God's Love and More

“May our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and by His grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word” (II Thessalonians 2:16).

I always enjoy seeing the colorful Valentine’s Day decorations at this time of year, and it’s an appropriate time to meditate on God’s priceless love. This verse is a favorite of mine, because it reminds me not only of His great love for me, but of the other blessings I am given as well.

Love and grace: God loved me enough to send Jesus to the cross for me, though I did nothing to deserve or earn this (Ephesians 2:5). His love is everlasting, and no pain, illness, or difficulty can separate me from it (Jeremiah 31:3, Romans 8:39).

Eternal encouragement: God’s support and help will never end. They are as eternal and boundless as He is, and He always hears my cry (Psalm 10:17).

Good hope: When my hope seems gone, He miraculously restores it through Scripture and the comforting power of the Holy Spirit within me (Romans 15:4, 13). I have hope for my eternal future, and I am given continual daily hope as I face the frustrations and disappointments of my disabilities.

Strength: I am given God’s divine power to live this life, even in weakness, trials, and pain (II Peter 1:3), and I am constantly protected against Satan’s attacks (II Timothy 4:18).

When I feel overwhelmed and unable to keep going, I remind myself of what I possess. Just as the cheerful red of February is a bright spot in the midst of a gray winter, so the comfort of these divine gifts lifts me up on my darkest days. I can make it — through this day and through this life– because of God’s love and more.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, how I praise You for Your unending love, grace, encouragement, hope, and strength. Teach me to live my days in the power of these truths. Amen.


About the Author:

Bronlynn Spindler is a wife and mother of three grown daughters and lives in Fredericksburg, VA. God’s grace and strength give her the ability to deal with chronic back pain, depression, headaches, and fibromyalgia. You may contact her at spindler@cox.net and view her blog of devotionals at http://www.aplaceofsprings57.blogspot.com/.

Posted by: Rest Ministries

The Essence of Love

2With Valentine's Day fast approaching, the world turns its focus to "love". But what is "love", really? Perahaps it can best be defined, not in words, but in a thousand pictures God has given us to illustrate His profound feelings for those He created. Love is all around us and in us, if we only open not only our eyes, but our hearts...

The Essence of Love

Love is a sunrise- a radiant kiss

   of life and warmth to all creation,

The heavens' amidst;
   a glorious light of truth and dedication.

Love is a seashore- golden sand
   and silver waves depict the timeless art;
Collecting and sifting, again and again,
   carefully discerning those thoughts of the heart.

Love is a gentle rain shower in spring-
   soothing the thirst of a weary one's soul.
Falling, it makes the heat to sing
   and tenderly urges the flowers to grow.

Love is a mountain- majestic and strong;
   a colossus of truth, changeless and free;
A powerful fortress which all nature bonds
   and holds in its chambers life's key.

Love is a miracle- God’s special gift;
   His perfect plan brought to earth.
Love is the essence of all that is His;
   the measure of life and its worth.

And those who discover this wondrous gift
   hold greater wealth than the world can know.
It is love's priceless treasure that brings hearts a'lift;
   for the essence of love is life to the soul.

© 2009 Angela Hall Dobbins

If you want to discover or learn more about God's deep and endearing love for you, visit True Life Family Ministries or True Living Today- Life Coaching with purpose & passion.

The Will of God

January 1, 2010 by Rest Ministries

As we begin our new year it can be tempting to wonder if God really understands that our bodies cannot keep up with our dreams of all we’d like to do – for Him, ourselves, our family, those we care about.

But He does know exactly how you are feeling today. . . and how you will feel tomorrow. He knows you lack energy, even on days you may have enthusiasm and you feel like the day was wasted. Remember that God never wastes anything. Your time and your experiences are all a part of His greater plan.

The Will of God

The will of God will never take you,
Where the grace of God cannot keep you,
Where the arms of God cannot support you,
Where the riches of God cannot supply your needs,
Where the power of God cannot endow you.

