God Heals the Broken Hearted

"He heals the broken-hearted and binds up their wounds. He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name. Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit". (Psalm 147 3-5 NIV) Living with chronic illness and dealing with a daily lifestyle of pain is never easy. Many times we look back at the times we were healthier or were able to spread our wings and do more than we can do now. Then there are the times we deal with well meaning people that do not understand our illnesses, and they seem to think we can "surely get better" if we will just try harder, trust God more, exercise, eat healthier, etc. You know what I am talking about don't you! We have all been there. The important thing is... we know our limitations, but many times there are those that do not understand. Oh but my dear ones... God does understand, and He is always there to mend a broken heart. He is with us 24/7, 365 days a year. He is faithful and just. He is only a prayer away. He will dry your tears my friends. Call out to Him. Not only will He dry our tears but He will also give us the strength we need to get through our trials, and will give us the ability to forgive those that do not understand us. May we all trust in the One that is our provider, protector and our redeemer. The LORD bless you, and keep you: The LORD make His face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you: The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, protect you and give you peace. ABOUT THE AUTHORPastor Nancy Dittert (Founder & Overseer of Fibro/Chronic Pain Support Ministry) lives in a berm home in Rural Central Iowa with her husband & soul mate Patrick, 5 cats and a Lab/ Sharpei dog. Nancy & Patrick are both pastors, retiring early because of illness. Nancy lives with Severe Fibromyalgia, Absence Seizures and Neuropathy, and her husband had a brain tumor that left him disabled. They are still actively involved as Christian freelance writers and work full time in Chronic Pain Ministry through the Internet and local Cable TV. Write Nancy at nancierose@msn.com and visit her Chronic Pain Web Site at... http://Fibromyalgiahelp.homestead.com/index.html

God Chose Me

"You did not choose me, but I chose you to go and bear fruit – fruit that will last." (John 15:16 NIV)In Jesus' story of the Vine and the Branches, I was struck anew by the above verse. God chose me and He chose me to go and bear fruit. When you live with a chronic illness, it sometimes seems that you are not able to do much that is very useful. Maybe your time seems to be spent just trying to get through another day of pain, or coping with a new set of symptoms. Maybe you are all too aware of the things you used to be able to do, but now are unable to do because of your health.It's depressing and I know, I feel at times that there isn't much worthwhile about my life. I don't seem to be able to accomplish what I want to do and sometimes all I see is the things I can't do, or can't do anymore.Here Jesus was saying to his disciples that He had chosen them to go and bear fruit. He was telling them that they could do things that would count for eternity – fruit that would last. Because of their relationship with Him and what Jesus had taught them, they were going to do really worthwhile things.God can use each one of us, no matter how little we think we can do. If God is able to take our little and multiply it for His purposes, we can be part of His greater plans. God doesn't see our lack of ability, He sees how we can be part of the bearing fruit – fruit that will last.God chose me, He sees and knows my limitations, yet He still gives me opportunity to do things that will count for eternity. Maybe I don't see how they will, but He does.Prayer: Father, help me not to lose sight of the value that you see in my life, and to be mindful of the opportunities you place before me. Thank you that you chose me. Amen. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Fiona Burrows lives in Melbourne, Australia and is grateful that God still has ways to use her, despite the chronic pain she has had for over 20 years.

God's Love Through Suffering

"May the Lord direct your hearts into God's love and Christ's perseverance." (Thessalonians 3:5 NIV)Anyone who has a chronic illness will identify with this verse. Paul's prayer for his fellow believers conveys the picture of a policeman standing in the roadway directing cars away from danger and into safety. This safe place is to believe in and receive our Father's love; a foundational truth of our faith which covers us in the midst of our trying circumstances.Christ's perseverance was unyielding because He knew His Father loved Him. In Mark 1:11 as Jesus was being baptized the Holy Spirit descended and a voice came from heaven saying: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased." The Father knew all that His Son would suffer and I am convinced Jesus knew it too. This affirmation of that love propelled Jesus to finish that which was set before Him.Physically suffering does not negate the love that the Father has for us. No, we are not Christ and yes, His suffering had a real purpose, the salvation of souls. But I must be honest and say that the chronic pain I experience has brought me closer to the Lord in that I continually seek Him not only for myself but for others. I have an understanding - an empathy as it were - that comes from going through suffering. This is invaluable when it comes to reaching out to those who do not know the Christ that I know. Is it hard? Absolutely! Are there days when I cry? Yes! But I persevere and so do you, because Paul prayed a prayer for us, that the Lord would always direct our hearts into God's love and Christ's perseverance. We would love to be healed and I do pray for that, but in the meantime we rely on the Holy Spirit to continually direct us into our Father's love so that we like Jesus will finish the tasks He has set before us! ABOUT THE AUTHORCatherine Barron lives in Sheridan, Montana. She is semi retired and loves to read, write and her latest hobby outdoor photography although her first love will always be the word of God. She considers her fibromyalgia a formidable unrelenting teacher.

