy comes to us all. “(God) causes His sun rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” (Matthew 5:45 NIV) How we reply to the periods of rain in our life, when we are hurting and in despair makes all the difference.
How do you respond? Do you lash out in anger? Do you bury yourself in fear? Do you hang onto hope? Have hope and confidence in your doctors and caregivers yes, but even more, hang onto the Hope of all hopes that God gave us, Jesus. God knew in this world that we would have trouble; that is why He sent His Son, Perfect in all respects, to us, in an imperfect world. Jesus, God, incarnate lived as a human. He felt the pains we feel, felt rejection from others and suffered as we suffer. Yes, our Savior, felt depression, fear and despair, so much that He sweat blood. “And being in anguish, He prayed more earnestly, and His sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.”(Luke 22:44 NIV)
God understands how you feel, He really does. All you have to do is go to Him in prayer. “This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘Return to Me,’ declares the LORD Almighty,’ and I will return to you.’” (Zechariah 1:3) What will God do? He will restore you.”Those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.(You) will soar on wings like eagles; (you) will run and not be weary, (you) will walk and not be faint.”(Isaiah 40:31 NIV)
Turn to God today, let Him restore you and comfort you once again.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kay DeCarlo, Devotion Coordinator for Rest Ministries lives with her husband Joe and two sweet dogs, Daphne Mae and Alice, in beautiful Southern New England. As a survivor of Congestive Heart Failure with blood clots in her lungs, Hodgkin’s Disease and other life struggles, Kay has never lost sight that God is bigger than any trial nor circumstance she faces. Kay struggles with Dilated Cardiomyopathy, Insulin-Dependent Diabetes, Bipolar Disorder type 1, Panic Disorder and Post-Traumatic Stress.
Forgiveness
26 Mar 2009 2 Comments
in Devotionals2 Tags: daily chronic pain illness devotionals, daily meditations, forgiveness, hopekeepers, invisible illness, nancy dittert, rest ministries
“Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” Luke 6:37
Forgiveness. How many times do we ponder upon such a strong word and how many times do we actually live by its intentions?
Forgiveness is typically defined as the process of concluding resentment, or anger as a result of a perceived offense, difference or mistake, and ceasing to demand punishment, or restitution. The Oxford English Dictionary, defines forgiveness as ‘to grant free pardon and to give up all claim on account of an offence or debt’.
It has been said that unforgiveness is a prison within itself. It eats away at us for the wrong that we feel has been inflicted upon us, thus making us prisoners of our inability to be able to forgive. It makes our bodies tight and brings further physical pain to our already painful illnesses.
Our Heavenly Father has told us in His Word that we need to forgive others as we have also been forgiven. Hard words at times to live by. But maybe not quite so hard when we realize the depth of the words as given to us by Jesus our Saviour in “The Lord’s Prayer”. His prayer for us. His example to us as a guideline of prayer in our lives.
Let us lean on God as we learn forgiveness. He will caress us and bring us through as we follow His example. We will be blessed for following His will. His light will show through on us and give us victory.
May the LORD bless us, and keep us: The LORD make his face shine upon us, and be gracious unto us: The LORD lift up his countenance upon us, and give us peace.
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, 4 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
You Are A Temple
25 Mar 2009 1 Comment
in Devotionals2 Tags: chronic illness, faith, God, Holy Spirit, hopekeepers, Kathleen lewis, lupus, negative, pain, positive, prayer, rest ministries, rheumatic
“Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple? God’s Spirit lives in you.” (I Corinthians 3:16 NIV)
*My body is your temple as you live in me.”
I have often wondered what does it means when the Bible says your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, when you live with illness. I’m supposed to love my body that has betrayed me. I have asked church leaders if they know of any references about the body as the temple of the Holy Spirit. Finally, when working on a devotional on intercessory prayer, I found material that helped me.
Oswald Chambers in, My Utmost for His Highest, says, “We are energized by the Holy Spirit for prayer. We do not often realize that the Holy Spirit Himself prays in us prayers which we cannot utter. When we are born again of God are indwelt by the Spirit of God. He expresses for us the unutterable.” Chambers goes on to add, “We have to remember that our conscious life, though it is only a part of our personality, is to be regarded as a Shrine of the Holy Ghost. He will look after the unconscious part that we know nothing of, but we must guard the conscious part for which we are responsible.
Only 10% of our thoughts are conscious. The other 90% is unconscious. My
thoughts with chronic illness aren’t always healthy – a balance of negative and positive thoughts. I can’t always think positive thoughts – it’s impossible! to think all positive thoughts.
Often I dip into negative thinking with my drunken monkey mind. Every thought impacts many systems and parts of my body! Research has shown that it takes 2 uplifts to hassle to balance out stress. I try to add in 2 breath prayers for every negative thought that I have to keep my body balanced and the temple of the Holy Spirit in healthy shape!
