Bridget Gazlay
Even though I’ve known Angela Dugi for only a short while, I have come to think of Angie as a dear friend and soul mate as we both travel on the road of chronic illness. I watched her struggle just to have the energy and focus to answer my questions. Every second is precious to her because she doesn’t know how long that second will last before she needs to rest. Her book, What I Learned Lying Down: Hope for the Chronically Ill gives an intimate look into her private journal as she shares how God used her illnesses for good during this fourteen-year pilgrimage.
Living with chronic fatigue, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, osteoporosis, and asthma–all while being a wife and mom to three children–is life-challenging to say the least! But, as Angie says, “To be fixated on the pain that accompanies a chronic illness is effortless–the challenge lies in looking for the treasures that are hidden in the midst of the pain.”
That right there pretty much sums up why Angie wanted to write this book. She wanted to share what God has shown her as she lay at His feet during those frustrating and hard times.
According to Angie, this book was never her idea. She had never written anything substantial up until this point. But she clearly felt God’s prompting as He woke her up at 2AM one morning. She strongly felt these words in her spirit, “I want you to start writing, and I want you to write the end of the story first, of how I healed you [spiritually].” She started journaling the very next day.
She kept a journal for three years before she sensed God telling her to start organizing her thoughts into a book format.
It was such a privilege to interview Angie (as she told me to call her right away). We connected on such a deep level, as all fellow sufferers seem to do. She is one of the most encouraging people I’ve ever met. She’s been through so much and continues to go through so much, and yet she is willing to help encourage others who may need it. Angie hopes this book will encourage and comfort the sick and give them hope that is only found in Christ!
If you are in a dark valley right now and need some encouragement to help you travel on your own road of illness (or maybe you are watching loved ones go through this migration), this is one book you have to read. As I turned each page, I became more and more engrossed in her life. I cried and laughed right along with her. God did touch me through her words. May He do the same for you!
You can find her book, What I Learned Lying Down: Hope for the Chronically Ill by Angela Dugi at Amazon.com (and other major internet booksellers). The Amazon Kindle version is also now available as well.
Bridget Gazlay is a freelance writer and artist (and is also chronically ill). She resides in West Michigan. www.pfccreations.com . ** Watch for more articles in coming weeks from Bridget as she shares the highlights of what she has learned through her conversations with Angela!
I personally know Angie Dugi and can say that despite her chronic pain, her spirit is joyful. In her own personal challenges she reaches out to others to be a source of encouragement.
If you have not yet purchased a copy of her book, What I Learned Lying Down, I highly recommend you doing so. You will find encouragement — I promise!
God is using Angie in ways others without pain cannot minister.
She is a blessing to all who have the priviledge of stepping into her world!
I have been blessed!
I have known Angie for about 15 years and I am amazed at her joyous spirit, even with all she has suffered. Her husband has also relied on God to get him through this journey. I pray for them and rejoice for the people who will be touched by Angie’s story.
I was so encouraged by her book, a true story about her journey as a godly Christian whose chronic illness hasn’t kept her (totally) from being a bold witness for Jesus Christ through her writing. Very inspiring! I’m also intrigued that she’s an online missionary with Global Media Outreach, as I had been but had to give it up last year. You go, Angie, for God’s glory!
Thanks also to you, Bridget Gazlay, for this well-written interview of Angie and review of her book, and for your devotional series on Job. God bless you!
Although I am blessed to not be suffering with a chronic illness like this author, I decided to read the book anyway because I know plenty of people that are. I was hoping to find that the book offered true help on how to cope with various issues along with Biblical references that might help. Well, I found all of that and several gold nuggets along the way!
The book reads very easily, in fact, I finished it in record time (for me). It took me on an emotional and spiritual journey that reminded me frequently of the book of Job. There is a chapter about spiritual armor–we have all read it a hundred times and heard sermons on it, and even studied it. But her insight totally caught me off guard and I had one of those WOW moments. I don’t want to spoil it here, but WOW!!!!!!!! I had never seen the spiritual armor from her perspective and if the book only had this single revelation, it would still be incredible! But the book has so much more! I had to read it with a highlighter because it was that good!
The Lord spoke to me today through this book by telling me that I should not give up on a good friend of mine that is suffering from a mental disorder. I had concluded that he was on a self-destructive course and I would continue to pray for him but that was as close as I should get. I am now seeing things from the perspective of this book, and most likely from his angle and I am hoping that God can use me to minister to him after all. I am purchasing a copy for him because I know he will benefit from the techniques on coping. It may help him realize that he is not alone in this world where real suffering does take place.
I think this book has so much to offer to the ill, to the ones that take care of the ill, and even to us normal folks. I learned a lot about my role as both a husband and a father, and that the wounds I inflict run deep and hurt more. I am already taking to heart the advice I have received through this book and am convinced that even my marriage will improve based on changes I can make in my own heart.
I am so incredibly thankful for this book and for all of the painful additions Angie made to her journal, even when she just wanted to go to sleep forever. This book will undoubtedly be a true help for those in distress and for those that want to minister. I will be praying that Angie will not be lying down much longer, that she will feel better, and be able to continue this good work that the Lord has begun in her.
5 stars, two thumbs up, and a standing ovation!!! To God be the glory!!!