Updated on September 12, 2014
Sunday Scripture: 9/14/14
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Understand, therefore, that the Lord your God is indeed God. He is the faithful God who keeps his covenant for a thousand generations and lavishes his unfailing love on those who love him and obey his commands. But he does not hesitate to punish and destroy those who reject him. – Deuteronomy 7:9-10
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May God Bless You,
Shelly
Updated on September 12, 2014
Recommendation Saturday: The Wrong Sound
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Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right! Does a spring of water bubble out with both fresh water and bitter water? – James 3:9-11
There’s just a certain sound you expect when an animal opens its mouth. Cows moo, dogs bark, cats meow. That’s just the way it is.
What’s coming out lately when you open your mouth? Christians love, sisters praise, brothers encourage. That’s just the way it should be.
“So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” – John 13:34-35
We are best when we are community.
I would love to share in some of that community
right here from my website.
You can join in, too!
Share a post from your own blog
and then simply click on the
“Add your link” button below
and enter your blog information.
Then, please grab my Recommendation Saturday button
below, and place it on your website or post,
so that others can find their way to
our little Saturday community!
You can also Tweet your participation with the hashtag
#recommendsat
so that we can all find each other on Twitter!
You may also join in by leaving a comment.
The most important part of our community
is spreading our hope and love to others
by visiting some of the other inspirational sites
linked up and leaving comments there.
Heart Hugs, Shelly <3
Loading InLinkz ...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.
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Shelly
Updated on September 11, 2014
Does Having an Invisible Illness Make You Feel Powerless?
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“The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation” (Colossians 1:15).
I have an invisible illness. It is also chronic, painful and disabling. Mine hides in my brain, making it even more elusive and mysterious.
How about you?
Have you ever felt invisible?
I was recently reading Colossians when the above scripture jumped off the page. The invisible God.
That was the part that caught at my Spirit. I found myself staring in wonder at the words.
Will you please join me
over at Rest Ministries to finish this post?
See you there!
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May God Bless You,
Shelly
Updated on September 8, 2014
30 Things About My Invisible Illness You May Not Know 2014
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But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves;we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing;persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. – 2 Corinthians 4:7-10
1. The illness I live with is Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension (aka Pseudotumor Cerebri)
2. I was diagnosed with it in the year 2011.
3. But I had symptoms since 2003.
4. The biggest adjustment I’ve had to make is not being able to take care of my family.
5. Most people assume that I will be healed, but there is no cure.
6. The hardest part about mornings are the pain and exhaustion. I hate not being able to always get up to get the kids off to school, leaving that to my hubby.
7. My favorite medical TV show is None…. I do not watch medical tv shows. I get enough of that in real life. :p
8. A gadget I couldn’t live without is my laptop.
9. The hardest part about nights are the pain and inability to fall asleep.
10. Each day I take 10 pills & vitamins. (No comments, please)
11. Regarding alternative treatments I am open to try most, but would consult my doctor first.
12. If I had to choose between an invisible illness or visible I would choose a visible one.
13. Regarding working and career, I will never be able to work again.
14. People would be surprised to know that I have hardware in my brain, and cannot remember about a year of my life.
15. The hardest thing to accept about my new reality has been being homebound and dependent.
16. Something I never thought I could do with my illness that I did was survive it.
17. The commercials about my illness are non-existent.
18. Something I really miss doing since I was diagnosed is driving.
19. It was really hard to have to give up running and playing with my kids.
20. A new hobby I have taken up since my diagnosis is writing.
21. If I could have one day of feeling normal again I would cook and clean and dance with my hubby.
22. My illness has taught me that I have value outside what I can offer.
23. Want to know a secret? One thing people say that gets under my skin is “The Teacher is always quiet during a test.” or “God doesn’t give you more than you can handle.”
24. But I love it when people mean it when they ask “How are you?”.
25. My favorite motto, scripture, quote that gets me through tough times is:
“Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.” – 2 Corinthians 4:16
26. When someone is diagnosed I’d like to tell them please give yourself grace. It’s ok to not embrace this right away.
27. Something that has surprised me about living with an illness is how it affects every single aspect of my life.
28. The nicest thing someone did for me when I wasn’t feeling well was listened.
29. I’m involved with Invisible Illness Week because I want to raise awareness and let people know they are not alone.
30. The fact that you read this list makes me feel thankful.
Click this image to read more 30 Things Memes and learn about Invisible Illness Week.
Heavenly Father, thank you for each beautiful soul reading this. Surround them with our love and comfort. 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.
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May God Bless You,
Shelly
Updated on September 8, 2014
Just One Song (a Giveaway!) Yay!
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Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
– Colossians 3:16
Music has a way of speaking right into my soul. How about you?
