These devotionals courtesy of Rest Ministries.
Rest Ministries ~ "Serving people who live with Chronic Illness or Pain." If you would like to have these devotionals sent daily to your email , please click below. Thank You .
REST MINISTRIES
MAKE JESUS YOUR ALL IN ALL
"It was good for me to be afflicted so
thatI might learn your decrees. The law
fromyour mouth is more precious to me than
thousands of pieces of silver and gold."
(Psalm 119:71,72 NIV)
Ah, how I have often yearned to leave this
fleshly body; this body in which I feel
trapped so often! How at my darkest hours
of pain I have prayed and asked the LORD
Jesus to come and take me to be with Him.
Yes, dear one, I have prayed this. And
maybe you have too.
Before receiving the diagnosis of fibromyalgia,
I was so confused, distraught, and dismayed.
It seemed to hit me out of the blue. The
pain in my back so intense, I could not sleep
at night -- tossing and turning in agony,
crying in despair. Yet, the LORD heard my
cries. They were not in vain, nor were they
hidden from Him. Instead of turning away from
Him,I turned toward Him. I leaned on Jesus
completely.
In addition, He brought me through it and
continues to restore me daily. Perhaps one day
I will look back and call my affliction "good"
as David the Psalmist and later King of Israel
did. I'm not quite there yet. But, I must say,
through physical afflictions, I have grown
closer and closer to my Savior, Jesus. He
sustains me. He carries me in His arms. He
restores my soul when I walk through the valley.
Jesus is my all in all. Jesus is definitely
worth more than "thousands of pieces of silver
and gold" to me.
I will praise Him when afflicted, and I will
praise Him when healed. For I know the things
my Lord Jesus has done for me. He has given me
the most precious gift of healing;"His Salvation".
He will do the same for you, dear one. Bless you.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Tina Nahid, 30, is a stay-at-home mom and wife in
Hopkinsville, KY. She has recently been diagnosed
with fibromyalgia, but was supernaturally healed
of Crohn's Disease many years ago to the glory of
God. The LORD Jesus is bringing her from
"glory to glory" each day.
A FRIEND LOVES AT AL TIMES
"Two are better than one, because they
have a good return for their work: If
one falls down, his friend can help
him up. But pity the man who falls
and has no one to help him up!"
(Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 NIV)
I have had many friends during my
lifetime, but only a few have remained
"friends for life" -- the forever friends
that have not faded away through the
passage of time, distance, and chronic
illness.I know these friends will pick
me up when I am down (physically,
emotionally, or spiritually) and will
tell me the truth even when it hurts
my feelings or seem like a stab in the
back. "Wounds from a friend can be
trusted, but an enemy multiplies
kisses." (Proverbs 27:6 NIV)
Many of us who live with chronic
illness find that loneliness has become
our unwanted companion. Those we
thought were friends are uncomfortable
around us.It seems to us they have no
regard for our plight.They are either
unwilling or unable to pick us up.
My friends, this is the very time when
we need to step outside of ourselves
and look beyond the "chronically ill"
label we wear.As we seek the LORD God,
the Keeper of our hearts, we can then
reach out to another person in need.
Trusting the LORD, our Friend and
companion for life, we are lifted up at
the very same moment we reach out
to "lift up" another who has fallen. "A
friend loves at all times, and a brother
is born for adversity."
(Proverbs 17:17 NIV)
THE LITTLE THINGS
God always remembers the little things
of which our lives are made:
a kindly word, a smile, a touch,
an act of love displayed.
A visit to a sick friend,
a call to keep in touch,
the sending of a greeting card
can mean so very much.
By these little acts of kindness,
these seeds for God we sow,
we can reap the great reward,
while in faith we grow.
For in giving we receive;
our lives are truly blessed.
We only need reach out in love,
and God will do the rest.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Nancy Wilcox lives in North Carolina with
her husband.She lives with several chronic
illnesses.
GOD IS WAITING FOR YOU
"I sought The LORD, and He answered me;
He delivered me from all my fears."
