Death Archives - Rest Ministries - Chronic Illness and Pain Support

Devotion: Heroes of Illness Understand There is No Longer Reasons for Fear

June 9, 2012 By admin 14 Comments

". . . and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death." (Hebrews 2:15) On the old TV series "The A-Team" there was an episode where the A-Team had been trapped in a building by people who wanted to destroy them. A news reporter was trapped along with them, and when she asked what they would do next, they told her they were ready to die, and that their willingness to die was what gave them an advantage over their enemies. Of course the A-Team survived to fight another day. What can truly hold you in bondage to fear if you are not afraid to die? I'm not trying to be morbid. It is a reasonable question. If we truly comprehend what Jesus did for us on the cross, how He overcame hell, death, and the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Devotionals, What's New? Tagged With: Christ, Christianity, Death, God, Jesus, Lord, Necrophobia

Ministering to Those Who Have Lost Someone They Love

February 13, 2011 By admin 1 Comment

By Fran Caffey Sandin “Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep” (Romans 12: 15 NASB) Rejoicing comes easily when something good happens in the lives of friends. But when death and its sorrow invade a home, we often find ourselves struggling for an adequate response. We sincerely want to help, but deep inside we’re afraid of saying or doing the wrong thing, not being “strong” enough, or of becoming depressed. Who among us ever feels sufficient when death intrudes? And yet, that is when we’re needed most of all. The good news is that, in spite of our human weaknesses and fears, God can use us to uplift and encourage the bereaved. When the Holy Spirit dwells within our hearts, He will be our guide, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Articles, Love, Need to Know, Relationships, What's New? Tagged With: Death, God, grief, Grief Loss and Bereavement, Health, Holy Spirit, Jeffrey, Mental Health

Devotion – Pencil People

April 20, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

“Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourself to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; & offer the parts of your body to Him as instruments of righteousness.” (Romans 6:13) It’s interesting what we receive in emails at times, isn’t it? I received one explaining how similar we are to pencils. As I read the list of ways, I could see just how true that statement was. For instance, many times I can correct my mistakes much like using a pencil eraser. I can’t change my past, but I can rectify it. Like a pencil, I can “leave my mark,” but as a child of God, I want that mark to always glorify God in some way. Sometimes it might be just a small thing, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Devotionals Tagged With: Bible, Christian encouragement, Chronic Illness, Chronic pain, Current events, daily devotionals, Death, Disciple (Christianity), Gideon, God, hopekeepers, illness ministry, invisible illness, meditation, Ohio, Pain, Rest Ministries, Tennessee, Trust (social sciences), West Michigan

Don’t Be Troubled

February 8, 2010 By admin 1 Comment

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.” (John 14:1 NIV) In this passage from John’s gospel, Jesus is giving His disciples some last minute instructions, before He knows He will be leaving them. One of the things he seeks to reassure them is that they shouldn’t worry, or be troubled. Jesus goes on to tell them about the place He is preparing for them & also that they know The Way there, because they know Him & His Father. Jesus’ disciples didn’t really underst& these words at the time, but as events unfolded with his death, resurrection, & ascension, they would have become clearer to them. We have those same assurances – yet I know for me, I still find myself troubled. The day to … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Devotionals Tagged With: australia, Christian encouragement, Chronic, Chronic Illness, Chronic pain, daily devotionals, Death, God, hopekeepers, illness ministry, invisible illness, Jesus, Lisa Saunders, meditation, Melbourne, Pain Mgmt & Illnesses, Raw material, Rest Ministries, Trust (social sciences), West Michigan

Trying to Underst& Suffering

February 6, 2010 By admin 1 Comment

Praise be to the God & Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion & the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. (2 Cor. 1:3-4 NIV) My friend Crystal died in November 2009. We had a sixteen year long friendship of mutual support & encouragement. Crystal had the same afflictions as I have, & several more besides. No matter what I was struggling through, Crystal always had to endure more. She encouraged me with her fortitude, & I always felt that if she could endure her terrible afflictions, I could certainly endure my lesser afflictions. People can encourage us in numerous ways. There are always those who … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Devotionals Tagged With: Christian encouragement, Chronic fatigue syndrome, Chronic Illness, Chronic pain, Crohn's disease, daily devotionals, Death, God, Health, hopekeepers, illness ministry, invisible illness, Jesus, meditation, Ohio, Rest Ministries, suffering, Trust (social sciences), West Michigan

Find the Joy of The Lord in the Winter Season

November 14, 2009 By admin 2 Comments

This morning, I walked outside as my husb& was leaving for work. I noticed the leaves blowing across the yard in blurs of gold, orange & brown. The morning sun felt warm on my shoulders & the sky was cloudless & blue. I stood for a moment in wonder at the beauty of God’s Creation. In my busy life of work & worry, I often forget to look up. The words of Jesus, “Each day has enough trouble of its own,” (Matthew 6:34) is the way I live. Today is all I can deal with. As I thought about that, it occurred to me that during autumn & winter things die & return to the earth to wait for spring’s renewal. The death that is occurring could devastate us if we didn’t know about the spring. I suddenly felt joyful, realizing that I am … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Articles, Caregiver, Joy, Person w/ Illness, Person w/ lll Spouse, What's New? Tagged With: autumn, Caregiver, Chronic, Chronic pain, Death, Disease, God, Gospel of Matthew, Healing, Health, Illness, Jesus, joy of the lord is my strength, Lord, Prayer

Life In The Slow Lane

June 18, 2007 By Leave a Comment

Image by Vince Alongi via Flickr "He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters." (Psalm 23:2, NIV) Remember the song the Eagles released in 1976, on their Hotel California album, titled "Life in the Fast Lane?" It goes, 'Life in the fast lane, slowly make you lose your mind, life in the fast lane.' For many of us with chronic illnesses &/or pain, life has slowed way down. We can no longer live life in the fast lane & sometimes we feel like we aren't living life at all because we are so limited. Although as the saying goes, "we ain't what we used to be", we can still find peace, contentment & joy in our present circumstances. We have definite blessings that people who are always busy don't get to … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Devotionals Tagged With: Christianity, Death, God, Hotel California, Jesus, New International Version, Psalms, Religion and Spirituality

Devotion: Heroes of Illness Understand There is No Longer Reasons for Fear

Ministering to Those Who Have Lost Someone They Love

Find the Joy of The Lord in the Winter Season

Life In The Slow Lane

A Blast From The Past Post

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