Religion & Spirituality Archives - Rest Ministries - Chronic Illness and Pain Support

Devotion: Twas’ The Night Jesus Was Born

December 23, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

Author Unknown Twas' the night Jesus came and all through the house, Not a person was praying, not one in the house. The Bible was left on the shelf without care, for no one thought Jesus would come there. The children were dressing to crawl into bed, not once ever kneeling or bowing their head. And Mom in the rocking chair with baby on her lap, was watching the Late Show as I took a nap. When out of the east there rose such a clatter, I sprang to my feet to see what's the matter. Away to the window I flew like a flash, tore open the shutters and lifted the sash. When what to my wondering eyes should appear, but Angels proclaiming that Jesus was here. The light of His face made me cover my head, it was Jesus … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Devotionals, What's New? Tagged With: Bible, Book of Life, Christianity, Christmas, God, Jesus, Religion & Spirituality

Devotion: Speed Bumps On The Road Of Affliction

November 16, 2011 By admin 4 Comments

"The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." (Deuteronomy 31:8) I seem to have two main modes in my life with affliction, “normal bad” and “bad bad." And then there are the “speed bumps,” those new or badly flaring episodes that can stop me in my tracks. I have gotten used to “normal bad” mode. I have to pace myself, allow for my challenges and everyday difficulties, but can function on some level. The “bad bad” days can place me in survival mode, just treading water, trying to avoid being overcome by the challenge of affliction hitting me full in the face. But it is the “speed bumps” that are most difficult to deal … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Devotionals, What's New? Tagged With: Christianity, God, karlton douglas, Kindle, Lord, Ohio, Religion & Spirituality, Speed bump

Devotion: The Strength Of Our Spirit Shines In Our Weakness of Illness

October 14, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

"The human spirit can endure in sickness, but a crushed spirit who can bear?" (Proverbs 18:14) During my time of wearing away and moving closer to death before my surgery I truly felt that all that carried me much of the time was the strength of my spirit. The human spirit and its will to live is a powerful thing. When our spirit is fortified by the Spirit of the Lord, then we become a spiritual powerhouse. We may be very weak physically, and nearly everyone will experience physical weakness at some point in their lives. In our times of physical weakness we need the Lord’s Spirit to lift us up. I often fear that the younger generation has lost touch with the Lord, and I know how badly they are going to need Him. Even those of us … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Devotionals, What's New? Tagged With: Christ, God, Jesus, karlton douglas, Lord, Ohio, Religion & Spirituality, weakness

Devotion: From Painful Attitude To Healthy Gratitude

September 29, 2011 By admin 4 Comments

“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds” (Psalm 147:3). The noise of a chainsaw interrupted my morning cup of coffee. Standing to my feet, I walked to my living room window and looked outside. Two men were busy trimming a tree across the street in my neighbor’s yard. After a few minutes, I returned to my waiting soy latte. Later that morning, I went to investigate how the trimming was coming along. "Oh no!" my thoughts screamed. "It is gone!" Standing in shock, I looked out to the empty place where my favorite tree once stood. Grief entered my heart. Gone was the hope of ever hearing the soft rustling sound of the silvery green leaves gently blowing in the wind. Feeling the breeze while hearing the sweet song of … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Devotionals, What's New? Tagged With: God, Health, Jesus, Pain, Psalms, Religion & Spirituality, Sierra Nevada, Sierra Nevada Mountains

Devotion: Keeping my Eyes Fixed on Jesus Despite the Circumstances

September 26, 2011 By admin 2 Comments

"The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world and all who live in it; for he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters." (Psalm 24:1-2) Where have you been lately? I personally have been on a tumultuous journey, not only in life circumstances but literally as well. I have traveled almost the length of my country, New Zealand, twice this year by car, which includes a three and a half hour ferry ride between the two islands. I traveled 1309km (813 miles) one way, the ferry ride consists of a 102 kilometer (63 miles) sea journey. Then I did this in reverse. So in total I traveled 2618 kilometers (1626 miles), alone! The details of the past few months have, for me, included great heartache, loss, and … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Devotionals, What's New? Tagged With: Christianity, Father God, God, Jesus, Lord, New Zealand, Psalms, Religion & Spirituality

Devotion: When We The Last Time You Invited God “In” and Not Just For a Gift?

September 23, 2011 By admin 1 Comment

"Here I am! I stand at the the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with Me." (Revelation 3:20) As we prepare our hearts to take communion at our place of worship either weekly, bi-monthly, quarterly, or daily perhaps in our home environments, let’s stop and think about this very significant directive from our Lord. This scripture from the book of Revelation is very applicable and yet not often used in conjunction with this personal, reflective time. We often see this scripture in the light of salvation as rightly we should. Is there another corollary meaning for the one who is already a believer and a student of the Bible? May I suggest that this particular … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Devotionals, What's New? Tagged With: Bible, Book of Revelation, Christianity, God, Jesus, Lord, Lynn Jones, Religion & Spirituality

Devotion: Why Does God Seem To Send Us Out Into the Storms of Illness?

