Run After Jesus...

"And He will give you everything you need from day to day if you live for Him and make the kingdom of God your primary concern."

Matthew 6:33 NLT

"Jesus is life, Girlfriends, Jesus if Life. Let's run after Him with every ounce of energy we have."~Beth Moore~

I've asked myself so many times what am I running after. In years past, I remember running every day working for Jesus and each day got busier and busier. One day many years ago, I realized that all the different ministries I was involved in kept me so busy that I didn't have time for Jesus. I have always been involved in a women's study, but to me that wasn't necessarily sitting at His feet sharing intimacy with Him.

I learned a very valuable lesson..it isn't so much what God wanted me to DO for him, but it's what He wanted me to BE. Doing and being both take energy..and at different seasons in our lives, God may ask us to do more for Him. God is always asking us to BE..Be in love with Him, Be in His Word, Be at His feet, Be hopeful, Be merciful, Be everything Jesus sets the example to BE.

Running after Jesus with every ounce of energy that I have, means being careful and being wise on how I use my energy. A friend of mine who also has chronic illnesses, says she has a teaspoon of energy with a cup full of things to do. That's how I feel...and if I didn't already have a cup full of things to do..there's plenty more things I dream of doing.

If you find yourself in this place today...Seek first His Kingdom...and run after Jesus with all the energy that you have. Run after Him and then you'll know what things He wants you to DO. But always remember..He always wants You to..BE!

God bless your day!

The Father's Chisel...

"The present circumstance, which presses so hard against you (if surrendered to Christ), is the best shaped tool in the Father's hand to chisel you for eternity. Trust Him, then. Do not push away the instrument lest you lose it's work."
~Streams In The Desert~

I can think of so many times in my life that I didn't recognize that the greater work would be done in me, if I just surrendered to the instrument that God was using to chisel me. One time in particular, I thought I was surrendered, but in reality I was just existing in a state of emptiness. I was empty because I was wounded and filled with hurt, self pity, resentment and bitterness. When wounds get that infected, God needs to take a chisel to scrape them before the healing can begin. I did as the quote above states, I pushed the instrument away....growth was delayed and the healing process took longer.

That was a long time ago, but if I could change one thing, it would be that I would soak myself in the Word yielding myself to the deeper work God wanted to do. I didn't fall away spiritually, I just didn't let the healing balm of Jesus comfort me. All I could think of was how much I hurt and wanting it to go away.

The deeper work was done. I let the chisel do its work and there was healing. Sometimes those deeper works can't be put into words because they are so profound in your heart. That was one of those times. I might have delayed the healing, but healing eventually came. The Father was waiting for me to trust Him....if you find yourself in this place today, won't you trust Him to use His chisel to shape you for eternity? The longer we put it off and push the instrument away, the more there will be to be chiseled and the longer it will take to heal.. Start the process...surrender.

" My heart trusts in Him and I am helped."

Psalm 28:7

Originally posted in 2008

His Grace Sustains...

"You and I may indeed find ourselves overwhelmed at times – at the end of our rope and beyond.But we will never fall farther than the palm of His hand.

And where He has called us, His grace will sustain us."

~Joni Earekson Tada~

I was thinking this morning that I just couldn't get caught up and thoughts of being overwhelmed set in. Living with chronic illnesses can feel like your feet are stuck in the mud and every step can be an effort. That's where I am at and I fee like I have been for weeks..ever since the tea. Wait, maybe since Christmas. I manage to keep on top of things, but I want to do more...I want to reorganize the entire house, spring clean..it would be summer clean at this point, read, study, socialize, be more involved, have unlimited energy for my grand girles, answer emails promptly, ride my bike....Sounds of discontent are echoing, I hear them. The thing of it is..I didn't feel completely this way yesterday. So, it's the fatigue talking and maybe a few whispers of the enemy.

This quote says, where God has called us His grace will sustain us. I know I am where I am suppose to be, doing what I am suppose to be doing...His grace is enough and tomorrow will be another grace filled day.

