Jesus Archives - Rest Ministries - Chronic Illness and Pain Support

Just As Long as You Stand By Me – Video

July 15, 2012 By admin 1 Comment

Happy Sunday! It is so easy to get caught up in our own little world, even the news about the city we live in or our country, and forget that we are all God's children, scattered all over the world. We all hurt, we all need the Lord, and. . . we need each other too. This is a beautiful video that will remind you that there are people world-wide that are saying, "Just as long as you stand by me than I can _____." (Imagine, what could you do if someone promised to stand by you?) Be sure to listen past the 1-minute mark for more surprises. If you are receiving this in your email, you likely cannot see the video within the email. Click the title above to go to our website to watch it. Stand By Me - People of the World Playing for … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Articles, Friendships, Hurt Feelings, Love, Reflection, Videos, What's New? Tagged With: Christianity, God, GodTube, Happy Sunday, Jesus, Lord, Religion and Spirituality, Video

Heaven IS For Real! – Video

July 8, 2012 By admin 1 Comment

Happy Sunday! Have you ever wondered if heaven really is for real? This last Easter my pastor shared a great deal about the family behind the book heaven is for real, as 4-year-old Colton visits heaven during his near death surgery. If someone you love has died, I am sure this will bring you some comfort today. And if you are wondering how exactly we know Heaven is for Real: A Little Boy's Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back, this little boy's story is certain to reassure you to continue to have faith that Jesus is the Son of God and he has already gone there to prepare a place just for you. If you are receiving this in your email, you likely cannot see the video within the email. Click the title above to go to our … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Depression, Fear, Videos, What's New?, Worry Tagged With: boy dies and sees grandpa, boy goes to heaven, colton burpo, Easter, God, GodTube, Heaven Is for Real, Jesus, Little Boy, Near-death experience

Accepting Help From Others When Weak From Illness

July 3, 2012 By admin 5 Comments

“To Him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy—” (Jude 1:24) Living with multiple sclerosis is an adventure. Just when I get used to specific symptoms, new challenges emerge, like weaker arms. These motivate me to find strategies that will help. But accepting help from others when weak from illness is something that can be difficult to do. At the food store, I asserted myself. “Please pack the items so the bags are light.” The checker loaded each bag with fewer items. But even several cans and a gallon of water feel like a ton of bricks to me. Granted, I don’t look like a weakling. It’s hard for others to understand. So, nowadays I place my … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Devotionals, Explaining Illness, Overwhelmed, What's New? Tagged With: Amalekite, Amen., God, Jesus, Joshua, Moses, Vicki

Devotion: There’s No Need to Fear The Emotional Burn Summer Heat, Despite Our Illness

June 24, 2012 By admin 5 Comments

“‘If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and He will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if He does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.’ ” (Daniel 3:17-18) The heat index is 105°. We’re in the middle of the first heat wave of the summer. Just like last summer. A year ago, I was asked to be a guest speaker for a fellow professor. The classroom would be air conditioned, so I agreed. The commitment required me to teach for seven hours straight. An impossible feat, given my limitedstamina. Living with multiple sclerosis means planning activities that last 4-6 hours. Any longer and I fade. Like a … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Devotionals, What's New? Tagged With: ADHD In Teenagers, Air conditioning, Amen., God, Jesus, Multiple sclerosis, Schizoaffective disorder, Vicki

How to Trust God With Your Daily Chronic Pain

June 23, 2012 By admin 11 Comments

Focusing on the why's of our chronic pain is natural, but instead, we should focus on how to trust God with our daily chronic pain. “Why do you say, O Jacob, and complain, O Israel, 'My way is hidden from the Lord; my cause is disregarded by my God'? The Lord is the everlasting God . . . and His understanding no one can fathom” (Isaiah 40:27, 28). One of my weaknesses is in wanting to understand the “whys” behind something before I accept it. I wish I fully knew how to trust God, regardless of my circumstances. The need to know what to expect has created problems in many areas of my life including my relationship with God, particularly where my health problems are concerned. In his book Experiencing God, Henry Blackaby … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Devotionals, God's Will, What's New?, Worry Tagged With: Bronlynn Spindler, Christ, God, Isaiah, Jesus, Lord, Thyroid cancer, www.aplaceofsprings57.blogspot.com

Devotion: Are You Listening to God as Much as You are Talking to Him About Your Illness?