The will of God will never take you,
Where the Spirit of God cannot work through you,
Where the wisdom of God cannot teach you,
Where the army of God cannot protect you,
Where the hands of God cannot mold you.

The will of God will never take you,
Where the love of God cannot enfold you,
Where the mercies of God cannot sustain you,
Where the peace of God cannot calm your fears,
Where the authority of God cannot overrule for you.

The will of God will never take you,
Where the comfort of God cannot dry your tears,
Where the Word of God cannot feed you,
Where the miracles of God cannot be done for you,
Where the omnipresence of God cannot find you.

Everything happens for a purpose. We may not see the wisdom of it all now, but trust and believe in God that everything is for the best.

~Author unknown

Lisa Copen submitted this devotional. She is the founder of Rest Ministries and lives with rheumatoid arthritis.

The Fern And The Bamboo

The Fern And The Bamboo
"'Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.'"
Hebrews 13:5 NIV


One day I decided to quit...I quit my job, my relationship, my
spirituality. ... I wanted to quit my life. I went to the woods to have one
last talk with God.

'God', I said. 'Can you give me one good reason not to quit?'

His answer surprised me.

'Look around', He said. 'Do you see the fern and the bamboo?'

'Yes', I replied.

'When I planted the fern and the bamboo seeds, I took very good care of
them. I gave them light. I gave them water. The fern quickly grew from the
earth. Its brilliant green covered the floor. Yet nothing came from the
bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo.

In the second year the fern grew more vibrant and plentiful. And again,
nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo.

In year three there was still nothing from the bamboo seed. But I would not
quit. The same in year four.

Then in the fifth year, a tiny sprout emerged from the earth.
Compared to the fern, it was seemingly small and insignificant.
But just six months later, the bamboo rose to over 100 feet tall.

It had spent the five years growing roots. Those roots made it strong and
gave it what it needed to survive. I would not give any of my creations a
challenge it could not handle.

Did you know, my child, that all this time you have been struggling, you
have actually been growing roots? I would not quit on the bamboo.. I will
never quit on you.

Don't compare yourself to others.' He said. 'The bamboo had a different
purpose than the fern. Yet they both make the forest beautiful.'

'Your time will come', God said to me. 'You will rise high'

'How high should I rise?' I asked.

'How high will the bamboo rise?' He asked in return.

'As high as it can?' I questioned.

'Yes.' He said, 'Give me glory by rising as high as you can.'

I left the forest, realizing that God will never give up on me. And He will
never give up on you!

Never regret a day in your life.
Good days give you happiness; bad days give you experiences; both are
essential to life.

**********************************************************************************

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

The author of today's devotion is unknown. It was submitted by Kay DeCarlo, Devotion Coordinator for Rest Ministries. Kay lives with her husband Joe and two furry dog-type children, Daphne Mae and Alice in Connecticut. Kay struggles with Dilated Cardiomyopathy, Bipolar Disoder and Type 2 Diabetes.

Courtesy of Chronic Illness Pain Devotionals from Rest Ministries.

Your Gift

Your Gift

Be sure to share your 'gift' today

with someone along life's way;

though it may, to that one in need,

be a gift he can not repay.

Search deep within yourself

to find those special traits,

which God has gifted especially to you,

for uplifting others today.

Reach out and touch another

with the love God has placed deep within.

For, even when your own heart is heavy,

there is one whose heart you can tend.

So remember to think of someone today

whose life you may somehow touch,

that through the special gift God has given you,

He might reveal His love.

For the greatest gift we can offer another

is God's precious gift of Love,

and to help one discover his own special gift,

lovingly bestowed from above.

~ by Angela Hall Dobbins

Discover more Christian poetry and lots of helpful Christian resources and links by visiting True Life Family Ministries

Beautiful Days Of Autumn

Beautiful Days of Autumn

~ Angela Hall Dobbins

Autumn leaves swirl ‘round in circles

O’er the beautiful, shimmering pond,

And, in the meadow, wildflowers wake

Into the misty fog beyond.

