Chronic Illness Pain Devotionals

Here To Servie

“For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.”(Philippians 1:21-24)(NIV).

God has given us these bodies, yet we find that living in them is difficult. We suffer in pain, sometimes finding it difficult to get through each day. Sometimes we just want to give up.

There are parallels in our lives to what the Apostle Paul experienced. In Philippians, Paul spoke of his suffering and oppression in prison. It would have been easy for him to give up, but instead, he acknowledged that Christ was his life, and his whole purpose for living. Paul knew that when he departed this life, a glorious eternity awaited, for he would see Christ and live with Him forever.

Paul did not give up, but he acknowledged his need to go on living despite his suffering. He had been called to advance the kingdom of God, to help others in their faith walk with Christ.

So here we are, living in our bodies, in pain. But when we start each new day recognizing that Christ is the Lord of our life, He gives us reason to continue on. Even with our painful circumstances, we have a role to play for God. We find that we can advance the Gospel. We pray for others and share our faith with them. We console others who are also suffering. We spread Christ’s love with our attitudes and words of love and praise to our King.

Our glorious eternity is coming, but until then, we will endure in our bodies, keeping Christ at the center point of our lives, knowing we are here to serve Him for a while longer.

“Dear God, we serve You with the bodies we have as we live for You. We look forward to our eternity when we will see Your face and suffer no more. Amen.”

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Doris Farley experiences chronic pain that began after an accident. Her circumstances have led to an unexpected, life-changing spiritual journey that has renewed her commitment to our Lord. She thanks God for reaching her and prays that He will reach you also, through the words He gives her to write for you.

The Old Man With A Mission

"Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it."  (Hebrews 13:2 NIV)

A few years ago we received a call from a friend

saying there was an old man at one of our local

convenience stores in town and he needed a place

to stay.  Being Pastors we began to wonder about

this man and why he couldn't stay in a Motel.

I went to the store and talked to the man. He was

an elderly man who actually was wealthy. He drove a

big fancy car. He walked slowly and  talked slowly

as well. His mind was also slow, either from Dementia

or Alzheimers. We found out by talking to him that

he also had Emphysema. He said he had come from

another state. He said He was coming to a small town

near us to say good bye to his wife who was buried in

a cemetary there before he died.

We gave him a meal, and let him stay in our camper that

night. The next morning when we got up he was gone.

No sign of him anywhere.  We do not know what time

he left or got up.  When we went out to check the

camper it was clean and nice.

You see sometimes God puts strangers in our lives to

see how we will react. Also to teach us lessons.

This man may have been an Angel, we do not know.

I tried to follow up by trying to find out if his wife was

truly buried in the small town but was unable to ever

find out.

God gives everyone of us a uniqueness, that is all of

our own, some are healthy, other have disabilities like

the elderly gentleman, others are great orators for God,

and still others want to just be in a corner and be unseen

and unheard.  This man had a uniqueness. He was unique

because he came from a long way off to find the love of

his life.

Doesn't this story sound uniquely familiar?  How about

Jesus? He came into many towns as a stranger, some

accepted him, others rejected him!  We could have

rejected the old man...  made him go away,,, but I

remember a verse that I learned that says to entertain

strangers, for some have entertained Angels unaware.

Unfortunately, Jesus is a stranger in a lot of hearts and

churches today.  All he wants is to come in and dwell

with you. It costs nothing, and he will sweep us

clean and forgive us of your sins.  I am not saying the

old man was an Angel, however he was a very unique,

quiet man who knew his mission and he was set to fulfill it.

What about you? Do you have purpose in life?  Do you

have a planned route or mission that you want to

accomplish?

Let Jesus in and he will give you the confidence, 

the mission and plan that you need to make your life

complete.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Pastor Pat Dittert lives in a berm home in Central Iowa with
his lovely wife Nancy and 5 fur babies. Pat lives with Chronic
Pain from a number of surgeries and injuries. Brain Tumor
surgery left him disabled and unable to do most physical
activities. He is also a survivor of Cancer and has 2 stints in
his heart. Pat has several Internet Ministries, leads a Home
Bible Fellowship on Sunday Nights and is a freelance writer
with Christian newpapers, poetry, etc. His Devotional page is
http://fibromyalgiahelp.homestead.com/RevPatsDevotional.html

Contact him at rivpat77@msn.com

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Love One Another

"Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God.  Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us." (1 John 4: 7-12 NIV)

I don't know about you, but I have struggled a few times on this illness journey with the above passage and what it requires of us.  Love one another - All the time? What if someone hasn't been particularly loving toward us? What if I don't feel like loving someone who is causing me pain? What if someone suddenly stops caring about us? What if someone has pulled away from us and made our life even harder?

