Updated on June 30, 2015
You Might Be Chronically Ill If…
In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation. – 1 Peter 5:10
* “Get Well Soon” makes you twitchy.
* You have to think about your answer to “How are you?”
* Your shopping list has things like suppositories, depends and prunes on it.
* A doctor visit is the highlight of your month, because it’s your only outing.
* It’s just as important for you to know where the benches are as it is to know where the restrooms are…. a bench inside a restroom? Golden.
* You envy people who can scrub their toilets.
Right??!
You might be a Chronically Ill Christian if…….
* You know the true power of prayer, no matter the answer.
* You’re carried more than you walk beside.
* You know how to smile through tears.
* You know the magnitude of stillness.
* You understand, “To live is Christ, to die is gain.”
* You witness to the medical community.
* You sing really loud in public places. People are already staring, so give them something to take home in their hearts.
You stand out, Dear Ones. You have a marvelous opportunity to impact lives, both of the healthy and of the infirmed. Get out there and shine!
Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it. – 1 Peter 3:15
Dear Lord, help us never to forget to find humor in the hardships. Thank You for carrying our loads to the cross. We hope to shine for You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen…
If you have been helped by this post and think it could be helpful to someone you know, please share this post on the social network of your choice for me.
All you have to do is click one of the buttons below.
May God Bless You,
Shelly
Updated on June 28, 2015
Beneath the Forsaken City: A Review & a Giveaway!
We think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters, about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it. In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead. And he did rescue us from mortal danger, and he will rescue us again. We have placed our confidence in him, and he will continue to rescue us. – 2 Corinthians 1:8-10
Conor and Aine have barely escaped Seare with their lives. Conor knows he must return to find the harp that could end the Red Druid’s reign of terror, but in the midst of their escape, he and Aine are torn apart once more. Surrounded by despair and thrown into as much danger as they left behind, Conor and Aine must cling to the whispers of Comdiu’s plans for them and the homeland that depends on their survival. But at what cost? Will they learn to depend on Comdiu completely? Or will they give up hope?
My son and I both thoroughly enjoyed this book. C. E. Laureano does a masterful job of creating a fantasy world that draws you in completely. We love how the story parallels the Christian walk… all the temptations and troubles that we face, and how God longs for our complete faith.
The only warning I would give is that you read the first book before reading this one. This is the second book in the Song of Seare series and it’s easy to feel lost when you jump in to the middle of such a complex story.
The first book, Oath of the Brotherhood, can be found here or here.
This book, Beneath the Forsaken City, can be found here or here.
** I’m pleased to give away a copy of this book to one reader. If you’d like a chance to win, please use the widget below to enter. I will randomly choose one winner next week. **
Beneath the Forsaken City Book*I received a complimentary copy of the book for review purposes from Tyndale House. All opinions are my own.
If you have been helped by this post and think it could be helpful to someone you know, please share this post on the social network of your choice for me.
All you have to do is click one of the buttons below.
May God Bless You,
Shelly
Updated on June 25, 2015
A Revealing of a Greater Thirst
All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ.- Ephesians 1:3
This song has hit me deep ever since the first time I heard it. I know that she wrote it for me. She wrote it for all of us. So here is little ole me, giving it my best shot. Enjoy….
Father, help us to receive the hard with as much thanksgiving as we accept the easy. We trust You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen…
If you have been helped by this post and think it could be helpful to someone you know, please share this post on the social network of your choice for me.
All you have to do is click one of the buttons below.
May God Bless You,
Shelly
Updated on June 24, 2015
Is God Really Working All Things For the Good?
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. – Romans 8:28
I just love this verse. Many Christians do. We love to quote it. It’s very hopeful and encouraging. No matter what, we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him.
But sometimes… sometimes we have to think, all things? Even in this thing?
Even in painful loss? Deep grief? Shattered dreams?
Even in horrible, unrelenting pain?
Even in chronic? In hospice? In sudden accidents that change lives forever?
Even in divorce and bankruptcy and widespread acts of terror?
Even in unfairness and prejudice?
Even when unspeakable things happen to the best of people?
Have you been there… to that place where you’re questioning the truth of this scripture?
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
How can we be certain? In the darkest of moments, how can we cling to this hopeful promise?
I’ll tell you how. It’s because we are clinging to the One who promises.
Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. – James 1:17
He never changes. He never casts a shifting shadow.
No matter what.
Even in this.
Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. – Hebrews 10:23
Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises. – Romans 4:20-21
Are we fully convinced? The true test of that faith comes right along with these horrible things we have to live with… the darkness we’re destined to walk through… the grief and loss that sometimes threaten to swallow us whole.
We can believe the promise because we know the purity of the One who made the promise.
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. – Romans 8:28
Dear God, we are in awe of who You are. We are clinging in faith through these hard times. Thank You for never leaving or forsaking a single one of us. In Jesus’ Name, Amen…
If you have been helped by this post and think it could be helpful to someone you know, please share this post on the social network of your choice for me.