"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me."

2 Corinthians 12:9

God's Curriculum...

"God's curriculum for all who sincerely want to know Him and do His will, always includes lessons we wish we could skip...With intimate understanding of our deepest needs and individual capacities, He chooses our curriculum."

~ Elisabeth Elliot ~

We have all experienced things in life that we wish we could skip right over. Maybe you are in that place right now. When I look back over the difficult things that have happened in my life, those very things I thought would kill me, actually made me stronger. I never realized it at the time that I was growing stronger, but when the next trial came a long..I was stronger and it was then, that I saw the growth in me.

God has a curriculum written for each one of us. He alone knows what it will take to do that deeper work in us and to be an example to others. If all we do is grumble at how hard life is, we will be missing those deeper things He wants to teach us.

Part of the curriculum that God has chosen for me is living with several chronic illnesses. I can't even list all the things that He has taught me the last 16 years as I have made the journey through illness and pain. I have been discouraged more times than I can remember. God has always faithfully picked me up and and encouraged me in one way or another. He's been faithful at every turn and every trial. The trial or illness didn't always go away, but He was faithful to give me the strength to press on and press through each and every time. If you think about it, what choice do we have? We can either go through the things in our life with God or without Him. We can choose to grow closer to Him or to be mad at Him.

I only want to go deeper with the Lord. Things are difficult enough in this life... I don't want to go through things more than once to learn the same lesson all over again because I missed it the first time. I have done that before. Things were almost more painful the second time around. My prayer is, "Lord, don't let me miss what it is you are trying to teach me. Pleassssseeeeeee I don't want to have to do this again." (:

God loves us so much that He writes individual curriculum for each one of us...pretty cool when you think about it!

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."

Romans 8:28

Grace Multiplied...

Pictures from Pismo Beach, Central Coast California

This is our favorite vacation place. One spring we had to cancel our trip because I wasn't up to the trip.We had cancelled vacations many times, but this particular time I learned a special lesson.

It had been a long winter of not feeling well. I have mentioned before, that I have chronic illnesses that deplete me of a good majority of my energy. That's fine, I am very accepting of that. But there are times, I feel bad for my husband, that he has to relinquish things as well. But he always takes it in stride and never shows his disappointment. He knows most things are penciled in. At one time, it really bothered me that he was on this roller coaster ride with me. Why did he have to suffer just because I did? He never complained and was and still is, very understanding. But I felt bad for him.

One day years back, I must have been grumbling to the Lord, letting the enemy have his way with self pity. Feeling like I was a burden..yep, I was really into the thick of this self pity stuff! It was then I heard that still, small voice say, "Grace." I thought, "Grace, what's that have to do with it? We just canceled our vacation plans again because of me."

What I came to realize was God choose my husband for me, gave him an extra measure of grace to be understanding, caring and loving towards me. He knew when He chose my husband for me, that I would need a man with patience and compassion and with a personality that doesn't complain about much.

Not only is God's grace sufficient for me...but it is for my husband. Only, I think he was given multiplied grace to be my husband.

So,that week we didn't go to Pismo Beach, the drive was too far. But we did do some day trips, one was to a Southern California beach. Just spending time together would be enough.

Grace, how would we survive without it?

"My grace is sufficient for you,
for power is perfected in weakness."

2 Corinthians 12:9

He Sees Us As Finished...

