Lord 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

Independence Day

July 4, 2012 By admin Leave a Comment

I get goosebumps when I hear Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the USA Song." To our American friends, Happy Fourth of July. To our international friends, we are so grateful to have your friendship here at Rest Ministries. It seems lately we here in America are fighting over so many things with one another. The haves and have nots, the beliefs and belief nots. Today, let us--together--agree that we can stand together and say, "God bless the USA." And then live accordingly. Because God has blessed the USA. We have not created all of our success without Him. We are so eager to be independent of God. Let's celebrate Independence Day this year saying, "Lord, I am dependent on You." Here are so past July 4th devotionals you may be interested … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Devotionals, What's New? Tagged With: God, Independence Day, July, July fourth, Lee Greenwood, Lord, United States, USA

Devotion: God’s Purpose In Our Life May Be Much Different Than We Expect

July 1, 2012 By admin 5 Comments

"What is my life purpose?" you may ask. You may even believe you have discovered it. But many of those with illness find it is different than they ever imagined. "The man from whom the demons had gone out begged to go with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, 'Return home and tell how much God has done for you.' So the man went away and told all over town how much Jesus had done for him." (Luke 8:38-39) I hear from so many of you here at Rest Ministries who tell me the many ways you long to minister to others. Some of you are still able to occasionally travel on mission trips, but there are also many who are no longer able to do so, due to the limitations of your illness, such as traveling, risk of infection, not being near medical … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Devotionals, Finding Purpose, Founder's Blog, Reflection, Self -Esteem, What's New? Tagged With: California, Chronic, God, god's calling, Illness, Jesu, Kindle, Lord, Ministry, mission trips, Rest Ministries

Devotion: Avoiding Losing Ourselves To The Hardship In Our Lives During Illness

June 30, 2012 By admin 19 Comments

"He has besieged me and surrounded me with bitterness and hardship." (Lamentations 3:4-6) It is not easy to live with hardship, and to suffer enduring pain. We can lose ourselves in the hardships that come into our lives. Not long ago I was talking to someone who told me about a member of his family that was so caught up in a disappointing event that the person had a mental breakdown over it. We can let our hardships become so all-encompassing that it is difficult to see beyond them, even single events in our lives can swallow up the good things, the many wonderful events, that God would have us focus upon instead. I think that for those of us who suffer, and have suffered much difficulty in life, if we were to balance everything … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Attitude, Devotionals, What's New? Tagged With: attitude about illness, blessing, Christian, disappointment, God, karlton douglas, Kindle, Lord, Ohio

Devotion: National Handshake Day Could Be a Painful Day For Chronically Ill

June 28, 2012 By admin 1 Comment

[Love] does not boast, it is not proud." (1 Corinthians 13:4) Today is National Handshake Day. For those who are acknowledging the day, it is likely about teaching people, especially women, how to have a firm and confident handshake. It is about how to extend your arm in the right manner, and how to grasp firmly. For those of us who live with painful chronic conditions, however, it is a moment for us to talk about the second you instinctively reach out to shake someone's extended hand-- and instantly regret it. You can see his or her hand coming at you with gusto, and yet, your etiquette doesn't allow you to jerk your hand back. And then comes the squeeze. Maybe even the "crunch" while it's being pumped. Having lived with … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Devotionals, Founder's Blog, What's New? Tagged With: California, handshakes and arthritis, how to shake hands when your hands are sore, lisa copen, Lord, national handshake day, Rheumatoid arthritis, shaking hands when you have arthritis

Fear and Anxiety Is An Unwanted Companion to Chronic Illness

June 27, 2012 By admin 7 Comments

Just when we think we have conquered most of the fear and anxiety of living with daily illness, it can start all over again. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). I met with a specialist who strongly believes that a new medical treatment is the best way for me to proceed to keep my body strong. He was caring and informative. The final decision is mine. He mentioned potential side effects but felt that they are remote for me. I came away from the appointment thankful for his care, but overwhelmed mentally and emotionally with one more thing. You all know that feeling. . . more fear and anxiety. I agree that this doctor is right. I know that God has created wonderful means in the medical … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Devotionals, Fear, What's New?, Worry Tagged With: anxiety, fear and anxiety, God, Jesus Christ, Lord, lynn severance

‘Why Won’t God Heal You?’ I Am Asked. Here is My Answer

June 25, 2012 By admin 6 Comments

"Why won't God heal you?" These words can sting because they feel like judgement, but I have learned how to answer with bold faith. "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28) Many times I'm asked, "Why doesn't God heal you?" or "Why does God allow you to be in such pain?" What happened today, is a good example that. . . Let me tell you one answer to the question, "Why doesn't God heal you?" I went to the Department of Motor Vehicles today. I waited two hours for them to complete the transaction in about eight minutes (I ordered a disability license plate). I was very thankful that I was done in time to make it to my chiropractor … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Devotionals, Explaining Illness, Healing, What's New? Tagged With: Chronic pain, Failed back syndrome, God, god heal me, god heal you, Lord, Lord's Cricket Ground, Pain, Prayer

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: Illness Can Bring Splashes of Hell or Noticeable Gifts

June 18, 2012 By admin 8 Comments

"How long, Lord? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart?" (Psalm 13:1-2) How long, Lord? Have you asked this question recently? A couple of months ago a man behind me in line at the dollar store started rubbing his temples and moaning. I asked him if he was okay and he said, "Yes, just tired. Someone young like yourself wouldn't really understand that." I told him that yes, I did understand; I hadn't slept in three days due to an RA flare, but I had to pick up some milk and bread. He responded with sympathy and said, "This is just hell, isn't it? We are living in hell, aren't we?" I smiled and said, "Oh, no, we are just … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Devotionals, What's New? Tagged With: God, Invisible Illness Week, Jesu, Joni Eareckson Tada, lisa copen, Lord, Rest Ministries, San Diego

Dad, Your Kids Are Watching You – Video

June 17, 2012 By admin Leave a Comment

Happy Sunday! Oh, how we love our dads. There is a saying, "Any man can be a father, but it takes someone special to be a dad. But in our society today, dads are getting a bad rap. Just turn on any sitcom and see who is the "joke" of every laugh. Dads get far too little respect. And our sons and daughters are watching. As we celebrate Father's Day today remember your dad. perhaps they are not pleasant memories and you still have bitterness to hand over to the Lord. Perhaps you have just got caught up in life and have not talked to him lately. Maybe, if you are a dad it is time to be a dad, and not just a withdrawn father. We couldn't resist sharing a couple of our favorite videos today. If you are receiving this in your email, you … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Parenting, Parents of Adult Children, Videos, What's New? Tagged With: Family, Father, father's day, Home, Lord, Parent, Rodney Atkins, Stay at Home Fathers

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