According to John, those are the times we need to show God's love even more. But it is difficult isn't it? I have a hard time showing love to a nurse or doctor who is causing me pain. I have a hard time showing love to someone who has been supportive and caring all along and who suddenly stops with no explanation. But, that is what God asks of each of us. How can we be an example of Him if we aren't loving to everyone regardless of how they treat us and what they do or don't do?  When we sin or someone sins against us, we have to remember that God loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. He sent his only Son into the world that we might live.  What an awesome responsibility we have to show God's love to everyone we meet.

As a cancer patient I have learned some unforgettable lessons: 1. It is important to trust in God's love without doubt. 2. Life is precious. 3. Don't take one day for granted. 4. Good friends are lifesavers. 5. Pain is necessary. 6. Healing emotional wounds is vital for healthy living. 7. Forgiveness brings hope. 8. Life-threatening disease reveals a person's true character. 9. Love is a powerful thing. 10. Feeling alone may be the worst and the best part of coping with disease. 11. Allow friends and loved ones to be human - to let you down, even when you need them the most.

The last one is the hardest to learn. It is important that we understand and accept what they have to give and learn that our friends, as much as we love them, have their own limits. We have to have the spiritual maturity to allow our friends to disappoint us. Even Jesus felt abandoned by His disciples in His hour of need. But, they finally came around. Hopefully our friends will come around too.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Denny Dowd lives in Pennsylvania with her cat, Shamrock. Denny is a social worker and she enjoys writing, reading, and volunteering. Denny is the world's biggest Notre Dame football fan. Denny lives with Chronic Inflammatory Demylineating Polyneuropathy and cancer and has strong faith that God will see her through even the most difficult of days.

The Rest Of God

"I will lie down and sleep in peace, for You alone, O
Lord, make me dwell in safety." (Psalm 4:8 NIV)

Some nights, I have trouble sleeping.  I'm sure that's
not a surprise to anyone who suffers from a chronic
illness.  Maybe we are in pain or filled with anxiety
over an upcoming exam.  Sometimes, dread fills us as
we wait for test and lab results.  No matter what the
underlying issues are, we've all had nights when sleep
just wouldn't come.

After my doctors scolded me for not resting and for
pushing myself to exhaustion, I accepted the fact that
rest was crucial to my overall well-being.  I asked
God to help me learn to rest - to release the
pressures I put on myself to go, to do, and to be.
Honestly, I didn't want to slow down.  Would pausing
to rest signal defeat or my acceptance that I was
weak?  Did my desire to push (really punish) my body
reveal denial of reality - was I trying to ignore the
physical limitations I now faced?

As I cried out to God for help, I read this Psalm.  I
asked God to help me lie down in peace and to help me
sleep.  He did.  I experienced tranquil, undisturbed
sleep for the  first time in a long while.  I woke the
next morning feeling refreshed and restored.  I had a
little more energy.  I liked the feeling and wanted to
experience it more often.

Since that day, I have to continually seek God's help
to rest.  It seems like the things I need to do will
never get done.  I contend with feelings of guilt and
laziness when those around me accomplish so much more.
It is an ongoing battle to listen to my body and to
stop when I feel fatigued.  The biggest fight has been
against the ugly thoughts that whisper, "You should be
doing something."

It is during these times of struggle that I remember
God's promise to never leave me, and I seek Him.  His
peace quiets my mind and eventually, rest comes.

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About the Author:
Dorothea Love lives in California with her husband and
two children.  For over 20 years, she has faced the
challenges of systemic lupus, fibromyalgia, migraines,
endometriosis, and osteoporosis.  She trusts in God's
sufficient grace to help her get through each day. 
She prays that her testimonies will encourage others
to share their stories.

Resevoir Of Joy

"You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe
suffering,
you welcomed the message with the Joy given by the Holy Spirit."  (I
Thessalonians 1:16 NIV)

As I go through pain, and chronic illness, I am amazed when I find the
reservoir of Joy within my Soul.  Now I realize the surface looks
choppy and
rough: the doctor appointments, not being able to do what I would like,
house not clean, and a lack of energy. However, the source of our
existence
is the Spirit of the Lord that dwells within.  And even in the midst of
our
pain, we can go a little higher and tap into the reservoir of Joy.

The sometimes choppy existence of my life reminds me of an airplane
pilot
that goes above the storm and turbulence when the ride gets rough. 
When I
send a card, or speak with a friend and share with them about their
pain,
this is an example of when I can go above the turbulence of my own
life.  Or
when something is funny, I am able to laugh and enjoy life.

