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...]

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...]

Have you ever considered yourself running a race through the ups and downs of illness? Bronlynn explains. “Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever” (I Corinthians 9:24). Lately I have been reminded of the fact that I can’t run--or even walk well. I have seen countless cars with stickers for running half or full marathons. Two of my daughters ran in a mud run. And our area is again hosting the Marine Corps Half Marathon race. Years ago I exercised faithfully and enjoyed staying in shape. Giving that up due to back pain was very difficult, and at times like these I still struggle with that loss. As I noticed … [Read more...]

How does music help you cope with pain? Karlton shares how it can even impact how much pain we feel. "You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance." (Psalm 32:7) The benefits of music are well known. I recently read a study that said music can be more beneficial to patients than pain medication. I know from my own life that music has been a great blessing to me time and again. Life without music is unimaginable to me. I could do without television and movies much easier than I could do without music. I like Rock and Christian Rock music, it is like a strong cup of coffee to get me started some days. Light Classical music relaxes me, and more than once it has put me to sleep when … [Read more...]

To live effectively we must learn to accept changes and be flexible. Karlton shares how this can be a challenge on some days, but is worthwhile to learn. "He changes times and seasons; He deposes kings and raises up others. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning." (Daniel 2:21) Change is one thing in life that is constant, you can be sure changes will continue to come around. Recently the Lord has reminded me that I must learn to roll with the changes, and that has been difficult for me as I am not a big fan of change. I recently came across the following quote: "When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves." -Victor Frankl That has become clear to me over the … [Read more...]

It is hard to surrender over our prayer requests as "thy will be done" when we are afflicted daily with illness and pain. Karlton shares. "This, then, is how you should pray: "'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.'" (Matthew 6:9-10) There have been times in my life when I was convinced that I knew what should occur, only to realize later that I was mistaken. There have been times I have pleaded with God to make things go down a certain path, to give me what I thought I wanted, only to realize God had something better in mind. How many of us, when we pray, truly mean it when we say, "God, I want Your will to be done in this situation"? I fear that too often … [Read more...]

How can your life be like a Mango tree? Elizabeth shares some interesting parallels. . . “I will put in the desert the cedar and the acacia, the myrtle and the olive. I will set pines in the wasteland, the fir and cypress together, so that the people may see and know, may consider and understand, that the Holy One of Israel has created it.” (Isaiah 41;19, 20) I recently read of the mango tree in the Philippines. Typhoons frequently blow these large trees parallel to the ground and yet they do not die easily. The secret of their resilience lies in the root system. Not only does the original root system run deep enough to survive the storm, but the bowed branches form new roots as it lies on the ground. How I long to be as that … [Read more...]

When we hear the word aftermath, we rarely think of a joyful outcome. Bronlynn explains. . . “I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know. . . His incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of His mighty strength, which He exerted in Christ when He raised him from the dead and seated Him at Him right hand in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 1:18-20). As we just celebrated Easter, I reflect not only its eternal, but its present, significance for me--resurrection power to handle earthly pain and struggles. We may associate the concept of aftermath--a consequence or result of a situation--with negative situations, such as the devastation following natural … [Read more...]

When you live with chronic illness it is easy for our hopes to get dashed. Karlton shares how your well may be getting the sand tossed in there. "So they destroyed all the wells that Isaac’s father Abraham and his servants had dug many years before. They filled them with sand." (Genesis 26:15, ERV) Poor Isaac. God is supposed to be on his side, but everywhere he goes he is made unwelcome, and people keep stealing his wells and filling them with sand. Sometimes I feel like Isaac. I know God is with me, but something keeps stopping up my well with sand. Financial challenges increase, health problems increase, and inter-personal relationships become problematic. Just when I think my well is dug and filling with water, something comes … [Read more...]

When you are faced with setting priorities, how can you become a wise investor with your small amount of energy? Elizabeth explains. "I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from Your commands. I have hidden Your Word in my heart that I might not sin against You.” (Psalm 119:10, 11) It feels like a full-time job keeping up with all the paperwork involved with chronic illness. It would be a dream come true to have case workers to walk us through the insurance obstacles and disability rig-a-marole. Our mind is already addled some just coping with pain, them we have to have the business savvy of Wall Street to get proper treatment? It doesn't seem fair. We have to keep notebooks and calenders and place countless phone … [Read more...]

When you face crossroads of choice regarding your health, where do you turn to make those decisions? “This is what the Lord says: 'Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.'" (Jeremiah 6:16) Have you been faced with hard decisions and fretfully wondering which way would be the best path to take? Often when we are dealing with health issues we feel perplexed and frustrated.We have gone from doctor to doctor seeking answers, perhaps seeking a diagnosis or a new treatment to bring relief from the symptoms we are experiencing. This has been the case for my family as we are dealing with my youngest son's pain. Though he is only 2, he … [Read more...]