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Does God Ever “Break Our Hearts”?

May 23, 2013 By Leave a Comment
WHAT DOES IT MEAN WHEN GOD SAYS HE IS... close to the brokenhearted? Do you ever feel you are among those with a broken heart for some reason? This #devotional writer shares how, as her heart is broken, her compassion grows as well.

It's hard when God allows us to break our hearts, but there is always an ultimate purpose in it. Fiona Burrows explains. “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” (Psalm 34:18) One of the things I think chronic illness has given me, is a more heightened sense of empathy for others who are struggling. At least that’s what I like to think I’m learning. When I look back at some of the dark times in my illness journey, I long for that not to be the experience of others. Maybe sometimes I just understand more of what they might be feeling--because I’ve been there myself. Sometimes my heart just aches. There have been times when I felt a real burden to pray for someone with very real … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Depression, Devotionals, Grief, What's New?

When God Says No to Your Faithful Prayers

May 22, 2013 By 3 Comments
HAVE YOU EVER FELT LIKE YOU HAVE PRAYED WITH EVERYTHING YOU HAVE.... and God keeps saying, "Um... no"? Then what? This #devotional shares about the struggle we all experience at some time and why.

Have you ever faithfully prayed about something, but it feels like God says no, over and over? Charles explains. "Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. (2 Corinthians 12:8-9) One of the Names that our heavenly Father holds is Jehovah-Rapha, which when translated means “the God our Healer.” The church in general has so many different views on the topic of healing. Throughout the church though, we do agree that our God is the source of all healing and that time and time again, people have been miraculously healed in … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Devotionals, Spiritually Struggling, What's New?

Lord, Use My Misery For Your Glory

May 21, 2013 By 10 Comments
ARGH! EVER FEEL LIKE SLAPPING SOMEONE IF THEY SAY TO USE YOUR ILLNESS FOR GOD'S GLORY? Let's be honest... there are days we **really** do NOT want to hear this. We don't even want to wallow. We just. want. to. feel. better. But that may never happen. And if it doesn't then what? You have a purpose. God has a purpose. You are still in plan "A" -- not plan "B." See what God can do (start w/ this devotional!)

We all have days when we don't want to hear about God's purpose in the suffering, we just want to feel better. Still, Karlton shares how our outlook impacts our life dramatically. "The Lord said, 'I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering.'" (Exodus 3:7) It is the miserable times of my illness that are so challenging. You know what I mean, there is the normal, "everyday bad", and then there is the truly "miserable bad." Those miserable bad days really make me want to give the devil a black eye. It's my hope that God can somehow use all that misery for His glory, that instead of me falling to my knees in pain and suffering, I … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Attitude, Devotionals, What's New?

Are You Accepting Help with Grace, Not Guilt?

May 19, 2013 By 5 Comments
ASKING FOR HELP OF ANY KIND IS ONE OF THE HARDEST PARTS OF CHRONIC ILLNESS--especially when your illness is invisible! But we **should** be able to allow others to be blessed by serving us. It is ok to ask for help. This #devotional writer shares the struggle we have and how we can come to terms with asking for help (excellent, by the way!)

Accepting help is one of the most difficult parts of illness--especially when the pain is invisible. Diane shares. “We sent Timothy, who is our brother and God’s fellow worker in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith. . . ” (1 Thessalonians 3:2) Help. Such a simple word, but it brings about many feelings and attitudes from within, many of which are not entirely favorable, especially when you are chronically ill. Our feelings can run the gamut from gratefulness to guilt, from frustration to humility. How, how are we to deal with this in a positive way, to accept help and assistance with grace, and not the guilt that we often feel when we have to ask for it? One way is to realize we are … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Devotionals, What's New?

As You Face Battles in Your Life, Remember Who is Bigger!

May 18, 2013 By 7 Comments
ARE YOU SPENDING WHAT LITTLE ENERGY YOU HAVE FIGHTING BATTLES? Whatever for? Seriously. . . we are told that God will fight the battles for us. How exactly does that work? This #devotional writer shares her experience.

We have so little energy as it is, why are we fighting our own battles? Bridget shares. ”In still another battle, which took place at Gath, there was a huge man with six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot. . . . When he taunted Israel, Jonathan son of Shimeah, David’s brother, killed him” (2 Samuel 21: 20-21) I turned off my alarm and sat in bed for a minute. Dear Lord, I have no energy to get out of bed today. I am so overwhelmed by my health and finances, how am I going to make it through work and ministry stuff today? This was a regular prayer for me over several months as I battled (yet again) stomach issues, nausea, and back pain. I wasn’t able to eat much and yet I was expected to work, do the housework and … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Devotionals, What's New?

More, Lord? When You are Pressed Beyond Your Strength

May 17, 2013 By 10 Comments
WHEN YOU GO TO THE DOCTOR AND HEAR **MORE** BAD NEWS... you can wonder how much more you can bear. What does God expect out of you? Aren't you trying hard enough to deal with what He has allowed already? This #devotional will comfort you and it shares how much we must rely on God's strength--not our own.

When you feel like you have dealt the best you can with all God has allowed, and then He allows even more suffering, Karlton shares where you can find the strength to keep going. "When hard pressed, I cried to the Lord; He brought me into a spacious place. (Psalm 118:4-6) Thomas Paine said, "These are the times that try men's souls." You may also feel that there have been times that tried your soul, tested your strength and ability to endure. And when we have our hopes high, too often we come crashing down to reality by a setback of our health, some new affliction arising, or just old issues reminding us just how much we hate our affliction and weakness. Standing strong when we feel weak can seem impossible. Sometimes it feels … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Devotionals, Fear, Overwhelmed, What's New?