Broken Pieces

"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful" (Psalm 139:14 NIV)When I was travelling in China, I visited Xi'an, the home of the Terracotta Warriors and saw the wonderful sight of the warriors that in most cases were found in tiny broken pieces. When the tombs were opened some of the warriors were intact, but there were also piles of debris. Many of them have been painstakingly reconstructed and the process goes on to arrange them again as they were thousands of years ago. Each one has a different face.While I was walking around, amazed at the sights, I was powerfully reminded of a couple of things.The words of a song were going round and round in my head. Its called Broken Pieces and the chorus says:"Pick up the broken pieces and bring them to the Lord;Pick up the broken pieces, trust in His holy word.He can put them back together and make your life complete,Just place the broken pieces at the Saviour's feet."*Sometimes we can feel like we have made such a mess of our lives, or that things have happened that change our lives so much that we find it hard to make sense of what is left.God knows us. As it says in Psalm 139,"O LORD, you have searched me and you know me….you perceive my thoughts from afar.….you are familiar with all my ways……For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.….All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be."God can make sense of it all. He can take the pieces of our lives and put them together to make them into something beautiful – and something He can use. In order to make a beautiful mosaic, you need to break the piece of pottery and re-arrange the pieces into something new.Maybe we need to look at our lives as God sees them – not just as broken pieces, but as pieces of potential.Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you that you care about all the pieces of our lives and that you can make them into something beautiful. ABOUT THE AUTHORFiona Burrows lives in Melbourne, Australia. She has had many years of chronic pain, but God continues to make something out of the pieces of her broken life.* by Ruby Kitchen & James Martin Jr.
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Go to the Sheperd of your Heart

"O LORD, you have searched me and you know me.You know when I sit and when I rise, You perceivemy thoughts from afar. You discern my lying down;You are familiar with all my ways." (Psalm 139:1-3 NIV)Have you ever felt on the edge of despair.....you go fromone doctor to the next, test after test only to find yourselftired and frustrated that there is not a cure for yourchronic illness. You may feel enveloped in pain froma lack of support from family and friends who may say,"Get over it.....it's all in your head." Who do you turnto? Does no one understand?! There is One Who doesunderstand and can help you, His name is Jesus.God is everywhere around you. He is there in the mountain-tops of joy and in the valleys of despair. One of the most profound miracles God made was creating you. You are nothere by mistake and despite how you feel this very moment,God has a plan and a purpose for your life. God loves you.He formed and loved you, even when you were in your mother's womb You bear His image. (Genesis 1:27)God loves you so very much that He sent His One and only Son, Jesus to this earth. Go to the Great Shepherd of Your heart, Jesus. Have you strayed from God's fold? Let Jesusgo and meet you where you are little lamb and carry you inHis arms where you will be loved, cherished and embracedin His Mercy."He makes me to lie down in green pastures, He leads mebesides quiet waters, He restores my soul. He guides me inthe paths of righteousness for His Name's sake." (Psalm 23:2,3 NIV)Go little lamb and nestle in the Savior's arms. He will meet youright where you are. "Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn fro Me, for I am gentle and humble in heat, and you will findrest for your souls." (Matthew 11:28-30 NIV)May God's blessings be with you always. ABOUT THE AUTHOR:Kay DeCarlo, 47, Devotion Coordinator for Rest Ministries lives withher husband Joe and two sweet furry dog children Daphne Mae and Alicein beautiful Connecticut. As a survivor of Hodgkin's Disease, Viral Encephalitis and Congestive Heart Failure, Kay has never lost sight that God is bigger than any trail or circumstance she faces. Kay struggles with Dilated Cardiomyopathy, Bipolar Disorder, Post-Traumatic Stress and Diabetes.