(Psalm 34:4 NIV)
I have this picture in my kitchen that
states, "God blesses this kitchen, but
He does not clean it." How true. In
order to have a neat and tidy kitchen,
we must make the effort, get out the
sponges and cleaning supplies and make
it presentable. The same can go for our
prayer life. God blesses us, however He
will not force us to do something we
choose not to do. We must make the first
move. God is waiting with open arms for
us to see that He makes ALL things new,
simply by humbly praying turning from
our old ways, to the One and Only Savior
Jesus.
It is difficult when we don't know where
to go from one place to another. Some of
us, paralyzed from fear, praying for God's
mercy and grace to have the patience to
wait. All we need to do is to do is listen
too His Voice. The future is uncertain, but
God has already blessed us. We must follow
in His grace, listening to His command and
listen to His voice.
Remembering, God does not clean the kitchen,
but blesses it and those of us in it.
"I sought the LORD and He answered me; He
delivered me from all my fears. Those who look
to Him are radiant; their faces are never
covered with shame. This poor man called and
The LORD heard him; He delivered him from all
his troubles. The angel of the LORD encamps
around those who fear Him, and He delivers
them." (Psalm 34:4-7 NIV)
God loves you so much. He has not abandoned
you in your chronic illness and pain. Many
angels surround you, sustaining you. Just
remember to let God into your heart. Don't
know how? A simple prayer, God help, me! I
love You. I need You. I would be lost
without Your Love. Be the God of my life today.
Say this simple prayer over and over and
God will enter your life, transform you and
sustain you always.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Kay DeCarlo, devotional coordionator for Rest Ministries,
lives with her husband, Joe and sweet dog "Daphne Mae"
in Conecticut. As a survivor of numerous trials,
including Hodgkin's Disease and Congestive Heart Failure,
Kay now lives with Dilated Cardiomyopthy a form of heart
disease that affects the pumping chambers of her heart,
She has a history of pulmonay emboli from her CHF. Kay
also has Bipolar Disorder, Depression, and Anxiety.
Throughout Kay's life, God has been the One constant
force that has kept her together. Kay is an aspiring
author who someday prays to become a Hospital Chaplain.
I CRY
"It was good for me to be afflicted so
thatI might learn your decrees. The law
fromyour mouth is more precious to me than
thousands of pieces of silver and gold."
(Psalm 119:71,72 NIV)
Ah, how I have often yearned to leave this
fleshly body; this body in which I feel
trapped so often! How at my darkest hours
of pain I have prayed and asked the LORD
Jesus to come and take me to be with Him.
Yes, dear one, I have prayed this. And
maybe you have too.
Before receiving the diagnosis of fibromyalgia,
I was so confused, distraught, and dismayed.
It seemed to hit me out of the blue. The
pain in my back so intense, I could not sleep
at night -- tossing and turning in agony,
crying in despair. Yet, the LORD heard my
cries. They were not in vain, nor were they
hidden from Him. Instead of turning away from
Him,I turned toward Him. I leaned on Jesus
completely.
In addition, He brought me through it and
continues to restore me daily. Perhaps one day
I will look back and call my affliction "good"
as David the Psalmist and later King of Israel
did. I'm not quite there yet. But, I must say,
through physical afflictions, I have grown
closer and closer to my Savior, Jesus. He
sustains me. He carries me in His arms. He
restores my soul when I walk through the valley.
Jesus is my all in all. Jesus is definitely
worth more than "thousands of pieces of silver
and gold" to me.
I will praise Him when afflicted, and I will
praise Him when healed. For I know the things
my Lord Jesus has done for me. He has given me
the most precious gift of healing;"His Salvation".
He will do the same for you, dear one. Bless you.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Tina Nahid, 30, is a stay-at-home mom and wife in
Hopkinsville, KY. She has recently been diagnosed
with fibromyalgia, but was supernaturally healed
of Crohn's Disease many years ago to the glory of
God. The LORD Jesus is bringing her from
"glory to glory" each day.