Haven't you had times when the disease and the turbulence gives place
to
inner Joy?  My granddaughters stir up joy within me and I actually have
felt
better, if only for a while as I visit with them.

I see Joy as a reservoir that is given by the Holy Spirit and fueled by
our
prayer time; and our communion with the Lord.  This joy in Christ is a
well
and reservoir which never runs dry. We can tap into the reservoir of
His
joy.

I am thankful for His joy which is the strength of my life. I know it
is put
in my heart by the Lord, and yet I must remember to look up, similar to
a
pilot of an aircraft, and go above the storm.

Prayer: Lord, help me to tap into the reservoir of Joy that you have
placed
within my heart even in the midst of my pain. Amen.

_____________
Martha Smith lives with chronic conditions of pain: rheumatoid
arthritis,
osteo-arthritis, fibromyalgia, and most recently diagnosed with cancer.
She
and her husband live in Cornelia, Georgia. Martha is a former hospital
chaplain and is an ordained minister. She and her husband George have a
grown daughter and two granddaughters. She ministers as one of several
pastors to women on-line who have lupus, and other debilitating
conditions.
gmsmith1212@alltel.net

Chat Room Ministries This Week

SCHEDULED CHAT ROOM MINISTRIES THIS COMING WEEK

Please take advantage of these times of fellowship, encouragement and support.

C.A.R.E. CONNECTION CHATS: (all in Standard Time)

Mondays 10:00 am Pacific/12:00 pm Central/1:00 pm Eastern

-  Chat Host is Mary

Mondays 5 pm Pacific/7 pm Central/8 pm Eastern

-  Chat Host is Liz

Tuesdays 5 pm Pacific/7 pm Central/8 pm Eastern

-  Chat Host is Donna

What is C.A.R.E. Connection?  C.A.R.E. stands for Comfort, Accept, Refresh, Encourage.  We want you to be able to connect with others who are going through similar problems or situations.  There will be a volunteer “Chat Host” at each of these times so you can be sure that someone will be there to make you feel welcome and lead the chat time in an hour of encouragement in God’s Word and fellowship and prayer together.

Other scheduled chat ministries:

Fellowship hour – Tuesdays at 1 pm Pacific/3 pm Central/4 pm Eastern

Hopekeepers Bible Study – Thursdays at 5 pm Pacific/7 pm Central/8 pm Eastern

TO GET TO THE CHAT ROOM:  Go to www.restministries.org/pro-chat.htm and type in your name in the box and click on “Connect”.  (It may take a few minutes to load the chat room window.) 

C.A.R.E. CHAT ROOM:  A special chat room has been created just for the CARE chats to meet together in if the CARE Host chooses to do so.  So when you want to join one of the scheduled C.A.R.E. Connection chat times, you just sign into the Rest Ministries chat room as usual, which takes you to the main room called the Lobby.  Check there to see if the CARE chat is taking place in the Lobby or in the CARE Connection chat room.  To move there, click on  "show rooms" above the user names and then double click the room you want to go to (CARE Connection).

If you are unsure about getting there at the correct time try going to www.timetemperature.com/tzus/time_zone.shtml and below the map you will see the time zone differences (i.e. Pacific, Mountain, Central, Eastern). 

Carolann Page

Rest Ministries

C.A.R.E. Chat Co-ordinator

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New Every Morning

“Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions [mercies] never fail.  They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:22-23 NIV)

Mornings are hard!  I wake up barely able to walk to the bathroom, desperate to take my meds, sit down with a cup of coffee and wait until the pain and stiffness ease.  And, every morning it’s the same.   No surprises, nothing new—the same routine day in and day out.

But, God has prepared something special, something specific for each new day even in the midst of our routinely difficult mornings.  Mercies!  Not just one mercy, but mercies.  And, not the same mercies as yesterday … new mercies each and every morning.

The Lord proves His faithfulness to be great—greater than what we know.  The word “great” comes from a Hebrew word meaning manifold or multiplied by myriads.   In other words, God’s love provides to us new mercies every morning because His faithfulness is manifold and multiplied by myriads.

It reminds me of another scripture:  “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine…” (Ephesians 3:20).  It’s His exceedingly immeasurable greatness that makes new mercies available to us every day, even when we’re struggling with pain of chronic illness, more than we can ask or imagine.

I’m so thankful the Lord isn’t like our everyday pain and stiffness.  He gives NEW mercies proving His utter faithfulness resulting from His great love.  Today’s mercies will not be tomorrow’s mercies.  Today’s compassion toward us will never become routine.  Each new day contains new compassions—new mercies.

Did you happen to notice any new mercies today?  Look for them … be aware of and thank the Lord for each new mercy He has extended toward you from His incredibly compassionate love. 