I wrote this devotional eight years ago for Rest Ministries. It was published in a book of devotionals for the chronically ill, Mosaic Moments by Lisa Copen and Friends. Since this devotional was written I have since been blessed with three more little granddaughters, McKenzie, Haylee and Rachel. Each one has their own special quilt fashioned with love and quilted with much prayer for each one of them.

~~~~~

“ Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you

will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."

Philippians 1:6

I recently made a quilt for my five month old granddaughter, Hannah. As I began to plan the pattern and color scheme, I knew I wanted this quilt to be perfect for her. I drew out my design on paper, making sure of every dimension.

From there I went shopping for my fabrics. I very carefully selected each color and design for each piece of the quilt. In every step of my planning, I saw this quilt finished. I was the only one who had a vision of what this finished project would look like. To others it may have looked like a pile of different fabrics and a piece of paper with lines on it. But I saw it, pieced together, quilted and finished with Hannah all snuggled up under it.

As I cut and pieced the fabrics together I saw a thing of beauty begin to take place before my eyes. Not that it was the most beautiful quilt I have ever seen, but being the designer of the quilt, I saw the beauty and the love in the quilt, that no one else could see. God in the same way sees us as finished. He sees that finished work in each of us and sees how every circumstance of our life forms us into the person He has designed us to be. For some, living with chronic illness and pain is a part of the finishing process that God allows to take place.

Everything we experience with chronic illness can make our character more refined and the beauty of the LORD more defined in us. Each one of those things, like every piece of Hannah’s quilt, is pieced together in the fabric of our lives, to make something beautiful. We are God’s workmanship and He had a plan in creating us and He sees us as finished!

Thank you LORD, that you don’t give up on us and that you will see us through to a completion that glorifies you. Each day may the beauty of You be more defined in us.

The Lord Our Encourager...

"But David found strength in the Lord his God."

1 Samuel 30:6 NIV

It can be a lonely experience living with a chronic illness and pain every day. We relinquish many things and relationships. And at times we are misunderstood for the decisions and the actions that we take because of the way our life styles have had to be changed. We long for someone to understand and encourage us. And at times, the Lord provides someone to walk a long side of us allowing us a shoulder to cry on, an ear to listen, and a word of encouragement in those days when we think we cannot go on.

But there are also times of solitude when there isn't anyone to listen to us or to encourage us. We long for an understanding ear not wanting to burden our families and those close to us. This is when we must encourage ourselves. We can give ourselves a pep talk and this might help to some degree. But only the Lord and His Word can give us the deep individual encouragement that we need at those times.

Psalm 61: 1-3

Hear my cry. O God; Listen to my prayer.
From the ends of the earth I call to you,
Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
For you have been my refuge,
A strong tower against the foe.

God's unsurpassing strength is always with us and He desires to encourage us. It is His Word that will give us the deep heart penetrating encouragement that we need. He knows every tear that we shed and He alone knows what will encourage and lift us up out of a place of despair.

Psalm 94: 19

"When anxiety was great within me,
your consolation brought joy to my soul."

It is the Lord and His comfort that quiets and brings delight to our souls. Maybe it is a touch from a friend or loved one, maybe it is the sound of the ocean's roar, or a song of praise that touches our heart strings. God sends those things to us as well. He knows our every need before we even ask. But when He desires to be our source of encouragement, nothing else will do. He alone satisfies the longings that need to met.

Yes, there are times that we must encourage ourselves. It is in those times that we take our Bibles and go to a quiet place and allow Him to refresh and refill us. To lift us up and encourage us to go on. It is in the Lord's strength that we will be encouraged.

I Corinthians 1: 3-5

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ overflow into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows."

God wants to comfort us. Being comforted can mean being encouraged and strengthened with hope, in dealing with our afflictions. The more we suffer the more comfort He gives. Our God is a giving God who desires to meet our need of being encouraged.

If you are in need of encouragement today, the Lord desires to meet that need. Won't you let Him touch you today and meet that need.

Dear Heavenly Father,
