God Still Remembers

"To the One who remembered us in our low estate, His love endures forever," (Psalm 136:23)I have a bad memory. I simply can't remember things the way I used to. Oftentimes, I group things in threes to help me remember. Sometimes, it works. Other times, I still forget.At church tonight, we sang, "So remember your people, remember your children, remember your promise, O God." Then and there, I thanked God for remembering. When I was yet a sinner, when I was yet forgettable, God remembered me. I was helpless and could not on my own stand before a Holy God. I could do nothing to save myself or to earn His love. Yet he remembered me. He saw my sinfulness, my need for a Savior. He sent Jesus - his one and only perfect Son - to die and bring me forever unto Him. God remembered me. More than two thousand years later, God continues to remember me. His thoughts toward me outnumber the grains of sand (Psalm 139:17-18). He doesn't forget me. Instead, he's continually thinking about me. My pain, my sadness, my fear. He keeps me in His memory.He is also moved to help me, just as He was moved to save me. When pain overpowers me, God remembers me with His strength. When sadness plagues me, God remembers me with His joy. When fear overwhelms me, God remembers me with His peace. God remembers me with love.Sometimes, I don't have much to offer. No strength. No joy. No peace. Other times, I myself want to forget. God still remembers. Sometimes, family and friends forget. No calls. No letters. No visits. But God still remembers. He continues thinking. He continues loving. He continues saving.My low estate. My brokenness. My forgetfulness. Thank God, He still remembers.Prayer: Father, thank you for remembering me on the cross, and thank you for remembering me in my pain. Help me not to forget that you always remember. Amen.~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ABOUT THE AUTHOR:Daphne is a thirty-something freelance writer and speaker who comforts others with the comfort she herself has received from God (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). She is a leader in a Christ-centered recovery program and is daily learning to believe God through all of her physical, mental, and emotional challenges. Contact Daphne at daphne@daphnewrites.com.

God's Love Is Complete

"And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." (Ephesians 3:17b-19 NIV)Have you ever wondered if God's love is really all you need? Is it really enough to get you through those very tough times in your life? Is God's love a constant? Is there anywhere that God's love cannot reach?There are times when I struggle. I struggle to make sense of what is happening to me, or around me. Struggle knowing what is the right thing to do in the circumstances. Wondering if there is anyone who really understands or knows how I am feeling.But knowing the love of God, is what makes it possible for me to go on. Knowing that God will be there with me to face whatever today, or tomorrow brings and knowing that God's love cannot be lost by any mistakes that I make, makes me able to get up and face a new day, each and every day.As humans we show love to one another, but we also do things to other people that aggravate, hurt or upset them. Because we are human, we will keep on doing that. Our relationships with other people are always flawed, even though in our own way, we may love them.God loves us no matter what we do, we cannot be outside of God's love. His love is all-encompassing and we cannot escape from it.I love Renee Bondi's book, The Last Dance but Not the Last Song, where she says about the above verses :"God's love is complete. It is wide – covering all our experiences and reaching out to the whole world. It is long – continuing the length of our lives. It is high – rising to the heights of our joy and celebration. It is deep – reaching to the depths of our despair and hopelessness. When you feel cut off or alone, remember that you can never be outside of God's love." God's love is truly complete. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Fiona Burrows lives in Melbourne, Australia. She is thankful for the difference God makes in her life as she lives with chronic pain. She enjoys finding time for writing, travel and photography.

Power Sources

"You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being."(Revelation 4:11 NIV)I recently had difficulty with my computer. It would intermittently shut down. An evaluation determined that its battery was not recognizing its power source. This problem was fixed but it got me to thinking about my life. My "battery"- the physical cells that God has created that comprise "me"- are constantly helping me. Daily, they are regenerating to promote proper growth and health. Some may be encountering attacks from within causing sickness. At such times, other cells come to my body's defense. My spiritual life also has its cells that must be nourished or they will dim, degenerate, or even die. How do I stay connected to my power source, Jesus? He has promised never to leave me or forsake me. So, I must choose to stay close to him. I want my "batteries" charged with his life and care. I commit to taking time to converse with him when I pray. His Word is ever fresh with insights if I ask his Spirit to guide me as I read. I also need times of fellowship with other believers. God desires that all parts of me stay refreshed. When my body and soul are tired, I require rest. Even Jesus needed time apart from busyness for his own restoration.God's peace comes to me through various facets of his creation. I can breathe fresh air, rejoice in a sunset, hold a loved one. Reading or listening to a good book, closing my eyes and letting beautiful music fill my soul also goes far to recharge me when I am weary. Ceasing from striving will help me let God take control - a sure way to let him keep me from shutting down. In so many ways God's power and presence is near. I want to recognize him in all ways possible.Prayer: Lord, in formal and less formal ways you and your power are ever near to restore my weary being. Help me recognize you at every turn in my day and rejoice in your nearness. Amen. ABOUT THE AUTHORLynn Severance is a retired elementary classroom teacher. She lives in Lynnwood, Washington. She writes to encourage others as God has encouraged her during 26 years of living with daily physical challenges.

God Has And Never Will Lose Sight Of You

"But the very hairs on your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore,you are of more value than many sparrows."Matthew 10: 30,31 (NKJV)God Never Lost Sight Of You TodayMy brother uses Twitter on the computer and I follow his site because he is veryencouraging about our Christian walk. My favorite quote he has written is,"God never lost sight of you today. There wasn't a solitary instant He was unaware of you."I have not been able to stop thinking about that quote, and that is what brought me to this scripture in Matthew. These words have brought so much peace and encouragement to me every day. Our heavenly Father knows all things, even to the smallest of details about us. This shows His tenderness and love towards us.We all sometimes face trials, temptations, and tribulations throughout our daily lives. But God says "fear not" we are more valueable than many sparrows. As we go through our daily lives of chronic pain, or loneliness, we do not have to be afraid. When we know God loves us so much, that He gave His only Son for us, we know that He is not away from us, not for even an instant!This is sometimes hard to comprehend. We are never out of God's thoughts, and He knows every detail about us. Our thoughts, our aches and pains, our fears, and even our laughter. While we are sleeping He is watching over us.Knowing all these things and reading God's word telling us how important we are to Him, has been teaching me that I don't have to be afraid or feel alone any more. God is there for all our needs, and listens to every word and whisper we have to say to Him. I sometimes wonder if He evens smiles when we laugh through the day.It has been just the last few years that I have been living alone. I remember how afraid I would be at times, and oh how lonely the days and nights felt. But now I understand that I am never alone, and that God cares for me and watches over me, all the time. Not just part time, but every moment. He promises this to all of us, and speaks it in His Word. We just need to ask Him into our hearts and there He will come to live forever. Never to be afraid again, never to be alone again. Margie Scott lives in Arizona. She strives daily to trust God's grace will always provide, as challenges arise due to heart problems, Parkinson, fibromyalgia, and spinal stenosis.mscott123@cox.net

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