Prayer:  Oh Lord, teach me to find new mercies for each new day.  Teach me to exalt in Your great love and compassion toward me.  Thank You, Father, for the greatness of Your faithfulness toward me.  Amen!

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jan Ross lives in Willard, OH, with her husband, Ron; they have six adult children and twelve incredible grandchildren.  Jan serves as a women’s minister and missionary with Heart of God International Ministries and she enjoys teaching and writing Bible Studies.  Jan has seen God move in her life as His strength is made perfect in her weakness from fibromyalgia, psoriatic arthritis and other chronic conditions.  www.heartofgodinternational.com

Have You Not Heard?

Have you not heard?

Have you not known?
Have you not heard?
The everlasting God, the Lord, The Creator of the ends of the earth,
Neither faints not is weary.
His understanding is unsearchable.
He gives power to the weak,
And to those who have no might He increases strength,"
(Isaiah 40: 28,29)

How comforting to know that our Creator never faints, nor grows weary.
  He is always there to meet our needs.  He created all, and is in
charge of all.

I moved here to Arizona just a year ago.  Since I have been here, I
have been diagnosed with three different chronic illnesses.  Each day I am
faced with pain and fatigue, changing my whole daily life.  But in
reading God's word, and searching Him out in prayer and believing that He
is in control, I can let go of many daily struggles.  Through His word
I have found that he gives us peace, love, and strength. I know there
are many days I run out of strength.  My body becomes weaker as the day
carries on. I can not continue on my own.  But, He lifts me up and
gives strength to my heart and mind.  Allowing me to lean on him and not
this weak body of mine.

God promises to always take care of us.  Through Him we can find the
peace and power to deal with our pains and weaknesses.  God describes our
strength given from him as the strength of the eagle.  We need to hold
on to the promises he gives.  In (Isaiah 55: 11) it says, "So shall My
word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void,
But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the
thing for which I sent it."  Just as the rain gives life to thirsty and
withered  plants, God's word brings life to our hearts and minds.  He
will renew us each day as we go to Him in prayer, and in His word.  What
an everlasting God we have!

Heavenly Father, thank you for lifting us up each day.  For renewing
our strength, our hearts, and minds.  Your love rains on us as we are
thirsty and withered plants, springing forth with renewed strength.  Thank
You for always being there for us. I'm thankful You are my Creator,
the One with endless strength and power.
Amen

Margie Scott lives in Chandler, Arizona, with her son, James.  She
enjoys reading, writing, sewing, and spending time with her family. Margie
strives each day to trust God's grace will provide as she faces
Parkinson's, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and Fibromyalgia.

The Name Of The LORD

The Name of the Lord

“May the LORD answer you when you are in distress; may the name of the God of Jacob protect you.” (Psalm 20:1 NIV)

A shepherd-boy, who watched a flock of sheep near a village, brought out the villagers three or four times by crying, “Wolf! Wolf!” and when his neighbors came to help him, laughed at them for their pains. 

The wolf, however, did truly come at last.  The shepherd-boy, now really alarmed, shouted in an agony of terror: “Pray, do come and help me; the wolf is killing the sheep” but no one paid any heed to his cries, nor rendered any assistance.  The wolf, having no cause of fear, at his leisure destroyed the whole flock.

The moral of the story:  There is no believing a liar, even when he speaks the truth.

Aesop wrote many fables that teach hard lessons.  This particular fable has stirred in my heart many times, particularly in today’s culture where it is accepted to take the Lord’s name in vain.  While the Lord promises He will never turn His back on us and He will always heed our call, I often wonder if He doesn’t tire of the many times we cry out, “Oh my God!” as an expletive without really meaning to invoke His presence in prayer. 

Psalm 124:8 reminds us “Our help is in the name of the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.”

Proverbs 18:10 tells us, “The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.”

When we’re hurting, we want to know the Lord will hear our cries.  When pain overwhelms us and we cry out, “My Lord!” we need to know He’s near.  When we’re too weak to get out of bed, we need to know we can call on the name of the Lord for strength.

Honor the name of the Lord.  Call upon Him in your time of trouble. 

Father, forgive me for the times I’ve misused Your holy name. Oh Lord, hear my cries and answer when I am in distress.  Amen

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jan Ross lives in Willard, OH, with her husband, Ron; they have six adult children and twelve incredible grandchildren.  Jan serves as a women’s minister and missionary with Heart of God International Ministries and she enjoys teaching and writing Bible Studies.  Jan has seen God move in her life as His strength is made perfect in her weakness from fibromyalgia, psoriatic arthritis and other chronic conditions.  www.heartofgodinternational.com

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