Spiritually Struggling

How a Rapper Encourages Those Depressed to Rely on God

May 15, 2012 By admin 1 Comment

By Debbie Farmer Recently I read a letter from a young man named Dominic Cook (also known as "Dooch") who uses his pain to encourage others with his music. His testimony was such a blessing to me and I am going to share this interview with you now and hope that you too can also receive a blessing today. Dominic Cook (AKA: "Dooch") Please tell us about yourself and how you got into the music industry. Where to start, where to start. . . Well, I’m a 27-year-old, husband, married, and going on 8 years. I have been a Christian going on 7 years now and a father of 5. My youngest Joshua, passed away at 2 months old--a year ago. I have been doing music since I was 8 years old. It was the first thing I wanted to do and has been the only … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Articles, Articles - Read, Depression, Fear, Loneliness, Ministry - Personal, Music, Profiles, Spiritually Struggling, Suicidal Thoughts, Videos, What's New? Tagged With: attitude about illness, Christ, Christian, dooch, God, God of All Comfort (Pure Gold Classics), hope boy, how to beat depression and loneliness, how to cope with depression and loneliness, Jesus, Major depressive disorder, New York City, rapper, testimony

When a “Fire” Hits Your Life, Do You Know How You Will Respond?

May 10, 2012 By admin Leave a Comment

By Shelby Boughman Some of you may know the codes for using the fire extinguishers in the event of a fire. The acronym PASS means "Pull, Aim, Squeeze, and Spray." Doing so will help you use the fire extinguisher properly so that you may fight whatever flames may be around you. Yesterday, the Lord gave me a new idea for this. Have you ever thought about other ways we can use this code? In Ephesians 6:16, Paul talks about a vital piece to the Armor of God by saying, “In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.” The enemy is constantly trying to throw fiery darts and battles at us Christians, but we must stand tall and strong, fighting back at Him with … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Articles, Articles - Read, Coping Skills, Loneliness, Ministry - Personal, Spiritually Struggling, Videos, What's New? Tagged With: God, Gospel of Matthew, Jesu, Lord, Lord's Prayer, Prayer

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: 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

You Are God’s Messenger Today For Someone Who is Hurting

April 24, 2012 By admin Leave a Comment

By Donna Riner Weber Numerous items fell onto the bed as I dumped the contents of my purse. One especially drew my attention--a post card of 4 adorable white fuzzy, fluffy puppies. It reminded me of the mini-type postcards that I like to share. I purchase the little 15 cent variety from the Christian Book Stores. Adorable baby animals create the backdrop for a Bible verse on one side. On the opposite side I usually write a Bible verse or some type of message I feel God leads me to write. I place these in restaurants, hotel rooms, restrooms etc.--wherever, God leads. Then I pray for the person whom God will lead to the little card. It brings pleasure to me as I sprinkle these in various places as we travel. Although I love to … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Articles, Articles - Read, Attitude, Reflection, Spiritually Struggling, What's New? Tagged With: Chronic pain, purpose in the pain, Scrapbook Your Christian Faith, tracts, you are god's messenger

Thinking About Suicide Website Offers Hope Through Depression

April 14, 2012 By admin Leave a Comment

I recently have had the honor of joining a group of Christian women who are writing for a blog ThinkingAboutSuidicide.com. Started by Christian author and speaker, Linda Evans Shepherd, this blog features a daily post on topics related to people who may be thinking about suicide. It is for anyone, those who have recently lost a job, a loved one, health, whatever and offers hope through depression. I recently wrote about this new blog on 3/30/12, New Thinking About Suicide Blog Offers Eternal Hope. Some of you, however, missed this post and then wondered why I was "liking" a page on Facebook that is called "Thinking About Suicide". Don't worry! I am just supporting the efforts to help spread the word. Below is a short video message to … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Announcements, Church Leader, Founder's Blog, Need to Know, Person w/ Illness, Spiritually Struggling, Suicidal Thoughts, Support Group Leader, Videos, What's New? Tagged With: Christian, Facebook, hope through depression, is life worth living, Linda Evans Shepherd, lisa copen, Rest Ministries, San Diego, Suicide, thinking about suicide