Reach down and touch by the power of your Holy Spirit those places in my heart that only You can touch. Encourage me and strengthen me in hope this day. That I in turn would have the blessing of comforting someone else in need.

Awareness Week...

Have you heard about National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week? September 8-14, 2008 will feature 20 seminars via Blog Talk Radio, (4 per day, M-F) plus tons of people are helping spread the word by blogging about invisible illness issues. Do you get tired of hearing, “But you look so good?” or weary of the stares when you park in a handicapped spot? This is our chance to educate the public as well as remember we are not alone.

Nearly 1 in 2 people in the USA live with an illness and 96% of it is invisible.So join the cause today! They have daily guest bloggers at http://www.invisibleillnessblog.com/, lots or prizes, articles, and it’s a great way to make some new friends and attend a conference without ever leaving your home. The main web site is: http://www.invisibleillness.com/

This week I will be posting a series of devotionals with chronic illness themes. Maybe you live with an invisible chronic illness or someone you know does. We can learn from each other how to encourage those who chronically suffer and those who love them. We can encourage and be encouraged the more we know about the needs of chronic illness sufferers.

Faith...

"Grace calls you to get up, throw off your blanket of helplessness and to move on through life in faith."
~Kay Arthur~

I have found encouragement in this quote by Kay Arthur and and for the most part, live by what it says. Living with chronic illnesses, there are times that I want to keep that blanket of helplessness over me. I could best describe it by saying, "I get weary in the battle."

If we stay under that blanket of helplessness it becomes a cloak of self pity and discouragement. It can be such an easy thing to do and we have probably all have done it at one time or another. Everyday we must make the choice to move on in our lives by faith.

There are so many things in life to make us crawl under that blanket of helplessness. Health issues, family issues, marriage relationships....anything that troubles us and takes us to the point of feeling helpless. So...get up, throw off that blanket of helplessness, make a choice not to be defeated and move on through life in faith!

* Faith knows how to wait on the Lord. Isaiah 40:31

* Faith defines reason; it moves mountains. Matthew 17:14-21

* Faith does not always face facts; it never gives up. Heb.11:32-39

* Faith says, "God is working out His perfect will in my life, and I can wait, endure, and suffer."

* Faith doesn't make anything easy but it does make all things possible.

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."

Hebrews 11:1

The Greater Good...

"Our vision is so limited we can hardly imagine a love that does not show itself in protection from suffering.

The love of God did not protect His own Son. He will not necessarily protect us--not from anything it takes to make us like His Son. A lot of hammering and chiseling and purifying by fire will have to go into the process."
~Elisabeth Elliot~

God only allows those trials and sufferings that will work for the greater good in our lives. The greater good would be to make us more like Jesus and bring glory to Him. If we want the greater good in our lives, then the heart attitude must be, not my will, but Thine. As soon as the heart has that attitude of surrender, the work has begun.

"It was good for me that I was afflicted,
that I may learn thy statutes."
Psalm 119:71

God Is Listening...

"For He has not ignored

the suffering of the needy.

He has not turned

and walked away.

He has listened to their

cries for help."

Psalm 22:24 NLT

Isn't this verse a comforting reminder that God does hear our cries for help? It doesn't matter what the circumstances of our lives are. If we are in need, He doesn't turn a deaf ear to us. God may not answer the way we want Him to, but He does answer in His timing, and in the way He knows is best for our particular need.

"He has not turned and walked away".......We can't always expect people to hang in there with us through our times of need. Some will, but many won't. But that's okay, we have reassurance all through the scriptures that God won't. He will never leave us or forsake us...no matter what!

Some trials go on for many years, it doesn't mean that God is ignoring us. If the mountain won't move, then we are to climb the mountain and bring glory to His name in the climb. How do we do that when the suffering can be so overwhelming at times? We abide in Him and draw close to Him through prayer and Bible reading...two simple things. We can't think for minute that Satan will not try to keep us from the rest and peace that comes as we abide. Be aware!

If you are discouraged and maybe needy today.....find comfort in knowing that God is listening and He has not turned away from you. Look for ways that you can see God working in your life, even if it's in the small things and then, give Him PRAISE!!!