All you have to do is click one of the buttons below.
May God Bless You,
Shelly
Updated on June 23, 2015
I Know That Voice
But the one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice. They won’t follow a stranger; they will run from him because they don’t know his voice.” – John 10:2-5
Our family has a new pet turtle. He is adorable. I know, I never thought that word could be used for a turtle either, but trust me on this. Adorable.
His name is Sammy. He’s 2-1/2 inches long and what a sweet turtle he is. He has gone from being in terror night and day to never even pulling into his shell as long as it’s just the 4 of us here at home. In fact, when the kids came home from a weekend away yesterday, that turtle almost hurt himself swimming back and forth as fast as he could in the front of the tank. He would swim up to them and just dance there. He recognized his people. It melted my heart to see it. Sweet little turtle.
He’s a water turtle, a red-eared slider. We’ve spent time each day holding him and petting him and talking to him so that he would acclimate to his home and know that he is safe here with us.
While the kids were gone this weekend, I was in charge of feeding Sammy. He’s only used to seeing me at the tank when I’m standing. I think that’s what caused the confusion on Saturday, but I it really hit home with me. Here’s what happened:
I went over to the tank in my chair, since Saturday was a dizzy day. I talked to him the entire time I was heading over, so that I wouldn’t startle Sammy. He swam happily up to the spot at the tank where I was standing. I was talking, he was dancing. He recognized my voice. Then it was like he focused long enough to recognize that I didn’t look as I usually did, since I was sitting instead of standing. He immediately panicked and spun around and went away to hide at top speed. I would talk, he would swim back, then he would see me and spin around to hide again. Over and over. He just couldn’t reconcile the voice he trusted with the image he was seeing. Poor sweet Sammy. He was a confused turtle.
It hit me as I sat there, that I’m a confused turtle sometimes, too. I know my master’s voice. I run happily to where He is as soon as I hear Him approaching. I dance there in joy. Then as I begin to recognize the chaos around me, I am distracted enough to forget that I know this voice. I know this person. He is my people. Or rather, I am His.
Do you ever feel that way? Like these things you’re facing surely don’t belong to the voice you’ve come to trust? Like all those hours spent with someone holding you safely can’t erase the fear that crops up when we face scary changes?
I kept telling Sammy that day, “It’s me, silly turtle!” I could see God grinning when I thought back over it.
It’s Him, Dear One. We know that voice. Let’s trust it.
Father God, what a blessing it is to know Your voice. What a blessing to be Your people. Help our sense to override our fears. In Jesus’ Name, Amen…
If you have been helped by this post and think it could be helpful to someone you know, please share this post on the social network of your choice for me.
All you have to do is click one of the buttons below.
May God Bless You,
Shelly
Updated on June 21, 2015
Receiving
Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. – James 1:17
There’s this crazy truth about chronic illness. It’s like a petri dish for self-doubt.
I have this really awful habit… here’s how it goes:
I beg and pray and plead for a “break” from pain or suffering. Just a tiny break. And our gracious God grants a reprieve. I spend a little time thanking, yes, and enjoying. But it takes no time at all until the self-doubt surfaces. No time at all.
“You’re getting a break because these symptoms were never real to begin with… you made them up, you can take them away at will.”
“You’ve just gotten lazy, that’s all there is to it. If you’d just make up your mind to be well, you’d be fine.”
“Maybe all you were experiencing wasn’t as bad as you remember.”
I could go on, oh I sure could. Does this happen to you, too?
Basically what I’m doing is robbing God’s gift of it’s inherent beauty. I am I’m bearing gifts as if they’re burdens. It’s not right.
Part of what makes us do this is the sincere longing to be just a little crazy rather than a whole lot truly ill. It would be easier, if more embarrassing. Cause if we make it happen, we can undo it.
Part of what makes us do this is the people the enemy has used as his foot-soldiers in our journey. They usually have lots of letters after their name. They look important and they speak with authority and we rely on them for help. What we get instead are accusations or doubt. Those people, they are so cruel, and I’m thankful that they are outnumbered by the good guys. If only their voices were quieter.
Part of the reason we do this is because our bodies truly are such a mystery, and have been for so many years, that it feels like we can’t rely on any solid truths about it. About our health. Since most of what we’ve heard are really just guesses, the guesses could be wrong, right?
It really doesn’t matter, though, does it, what the cause is?
Because basically what I’m doing is robbing God’s gift of it’s inherent beauty. I am I’m bearing gifts as if they’re burdens. It’s not right.
Photo by Tony George 
Sometimes the only thing that God requires of us is to receive. To know who we are receiving from, to acknowledge that in joy, and to revel in the gifted moments. Sometimes the only thing we’re supposed to do is rest, in Him.
These moments He gives us are not made to question. They are not meant to squander. Perhaps we have no peace in our own bodies, no answers and no certainty. But we can always have peace in Him.
Are you receiving? Are you resting? Are you accepting His peace?