September 15, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

"Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid." (Mark 6:50) We have experienced very severe storms here lately on the east coast. Watching the torrential rains and hearing the severe winds, I remembered a recent sermon our pastor gave. The above verse is from the story of Jesus walking on the water to the disciples during a storm. Our pastor pointed out something new to me. Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of Hm. The word “made” here means to compel or command. Jesus knew the storm would come, yet He made the disciples go out into the lake. Of course at the time, they had no idea what was ahead of them, but Jesus did. In the throes of this storm, when the disciples saw Jesus walking on the water they were … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Devotionals, What's New? Tagged With: Disciple (Christianity), God, Jesus, Lord Jesus, Mark, Moses, Old Testament, Religion & Spirituality

Devotion: Expressing Gratitude to God Despite Distractions of Illness

September 14, 2011 By admin 6 Comments

“And Mary said: ‘My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for He has been mindful of the humble state of His servant.” (Luke 1:46-49). The Scripture above is a portion of Mary’s response to her cousin, Elizabeth. And “when Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.” (Luke 1:41) Both women magnified God’s gift of life within them and were in wonder of the bestowal. I am filled with the same Spirit of God. I want to cling to His promises--His nearness--whatever the conditions in my life or within my body. When the burdens are heavy, attempting to strip me of this awareness, I want to remember its truth. I need God’s strength … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Devotionals, What's New? Tagged With: Christianity, God, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Lord, Mary, Psalm, Religion & Spirituality

Devotion: Our Ebenezers – Signs of God’s Faithfulness in Our Pain

August 25, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

"Then Samuel took a stone and set it up. He named it Ebenezer, saying, 'Thus far has the Lord helped us.'" (1 Samuel 7:12). In Scripture stones were sometimes used a symbols of God’s faithfulness. Whether it was deliverance from or victory over their enemies, stones were visual reminders of what God had done in the past and encouraging them to trust Him for the future. I once experienced a great example of this concept. Our former church was celebrating its 25th anniversary. The pastor asked every family to bring in an item symbolizing some way in which the church had significantly impacted their lives for God. It was a beautiful thing to see all the “stones” that people brought and to relive great shared memories. As I look … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Devotionals, What's New? Tagged With: Books of Samuel, Christianity, Evangelism, God, Jesus, Lord Jesus, Religion & Spirituality, Samuel

Raise Your Hands If You Really Love Jesus

August 16, 2011 By admin 3 Comments

Shannon Dingle Last month, my church hosted a large women's conference. We put it on every other year, and it is truly a blessing. I really loved our musicians this time and enjoyed worshiping with other women from different churches and neighborhoods and backgrounds. Such a sweet glimpse of what heaven--plus men and children, of course--has in store for us! It was especially sweet to have this time, while my sweet husband was home with our two preschoolers, because I was in pain that weekend. I have rheumatoid arthritis, and my IV meds had worn off with three weeks before the next dose. Some movements gave me the sensation of needles in my joints, which isn't so pleasant (and some lack of movement did the same, but there wasn't … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Articles, Articles - Read, Coping Skills, Invisible Illnesses, What's New? Tagged With: Christ, Christianity, Church, Evangelism, God, Jesus, Religion & Spirituality, Y'all

Devotion: I Asked God

August 14, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

Over the years we have posted this poem a few times, but it still remains a wonderful reminder of God's faithfulness, even when He says, "no" or "not now." God often answers our prayers, but more often then not, we find that He answers them in ways we didn't expect or even wish. If you are praying for something right now and seem to be given the opposite from God, we hope that little poem brings you come perspective and comfort today. "For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened." (Matthew 7:8) I asked God to take away my pride, and God said, "No." He said it was not for Him to take away, but for me to give up. I asked God to make my handicapped child whole, and God … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Devotionals, What's New? Tagged With: Christianity, Church of God - Cleveland Tennessee, Churches of God, Denominations, God, Prayer, Religion & Spirituality, suffering

Devotion: Jesus is My Guiding Light Through The Struggles

August 10, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." (Ephesians 4:29) Conversations with people, who have not found God's saving grace through Jesus, regarding life's trials can often lead to", "When all hope is lost. . ." These quotations are their way of rationalizing their failures or trials into little boxes that compartmentalize each situation. God doesn't want us to have a hopeless, so be it, outlook on life. When Jesus came to earth, lived, died and rose again, he gave us freedom and direction. Our direction is in the written Word of God, which, oddly enough is even quoted by the "unsaved." Quotes such as "Do … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Devotionals, What's New? Tagged With: Christianity, God, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Lord, New Zealand, Religion & Spirituality, Religious text