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Devotion: Living a Balanced Life, Even When Illness Threatens Our Scales

February 3, 2012 By 3 Comments
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“May the God of peace. . . equip you with everything good for doing His will, and may He work in us what is pleasing to Him” (Hebrews 13: 20,21). Birds have an amazing sense of balance. Whether perching on thin wires or hanging on bird feeders, they maintain their stability. As I watch birds, I am aware of my own need for balance in life. I need balance in my physical activities so that I don’t overextend myself with housework, shopping, or exercise and suffer later. I need balance in my relationships so that I don’t become overly burdened with the problems of others, but rather trust that God is using these trials to work out His plan in their lives. I need balance in handling my emotions so that when the downward cycles … [Read more...]

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Devotion: Do You Have Too Much Noise In Your Life? In The Silence We Will Find Peace

February 2, 2012 By Leave a Comment
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"But the Lord is in His Holy Temple; let all of the earth be 'silent' before Him." (Habakkuk 2:20) Have you ever been to a new doctor, only to discover that they think they know what is wrong with you before you even describe your symptoms? Or. . . Do you feel they are doing all of the talking, and they have not even heard a word that you have said? Perhaps they jump to their conclusions without fully examining all of the possibilities. Do you ever meet someone you know in a store or just out and about and find that they know how to fix all of the world's problems, especially yours? Right away they just start chattering about everything that is wrong in your life Or. . . Perhaps you run into the person who loves to tell … [Read more...]

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Devotion: Is Chronic Pain Your Focus? What Happens When You Shift Your Thoughts?

February 1, 2012 By Leave a Comment
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“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” (Romans 8:18) I remember when I first learned to drive. It was overwhelming yet exciting, terrifying yet thrilling. Peering over the steering wheel, I stared at the hood of the car. Lots of self-talk guided me. Stay in your lane. Check your rear view mirror. Watch your speed. You are doing fine. Rumble, rumble, rumble. The unexpected sound shattered my confidence. “Watch it; you’re driving on the shoulder. Get back in your lane” said my mother with all the composure she could muster. The sound of the flat road surface signaled I was back on track. Confidence restored. Smooth sailing. But the hood of the car … [Read more...]

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Devotion: Not Better FROM Illness, But Better BECAUSE of Illness

January 31, 2012 By 3 Comments
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"But the Lord is in His Holy Temple; let all of the earth be 'silent' before Him." (Habakkuk 2:20) Have you ever been to a new doctor, only to discover that they think they know what is wrong with you before you even describe your symptoms? Or. . . Do you feel they are doing all of the talking, and they have not even heard a word that you have said? Perhaps they jump to their conclusions without fully examining all of the possibilities. Do you ever meet someone you know in a store or just out and about and find that they know how to fix all of the world's problems, especially yours? Right away they just start chattering about everything that is wrong in your life Or. . . Perhaps you run into the person who loves to tell … [Read more...]

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Devotion: Why We Should Make Seeking Wisdom a Priority When Chronically Ill

January 30, 2012 By 2 Comments
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“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you’” (James 1:5). I have quoted this verse many times in recent years regarding different situations in my life, one of which is dealing with my illness. I know many of us have probably prayed for healing and in God’s sovereignty, He has chosen not to do so; however, He doesn’t leave us empty-handed. There are many tools God gives us to help us on this journey and wisdom is definitely one of them. When dealing with chronic illness, there are always decisions that need to be made. Sometimes long term decisions about treatment and care or many times it’s just daily decisions like deciding how to … [Read more...]

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Devotion: When Your Illness Makes You Feel Betrayed By Your Body

January 29, 2012 By 2 Comments
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"My life is consumed by anguish and my years by groaning; my strength fails because of my affliction, and my bones grow weak." (Psalm 31:10) Do you ever feel that your body has betrayed you? Has it left you feeling embarrassed, disappointed, or discouraged? There are times our body feels more like an enemy than a friend, times when no matter what we do, no matter what treatments or medications we give it, it responds by letting us down. Sometimes it seems like we are in an endless battle with our bodies, we think we have gained some ground, that we have turned the tide in the war, and yet it rallies against us and sets us back once more. It can get discouraging after awhile. The truth is that our bodies are not our enemies. Our … [Read more...]

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