Come Away and Rest

"I would hurry to my place of shelter, far from the tempest and storm." (Psalm 55:8 NIV)We are often exhorted in Scripture to cast our cares on the Lord so that he can sustain us. This tells me that such times are inevitable. Psalm 55 is filled with the cries of one who is distraught, and is in need of the comfort of a calm shelter. Jesus himself needed a respite from the crowds, and the demands that drained his human body. He sought times alone with his Father. Their relationship gave him direction. It also provided solace and peace-filled restoration. If Jesus needed this kind of rest, how much more are we in need of the same? We see an example for us in what he did. Our physical and emotional challenges can intensify and weary us. We are to set aside time to be renewed with the energy and encouragement to persevere. How do you rest and find refuge in overwhelming times? Are you someone who can get away from your home? I have experienced times of refreshment in God's magnificent creation, most often in a quiet and natural environment where his beauty is manifested. Are you homebound? I know that I can find rest in recalling places I once visited. I thank God for such memories that remain fresh within me. He blessed me with the events that created the memories in the first place. He was present with me when they occurred. He is also present with me as I rest in the joy of them again. In truth, wherever we are, God is ever near. He asks for our attention to be focused on him alone. He loves us for we are his own. Any place can become a place of rest if we can stop, relax, and allow God to meet us where we are. He is our rest. Let's allow him to reveal his nearness and his perpetual care.Prayer: Lord, help me to turn my attention to you alone, and allow you to be my refuge. You are ever ready to shelter me and strengthen me. I am ever grateful for your faithfulness to me. Amen. ABOUT THE AUTHORLynn Severance is a retired elementary classroom teacher. She lives in Lynnwood, WA. She writes to encourage others as God has encouraged her during 26 years of living with daily physical challenges.

Look to the Rock

Look to the rock from which you were cut and to the quarry from which you were hewn(Isaiah 51:1)I love this verse. This passage helped me through some of my most difficult days after my thyroid cancer and the onset of my anxiety, panic attacks, and depression. I would speak it to myself over and over.There are times in my life when I forget the spiritual roots of my new nature in Christ. When I am in the midst of a setback in pain, anxiety, or depression, how quickly I revert to my old nature of doubt and unbelief. I need to remind myself not only of Who lives within me, but of my Christian "family tree". Hebrews 11 is the great Hero Hall of Fame in Scripture, bearing testimony to the believers who lived by faith, regardless of their physical circumstances and sufferings. Our Lord himself was the perfect example of faith and trust in the Father's plan, never fearing or wavering during times of trial and temptation.We are "cut" from the solid rock of Christ. I see the stones in his "quarry" as representing the countless believers who have lived and will yet live through time. These stones vary in shape, size, and usage. Some of them may be crushed into finer pieces than others. Some may be more prominent than others. Yet they all are chiseled from the same block of stone – Christ, the Chief Cornerstone. When I am tempted to fear and give up hope, I need to remember that I have the strength and solidarity of Christ, and that I am surrounded by this great cloud of witnesses – my brothers and sisters in the faith. Then I will not fear, even when it seems that the earth gives way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea (Psalm 46:2). I'm not only standing on the solid rock, I'm part of it. Prayer: Lord, when all around me gives way, help me to stand on You – my solid rock. Let me not forget my spiritual heritage, and may it be a source of comfort and inspiration to me. Amen.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.

Have you ever...

From Psalm 31, (NIV)Some people view the Bible as an old "dead" book with no relevance today. Psalm 31 is a petition from David to the Lord. It speaks to us today.Do you ever feel that no one knows your pain? That no one cares? Psalm 31:7 I will be glad and rejoice in your love, for you saw my affliction and knew the anguish of my soul. Do you ever feel that you have no one to go to with the challenges you face?v. 9 Be merciful to me, O LORD, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and my body with grief.Have you ever felt that your body was in active rebellion and that there was no one to understand?v. 10 My life is consumed by anguish and my years by groaning; my strength fails because of my affliction, and my bones grow weak.Have you ever felt forsaken?v. 12 I am forgotten by them as though I were dead; I have become like broken pottery.Have you ever felt there is nowhere to turn and no one to trust?v. 14 But I trust in you, O LORD; I say, "You are my God."Have you ever felt your life is just a random event?v. 15 My times are in your hands;Have you ever wondered who or what can save you?v. 16 Let your face shine on your servant; save me in your unfailing love.Have you ever cried for help yet felt far away from God?v. 22 In my alarm I said, "I am cut off from your sight!" Yet you heard my cry for mercy when I called to you for help.Have you ever wondered where can you place your hope?v. 24 Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the LORD.Prayer: Father God, Your Word is amazing. When the world fails us – You are there. When we are challenged beyond what we feel we can take. You are there. When we need a place of refuge. You are there. Thank you for Your understanding, Your promises, and Your unfailing love.Amen. ABOUT THE AUTHORdeni believes that the only true way to deal with chronic pain and chronic illness is to bring them to the feet of her Lord and Savior. Her multiple illnesses (Celiac Sprue, Atrial Fibrillation, Ankylosing Spondylitis, to name a few) have taught her many things about herself and her Christian walk. It is her fondest prayer that some of her lessons might be helpful to others as they walk the path of chronic illness. deni can be reached at denipath4change@yahoo.com. Her website is http://www.pathwaysforchange.com .