A FRIEND LOVES AT AL TIMES
"Two are better than one, because they
have a good return for their work: If
one falls down, his friend can help
him up. But pity the man who falls
and has no one to help him up!"
(Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 NIV)
I have had many friends during my
lifetime, but only a few have remained
"friends for life" -- the forever friends
that have not faded away through the
passage of time, distance, and chronic
illness.I know these friends will pick
me up when I am down (physically,
emotionally, or spiritually) and will
tell me the truth even when it hurts
my feelings or seem like a stab in the
back. "Wounds from a friend can be
trusted, but an enemy multiplies
kisses." (Proverbs 27:6 NIV)
Many of us who live with chronic
illness find that loneliness has become
our unwanted companion. Those we
thought were friends are uncomfortable
around us.It seems to us they have no
regard for our plight.They are either
unwilling or unable to pick us up.
My friends, this is the very time when
we need to step outside of ourselves
and look beyond the "chronically ill"
label we wear.As we seek the LORD God,
the Keeper of our hearts, we can then
reach out to another person in need.
Trusting the LORD, our Friend and
companion for life, we are lifted up at
the very same moment we reach out
to "lift up" another who has fallen. "A
friend loves at all times, and a brother
is born for adversity."
(Proverbs 17:17 NIV)
THE LITTLE THINGS
God always remembers the little things
of which our lives are made:
a kindly word, a smile, a touch,
an act of love displayed.
A visit to a sick friend,
a call to keep in touch,
the sending of a greeting card
can mean so very much.
By these little acts of kindness,
these seeds for God we sow,
we can reap the great reward,
while in faith we grow.
For in giving we receive;
our lives are truly blessed.
We only need reach out in love,
and God will do the rest.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Nancy Wilcox lives in North Carolina with
her husband.She lives with several chronic
illnesses.
GOD IS WAITING FOR YOU
"I sought The LORD, and He answered me;
He delivered me from all my fears."
(Psalm 34:4 NIV)
I have this picture in my kitchen that
states, "God blesses this kitchen, but
He does not clean it." How true. In
order to have a neat and tidy kitchen,
we must make the effort, get out the
sponges and cleaning supplies and make
it presentable. The same can go for our
prayer life. God blesses us, however He
will not force us to do something we
choose not to do. We must make the first
move. God is waiting with open arms for
us to see that He makes ALL things new,
simply by humbly praying turning from
our old ways, to the One and Only Savior
Jesus.
It is difficult when we don't know where
to go from one place to another. Some of
us, paralyzed from fear, praying for God's
mercy and grace to have the patience to
wait. All we need to do is to do is listen
too His Voice. The future is uncertain, but
God has already blessed us. We must follow
in His grace, listening to His command and
listen to His voice.
Remembering, God does not clean the kitchen,
but blesses it and those of us in it.
"I sought the LORD and He answered me; He
delivered me from all my fears. Those who look
to Him are radiant; their faces are never
covered with shame. This poor man called and
The LORD heard him; He delivered him from all
his troubles. The angel of the LORD encamps
around those who fear Him, and He delivers
them." (Psalm 34:4-7 NIV)
God loves you so much. He has not abandoned
you in your chronic illness and pain. Many
angels surround you, sustaining you. Just
remember to let God into your heart. Don't
know how? A simple prayer, God help, me! I
love You. I need You. I would be lost
without Your Love. Be the God of my life today.
Say this simple prayer over and over and
God will enter your life, transform you and
sustain you always.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Kay DeCarlo, devotional coordionator for Rest Ministries,
lives with her husband, Joe and sweet dog "Daphne Mae"
in Conecticut. As a survivor of numerous trials,
including Hodgkin's Disease and Congestive Heart Failure,
Kay now lives with Dilated Cardiomyopthy a form of heart
disease that affects the pumping chambers of her heart,
She has a history of pulmonay emboli from her CHF. Kay
also has Bipolar Disorder, Depression, and Anxiety.
Throughout Kay's life, God has been the One constant
force that has kept her together. Kay is an aspiring
author who someday prays to become a Hospital Chaplain.
I CRY