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Does God Ever “Break Our Hearts”?

May 23, 2013 By Leave a Comment
WHAT DOES IT MEAN WHEN GOD SAYS HE IS... close to the brokenhearted? Do you ever feel you are among those with a broken heart for some reason? This #devotional writer shares how, as her heart is broken, her compassion grows as well.

It's hard when God allows us to break our hearts, but there is always an ultimate purpose in it. Fiona Burrows explains. “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” (Psalm 34:18) One of the things I think chronic illness has given me, is a more heightened sense of empathy for others who are struggling. At least that’s what I like to think I’m learning. When I look back at some of the dark times in my illness journey, I long for that not to be the experience of others. Maybe sometimes I just understand more of what they might be feeling--because I’ve been there myself. Sometimes my heart just aches. There have been times when I felt a real burden to pray for someone with very real … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Depression, Devotionals, Grief, What's New?

Does Your Body Force You To Say, Be Still My Soul?

May 2, 2013 By 19 Comments
ILLNESS HAS A WAY OF SIFTING OUT THE UNIMPORTANT THINGS IN LIFE... and giving us time to pray or listen for God's voice, even if we are flat on our back without the ability to even roll over. Have you experienced this?

When you are physically down and out, does it give you extra time with God? Charles explains. "Be still, and know that I am God." (Psalm 46:10) Life is so fast-paced in today’s society. As you look at your calendar, you are bombarded with appointments to see doctors’, activities for your children, and working. The question that came to my heart as I have read this Scripture over and over again is this: where does this leave time for God? I believe God allows us to go through physical ailments for a special purpose. We all know the devil uses it to try to pry us away from the Lord but time and time again we have all seen how the Lord has taken something meant for evil and turned it around for our good and His glory. (Romans … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Depression, Devotionals, Fear, What's New?

God’s Yoke Is Easy, So Why Do I Work So Hard?

April 25, 2013 By 6 Comments
WE WORK SO HARD TO **LIVE** WELL WHEN WE ARE CHRONICALLY ILL... It can become exhausting...! So how do we find the rest God offers us when we are working so hard to keep moving? #devotional

When our illness makes us work so hard to have a life and deal with pain, how do we find the rest that God promises us? Kerryn explains. . . “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30). Almost daily I hear: "Work hard and you can achieve anything!” “I'm working hard to achieve my goals!” “Success only comes through hard work!” Just as my health was dramatically declining, I attended a weekend seminar about achieving your goals, based on Biblical principles. This was a treat, as I've always been driven to … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Depression, Devotionals, Reflection, What's New?

I Don’t Want to Sit Alone

April 20, 2013 By 18 Comments
DO LITTLE THINGS IN YOUR LIFE, LIKE SITTING ALONE, INCREASE YOUR ANXIETY? "Little things" in our life can make or break us some days. Fortunately, we have a God who cares about the little things as much as the big ones. #devotional

If you have ever felt an increase of anxiety, for example when you sit alone somewhere, you aren't alone. Fiona Burrows shares. . . “And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. . . . your Father knows that you need them. But seek His kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.” (Luke 12:29-31) Chronic illness seems to often cause us to worry more than people who are without it. With worry has come an increase in my insecurity. I become insecure and anxious about things that may not have concerned me before. I’ve never liked having to arrive places on my own, wondering if anyone will speak to me, sit with me--or whatever. Even though I’ve been at the same church all my life, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Depression, Devotionals, Loneliness, What's New?

Does Illness Ever Make You Feel Like a Cry Baby?

April 12, 2013 By 13 Comments
EVER FEEL LIKE A CRY BABY? Sometimes we go through seasons in our life when all we do is cry--and our illness or side effects can make the tears flow even more easily. But is crying really a bad thing? No. This devotional shares why tears are not a bad thing.

Physical and emotional changes can leave us feeling like a "cry baby" sometimes, but God takes special care in treasuring our tears. Vicki explains. . . “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens. . . a time to weep and a time to laugh. . . (Ecclesiastes 3:1, 4)” I’m good at crying. Sometimes my tears take me by surprise. Recently, I had to apologize to the illustrator of my picture book. He misunderstood a question I asked him, thinking I wasn’t completely happy with his work. Which couldn’t be farther from the truth! I unwittingly offended Ryan by asking if he could change the color of the central character’s hair. Since Ryan made Beth’s eyes look like my … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Coping Skills, Depression, Devotionals, Grief, Loneliness, What's New?

And Our Sins Will Be Wiped Away

April 11, 2013 By 9 Comments
WHAT DOES IT REALLY MEAN THAT GOD DIED FOR OUR SINS? In this #devotional the writer gives a great visual example of how God washes away our sins every single day.

When you think of your sins being forgiven, what do you visualize? Fiona Burrows gives a unique image of what it means to have them forgiven. “And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled himself and became obedient to death--even death on a cross!” (Philippians 2:8) Does the magnitude of what God did for us, through the death of His only Son on the cross at Calvary, sometimes seem hard to grasp? Are there times when we forget just how big the sacrifice, and how life changing it was for us? I remember hearing the following description of how our sins were totally washed away by what happened that day. Imagine being the first person to walk on the beach early in the morning, when the sand appears untouched--smooth and … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Depression, Devotionals, Fear, What's New?