In honor of Invisible Illness Awareness Week, I am giving away a Selah CD on the IIWeek Website!! I’m so excited!
Please come on over HERE and read the rest of this post,
and don’t forget to enter the giveaway!
You can browse all the great resources they have there and even enter other giveaways while you’re there!
Can’t beat that!
See you 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.
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May God Bless You,
Shelly
Updated on September 5, 2014
Sunday Scripture: 9/7/14
Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!
Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do.
Remember, the Lord is coming soon.
– Philippians 4:4-5
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May God Bless You,
Shelly
Updated on September 5, 2014
Recommendation Saturday: Hold the Bottle, Will You?
A third time he asked him,
“Simon son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time.
He said, “Lord, you know everything.
You know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Then feed my sheep.” – John 21:17
No qualifications needed.
There are so many orphans out there.
Hold the bottle, will you?
We are best when we are community.
I would love to share in some of that community
right here from my website.
You can join in, too!
Share a post from your own blog
and then simply click on the
“Add your link” button below
and enter your blog information.
Then, please grab my Recommendation Saturday button
below, and place it on your website or post,
so that others can find their way to
our little Saturday community!
You can also Tweet your participation with the hashtag
#recommendsat
so that we can all find each other on Twitter!
You may also join in by leaving a comment.
The most important part of our community
is spreading our hope and love to others
by visiting some of the other inspirational sites
linked up and leaving comments there.
Heart Hugs, Shelly <3
Loading InLinkz ...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 September 5, 2014
Sing Anyway
Oh, sing to the Lord a new song!
Sing to the Lord, all the earth.
Sing to the Lord, bless His name;
Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day. – Psalm 96:1-2
I saw this quote on my Facebook feed the other day. I snorted. Literally snorted.
I guess that was one of those days when I had no song in my heart.
I was struck by how simple they made it sound. Sing anyway. Oh, sure, it’s that easy.
I started to hum a little ditty in my mind. The tune for “If You’re Happy and You Know It”, only I wasn’t. Happy.
Then I made up the first verse.
If you’re crappy and you know it
stomp your feet!
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A giggle burst forth from my mouth. From somewhere deep inside me that was full of joy. A place I hadn’t known was there until that moment.
And then I had to roll my eyes because I realized that it was that easy after all. Just that easy.
So now I pass on this challenge to you. No matter the song, no matter the day. No matter if you make up your own rebellious words as you hum.
Just sing anyway.
Holy God, thank You for putting a song in my heart every day. You snuck right in and hid it within me. The joy, too. How did You know it was the perfect gift? 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.
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May God Bless You,
Shelly
Updated on May 13, 2016
What Do You Need to Get Into Heaven?
For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. – Romans 5:10
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There are steps we have to take to get to Heaven. It’s all about faith and trust and a whole lot of love. Mostly love coming at us, that all we have to do it pass on. Brilliant, right?
This week, God has been reminding me…
All the losses that I mourn, all the things I can no longer do, all my grief over new hardship. Those are all things I do not need to get in to heaven. And when it comes right down to it… right down to the nitty gritty… that’s all that really matters, isn’t it?
I don’t need to drive.
I don’t need to run (or even walk).
I don’t need to see clearly.
I don’t need to cook.
I don’t need to bend.
I don’t need to clean.
I don’t need to hear well.
I don’t need to speak eloquently.
I don’t need to be able to swallow.
I don’t need to sleep well.
I don’t need to be pain-free.
I don’t need all the answers.
All I need… I mean really need is Jesus. He’s not going anywhere and He’s got my entry fee covered. I think I’ll just rest in that today.
For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time—to show us his grace through Christ Jesus. – 2 Timothy 1:9
Dear Lord, thank You for these reminders. Please grant me peace as I trust in You alone. 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.
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May God Bless You,
Shelly
Updated on September 2, 2014
Will God Leave?
So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer.
– 2 Corinthians 5:16
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It’s all just too much, isn’t it? It grows more so over time, too.
When we first get sick, everyone’s alarm bells go off. People rush in, surround us, pitch in, get on board. They call to check and bring in meals and pray for relief. They reach out and cover over and hug us close.
But as chronic illness stays, well… chronic… people start to slip away. Or maybe they’re still somewhere along the perimeter, but they have a life, too, and we just become too high-maintenance. Calls become less frequent. Prayers dwindle as the realization comes that no drastic, miraculous answers are right on the horizon.
We can become so hardened. We begin to expect this type of reaction, waiting for it instead of being surprised by it.
And many times I think this spills over onto our Savior.
Please come over to Rest Ministries
to finish reading this post.
See you there…
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.
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May God Bless You,
Shelly
