Devotionals

Devotion: God Knows You and He Knows Your Suffering When No One Else Does

May 3, 2012 By admin 8 Comments

"In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God." (Romans 8:26-27) The Lord knows us. He knows us better than anyone ever has, or ever will know us. He knows and understands our infirmities, the daily afflictions that trip us up and restrict us. There is comfort in knowing that no matter what we are going through, the Lord understands and is with us as we suffer. Do you feel that sometimes no one can comprehend the degree of pain, frustration, or depression that your illness is … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Devotionals, What's New?

Devotion: Illness May Sap My Energy, But I Won’t Let it Touch My Hope

May 1, 2012 By admin Leave a Comment

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.” (2 (Corinthians 4:16) Americans love big helpings. My weakness is peanut butter fudge ice cream. And so is Italian food. I’m also a huge fan of caramel apples. In fact, all three would make the perfect meal! But doctors warn us that overindulgence can be bad for our health. Wouldn’t it be nice if we could simply order things that would improve our emotional condition? Are you in despair? How ‘bout ordering a huge helping of "hope"? Anyone--especially those with disabilities--can never have too much of that! Having a disease like multiple sclerosis (MS) can lead to helplessness. My feeble attempts to feel … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Coping Skills, Devotionals, What's New? Tagged With: Amen., Epistle to the Philippians, God, God the Father, Holy Spirit, hope in illness, hopelessness, illness zaps strength, Jesus, Lord, Psalm

Devotion: When God Passes You a Note of His Love, It Weakens Illness in Our Life

April 30, 2012 By admin 6 Comments

"You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts." (2 Corinthians 3:3) Do you remember passing notes in school? Us girls always seemed to have a need to put the most basic of thoughts or questions down on paper, fold them up in little shapes and maybe write the recipient's name on it; it likely even included a few doodled stars or hearts. Occasionally, we even passed a note along to a boy. Like the country song George Strait sings, "Yes or No", we would write "Do you wanna be my friend? / Check yes or no" and include the little boxes beside the yes or no. A yes. . . or a no. . . could determine … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Devotionals, Founder's Blog, Scriptures, Spiritually Struggling, Suicidal Thoughts, What's New? Tagged With: Christ, God, Jeremiah, Jesus, John, love letter from god, Matthew, Psalm, Rest Ministries

Devotion: Facing The Goliaths In Our Daily Walk With Chronic Illness

April 30, 2012 By admin 5 Comments

“Deliver me from my enemies, O God; be my fortress against those who are attacking me.” (Psalm 59:1) The inspiration for this devotional message came to me after reading Eugene Peterson’s, Leap Over a Wall: Earthy Spirituality for Everyday Christiansreflections on the Life of David from. The ESV translation of the above Psalm adds perspective. “. . .O my God; protect me from those who rise up against me." I was reminded, returning to 1 Samuel 17, how well known Bible accounts can bring new insights if I look for them. Here is a recap: Saul and his troops had been bullied for forty days by the Philistine giant, Goliath. His imposing figure, armor, and arrogant confidence had them stymied in fear even though they were … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Devotionals, What's New? Tagged With: Books of Samuel, David, God, Goliath, Israelite, Philistine, Psalm, Saul

Devotion: Cycling Through The Grief of Chronic Illness – Again and Again

April 28, 2012 By admin 4 Comments

"My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing, and make music." (Psalm 57:7) Father, I long to sing these words. I long to sing to You, with a feeling of steadfastness! In the New Webster's Dictionary the word "steadfast" is an adjective, meaning; firm, fixed, constant. Another line stated that steadfast means constant in behavior or calm and controlled. With my whole heart, I know that the Lord is faithful and loving. I already know by heart that He is always present and caring for me. Yet I live in this body and deal with chronic pain and fatigue--every hour of every day. And along with the pain and fatigue I worry about things like our finances; just covering our medical bills is so hard. As I struggle, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Devotionals, What's New? Tagged With: anger and illness, cycle of grief, God, grief cycle, illness grief cycle, loss of illness, peripheral neuropathy, Psalm, Rest Ministries

Devotion: Allow God To Lead You Out of the Desert When Illness Makes You Want to Give Up

April 27, 2012 By admin 5 Comments

"But He brought His people out like a flock; He led them like sheep through the desert." (Psalm 78:52) I have made a number of drives over to Phoenix, from San Diego. It is dry and hot, yet before you reach the desert you go over mountains. I always think about the settlers who came through these difficult paths to reach San Diego and eventually settle there. How many horses were injured? How many wheels on covered wagon broken? How many people buried those they loved along that trail? But even more interesting to me is the question, did those who built a homestead out in the desert ever regret that they stopped? "Why didn't you keep going?" I want to ask. "Did you send out a scout and he never returned? Did you begin to believe the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Devotionals, Founder's Blog, Loneliness, Spiritually Struggling, What's New? Tagged With: God, Jesu, Kindle, lisa copen, Lord, Pacific Ocean, Rest Ministries, San Diego