How My Philosophy on a Winter Day Helps Me Cope With Pain

March 15, 2013 By 9 Comments
WHEN THE DAYS ARE STILL GRAY AND COLD HOW DO YOU COPE WITH PAIN? It can become depressing when it seems the weather is always fighting against your attempts to be positive. One #devotional writer shares how he finds hope that spring is coming! #illness

Even when the sun seems to have disappeared on another cold winter day, Pastor Chris reminds us that the sun never leaves us. It's still there... "The sun will no more be your light by day, nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you, for the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory." (Isaiah 60:19) I’ve always been fascinated at cloudless sunny days in winter. How can it be so cold and yet so bright? It would seem to the logical mind of this western theologian that it defies the law of mutual exclusivity to need a coat on a cloudless day. In the study of logic it is always true that two mutual exclusive ideas cannot both be existent simultaneously. In other words, it cannot be day and night at the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Depression, Devotionals, What's New?

Content Whatever The Circumstances! Really?!

March 14, 2013 By 39 Comments
CONTENT WHATEVER THE CIRCUMSTANCES! REALLY?? Some scriptures can be hard to live out even when we read them in black and white. This #devotion is an honest look at how one woman changed her outlook on living with contentment and chronic illness.

Can you really be content in all circumstances, even when you live with chronic illness and daily pain? Being content in all circumstances is one of the hardest Biblical principles to live out, but Kerryn breaks it down for us so we can better apply it. “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want” (Philippians 4:11-12). I'm far from happy today! Exhaustion, beyond belief, is taking a massive toll on me, and my family, since my latest “crash” with chronic fatigue … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Attitude, Depression, Devotionals, What's New?

Turmoil in the Temple – Trusting the Savior

March 4, 2013 By 13 Comments
HAVE YOU BEEN SOMEWHERE YOU REALLY WANTED TO BE WHEN YOUR ILLNESS ZAPPED THE JOY? In this #devotional the writer explains how God allowed her to go to an event that she wanted, but then the physical turmoil set in--vertigo and sensory overload.

Have you ever been able to attend an event you longed for, only to have your illness try to zap the joy out of it and find turmoil instead? Lynn explains. “'It is written,' He said to them, ‘"My house will be a house of prayer"; but you have made it "a den of robbers."'"(Luke 19:46). It was that time of year when artists sell craft items for holiday gifting. Two friends had invited me to attend their venues: same day but miles apart. Such crafting is now impossible for me to do and I grieve the loss. Yet I can rejoice with those still involved. Caution was essential in the elementary school setting of the first event: the noise, the lighting, the crowds that overstimulate and can trigger me into an internal spinning vertigo … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Depression, Devotionals, Loneliness, What's New?

How Do You Find Hope When Overwhelmed by Hopelessness?

December 2, 2012 By 10 Comments
HOW DO YOU FIND HOPE WHEN OVERWHELMED WITH HOPELESSNESS? We have all felt hopeless, but these are the times we need to take another look at what we are putting our hope INTO. #devotional

Do you ever find yourself buried in hopelessness? Fiona shares her journey through this emotion. "For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience." (Romans 8:24-25) I think that out of all the bad feelings one can have in this life, hopelessness has to be the worst. It causes us to lose our motivation for even the simplest things in life, like eating or taking care of ourselves. It can feel like a black cloud has enveloped you and that there is no end in sight. Life becomes harder than usual, and as much as others may try to help us, their words fall on deaf ears. For those who struggle with illness and pain, these … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Depression, Devotionals, Fear, Hope, What's New?

As The Fall Season Turns, Does Your Spiritual Season Shift?

November 30, 2012 By 7 Comments
DOES YOUR SPIRITUAL LIFE EVER MIMIC THE SEASONS? There are times when it can feel like we are in a very long winter! #devotional

As the fall season soon turns to winter, how do you see the seasons changing in your own life? Christy shares. "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens." (Ecclesiastes 3:1) The fall season has finally arrived in North Florida. Our morning air is crisp, colors are changing on some of the trees, and butterflies are fluttering around. People are starting to slowly come out of their houses as the cooler temperatures settle upon our landscape. I don't know about you, but this is my favorite season as far as Florida living goes--cooler temps, better attitudes, corn mazes, pumpkins, and mums! It seems people's spirits, in general, begin to lift and folks just seem happier duringthis fall season. I … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Depression, Devotionals, What's New?

No Disrespect, But What is God Doing With This Body?

November 29, 2012 By 3 Comments
WHAT ON EARTH IS GOD DOING WITH THIS BODY I HAVE THAT WON'T HEAL? if you live with a chronic illness, chances are you have looked at your body and how it is falling apart and wondered, "Hey, Lord, I don't mean any disrespect, but what ARE You doing here??" #devotional

Have you ever questioned, God, what are Your plans with this body? Diane shares her thoughts. "I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from You when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. (Psalm 139:14-15) I have to admit that I often wonder how I ended up with this body that, is so very unique, and as I get older seems to have more and more defective parts. So far, I have a one-in-a-million heart defect which requires a pacemaker, colon cancer at a rare early age, a digestive system that hates all foods, and lots of allergies to top off this quirky body. But here in God's Word He tells me that I … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Depression, Devotionals, Grief, What's New?
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