"Don't be overwhelmed...

take it one day and one prayer at a time."

~Stormie Omartian~

Only God Can See...

"Every experience God gives us, every person He puts in our lives,
is the perfect prepartion for the future that only He can see."
~Corrie ten Boom~

Wouldn't it be such a victory in our lives if each and everyday we would look at every experience as from God Himself? Knowing that He has a purpose and a plan for every detail and that each one, was hand designed for our lives. We may not know how or why some things happen, but God knows how He will use them one day in our life.

The same goes for every person in our life. Only God knows why our paths cross in life. Could it be so they would see Jesus in us? Maybe it's the sand paper of difficult relationships smoothing out the rough edges on us.We can find such comfort in knowing that our God orchestrates the details of our lives in preparation of our individual futures.

Will you trust Him with that?

2 Corinthians 5:7

"For we walk by faith and not by sight"

Cherish What You Have...

"Make the least of all that goes, and the most of all that comes.
Don't regret what is past. Cherish what you have.
Look forward to all that is to come.
And most of important of all, rely moment by moment on Jesus Christ."

~Gigi Graham Tchividjian~

We should make the most of all the things that come into our lives... we shouldn't live in the place of regret...what is past, is past. Look forward to all that is to come. In each new circumstance, there are opportunities for God to show Himself strong on our behalf. It's another opportunity to live for Him! Moment by moment reliance on Jesus Christ, is trusting Him with your past, present and your future. He was with us yesterday, He is with us today...and our future? He is already there waiting! Cherish what you have...

The Waves...

"Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen, and named it Ebenezer, saying,
'Thus far the Lord has helped us."

I Samuel 7:12

~Pismo Beach 2008~

One day a short time ago, I was thinking how the waves of trials just seemed to be coming one right after another. Before I could catch my breath another would come and knock me down and take my breath away.The trials seemed to be compounded by living daily with chronic illness and pain. Small trials seemed bigger and big trials seemed enormous. As I was pondering these things, I remembered a time when I was a teenager growing up in Southern California. I had taken my three younger brothers to the ocean. It was a beautiful summer day. The California sun was bright and the surf was high and strong. We were having a fun day in the sand and water.
It wasn't long before I found myself being caught in the crushing surf and I thought I was going to drown. My brothers, on the other hand, were having fun, but were being taken out farther and farther in a rip tide. I thought for sure we would all drown. My brothers were rescued by the life guards, and as I let myself relax in the pounding surf, I eventually washed onto shore. I fought to catch my breath with each crushing wave, fearing they would never stop coming.

Later, as an adult, my family and I were vacationing on the coast of Central California at Pismo Beach. It was there as I walked the beach, that I found a smooth yellow stone in the sand. There were no rough or raged edges, but a stone smooth from years of the surf and sand wearing it down. As I remembered back to those times, I thought to myself, that the waves that kept crushing me down years ago, were like the trials of today, living with chronic illness and pain. Sometimes things come one after another, at times taking my breath away. And just like that smooth yellow stone that was smoothed by years of the surf and sand, God too will use those things to smooth out my rough edges and perfect His beauty in me.

I have that yellow stone on my desk as a reminder, that be it the trials of life in general or the trials that accompany living with a chronic illness, "That thus far the Lord helped us". I know that this very day, He will help me to deal with anything that comes my way and I know He will do the same tomorrow. How do I know that He will? His Word says so.

"Your mercy O Lord is in the heaven and Your
faithfulness reaches to the clouds."

Psalm 36:5

The waves may come, they may knock us down, and maybe even take our breath away, but we know that God is faithful to us and He is smoothing us and shaping us
into what He wants us to be...more like Jesus.

Let us continually meditate on His goodness and His faithfulness in both the big things and the small things......Thus far the Lord has helped us!
Praise His name!

Dear Heavenly Father,
Great is Your faithfulness to me. You are constantly working in my life smoothing out all the rough edges. Thus far You have helped me, O Lord. Help me to always remember that when the next wave comes crashing down; it is your perfecting process making me more like Jesus.

Originally written July 28, 2000. Edited note: Even though this devotional was written 8 years ago the Lord reminds me every day that His faithfulness never fails me. Thus far He has Helped me!