The sparrows seem to dance a ballet

‘Round the oak tree’s branching bows,

And the mockingbirds sing their melodies

In the time to them nature allows.

Little cottontails scamper ‘cross the meadow,

All covered in sparkling dew,

To drink from a stream of rainwater

That has freshly fallen anew.

The squirrel is gathering nuts

For the winter yet to come.

And, though it seems he’s plenty,

He’s always lacking some.

These beautiful days of autumn

The beholder will long remember,

For each reveals the Creator’s heart,

In all its glorious splendor.


Photo art by Angela Hall Dobbins

For more Christian poetry and bits of wisdom, visit True Life Family Ministries

My Parents Don't Believe I Am Really Ill

Article written for Rest Ministries

Q/A

I am 36 and was diagnosed with fibromyalgia last year, but I've had the severe symptoms for about 3 years. My husband has been supportive, but my parents don't believe I really have this illness and if I do I should just take the medicine they see on the commercials and get on with life.

I love them and want to still have some kind of relationship with them, but it is causing stress on my marriage too, because my husband can't bear to see me hurt by them any more. –Sherry


Dear Sherry,

I'm sorry you're hurting.  Sometimes it can be very difficult for others to understand or to accept the reality of a chronic illness. Often times, they don’t realize that the debilitating affects of an illness like Fibromyalgia vary from patient to patient and that, for many, it just isn‘t as easy as “pushing ourselves“ or “taking a pill” in order to maintain the life we once led. Unfortunately, the ads from pharmaceutical companies are aimed at selling a product and don’t adequately present the varied symptoms of such a complex disorder.

May I suggest a couple of resources that might help your parents gain a better understanding of how your illness affects you. One is a Fact Sheet from the National Fibromyalgia Association. And the other is an article titled, “What's Going On? A Simple Explanation of Fibromyalgia- Making Sense of a Complex Disorder, For Those Who Don't Have It”. The second is one of the best I’ve found and really describes how FM affects the body in simple, easy to understand terms. I hope it helps.

Beyond that, it is important for you to do whatever is needed to reduce the stress your relationship with your parents is placing on both yourself and your marriage. I know it’s heart-breaking to consider limiting the amount of contact between you. And I, myself, understand how painful it can be not to have the support of those dearest to you, especially when facing an illness. It can feel like a dagger through the heart sometimes. But, in order to improve and maintain your health as much as possible, it is crucial to address both your physical and emotional needs. Since we know that stress exacerbates the symptoms of FM, it’s important to limit stressful situations as much as possible and to maintain positive, supportive relationships in your life.

I’m so happy to hear that your husband is understanding and supportive! That is truly a blessing! And it may be that, one day, your parents will come to be supportive, as well. I would encourage you to share these articles with them. If you haven’t already done so, you might also try writing them a letter, expressing your feelings. Explain to them what a typical day, living with your symptoms, is like for you. If you have done all you can do to try to help them understand, and they still fail to be supportive, then it may be necessary to distance yourself from them for a time. Focus on doing all you can to have a positive emotional outlook and this will help you immensely, both in managing your FM and in dealing with your parents.

Sherry, I encourage you to pray for your parents’ understanding. And, at the same time, ask God to give you strength to change the things you can and peace to accept the things you can not. He can ease your hurt and help you learn to, once again, lead a joyful, productive life, even while managing the effects of your illness!

In Christian Love & Service,

Angela

Angela Dobbins, Founder
True Life Family Ministries
True Life Strategies- life coaching with hope & heart

Angela Dobbins is a Christian life coach in McKinney, TX. She lives daily with the effects of Fibromyalgia and Myofascial Pain Complex, along with other disorders and sensitivities. Angela’s passion is to share God’s love with others and to assist them in becoming all He created them to be, even in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds.

Other helpful articles you may want to check out:
"When Friends Don't Understand Your Invisible Illness: What To Do" by Lisa Copen, Rest Ministries