How Do I Sing a New Song? How Do I Learn the Lyrics?

May 16, 2013 By 13 Comments
DO YOU EVER FEEL LIKE YOUR CHRONIC ILLNESS HAS DUMPED YOU INTO A FOREIGN COUNTRY? This #devotional writer asks herself how she can adjust to the changes and still "sing" her way through life with joy.

When your illness leads you to a new place in life, how do you stay joyful and find a new song to sing. Lynn explains. “Sing to the Lord a new song, for He has done marvelous things; His right hand and His holy arm have worked salvation for him” (Psalm 98:1). Salvation for Him? I thought salvation was His gift to me, reconciliation back to the Father, my eternal destiny secured and --oh--now I get it. Salvation is also the means for God, through Christ, to take up residence within me--within each of us who believe. He desires to be my guide as I live out the gift of the life He has given to me. He is the song I am learning to sing. My steps through life are the rhythm that can bless his heart as He looks back on His suffering and … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Coping Skills, Devotionals, What's New?

Preparing in Advance for the Hard Days

May 15, 2013 By 25 Comments
WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU ARE FEELING DOWN ABOUT YOUR ILLNESS? This #devotional writer shares how she writes a letter to herself for those blue days that she can read. Try it!

Rather than giving in to a bad day, preparing in advance can keep you encouraged when reality threatens to bring you down. Elizabeth shares. “For who knows what is good for a man in life, during the few and meaningless days he passes through like a shadow? Who can tell him what will happen under the sun after he is gone?” (Ecclesiastes 6:12) Some days we groan only seconds after waking. Our first thoughts, if directed above at all, are a plea for strength. It is those days that take monumental effort to get moving. It takes a miracle of grace to cultivate a half reasonable attitude on such days. We need all the help we can get. Been there? Are you there? Here is a trick that has served me well on such days. I have a letter … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Coping Skills, Devotionals, What's New?

Reframing Our Memories– Was God Present After All?

May 14, 2013 By 4 Comments
WHEN YOU THINK BACK ON THE TOUGH TIMES DO YOU now see God was there with you all along? So often we rely on our feelings at the moment and that can make us feel even more alone. Instead, this devotional writer explains how to focus on how God was present in the past--especially when we didn't see Him there.

We can feel alone in our suffering many times, but when we look at our memories, Bronlynn explains, we often see God's presence and faithfulness. “My soul is downcast within me; therefore I will remember you” (Psalm 42:5). Although not an art expert, I do enjoy looking at lovely photos and paintings. Sometimes the frame itself enhances the picture greatly. The backdrop can add or detract from it as well. How many of us have taken pictures only to discover that something unattractive was hiding in the background and ruining the scene? I’ve also seen pictures that were unremarkable in one frame but became quite eye-catching in another. In her Bible study Believing God, Beth Moore said that David and Jeremiah, among others, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Attitude, Devotionals, What's New?

Worshiping The Lord When The Music Fades

May 13, 2013 By 19 Comments
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN GOD TAKES AWAY SOMETHING THAT YOU CLING TO FOR STRENGTH? This #devotional writer lives with a chronic illness and loved music, singing, and more. But her illness eventually led to hearing music making it impossible for her to function. Read how she has coped with this new challenge...

What happens when God takes away the music--literally? Kerryn explains. “Sing to the Lord a new song: sing to the Lord, all the earth” (Psalm 96:1). The Bible is full of verses about singing, worship, and dance. So what happens when the music fades, due to illnesses? Over the years, I've had many times of having “the crutches” that I rely upon stripped away. It's not a comfortable experience, but God uses it to refine me. As a singer in the 80s, I remember the confusion when I clearly heard that the Lord wanted me to lead a dance group at our church, not a group of singers. I set about arguing with God and reminded Him that singing was my gift and talent! What a frivolous activity to try to argue with God! He knew what … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Devotionals, Grief, What's New?

Mother’s Day Reflections on God’s Plan

May 12, 2013 By 13 Comments
WHAT IS MOTHERHOOD ALL ABOUT? Lisa shares how her journey of motherhood is not quite what she expected and yet, even through the pain and sorrow, it is so much more.

Lisa shares from her heart the path of motherhood and how it is rarely smooth. "All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness." (Hebrews 12:11) Happy Mother's Day. I write that with the hope that many of you will feel blessed today. Perhaps you will spend the day with your children. Maybe they will call from another state, drop by for a visit. They will tell you how much you mean to them. Or. . . maybe not . . . Celebrating motherhood can be bittersweet for many. Some of you still long to be a mother, others of you have children in heaven. Some of you just. . . struggle. I am one who is struggling. I love … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Devotionals, Holidays, Overwhelmed, Parenting, What's New?

Mother’s Day Videos That Will Touch You

May 11, 2013 By Leave a Comment
SOME OF THE BEST MOTHER'S DAY VIDEOS whether your children are young, old, or living in heaven. Touching!

Here are some of our favorite Mother's Day videos for the many emotions you may be experiencing today. If you are wondering if you are making a difference to your children... Steven Curtis Chapman sings "One Heartbeat at a Time."     If you have lost a child who is now in heaven... What Makes a Mother   or "Held" with Natalie Grant (This is How it Feels)   If you have adopted a child and are thinking about his or her birthmom today... Mark Schultz sings "Everything to Me" to his birthmom   If you have lost your own mother... "Goodbye For Now" by Kathy Troccoli (get a tissue) Troccoli wrote this song as well as performing it.   or "When You Come Home" with Billy … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Holidays, Parenting, Videos, What's New?
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