Devotion: How to Offer Our Sufferings as an Act of Worship to God

April 26, 2012 By admin 4 Comments

“Therefore, I urge you brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship” (Romans 12:1). Worship can be expressed in various forms. Some examples are through music, tithes and offerings, responding to the teaching of God’s Word, and performing acts of service and mercy in God’s name. This verse suggests something else to me as well--worshiping God through my sacrifices of earthly suffering. I am slowly learning to be aware of ways in which I can do this. As I endure the ongoing struggle with migraines day after day, I am trying to praise God for the ability He gives me to keep functioning and serving through them. When I am not able … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Devotionals, Spiritually Struggling, What's New? Tagged With: Christ, Contemporary worship music, God, how to surrender to god, Jesus, Lord, Prayer, Sacrifice, surrendering, Worship

Devotion: When Illness Creates a Habit Of Disappointment

April 25, 2012 By admin 10 Comments

"They are distressed, because they had been confident; they arrive there, only to be disappointed." (Job 6:20) After a long period of continued decline with my health the disappointment of my situation seemed to stamp itself upon me. There is something terrible about continually expecting disappointment, always preparing for more problems. It's like anxiously awaiting rain under a stormy sky. I believe disappointment has the power to imprint itself upon us, because even after I saw gradual improvement with my condition, I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop. Sometimes it feels as if the nerve endings of our soul is frayed. Continued friction from additional hardships and trials can leave us in a state of mind where we are … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Depression, Devotionals, What's New? Tagged With: Chronic Illness, cronic pain, disappointment with god, habits

Devotion: Disease? It’s No Joke! But We Can Still Find Seasons to Smile

April 24, 2012 By admin 4 Comments

". . . A time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance.” (Ecclesiastes 3:4) “You have multiple sclerosis (MS).” My doctor sat motionless, as if to brace himself for my reaction. “How bad is it?” He answered simply, “You’re acute.” In the midst of the dismal diagnosis, I enjoyed some private humor. Oh, he thinks I'm cute! How nice Acute meant severe. The MRI of my brain revealed lesions too many to count. The countless scars in my head led the neurologist to report, “Mrs. Chandler certainly has MS.” Not possibly. “Certainly.” It wasn’t good. Surely, this was a time to cry. But humor is a welcome companion in my life. So I chose to let him guide my thoughts temporarily. It was a … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Devotionals, What's New? Tagged With: ADHD In Teenagers, Amen., God, Jesus, Multiple sclerosis, Psalm, Schizoaffective disorder

Devotion: Hold on to Hope When Our Chronic Illness-Related Fears Come

April 23, 2012 By admin 1 Comment

"Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness" (Lamentations 3:22-23). A few weeks ago, I got up one morning with severe pain in the middle finger of my left hand. There’s been mild osteoarthritis in my fingers and wrists for many years, but with little pain, except occasionally with extra impact on specific joints. That generally hasn’t lasted long. So the intrusive persistence of this particular pain terrified me. My thoughts quickly went to other people I’ve known who’ve suffered terribly with joint pain, and have had surgery–perhaps several times--to improve their condition. What would something like that mean for my … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Devotionals, What's New? Tagged With: Chronic Illness, daily pain, facing illness, grace, mercy

Devotion: How God Can Use Your Affliction to Bring You Closer to Him

April 22, 2012 By admin 3 Comments

"It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees. The law from your mouth is more precious to me than thousands of pieces of silver and gold” (Psalm 119:71-72). From my journal during a recent health battle I wrote the following. . . The nausea and back pain are getting worse. All I want to do is sit by my fireplace, put some heat on my back and open the Word. I love how the Word instantly calms my anxiousness and restores my inner peace. Why is it then that I only seem to read my Bible and pray when I’m sick, tired, or frustrated? Dear God, I know how important it is for me to spend time with You daily, but yet I do not do it. I know that when I do make my quiet time with You a priority my day starts off … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Depression, Devotionals, What's New? Tagged With: afflication, Bible, Chronic, cronic, God, good to be afflicted, Health, Illness, Lord, management of pain, Ohio, Pain, pain diary., Psalm, West Michigan

Devotion: Finding Vibrant Colors Again When Illness Turns It All Gray

April 21, 2012 By admin 5 Comments

"The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day." (Proverbs 4:18) I love bright colors! My favorite shirt is tie-dye bright green and burgundy with purple and a blue twist. My favorite skirt is multicolored swirls. My house is a colorful mixture Christmas colors and my favorite color is all of them! I love the green leaves and colorful flowers of the spring and the blue sky and oceans. I love the mixture of colors that the Lord has used to spice the earth we live on. Sadly however, depression and pain can cause our colors to blend into gray. You may feel as though you are in a black funnel, falling deeper and deeper into darkness. Everything around you seems to be … [Read more...]