I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. – Philippians 3:14
Heavenly Father, thank You for the moments of relief You grant us. Please help us to accept these blessed times and place our trust in You instead of wallowing in feelings of self-doubt. In Jesus’ Name, Amen…
If you have been helped by this post and think it could be helpful to someone you know, please share this post on the social network of your choice for me.
All you have to do is click one of the buttons below.
May God Bless You,
Shelly
Updated on June 15, 2015
How Can I Be a Temple When I’m Chronically Ill?
Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body. – 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
It seems impossible to me, but You cannot lie and so I must believe it.
I must believe that this worn-out shell is the temple of the Holy Spirit. Give me a moment while I take it that truth in….
Only You.
I bring a foundation that is cracked and seeping.
You see the Chief Cornerstone and the stability only He can bring.
I offer grime-covered windows with panes so thin the can’t keep out even the slightest chill.
You see stained-glass in bold colors, thick and secure and dazzling.
Where there are floors that are warped from years of tears,
You view alabaster, gleaming and solid.
My eyes only find peeling wallpaper and chipped paint.
Your eternal eyes see glimmering jewels and marble decoration.
My robes are filthy, stained and torn.
You see the whiter-than-snow splendor of Your Son covering me.
Barely a sound is made as I whisper my worship,
but You hear the chorus of my hopeful spirit, loud and strong.
The mite I drop as an offering seems petty and hardly worth the trouble,
but You can do more with that mite offered in faith than what the enemy could do with boats of bullion.
Only You, Father, could take this broken-down temple on overgrown grounds with forlorn worshiper, and think of it as something to be cherished. Only You, Lord, would desire it. Desire me.
Thank You for all that You see in me. Thank You for all that You accomplish in my life. I pray that I will always be a willing temple. In Jesus’ Name, Amen…
If you have been helped by this post and think it could be helpful to someone you know, please share this post on the social network of your choice for me.
All you have to do is click one of the buttons below.
May God Bless You,
Shelly
Updated on June 15, 2015
Are You Ready to Throw in the Towel?
“Then Jesus told His disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up” (Luke 18:1).
I write this to those of you who feel you are just done trying to tell medical staff that something is wrong, because they don’t seem to listen.
The ones who are tired of telling people about your pain and it getting you nowhere–except for having them doubt you even more. This is because they don’t find anything in the battery of painful tests that should give them the answer.
I write this to each of you who are ready to throw in the towel and just keep your mouth shut . . . and not say anything more.
I hope you’ll hop on over to Rest Ministries today.
I’m sharing the rest of this post there…. <3
If you have been helped by this post and think it could be helpful to someone you know, please share this post on the social network of your choice for me.
All you have to do is click one of the buttons below.
May God Bless You,
Shelly
Updated on June 11, 2015
Why Loss is a Lie
Photo by John-Morgan
And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul? – Matthew 16:26
Loss is just a word. A scary word, and don’t think the enemy doesn’t use that as often as he can. I know he uses it in my life.
“How much more will you have to lose?” he has whispered into my life this past week. A little more often than usual.
In speaking and studying with my son this week, I have been reminded of a beautiful truth. It came just in time, as God always plans it to be.
Is anything worth more than your soul?
Is pain relief worth more? How about regaining abilities? Driving, running, going, doing…. What if I were offered total healing? Is anything worth more?
No! Never!
And oh, how He holds my soul securely, right in the palm of His hands. He’s gone to prepare a place for me. If it were not so, He would have told me. And if He goes to prepare a place, He will return to bring me home.
Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ’s return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless. But I will rejoice even if I lose my life, pouring it out like a liquid offering to God, just like your faithful service is an offering to God. And I want all of you to share that joy. Yes, you should rejoice, and I will share your joy. – Philippians 2:16-18
But I will rejoice.
Yes, Lord, may it ever be. My life and everything about it…. every hour, every struggle, every single tiny detail…. belongs completely to You. I lay it down. And in that I find joy.
I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him. – Philippians 3:7-9
Oh what a prize I have attained. Through His grace alone, unworthy as I am, He will come for me. For me.
For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. – Philippians 1:21
to live is Christ…..
to die is gain…..
How can I possibly lose?
Holy Father, You are the only perspective I want. Thank You for using my amazing son to help me remember my focus. In Jesus’ Name, Amen…
If you have been helped by this post and think it could be helpful to someone you know, please share this post on the social network of your choice for me.
All you have to do is click one of the buttons below.
May God Bless You,
Shelly
Updated on June 8, 2015
Amazed by His Grace
For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace. – John 1:16
How could I not be?
Blown away
Taken aback
Standing in awe
Lost in wonder
Pure and unadulterated amazement
For this beautiful and ongoing gift, Father, we are forever thankful. We are so unworthy. We offer our meager praise to You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen…
If you have been helped by this post and think it could be helpful to someone you know, please share this post on the social network of your choice for me.
All you have to do is click one of the buttons below.
May God Bless You,
Shelly