June 16, 2012 By admin 13 Comments

"I am like the deaf, who cannot hear, like the mute, who cannot speak," (Psalm 38:13) My mother lives two states away, and neither of us are much able to travel and see each other, so we talk to each other on the phone. From time to time my mother has issues either with her computer or her television set, and calls me with questions. Often she is so busy asking me questions about the problem that she doesn't take time to listen to what I'm saying. I will tell her: "Mom, you can't listen if you are talking." I sometimes wonder if God would say the same thing to us? We can get so busy in our lives that we do not take time to listen to God, to read His word, to speak, and then be silent in prayer before Him. We can get so caught up in … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Devotionals, What's New? Tagged With: Dear Lord, God, Jesus, karlton douglas, Lord, Ohio, Prayer, Psalm

Why Did Someone Send Me a Get Well Soon Card?

June 15, 2012 By admin 6 Comments

"Get well soon!" people tell us, but when you are chronically ill, that little phrase, get well soon, can start to fester bitterness. “May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had.” (Romans 15:5) The other day I opened my mailbox to find a card. I was so excited—it wasn’t a bill, but a card! When I arrived back at my apartment I opened the card and read it. As I read the card, I realized that I could react one of two ways. I could be very frustrated and become discouraged, or I could be glad and be encouraged. On the front of the card it said, “Get Well Soon!” Let’s look at some facts: I’m not “sick," I live with chronic … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Devotionals, Need to Know, What's New? Tagged With: Christ, Christ Jesus, Chronic pain, God, Jesus, Kindle, Lord, Prayer

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

Devotion: Perseverance Can Be Difficult When Faced with Chronic Illness

June 7, 2012 By admin 8 Comments

"Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character; hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us." (Romans 5: ) I took a step backwards emotionally when I became frustrated that my body wasn’t recovering more quickly from a respiratory infection. I was angered and sad because I was going to miss my daughter’s … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Devotionals, What's New? Tagged With: Autonomic nervous system, God, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Lord, New York, Prayer, Seil

Devotion: How Those With Chronic Illness Have a “Pentecost” Type of Experience

June 6, 2012 By admin 6 Comments

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). I write this on Pentecost Sunday, a day set aside in the church year, fifty days after Easter Sunday, to commemorate the event of Christ’s apostles being filled with His Holy Spirit. This promised Comforter was to lead them into all truth and to teach them. On Pentecost, the Spirit came in tongues of fire, hovering over each recipient, personally filling each one to walk out his life in Christ with boldness. (Acts 1) I have known this Scripture from my childhood, was confirmed in the church of my youth with the sacrament acknowledging the Spirit’s presence within me. Yet today, one phrase in this account stuck out for me with new meaning. I thought of our … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Devotionals, What's New? Tagged With: Christ, Chronic Illness, Comforter, Easter, God, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, language, lynn severance, Pentecost, unspoken understanding

Devotion: The Need to De-clutter With a Disease

June 5, 2012 By admin 7 Comments

“A bruised reed He will not break, and a smoldering wick He will not snuff out. In faithfulness He will bring forth justice.” (Isaiah 42:3) Got clutter? Maybe you have an “everything drawer” where a variety of things land. Scotch tape. A screw driver. Lipstick. A puzzle piece. Several unidentifiable key. . . I’m here to admit I’ve accumulated tons of clutter. My corners, drawers, and closets overfloweth. I’ve saved every file from my teacher training 34 years ago. Every memento from family excursions were tucked away (never to be seen again!). My motto: you never know when you might need it. When in doubt, keep it. The wonderful thing about having multiple sclerosis (MS) is that I have an excuse. I’ve used all my … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Devotionals, What's New? Tagged With: ADHD In Teenagers, Amen., God, Jesus, Multiple sclerosis, Psalm, Schizoaffective disorder, Vicki

When We All Get to Heaven – Video

June 3, 2012 By admin 4 Comments

Happy Sunday! I grew up in the Presbyterian church so am familiar with many of the good old hymns. I enjoy the new worships style songs they sing at my church now, but there is something precious about the hymns. A few years ago I came across an Alan Jackson CD of hymns. Evidently, he put it together for his mom, but then decided to go ahead and release it. His mom even sings along with him on one of the songs. "When We All Get to Heaven" was written in 1898. And if you are feeling a bit blue this morning, perhaps frustrated that you are not able to attend church, remember there are better days coming! When we all get to heaven, What a day of rejoicing that will be! When we all see Jesus, We’ll sing and shout the victory! If … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Joy, Spiritually Struggling, Videos, What's New? Tagged With: Alan Jackson, Hymn, Jesus, Video, when we all get to heaven