*Breath Prayer- Take a scriptural promise, turn it into a seven syllable affirmation give or take a few, in present tense and second person, and say it on the perfect breath (in to a count of 3 out of a count to a count of 6) as you breathe out.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kathleen S. Lewis, RN, MS, PC, MP: has lived with lupus and many other rheumatic diseases for 32 years; is the author of CELEBRATE LIFE . NEW ATTITUDES FOR LIVING WITH CHRONIC ILLNESS and PRAYER WITHOUT CEASING . BREATH PRAYERS; runs a counseling ministry, Celebrate Life, by phone and Internet; is a Stephen minister; has 2 sons and 4 magical grandchildren; resides in Marietta, GA. with LB, the best Peek-a-Poo ever; and knows “In my weakness is Your strength.” Meet me for a chat at http://www.letscelebratelife.com
A Kind Answer
22 Mar 2009 5 Comments
in Devotionals2 Tags: anger, chronic illness, Dorothea Love, God faith, hopekeepers, hurt, pain, rest ministries, trust
“A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” (Proverbs 15:1 NIV)
The other day, my daughter’s allergies were horrible – watery nose; puffy, red and itchy eyes; coughing; sneezing; discomfort throughout the day. It was an understatement to say that she did not feel well.
My son, in his own way, tried to cheer her up. However, his teasing and corny jokes backfired miserably. She lashed out angrily, yelling at him and telling him to leave her alone. Not only was her tone harsh, but her face registered the annoyance she felt. My son walked away with a hurt expression on his face.
As I stepped in to referee the situation, my daughter lashed out at me. I hugged her, told her I knew she wasn’t feeling well, and suggested that she rest for awhile.
When she left the room, I began to think about my own behavior. How many times was I guilty of snapping at Norman or the kids when I was in pain? Did I make it a habit to be curt when I worried about a health issue? Was a frown the constant expression on my face?
Unfortunately, I couldn’t accurately judge myself. So, I asked Norman to be honest with me. He laughed nervously, but finally admitted that there were days when he “tiptoed” around me because he didn’t want me to breathe fire on him. We laughed about it, and I asked him to forgive me and to keep me accountable.
Although I’m doing better, I have to work at it every day. As I trust and lean on God, He is helping me to see the weight that my words and tone of voice carry. I understand that I may have to face days of pain, but I also realize that with God’s help, my words can be gentle and kind.
Prayer: Father, help us to monitor our words and actions. On the difficult days, help us to rely on Your grace and strength. Let our words reflect Your love regardless of the physical challenges we encounter.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dorothea Love lives in California with her husband, Norman,
and their two teenagers. Although she has endured the challenges of several chronic conditions for over 20 years, she trusts in God’s sufficient grace to help her get through each day. She seeks to tell her story so that others will find encouragement and be reminded of God’s unfailing love.
Capturing Our Thoughts
21 Mar 2009 6 Comments
in Devotionals2 Tags: daily chronic pain illness devotionals, daily meditations, hopekeepers, invisible illness, Lisa Burgess, rest ministries
“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:5 NIV)
We were on vacation, doing new things, going new places. I was pushing my limits of comfort-physically and mentally- to keep up. By the end of the afternoon, I lacked the energy and motivation to finish our hike to the top of the trail.
I sent the family up without me, while I sat to enjoy the view from where I was. Fine. For awhile. Until self-pity sunk in. Then I cried.
I thought bad thoughts-like, “Why do I have to live in this body? Why can’t I make my body do what I want it to do? Why me?”
But even as I was thinking those thoughts, I knew they were my enemy, not my friend. They were not thoughts of wholeness and peace and faith, but thoughts of brokenness, chaos, and hopelessness. Thoughts of lies, not truths. Bit by bit, I pushed them away, and ran to the Lord for refuge.
We can’t always control when bad thoughts come our way, but we can control what we do with them. Will we let them stew on the stove until they become a boiling pot of anger and despair? Or will we take them captive instead, and meditate on the thoughts of Christ?
I decided my battle of thoughts needed new weaponry-I needed an earlier bedtime, more courage to say “no” to stressors, and more delight in things I could do. With renewed energy, I would be more able to capture the negative thoughts sooner and destroy their arrows before they sunk in. I could replace them with positive and accurate opinions of the beauty my body holds in the image of Christ. I could see myself through spiritual eyes as the special child of God that I am.
My body’s limits do not define who I am; in Christ, they help me grow into who I can be. That’s what I really think.
Dear Lord, Help us think Your thoughts-they are the true thoughts that refresh us and bring us joy and life.
Lisa Burgess is a warrior-in-training in Alabama. She fights under the banner of Jesus Christ, and is thankful that her victory with Him is secure. She can be reached at lisanotes.blogspot.com.
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