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When One Word Prayers Are All You Can Handle

December 14, 2011 By 1 Comment
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When the pain is excruciating, when it takes all you have just to stay conscious. . . When you know you need the Lord but you cannot read the Word, you cannot focus, you can barely form the sentences to say a prayer. . . can you whisper a word? Just a word, as a prayer? Yes! Recently during Rest Ministries Fall Bible Study many people shared that they do this, or are learning to do it. God understands even when our prayers don't make sense If you have ever felt like you could barely put a complete sentence together, don't not pray. "The Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes with sighs too deep for words." (Romans 8:26) Sighing the name of "Jesus" will always … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Articles, Coping Skills, Depression, Person w/ Illness, What's New?, Worry Tagged With: , , , ,

5 Ways to Stop Discouragement From Getting the Best of You

November 22, 2011 By Leave a Comment
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By Leslie Vernick Discouragement and disappointment are normal emotions we all experience, even as Christians. Peter felt discouraged with himself when he realized that he wasn't as courageous as he thought he was, even though Jesus had warned him that he would deny him before the rooster crowed (Matthew 26:31 and 74,75). We too can feel discouraged and even depressed when we fail to live up to our own or other's expectations. Job felt discouraged and frustrated with his friends. They didn't get it. Trying to be helpful, they only heaped more shame and blame on Job for his afflictions. We also can feel let down by our friends and family. They don't understand what we're going through or don't offer to help as we wish they would. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Depression, Fear, Parent of Ill or Disabled Child, Person w/ Illness, What's New? Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

How Memories Can Help Us Cope With Pain

August 24, 2011 By 2 Comments
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Nichole Fogleman Do you ever think about the past and smile about a lovely memory? Or feel a sense of calm when a pleasant memory has glimpsed your presence. God has given you this capability to bring back memories. I find remembering a certain experience from my past to be very calming to my soul. Sometimes I lie awake at night trying to fall asleep and I can go back in time and remember my childhood memories. These memories take me somewhere else in my present moment and provide an euphoria almost comparable to a drug. Even when I go for a long run sometimes, just thinking about memories helps me lose myself in the moment of physical distress that exercise can sometimes bring. For patients of chronic pain, memory therapy can be … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Alternative Treatments, Articles, Depression, What's New?

Interview with Angela Dugi, Author of “What I Learned Lying Down: Hope for the Chronically Ill”

July 28, 2011 By 6 Comments
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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 … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Articles, Books, Depression, Person w/ Illness, Profiles, What's New? Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

When You Are Tempted to Speed Up the Trip to Heaven – Part 3

July 15, 2011 By 2 Comments
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When You Are Tempted to Speed Up the Trip to Heaven - Part 1 When You Are Tempted to Speed Up the Trip to Heaven - Part 2 By Lisa Copen Friends aren't perfect (even Jesus' friends couldn't stay awake when He asked them to!) but they make the journey easier. Sometimes they can make even the horrible, laughable. Why are Chevy Chase's National Lampoon's Vacation movie series so popular? Because we can relate! Someone else has vacations that include kids fighting in the backseat, car problems, strange relatives, and closed amusement parks. When my family drove four hours out of the way to an amusement part that was closed, my mom made us get out of the car and take photos at the gate and sign that said "closed for renovations." We … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Articles, Depression, Loneliness, What's New? Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

When You Are Tempted to Speed Up the Trip to Heaven – Part 2

July 14, 2011 By 1 Comment
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Did you miss yesterday's article? Read it here: Yesterdays When You Are Tempted to Speed Up the Trip to Heaven - Part 1 By Lisa Copen Just as with Job and Jesus, although you may be tempted, God has provided the power to overcome the temptation; "No temptation [will] seize you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it" (1 Corinthians 1:13). In those dark moments of a sleepless, painful night, shadows of temptation may dance on your walls, encouraging you to take a few extra pills and relieve the pain, but angels are attending you. Before the sun set to create this night of … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Articles, Depression, Loneliness, Person w/ Illness, What's New? Tagged With: , , , , , , ,
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