What I’d Like to Tell My Pastor About Living with Illness

April 13, 2012 By admin 10 Comments

Living with chronic illness is lonely. Everyone around us seems to be enjoying health, happiness, and the ability to at least pursue their dreams. But many of us feel lonely, scared, and disappointed. We are faced with so many insecurities and we are living with an illness that we have not been able to pray away, cry away, or confess away. So we turn to our church for guidance, for acceptance, for unconditional support during the most difficult time in our life. But churches are made up of people—all of us imperfect. And our church does not always give us what we need; in fact, sometimes, the people say things that hurt us even more. "Everything will work out fine. Just keep praying." "If you just came to Bible study I am sure … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Articles, Articles - Read, Caregiver, Church Leader, Depression, Explaining Illness, Friend Has Illness, HopeKeepers Resources, Hurt Feelings, Loneliness, Medical Professional, Need to Know, Parent of Ill or Disabled Child, Person w/ Illness, Person w/ lll Spouse, Share Your Story, Spiritually Struggling, Support Group Leader, Teen w/ Illness, What's New? Tagged With: care pastor, Christianity, Chronic, Chronic pain, Church, church disabilities ministry, Conditions and Diseases, Congregational, congregational care, Denominations, disability ministry, Disabled, disabled ministry, disablity, God, Health, Illness, Jesus, Joni Eareckson Tada, joni erickson tada, joni tada, Lord, Online Communities, parish, parish nurse, pastor, pastoral care, pastors, Prayer, Religion and Spirituality, Rest Ministries, small groups, Stephen Ministries, stephen ministry

Devotion: Accepting You Are Giving To God As Much as You Are Able When Ill

April 12, 2012 By admin Leave a Comment

“Each of you must bring a gift in proportion to the way the Lord your God has blessed you.” (Deuteronomy 16:17) At the end of last year, our church gave out volunteer certificates to thank and recognize those who help make our church community function better. It’s been done before, but this time it was recognizing that it’s ten years since the government started National Volunteer Day in Australia. While I did receive a certificate, I had been thinking that week about all the people in the church who do so many things, to care and help others. Like many churches, some people do a lot, and many do little, or even nothing. I am one of the “little” ones and though I guess some people would understand that my health … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Devotionals, Spiritually Struggling, What's New? Tagged With: australia, Book of Deuteronomy, Father God, God, Israelite, Jesu, Melbourne, Sunroom

What is the Purpose of Trials In Our Lives? Sermon Offers Encouragement

April 3, 2012 By admin Leave a Comment

"The promises of God are what give us hope in the midst of affliction. . ." Pastor Thorn As we approach Easter, I understand that many people are feeling it hard to rejoice. If God is love and cares about us, why are we going through such physical pain and other hardships? I recently came across a sermon at entitled "Trials (Part 1)" given by Pastor Joe Thorn at Redeemer Fellowship. It looked like a good one and I asked Debbi Farmer if she would listen and let me know her thoughts. Below is her review on this podcast sermon that you can listen to here on Trials. It is an MP3 file. If you hear a fantastic sermon on suffering, illness, pain, etc. that is available to listen to online, feel free to write up what it is about and why it … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Depression, Overwhelmed, Podcasts, Spiritually Struggling, What's New?, Worry Tagged With: Chronic pain, Easter, hardships, Illness, online sermon, Podcast, purpose in suffering, redeemer fellowship, Sermon, sufferers, trials, what is joy, why does god allow suffering

New Thinking About Suicide Blog Offers Eternal Hope

March 30, 2012 By admin 4 Comments

A few months ago a friend of mine, Linda Evans Shepherd, announced to our group of Christian women writers that she was starting a blog specifically to reach out to those who were considering suicide. I have to say that anything Linda touches is done well and with complete passion and heart behind it. Her most recent web site, Finding God Daily, has a wonderful collection of articles about all the places we can find God! But would I be able to make a commitment to write an article or two a month about suicide? What do I know that may encourage someone else? And I just have a Bachelor's degree in Sociology, while many of the writers are professional counselors. But then I got an email from someone at Rest Ministries pouring her heart … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Announcements, Caregiver, Church Leader, Depression, Fear, Founder's Blog, Links, Medical Professional, Need to Know, Person w/ Illness, Spiritually Struggling, Suicidal Thoughts, Support Group Leader, Teen w/ Illness, What's New? Tagged With: Assisted suicide, Christian, chronic pain and suicide, considering suicide, do you go to heave if you commit suicide, end my life, God, how to commit suicide, lisa copen, Mental Illness, National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, Psych, Rest Ministries, San Diego, stop the pain, Suicidal Thoughts, Suicide, suicide statistics, taking my life, thinking about suicide, wednesdays and suicides

How I Use Writing as a Tool in My Counseling Sessions With God

March 27, 2012 By admin Leave a Comment

By Linda Newton I have stumbled onto a tool that has been very helpful when I get stuck and I can’t let go and let God. I have named this tool my “Counseling Sessions With God,” and here’s why. As a counselor for the past twenty-five years, I have a lot of experience with how counseling sessions flow. The client comes in, shares his/or her presenting issue, talks for a while, then expects the counselor to sum things up, and offer clarity regarding what was presented. With this pattern in mind, I idle down in my Divine Counselor’s office, under a tree, beside a rock, at my desk, anywhere in the universe will do since He owns it all. Then I put my pen to the paper and write out what is consuming my thoughts. I slow down … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Articles, Articles - Read, Coping Skills, Spiritually Struggling, What's New? Tagged With: Book of Proverbs, Books of Kings, Christ, God, linda newton, Lord, Psalms, Thought